The sky's the limit for The Del McCoury Band
The Del McCoury Band, reigning International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainer of the Year, added a new jewel to their crown this month with the publication of the July issues of the genre's leading magazines, Bluegrass Now and Bluegrass Unlimited. In a clean sweep for their latest release, the Grammy-nominated It's Just The Night, the McCoury outfit broke new ground by earning the #1 position on the industry's leading monthly retail chart and the #1 position on its respected album airplay chart while holding down the top 3 positions on the singles airplay chart - the first time ever that a single artist has so thoroughly commanded the charts. Making the occasion even more gratifying, the album is the debut release for the the group’s own label, McCoury Music. More...
Gidgy up! RadioDirectX launches International Country Music Radio & Media Promotion Service
RadioDirectX is the culmination of working in radio both as music directors, DJs, on-air producers and radio promoters for the past 15 years. The company focused on developing a service that offers artists the opportunity to gain an international listening audience by providing established relationships with hundreds of Country Music radio hosts, music directors and writers. The service works with all levels of radio & media, from International & National Network radio such as BBC, CBC, Deutschland Radio, WDR, to smaller local markets. More...
Restless in Seattle
Country super group, Restless Heart, had a gig in Seattle, WA this weekend but it took them thirty hours to get the concert and it was very questionable if they would even make it. The group flew from Nashville to Denver for a layover on their Seattle flights. Storms shut down the Denver airport and the band was forced to spend the night sleeping on the marble floor. (So much for the glamour of the entertainment world!). Restless Heart finally got a flight out of Denver and made it to Seattle around 7:30 pm. The show was scheduled for 9:00 pm at the King County Fairgrounds so the venue picked the guys up by van and raced to get them on-site at 8:30 pm. Restless Heart hit the stage at 9:00 pm to the delight of their many Seattle fans. I guess now their new nickname could be “The Terminal Men.”
Mark Chesnutt Honky Tonks Nashville
Vivaton Recording artist Mark Chesnutt came off the road last week to visit with music industry execs and friends in Nashville (where Mark calls his second home) and he received a grand Music City welcome.
As part of Mark’s social calendar, the label hosted an album listening party in the parking lot behind their offices on Thursday evening, July 22. Over 150 industry and media folks attended to catch a preview of Mark’s new album entitled Savin’ The Honky Tonk. Guests enjoyed the pleasure of listening to all fifteen cuts from the album which fittingly reflect its title including: “Somebody Save The Honky Tonks,” “Would These Arms Be In Your Way,” “Mama's House,” “Since You Ain't Home,” “Think Like A Woman,” “Beer, Bait And Ammo,” “My Best Drinkin’,” “Honky Tonk Heroes,” and his current single “The Lord Loves The Drinkin’ Man.” Mark describes the project (produced by Jimmy Ritchey), “This album is 100% country. It’s got it all. It’s got drinkin’ and cheatin’ songs. Shuffles. And even a song with Mama in it.” In a surprise presentation at the label party that evening, Mark was given an official Miller-Lite Fender Electric Guitar by local representatives of DET Distributing, Keith Bolton and Stephen Hegdal. More...
Sony Scene
BRAD COTTER:
Get ready for the second single from America's "Nashville Star" Brad Cotter. Brad releases "Can't Tell Me Nothing," written by his producers Steve Bogard and Rick Giles which shipped to radio today. Brad will tell you that the song, although written by his producers, is a point-on description of him. He continues to tour with George Canyon, Matt Lindahl and Lance Miller and will perform outside his hometown in Columbus, Georgia, on August 5th. That same day, he'll visit the CNN studios to chat with "Headline News."
SHELLY FAIRCHILD:
Columbia Records newcomer Shelly Fairchild shot her first video with director Kristin Barlowe last week for her debut single, "You Don't Lie Here Anymore," in a small farm house in Watertown, Tennessee, just outside Nashville. "Kristin is brilliant," says Shelly. "She captured exactly what I had visually in my mind as Clay Mills and I were writing this song. The entire team involved with making this video made the entire experience fun!" The single goes for adds on August 27, but her unique radio tour kicks off August 16. Shelly's debut album Ride will hit store shelves on January 25. More news on Montgomery Gentry, Christy Sutherland, Trent Willmon and Gretchen Wilson