Country
Gabby Barrett, Blanco Brown & More Among 2022 CRS New Faces of Country Music Finalists
This year, Barrett earned her second No. 1 hit with a three-week run at the pinnacle of Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart with “The Good Ones.” Also among those earning No. 1 hits on Billboard‘s Country Airplay over the past year were Brown (“Just The Way,” with Parmalee), Moon (“Good Time“), Shane (“My Boy“), Wilson (“Things a Man Oughta Know“), McCollum (“Pretty Heart”), and Rodgers (who earned his second No. 1 hit with “Cold Beer Calling My Name” featuring Luke Combs). Hayes, who released his debut single in 2010, has earned one of the biggest all-genre hits of the year with “Fancy Like,” which has reached No. 1 on several Billboard charts, including Hot Country Songs and Cou...
ASCAP Country Music Awards: Josh Osborne Earns First Songwriter of the Year Win
Ashley Gorley’s “One of Them Girls” (recorded by Lee Brice) was named ASCAP country music song of the year. ASCAP social media will highlight Gorley’s award acceptance for the certified platinum single, which hit the pinnacle of the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Sony Music Publishing was named publisher of the year at the ASCAP Country Awards for the first time since 2012. The company’s winning songs included “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90’s” (Sam Hunt), “Hole in the Bottle” (Kelsea Ballerini), “Lady” (Brett Young) and “Things a Man Oughta Know” (Lainey Wilson). Sony Music Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston will be featured on ASCAP’s social media platforms, thanking their songwriters and staff. The ASCAP Country Music Awards social media rollout will also feature performances of t...
The Pursuit of Happiness: Oliver Tree On New Country Album, Antarctica Headlining Dreams
On December 25th, 2001, Oliver Tree wasn’t just a kid on Christmas. Instead, once gifted with his first ever Razor scooter, he suddenly held the keys to his future. Fast-forward two decades and the artist has racked up nearly 24 million monthly listeners on Spotify and half a billion lifetime streams. He’s even got over 11 million followers on TikTok, a platform practically tailor made for his signature brand of quirky comedic bullshit—just check out his badass platinum blonde haircut. Half bowl, half mullet, he’s dubbed it the “bowlet.” Always on the go, Tree is now hard at work on Cowboy Tears, a full-blown country album whose release will reportedly mark his retirement from music. It’s a far cry from the funky blends of pop, hip-hop and el...
Dr. Cleve Francis, Rissi Palmer, Frankie Staton, Louis York & More to Lead Inaugural Rosedale Summit
Initiating the summit is the Rosedale Collective, which launched in March 2021. Part foundation and part label, the company is aimed at supporting and bringing greater awareness to BIPOC country music artists. The Rosedale Collective is also using the summit to launch their label division, dedicated to providing opportunities for country artists of color. “We started trying to figure out where there was space within the industry for these conversations and where do these conversations need to be amplified,” Rosedale Collective’s co-founder and chief executive Locher Grove tells Billboard. Grove also says the timing of the event is deliberate. “It’s a moment where all eyes are turning to Nashville and the collective zeitgeist in the music community,” Grove says. “It’s a perfect time to take...
Country Music Association Teams With Solo Music For NFT Collection
“Our mission at CMA is to grow country music globally. By partnering with Solo Music on a CMA Awards NFT, we have the opportunity to reach new audiences, further engage with existing fans and create a whole new digital community,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA chief executive officer. “We could not be more excited about this venture and the opportunity it brings to country music. What a perfect time to launch as we celebrate ‘The 55th Annual CMA Awards’!” “We could not be more thrilled to partner with CMA for a drop on our platform and the launch of their digital community. CMA has shown a commitment to embracing this new medium and clearly understands the dramatic impact this technology is making world-wide,” said Solo CEO/Founder Barron Solomon. “We are thrilled for today and excited about wha...
Matthew West’s ‘What If’ Tops Christian Airplay Chart: ‘Hope Can Be Found Even When Hope Is Hard to See’
How did West find about his new leader? “I was at my doctor’s office when my team called about ‘What If’ hitting No. 1,” he tells Billboard. “And, like most celebrations in the past 20 months or so, it was virtual … with my doctor awkwardly waiting to resume my eye exam. “I’m so thankful to all of the radio stations around the country and their listeners who continue to let my music be part of their lives. To have my fourth No. 1 in a row during such a hard season in our world means so much to me, because my hope in all of this has always been to write songs that remind people where hope can be found even when hope is hard to see.” “What If” marks West’s fourth consecutive proper single to top Christian Airplay, follow...
Eddie Montgomery on Getting Real With First Solo Country Album: ‘The Good, Bad and Ugly — And the Party on the Weekend’
“It’s my heart and soul poured out,” Montgomery tells Billboard via Zoom. “With ‘Alive and Well,’ I’m talking about my two sons and T-Roy [his nickname for Gentry]. It was opening up my soul and it kind of helped me a little bit. I ain’t going to lie about it and that’s the stuff that I tried to write about — the good, bad, and ugly, and the party on the weekend.” The title track was inspired by Montgomery transforming his garage into a gathering place during the pandemic. “They closed all the restaurants and bars down,” he says of COVID restrictions in his home state of Kentucky. “Of course, we’re bar flies. We’ve got to find that place. You can’t take that away from us… I’ve got a pretty good size garage, so I started to hang a few TVs, then a disco ball and an old dart board...
Dan + Shay Cancel Two Arena Concerts Due to COVID-19
“We know a lot of y’all have traveled or plan to travel for these shows, and it breaks our hearts to let you down,” the duo’s Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney said. On a positive note, they did tease some other upcoming news — namely, a few holiday surprises set to be revealed beginning Wednesday. The duo previously released two holiday songs last year, including “Take Me Home for Christmas” and “Christmas Isn’t Christmas.” That’s not the duo’s only recent uplifting news. Next year, they will tour stadiums as part of Kenny Chesney’s Here and Now 2022 tour. Dan + Shay will open shows for Chesney, alongside Old Dominion and Carly Pearce. For fans bummed about the two now-canceled Orlando and Atlanta shows, Dan + Shay als...
Dale Ann Bradley Serves a Poignant Reminder With ‘In the End’ Video
“When I listened to this song for the first time, I knew it was a message that was needed, especially with all that has been going on in our country and the world,” Bradley, a founding and former member of bluegrass band Sister Sadie, tells Billboard of the tune written by Jill Gilliam. “It said to me, that what matters is what we leave on this earth for others, and we sometimes don’t remember that we are all leaving this world. What truly matters is the love and kindness we leave behind. It’s the only thing that will make things change after we are gone. We all have differences, but fighting about things that are superficial doesn’t matter, it only leaves hurt behind for generations. The only thing that lasts and nurtures future generations is how we’ve...
Morgan Wallen to Headline 3 Shows at Kentucky Arena As WME Confirms It No Longer Books Him
The dates have been added piecemeal as Wallen continues to deal with the fallout of TMZ posting a video of the country star saying a racial slur in February, including not being allowed to perform or attend Nov. 10’s CMA Awards. Consequences also included his booking agency, WME, dropping the artist. As previously reported by Deadline, some concerts that were booked prior to Wallen’s controversial incident were re-booked through WME’s internal system, though no new shows have been booked through WME. The agency also told Deadline that commissions from Wallen’s concerts were being donated to charity. WME confirmed to Billboard that they are not booking new shows for Wallen. Fans and venues, however, are ready to welcome Wallen back. “Lexington loves country...
First Country: George Strait, Maddie & Tae, Tiera, Shy Carter
Strait’s law enforcement tribute, which he penned alongside his son Bubba Strait and longtime collaborator Dean Dillon, gets a new video that honors first responders. The clip highlights moments of conversation with law enforcement members, firefighters and other personnel, as well as their families, each detailing the risks that come with their careers. Tiera, “Gentleman” Singer-songwriter Tiera became the flagship signing for Nicolle Galyon’s Songs & Daughters publishing division in 2020, and earlier this year, inked a label deal with Big Machine’s The Valory Music Co. She recently wed her longtime love Kamren Kennedy, though she penned this sultry, celebratory ode to their relationship two years ago. Here, Tiera deftly uses her style of country songcraft to detail ...
WME Adds Waylon Jennings’ Estate to Legends Division
“The WME Legends team looks forward to working with the family to holistically manage Waylon’s name, image, likeness, life and IP rights and assets worldwide to grow his legacy with a new generation.” Jennings died in 2002, a year after being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. During his 40-year career, he scored approximately 70 top 40 hits on Billboard’s country charts, including such monumental classics as “Rainy Day Woman,” “Luckenbach, Texas,” “Amanda,” “Theme from the Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys)” and countless others. Wanted! The Outlaws, featuring Jennings, Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser and Colter, and the 1976 release became the first country album to be certified platinum. Jennings and Nelson, who du...
