NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On June 9th, Universal Music Group Nashville will release Now That’s What I Call Country Vol. 8, the latest installment in the popular NOW series. Country music fans can hear hits by some of their favorite artists including Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Eric Church, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Cole Swindell, Lady Antebellum and more.

Now That’s What I Call Country Vol. 8 includes 14 No. 1 hits and 18 total tracks from today’s country music superstars and exciting new artists:

1. Luke Bryan                                         Roller Coaster
2. Jason Aldean                                     Just Gettin’ Started
3. Sam Hunt                                           Leave The Night On
4. Darius Rucker                                   Homegrown Honey
5. Florida Georgia Line                         Sun Daze
6. Jake Owen                                          Beachin’
7. Brantley Gilbert                                  Bottoms Up
8. Eric Church                                         Give Me Back My Hometown
9. Lady Antebellum                               Bartender
10. A Thousand Horses                          Smoke
11. Cole Swindell                                     Ain’t Worth The Whiskey
12. Keith Urban                                       Somewhere In My Car
13. Miranda Lambert                             Automatic
14. Brad Paisley                                       Perfect Storm
15. Tyler Farr                                           A Guy Walks Into A Bar
16. Lee Brice                                            Drinking Class
17. Chris Young                                       Lonely Eyes
18. Eric Paslay                                          She Don’t Love You

The project is a joint venture from Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. This release is part of the multi-platinum NOW That’s What I Call Music! compilation series, the world’s best-selling multi-artist albums with sales topping 250 million worldwide and 94 million in the U.S.  The seven previous NOW That’s What I Call Country releases have debuted in the Top 3 of the Billboard Country albums chart.  Now That’s What I Call Country Vol. 8  is distributed by Universal Music Group. NOW and NOW That’s What I Call Music! are registered trademarks of Universal Music Group and its affiliates.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Wed., May 13, 2015) – When Eric Church, the seven-time GRAMMY nominee and the entertainer New York Magazine called “one of the brightest lights in any genre,” announced he was doing a rare, solo acoustic show on July 30 to inaugurate the new Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville, it sold out in less than five minutes. In order to accommodate as many fans as possible, a second show on July 31 was just added last week, and in only three days of tickets being on sale, the second show has now completely sold out as well.

This is the third sold out Nashville concert this year for the top selling country music artist of 2014. On January 10, the ACM and CMA Award winner set a new venue attendance record of 18,411 when his The Outsiders World Tour performed at the Bridgestone Arena.

Known for creating a different set list for each show, Church recently told Rolling Stone, “I think it’s good that we’re getting a lot of people in the rooms. I still say that it’s what you do then. It’s one thing to get ’em in the room, it’s quite another one that they’ll leave there and want to come back, and that’s really what I focus on. I don’t care if it’s 1,000 or 100,000, it’s about making sure whatever that room is, that they have a unique experience. And changing the show enables the possibility that there can be that spiritual connection, that thing that nobody can name that happens at a show.”

Earlier today it was announced that Church was nominated for a CMT Music Award for Best Male Video for “Talladega,” his second No. 1 hit from his Platinum-selling The Outsiders album.  This is the latest in a solid string of GRAMMY, CMA, ACM, and ACC Award nominations for the critically-acclaimed album that Entertainment Weekly calls his “most brazen, brilliant disc yet” and caused NPR to exclaim that “Eric Church is working on a level that few other country artists of his generation can touch.”

The CMA and four-time ACM Award winner finished 2014 as country music’s top-selling artist, with the year’s highest debut and sales of any release in the format as the critical and commercial success The Outsiders reached Platinum status, marking more than one million albums sold. Debuting at No. 1 on both the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart and Top Country Albums chart, The Outsiders garnered GRAMMY, CMA, and ACM Top Album nominations and features his No.1 hits “Give Me Back My Hometown” and “Talladega” as well as his current single “Like A Wrecking Ball.” The Outsiders is the follow-up to Church’s Platinum-certified Chief, (named the 2012 Album of the Year by both CMA and ACM, and GRAMMY-nominated for Best Country Album) which featured five Top 20 singles: “Homeboy” (certified Platinum for sales in excess of one million singles); the Top 10 “Like Jesus Does” and the Top 5 “Creepin’” (both certified Gold for sales in excess of 500,000 singles each); and two No. 1 hits “Drink in My Hand” (certified Platinum) and “Springsteen” (certified Double Platinum for sales in excess of two million singles). Church’s 2006 debut album, Sinners Like Me (2006) and his sophomore album Carolina (2009) are both RIAA Gold-certified. Carolina had three hit singles: the Top 10 “Hell on the Heart” as well as Top 20 hit “Smoke A Little Smoke” and Top 10 smash “Love Your Love The Most,” which were both certified Gold. Sinners Like Me spawned three Top 20 singles: “How ‘Bout You,” “Two Pink Lines,” and “Guys Like Me.”

For more information on Church, visit www.EricChurch.com.

Some of your favorite country stars will be celebrating Mother’s Day on Sunday (May 10th). Check out Mother’s Day memories and moments from our artists, including Alan Jackson, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Eric Paslay, Jon Pardi, Keith Urban, Lady A, Little Big Town and Shania Twain, among many others.

One of Keith Urban’s favorite records is Eric Church’s Chief, and the two became friends over the course of the past few years. The two started sharing music that the other one may not have heard, which led to their collaboration on Keith’s latest album, Fuse.

“He’d be turning me on to new music, and I’d be texting him about something, ‘You’ve got to listen to (1975’s) Bankrupt by Dr. Hook.’ We’re trying to hip each other to records that we love that the other guy hasn’t heard,” says Keith. “That sort of banter started happening fairly regularly, and I thought I’d really like to do something with Eric on my record, if I find the right song. And this song called ‘Raise ‘Em Up’ came along.”

“Raise ‘Em Up” didn’t start out as a duet, but Keith said it “struck” him as the perfect song for him and Eric to record together.

“There’s a particular theme really in the song, particularly in the second verse that I felt was just perfect for Eric. I sent him the song, and he loved it. And I was really happy that he came in and sang on it.”

“Raise ‘Em Up,” the fifth single from Fuse, is poised to hit the top of the country charts.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Friday, May 1, 2015) – NPR has time-after-time praised Eric Church declaring his music “transcends the genre,” New York Magazine’s deemed him “not just the most consistent male country star of his generation but one of the brightest lights in any genre,” andSPIN Magazine praised him “the most exciting, sonically fearless singer in Nashville,” but Nashville? Right now they just call for MORE!

After announcing a rare solo performance opening Nashville’s new Ascend Amphitheater show one week ago for Thursday, July 30, ticket on-sales this week swiftly sold out in less than five minutes – too quick, actually, for many of the 7-time GRAMMY nominee’s own Church Choir to secure seats.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t listen to my fans, and this time they spoke up loud and clear,” shares Church. “I am keeping with the tradition of The Outsiders Tour in that no show will be the same, but I am adding a second night to ensure we can get all our friends in for this performance.”

Ascend Amphitheater has added a second night, Friday, July 31, 2015, with tickets going on sale to general public Thursday, May 7 at 10:00 a.m. CT. General admission pit and reserved seating is priced at $85 and general admission lawn seats are $45. For tickets, please visitTicketmaster.com.

The CMA and four-time ACM Award winner finished 2014 as country music’s top-selling artist, with the year’s highest debut and sales of any release in the format as the critical and commercial success The Outsidersreached Platinum status, marking more than one million albums sold. Debuting at No. 1 on both the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart and Top Country Albums chart, The Outsiders garnered GRAMMY, CMA, and ACM Top Album nominations and features his No.1 hits “Give Me Back My Hometown” and “Talladega” as well as his current single “Like A Wrecking Ball.” The Outsiders is the follow-up to Church’s Platinum-certified Chief, (named the 2012 Album of the Year by both CMA and ACM, and GRAMMY-nominated for Best Country Album) which featured five Top 20 singles: “Homeboy” (certified Platinum for sales in excess of one million singles); the Top 10 “Like Jesus Does” and the Top 5 “Creepin’” (both certified Gold for sales in excess of 500,000 singles each); and two No. 1 hits “Drink in My Hand” (certified Platinum) and “Springsteen” (certified Double Platinum for sales in excess of two million singles). Church’s 2006 debut album, Sinners Like Me (2006) and his sophomore album Carolina (2009) are both RIAA Gold-certified.Carolina had three hit singles: the Top 10 “Hell on the Heart” as well as Top 20 hit “Smoke A Little Smoke” and Top 10 smash “Love Your Love The Most,” which were both certified Gold. Sinners Like Me spawned three Top 20 singles: “How ‘Bout You,” “Two Pink Lines,” and “Guys Like Me.”

For more information on Church, visit www.EricChurch.com.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (Apr. 23, 2015) – Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Live Nation announced today that on July 30, seven-time GRAMMY nominee Eric Church will be the inaugural performer for Music City’s new Ascend Amphitheater in Riverfront Park.

Recently ranked No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot Tours chart for his successful “The Outsiders World Tour” which continues through this summer, Church will give a rare solo concert performance with just his guitar, giving fans a unique experience from when he set a new venue attendance record of 18,441 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena earlier this year in January. Tickets will go on sale at Ticketmaster next Thursday, Apr. 30 at 10:00 AM (CT).

“The newest addition to Music City’s live music scene will get off to a great start with a concert from Eric Church, who represents what’s great about Music City,” Mayor Dean said. “His songs can’t be confined to just one genre; he draws from country, rock and other types of music that help make the scene here in Nashville so vibrant and eclectic.”

Named one of the “50 Greatest Live Acts Right Now” by Rolling Stone, the EMI Nashville recording artist “… is arguably both the mainstream country artist of the year and the mainstream rock artist of the year and his show made a case for that blend” proclaimed the Memphis Commercial Appeal when reviewing his concert late last year. “

The CMA and four-time ACM Award winner finished 2014 as country music’s top-selling artist, with the year’s highest debut and sales of any release in the format as the critical and commercial success The Outsiders reached Platinum status, marking more than one million albums sold. Debuting at No. 1 on both the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart and Top Country Albums chart, The Outsidersgarnered GRAMMY, CMA, and ACM Top Album nominations and features his No.1 hits “Give Me Back My Hometown” and “Talladega” as well as his current single “Like A Wrecking Ball.”

The Outsiders is the follow-up to Church’s Platinum-certified Chief, (named the 2012 Album of the Year by both CMA and ACM, and GRAMMY-nominated for Best Country Album) which featured five Top 20 singles: “Homeboy” (certified Platinum for sales in excess of one million singles); the Top 10 “Like Jesus Does” and the Top 5 “Creepin’” (both certified Gold for sales in excess of 500,000 singles each); and two No. 1 hits “Drink in My Hand” (certified Platinum) and “Springsteen” (certified Double Platinum for sales in excess of two million singles). Church’s 2006 debut album, Sinners Like Me (2006) and his sophomore album Carolina (2009) are both RIAA Gold-certified. Carolina had three hit singles: the Top 10 “Hell on the Heart” as well as Top 20 hit “Smoke A Little Smoke” and Top 10 smash “Love Your Love The Most,” which were both certified Gold. Sinners Like Me spawned three Top 20 singles: “How ‘Bout You,” “Two Pink Lines,” and “Guys Like Me.”

For more information on Church, visitwww.EricChurch.com.

Keith Urban’s latest single, “Raise ‘Em Up”, featuring Eric Church, his fifth from his #1 album FUSE, hits #5 this week marking his 32^nd Top 5 single.  But perhaps even more impressive is his place alongside some of history’s greatest streaks – the Miami Dolphins 1972 march to 17-0 or  Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak of ’41 – as Urban’s consecutive streak of Top 10 songs hits thirty three.

“The support I get from my friends at country radio and the fans, is absolutely astounding, said Urban.  “Its what makes ALL of this possible, and I can’t wait to hit the road again and thank you all in the best way I know how!”

In addition, as Urban took to the stage to perform “Raise ‘Em Up” with Eric Church at the 50^th Academy of Country Music Awards, he released a special behind-the-scenes making of the music video for “Raise ‘Em Up” via Twitter.   The groundbreaking campaign made it possible for fans to unlock the video by tweeting with #behindRaiseEmUp. Find the official behind-the-scenes video for “Raise ‘Em Up” here: http://smarturl.it/behindRaiseEmUp

For more Keith Urban news and information go to www.keithurban.net.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (April 17, 2015) – Add another milestone in a year full of them: Eric Church’s “The Outsiders World Tour” is No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Tours recap.

Church scored the top slot – over some of music’s biggest pop stars.Billboard said Church has visited more than 60 cities and sold more than 725,000 tickets so far in support of the GRAMMY and ACM Award-nominated and widely acclaimed 2014 album The Outsiders.

Church has set venue attendance records in three cities, including his hometown Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, and Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. More than 18,000 fans attended each rowdy show. Feel left out? Fans can still see what all the fuss is about through September.
First up, the North Carolina native will perform on the CBS broadcast of the 50th anniversary edition of the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where he is nominated for four ACM Awards including Album of the Year for The Outsiders, Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year as both artist and co-writer for “Give Me Back My Hometown.”

There are still more than 20 dates left on “The Outsiders World Tour.” For more information about Church or to buy tickets, visit www.EricChurch.com and follow @ericchurch on Twitter.

Audio / Prior to kicking off The Outsiders World Tour, Eric Church talked about the trek and how he hopes that fans will feel it's a great experience.

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Eric Church (The Outsiders World Tour) OC: …from the stage. 1:01
“We’ve waited our whole career to make a record like The Outsiders. I felt like our entire career has been building up to that moment, to this record. Likewise, with this tour. This tour, we’ve waited our entire career to put on this tour. Anybody who’s seen us before musically, because of the amount of music we have, visually, and then as far as we want to do sonically. I think it’s gonna be something that people will say it’s the best they’ve seen. And we still want to make it about the music, but at the same time, we have some other things to make sure everybody, no matter what seat you’re in in the house, no matter where you are – front, back, side, top – we want to make sure it’s a unique experience for everybody in there and that everybody in there feels like they’re a part of the show, and there’s not a bad seat in the house. We’ve thought about that ad nauseam, to make sure that regardless of where you are, without giving too much away surprise-wise, that you’ll be able to experience it and be a part of the show and share in that feeling from the stage.”