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  • LADY ANTEBELLUM WRAPS THE NORTH AMERICAN LEG OF THEIR ‘YOU LOOK GOOD WORLD TOUR’ IN NASHVILLE.

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    Lady Antebellum

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    Current two-time CMA nominee Lady Antebellum closed out the North American leg of their YOU LOOK GOOD WORLD TOUR tonight in front of a packed hometown crowd at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Kicking off with two of Country’s hottest rising stars Kelsea Ballerini and Brett Young, Music City was on their feet for more than four hours of jam-packed music including Lady A’s biggest chart-topping hits and new favorites off their CMA “Album of the Year” nominated No. One album, HEART BREAK (Capitol Records Nashville).

    “Without getting too nostalgic, this is a dream come true for us to close out this tour in Nashville,” said Charles Kelley. “For over 10 years, we have walked this journey with everyone here tonight and we couldn’t feel more blessed. Thank you to everyone who helped us make this tour the most unforgettable journey yet.”

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    With an incomparable welcome to the stage from their dominant horn section, Lady A launched into the night with their chart-topping hits along with “This City” as the stage was illuminated by a bright Nashville marquee. Continuing the momentum with their “buoyant” (Billboard) hit “You Look Good,” the augmented horn section included students from Nashville School of the Arts. With a memorable dedication to Don Williams and Troy Gentry, the multi-PLATINUM group offered up a stripped-down melody of Hillary Scott & The Scott Family’s Grammy award-winning No. One hit “Thy Will,” that swiftly led into Kelley’s critically acclaimed track “Leaving Nashville.” Scott invited Ballerini back to the stage one last time for a sizzling cover of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies,” while Young joined Kelley and Haywood for a spin on Tim McGraw’s song “Something Like That.” With a deafening crowd chanting for more, Lady A returned to the stage to close out the night with their No. One hit “Bartender” and Grammy-winning smash “Need You Now.”
    As one of Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone’s “must-see summer tour” comes to an end in North America, Lady Antebellum will prove they’re “back, with all the hit” (Chicago Tribune) overseas in October.

    “The true beauty of this multi-platinum supergroup can be found beyond the set list. Lady Antebellum exude an appreciation for their fans and a love of what they do.” – Buffalo News

    “The trumpet and trombone gave a new flavor to old tunes such as ‘Downtown,’ making the melody feel updated and familiar at the same time. Horns are a sound most haven’t heard in country music in quite a long time, and it helped the hit-making trio’s show stand out.” – Omaha World-Herald

    HEART BREAK follows more than 18 million units, nine No. One hits, ACM and CMA “Vocal Group of the Year” trophies three years in a row, and countless other honors including Billboard Music Awards, People’s Choice Awards and Teen Choice Awards. For more information visit www.ladyantebellum.com.

    Audio / Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott says touring with Kelsea Ballerini and Brett Young is like being on the road with family.

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    Lady A (touring with Kelsea and Brett) OC: …family. :35
    “We love to tour with our friends. They either start out as our friends or become our friends. I think Kelsea has been in my life for quite a few years now. She’s like a little sister to me, and I’ve known Brett just as an acquaintance. I know Charles and Brett and Dave and all of their bands and their crew, everybody’s just such a fun hang and there’s such a camaraderie within all three camps, but then all collectively, as well. So, it’s really easy. We have a blast. It’s very much like a big touring family.”

     

  • UMG ARTISTS REACT TO THE PASSING OF DON WILLIAMS AND TROY GENTRY.

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    The country music community is mourning the loss of two of their own. Country Music Hall of Famer Don Williams passed away at the age of 78 after a short illness. Nicknamed “The Gentle Giant,” some of his biggest hits included “Tulsa Time,” “I Believe in You” and “Amanda.” Montgomery Gentry‘s Troy Gentry was killed in a helicopter crash in New Jersey on Friday (September 8th). The duo is best known for their songs “Gone,” “Something to Be Proud Of,” “My Town” and “Hell Yeah.”

    Country stars reacted to the news:

    Audio / Keith Urban grew up listening to the music of Don Williams. He eventually was able to record with one of his idols on the song "Imagine That," which appears on the Country Music Hall of Famer's 2012 album, And So It Goes.

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    Keith Urban (Don Williams) OC: …
    “I just have the deepest, utmost respect for Don. He certainly singlehandledly was the inspiration of why, how I make records. They may not sound like Don Williams’ records, but the care and the importance that he placed on every song on making solid records completely inspires the way I make records, still to this day.”

    Audio / Keith Urban says his biggest influence would have to be Don Williams.

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    Keith Urban (Don Williams) 2 OC: …growing up. :05
    “Probably Don Williams — that’s really the artist I heard more than anybody else growing up.”

    Audio / Chris Stapleton talks about recording with Don Williams and being able to write a song for the late Country Music Hall of Famer. Chris and his wife Morgane also appeared on a tribute album, Gentle Giants: The Songs of Don Williams, which was released earlier this year.

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    Chris Stapleton (Don Williams) OC: …that much. 1:30
    “You know, I want a Don Williams’ cut. If I could get a Don Williams cut, I’d like to have that. And even if you don’t want to cut any of these songs, if you want me to snap or clap or hum or whistle a part on the record, I would like to do that because I would like to put ‘recorded with Don Williams’ on the ole resume. [laughs] He didn’t record any of the songs I sent which was disappointing, but then he called me and said, ‘Do you want to come and sing on this tune?’ Or Fundis did, Garth Fundis was making the record. I said, ‘Yeah, yeah, I’ll come sing. My father-in-law came with me just in case Don Williams showed up. I didn’t think Don was gonna be there. And I got in there and I don’t get starstruck, but I got starstruck, pretty much. It was Don Williams, you know, it was Don Williams sitting there hangin’ out in Garth Fundis’ basement, and I’m singing, trying to sing, attempting to sing on this song. But I can’t do it ’cause the whole time I’m just like Don’s getting on the talk back saying, ‘No, do this again.’ I’m just like, ‘This is Don Williams telling me what to sing here, [it’s] freaking me out.’ Normally, I can get through about any kind of singing in about 30 minutes, 45 minutes, and it took me about three hours to do that. [laughs] Just because I’m pretty sure it made me nervous, and I don’t get nervous, but that’s how much I wanted to be on a Don Williams’ record. Now thankfully, after that, the next record he made, they did record a song and I do have ‘song recorded by Don Williams’ on the resume too. But I love Don Williams that much.”

    Video / Chris Stapleton performing Don Williams' hit, "Amanda," on the Grand Ole Opry in 2013.

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  • KIP MOORE ‘SLOWHEART’ ALBUM AUDIO TOOLKIT.

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    Kip Moore

    Locate the Kip Moore Slowheart Album Audio Toolkit here.

  • SHANIA TWAIN’S ‘SOLDIER’ APPEARS IN THE NEW FILM, ‘THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.’

    Shania Twain

    Shania Twain’s song, “Soldier,” will be featured in the upcoming film, Thank You For Your Service. The film is about a group of U.S. soldiers returning home from Iraq, as they struggle to integrate back into family and civilian life, while living with the memory of a war that threatens to destroy them long after they’ve left the battlefield.

    The film stars Miles Teller, Haley Bennett, Joe Cole, Amy Schumer, Beulah Koale, Scott Haze, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Brad Beyer, Omar J. Dorsey and Jayson Warner Smith, and is based on the bestselling book by David Finkel.

    Thank You For Your Service hits theaters nationwide October 27th.

    “Soldier” is featured on Shania’s new deluxe album, Now, available September 29th.

     

    Video / Thank You For Your Service trailer

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  • GARY ALLAN JOINS OTHER MUSICIANS FOR THE ‘I’M LISTENING’ CAMPAIGN FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION.

    Press
    Gary Allan

    Gary Allan is set to join a group of musicians and celebrities in the launch of Entercom’s “I’m Listening” Campaign for mental health and suicide prevention. The campaign includes a two-hour on-air special that will be broadcast live from Seattle on World Suicide Prevention Day, Sunday, September 10, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. CT / 8:00 a.m. MT / 7:00 a.m. PT across all Entercom platforms, a first in the company’s history. You can also tune in on www.imlistening.org. Additionally, the campaign includes suicide prevention PSAs, on-air promos and live conversation airing on Entercom stations.

     

    The two-hour live special will focus on personal stories from artists and celebrities while offering help and resources to listeners via a live call-in option. The conversation will be led by BJ Shea, Entercom Seattle KISW-FM on-air personality, and will feature guests such as Christine Moutier, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Dr. Ursula Whiteside, clinical psychologist, CEO of NowMattersNow.org.

     

    Musicians and celebrities connected to the cause are coming together to help end the stigma connected to talking about mental health. The personalities scheduled to appear during the special program include Metallica; Sarah Barthel, Phantogram; Krist Novoselic, Nirvana; Logic; William DuVall, Alice In Chains; Halsey; Michael Angelakos, Passion Pit; David Draiman, Disturbed; LeRoy Butler, former NFL player for the Green Bay Packers; Kristen Carney, Mentally Ch(ill) Podcast; James Arthur; Gary Allan; Khalid; Jack Antonoff, Bleachers; Justin Furstenfeld, Blue October; and legendary music producer Bob Ezrin; among others.

     

    “No matter who you are, you have a powerful role to play in preventing suicide. We’re at a point in time where so many people, including celebrities and musicians, have opened up about their experience with mental health or their loss to suicide. That brave act of opening up about mental health challenges has helped to shape the culture. Now it’s time to deepen our knowledge and learn what to do if you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one. The ability each of us has to make people in our lives feel valued can’t be underestimated,” said Dr. Christine Moutier, AFSP Chief Medical Officer.

     

    The topics to be discussed during the special include what all of us can do to prevent suicide, how to talk to friends and family about mental health and suicide, what to do if you or someone you know is struggling with depression, how to get involved in suicide prevention in your local community and where to go to learn more about the cause.

     

    “Like so many millions of people, my family has dealt with mental illness. Until very recently, most people kept quiet about the experience,” said Pat Paxton, President of Programming, Entercom. “‘I’m Listening’ aims to end the stigma of talking about mental health and is the result of all of our stations uniting to offer hope to those affected and the friends and family supporting them. As a media broadcaster, we know that talk saves lives and that is exactly what this show is about – saving lives.”

     

    According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one in five adults in the U.S., or 43.8 million people experience mental illness in a given year, and one in five youths aged 13–18 years old experiences a severe mental disorder at some point during their life. We know from the CDC that suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States and the only one in the top ten that is on the rise. Among those aged 10-24, suicide is the third leading cause of death. Mental health affects everyone regardless of culture, race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.

     

    For more information about the campaign, please visit www.ImListening.org. For additional assets, click here for photos and here for videos. Follow the conversation on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #ImListening.

     

    If someone you know is going through a crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.

  • KIP MOORE’S ‘SLOWHEART’ IS AVAILABLE NOW!

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    Kip Moore

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    Multi-PLATINUM singer/songwriter Kip Moore‘s highly-anticipated and already-revered third studio album SLOWHEART is available everywhere today (9/8.) Kicking off release week, Moore will head to New York on 9/11 to perform his current Top 10 single “More Girls Like You” live on national TV on TODAY at 9am EST on NBC. While in the city, Moore will also perform and chat about the new release for an AOL Build Series livestream on 9/12 at 5.30pm EST; watch here. In the build up to the release, Moore has also teased fans offering advance listens to the album via NPR’s First Listen as well as live sessions with Billboard and Paste & Daytrotter Music.

    Moore’s most unflinching, distinct testimony yet, with co-producer, songwriter and instrumental credits thoughout the LP, critics have been quick to praise the release of SLOWHEART.

    “The record, which, as a whole, takes as many cues from rock as it does country, with soulful detours (“Blonde”), melodic anthems (“Bittersweet Company”), and radio-ready sing-alongs (lead single “More Girls Like You”) peppered throughout. Produced primarily by Moore himself, SLOWHEART is his most complete, cohesive declaration of his artistic sensibilities yet.” – American Songwriter 

    “Kip Moore has been up all night, he’s been a wild one, but in 2017, he’s a slowheart. The titles of his albums have always been at least somewhat indicative of where he’s at in his life, and his third LP, SLOWHEART, shines a light on his more sensitive side” – Billboard

    “A thoroughly vital, 13-song collection…It’s not that Moore avoids contemporary country conventions. He enlivens them by injecting self-awareness or playing up the tensions between country and rock’s various masculine ideals.” – NPR

    “As much influenced by a longtime love of Southern rock as traditional country music, SLOWHEART is the sound of an uncompromising, genre-defying artist firing on all cylinders.” – Noisey

    “Between the rough edges of Americana, rock and the evocative storytelling of country, produced to let every guitar lick ring true and every edge and wail of Moore’s voice reverberate raw but strong” – Rolling Stone

    “Moore blends the passion and connection for which he’s known with a new self-awareness that will speak to both commercial and underground audiences.” – USA Today

    Moore has hit his stride with SLOWHEART, and his current Top 10 single “More Girls Like You,” is the fastest rising single of his career and is receiving praise from critics such as Entertainment Weekly declaring he “has made a name for himself weaving vignettes of Southern, blue-collar life and love into rollicking country anthems.” SLOWHEART follows the acclaim that surrounded his sophomore album WILD ONES heralded as “an impressively singular release from Music Row” by The Guardian. Moore first turned heads with his debut album UP ALL NIGHT which was recently certified Double-PLATINUM by the RIAA and spawned three No. One hit singles including GOLD certified “Beer Money,” PLATINUM certified “Hey Pretty Girl,” and the DOUBLE PLATINUM breakout hit “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck.”

    Kip is set to launch his Plead the Fifth Tour October 19th in Bowling Green, Ohio with opening acts Jordan Davis and Drake White, as well as headlining dates in U.K this fall. For more information and a full list of tour dates visit kipmoore.net.

    Audio / Kip Moore says that making Slowheart was a more peaceful experience for him.

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    Kip Moore (At Peace Making Album) OC: . . . a little different. :41
    “It was simply a more peace making this record because I finally learned through the ups and downs of Wild Ones that I had a fan base that was true, they were truly fans and I felt they were latching on to the honesty, so I felt more open about showing whatever vulnerabilities I had, whatever directions I wanted to go. I could take them on whatever journey I wanted, and as long as I felt I stayed true to myself, I had a sense of peace that they were gonna come along for the ride. So, I felt like that shined through in the project, and I felt like I was a little more at peace making this project so the melodies came out a little different.”

    Audio / Kip Moore talks about producing the majority of Slowheart by himself.

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    Kip Moore (Co-producing) OC: …in my head. :53
    “I co-produced Up All Night and Wild Ones, and I co-produced three or four of them on this record with David Garcia but I produced the rest by myself. The reason I wanted to do this record just by myself producing for the most part is I live with these songs for months and months and months, and the way I write, too, is I hear the entire musical layout in my head. What I do is I sing all the guitar parts in a voice recorder and then I’ll sing the bass line and then I’ll sing the drum grooves and then I’ll sing the backgrounds, and I’ll stack all this stuff, and then I go in and I learn those parts, so there’s an entire blueprint of the whole song. There’s no butting heads with anybody about . . . No, this is the way that I’ve got it in my head. I just felt like on this particular record, this was such a personal record for me, I wanted it to come out like I had it in my head and it’s come out just like I had it in my head.”

    Audio / Kip Moore talks about naming his new album Slowheart.

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    Kip Moore (Naming Album Slowheart) OC: … said, ‘It’s Slowheart.’ :27
    “It felt that now was the right time. This record took a year and a half to make, so it was a slow process, and also the visual aspect of the record – everything matched cohesively. Even the album cover is the laid back feel of ‘I’m observing something before I make my move on something,’ so it was all that that kind of fit to where I knew that it was . . . I woke up one morning and said, ‘It’s Slowheart.’”

    Audio / LINER Kip Moore (SH available now)

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  • KIP MOORE AND TONY HAWK’S MUSIC CITY SKATE JAM WILL RAISE FUNDS FOR HURRICANE RELIEF.

    Press
    Kip Moore

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    Kip Moore and international skateboarding champion Tony Hawk have announced today that their upcoming “MUSIC CITY SKATE JAM PRESENTED BY HARLEY-DAVIDSON,” will also help hurricane-affected communities, in light of recent events. Set to take place at Music City Walk Of Fame Park in Nashville, TN on September 10th, entry to the event will now be free with the aim to encourage attendees to donate. Through Moore’s “Kip’s Kids Fund” and Hawk’s “Tony Hawk Foundation,” fans can help support skatepark communities and those affected by the recent disasters. The event will offer a skate demo by Hawk as well as performances by Jordan Davis, Dee Jay Silver and will close out with a set by Moore. For more information and to donate visit here.

     

    About Kip Moore And “Kip’s Kids Fund:”

    Multi-PLATINUM singer/songwriter Kip Moore is gearing up for the release of his “thoroughly vital” (NPR) third studio album on MCA Nashville, SLOWHEART, available this Friday 9/8. Co-written by Moore, his current Top 10 single and the lead track “More Girls Like You,” is the fastest rising single of his career so far and is receiving praise from critics such as Entertainment Weekly declaring he “has made a name for himself weaving vignettes of Southern, blue-collar life and love into rollicking country anthems.” The release of “More Girls Like You” follows the acclaim that surrounded his sophomore album WILD ONES heralded as “an impressively singular release from Music Row” by The Guardian. Moore first turned heads with his debut album UP ALL NIGHT which was certified GOLD by the RIAA and spawned three No. One hit singles including GOLD certified “Beer Money,” PLATINUM certified “Hey Pretty Girl,” and the DOUBLE PLATINUM breakout hit “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck.” Moore’s “Comeback Kid Skatepark Project” raising funds for “Kip’s Kids Fund” was born as a passion project, with the goal of finding an outlet to showcase Moore’s love for the alternative sports lifestyle, and his desire to help inner city children. Phase one cities of the project included building and developing skateparks in Nashville, TN; Boston, MA; San Marcos, TX; Cincinnati, OH and Annapolis, MD. The “Comeback Kid Skatepark Project” is the first initiative of “Kip’s Kids Fund,” a donor-advised fund through The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) focused on youth and teens. As a result, the “Kip’s Kid Fund” provides alternative outlets for youth to engage in healthy habits and physical activities like skateboarding, in addition to the traditional sports offerings where they live. For more information visit: kipmoore.net.

     

    About Tony Hawk Foundation:

    A charitable, non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk. THF promotes and provides technical assistance and funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States that promote healthy, active lifestyles, and to International programs that enrich the lives of youth through skateboarding. Domestically, the foundation’s Skatepark Grant program has awarded over $5.7 million to 588 communities in all 50 states. The foundation focuses on working with local officials and grassroots, community-based organizations that plan to hire designers and contractors with strong experience designing and building skateparks. The foundation’s International Program has provided financial and technical support to assist youth through the Skateistan educational programs in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and South Africa (www.skateistan.org). The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, industry donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. For more information or to make a donation, visit the foundation’s website at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org. You can also visit THF on facebook and Instagram @tonyhawkfoundation, and on Twitter @THF.

  • LUKE BRYAN WILL BE JOINED BY SAM HUNT AND BLAKE SHELTON DURING THE NEXT CRASH MY PLAYA.

    Press
    Luke Bryan / Sam Hunt
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    Country Music superstar Luke Bryan, along with CID Presents, is proud to welcome Sam Hunt and Blake Shelton for the fourth-annual Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa. Shelton and Hunt will each headline one of the nightly concerts on the beach, with Luke Bryan giving fans two headlining performances during the all-inclusive concert vacation set for January 17th-20th, 2018 in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
     
    “Blake and Sam are two of the hottest artists in country music and I couldn’t be any more pumped that they have agreed to come join me this year. I swear this event just gets better and better each year!” said Luke.
     
    “It’s a dream come true to go back to Mexico to join my BFF Luke for Crash My Playa. We had such a blast playing together last year that I’d come back every year if he’d let me,” said Blake Shelton.
     
    After three sold-out years in a row, limited packages remain for the fourth installment of country music’s hottest destination event. Fans can stay at the event’s host resort, the Barceló Maya, or opt for one of several carefully selected tropical resorts and enjoy royal treatment all weekend long – all-inclusive food and drink, 24-hour concierge service, daily onsite activities, offsite adventures like deep sea fishing, zip-lining, and ATV tours, excursions including day trips to Tulum, official Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa merchandise packages, and more. Additional artists, details about poolside performances and more exciting event updates will be revealed soon. To see highlights from 2017’s event go to http://crashmyplaya.com/cmp-2017.
     
    Packages can be secured utilizing a payment plan of two-thirds down, with the remaining balance due in two equal payments on September 16th and October 16th. For more information about Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa2018 and to book four or five night all-inclusive packages, please visit: www.crashmyplaya.com.
    About Sam Hunt
    Hunt is a Grammy® Award-nominee, American Music Award winner and MCA Nashville breakout star who has established a name for himself and is one of music’s most talked about talents. On February 1, 2017, Hunt released his latest single “Body Like a Backroad” which landed on the Billboard “Hot 100” chart as his highest debuting single. It also premiered at No. 1 on iTunes charts. Since, the single has smashed records, becoming the fastest country song to ever reach 100 million and 200 million streams. It has become an RIAA-certified triple platinum hit, and has broken a record six decades in the making spending 25 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
    His debut album on MCA Nashville, Montevallo, is the best-selling debut album from a country artist since 2011. The album featured the No. 1 smash single, “Leave the Night On,” as well as other No. 1 singles, “Take your Time” and “House Party.” Called “stylistically provocative” by The New York Times and “deceptively phenomenal” by The Washington Post, Hunt is one of Rolling Stone’s “Artists You Need to Know.” Since the 2014 release of Montevello, Hunt has accrued over 2.5 billion streams and has earned an additional 10.5 million units in RIAA single certifications. Currently, Hunt is touring for his first ever full headlining tour, “15 in a 30.” The 29 city tour features Maren Morris, Chris Janson and Ryan Follese as guests and will wrap in October 2017. Throughout its run, the show sold out shows in multiple cities.
    For more information and upcoming tour dates, please visit http://www.samhunt.com/tour/ and follow: @SamHuntMusic.
     
    About Luke Bryan
    Luke is a two-time Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year, a five-time host of the ACM Awards and the 2017 Super Bowl LI National anthem performer. He has sold over 10 million albums, 40 million tracks and garnered three Billion music streams. He debuted a new single “Light It Up” last week, which is the first song off a new album due out later this year. Luke’s concert tours have consistently sold out shows across North America including many NFL Stadiums like the Patriot’s Gillette Stadium, Chicago’s Soldier Field, Cleveland’s First Energy Stadium, the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Denver’s Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Ford Field in Detroit, home of the Vikings at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field, and Levi Stadium in San Francisco. In the last three years, Luke has performed for 5.6 Million fans on tour and is currently touring across the U.S on his “Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day Tour” through October.
    Visit www.LukeBryan.com or follow Luke on Twitter @LukeBryanOnline, Instagram and Facebook

  • DIERKS BENTLEY HOSTS 750K FANS ON HIS ‘WHAT THE HELL TOUR.’

    Press
    Dierks Bentley
    Current CMA “Male Vocalist of the Year” nominee Dierks Bentley’s 2017 WHAT THE HELL WORLD TOUR wrapped this past weekend, after consistently ushering crowds of 25,000+, the biggest of his career, while notching more than 60 shows at arenas and amphitheaters across the country since January. Bentley “has always been one of Country’s most engaging performers…with enough hits to fill an entire set,” (Asbury Park Park Press) and earned the top spot on Billboard‘s “Hot Tours” list now having sold more than 750,000 tickets this year to date. 
     
    “This tour has been one of those experiences you wait for your entire life,” said Bentley. “To the fans and all the people who filled every seat in the house, who stood on their feet for hours and spent their hard-earned money to come see a show, you have made this an unforgettable journey. It’s going to be weird not having Cole and Pardi around, but I can’t thank those guys enough for coming along for this ride. Night after night the crowds were more explosive than the last…it will be a really hard year to top!”
    “Bentley’s raucously entertaining tour” (Rolling Stone) made “sure the fans had an experience they’ll never forget,” (Billboard) from impromptu bluegrass sets in disguise, dancing in aisles with security guards to touching salutes for military members. Bentley’s 2017 WHAT THE HELL WORLD TOUR thrived in spontaneous moments keeping fans on their feet until the very last note was played each night. Bentley challenged himself to cover George Strait at every stop with Jon Pardi and he invited Cole Swindell back to the stage during his set to perform their chart-topping hit, “Flatliner.” Memorable shows included his first headlining night at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena with a sold-out crowd, a first-ever arena play and capacity hometown show at Phoenix’s Talking Stick Resort Arena and two sold out nights at Red Rocks. With “his nightly goal to make sure the crowd is having as much fun as he and his band are having onstage” (Music Row), select shows hosted friends such as Elle King, Kelsea Ballerini, Cindy Crawford, the Phoenix Suns dancers and Peyton Manning.
     
    “He’s really good at speaking to – not at – the audience, drawing them deeper into the more emotional moments in the set while his five bandmates effortlessly navigate the changing moods on a multi-tiered stage with the drums at the top and elaborate lighting rigs.” – Arizona Republic
     
    “Whether Bentley’s playing bluegrass in the evening or country after the sun goes down, he’s grateful for every minute he spends on the music.” – CMT
     
    “Not only is Bentley one of country music’s biggest stars  — he’s also one of its longest-reigning names.” – San Diego Union Tribune
     
    “The country star ran around the stage as he attempted to touch all the bases of the tens of thousands of fans begging for his attention.” – MLive
     
    “The most important thing to Bentley is that no city gets less of a show then the next.” – Billboard
     
    “With one foot planted on the country side and the other tapping along the rock and roll side, Dierks Bentley roared with a fun, solid two hours of his hits old and new.” – The Sun Chronicle
     
    “Few artists in country put on a show with the energy, passion and all out fun that Dierks Bentley does.” – Whiskey Riff
     
    “With all the quality party songs, Bentley made this Thursday evening feel a whole lot like a Saturday night.” – Country Standard Time
    The “regular hit-making machine,” (Mercury News) has a “reputation as one of the hardest-working entertainers in country music,” (Music Row) as “he sells out enormous tours, is a perennial favorite of format radio stations, and earns critical acclaim without compromising his artistic vision,” (Entertainment Weekly). With 17 No. One hits and more than one billion digital streams he “continues to take risks that pay off,” (USA Today) as his eighth studio album BLACK has been hailed the “most fully-formed LP of his career,” (TIME). BLACK has garnered nominations from the ACM, CMA, GRAMMY and Billboard Music Awards while earning three consecutive No. Ones; the GOLD certified title-track and the PLATINUM certified hits “Somewhere On A Beach” and “Different For Girls.” For more information visit www.dierks.com.

  • GEORGE STRAIT’S HURRICANE HARVEY RELIEF BENEFIT SET FOR SEPTEMBER 12TH.

    Chris Stapleton / George Strait

    Announced Tuesday on Good Morning America, telethon Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Harvey Relief has been set to aid those affected by Hurricane Harvey on Tuesday, Sept. 12th. The one-hour special will feature celebrity participants and performances including songs from Country Music icon and Texas native George Strait, live from his benefit concert at San Antonio’s Majestic Theatre. Joining him includes 6-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert, reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Chris Stapleton, 4x GRAMMY Award winner Lyle Lovett and Texas Heritage Songwriter Hall of Fame member Robert Earl Keen. Select performances from Majestic Theatre will air on ABC, CBS, CMT, Fox and NBC on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. EST on the East Coast and replay on the West Coast at 8 p.m. PST. The telethon broadcast as well as Strait’s Hand in Hand Texas show will also be available internationally via live stream on Facebook.

    Strait, a Country Music Hall of Fame member, pledged to lead the country music world with this concert serving as the start of his ongoing relief efforts, with all proceeds from the show benefiting Rebuild Texas Fund thanks to event sponsor Cavender Auto Family and with assistance from the Majestic Theatre, Ticketmaster, VER, Bill Young Productions and the City of San Antonio.

    Tickets to Strait’s Hand in Hand Texas show at Majestic Theatre will go on sale Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017 at 10 a.m. CST at Ticketmaster.com.

    Proceeds from the one-hour telethon will benefit United Way of Greater Houston, Habitat for Humanity, Save the Children, Direct Relief, Feeding Texas, The Mayor’s Fund for Hurricane Harvey Relief (administered by the Greater Houston Community Fund) and RebuildTx.org through the Hand in Hand Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund managed by Comic Relief Inc.

    Phone lines, text messaging, and digital donations will be open at the beginning of the show and will conclude one-hour after the show ends. For more information, updates and a link to donate, please visit handinhand2017.com.

    Den of Thieves will produce the multi-location telethon.

    About Rebuild Texas Fund
    The Rebuild Texas Fund is built to help the many families and communities across Texas that have been devastated by Hurricane Harvey. Michael and Susan Dell launched the fund with their foundation – the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation – to support the long-term recovery and rebuilding of these communities. The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation will support community partners in four initial focus areas – health and housing; schools and child care; workforce and transportation; and capital for rebuilding small businesses. An unprecedented natural disaster in the state of Texas requires an unprecedented effort in recovery. Together with partners, individuals and businesses, Michael and Susan Dell aim to coordinate $100 million towards relief and rebuilding for years to come. More information about the Rebuild Texas Fund is available at www.RebuildTX.org.

    About Cavender Auto Family
    James “Big Jim” Cavender opened his first automobile dealership in 1939 in San Antonio, Texas. More than 75 years later, the award-winning Cavender Auto Family has grown to include Cavender Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Land Rover and Toyota dealerships and service centers across South and Central Texas. The franchise, today proudly owned and operated by third and fouth generation Cavenders, employs more than 800 automotive professionals, and stands firmly on Jim Cavender’s time-tested philosophy of putting people first. That’s why generations of South Texans have come to know that “Confidence is Cavender.”