Darius Rucker may be no stranger to “Radio” – heck, it’s the title of his latest hit! But he’s the first to admit that – after years of success as a singer-songwriter and as frontman for Hootie and The Blowfish — country radio and country music truly feel like “home” to him. “This is where I’m supposed to be,” he says. “It feels like a perfect evolution of my life and my career.”  In fact, country music feels so much like home that you won’t find Darius going elsewhere. “People ask me what I’m going to do next, and I say, ‘Retire!’” All of us “true believers” know that next step won’t be coming any time soon!

Darius Rucker says he’s “home” in country music. (:30)
“This is – I’m home. This is where I’m supposed to be. I always said that I thought I was destined to do something really cool and something great, and…not that Hootie and the Blowfish wasn’t cool and great, because it was! But…I thought that I was supposed to [be] making a mark in some kind of music and country was it. It feels like a perfect evolution of my life and my career. This is where I’m supposed to be, and that’s why – people always ask me what I’m going to do next, and I say, ‘Retire! I’m going to be with my kids.’”

In his recent chart-topper “A Little Bit of Everything,” Keith Urban may have been singing the line “Now I don’t need a garage full of cars,” but he may not have entirely meant it! What do we mean by that? Well, it seems Keith has a thing for cars – he just can’t get enough of them, and that often shows up in his music. “The car thing features heavily in a lot of my songs,” Keith admits. “I love cars. And I love listening to music in cars. I love all the ‘moments’ – all kinds of moments – that we humans experience only in cars.” What kind of moments? How about everything from “arguments and makeup sessions [to] make-out sessions”! And if you don’t believe that cars are always turning up in Keith’s music, just turn up his new duet with Miranda Lambert. “We Were Us” includes mentions of “low beam lights” and a time when “money was gas and dreams were dust” – there’s even a “backseat promise” and a “floorboard feeling”!

Keith Urban admits he has a thing for cars…which often finds its way into his music! (:25)
“The car thing features heavily in a lot of my songs because I just love – I love cars. And I love listening to music in cars. I love all the ‘moments’ – all kinds of moments – that we humans experience only in cars, you know…as couples and arguments and makeup sessions and make-out sessions and everything. I just love everything to do with cars!”

GEORGE STRAIT: “Write This Down”
Considering all he’s accomplished in his career – 60 number-one country hits, membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame and…most recently…a CMA Entertainer of the Year nomination that makes him the most-nominated artist in the history of the event – is it possible that George Strait could have any regrets about the path his life and music have taken? You might be surprised to discover the answer to that question is “yes.” “If I have one, [it’s] that I kind of quit writing for years,” the King admits. “Starting out, I loved to write…and then I just kind of got away from it.” In recent years, George’s albums have frequently included his name among the songwriting credits, often alongside his son, Bubba. “I’m enjoying that a lot,” he says with a smile. “It’s a lot of fun.”

George Strait reveals his one-and-only professional regret. (:28)
“If I have one regret, you know, in my career – which has been great, and it’s hard to come up with one. But, if I have one [it’s] that I kind of quit writing for years. Because starting out, I loved to write and wrote a lot and…and then I just kind of got away from it. I found great songs from great writers in Nashville. But now I’m getting back into it more, so I’m enjoying that a lot. I’m writing with my son and other writers, so it’s a lot of fun.”

With a CMA New Artist of the Year nomination in his hands and three huge hit singles to his credit – two of them gold and one that’s platinum – Kip Moore is laying the groundwork for his new album. Kip says the follow-up to Up All Night is shaping up to be a little different than his debut release. “The first album was a very nostalgic, ‘looking back’ record,” he explains. “I was drawing on my life in the past, on all the things I’d been through.” As he writes and starts to record future hits for you to hear, Kip is discovering “This new record – because my life has changed, and I’m seeing things I would’ve never seen – is a more ‘in the present’ record.” We can’t wait to hear it – especially since Kip adds, “It’s a much more intense record…sonically, lyrically.”

Kip Moore gives fans a glimpse of what’s to come on his next album. (:32)
“The first album was a very nostalgic, ‘looking back’ record. At that point, I was drawing on my life in the past, on all the things I’d been through, kinda…where this new record – because my life has changed, and I’m seeing things I would’ve never seen – is a more ‘in the present’ record. And it’s just – it’s a much more intense record…sonically, lyrically. It’s just a different record. The way I’m saying things is different than the way I said them on the first. But for the most part, the intensity of this record is very different than the first. And it’s much more in the present.”

Alan Jackson is releasing new music this week. The Bluegrass Album is something a little different for Alan – it’s 14 songs, recorded acoustically with a band that’s comprised of some of the bluegrass world’s top-notch musicians. And though it may be a “new” sound given that this is the first bluegrass album Alan’s ever recorded, he says fans shouldn’t find The Bluegrass Album to be any sort of drastic departure from the kind of music they know and love from him – “If you listen to my music…I’ve always had dobros and banjo and mandolin in a lot of my songs.” Alan says he’s always been a fan of the bluegrass sound – ever since he was a kid seeing bluegrass musicians featured on TV programs like The Andy Griffith Show – “I appreciate the realness of it.” The Bluegrass Album is available this week.

Alan Jackson says he’s been a fan of bluegrass music for a long time. (:21)
“I appreciate the realness of it. And if you listen to my music, I’ve always – a lot of my songs, if you took the drums off and the steel guitar and electric guitar, it’d be bluegrass. I’ve always had dobros and banjo and mandolin in a lot of my songs along the way.”

Darius Rucker is no stranger to the radio – he’s had songs reach the top of the charts plenty of times, thanks to DJs who play his music and fans like you who request his songs. And these days – while he’s singing about “Radio” is his new hit single of the same name – he believes it’s his love of radio that’s earned him a place “on the air.” “I was always a radio kid,” Darius recalls, as he remembers listening to variety of artists and styles while growing up. “It was never ‘hip-hop’ or ‘country’ or ‘rock’ – it was just music,” he explains. “I always looked at it that way. And that’s why I’m sitting here right now, I think.”

Darius’ new hit “Radio” is from his True Believers album.

Darius Rucker can’t remember a time when he didn’t enjoy listening to music on the radio. (:26)
“I was always a radio kid. You know, it was everything from Boston to Kenny Rogers to, you know, I guess when I was 17 it was a little bit of everything – whatever I liked on the radio. That’s the reason I’ve had success in rock and pop, and now I’m having success in country – because it was always just music to me. It was never ‘hip-hop’ or ‘country’ or ‘rock’ – it was just music. And so, I always looked at it that way. And that’s why I’m sitting here right now, I think.’

ERIC PASLAY FEATURED ON ABC’S NIGHTLINE SEPTEMBER 25

Top 25 Single “Friday Night” Included in Weekly ESPN College Football Friday Primetime Broadcasts

Nashville, TN (September 24, 2013) – EMI Records Nashville’s Eric Paslay (pass-lay) will be featured on ABC’s Nightline on Wednesday, September 25 (12:37pm ET).  Nightline correspondent Juju Chang shadowed Eric in a day in the life type segment that focuses on what it takes for an artist to become the next breakout country star.  Paslay will release his debut album in early 2014.

Paslay’s Top 25 single “Friday Night” is also being included in weekly ESPN College Football Friday Primetime Broadcasts.  The hit single was written by Eric with Rose Falcon and Rob Crosby. 

In addition to his three No. one singles (“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” performed by the Eli Young Band, “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” performed by Jake Owen” and Angel Eyes” performed by Love & Theft), Paslay has been nominated for multiple awards for his songwriting including GRAMMY Best Country Song, ACM Song of the Year and CMA Song of the Year.  He was awarded the ASCAP 2012 County Music Song of the Year for his hit “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” and the CMA Triple Play Award for writing three No. one songs in one year.

Eric will be on the road with the Eli Young Band on their DRUNK LAST NIGHT Fall/Winter Tour.

To say that Kacey Musgraves is having a great year may be an understatement – it seems like every week brings something new and different for her! Take the coming few weeks for example – this weekend, she’ll perform for fans in Nashville as part of the Zac Brown Band’s Southern Ground Music and Food Festival…next month, she’s been asked by Katy Perry to be part of a major Los Angeles concert that will serve as a fundraiser for young women who’re facing breast cancer…and a couple weeks after that, she’ll walk into the CMA Awards as one of the night’s leading nominees! And this is on top of touring the country all year opening shows for folks like Kenny Chesney and Little Big Town! “It’s really hard for me to pick one thing that has been just ‘the’ highlight,” Kacey admits. “It’s really all unbelievable, and I’m thankful for every bit of it.”

Kacey Musgraves admits she’s having an amazing year filled with unforgettable moments. (:22)
“It’s really hard for me to pick one thing that has been just ‘the’ highlight. I feel like sometimes that I get stuck trying to be thankful for the thing that happened to me, you know, a month or two ago, let alone this week! It’s really all unbelievable, and I’m thankful for every bit of it. I mean, I’ve gotten to – just at the very simplest – travel the world and see so many different kinds of people and places.”

CHRIS STAPLETON OFFERS VIP ACCESS TO CONCERTS IN “GET CLEARED WITH 
YOUR BEARD” CAMPAIGN

Nashville, TN – Sept. 23, 2013 – GRAMMY nominated singer/songwriter and professional hair grower Chris Stapleton is calling on his fans to submit photos of their facial hair via social media for the chance to win a place on his guest list at one of his shows, beginning with Joe’s Bar in Chicago on Sept. 27.  The ongoing campaign, “Get Cleared With Your Beard,” launched today and encourages fans to get creative with their submissions.  

“It’s funny, I get a lot of questions right off the bat from fans about my beard, which always makes for a great conversation starter…we just get straight down to the personal stuff,” laughed Stapleton.  “I decided to have some fun with it and celebrate the beard…women too!  If your husband or boyfriend or brother, or even your grandma has a beard and you are proud of it, then send in your photos!”  

Fans can submit photos of their beard with the hashtag #GetClearedWithYourBeard to Stapleton’s Facebook ( facebook.com/chrisstapletonofficial), Twitter ( @ChrisStapleton) or Instagram ( @CAStapleton).

Visit   www.ChrisStapleton.com, facebook.com/chrisstapletonofficial, twitter.com/ChrisStapleton or instagram.com/CAStapleton for more information.