• KEITH URBAN TAKES YOU BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF HIS RECENT ‘ALL FOR THE HALL’ BENEFIT. (VIDEO)

    This Urban Developments episode takes you inside All 4 The Hall 2013 Rebels & Renegades! This year’s event, which also featured Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins, Willie Nelson, Kid Rock, Montgomery Gentry and Kris Kristofferson, plus many more, raised more than $650,000 for the Country Music Hall of Fame.

    Video / Urban Developments - Episode 130 - All 4 The Hall 2013

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  • ERIC PASLAY’S ‘FRIDAY NIGHT’ HITS THE AIRWAVES IN A BIG WAY! (PRESS RELEASE)

    Nashville, TN (April 23, 2013) – EMI Records Nashville’s Eric Paslay (pass-lay) released his new single “Friday Night” to Country radio this week which was the second most added song behind Carrie Underwood.  The Texas native, who has co-written three No. one singles in the last year, co-wrote “Friday Night” with Rose Falcon and Rob Crosby and it was produced by Marshall Altman.  “Friday Night” is currently available for digital purchase (http://smarturl.it/cp7gxq). 

    “I didn’t think I could love a Friday Night more than I already did,” shares Paslay.  “No. two most added is amazing! Thanks to Country Radio! I hope fans feel the same way I do right now when they hear “Friday Night” for the first time.”

    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.

  • KEITH URBAN’S ‘ALL FOR THE HALL’ SHOW BRINGS BIG BUCKS. (PRESS RELEASE)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 23, 2013 According to information released today by the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, Keith Urban’s April 16th All 4 the Hall 2013 benefit concert netted nearly $650,000, bringing the event’s four-year total to more than $2 million.  Nearly 14,000 fans packed Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to enjoy the one-of-a-kind show.

    “This year’s All 4 the Hall show was the biggest and best ever,” said Museum Director Kyle Young.  “Keith’s theme for the concert, ‘Rebels and Renegades,’ was an inspired celebration of artistic freedom; to have Country Music Hall of Famers Vince, Kris and Willie; legends Rosanne, Jessi, Billy Joe and Hank; and current superstars Keith, Jason, Eric, Tim, Trace, Brantley, Montgomery Gentry, Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock sharing one stage on this museum’s behalf is inspiring and humbling.

    “Keith and Vince continue to demonstrate that they are two of country music’s best custodians,” Young continued.  “The funds this show generates go directly to support museum exhibits, school and public programs, and the care of our collection, and we are beyond grateful for their efforts.”

                Proceeds from All 4 the Hall will be invested in the care of the institution’s rare and unduplicated collection, in its vigorous schedule of school and public programs, and in enhancements for its core exhibition.  

              All 4 the Hall 2013 was sponsored by City National Bank, with additional support from Ford Motor Company/Middle Tennessee Ford Dealers. Nearly 90 corporate and individual partners, listed below, played a role in the benefit by contributing products, time or funds.  

  • KEITH URBAN’S ‘ALL FOR THE HALL’ SHOW BRINGS BIG BUCKS. (PRESS RELEASE)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 23, 2013 According to information released today by the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, Keith Urban’s April 16th All 4 the Hall 2013 benefit concert netted nearly $650,000, bringing the event’s four-year total to more than $2 million.  Nearly 14,000 fans packed Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to enjoy the one-of-a-kind show.

    “This year’s All 4 the Hall show was the biggest and best ever,” said Museum Director Kyle Young.  “Keith’s theme for the concert, ‘Rebels and Renegades,’ was an inspired celebration of artistic freedom; to have Country Music Hall of Famers Vince, Kris and Willie; legends Rosanne, Jessi, Billy Joe and Hank; and current superstars Keith, Jason, Eric, Tim, Trace, Brantley, Montgomery Gentry, Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock sharing one stage on this museum’s behalf is inspiring and humbling.

    “Keith and Vince continue to demonstrate that they are two of country music’s best custodians,” Young continued.  “The funds this show generates go directly to support museum exhibits, school and public programs, and the care of our collection, and we are beyond grateful for their efforts.”

                Proceeds from All 4 the Hall will be invested in the care of the institution’s rare and unduplicated collection, in its vigorous schedule of school and public programs, and in enhancements for its core exhibition.  

              All 4 the Hall 2013 was sponsored by City National Bank, with additional support from Ford Motor Company/Middle Tennessee Ford Dealers. Nearly 90 corporate and individual partners, listed below, played a role in the benefit by contributing products, time or funds.  

  • GARY ALLAN HITS THE GREENS IN HIS KNICKERS. (AUDIO)

    We all know Gary Allan – being from California – loves to surf some waves, but what you may not have known is he loves to hit the links for a round or two of golf. His love for the game began when his guitar player wanted to go golfing for his birthday, so Gary and his band took lessons and played 18 holes…which turned into a major hobby for them all. In fact, Gary joined a country club in Nashville and encouraged his band to do the same so they could have a place to play in town.

    The only issue was their attire, for which they took a tongue-in-cheek approach. “We didn’t have any clothes to get into the country club, [laughs] ‘cause you have to dress like an accountant pretty much,” laughs Gary. “So, we thought it’d be more fun to buy knickers and make fun of the dress code, so that’s what we do.”

    When he’s not lugging his clubs around, Gary is on stage performing many of his hits including his latest single, “Pieces.”

    AUDIO: Gary Allan explains how he got into golf and describes his golf attire.

    Gary Allan (golf attire) OC: …like us. :31
    “We all wear knickers when we golf. When it started, it was my guitar players birthday, ‘cause none of us golfed. I said, ‘What do you want to do,’ and he said, ‘I want to golf.’ So, we all went out and golfed; we all took lessons. Then we started golfing, [and] then I joined a country club so I’d have a place to golf here, and I got my band in it too. Then we didn’t have any clothes to get into the country club, [laughs] ‘cause you have to dress like an accountant pretty much, and I feel equally uncomfortable dressed as an accountant, so we thought it’d be more fun to buy knickers and make fun of the dress code, so that’s what we do. [laughs] They didn’t know what to think of us at first, but now they like us.”

  • LADY ANTEBELLUM’S ‘DOWNTOWN’ TOPS THE CHART FOR A SECOND WEEK IN A ROW. (AUDIO)

    Lady Antebellum‘s “Downtown” is spending a second week at number-one on both the Mediabase and Billboard country singles charts. The song is the first release from their forthcoming album, Golden, which hits stores May 7th.

    “It’s definitely a departure for us, but it’s somethin’ really fun,” says Lady A’s Charles Kelley. “And it’s showed us that we can stretch ourselves and get outside of our comfort zone and that the fans will dig it.”

    Golden is available for pre-order at iTunes now, and if you do pre-order the album, you’ll receive an instant download of “Goodbye Town.”

    AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott say “Downtown” is a departure for them and actually helped pull Hillary out of her shell.

    Lady A (Downtown) OC: (Hillary) …fun. 1:05
    CHARLES:  “It’s definitely a departure for us, but it’s somethin’ really fun. And it’s showed us that we can stretch ourselves and get outside of our comfort zone and that the fans will dig it. I mean for me it showed just seeing the success of it how ready the fans were for something different us. And so if anything that’s what it showed us.” HILLARY: “And up-tempo.” CHARLES: “Yeah well and just something fun, sassy and not so serious.” HILLARY: “And it’s pulled me out of my shell you know, I’ve for, you know for whatever reason I needed that. I needed to be pulled out of…and it’s not that I don’t have an attitude sometimes and like have that sassy side, but in the live environment on the record all of that, you know our live show every time we’re turning around to try and tweak a set list Charles is like, ‘Man we just need more Hillary lead like up-tempo fun,’ because so many of the songs, so many of the songs on the last few records have been ballads or a little more introspective and not so like you can’t just strut around on stage and you  know show a little uh uh.” CHARLES: “This is gonna literally, this is gonna solve that one little spot in the set that we’ve always needed. We say it every time it’s like ‘Man I wish we had a single of Hillary lead that was really just mmm…'” HILLARY: “Fun.” 

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Lionel Richie, George Strait, Lady A, Kacey Musgraves & More

    The nominations for the Billboard Music Awards were announced and Luke Bryan picks up three nods, including Top Country Artist, Top Country Album for tailgates & tanlines and Top Country Song for “Drunk on You.” Eric Church is nominated for Top Country Song for “Springsteen,” while Lionel Richie earns a nod in the Top Country Album category for Tuskeegee (which also features UMG artists Shania Twain, Little Big Town, Darius Rucker, Billy Currington and Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles).

    A limited number of George Strait fans will be able to get a little bit more on their favorite country star when his album, Love is Everything, is released May 14th. If you go to Walmart or Walmart.com, you’ll be able to pick up an exclusive Love is Everything ‘ZinePak, which includes his 13 song CD, a 64-page collectible magazine and a commemorative set list from George’s The Cowboy Rides Away Tour.

    Lady Antebellum have been tapped to perform as part of JetBlue Airways Live from T5 concert series. Normally held inside Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in NYC, the show will take place May 2nd on the roof of JetBlue’s New York support center. Lady A is set to release their new album, Golden, May 7th.

    Kacey Musgraves will perform as part of the Zac Brown Band’s Southern Ground Music & Food Festival in Nashville, September 27th-28th. She’ll be joined by Kenny Chesney, Willie Nelson, John Fogerty, Jason Mraz and Grace Potter & the Nocturnals for the two-day festival. Tickets go on sale at all Ticketmaster locations beginning Saturday (April 27th).

  • LADY ANTEBELLUM GET A LITTLE “SASSY” ON THEIR NEW ALBUM, ‘GOLDEN.’ (AUDIO)

    As you know, Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott is expecting her first child, and the band is also expecting their fourth album, Golden, which will arrive in stores May7th. The guys say with Hillary being pregnant while recording this new album, it gave the music a new level of energy and confidence they hadn’t experienced before now. “I personally thought that Hillary sang the best she’s ever sang on this record,” says Lady A’s Dave Haywood. “I mean there’s a lot more charisma, and I think there’s a lot of excitement. I mean being pregnant I think has given her this new found excitement of knowing that  she sang with so much more power and excitement and empowerment knowing that she’s bringing a new child into this world very soon.”

    Lady Antebellum is enjoying a second week at number-one with “Downtown,” which is the first single from Golden.

    You can now pre-order Golden at iTunes, and you’ll receive an instant download of “Goodbye Town” from the new album.

    AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood says Hillary Scott sings the best she’s ever sounded on their new album, Golden.

    Lady A (Hillary singing while pregnant) OC: …inner sass. :28
    DAVE: “I personally thought that Hillary sang the best she’s ever sang on this record. I mean there’s a lot more charisma, and I think there’s a lot of excitement, you know, I mean being pregnant I think has given her this new found excitement of knowing that  she sang with so much more power and excitement and empowerment knowing that she’s bringing a new child into this world very soon. So, I think there’s a lot behind that that we’re excited about in supporting her and fired up about too. So I think we take that energy into the music as well.” HILLARY: “I found my inner sass.”

  • KACEY MUSGRAVES TAKES HER ‘TRAILER’ TO THE UK. (AUDIO)

    Nashville, TN – Mercury Records singer/songwriter Kacey Musgraves has taken her debut album Same Trailer Different Park to international markets with its release in the UK last Monday. Three days after its release, the album sits in the No. 2 position on the iTunes Country Chart, behind Taylor Swift.

    About her time in the UK, Musgraves says, “It’s been an absolute delight coming to the UK. I’m impressed by the super response from fans who seemed to know more lyrics to sing along to than even the Americans! The British really stand behind artists they believe in and I can’t wait to come back!” 

    The same night she released Same Trailer Different Park, Musgraves performed to a sold out crowd at London’s Bush Hall, a show The Guardian gave 4 out of 5. Also, The Guardian has given Musgraves’ Same Trailer Different Park high marks touting “Not since the emergence of Taylor Swift has there been as much buzz in the genre about a young artist’s crossover potential,” adding “She [Musgraves] sings with an affectless detachment…and uses it to cut sharply through the lies people tell themselves…” 

    While abroad, Kacey has performed on the BBC Radio 2 Bob Harris show, the BBC Radio 4 Front Row show and this coming Saturday she will appear on Breakfast TV on BBC1.

    Her debut single, “Merry Go Round,” was recently certified gold by the R.I.A.A. (Recording Industry Association of America). Kacey is currently making her way up the country charts with her latest release, “Blowin’ Smoke.”

    AUDIO: Kacey Musgraves talks about co-producing her debut album, Same Trailer, Different Park, with tunesmiths Luke Laird and Shane McAnally.

    Kacey Musgraves (coproducing album) OC: …it different. :55
    “I learned so much coming into this and getting the freedom to be a co-producer on this as well as Luke Laird and Shane McAnally — two of my really good friends I met when I came to town. Man, we just really got to experiment and really play around with sounds and take our time and nothing made it to any track that didn’t absolutely feel 100% me or right for the song. That’s kind of my favorite part. You make the record and then you go into produce into promotion mode and you know, you play shows, which is awesome and is just as important. But I’m pretty sure my favorite part is getting the song out of my brain onto the paper and just the whole construction of it all. Just figuring out what feels right and taking things away and adding things. And the combo of my brain and Luke Laird and Shane McAnally’s brains, it just organically came together to make this cool-feeling thing, and I’m thankful too that I got to make it with friends. We got, as friends, to experience this together and I think it made it different.”

  • ERIC PASLAY HITS THE AIRWAVES WITH ‘FRIDAY NIGHT.’ (AUDIO)

    Eric Paslay is hitting the airwaves with his new single, “Friday Night,” on Monday (April 22nd), and on Tuesday (April 23rd), the song will be available for download on iTunes.

    Eric says one of his favorite things to do on Friday nights growing up in Texas was to go to the dancehalls. “It was everyone from grandparents to their grandkids hanging out, and always good live music and pretty girls to ask to dance and hopefully, they say yes, you know,” recalls Eric. “When I think of the great memories on Friday nights back home and growing up and what I do now, it always has to do with music and dancing and having a good time and some good beverages.”

    “Friday Night” is from his forthcoming album, due out later this year.

    AUDIO: Eric Paslay talks about one of his favorite things to do on Friday nights when he was growing up in Texas.

    Eric Paslay (Friday Night fun) OC: …Friday night. :32
    “My favorite thing to do on a Friday night – growing up in Texas, there are dancehalls everywhere. That was the coolest thing growing up was going to dancehalls, because it was everyone from grandparents to their grandkids hanging out, and always good live music and pretty girls to ask to dance and hopefully, they say yes, you know. When I think of the great memories on Friday nights back home and growing up and what I do now, it always has to do with music and dancing and having a good time and some good beverages, and usually it’s on Friday night.”