NashvilleGab - Country music news and Nashville celebrity gossip

ACMS: And The Nominees Are... (Artist Awards)

And now, the nominees you’ve all been waiting for!

Vocal Event of the Year:

Don’t Rush – Kelly Clarkson & Vince Gill

Easy – Rascal Flatts & Natasha Bedingfield

Feel Like A Rock Star – Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw

Let It Rain – David Nail & Sarah Buxton

The Only Way I Know – Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan & Eric Church

 

Video of the Year:

Creepin’ – Eric Church

Wanted – Hunter Hayes

Tornado – Little Big Town

Merry Go ‘Round – Kacey Musgraves

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together – Taylor Swift

The Wind – Zac Brown Band

 

Single Record of the Year:

Even If It Breaks Your Heart – Eli Young Band

Over You – Miranda Lambert

Pontoon – Little Big Town

Springsteen – Eric Church

Wanted – Hunter Hayes

 

ACMs: And The Nominees Are... (Industry Awards)

That’s right, the ACM Awards 2013 have announced their nominees, and they are as follows!

Songwriter of the Year:

Rodney Clawson
Dallas Davidson
Josh Kear
Luke Laird
Shane McAnally

 

Casino of the Year:

Agua Caliente Casino ‐ Rancho Mirage, CA
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Tulsa, OK
Northern Quest Casino – Airway Heights, WA
Red Rock Casino & Resort – Las Vegas, NV
WinStar World Casino ‐ Thackerville, OK

 

Nightclub of the Year:

Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace ‐ Bakersfield, CA
Joe’s Bar – Chicago, IL
The Dusty Armadillo - Rootstown, OH
Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill ‐ Denver, CO
Wild Bills- Duluth, GA

 

Venue of the Year:

Blossom Music Center – Cuyahoga Falls, OH
BOK Center ‐ Tulsa, OK
Klipsch Music Center – Noblesville, IN
Meadowbrook – Gilford, NH
Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN

Chart Roundup: Week of February 16th, 2013

The Band Perry knock Gary Allan off the #1 spot this week with ‘Better Dig Two’, although they stay at their respective places at #2 and #3 on Country Digital Songs and Country Airplay.  With them sticking to the top 5 of the charts so much lately, we can only imagine what the release of their sophomore album in April is going to do for this sibling trio. Gary Allan, who was #1 across the board last week, has dropped down to #2 on both Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay with his hit track ‘Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)’, down to #3 on Country Digital Songs but manages to hold on to the top spot on Top Country Albums for another week. Meanwhile Country Airplay has a new #1, in Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Eric Church’s ‘The Only Way I Know’ from Jason’s album ‘Night Train’, although it’s still at #5 on Hot Country Songs and has only managed to climb back up to #8 on Country Digital Songs. ‘Night Train’ is down #6 this week.

In its 4^th week on the chart, Blake Shelton’s ‘Sure Be Cool If You Did’ has jumped from #3 to #1, and Blake’s recent controversial comments don’t seem to have affected his selling power, as he appears to be going from strength to strength. The song has also gained 3 places on Hot Country Songs, now at #4, although it remains down at #12 on Country Airplay. Hunter Hayes, meanwhile, is also having a not-too-shabby time, with his multiple Grammy nominations on Grammy weekend and holding on tightly to the #3 spot on Hot Country Songs, the #4 spot on Country Digital Songs and the #11 spot on Country Airplay. In addition, his self-titled debut is up one place to #7, celebrating its 69^th week on the chart.

Chart Roundup: Week of February 9th, 2013

Gary Allan’s had a great week with his hugely successful single ‘Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)’ jumping up to #1 from #2 on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, with it shooting from #4 to #1 on Country Digital Songs. Overall this song has been on the chart a respectable 22 weeks with seemingly many more to come. If that isn’t enough, his newly released album ‘Set You Free’ that the aforementioned hit is from has debuted at #1 on Top Country Albums, making for a clean sweep from the 45-year-old California native.

‘Better Dig Two’ from The Band Perry is continuing to do well, up to #3 on Country Airplay and #2 on Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs. While there is still two months to wait until their as-yet-untitled sophomore album is released on April 2^nd, we can be sure with the success of the lead-off single that it will dominate the charts in a similar way. Randy Houser’s also enjoying a successful time with the release of his album ‘How Country Feels’, going straight in at #3 on Top Country Albums, the title track moving up to #6 on Hot Country Songs and #4 on Country Airplay (on the chart for 40 weeks!), shooting, surprisingly, from #15 to #6 this week on Country Digital Songs.

Other key figures on the chart this week include Hunter Hayes, whose mega-hit ‘Wanted’ is still sitting pretty at #3 on Hot Country Songs and #4 on Country Digital Songs, his self-titled album dropping to #8 on Top Country Albums. Florida Georgia Line also aren’t looking too shabby, ‘Cruise’ remaining at #4 on Hot Country Songs but dropping to #5 on Country Digital Songs. Their album, ‘Here’s To The Good Times’ drops from #2 to #4 on Top Country Albums. As for climbers, ‘The Only Way I Know’, the country/rap release from Jason Aldean, Eric Church and Luke Bryan, is making its way up all charts, the album it’s taken from, Jason’s ‘Night Train’, remaining at #5 on Top Country Albums for its 15^th week on the chart.

Blake Shelton Acts Like A ‘Dumbass’ For A PR Nightmare

So, the news broke a couple of days ago Blake Shelton made some disparaging comments about 'classic country' fans. From his updated GAC Backstory that originally aired in December, Blake stated: “If I am “Male Vocalist of the Year” that must mean that I’m one of those people now that gets to decide if it moves forward and if it moves on. Country music has to evolve in order to survive. Nobody wants to listen to their grandpa’s music. And I don’t care how many of these old farts around Nashville going, “My God, that ain’t country!” Well that’s because you don’t buy records anymore, jackass. The kids do, and they don’t want to buy the music you were buying.” Since this, radio stations have been rumored to have removed his songs from their rota, particularly his new single 'Sure Be Cool If You Did' which was only released on January 1st. In addition, there has been outcry with young and old country fans alike, who have not taken kindly to his words. I have a few problems with it too. Blake has a history on Twitter of running his mouth and saying things that have offended or upset people. However, up until now the majority of people have been fine with it (including me) because often it was amusing, light-hearted, and all in good fun. This was not.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that country music is hugely respecting of tradition and constructs itself around affiliations and references to the past. Some of the biggest stars in its history have reinvented the genre with a newer, more modern sound, but they have always kept something of the new, reminding people where they came from and always laying down the red carpet, literally and metaphorically, for the greats that came before them. The traditional nature of country music demands a respect for the legends in the way that the elder and head of a family would demand respect. In line with this, Blake has often performed covers of older songs on stage. For Blake to suddenly turn round and disrespect those who came before him is rude, ungrateful and unnecessary. Country music is what it is because of them, and where was he to gain by bad-mouthing them?

So What Of The New Music Of 2013?

So, as everyone’s adjusting to the idea of it being 2013, and the coming events of the new year, I thought I’d take you through some of the new artists and new releases of 2013, and what I’m most looking forward to etc (as if I’m a tastemaker, ha). Read away for the lowdown.

Albums I’m Looking Forward To:

• Ashley Monroe – Like A Rose

I began listening to Ashley back in about 2007 on MySpace, then my life moved on and I forgot about her, only to rediscover her every so often as the credited songwriter on an album sleeve, and finally when the Pistol Annies were formed. Their 2011 album, ‘Hell On Heels’ was amazing and I really hoped that Ashley would also consider making her own music again. The announcement came a few months ago when Ashley posted a new song, the title track, on her Twitter, stating that her album would be released 18^th December. I loved the new song and was excited to hear the record BUT then Ashley and Vince Gill (who happens to be her producer) wrote a new song and the release date was pushed back until 5^th March. I was gutted, but I am now counting down the days until I can finally hear this long-overdue life-affirming release from such a prolific songwriter of country music.

• Kacey Musgraves – TBA

I’ve never watched Nashville Star (occupational hazard of living in the UK) so I had never heard of Kacey Musgraves before this year, and although I had vaguely heard the name, it wasn’t until the beginning of December that I finally listened to ‘Merry Go Round’. That’s it, I was hooked, I researched her, wrote articles, bought the track and if my iPhone was counting the number of times I have played it, it without exaggeration would be in excess of 70 or 80, at least. My favorite country release of the year. Very little album information has been released so far but it does at least seem it will be this year it comes out, although that is little consolation for someone like me who absolutely cannot wait. Watch this space.

What’s 2013 Set To Hold In Country Music? I Have A Go At Making Some REAL Predictions...

Well, we had my summary of 2012 in country music, and after querying it on Twitter, apparently people would like my take on what’s in store for the bright new year. I’m going to predict things at random. Mostly they’re educated guesses, but we all need a few totally off-the-wall predictions, right?

• Hillary Scott’s baby will be a boy. I have no idea what is telling me this, but something is.
• Another country star will get pregnant. I think Carrie and Miranda (who have often been asked about kids) are more set for 2014/15, but a country star somewhere is bound to get pregnant.
• As for Taylor Swift relationship drama, I think after a couple of months the relationship with Harry will be over (although judging by her most recent tweet, “...’til you put me down.” It may already be), and she will have another two more relationships before the year is out, with a couple of other people she’s romantically linked with in the media but it doesn’t come to anything. Taylor has learned that relationships = publicity so I think her record label will be onto her to keep in the public eye in this way.
• Kellie Pickler’s 2012 album ‘100 Proof’ wasn’t very well promoted by her label, who she then split from last year, but now she has signed with Black River Entertainment I think she will release a brand new single, totally out of left field and blow everyone away.
• Kristian Bush will release an EP of acoustic sessions and a few songs he’s been working on, whilst Jennifer is off on maternity leave with her baby. It just makes sense and I really want it to happen.

Taylor Swift premieres new song 'Begin Again' on Good Morning America

This morning, Taylor Swift debuted a new song from her upcoming album 'Red' on "Good Morning America'. 

The new track, Begin Again, will be available on iTunes starting tonight at midnight. 

Taylor will be premiering new songs all over the place leading up to the album's release on October 22. 

Check out the press release with full song release details after the jump....

Check out Gary Allan singing his new single 'Every Storm Runs Out of Rain'

New Gary Allan tune alert. 

This video just popped up in my Google Alerts and thought it was great so I thought I'd post it. 

The video is only a partial one, but if you watch the video below, you can hear all of it. I just like the video above because it has a better picture.  

In the video below, Gary mentions that this song, Every Storm Runs Out of Rain, will be the first single off his new album

Tim McGraw releasing new single "Truck Yeah" to radio July 3 (press release)

Just one month after signing with Big Machine Records, Country Superstar Tim McGraw announced today that he will release his first single for the label on July 3. Hundreds of thousands of fans have already been treated to a preview of the song, "Truck Yeah," during this summer's hottest stadium tour THE BROTHERS OF THE SUN TOUR with Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw.

"We have been unbelievably excited about 'Truck Yeah' since the first show of the summer when we played it live for the first time," said McGraw. "I'm really happy that radio and the fans will have access to it so soon."

"I am beyond excited to announce that Tim McGraw's first single on Big Machine Records becomes a reality next week. His new music is amazing and he's completely amped and engaged," said Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta. "People are saying they've never seen Tim so happy and excited...and that happiness and excitement are contagious. HERE WE GO!"