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| This is an industry-only version of an email that Country stations in dozens of top markets deliver
to their loyal listener databases. | | |
| July 29, 2014
» G Forces:  Everyone figured Garth Brook's tour-opening Chicago show (Sept. 4) would sell out in minutes ... including the promoter, who added three additional shows shortly before the first went on sale. Well, even that wasn't enough. All-in, Garth has set 10 shows in the Windy City, including three dates with two shows each – 6:30pm and 10:30pm. Fortunately for Brooks, his audiences are in the habit of singing every song louder than he can, so he'll have backup if his voice gives out. Depending on the stage and seating configuration at the Allstate Arena, as many as 180,000 fans will get to see Brooks on his 10-day run. In addition to the originally scheduled Sept. 4 concert, the superstar will play one show on Sept. 5, 11 and 14, and two on Sept. 6, 12 and 13. (Showtimes here; tickets here.) Additional markets have not been revealed. |
» Family Feud?  "Outlaw" is not usually a term associated with Brad Paisley, but his social media activity last weekend may change that. "I'm going rogue," he tweeted Saturday (7/26), as he began posting videos with song snippets from his upcoming album Moonshine In The Trunk without his label's permission. Each time someone from the label took down a video, Paisley promptly uploaded another one. This went on all weekend, with Paisley also posting emails from label execs imploring him to stop. Paisley promised he would, but then enlisted his Rising Star co-host Ludacris to tweet song clips. Monday (7/28) Paisley released a "River Bank" remix featuring Colt Ford. Is this feud real, or simply a well-choreographed campaign between artist and label to publicize the Aug. 26 album release? Between Paisley's Mona Lisa smile and the ongoing lawsuit he filed against Sony back in 2010, it's hard to tell. Get a front-line view of the Twitter battle here and draw your own conclusions.
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» The Sun Also Rises: .jpg) Tim McGraw isn't fighting with his record label, but he, too, is letting fans in on plans for his Sept. 16 album Sundown Heaven Town. He unveiled the cover via Facebook yesterday (7/28), and he's again co-producing with Byron Gallimore. Special guests include Faith Hill ("Meanwhile Back At Mama's") and Catherine Dunn ("Diamond Rings And Old Barstools") on the 13-track standard album; and Kid Rock ("Lincoln Continentals And Cadillacs") on the 18-track deluxe version. Pre-order on iTunes, Amazon MP3 and timmcgraw.com beginning July 29. |
» Country Cash:  Toby Keith topped Forbes magazine's list of this year's highest-paid country artists with $65 million. Rounding out the top five are Taylor Swift ($64 million), Kenny Chesney ($44 million), Jason Aldean ($37 million), Luke Bryan ($34 million) and Zac Brown Band ($29 million). See the complete list here. The magazine also profiled Republic Nashville's Florida Georgia Line here. |
» Firestarter:  David Nail will launch his I'm A Fire Tour Sept. 11 in Oxford, MS, visiting more than 20 cities, including New York, Boston and Denver. Native Run will open. See the schedule here and watch his video tour message here. |
» Down To Earth:  Hard to believe it's been 10 years since "Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy," but Big & Rich are celebrating a decade of making music together with their new album Gravity, out Sept. 23 on their own label. "As artists, we are now at the place where we can finally gain complete creative control," says Big Kenny. "Our new album title is perfect. Big and Rich can now really feel the Gravity. We are counting our blessings." John Rich adds, "To take on the challenge of being your own label and slugging it out with the majors is a gambler's move, but BK and I are happy to just let it all ride." The 11 tracks include the lead single "Look At You" and "Lovin' Lately," which features Tim McGraw. |
 Hit List - Tim McGraw with Faith Hill, Jake Owen, Darius Rucker, Zac Brown Band, and Justin Moore with Motley Crue's Vince Neil and Nikki Sixx will be among the performers featured on CMA Music Festival: Country's Night To Rock Tuesday (8/5) on ABC-TV.
- Former Rising Star contestant Sarah Darling has designed two boot styles for Durango's "Crush" line. See the Sunflower Slouch and the Darling Coral here.
- Willie Nelson and Jamey Johnson are among the performers set for the Farm Aid Music And Food Festival Sept. 13 at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh, NC. See the full lineup here.
Birthdays Tuesday (7/29): Martina McBride, James Otto. Wednesday (7/30): Neal McCoy, Phil Stone (Roy D. Mercer). Thursday (7/31): Zac Brown, Chad Brock. On TV Wednesday (7/30): LeAnn Rimes & Eddie Cibrian, The Talk (CBS). Thursday (7/31): Dan + Shay, Live With Kelly & Michael (syndicated); Keith Urban, The Ellen Degeneres Show (syndicated). Upcoming Album Releases Aug. 5 Sunny Sweeney Provoked b>Billy Joe Shaver, Long In The Tooth Aug. 19 Nashville Outlaws: A Tribute To Mötley Crüe Chase Rice Ignite The Night Randy Travis, Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am Vaious, Look Again To The Wind: Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears Revisited Joel Crouse, Even The River Runs Sarah Dunn Band, You Or The Whiskey Aug. 26 Brad Paisley Moonshine In The Trunk Brushville, Self-Titled Sep. 2 Terri Clark Some Songs |
 » Wigging Out: Carrie Underwood recently tweeted this photo of husband Mike Fisher (r) hanging out with a buddy while she was on the road. "Awww...I think @mikefisher1212 misses me so much when I'm gone! Sure glad @MattEaton1 is there to help fill the void!" she said. |
 » Rock And Roll: While performing at the Crown Royal Presents The John Wayne Walding 400 At The Brickyard Powered By Big Machine Records last weekend (7/26), The Band Perry tweeted their hang with NASCAR's Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. "We rock, they roll!" |
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