Month: March 2022

Multiple ARIA and GRAMMY Award winner Keith Urban unveils his first single of 2022, ‘Nightfalls’, a euphoric moonlit anthem co-written with Greg Kurstin (Adele, Beck, Paul McCartney) and Mozella (Madonna, Rhianna). Bound to be a crowd favourite at Keith’s forthcoming ‘THE SPEED OF NOW WORLD TOUR’ shows, the infectious track marks a similar return of Urban’s high-energy, in-the-moment spirit and all-round divergent musicality.

Keith says, “Writing “Nightfalls” with Greg Kurstin and Mozella was pure joy. Two summers have gone by with no way to tour and the desire to have that feeling again inspired every part of this song and recording. In a world so full of real struggles and fractures, I wanna try and bring something to help us exhale and be in the moment – if only for 3 mins and 41 seconds.”

‘Nightfalls’ follows on from ‘Wild Hearts’ and Urban’s global smash, his duet with P!nk, ‘One Too Many’, which to date has amassed 340 million worldwide streams. The song has become Urban’s 43rd Top 10 single in the U.S. and his 27th #1 in Canada. It was certified double platinum in Australia, reached #1 on the Australian Artist singles chart and has spent 44 weeks in the Top 50 UK Airplay Chart. Urban’s latest album, THE SPEED OF NOW Part 1, marks the fourth in an historic streak of simultaneous #1 album debuts in the United States, Canada and Australia.

THE SPEED OF NOW WORLD TOUR gets underway in April at the O2 Academy in the UK before ending up in Australia in December with Birds of Tokyo as the special guest.

Grammy-nominee Jason Aldean starts off the new year with the announcement of his next single “Trouble With A Heartbreak,” available alongside its haunting music video now. The reminiscent track is featured on the second installment of his 10th studio album MACON, GEORGIA (Macon Music/Broken Bow Records), which is available April 22nd, as its aching video is set in Las Vegas during National Finals Rodeo where a cowboy finds himself navigating a broken heart. The track is now available with the pre-order of the collection’s second installment GEORGIA here , while MACON is fully available here .

“The cool thing about putting out two parts of this record is having fans hear all the different influences I grew up on,” Aldean said. “This song hit me right when I heard it and reminded me of those bitter R&B breakup songs that take me back to riding through the backroads of Georgia.”

Written by Kurt Allison, Brett Beavers, Tully Kennedy and John Morgan, “Trouble With A Heartbreak” follows Aldean’s 26th career chart topper and multi-week No. One “If I Didn’t Love You” featuring Carrie Underwood. Directed by long-time collaborator Shaun Silva, its video was shot in December during Aldean’s sold-out, three-night run at The Park Theatre.

Fans can now watch the video here: https://youtu.be/TAtWP5Mct5I

The three-time ACM “Entertainer of the Year” has bolstered 26 No. One hits, 15 billion streams and more than 20 million albums sold while “MACON exhibits Aldean’s dynamic approach to Country music,” (American Songwriter). Notably, seven of Aldean’s previous studio albums have been certified PLATINUM or more and he has the most Top 10 song on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, more than any other artists, since making his chart debut in 2005. Aldean just wrapped the “explosive run” (Tulsa World) behind his BACK IN THE SADDLE TOUR 2021, as he continues be one of a card-carrying member of Country’s elite headliners whose incendiary tours are nearing legendary status. The multi-Platinum singer has launched Wolf Moon Bourbon, an 80-proof bourbon that has been distilled from Midwestern grains and aged for four years offering a finish of caramel, oak, and spice. For more information, visit www.JasonAldean.com.

Smooth soul vocalist Natalie Nicole Gilbert teams up with singer/songwriter Chris Sloan for this power packed duet version of Adele’s Easy On Me. The song just went live on SoundCloud 3/26 and already amassed over 16,000 streams.

The simmering mezzo voice of Gilbert with the tenor vibrato of Sloan melds into a perfect union that brings plenty of romance to this track about a relationship hitting hard times. Sloan’s natural sound leans rock, while Gilbert has a passion for power ballads and acoustic originals. Their harmonizing rings as true as if they’d been performing together for years.

Natalie Nicole Gilbert is based in Los Angeles, with Chris Sloan in Seattle. The two have never met in person or even Zoomed or hopped on a phone call, but the way their voices melt together brings to mind the Civil Wars.

Impacting radio now, available on all major digital music outlets April 15, 2022.

Following up his Texas (TRRR ) #1 hit “Stealing Home,” James Robert Webb’s brand new single, “Lovesick Drifting Cowboy” is a Hank Willliams-inspired country standout with grit. The song benchmarks the first of a series of self-produced singles for the 2022 Music Row Independent Artist of the Year, who accepted the honor at the Music Row Magazine’s 20th Annual Country Breakout Awards in February (more here ).

Co-written with Shelby Lee Lowe and Victoria Powell, the inspiration for the single’s title came from Hank Williams’ band The Drifting Cowboys and his song “Love Sick Blues.” With dynamic vocals and textured instrumentation, “Lovesick Drifting Cowboy” is destined to echo the success of Webb’s prior releases.

About the song, Webb says:

“We wrote this song pre-pandemic, back in 2017. It was inspired by country icon and legendary songwriter, Hank Williams, Sr.. The title of the song itself is a nod to both Hank’s band and his famous cover of Love Sick Blues. It was one of his most enduring songs even though his team didn’t want him to record it.

Everyone has an opinion on Hank, but I consider him the original outlaw country artist. He was also just a massive superstar and a big component of his music was pop and blues.

For me, [Lovesick Drifting Cowboy] is a more visceral song. I wanted the record to update that Hank Sr. country roots sound by way of the blues. That’s certainly what Hank was and I wanted to pay homage to that. When I listen, I can see Hank’s band travelling down that dusty Lost Highway. There’s also an edge that reflects my influences–it’s definitely a preview of what’s to come for me as an artist.

It appears that 2022 is shaping up to be a banner year for the independent artist, whose previous single not only gave him his first, #1, it became his 9th MusicRow top 40, peaking at #25–and his fourth consecutive Billboard Indicator top 40. The Oklahoma-native will also be releasing a 100-proof white-aged whiskey later this summer, in honor of the 2021 chart-topping hit, “Okfuskee Whiskey.”

Early Praise From Radio

” James Robert Webb has taken himself to the next level. Little Waylon vibe Charlie Daniel’s too, Country through and through!” – Doris Day, KXIA, Marshalltown, Iowa

“If you want to know why JRW is the Music Row Independent Artist of the Year just listen….’nuff said!” – Mike Thomas, PD/MD, KFAV, Warrenton, MO

Get ready for a little rockier sound from singer-songwriter Felicity Dowd with her new single, ‘Handle It’.

Born out of an attraction to a close friend, ‘Handle It’ deals with everything that comes with keeping emotions to yourself, even if you have strong feelings for someone.

“It’s about not wanting to damage your friendship, which you hear a lot of in films, but It wasn’t until I started writing the song that it took on a different meaning,” Felicity said. “It took on a mature way of explaining how a young person like me may deal with this situation.”

Felicity is an artist who won’t be constrained by genre, but instead allows the song to lead the way when she is writing.

“I write to what the song’s feeling and I’ve written in a lot of different genres and this one kept growing as producer Rod Motbey and I put the song together,” she said. “It started off as a very acoustic version, but as we went through the process, it became almost rocky and alternative country and it even uses some influences from Fleetwood Mac to get that oomph and feeling behind it.”

The NSW South Coast/Illawarra singer said she wanted to keep her listeners open to new sounds in her music.

“‘Handle It’ is a very current song, thematically and musically, and I hope that if listeners relate to the song, it’ll be a bit of a safe haven to feel those emotions, but they can also simply dance and sing along with the song,” Felicity said.

Fresh off the back of achieving a Top 40 Finalist spot in the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, Courtney Keil returns with her bubbly new single, ‘The One’.

The 90s inspired country bop reflects on the magic of true love – “It’s somethin’ you can’t know until that first time when time stands still”. The track radiates Keil’s signature positive vibes, with its sizzling guitar hooks and playful vocals. You’ll have a hard time resisting the urge to dance along with its infectious groove, “inspired by Faith Hill’s iconic, This Kiss”.

“I once again had the joy of writing this with my songwriting family Rod McCormack (who also produced the track), Sam Gay and Templeton Thompson”, chirps Keil. The same creative powerhouse has crafted every one of her singles to date – including the Vanda & Young finalist, ‘I Just Wanna Hold You’. That explosive debut was also a finalist in the 2020 International Songwriting Competition and peaked at #15 on the CountryTown Hot 50 airplay chart. Along with two of her other previous singles, ‘Hummingbird’ and ‘Where Does All The Love Go’, it also reached the #1 spot on the iTunes Country Singles chart.

It appears country music is not only in the heart of the Melbourne native, but also in her blood. Her paternal grandmother was a country singer in Adelaide during the ’50s. “She would sing on local radio with her two sisters,” reminisces Keil.

It’s no surprise then that Keil is no stranger to the stage. With a packed tour schedule for 2022, she’s appearing alongside Gina Jeffreys and Tania Kernaghan on their Girls Night Out tour – which includes a show at the Tamworth Country Music Festival – and opening for Andrew Swift during his VIC leg in April. She’s also played the role of June Carter Cash alongside Daniel Thompson in Johnny Cash: The Concert Tour throughout 2021 and will continue in 2022.

“So many reasons to fall in love / But you just need the one”, sings Keil on the infectious new single. It’s yet another superb track from a young artist who is blazing a trail through the Australian country music scene. Her endless optimism and vivacity are sure to captivate audiences along her road to stardom. If you’ve been waiting for a reason to fall in love with Courtney Keil then this might be the one.

The upbeat new tune “Shotgun” from Nashville newcomer Christian Parker is the first single off the upcoming debut album called “Debutante” due out in September 2022. Shotgun perfectly captures that excitement of throwing caution to the wind and chasing your dreams with reckless abandon, a sentiment he can definitely identify with as he launches his debut single. Like its name suggests, “Shotgun” is a blast of energy from an artist brimming with passion and eagerness, ready to make his mark on the country scene. The budding young talent infused the track with plenty of inspiration and can-do gumption for all the dreamers out there yearning to give it a proper shot, and comes roaring out of the gate with this winning tune about giving it your all and never looking back. Shotgun is produced by Grammy nominated producer Sal Oliveri. Entertainment Focus says of the artist “This is one rising star you want to get on you radar”. Remember his name, with a full promo, PR and marketing team behind him, you’re surely be hearing a lot about Christian Parker.

Dave Herrera has a way of writing thought-provoking material, as demonstrated in this NEW Single “Shades,” a tale about a woman who catches a man’s eye with her dark sunglasses that aren’t used to block the sun, but as a barrier to the outside world. But once she pulls up the shades, one realizes there’s something deeper.

Herrera said “it’s not easy to meet people, more specifically a significant other, as OPENING UP is not an easy thing to do” as Herrera wrote in his lyrics “hiding your eyes won’t hide ya; cause only the sun shines brighter; fix a broken heart; if you look my way; let down your guard pull up those shades”.

Herrera wrote the track with the help of Cory Coppin and Kale Coppin co-writers and produced the track with co-producer Jeff Balding. “Shades” was recorded at WestRoc Studios.

After teasing fans with a series of mysterious posts beginning the night before her birthday this past week, 7-time GRAMMY® Award winner Carrie Underwood’s highly anticipated new single, “Ghost Story,” is out now. The lyric video for the cinematic track is also available now .

Written by Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey and David Garcia and co-produced by David Garcia and Underwood, the superstar describes “Ghost Story” as “a different take on a revenge song, which is something I love to sing about. Instead of smashing headlights, this scorned lover is letting her ex know that she will continue to haunt him no matter how hard he tries to forget her.”

“Ghost Story” is the latest collaboration between Underwood and Garcia, having co-produced her critically acclaimed 2018 release, Cry Pretty, which marked the first time Underwood produced her own album. Garcia and Underwood also co-produced Underwood’s 2021 album of gospel hymns, My Savior. Underwood and Lindsey have collaborated on a string of hits such as “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “So Small,” “Last Name,” “Smoke Break,” “Church Bells,” and the now-iconic title track, “Cry Pretty.” Kear co-wrote Underwood’s signature hits, “Before He Cheats” and “Blown Away,” and co-wrote another cinematic classic, “Two Black Cadillacs” with Underwood and Lindsey.

“‘Ghost Story’ is a thrilling, dramatic song that David, Hillary and Josh wrote for me,” says Underwood. “They are such talented, amazing songwriters who know me so well, and from the first time I heard it I knew I had to record it. I have always loved performing songs that tell a story and inspire some kind of cinematic imagery when you hear them, and that is definitely true of ‘Ghost Story.’ It creates a mood and a vibe that is different than anything else I’ve recorded before.”

Underwood’s new single comes on the heels of winning her 16th ACM Award on March 7 – for Single of the Year with Jason Aldean for their smash hit duet, “If I Didn’t Love You.” The multi-week #1 “If I Didn’t Love You” has spent a record-setting 26 weeks in the Top 10 of Billboard Country Airplay so far, with more than 323 million global streams RTD.

Underwood is nominated for two 2022 GRAMMY® Awards – for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year for My Savior, and she and Aldean are nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “If I Didn’t Love You.” The duo was also nominated this week for two 2022 CMT Music Awards for “If I Didn’t Love You” – Collaborative Video of the Year and Video of the Year, which Underwood won in 2021 for “Hallelujah,” with John Legend. She continues to reign as the most awarded artist in CMT history with 23 total wins.

On March 23, she continues her ongoing REFLECTION: The Las Vegas Residency at the Resorts World Theatre, having opened the new 5,000-capacity, world-class theatre, the first artist to grace the largest and tallest stage in Las Vegas, with six sold-out shows in December. Conceived by Underwood to celebrate some of the highlights of her stellar recording and touring career over the years, REFLECTION celebrates her greatest hits from over 15 years as an award-winning international superstar. The production brings beloved fan favorites to life in a whole new way, utilizing spectacular special effects, pyrotechnics, and state-of-the-art visual and audio technology, with Underwood joined onstage by her band, dancers, aerialists and a special virtual orchestra. $1 from every ticket sold will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Underwood returns to the desert to headline the iconic Stagecoach Festival on Saturday, April 30 in Indio, Calif.

About Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood is a true multi-format, multi-media superstar, spanning achievements in music, television, film, and as a New York Times bestselling author and successful entrepreneur. She has sold more than 66 million records worldwide, recorded 28 #1 singles (14 of which she co-wrote), and has seven albums that are certified Platinum or Multi-Platinum by the RIAA, all while continuing to sell out arena tours across North America and the UK. All nine of her consecutive album releases (two of which she co-produced) from the beginning of her career debuted #1 on the Billboard Country Chart, making her the only artist to accomplish that feat. She has won over 100 major awards including 7 GRAMMY® Awards, 16 ACM Awards including three for Entertainer of the Year (the first female in history to win twice and the only female ever to win three times), 23 CMT Music Awards (holding the record for the most award wins ever for the show), 7 CMA Awards, and 17 American Music Awards. She has also built a successful business portfolio inspired by her passion for health and wellness. She founded and created the fitness and lifestyle brand, CALIA by Carrie Underwood and her first book, FIND YOUR PATH was an instant New York Times bestseller. She launched her fit52 app in 2020, and expanded her lifestyle portfolio with an equity partnership with BODYARMOR Sports Drink in 2021. She was the first artist to perform at the new Resorts World Theatre, where her ongoing REFLECTION: The Las Vegas Residency, began with a sold-out debut run in December 2021 and continues this Spring.

Fresh off a standout EP release and Top 5 Canadian radio hit for the title track “Relationship Goals,” Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Steven Lee Olsen returns with a new original track, “Nashville or Nothing” out today via Universal Music Canada.

A true “love letter” to the vibrant town that many know as Music City, the heartfelt track shares Steven Lee Olsen’s personal story that remains a relatable feeling for many artists that embark on their journey to Nashville. Penned alongside his co-producer Brandon Day, “Nashville or Nothing” features Steven Lee Olsen’s dynamic, R&B smooth vocals over the “too close to home” lyrics that the singer-songwriter is known for. “It’s gotta be Nashville or Nothing. A million to one in a town I don’t seem crazy. Where everyone’s a dreamer, where I’m gonna either catch my break or it’ll break me.”