Personally, I don't think my friends would tolerate me doing another Tunespeak. The campaigns are a lot of work, but totally worth it on many different levels. If you win, you get cool prizes (tickets, tees, and meet and greets), but the best part of these campaigns is that you help spread the word about artists that many of your pals may not have heard of. The next few weeks there are Tunespeak campaigns for The Cadillac Three, Jason Eady and Kyle Park, among others. Check them out, give them a listen, help spread the word and maybe win some cool stuff.

Photo Credit: Tunespeak

NASHVILLE, April 8, 2014 -- Cumulus announced the debut of the NASH Campus, the nation's first multimedia facility devoted solely to producing and distributing content based on the Country music lifestyle, including radio programming, TV/videos, magazines and events.

The NASH campus includes three studios designed for a combination of TV and radio programming, indoor and outdoor event space, a print newsroom and extensive office space. Leading Country stars including Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum and Sheryl Crow are among the early visitors who've already spent time at the NASH campus.

The NASH campus is currently home to "America's Morning Show," "NASH Nights Live with Shawn Parr," "American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks," "Kickin' It with Kix" and Country Weekly (soon to be renamed NASH) magazine.

All NASH Campus programming originates from studios equipped with state-of-the-art ORAD voice-activated HD cameras that enable online streaming, HD taping and live television broadcasting.

"We designed the NASH campus to inspire and support the creation of a full-spectrum of Country content. This new state-of-the-art facility will enable us to power NASH's multimedia platforms and secure its position as the nation's preeminent lifestyle and entertainment brand for Country music fans," said Lew Dickey, CEO of Cumulus.

Cumulus launched the NASH entertainment brand based on the Country music lifestyle in 2013 starting with flagship NASH FM 94.7 in New York City, which has already become one of the most-listened-to Country stations in the nation.

All 68 Cumulus-owned Country stations are "Powered by NASH" and programming from the NASH campus currently airs on more than 400 radio stations nationwide. More than 1,200 Country stations nationally have access to NASH content through WestwoodOne, the wholly owned subsidiary of Cumulus that handles content distribution. Cumulus is also an investor in digital audio provider Rdio, which will soon announce dedicated NASH programming. NASH will also include live events, consumer products and television programming.

From his website: 
Pat Green is simultaneously a Grammy-nominated hit maker with an outsider reputation, a Texas inspiration and a mainstream country artist who can rock arena and stadium stages with the likes of Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney.
Each of those roles has its own place. But each of them is too small to define Pat Green, who after 15 years in the recording business has earned the right to be everything Pat Green can be. Without limitations.
“I’d much rather be me and comfortable in my own skin than trying to be five different guys to get to the top,” he says.
Pat Green will be at Terminal 5 in NYC with Cory Morrow on April 19th. Tickets for the show are available here.
Watch "All Just To Get To You" below.

Country music artist and Clearwater Kansas native, Logan Mize, has just been named an official Kansas Brand Ambassador by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and will promote Kansas as a premier visitor destination.  As a part of this special partnership, Mize’s original song, “Sunflowers,” which is an ode to his home state, will be used as an official state tourism song promoting Kansas.  
  
“We’re especially thankful to be working with Logan Mize, who is sharing his talents and his love of Kansas to help spread the word about our state to a diverse audience” said Kansas Governor Sam Brownback.
 
The Kansas Travel Division and Logan announced their partnership today in Wichita, KS at a private media conference, which was capped off with an acoustic performance from Logan.
 
Throughout the course of this partnership, Mize and Kansas Tourism will work collaboratively to raise awareness of the immense tourist attractions Kansas has to offer in order to place the state at the forefront of tourism on a national stage. 

The rollicking lead single from Mize's forthcoming album (due out Summer 2014), "Used Up," has been selected as a "Highway Find" on Sirius XM's The Highway.  Written and produced by Mize, the rootsy break-up anthem has also established a home for itself in The Highway's regular rotation.  
Mize is currently preparing for his spring Workin' and Drinkin' Tour, which launches on April 10. The tour will bring him to multiple regions throughout the Midwest and beyond.  Mize is also confirmed to perform at one of country music’s biggest festivals this summer, Country Stampede in Manhattan, KS.
 
For more information please visit: www.travelks.com or www.loganmize.com

Rachele Lynae's self titled debut album on Momentum Records will be released on April 22nd, but you can pre-order your copy now. The special pre-sale package includes lyrics, a guitar pick and all orders placed by April 21st will be autographed. 


Rachele Lynae track listing is as follows:
Touch the Stars
Words in Red
Cigarette
Sometimes You Fly
Party Til The Cows Come Home
Fishin' For Something
Clean
Out On The Floor
Sticky Summer Lovin'
Done is Done
Two For One Special
Old Fashioned Love

For more information and to pre-order visit here.
You can read our review of the record here.

Now in it's sixth year, Reckless Kelly's Celebrity Softball Jam combines nine innings of "fun-filled, athleticism-optional softball" with a post-game concert on two stages in centerfield.

Led by brothers Willy and Cody Braun, the band created a signature family friendly event with friends from the worlds of music and sports, combining America’s pastime and music to benefit Austin’s youth. 

In five years, the Celebrity Softball Jam has raised over $150,000 for area youth leagues including South Austin Little League, Balcones Little League, Montopolis Little League, Del Valley Little League, The Miracle League at Town & Country, The Miracle League of San Antonio, Greater East Austin Youth Association and RBI Austin. 

This year, all proceeds from the event will go to a revival of East Austin’s Mabson Field, a park in the heart of an under-resourced neighborhood in the capital of Texas. 

Artists announced for the 2014 Celebrity Softball Jam include: Roger Creager, Turnpike Troubadors, Cody Canada and the Departed, Wade Bowen, Charlie Robison, Micky & the Motorcars, Pauline Reese, Peterson Brothers, George DeVore, John D. Hale Band, Possum Posse, Uncle Lucius, Shinyribs, William Clark Green, Whiskey Myers, Taco & the Enchiladas and Midnight River Choir. 

The event will take place on May 11th at 1pm at Dell Diamond, home of the Round Rock Express, an AAA affiliate for the Texas Rangers.

Tickets are on sale now. For more information visit here.

ERIC CHURCH WILL LAUNCH THE OUTSIDERS WORLD TOUR IN SEPTEMBER

Tour Includes Special Guest Dwight Yoakam And Alternating Opening Acts: Brothers Osborne, Brandy Clark, and Halestorm

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (April 9, 2014) –Eric Church’s The Outsiders World Tour will launch in North America on September 11, 2014 with 31 arena dates being announced today. Tickets for the tour, which beings in Bossier City, Louisiana, will go on sale April 18 in select markets with additional information made available on EricChurch.com. Members of the Church Choir will have access to a pre-sale starting on April 15. Church selected Dwight Yoakam as the special guest for the entire tour. Opening the tour on different dates throughout the first leg will be rising country music duo Brothers Osborne, critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Brandy Clark, or the hard rocking band Halestorm.

Hailed as a top entertainer by The New York Times, Rolling Stone, SPIN Magazine, and more, Church will bring his rip-roaring attitude when he performs at venues such as Madison Square Garden, Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, the Sprint Center in Kansas City, the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Atlanta, Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, and FedExForum in Memphis, among others. Church will also return to the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. where he sold more than 15,000 tickets in 2012 as part of his headlining arena tour, The Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour—which Pollstar named a Top Tour of 2012.

While The Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour employed a succession of backdrops as the focus of the show, Church's The Outsiders World Tour will use a much more high tech design and will offer fans a 360° view of the entertainer and his band.

On sale dates and ticket information for each market will be announced on EricChurch.com. The best seats on The Outsiders World Tour will once again be paperless so fans get them instead of scalpers.

A limited number of VIP tickets for each show will also be available for purchase. Each VIP ticket includes a premium ticket in the first 15 rows or in the general admission pit, an invitation to a pre-show party at The Outsiders Joint, a two song acoustic pre-show performance by Eric Church, a limited edition show poster, and a dedicated VIP concert concierge.

Fans have the chance to gain access to pre-sale tickets for each show by becoming a Standard or Premium member of the Church Choir. Join the Church Choir by visiting http://smarturl.it/churchchoir. 

Church’s current album, The Outsiders, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart and the Billboard Country Albums Chart earlier this year, and his current hit single “Give Me Back My Hometown,” is Top 5-and-rising. “Eric Church is working on a level that few other country artists of his generation can touch,” said Ken Tucker at NPR Music in his review of the album, continuing, “Shrewd, defiant, sly and funny, Eric Church has succeeded in what he set out to do: He’s using the power he’s accrued from making hit records to make exactly the kind of album he wants, heedless of industry approval. And this is how good he is: Now he’ll go out and — through the singles he’ll release, the touring he’ll do and the videos he’ll make — probably turn this personal project into a big commercial deal. The Outsiders deserves nothing less.”

The Outsiders is the follow-up to Church’s Platinum-certified album Chief, (named the 2012 Album of the Year by both CMA and ACM, and GRAMMY-nominated for Best Country Album) which featured five Top 20 singles: “Homeboy” (certified Platinum for sales in excess of one million singles); the Top 10 “Like Jesus Does” and the Top 5 “Creepin’” (both certified Gold for sales in excess of 500,000 singles each); and two No. 1 hits “Drink in My Hand” (certified Platinum) and “Springsteen” (certified Double Platinum for sales in excess of two million singles).  Church’s debut album, Sinners Like Me (2006) and his sophomore album Carolina (2009) are both RIAA Gold-certified. Carolina had three hit singles: the Top 10 “Hell on the Heart” as well as Top 20 hit “Smoke A Little Smoke” and Top 10 smash “Love Your Love The Most,” which were both certified Gold.  Sinners Like Me spawned three Top 20 singles: “How ‘Bout You,” “Two Pink Lines,” and “Guys Like Me.”

Dwight Yoakam has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, placing him in an elite group of global superstars. Nearly 40 of Yoakam’s singles have charted, with 14 peaking in the Top 10, including the hits “Honky Tonk Man,” “Please, Please Baby,” “Little Ways,” “I Sang Dixie,” “It Only Hurts When I Cry,” and “Fast as You.” He is a 21-time nominated, 2-time GRAMMY Award winner. In celebration of his latest critically acclaimed album, 3 Pears, he received the Artist of the Year award at the 2013 Americana Music Honors & Awards ceremony, the most prestigious award offered by the organization. In 2014, Yoakam will appear as a recurring guest star in multiple episodes of the thrilling CBS series, “Under the Dome,” based on Stephen King’s best-selling novel of the same name. For more information, visit www.dwightyoakam.com.

For John (guitar) and TJ (vocals/guitar) Osborne, getting into music was unavoidable. Growing up in the water town of Deale, Maryland, their close-nit-family of seven spent most nights not in front of the television, but writing and playing songs. In April 2011, Warner Chappell/King Pen Music offered them a publishing deal. A year later, Capitol Records offered them a record deal. The Brothers Osborne are currently in the studio finishing their debut album, an album they describe as “aggressive, bold and fragile at times.”  Their current single is “Rum.” For more information, visit www.brothersosborne.com.

Brandy Clark’s debut album, 12 Stories, was released in October 2013 and has received tremendous critical acclaim.  When reviewing 12 Stories, Randy Lewis of The Los Angeles Times wrote, “This is the country debut of the year.” Clark was nominated for her first GRAMMY Award earlier this year for Best Country Song for “Mama’s Broken Heart,” which she co-wrote with Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert took to No. 1. That song also earned Clark her first CMA and ACM nominations, both for Song of the Year. Clark as been on tour with Jennifer Nettles. For more information visit www.brandyclarkmusic.com.

Upon its release, The Strange Case Of…, the second album from Atlantic Records artist Halestorm, shot to the No. 1 slot on Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums chart. The first single, “Love Bites (So Do I),” marked the first song by a female fronted group to top the active rock chart, and earned the band a GRAMMY award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance.  The song was also the No. 1 song of 2012 on SiriusXM’s Octane. The band’s second single “Freak Like Me” also hit No. 1 on the Active Rock chart and their third single “Here’s To Us” saw incredible chart success as well. Halestorm also released their second covers EP last fall, ReAniMate 2.0: The CoVeRs eP, which saw the band putting their distinctive brand another eclectic collection of classic songs. In addition to releasing her own clothing and accessory line this past fall, “Scissor Happy,” frontwoman Lzzy Hale has also garnered national media attention appearing on the cover of Revolver’s “Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock” issue twice. The band has also performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. Halestorm is currently on a sold-out European tour and working on their third studio album. For more information, visit www.HalestormRocks.com.

The first leg of the tour will take place throughout Sept.-Dec. in the U.S. and Canada and is exclusively promoted by Louis Messina of The Messina Group/AEG Live. The dates for the first leg of The Outsiders World Tour with special guest Dwight Yoakum (#TheOutsidersLive) are as follows:  

Sept. 11 | Bossier City, La. | CenturyLink Center*

Sept. 13 | St. Louis, Mo. | Scottrade Center*

Sept. 16 | Minneapolis, Minn. | Target Center*

Sept. 17 | Des Moines, Iowa | Wells Fargo Arena*

Sept. 18 | Omaha, Neb. | CenturyLink Center*

Sept. 25 | Louisville, Ky. | KFC Yum! Center*

Sept. 26 | Charleston, W.Va. | Charleston Civic Center*

Sept. 27 | Greensboro, N.C. | Greensboro Coliseum*

Oct. 9 | Grand Rapids, Mich. | Van Andel Arena*

Oct. 10 | Cleveland, Ohio | Quicken Loans Arena*

Oct. 11 | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Consol Energy Center*

Oct. 16 | Charlottesville, Va. | John Paul Jones Arena**

Oct. 17 | New York, N.Y. | Madison Square Garden**         

Oct. 18 | Philadelphia, Pa. | Wells Fargo Center**

Oct. 23 | Manchester, N.H. | Verizon Wireless Arena**

Oct. 24 | Uncasville, Conn. | Mohegan Sun**

Oct. 25 | Uncasville, Conn. | Mohegan Sun**

Oct. 30 | Knoxville, Tenn. |Thompson-Boling Arena**

Oct. 31 | Memphis, Tenn.| FedExForum**   

Nov. 1 | Tulsa, Okla. | BOK Center**  

Nov. 13 | London, Ont. | Budweiser Gardens**

Nov. 14 | Hamilton, Ont. | FirstOntario Centre**

Nov. 15 | Ottawa, Ont. | Canadian Tire Centre**

Nov. 20 | Green Bay, Wis. | Resch Center

Nov. 21 | Peoria, Ill. | Peoria Civic Center***

Nov. 22 | Evansville, Ind. | The Ford Center***

Dec. 5 | Kansas City, Mo. | Sprint Center

Dec. 6 | Sioux Falls, S.D. | Denny Sanford Premier Center***

Dec. 11 | Atlanta, Ga. | The Arena at Gwinnett Center***

Dec. 12 | Lexington, Ky. | Rupp Arena***

Dec. 13 | Birmingham, Ala. | BJCC Arena***

All dates with special guest Dwight Yoakum

*denotes Brothers Osborne

**denotes Brandy Clark

***denotes Halestorm   

Ashley Monroe, along with Striking Matches, will perform two shows at Joe's Pub in NYC on April 14th, at 7pm and 930pm. 
Ashley Monroe's 2013 album, Like A Rose, was generally considered one of the best albums of the year. It was a record full of stories, humor and insight set against a traditional country sound. 
Striking Matches are the duo of Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis. In addition to hearing their songs on the television show Nashville, they recently signed with I.R.S. Nashvhille and are regulars on the Grand Ole Opry.
Limited tickets are still available for both shows.

Nashville, TN ~ Jamie Lynn Spears was quite the social butterfly this past week in Las Vegas, which was only fitting considering she was the ACM’s official social media correspondent! Sharing photos from shows and backstage meet and greets, Jamie Lynn made her fans feel like they were along for the ride! After this fun-filled weekend, Jamie Lynn launched her official merchandise store!

Fans can choose from a collection of t-shirts and tank tops that are uniquely Jamie Lynn! All items are available on JamieLynnSpears.com. 

Watch the video for her current single,  "How Could I Want More" HERE. 

Press Release from ACM~~
LAS VEGAS, NV (April 6, 2014) – Winners have been announced for the 49th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, a star-studded ceremony broadcast LIVE tonight on the CBS Television Network from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.  Fans named George Strait the Entertainer of the Year, the evening’s biggest honor and the second win of his career in that category. This year marked another record-breaking year with 1.5 million fan votes cast for Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year categories combined, and also marked the first time online fan voting for these categories were open to fans in Australia and Canada. 

The king of country music and newly crowned Entertainer of the Year, George Strait, also participated in a special moment with Owner, President and General Manager of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones during the telecast announcing the 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS to be broadcast LIVE from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. It was also announced that Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan will return to co-host the show.  

Merle Haggard was honored with the Crystal Milestone Award, which was presented by Garth Brooks and celebrated with a tribute performance featuring Miranda Lambert and George Strait. 

Jason Aldean won Male Vocalist of the Year, his second consecutive win in this category. He has won an overall total of 7 ACM Awards. 

Miranda Lambert won for the fifth consecutive year as Female Vocalist of the Year, breaking Reba McEntire’s record for the most consecutive wins in that category. She is the leading female winner of the night, with a total of three trophies. Lambert also took the prize for Single Record of the Year for “Mama’s Broken Heart,” and Vocal Event of the Year for “We Were Us” with Keith Urban.  

The Band Perry won their first Vocal Group of the Year award. This marks their third overall ACM win; they won the New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year award and New Artist of the Year in 2010.

Artists Florida Georgia Line won Vocal Duo of the Year. This is their first win in this category, and third overall ACM Award win.

Justin Moore received his first-ever Academy of Country Music Award tonight for New Artist of the Year Presented by Kohl’s Department Stores, a fan-voted category. 

Kacey Musgraves won Album of the Year as the artist and producer for Same Trailer Different Park. This award marks her first-ever ACM Award win. 

Keith Urban is the leading male winner of the night with a total of three trophies in two categories.  Prior to the telecast, Urban took the prize for Video of the Year as artist for “Highway Don’t Care” with Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift. He also won Vocal Event of the Year as artist and producer for “We Were Us” with Miranda Lambert. Both awards were presented off-camera. 

Following is the list of winners in the 11 categories voted on by the membership (excluding the Entertainer of the Year and New Artist categories, which were voted on by a combination of professional ACM members and fans):

Entertainer of the Year

George Strait

 Male Vocalist of the year

Jason Aldean

 Female Vocalist of the year

Miranda Lambert

 Vocal Duo of the year

Florida Georgia Line

 Vocal Group OF THE YEAR

The Band Perry

 NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KOHL’S

Justin Moore

 ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

Same Trailer Different Park – Kacey Musgraves

Producers: Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves

Record Label: Mercury Records

 Single Record of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

Mama's Broken Heart – Miranda Lambert

Producers: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf

Record Label: RCA Nashville

 Song of the Year [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

I Drive Your Truck – Lee Brice

   Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary

Publishers: Beattyville Music (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), Great Day At This Music (BMI), Happy Tears Music (ASCAP), Vistaville Music (ASCAP), Watch This Girl Publishing (BMI)

 Video of the Year [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award)

Highway Don't Care – Tim McGraw Featuring Taylor Swift & Keith Urban

Producers: Tameron Hedge, Chandra LaPlume

Director: Shane Drake

 
Vocal Event of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]*(Off Camera Award)

We Were Us – Keith Urban And Miranda Lambert

Producers: Nathan Chapman, Keith Urban

Record Labels: Capitol Records Nashville, Hit Red Records, RCA Nashville