CMR Exclusive: Catching Up with Michael Ray

2016 is off to a great start for rising country star, Michael Ray.  The country newcomer is currently out on Brantley Gilbert’s Blackout Tour, and then will join up with Darius Rucker for the summer on the Here For A Good Time Tour.  In addition, Michael has followed up is #1 country radio single, “Kiss Me In The Morning,” with his latest release “Real Men Love Jesus.”

While in Nashville for the 2016 Country Radio Seminar, we caught up with Michael Ray to chat about all the great things he has going on this year. Check out the interview below, or watch here.

“Real Men Love Jesus” is the second single released from Michael’s self-titled debut album, and is available on iTunes HERE. Be sure to request his new single at your local country radio station.

Keep up with Michael Ray by visiting his Official Website, Like him on Facebook and Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

Darryl Worley and Wife Safe in Fiji Following Deadly Cyclone

Country star Darryl Worley and his wife Kimberly are safe following the landfall of Cyclone Winston in Fiji. Over the weekend, the Category 5 storm ravaged the South Pacific country, killing at least 29 people. On record, the storm was the largest to ever hit the island nation.

Worley traveled to Fiji last week for Tunes in the Tropics, a week-long event featuring intimate concert performances by country artists from the US and Austrailia.

“This storm has changed the island nation of Fiji forever… it also changed our lives forever,” says Worley. “These are defining moments in our lives and, prayerfully, we take what we should from them.”

The “Have You Forgotten” singer and his wife are still in Fiji and are planning a benefit concert with details to be announced.

Worley adds, “I believe that I live a fuller life because of my experiences. This experience has reminded me of why we are put here; to do all we can to help those less fortunate than we are and to live every moment like it is a precious gift, because it is. This event brought a whole new meaning to ‘count your blessings.'”

For more information on Darryl Worley, visit www.darrylworley.com.

Adley Stump Named A Winner for the 2016 Grammy Amplifier Program

Rising Country artist Adley Stump has been named one of the winners of the 2016 Hyundai and The Recording Academy® fourth annual GRAMMY Amplifier® program. he was one of 3 winners chosen from over 4000 entrants.  Adley will be one of the featured performers at a GRAMMY Amplifier® showcase at the SXSW Music festival in Austin, Texas on March 18th.

Ms. Stump says “What an immeasurable honor!  I am so thankful to the Grammy’s for front-running this initiative to recognize and foster independent talent.  I couldn’t be more humbled to have been acknowledged; there is no better organization I could have wished to learn from and grow not only as an artist, but as a person & a member of the creative community I love so much”.

The fourth annual GRAMMY Amplifier program launched last November when program hopefuls were asked to upload their song on the GRAMMY Amplifier website and drive friends, family and fans to listen and “amplify” their track. Based on total track plays and social media “amplifications,” a top 25 list of semifinalists were selected after which point accumulations for the semifinalist group continued.  A group of 10 finalists were selected and submitted to the GRAMMY Amplifier curators who then chose the winners.  All the finalists were given the opportunity to fly to Los Angeles where they participated in a Music Business Immersion Day with the goal of educating them on social media promotion, copyrights, and publishing, among other topics.

Ms. Stump has been busy so far in 2016: She is currently in pre-production for a new EP – the first single/video will be released in early April, with the EP release to follow in late May in time for the summer touring season.  She has already been booked on big Country Music Festivals for 2016: Tree Town Festival in Forest City, Iowa May 26 – 29; Taste Of Country Music Festival in Hunter, New York on June 12th, Country Fest in Cadott, Wi on June 17th and Country Jam in Mack, Colorado June 18th & 19th.  An extensive national tour is being booked and additional dates will be announced in early April.

Stay connected with Adley Stump by visiting her Official Website, Like her on Facebook and Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Chris Lane Took “Fix” To A New Level With Grand Ole Opry Debut

Big Loud Records’ fast-rising recording artist Chris Lane took “Fix” to a new level with his Grand Ole Opry debut Saturday night (2/20). The newcomer was welcomed into the famous circle by country music icon Bill Anderson before launching into performing his Top 25-and-climbing single “Fix,” which accumulated the most first week single adds from a debut male artist in Country Aircheck history and has notched 4,652,352 plus streams on Spotify. He closed his set with fan-favorite “For Her” and had the sold out crowd waving their hands in the air.

Lane’s debut also featured Big Loud Shirt hit songwriter Sarah Buxton, who co-wrote “Fix” with Jesse Frasure and Abe Stoklasa, as a special guest on background vocals.

Immediately following the big night, Lane traveled to Minneapolis, MN, for the last stop (2/21) on Dustin Lynch’s heavily pre-sold out HELL OF A NIGHT Tour. Continuing to play shows nationwide this spring, Lane is gearing up for another tour to be announced soon.

For tour dates and more information on Chris Lane, visit www.iamchrislane.com.

FIX EP is available here.

Sam Hunt Delivers Impressive Cover of Waylon Jennings’ “Belle of the Ball”

When Sam Hunt was in Nashville earlier this month for the 2016 Country Radio Seminar, he threw a “house party” at The Ryman Auditorium for radio and industry professionals.

Performing songs from his double platinum certified debut album, Montevallo, Hunt also treated the crowd to some fun covers. He honored women in music from the 90’s with a fun acoustic set, which included special guest Charles Kelley, and then he treated the audience to a powerful cover of Waylon Jennings’ “Belle of the Ball.” (Watch below, or click here)

You can catch Sam Hunt out on Kenny Chesney’s Spread The Love Tour this summer. For tour dates and more visit www.samhunt.com.