CMR Exclusive: Tucker Beathard On The Rise

Dot Records’ recording artist Tucker Beathard has just released his debut single, “Rock On,” to country radio. The new single, co-written by Tucker, Marla Cannon-Goodman and his father, Casey Beathard, provides a fresh new sound to country radio.

“Rock On” serves as a solid introduction to the rising star as he delivers a well balanced song that instantly captivates listeners. Of this new track, Tucker shares some insight on his debut single with us. “What I liked about it for a single was it didn’t pigeonhole me. I have so many different music influences and there’s a wide variety of styles. I didn’t want to pick anything that was too rock, because then people will think the album is going to be all rock, or too soft and then people will think I don’t have any rock. So it’s in the middle.”

Following in the footsteps of his father Casey Beathard, a well-known songwriter in the industry, can’t be easy. However, landing on several Artists to Watch lists for 2016, including ours, Tucker is making a lasting impression and a name for himself as both an artist and a songwriter. Growing up, Tucker revealed to us that he just wanted to do his own thing. And he did. But when it came time to really try to write, he looked to his dad for guidance. “I couldn’t deny the fact that I was a huge fan of what he did and how he wrote. That’s who I naturally learned from. Now I respect him and respect his opinion. I love writing with him.”

Casey Beathard doesn’t go easy on Tucker just because he’s his son, in fact, just the opposite. “He’s pretty hard on me, which is great, especially starting off” Tucker says. “When I first started writing, I’d come back really fired up about a song and show him, and he’d tear it apart. But that just made it better.”

In addition to Tucker releasing his debut single, he will join Dierks Bentley out on the road this summer for Bentley’s Sounds of Summer Tour. “Between Dierks, Randy [Houser] and Cam, it’s going to be a lot of fun.” Tucker shares. “I respect Dierks so much, he’s such a great dude. He’s a great performer and artist, it’s going to be a great experience.”

Tucker played a show with Dierks in Montana last year, but hasn’t had a chance to really get to know him. That will all change this summer for the country newcomer. “I’m not to close to him yet. He texted me the other day saying he’s happy to have me out, and that shows what kind of guy he is. He’s a class act in my opinion. For any new artist, he’s the kind of guy you want to look up to and learn from.”

Tucker Beathard is one to keep your ears tuned in and eyes on. His authenticity shines through with the music he is writing and delivering. “Bottom line is, and it sounds so cliché it really does, but the whole reason I got in to songwriting was to let out feelings, emotions, whatever. It’s so much more rewarding to me to have people be impacted by what I’m saying and be able to relate to it.”

“Rock On” is available now on iTunes and is a must-have for your music playlist! Grab your copy today and be sure to request Tucker Beathard’s debut single at your favorite country radio station!

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

Kane Brown Releases Debut Single “Used To Love You Sober” To Country Radio

RCA Nashville/Zone 4 country recording artist Kane Brown’s debut single “Used To Love You Sober” hit the Country radio airwaves on February 16, 2016.

Brown, the twenty-two-year-old native of Fort Oglethorpe, GA, initially built an online fan base posting his own performance videos of cover songs whose popularity led to the viral success of his 2014 independent single, “Don’t Go City on Me.” In late 2015 Brown self-released “Used To Love You Sober” that today hits Country radio and now has been purchased over 180k times via online digital retailers.

“My fans have been asking and patiently waiting for my music on their hometown radio stations for a long time and I am so excited that this moment is finally here,” exclaims Brown. “I’m grateful for all of the fans that have gotten me to this day, I am nothing without them!”

“We are so excited to bring Kane’s RCA debut to Country Radio,” says Senior Vice President of National Promotion for RCA Records Nashville, Keith Gale.  “Kane has grown a massive fan base before he joined our family.  His fans passionately support him and you can see it.  You can feel it!  And now we get to bring his great music to an even larger community with our partners at Country Radio.”

Recently named an “Artist to Watch” by Billboard, Huffington Post and HITS, Brown is selling out venues in Charlotte (3400 tickets), Greenville (2000 tickets), Indianapolis (1600 tickets), Knoxville (1600 tickets) and Columbus (1100 tickets) and will join headliners Florida Georgia Line when the duo launches its 2016 Dig Your Roots Tour beginning in March, with select dates on sale now.

Kellie Pickler To Make Guest Appearance on the Final Season of American Idol

Country music singer/songwriter Kellie Pickler returned to where it all began last week when she taped an episode of the final season of “American Idol.” For several days, the talented vocalist, who became a household name while appearing on the iconic television show’s fifth season, mentored and performed with two of the Top 24 contestants (their names cannot be revealed at this time). During the tapings, she also shared advice and stories from her “Idol” experience.

“American Idol” featuring Pickler, along with five other returning Idols, will air Thursday, February 18 at 8:00 PM ET (7:00 PM CT) on the FOX Television Network.

“It was so great to return to ‘American Idol’ and see some of my old friends and make a few new ones,” said Pickler. “I have always been so appreciative of the opportunity to be on Idol and of the doors that show opened for me. And, to be asked back to mentor and perform with a few of the final season’s contestants was a true honor.”

For the latest news, tour dates, and more information, please visit www.kelliepickler.com. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Eric Church Releases New Single “Record Year” To Country Radio

A 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards top nominee, Eric Church drops his second single “Record Year” from Mr. Misunderstood at Country radio today. The new single namechecks Stevie Wonder’s Songs In The Key of Life, Willie Nelson’s Red Headed Stranger, John Lee Hooker’s One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer among others from Church’s stack of vinyl. Upon the album’s surprise release last November, Rolling Stone Magazine dubbed the new single the “most moving moment” on the widely-lauded album.

Church co-wrote “Record Year” with longtime banjo player and guitarist Jeff Hyde who has previously collaborated on hits such as the three-week No. 1 “Springsteen” (along with Ryan Tyndell) from the ACM and CMA Album of the Year Chief and the anthematic Top 20 “Smoke a Little Smoke” (written by Church and Hyde alongside other bandmate Driver Williams) from 2009’s Carolina, a release that has since been pointed to as a pivotal shift in musical direction for “our greatest working rock star” (Stereogum).

With poignantly clever lyrics, “Record Year” is Church’s ode to a lost love who instead of finding solace in another’s arms, finds consolation in a three-foot stack of vinyl:
“Your leavin’ left me goin’ crazy, I’m countin’ on a needle to save me / I drop it in the groove, And we go ’round and ’round, And down in a spiral / I guess I really oughta call and thank you, I rediscovered Red Headed Stranger / Got down with old James Brown, And found New Grass Revival / If you find your way back, I owe you a beer, For my record year”

“Record Year” follows the Top 15 title track, which shipped to radio unexpectedly in conjunction with the album’s release last fall. Church recently discussed the reason behind Mr. Misunderstood’s sudden issue to ESPN’s Marty Smith: “Inspiration. And you can never pick when inspiration is going to strike,” Church simply stated. “I hate when you’re told ‘here’s where to make an album’–it doesn’t work like that.” Church had initially revealed in a letter to his fans that the inspiration for Mr. Misunderstood came from a guitar his son affectionately named “Butter Bean.” Thirty days after picking up that guitar, over 80,000 fans received the unannounced album and a note directly from Church on November 4 before it was made available everywhere for purchase later that week.

The New York Times calls Mr. Misunderstood “a love letter to his influences” noting “in his songs, music is fuel for love, for anguish and, naturally, for other music.” The Guardian calls the 10-song collection “a gem and the best album of his career.” And Rolling Stone Country raves “‘Record Year’ talks of three seminal J’s – Jennings, Jones and James Brown – who all are crucial pillars in Mr. Misunderstood’s songbook. But it’s a more subtle reference to John Lee Hooker (“one bourbon, one scotch, one beer/I’m having a record year”) that shows he’s more than comfortable being stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis — or Delta.”

Along with an Album of the Year nod for Mr. Misunderstood, Church is also up for ACM Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Video of the Year (for “Mr. Misunderstood”), and Musical Event of the Year for “Raise ‘Em Up” with Keith Urban.

Chase Rice Launches Back To College Tour

Chase Rice cut his teeth playing every dive bar and college town he could drive to for years, starting in his home state of North Carolina and steadily expanding with the groundswell of rabid fans that showed up night after night to hear what the straightforward entertainer had to offer. Three national headlining tours, a coveted opening spot for Kenny Chesney on his 2015 tour and one chart-topping country album later, Rice is preparing for the release of his second Columbia Nashville/Dack Janiels Records album and returning to his roots to play his new music for “the most discerning crowd there is: college kids” (Pollstar).

Campus Events Network Presents College Days, Country Nights: The Chase Rice Back to College Tour will launch in early April, with the first round of dates being announced today, February 16.

Before returning to his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Rice wanted to have some of the new music incorporated into his set. “We wanted to take our time with this new album and I want to put the good, the bad and all the grit in between into these songs,” he says. “The fans in a lot of these cities have been there for me since day one, so I’m looking forward to playing them some new music live and bringing them along on the next step of our journey.”

Rice, who is currently nominated for ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year, released the first single from his forthcoming album, “Whisper,” to digital retailers on February 5 and it immediately shot to the top of the iTunes country charts. Described by Rice as the “bridge” between his last album, Ignite the Night, and his as-yet-untitled 2016 album, “Whisper” will impact Country radio on Monday, Feb. 29.

The first round of dates for The Chase Rice Back to College Tour are as follows, with more to be announced in the coming weeks:
Thursday, April 14 – Germain Arena – Fort Myers, Fla.
Florida Gulf Coast University
Saturday, April 16 – Carmichael Arena – Chapel Hill, N.C.
University of North Carolina
Tuesday, April 19 – Erie Insurance Arena – Erie, Pa.
Gannon University and Edinboro University
Thursday, April 21 – The Green – Kent, Ohio*
Kent State University
Saturday, April 23 – SIU Arena – Carbondale, Ill.
Southern Illinois University
Friday, April 29 – EGSC Bobcat Athletics Complex – Swainsboro, Ga.
East Georgia State College
Friday, May 6 – Ives Concert Park – Danbury, Conn.
Western Connecticut State University
*Indicates that this show is closed to the public.

For additional dates and ticketing information, visit www.chaserice.com and download “Whisper” today at smarturl.it/crwhisper.