Kristian Bush Signs With BBR Music Group

The BBR Music Group is proud to announce the signing of GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist Kristian Bush to a multifaceted publishing, production and label deal. One of country music’s most decorated and celebrated creators, Bush is already in the studio working on the follow-up to his critically-acclaimed debut solo album, SOUTHERN GRAVITY, to be released via BBR imprint Wheelhouse Records. He also continues his work as a BMI Award-winning songwriter, joining the roster at Magic Mustang Music.

“As both a recording artist and a songwriter, I am honored to be a part of the BBR Music Group/Magic Mustang family. I’m in love with making music, and I’m humbled every day that I get to do this job,” shares Bush. “My train runs on believers, and I found some incredible supporters in this building. There’s no telling what can happen when like-minded people get together, so to be surrounded by this team and given this opportunity makes me feel like a rocket sitting on a launchpad. I can’t wait to take off.”

Bush made an impressive solo debut with the 2015 release of SOUTHERN GRAVITY. The album hit the Top 10 of Rolling Stone Country’s Best of 2015 list and won international raves for its feel-good commercial country sound. Its first single, the irresistible “Trailer Hitch,” reached the Top 20 — making Bush only the fifth artist in the past three decades to hit that mark after first finding success as part of a duo. Bush, who produced the album alongside longtime engineer Tom Tapley, also co-wrote all 12 tracks, including buzzy sophomore single “Light Me Up.” The new partnership with BBR/Wheelhouse reunites Bush with VP of Promotion Teddi Bonadies, who spearheaded his solo radio success thus far, and launches the newest chapter in Bush’s storied career as a once-in-a generation talent who never gives up.

“The world knows that Kristian Bush is an amazing songwriter BUT what many folks may not yet know is that he’s also a multi-talented producer. When we heard his demos we decided to sign him to a full-fledged publishing, production and artist deal. It just made sense. We’re so excited to welcome Kristian, his talent and his incredible spirit to both the Magic Mustang and BBR Music Group family,” says Benny Brown, President & CEO of BBR Music Group.

Fans can catch Bush at a number of A-list festivals through the summer, including Country 500, Stagecoach and Tortuga Music Festival.

For more information, visit www.kristianbush.com.

Chase Rice Releases New Single “Whisper”

Chase Rice started this week off with a nomination for ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year, an honor well deserved after years of hitting every dive bar within a 12-hour radius of his home state of North Carolina before making Nashville his home to professionally pursue his passion.

Since then, he has not only carved his own unique path, but has also been praised for “the clever ways he’s found to enliven this new country trend” (Associated Press) and that evolution continues today with the release of “Whisper,” his new single available at digital retailers now, February 5 (going for adds at country radio on Monday, Feb. 29). The kinetic, dubstep-infused tune is the first sampling from Rice’s highly anticipated new album, an as-yet-untitled follow-up to his chart-topping debut Ignite the Night, expected later this year via Columbia Nashville / Dack Janiels Records.

“Ignite the Night was great for us, and it opened a lot of doors both creatively and professionally,” said Rice. “This new album is still going to have some of those songs, songs that make people want to get up and dance and party at a show, but it also takes fans on our journey with us and has a lot more depth musically because of what I see our fans craving online and at our shows.”

Having performed to sold out crowds on his own headlining tour night after night drawing 2,500 to 3,000 fans at each stop nationwide, Rice has not only lived more, but he’s listened more, too. “Personally, I believe my writing has evolved since we put out the last album and it’s been a hell of a ride so far, so this one will have a more mature sound to it. ‘Whisper’ is an example of that, having some of those different production elements that push the music beyond where we’ve been before.”

Following the release of “Whisper,” Rice released an honest and heartfelt letter to his fans. Read Here.

With a catalog of songs the New York Times calls “prime power country” and notes “it’s clear that Mr. Rice has studied the playbook closely,” Rice re-teamed with Nashville hitmakers Chris DeStefano and Jon Nite to craft “Whisper.” The synergistic trio collaborated on several songs from Ignite the Night, including fan-favorite “50 Shades of Crazy” and “Beach Town,” with DeStefano also logging a writing credit on Rice’s Top 5 Platinum hit “Ready Set Roll” and Nite sharing ink on its follow-up Top 5 smash, “Gonna Wanna Tonight.” DeStefano also produced Ignite the Night and is a co-producer on “Whisper” with Rice.

Download “Whisper” now at http://smarturl.it/crwhisper.

Dan + Shay Release Brand New Single and Video ‘From The Ground Up’

ACM Vocal Duo nominees Dan + Shay (Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney) kick off February with “From The Ground Up,” the debut single from their forthcoming album, which makes its world premiere today on Country Radio. In celebration, the pair has also released their heartfelt new music video, directed by Shaun Silva and shot just outside of Nashville, digitally to fans.

“‘From The Ground Up’ is a song that started with a conversation about our grandparents and the love that they shared for the 65-plus years that they were married,” Smyers explained of the single he wrote with Mooney and produced with Scott Hendricks. “It tells the story of the life that they built through their power and dedication to each other, and the perseverance to endure whatever would come their way.”

Mooney continued, “We put our hearts and souls into every word and every note of this song, and we just hope that it’s as special to our fans as it is to us.”

Earning their third consecutive nod for Vocal Duo of the Year from the Academy of Country Music earlier this week, they also scored their first No. 1 single on Country Radio with “Nothin’ Like You” just after wrapping their sold-out headlining tour late last year. With the release of their first album Where It All Began, they became the first ever new country duo in SoundScan recorded history to debut at No. 1 on the chart. Since then, Dan + Shay have racked up over 120 million streams, sold more than 1.5 million tracks and 375,000 album equivalents, while collecting almost 30 million YouTube views. They will go back on the road next month, and continue this summer with Darius Rucker on his “Good for a Good Time” tour.

For more information, visit www.danandshay.com and follow @danandshay on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Chris Stapleton To Perform on the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards

Music’s Biggest Night® just got bigger with can’t-miss moments and more than 11 new performers just added to the star-studded lineup. Nominee Justin Bieber will join fellow nominees Diplo and Skrillex to perform their GRAMMY®-nominated hit “Where Are Ü Now,” marking the duo known as Jack Ü’s first live television performance. Album Of The Year nominee Chris Stapleton will be joined by GRAMMY winners Gary Clark Jr. and Bonnie Raitt to pay tribute to legendary blues artist B.B. King. Nominee Pitbull will light the GRAMMY stage in collaboration with Travis Barker, Robin Thicke, and surprise special guests. Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, and Joe Perry promise an electric television debut with their rock supergroup The Hollywood Vampires.

Previously announced performers include Adele, James Bay, Andra Day, Ellie Goulding, the Broadway cast of “Hamilton,” Sam Hunt, Tori Kelly, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood, and The Weeknd.

Chris Stapleton is up for four awards this year: Album Of The Year and Best Country Album for Traveller; and Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for “Traveller.”

Entertainment icon and two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J is set to host Music’s Biggest Night for the fifth consecutive year. Taking place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards® will be broadcast live in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Additional performers will be announced shortly.

Dierks Bentley To Be Featured In Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Exhibition

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will explore the life and career of multi-platinum entertainer Dierks Bentley with the exhibition Dierks Bentley: Every Mile a Memory, presented by Citi, which opens March 4, 2016, and runs through Sept. 6, 2016. The exhibition will include stage wear, guitars, song manuscripts, photos and more from Bentley’s personal collection.

To celebrate the launch of the exhibit, the museum will host a special appearance by the “Somewhere on a Beach” singer on Saturday, March 12, at 2 p.m., in the museum’s 800-seat CMA Theater. Bentley will discuss his career and perform a short acoustic set. The program will be hosted by museum editor Peter Cooper.

“It’s crazy to be considered for something like this,” shares Bentley. “The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is home to the most revered and influential country artists of all time. Just being in the building as a visitor is humbling, but to actually be featured in one of the museum’s exhibits is something I never would have believed if you’d suggested it back when I started chasing this dream down on Broadway. I’m going to have to go down there to see it for myself to really make it sink in.”

“A master of reinvention, Dierks continues to confound our expectations with music that resonates, both commercially and critically,” says museum CEO Kyle Young. “Every mile, every day, every song in Dierks’ remarkable career creates new memories for him and for his fans. I know our visitors will enjoy getting a peek inside some of those memories.”

The March 12 museum program, featuring Bentley in conversation and performance, is included with museum admission and free to museum members. The program will be streamed live at countrymusichalloffame.org/streaming. Seating is limited; museum members can reserve tickets via TicketFly.com beginning at 10 a.m., on Feb. 10. Bentley is offering pre-sale tickets to his fan club members, Feb. 10-16. Fans can sign up to join The Congress and become a member of Bentley’s fan club. Citi cardholders will also have access to pre-sale tickets Feb. 10-16. Visit citiprivatepass.com for more information. The general public can reserve tickets beginning at 10 a.m., Feb. 17. For assistance with reservations, please call 615-416-2001 or email reservations@countrymusichalloffame.org.

Award-winning singer-songwriter Dierks Bentley explores the most intimate—and sometimes darkest—corners of his relationship history on his upcoming eighth studio album, Black, set for release in early 2016. Bentley ignites country radio with the album’s lead single, “Somewhere on a Beach,” in correlation with the U.S. leg of his 2016 Somewhere on a Beach Tour, beginning May 12 in Holmdel, N.J., at PNC Bank Arts Center with Randy Houser and special guests Cam and Tucker Beathard. Black follows the commercial success and critical respect for Riser. Bentley’s seven previous studio albums have sold more than five million copies; notched numerous chart-topping singles; and earned 13 Grammy nominations and countless CMA, ACM and CMT nominations. Bentley has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry for more than a decade. Additionally, he will co-host the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards, where he has two award nominations.

For more information about the exhibit, click here. Follow @countrymusichof on Twitter and join the conversation using #DierksBentleyExhibit.

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The museum’s mission is the preservation of the history of country and related vernacular music rooted in southern culture. With the same educational mission, the foundation also operates Historic RCA Studio B, Hatch Show PrintTM, CMF Records, the museum’s Frist Library and Archive and CMF Press. Museum programs are made possible, in part, by the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and under agreements with the National Endowment for the Arts.

More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is available at www.countrymusichalloffame.org or by calling (615) 416-2001.