Tony & Kris
Tony & Kris Headed To WIVK/Knoxville For Mornings
As ALL ACCESS originally confirmed late YESTERDAY (7/11), CUMULUS Country WIVK/KNOXVILLE has named veteran morning team TONY RANDALL and KRIS ROCHESTER -- "TONY & KRIS" -- for wakeups, succeeding ANDY & ALISON, who announced their ... more »
May PPMs Start Rolling Today
NIELSEN AUDIO began delivery of MAY monthly PPM results TODAY (6/12) in these markets:NEW YORK; LOS ANGELES; CHICAGO; SAN FRANCISCO; DALLAS; HOUSTON; PHILADELPHIA; ATLANTA; NASSAU-SUFFOLK; ... more »
Killer harmonies, a 70s Rock influence, and great hair may be the most recognizable traits of Columbia Nashville's newest trio to hit Country radio, Levon. But, with their first single, "Ms. Marianne," the group is proving they can deliver a story song with tongue-in-cheek humor and a killer hook, too. "Ms. Marianne" tells the mostly-true story of lead singer Michael David Hall's encounter with a cougar during his years tending bar. Think of it as Country music's ode to "The Graduate" meets Pop hit "Stacy's Mom." "I was busy flunking out of my third year of college / Working hard tending bar / Soaking up all the knowledge / You could find serving wine to the ladies / At Francesca's Porch / She walked in with her friends / They were mad celebrating / Twenty years of marriage / To an ex she called 'Satan' / So, I poured her a shot / And I walked it across the floor / And, the ladies all roared." It's the best kind of ear-worm that might have listeners tapping their toes and humming along well before they ever figure out the underlying current of "Chardonnay flirting" running throughout the track. If you're looking for a fun single for Summer that's sure to get people talking, "Ms. Marianne" is perfect. And, it's a great introduction to Levon, which has much more in the tank.
Michael Ray's newest release, "Get To You," shows a softer side of him that makes you feel as though he's your new shoulder to cry on. The lyrics tell a story about wanting to be with someone who has their walls up and is afraid to fall in love. Ray sings: "Why do you / Run away, run away from love / What the hell are you so scared of / You walk away when you’ve had enough of tryin’, of tryin’ / Girl there’s always gonna to be some pain / A little sunshine, a little rain / It doesn’t mean it ain’t worth it babe / I’m tryin’, I’m tryin’ to get to you, you." We've all dealt with being afraid to fall, or at least have a friend who is exactly like the girl he's singing about. I think this song stands as a good reminder that you really never know what someone else is going through; be kind and merciful to others, especially to your significant other. And, if you have been hurt before, it's okay to be afraid to fall in love again. But, you will survive and get through it. Ray is here to remind you: "One day you’re gonna love again / Mess up, let somebody in / To a little part of your world / You think it’s unthinkable, girl." So, Country radio, Michael Ray will not only get to you with this one, but he'll also get to your listeners, too. 
I've long believed Joe Nichols possesses one of purest, finest voices in Country music. So, in that sense, "Never Gets Old," his latest single, is perfectly titled. Here, Nichols is understated and reserved in his delivery. You'll be reminded of other great vocalists – specifically Merle Haggard, which is never a bad thing. When you're really in love with somebody, none of the simple, smaller things ever get old. Sings Nichols: "Never gets old watchin' you laugh / Feelin' your kiss, kissin' me back / I never get tired, tired of that / No, it never gets old / It never gets old, holdin' your hand / Gonna stay young bein' your man / Lovin' over and over again / No, it never gets old." There is one caveat, however: "Might wear me out sometimes, but it never gets old." This is a burn-it-in song, meaning it will grow on listeners and wear well. The traditional-sounding lane is gradually finding its place again on Country music's diverse super highway of variety; for some of us, that sound never gets old. Thanks to Joe Nichols for keeping it fresh. 
When you've had the worst night of your life, who do you call? Like, I mean, the kind of night where you aren't totally sure where you are or what has happened, and your phone is dead or lost or broken, and you have to pull a number out of your brain to call? Is it a sibling? A best friend? Or, is it a phone number that maybe you shouldn't remember but do? For Lewis Brice (yes, Brice as in Lee's brother), it's his ex. In this up-tempo, quirky-fun track, Brice finds himself having been kicked out of a bar, phone in a mud puddle, standing outside of a gas station, with no actual clue where his car is or how he's going to get home. And, the only phone number he can remember? The ex. Thankfully for Lewis, his ex seems to be pretty understanding, as she comes to the rescue. "Got kicked out the bar / Can't find my car / Now I'm at the gas station / Phone in a puddle / Covered in mud, oh / It's one of those days, yeah / Quarter's in the payphone / Wracking my brain / But the only number that / I can't remember is yours // You are a lifesaver / Picking me up in the middle of the night / And if you ever need a favor / I got you girl / Yeah, you got that right / I know we'll never / Get back together / But, I gotta tell ya right now / That you hands down / Are the best ex ever." With banjos and drums and a funky beat, this song is a good time party song that you should probably share with the one ex who would still answer your calls in the middle of the night.
If you're in dire need of a quick (or extended) break from work, school, the kids, whatever, whoever - look no further! Dan + Shay have the perfect song to convince you of the getaway you deserve. Seriously - this duo is on fire right now and could not have delivered a better anthem to really make you hit the gas pedal on a much-needed vacation. The jam immediately lifts your spirits within the first ten seconds. It's one of those songs that's going to make you roll your windows down, put some shades on, and head out of town. The infectious chorus will have you singing right along with the lyrics: "Road trippin' / Summertime livin' / With your hands out kissin' the wind / Yeah, let's roll with it / Radio kick it / Louder, we're at it again / Stuck a little somethin' in my old back pocket / Break it out later if you like that / When the sun's dippin / We'll start to start sippin' / Road, road, road, road trippin' / Trippin', trippin', trippin', oh." So, kick back, pour a drink, and become a part of your listeners' summer soundtrack by adding Dan + Shay's "Road Trippin'!"
The day after his friend passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 38, Chris Stapleton had heaven on his mind. He penned the track, "Broken Halos," that he debuted during a telethon to raise funds for the Gatlinburg, TN Great Smoky Mountains Wildfire victims late last year. Shortly after, Stapleton brought that directly to you, Country radio, with a performance at CRS 2017 on the stage of the Ryman that brought many to tears and all to their feet. When it appeared on the track listing for his "From A Room: Volume 1," many surmised it would be the lead single. In fact, it has already received spins across various outlets and has made real traction on SiriusXM. Now, Stapleton has released the gritty, bluesy, minimalistic track as his second single from the project. Never one to follow trends, Stapleton and producer Dave Cobb keep this one simple, with a pared down arrangement to highlight the poignant lyrics and powerful delivery lamenting loss and the great beyond. "Don't go looking / For the reasons / Don't go askin' Jesus why / We're not meant to / Know the answers / They belong to the by and by / They belong to the by and by // Seen my share of / Broken halos / Folded wings that used to fly / They've all gone / Wherever they go / Broken halos that used to fly." Frankly, I am not completely sure what to tell you about this song that could convince you to play it. If you haven't already listened to this track -- and Stapleton's full project -- then I'm also not certain we can be friends.
Don't let the lightheartedness of the opening chords fool you, Brett Young's "Like I Loved You" is dripping with heartbreak and frustration. The mid-tempo track is one you might even find yourself nodding along and toe-tapping to until you lend an ear to the lyrics. In the song, Young finds himself the subject of an all-too-casual breakup, wherein his one time lover thinks maybe they could still be friends, grab a burger on Sunday afternoon, and frequent the same bars. We've all been there, though, right? The one who was more invested than the other. The one who doesn't feel at all casual about the relationship that is ending, while the other party walks away unscathed. Yound delivers the lines we've all felt, and maybe even thought, but that few of us have had the gumption to deliver ourselves. "Don't tell me we could be friends / Hang out on the weekends / You're gonna be okay / If I start seeing / Somebody new / You hope that I do / It won't be long / Til I forget to call every time that I'm drinking / And you ain't the love song / I can't keep from singing / I gotta be honest / If you really believe that's the truth / You never loved me like I loved you." Damn, y'all. That's just the gospel truth right there. Young is on a bit of a roll right now following two great #1s, so why not add this out of the box and watch this guy's star continue to rise?
The Cadillac Three are well-known for their gritty sound and southern anthems, making it easy to turn their songs up when you hear one start to play. Their newest release, "Dang If We Didn't," is yet another jam to turn up, especially if you are aching from a hangover. It's all about those nights when you're not planning on going out, but then you call up a couple friends and end up drinking way too much. It's as if the movie "The Hangover" was turned into a song. The moment you wake up from a massive hangover, you'll want to sing along with the lyrics: "Dang if we didn't get drunk last night / What was so wrong we had to make it so right / Whiskey, ‘quila, rum, and some cold Bud Light / Dang if we didn’t get drunk last night." However, the song's groove and upbeat background will more than likely cure your hangover and put a cold beer back into your hand. We all know that summertime brings on the good times, and this song is the perfect tune to remind ourselves that it's okay to have fun - even if you can't remember the details until the next morning. So, add this to your playlist and join the party!
Little Big Town - "When Someone Stops Loving You" (Capitol Nashville)
Luke Combs already has a #1 single and album in his hip pocket, and after a week of polling radio for feedback on his second single, “When It Rains It Pours,” one has the feeling he's well on his way to a really fantastic year. This is a gigantic, smash hit record that brings tempo, strong vocal presence, and a quality we haven't seen a lot of in recent years with Country music: A clever turn of a phrase with a subtle, wry sense of humor. A title like "When It Rains It Pours" usually portends anguish, heartbreak, and tons of sorrow. Well, Combs has flipped the script on those themes, instead telling a fun, uplifting tale of how many things can go so incredibly right when someone so obviously wrong for you leaves. Things like winning the lottery, being the right caller for a radio contest, and – hitting perfectly on Combs' everyman image and that sense of humor I mentioned earlier – winning the Moose Club raffle. As Combs sings, perhaps the biggest prize is this: “And I ain’t gotta see my ex-future mother-in-law anymore / Oh, Lord, when it rains it pours // I’ve been on one hell of a redneck roll for three weeks now / And it all started on the day that she walked out." That reference to radio is a subtle one, not the familiar, patronizing kind designed simply to get a PD's attention. "When It Rains It Pours" is just one song from one of the best albums of 2017. Play it right away, and spin it during the day, because Combs' run of luck is just beginning, and you'll want to be thought of as someone who got it right away. 
Coming straight off the heels of her last single, "Love Triangle," RaeLynn keeps the connection between fans strong with her newest release, "Lonely Call." The track's title immediately tells you what the song is about, but RaeLynn has made it pretty clear what the song personally means to her. She explained that the track was written a few years back when she and now-husband, Josh, experienced a break-up before they eventually got married. The break-up didn't last long, but during the off-period, RaeLynn told him that she refused to be his 'lonely call,' or someone to talk to when he's feeling alone and missing her. Although RaeLynn's situation can be very relatable, there are several other meanings to the new tune. As she now deals with a long-distance marriage with Josh, who is an active member of the United States military, RaeLynn is spending a lot of time away from him, so this song could easily relate to the lonely call you make to your significant other when you can't physically be with them. Or, it could be the call you want to make to someone who is no longer in your life. Well, Country Radio, get to playing "Lonely Call," so that your listeners never feel alone!
Never Gets Old
