CMA Fest
CMA Fest Canceled For This Year
The COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION announced TODAY (3/31) that its annual four-day CMA FEST event, which had been set for JUNE, has been canceled. “After careful deliberation, and in following the latest guidance from national, state and local ...
iHeartMedia Announces 90-Day Furloughs For Some Employees, COVID-19 Policies To Avoid Layoffs
ALL ACCESS has obtained a copy of a just-released note to all iHEARTMEDIA employees from Chairman & CEO BOB PITTMAN and CFO & COO RICH BRESSLER regarding health, safety and work ...
The Country community has been heartbroken since the loss of the legendary Kenny Rogers on March 20th. While we're still adjusting to the news, Capitol Nashville has granted us the greatest medicine of all time: a new Rogers single appropriately titled "Goodbye." The tune, penned by fellow musician and good friend Lionel Richie, was originally released in 2009 on the "Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years" project. It is now being brought to the surface again in honor of Rogers and his career in the Country music industry. The song showcases Rogers' raw talent as he sings about the difficulties of saying goodbye. We'll just warn you now, you should probably grab the tissues! Rogers sings, "I remember all those great times we had / So many memories / Some good, some bad / Yeah, and through it all those memories will last forever." It's as if he's speaking directly to us. What a gift! The song resurfaced after a call from Universal Music Group Nashville CEO Mike Dungan to Rogers' manager Ken Levitan to express condolences after the singer's passing. Levitan mentioned the song, and within three days it was uncovered and sent to radio to provide us all the healing we need. “He really says goodbye in that song,” Dungan said in a recent interview with 
Florida Georgia Line and their team couldn’t possibly have foreseen when they were selecting “I Love My Country” as the first single from the duo’s upcoming fifth studio album that a pandemic would make everything with a potentially patriotic bent feel especially relevant. That’s true even if — as in this case — “Country” refers more to the music than the nation. Patriotism aside, it’s actually the single’s upbeat, summertime vibe that is more likely to have fans feeling better about life as we know it right now, even as they’re sheltering in place and worrying about their jobs. The duo’s Tyler Hubbard says, “It’s just wild, the timing, now that we are where we’re at with everybody being on lockdown. This song is just so much fun and it feels like something that can kind of bring a little joy, a little positivity, a little encouragement to some people in this time that we’re all kind of living through the unknown and figuring it out together.” The single manages to blend a banjo and 808 beats into a Southern Rock-flavored track with hardcore Country lyrics, and still have it all somehow make perfect sense. “We keep it funky, we like how it sounds,” they sing in this tune, co-written by Corey Crowder, Ernest K. Smith, and Charlie Handsome, and produced by Crowder. And just how Country are those lyrics? They check all the boxes, referencing deer hunting, fishing, beer drinking, Kentucky whiskey, six strings and fiddles, pedal steel and even a blue tick hound. Yep, turn it up loud and proud!
Aldean has a way with the love songs, and his latest Country radio single proves no different. If you've ever been in a serious relationship, at some point you might have found yourself feeling anxious or insecure about your partner's happiness within the relationship. Or, you might have been the one on the other end, trying to quiet your partner's anxieties. In this slow and emotional song, Aldean delivers lyrics that every person who finds themselves in that situation would want to hear. In the chorus he passionately sings, "When I got what I got / I don't miss what I had / The old me before you belongs to the past / In the back of your mind, you might think there's somethin' more I want / But when I got what I got, girl, I don't." Beautiful, right? "When I first heard 'Got What I Got' it reminded me of something Boyz II Men would do ... almost like a ’90 R&B throwback song," Aldean says of the track, penned by Thomas Archer, Alex Palmer and Michael Tyler. "It's just not something you really hear in Country music that much … Plus, now more than ever, I think we’re all just being reminded how to appreciate the people we love." In an interview with 
If you're looking for something young, fun and modern to play on your airwaves right now, then MacKenzie Porter's "These Days" is just the right song to fill that slot! The song, written by Porter, alongside Jordan Sapp and Parker Welling, is an upbeat tune paying tribute to an ended relationship. Porter's clever lyrics get you hooked on the story from the beginning of the first verse with the lines, "We were one drag of a cigarette / No, we didn't smoke but we wanted to be cool / We were small town kids all vintage / Just a couple hallway famous fools." In the hooky chorus, Porter sings, "I'm thinking 'bout breakfast at midnight / Those matching tattoos and goodbye / Do you think about those days these days? / 'Cause I'm thinking 'bout you." Porter's creativity shines even brighter in the music video, which features the entire love story told backwards. She said, "I wanted this video to feel nostalgic ... like college love. We put all of the scenes in reverse, showing on screen the memories rewinding in my head. I can't wait for you to see it!" The Canadian native, now a Nashville songwriter, has a long list of accomplishments, such as becoming the first female artist since Shania Twain in 1998 to have back-to-back #1 singles at Canadian Country radio with “About You“ and "These Days," touring on her own and co-starring in the Netflix series "Travelers." Since it's quite obvious that this Country girl is on her way to becoming a star, let's give her a head start with an add at Country radio!
Adam Hambrick is serving up some serious joy with his latest single, "Forever Ain't Long Enough," and we are all about it. Written by Hambrick, alongside Joe Ginsberg and Kelly Archer, the dance-provoking tune is the perfect remedy for cooped up Country fans everywhere. The fun-loving lyrics reveal the feelings of lovers who just can't get enough of each other, even when it comes to the little things. As Hambrick sings in the chorus, "Forever ain't long enough / For the fire that I have in my heart for you / No there ain't enough ticks on the clock / To do all of the things that I wanna do-o-o with you / I never wanna stop / Tasting heaven on your lips when you're kissing me / Baby even if I had an eternity / To give you all my love, yeah / Forever ain't long enough." Ah, young love! Hambrick continues the good vibes with a lighthearted music video that brings the story to life in a modern-day diner. "It's a feel good song in a time when people need a feel good song," said Hambrick on a video posted to his social media. He's got that right! So let's crank it up, dance around and, most importantly, add it to your airwaves. 
At a time when the nation really needs messages of faith and inspiration comes this exquisite ballad from 18-year-old rising star Brennley Brown. Her sweet, delicate voice is full of emotion as she sings in the powerfully-written chorus, “Staying up all night pacing the floor / Wanting nothing more than to finally hear God’s voice whisper to you / And your knees just hit the floor / ‘Cause we’re all just looking for / One more hallelujah.” If this doesn’t give you chills, check your temperature! Brown was raised on a blended diet of classic Country and worship songs, and it shows in her own music. This song, written by Bobby Hamrick, James Slater and Caitlyn Smith, is included on Brown’s Luke Wooten-produced debut EP, coming this Spring. “The message of this song is one of inspiration and healing in the midst of life’s most challenging hardships,” Brown says. “My prayer for this song is that it resonates with each and every person that hears it and affords them hope, inspiration, and encouragement. We are not isolated in our brokenness and pain.” California native Brown has been best known until now as a finalist on season 12 of “The Voice,” as well as for her lead role of Leyla in the Dreamworks TV series “Dragons: Rescue Riders.” She also sings the theme and several other songs on the animated show, which is streaming on Netflix. But this first taste of her new music forecasts a very promising Country music career ahead.
In his best single to date, Tucker Beathard tackles the familiar and relatable theme of wanting to be remembered after the end of a relationship. In the track, written by Beathard, his dad Casey Beathard and Donovan Woods, the young singer belts, “You would think some song / You would think some place / You would think some look on a stranger's face / Would ring a bell / Or hurt like hell / Or make you feel something was missing.” The song not only showcases Tucker’s songwriting chops, but his other talents as well, as he co-produced and played lead guitar and drums on the track. And while the lyrics conjure an intimate relationship, the singer-songwriter doesn’t limit the meaning. “What I love about songwriting is that it can be so personal, but you also get to tell stories for other people and from other people’s outlook,” he told 
Hot off his recent #1, Jimmie Allen is back on the airwaves and ready to stretch the boundaries of Country music with his new single, "This Is Us," featuring pop artist Noah Cyrus. Co-written by Cyrus, Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line, Jordan Schmidt, Ilsey Juber and Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, the song tells the story of a restored love through the powerful and emotional vocals of two great singers. “I’ve been a fan of Noah’s music for a while. When I got the call to be a part of the song, I was honored,” said Allen. “It was co-written by one of my friends, Tyler Hubbard, which made it super special. I love the song, and Noah did her thing on it!” We think Allen "did his thing" as well by bringing the song to life with his soulful vocals. The chorus goes, "'Cause it was just you and that was just me / And that was just the way that it used to be / And we were just kids back then tryna figure out what it was / No, it wasn't that bad, but could've been better / If only back then we'd have been together / But it was just you and that was just me / Before we found love / Now this is us." In addition to the powerful track, the pair brings the love story to life in a vulnerable music video for the project featuring the two singers and a pool of water. The refreshing sound and relatable storyline is sure to resonate with many, and has us believing Allen will go three for three with his radio singles hitting #1.
In the old Western movies, the cowboy rides off into the sunset in the end. But in his latest single, Jon Pardi reverses that image with the woman being the one to leave. Pardi tells the story so convincingly, and with such passion, that you'll begin to wonder how accurate that old stereotype even is. In the chorus, he sings, "It ain't always the cowboy / That ain't got a lot of hang around / Ain't got no settle down in their boots / Gone's just what they do / That restless runnin' / Searchin' for somethin' / Leavin' love in the dust of a midnight Chevrolet / It ain't always the cowboy that rides away." Written by Brandon Kinney and Josh Thompson, 
After a much too long absence from Country radio, the Dixie Chicks are finally back with a scathing takedown of an ex lover who clearly did one of the ladies wrong. The lyrics are barbed and super-specific, pointing in the direction of lead singer Natalie Maines’ former husband. Whoever the target, it’s wonderful to hear the trio’s familiar vocal blend and emotive songwriting once again. All her pain comes through in the verses as Maines sings, “You just had to start a fight, had to start a fire / Couldn’t take yourself on a road a little higher / Had to burn it up, had to tear it down.” But the band’s trademark feisty side also comes through loud and clear as they sing brutal lines they somehow manage to make catchy, like, “Gaslighter, you broke me / You’re sorry, but where’s my apology?” and “Save your tired stories for your new someone else / ‘Cause they’re lie-lie-lie-lie-lies.” This song is the first track from an album of the same name, due on Friday, May 1st, and offers a very promising initial glimpse of the band’s debut collaboration with producer Jack Antonoff. We can’t wait to hear more!
Heartbreak is hard. The lonely days and strong emotions can send any sufferer into a frenzied search for peace of mind. And as Jennafer Lynsey's single, "Rebound," proves, it can seem an impossible feat for many. Gripping hearts from the beginning with the somber sound of a piano, Lynsey paints a picture with the lyrics that may seem all too familiar for anyone who's experienced a broken heart, "I've been trying everything / Temporary fix quick hit of something new / Medicating every day / A new face to replace, another you / I'm just trying to come back." Lynsey's vulnerability is chilling, and takes listeners through a roller coaster of emotions as she continues to search for a cure in the chorus. "I'm feeling your hands through another's touch / Tasting your lips when giving them my love / Baby without you I hurt so much / So much / I know we can't go back / But I need you now / Searching for something that can't be found / No you can't be found / In a rebound." Although the song addresses feelings of loneliness and hurt, we have no doubt it'll provide comfort to those walking through their own heartbreak and help them feel a little less lonely.
Keith Urban takes on the healing power of love, and elevates it with a strong, spiritual element in his first new single of 2020. The cool, vibey and mid-tempo cut was written by Contemporary Christian artist Chris August, along with Shy Carter, James Slater and Micah Carter. Its lyrics find Urban referencing baptism, faith, grace, bearing the cross, and raising his hands up high, then seals the celestial deal at the end with a succession of hallelujahs. In the chorus, he sings, “Then God whispered your name / That’s when everything changed / A love came out of the rain / Talk about being saved / Suddenly I wanna live / More than I ever did / I’m never gonna be the same.” Urban is expected to deliver a live performance of the sweet song when he hosts “The 55th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards” in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 5th. Says Urban of his new music, “This year already feels like the most creative and energized year of my life ... and there’s so much more to come. Incredibly grateful - and ready to roll!”
“Everybody’s waiting, but they’re waiting on what,” asks Kenny Chesney in his latest single, which extolls the virtues of living in the moment. An ear-catching electric guitar opening gives way to Chesney’s familiar vocals in the song’s opening moments. That voice, teamed up with tempo, a run time of just under three minutes, and an anthemic, sing-along chorus and we’ve got all the makings of an instant Kenny classic here. Written by David Lee Murphy, Craig Wiseman, and David Garcia, the song was crafted during a writing retreat Chesney hosted in Malibu. The Country superstar says the song “kind of blew my mind” and “really spoke to me in where I live, spoke to me in how I work, it spoke to me as just a person that gets up every day and tries to move forward, but that also really struggles with living in the here and now.” The lyrics say, “Why do you think we call the present the present / Cause there ain’t better gift than / Here and now.” Consider this song your mid-winter playlist gift.
Ever had a specific location you couldn't go to after a tough breakup, or a playlist you couldn't press play on because it would only remind you of your ex? Well, Avenue Beat says no more! In this fun and empowering, upbeat tune, the trio celebrates everything that they enjoyed pre-breakup, with no guilt or feelings of sadness. In the second verse, they sing, "You walk in like you're so proud / And I'm wearing those ripped jeans like when you first met me / That night at the fairgrounds / I ain't gonna run and hide, I ain't gonna go and cry / I'm gonna have a good time." In an interview with 
It's not often that what you see is what you get, especially when first getting to know someone in the beginning of a relationship. But how nice is it when your positive first impressions of someone turn out to be true, and things are just smooth sailing? If you don't believe in love at first sight, you just might after hearing this single! In this feel-good song, the narrator recollects the first time he met that special someone he knew would have a significant role in his life. Smith sings, "Drivin' me crazy with a melody / Like the rhythm of the river you were rolling with me / Like I knew you would." Written by Smith, Ronnie Bowman and Dan Fernandez, the song takes the listener on the journey of a relationship unfolding just the way the narrator predicted it would. "You're my angel it's a matter of fact / You took me to heaven and all the way back / Like I knew you would / And I knew you would," Smith sings in the second verse. "It's really just trying to get away from the party with that special someone that you knew the minute that you saw them that they were going to drive you crazy, that they were going to make you feel that way,” said Smith in an interview with 
Dodging the "friend zone" is something worth celebrating, and Caroline Jones sure throws one heck of a party for a special guy who escapes it with her latest release, "All of the Boys." Jones wastes no time kicking off the song with a fun, uptempo beat that is sure to pull you in from the first note as she sings, "I make friends with all of the boys / but I make love to you." She enters into a dreamy first verse that articulates just how special this 'fella is, comparing him to "a rainbow around the bend" before bringing it back around to the high-energy chorus for a real dance-worthy celebration. Written by Jones, alongside Zac Brown, who she has recently joined on tour, the song is sure to grab the attention of modern-day Country fans and offer a fresh new sound to Country playlists. "All of the Boys" is the third track on Jones' "Chasin Me" EP, which was released last year and includes previous single "Chasin' Me."
A seriously broken heart is preventing the song’s narrator from doing even the ordinary things he used to love in this new single written by Michael Hardy, Mark Holman and James McNair that cleverly incorporates the saying, “I can’t even.” In the hooky chorus, Kansas City native McGuire shows off his appealing, gravelly voice as he sings, “I can’t even drive through my small town / I can’t even roll my windows down / Turn the radio on, to a Country song / Just like we used to do, ‘cause I’ll be thinking of you girl / I can’t even slip to my favorite bar / Without taking a sip and wondering where you are / Like I’m trying to forget you ripped out my heart / Left me in the dark just barely breathing / Baby, I can’t even.” Now that’s some serious heartache! This is the debut solo single for McGuire, previously half of the Wheelhouse Records-signed duo Walker McGuire until they called it quits last year. This track is from McGuire’s four-song 2019 EP, “Neon Nights.” Says the singer, “’I Can’t Even’ seemed like a natural choice for my solo debut. It’s one that embodies the musical style and lyrics that have influenced my musical journey like Tom Petty’s ‘Don’t Come Around Here No More’ or a bit of Bon Jovi aligning with contemporary Country. It also tackles the universally shared feeling of heartbreak, that gut-wrenching moment we’ve all experienced when you don’t think you’ll be able to go on.” His impact date for this single is also McGuire’s birthday, so consider the gift of an out-of-the-box add.
Never Will
