Schedule of Appearances:

Feb. 2nd – Austin City Limits
Feb. 3rd – CBS Sunday Morning
Feb. 5th – The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Feb. 5th – Ram Country on Yahooo! (Special live stream aboard the USS Midway in San Diego)
Feb. 6th – The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Feb. 7th – Jimmy Kimmel Live
Feb. 8th – MusiCares Person of the Year – Bruce Springsteen tribute
Feb. 11th – Chelsea Lately

McGraw will also be hitting the road for his Two Lanes of Freedom 2013 Tour on May 2nd and will play 30 cities on the trek. The tour will also feature Brantley Gilbert and Love & Theft.

For more information and tour dates, check out: www.timmcgraw.com.

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Through this agreement, Big Machine (and its artists) will become the first record company to directly participate in Clear Channel’s terrestrial broadcast radio revenues.  For Big Machine Label President and CEO Scott Borchetta, it was a no brainer. Borchetta said, “In Clear Channel, I found partners who shared my big-picture view of how we could structure an agreement to benefit all involved. Not only does this partnership enable Big Machine to participate in terrestrial broadcast revenues, but we are also helping to grow digital radio – a great opportunity for all of us and a breakthrough opportunity for Big Machine artists.” 
 
“Scott Borchetta has reinvented the music business in many important ways over the years, from distribution and artist development to promotion and advertising,” said Bob Pittman, Chief Executive Officer of Clear Channel. “Focusing that same creativity on how best to grow the music business, Scott has developed this new model with us to let his labels and artists participate in the revenue of broadcast radio immediately and in digital radio as it builds. This is a big step, but we think this investment is an opportunity worth taking to align our interests in all of our revenue streams and grow digital listening to its full potential with record labels and their artists as our partners. This landmark agreement creates a structure that makes sense for both our companies – but most of all for music fans.”
 
“Today, 98 percent of our listening is terrestrial broadcast and 2 percent digital – with record labels and artists only paid for the 2 percent,” said John Hogan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. “This new agreement expands label and artist participation from just digital to terrestrial broadcast radio revenues in one comprehensive framework that will give all of us a great incentive to drive the growth of the digital radio industry and allow everyone to participate financially in its growth. This market-based solution helps bring the best in music to radio listeners wherever they want to hear it.”

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The band, originally from Arkansas,consists of lead vocalist Hannah Blaylock, and guitarists/backup-singers/multi-instrumentalists, Dean Berner and Cherrill Green, wrote half of the songs on the album, as well as the 3 bonus tracks on the Cracker Barrel release. “Growing up in small towns, we’re huge fans of home cooking and a family-style environment. Now that we’re on the road most of the year, we often find ourselves seated at Cracker Barrels across the country. It’s so exciting that one of our favorite places has asked us to be a part of their exclusive music program and give our mutual fans an extra helping of our favorite songs,” said Green.

“Our working with Cracker Barrel is a perfect fit. We started pickin’ and singing music with friends and family on front porches in our home state of Arkansas. And they’re a lot like the front porches at Cracker Barrel stores that we see across the country. Every time we stop at a Cracker Barrel it feels like home to us!” said Blaylock.

In addition to the exclusive album, all Cracker Barrel stores will distribute digital download with a free download of Edens Edge’s new single, “Too Good to Be True.” “The free digital download will give Cracker Barrel guests a great taste of the sound they’ll find on the upcoming Edens Edge – Deluxe Edition CD,” said Julie Craig, Cracker Barrel Marketing Manager. “It’s a great way to enjoy a sample of what’s to come when their CD debuts in a few weeks. We hope our guests will like what they hear and then stop by to pick up the CD.”

For more information on Eden’s Edge, check out www.edensedge.com.

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The Band Perry had the privilege of announcing the five finalists who may win the opportunity to have the race named after them. They include veteran and philanthropist, Dale Beatty, ICU Nurse, Lindsey Marquez, Fire Lieutenant and EMT, Curtiss Shaver, Deputy Sheriff John Thomas & veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Brandon Veatch. The winner out of these lucky five will have their name on all race signage, apparel, TV broadcasts, as well as the opportunity to meet the country stars and attend the performances, wave the green flag to start the race and deliver the trophy to Victory Lane.

“There’s no track in the world like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and I’m thrilled that we will return as a race sponsor in 2012 for the Crown Royal presents the ‘Your Hero’s Name Here’ 400 at the Brickyard powered by BigMachineRecords.com!” said Scott Borchetta, President and CEO of the Big Machine Label Group. “We will again bring our most exciting artists to the stage for a great pre-race musical experience for the fans.”

“Once again the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is excited to offer a weekend full of great racing and great music,” said Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and CEO Jeff Belskus. “Our fans are in for a real treat when some of the best names in the Big Machine Label Group combine with Crown Royal and some of the best names in racing to provide a great day of entertainment for our fans.”

If you’d like to cast a vote for one of these incredible finalists, you can visit Facebook.com/CrownRoyal and click the “Crown Your Hero” tab. The voting will run until June 28th.

If you’d like to attend the big race, tickets start at just $30 and can be purchased online at www.imstix.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or by visiting the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday. Children 12 and under will receive free general admission to any IMS event in 2011 when accompanied by an adult general admission ticket holder.

Check out photos of the Band Perry at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway here:

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Kimberly, Neil and Reid are heading to the United Kingdom for their first-ever overseas shows.  They’ll be playing at King’s College in London on the 20th.  Then the band will then have a few days off (we assume for a little sight-seeing and shopping) before their next show Saturday the 24th at The Workman’s’ Club in Dublin, Ireland.

The trip to Europe coincides with the UK release of both their single “If I Die Young” and their self-titled album.  Both have had amazing sales in America.  The album has sold more than one million copies while the single has sold more than three million copies.

On the award front, TBP is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year for the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards (April 1 at 8pm on CBS).

By the way, both of their UK shows are sold out, which proves The Band Perry’s popularity both stateside and over the pond!

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The album’s been out for more than four months now and has received a mountain of critical acclaim.  All of the praise is well-deserved as the release is as solid as its name and was one of the best of 2011.

Once you hear the very first note out of the Texas native’s mouth, there’s no mistaking you’re listening to country.  Fact is, from top to bottom, this album is 100% pure country.  That’s worth noting because more and more country albums are including songs that play as pop or rock.  Not so with “Concrete.”  But would you expect anything else from an artist who performs with a guitar that features autographs from Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard  and Little Jimmy Dickens?  Plus, there’s the Haggard tribute “Mama Tried” tatoo on her right wrist.  That’s literally wearing her allegiance to country on her sleeve.

By now you should be familiar with at least two of the album’s ten tracks.  “From A Table Away” served as the lead-off single, of sorts.  It originally appeared on a self-titled five-track EP and landed Sweeney her first Top 10 hit.  Next came “Staying’s Worse Than Leaving,”  which Sweeney says tells the story of her own marriage that had been falling apart for some time and eventually ended in divorce.   It’s an honest and unflinching look at a love gone stale, but for reasons unknown, it failed to find the same chart success.

“Drink Myself Single” is Sweeney’s current single.  This is the one song on the album that gives us a taste of her incredible sense of humor.  Before focusing full-time on her music, Sweeney worked in improv comedy.  If you want a good laugh, follow her on Twitter (@gettinsweenered).  Blake Shelton may be the undisputed king of country comedy on Twitter, but we soon might crown Sweeney as queen.

The Big Machine Records artist co-wrote eight songs on the album and in doing so, she shared a lot of her personal pain (like with “Staying’s Worse Than Leaving”).  The open, honest and sometimes blunt way she paints her songs is a major part of her appeal.  Life’s not perfect, but the way Sweeney presents it darn near is.

Sweeney spent part of last year touring with Brad Paisley and his “H2O: Wetter & Wilder” tour.  She’s yet to announce tour plans for 2012.  Once she does, do yourself a favor and see if she’s playing anywhere near you.  In the meantime, give “Concrete” a second, third or fortieth look and listen.

Rating:  9/10

Check out:  “The Old Me”  and “Helluva Heart”

(Side note:  Sorry guys, but Sunny’s no longer single.  She and Texas police officer Jeff Helmer got married in Las Vegas on November 11th.  That’s right — 11-11-11.  She’s since commemorated the union in ink.  She got “XI” tattooed on her bicep.  That’s one anniversary that’ll be hard to forget!)

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