I will never be able to believe that I deserve this, unless I receive it as a representative of my family, my mentors, my collaborators, my promoters and my friends. That's the only way I can deal with this.
Booking shows is not a career for the faint of heart. Beyond coordinating schedules, hosting live music night after night requires a skilled ear behind the sound board to make sure the drums don't overpower the bass, and that the vocals don't overpower the drums.
"When we started Sugarlands, we didn't set out to build a big company. The idea was simple. Make great spirits, create a welcoming and memorable experience for guests at our Gatlinburg Distillery."
I'm excited to announce something that's never been done before. Better Than Ezra is teaming up with Soundbreak AI to do a songwriting contest. Go on soundbreak.ai, write with me, or write with [bass guitarist] Tom Drummond. Come up with your best idea, your best song.
Now it's become very popular in the Taylor Swift way of pop singers writing about all of their publicly aired break-ups, which I don't find interesting at all. I think it's a little bit boring for me to write about myself. Even if I've had a really interesting day, I feel like I've already lived that, I don't need to go through it every time I sing this song.
Craft beer has always been about creativity and community, but when it teams up with rock music, it becomes something truly special. In this post, we'll explore some of the most iconic collaborations between craft breweries and legendary bands, highlighting how these unique brews reflect the spirit of rock culture. ## The Rise of Band-Inspired Brews As craft beer continues to dominate the beverage landscape, breweries are increasingly looking to popular culture for inspiration. Band-inspired beers have become a staple, and for good reason. They not only attract fans of the music but also tap into the stories, values, and identities that these bands represent.
Maybe we ran into an old acquaintance at the supermarket and said "Let's catch up sometime" or told our friends we would "check out" the boring-sounding show they spent the past five minutes recommending? That's what country-music superstar Jelly Roll appeared to do after the Grammys last week when, in response to a question about the state of the country, he said he had "a lot to say"
Sonic seasoning is the phenomenon where specific musical elements: tempo, pitch, instrumentation: can influence how our brains perceive the five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. High-pitched tones can make dishes taste sweeter. Bass-heavy tracks can enhance umami and savory notes. Even the crunch sounds we hear while eating can make food seem fresher and crispier. It's not just about mood: it's about fundamentally altering taste perception through sound.
R&B in the 21st century has been in a constant state of flux, tugged between safe traditionalism and blurry attempts at progression. For the last decade-plus that "progression" has seen R&B music become more indebted to trap records and the moody atmospherics of alternative bands like Radiohead, Coldplay, or My Bloody Valentine.
We made this record with a sense of immediacy and in the moment expression with the pure intention of simply having fun and making people forget about everything else, even if for only 44 minutes. Thank you to everyone that "gets it" and to all the writers for the kind words and love.
I'm blessed to have T Bone in my life right now and working with me on these records. After we did the last record, which I love listening to, this one just sort of happened. I like to say sometimes I make the right moves, like you can go left or right at any point, and one of the right moves was hooking up with T Bone for Look Up, and now for this one, which I'm calling Long Long Road, because I've been on a long long road.
Jeff Hanna, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founder and de facto leader, is tucked into a nondescript booth at El Palenque, a 30-years-plus local restaurant in a Nashville strip mall, talking about "Nashville Skyline," a pensive track from their EP, "Night After Night." The family-owned Mexican restaurant is the kind of place he's gravitated toward since starting a jug band with friends in Long Beach before migrating to Los Angeles' folk/rock scene.
After my workout, I become a fireman by checking my phone and seeing what's happening in the business, because there's always something burning. I respond to urgent messages so that I can focus on the day's mission. When you have 35-plus artists, there's always a meeting, new music to be made, and the next TV show to schedule. I eat light in the morning; I like to let the workout burn. I'm more of a green tea person, as that
The country music superstar who recently ranked in the Top 20 of Pollstar's Artists of the Millennium List (which is based on ticket sales) is bringing his Word on the Street Tour to the Bay Area. Bryan performs Aug. 14 at Shoreline Amphitheatre. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Jan. 30, lukebryan.com. There is a Luke Bryan fan club member presale running 8 a.m. Jan. 27 to 5 p.m. Jan. 29, lukebryan.com.
Designed by Korean up-and-comer Woojin Yang, Everglow is a handheld mini-keyboard that fits into any bag. The "musical sketchbook" of sorts allows artists to quickly jot down ideas when they're not in front of their instruments or computers. The sleekly-designed device comes with a generative AI-based sound system that allows them to iterate and develop a song on the spot, not just transcribe the initial tune.
49 Winchester will release their new album Change of Plans on May 15 via Lucille Records / MCA. It's their first record for a major label after two on New West, and they made it with producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson). The album includes their cover of Black Sabbath's "Changes," which was released back in November, and the new single from the album is the anthemic rocker "Pardon Me." Watch the video below.
Two decades after releasing "Tim McGraw," Taylor Swift is now the youngest woman ever to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame unveiled its 2026 class on CBS Mornings today, adding Swift to its list on her first year of eligibility. The five songs she submitted to show her breadth of talent and evolution as a songwriter were "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)," "Anti-Hero," "Blank Space," "Love Story," and "The Last Great American Dynasty."
Mitski debuted material from her new album Nothing's About to Happen to Me and broke out a couple of deep cuts at an intimate Nashville show on Sunday night. The Basement East holds 600 people, which is considerably smaller than the venues on her last tour or for her upcoming residency dates, and the show was announced on Friday afternoon, with tickets only sold in person on Saturday.