27 May 2013

Taylor Swift won in eight categories to dominate the 2013 Billboard Music Awards, held on May 19th in Las Vegas. In addition to a win as top artist, she was also named top female artist, top Billboard 200 artist, top digital songs artist and top country artist during the show. Swift’s RED also won the top country album and top Billboard 200 album prizes while top country song honours went to her We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. Mumford & Sons’ BABEL was voted top rock album. During the awards show, Swift performed 22. Jennifer Nettles introduced The Band Perry’s performance of Better Dig Two, and Florida Georgia Line introduced Kacey Musgraves’ acoustic performance of Merry Go ‘Round. Other presenters included Shania Twain and Kid Rock.

The seven-time GRAMMY winning trio Lady Antebellum scores their third consecutive debut this week atop Billboard’s all-genre Top 200 Chart with their fourth studio album GOLDEN, which sold more than 167,000 copies in its first week. “It’s been so fun to get feedback from our fans,” said Hillary Scott. “There are so many ways for us to hear from them and I love finding out how people are relating to different songs. We’re really proud of this album and thankful for all the fans and to Country Radio for supporting both ‘Downtown’ and now ‘Goodbye Town’ this week!” Since their 2006 inception, Lady A has risen quickly to become Country Music’s most influential current group. The group has won the “Vocal Group of the Year” honour from both the CMA and from the ACM’s three times in a row, earned seven GRAMMY awards and sold 11 million albums worldwide. Nine of the band’s singles are certified Gold, with four surpassing the Platinum mark.

With more than 40 artists confirmed, the Bud Light Stage at Bridgestone Arena Plaza will be rockin’ with back-to-back daily concerts during the 2013 CMA Music Festival, Thursday-Sunday, June 6-9, in downtown Nashville. Free and open to the public, the Bud Light Stage lineups kick-off on Thursday, June 6 at 10:30 AM/CT featuring crowd favourites and up-and-comers entertaining fans each day until 5:00 PM/CT. “The location of the Bud Light Stage is perfectly situated to provide a place to discover new talent and reconnect with well-known hit makers,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “This stage was one of our most popular destinations in 2012 and I’m expecting the same level of enthusiasm and attendance again this year.” Artists performing on the Bud Light Stage at the Bridgestone Arena Plaza include: Lauren Alaina; Dean Alexander; Katie Armiger; Frankie Ballard; Kelleigh Bannen; Big Smo; Bucky Covington; Dailey & Vincent; Sarah Darling; Emerson Drive; Rose Falcon; Andy Gibson; JT Hodges; Chris Janson; Angie Johnson; Krystal Keith; LoCash Cowboys; Robin Meade; Randy Montana; David Lee Murphy; Parmalee; Mac Powell; Michael Ray; Chase Rice; Canaan Smith; Joanna Smith; Chris Stapleton; Steel Magnolia; Pam Tillis with Lorrie Morgan; James Wesley; Chuck Wicks; and Drake White. With 11 stages and many free lifestyle exhibits to explore throughout the Festival footprint in Nashville, CMA Music Festival is a great, family-friendly entertainment value. The concerts at the Bud Light Stage are fun in the sun and within easy walking distance of all the Festival event sites, including the all-new AT&T® U-verse® Fan Fair X (FFX) with autograph signings, concerts, lifestyle exhibits, marketplace, live broadcasts, demonstrations and more in the brand new, state-of-the-art Music City Center. It all kicks off Thursday, June 6 with ‘Lady A Day at FFX’ featuring Lady Antebellum performing, signing autographs, and cutting the ribbon when Fan Fair X officially opens to fans. Fan Fair X is free to four-day ticket holders, but tickets to this exciting new attraction are available to fans for $10 a day or $25 for four days from Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th June, with children 12 and younger admitted for free. Visit CMAfest.com for details. Fans can stay in the loop by visiting CMAfest.com, the official website of CMA Music Festival, where they can sign up for the CMA Exclusive e-news.