Month: December 2021

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News Daypop

Elon Musk named Time Magazine’s 2021 Person of the Year

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On Monday, Time Magazine announced Elon Musk as its 2021 ‘Person of the Year,’ citing his vast “influence on life on Earth, and potentially life off Earth too.” Musk, deemed the second-richest man in world by Forbes Magazine with an estimated net worth of $270 billion, is the founder and CEO of rocket producer SpaceX and CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla, among his many other enterprises.

Time Editor-in-Chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal said the choice of Musk for Person of the Year recognizes his emergence “not just as the world’s richest person but also as perhaps the richest example of a massive shift in our society” in which momentum to create progress is moving from “traditional institutions” such as governments to individuals. Felsenthal added that Musk’s “ambitions on the scale of interplanetary travel” marks him as someone whose influence goes beyond life on Earth to “potentially life off Earth too.”  He concluded: “For creating solutions to an existential crisis, for embodying the possibilities and the perils of the age of tech titans, for driving society’s most daring and disruptive transformations, Elon Musk is Time’s 2021 Person of the Year.”

Editorial credit: Naresh111 / Shutterstock.com

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News Daypop

Vice President Kamala VP Harris announces $1.2B in private investments in Central America

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On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris announced $1.2 billion in investments from private companies to address the root causes of immigration from Central America. Harris said the investments came from seven companies and will go toward boosting the economies and social infrastructure in countries where immigration is most pronounced.  The announcement comes one month after the United States recorded Southwest border land encounters with 164,303 migrants in October, more than double the 71,939 encounters from a year prior.  Harris has been put in charge of the White House’s strategy on migration, and said the Biden administration seeks to focus on addressing the root causes of migration to stem the flow of people crossing the southern border.

Harris issued a call to action in May to assist El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.  She said during a meeting on Monday with executives: “Six months ago, we had a commitment of $750 million. Today, we have a commitment of over $1.2 billion. This is not about us coming in and telling anyone what they should do. It is about being partners and assisting and helping to facilitate the natural desire of the people in these nations. This is important work. This is good work. I think it reflects the best of who we are as the United States recognizing our responsibility as neighbors to these countries in the Western Hemisphere.”

The seven companies include PepsiCo, Mastercard, Parkdale Mills and Cargill. PepsiCo said it plans to designate $190 million for investments in Central America, including improving manufacturing plants. Cargill, meanwhile, plans to invest $150 million in farming operations in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Parkdale Mills said it will build a $150 million yarn spinning site in Honduras, and Mastercard said it will invest $100 million to boost e-commerce in Central America.

Editorial credit: Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Dustin Lynch says it's “cool” to have a “teammate” as he and MacKenzie Porter top the charts

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For Dustin Lynch, reaching #1 on the country charts with MacKenzie Porter on “Thinking ‘Bout You” is particularly special, as he has teammate by his side for the first time. 

The duet’s Dustin’s eighth #1 hit but it’s MacKenzie’s first U.S. chart-topper, after achieving three hit singles in Canada. Dustin’s thrilled to see her break through in the American music scene.

“To have her experience a lot of firsts with having a song on country radio in the United States and us getting to perform late-night TV together with Kimmel for the first time ever, having a partner crime is a lot of fun,” he says. “It allows you to to have someone to text or call. We always back and forth, ‘did you see how we did this week with moving up the chart?’ To have a teammate, it’s cool.” 

The team effort reminds Dustin of the artists who gave him a platform as a rising star, including Luke Bryan and Little Big Town. 

“I think that’s what’s so special about the country music community is we’re allowed long enough careers where it makes sense to do that and these collaborations and things come natural,” Dustin says. “The likes of Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, that list goes on and on of people that I’ve been allowed to tour with [who] have intro-ed me and supported me and propped me up through the years.  It’s great to pass that on down.” 

“Thinking ‘Bout You” was originally featured on Dustin’s 2020 album, Tullahoma, as a duet with Lauren Alaina. Due to promotional conflicts, the song was re-recorded with MacKenzie and sent to radio in 2021 as the album’s fifth single.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Country Daypop

Tim McGraw announces 2022 amphitheater tour

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Tim McGraw has announced his McGraw Tour 2022, produced by Live Nation.

The 17-city amphitheater tour kicks off on April 29th at Walmart AMP in Rogers, AR making stops across the U.S. in Charlotte, Atlanta, Bristow, and more before wrapping up in Mansfield, MA at Xfinity Center on June 4.  Joining McGraw on the road is Russell Dickerson as direct support for the McGraw Tour 2022.

Tickets go on-sale to the general public starting Friday, December 17 at 10am local time on via Ticketmaster.  For more information, visit Tim McGraw’s official website.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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Country Daypop

Carly Pearce, Lady A and Ingrid Andress join the lineup for ‘New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash’

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Carly Pearce, Lady A, and Ingrid Andress have joined the lineup for New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, a 5-hour CBS special to air Dec. 31.  Other performers just revealed include BRELAND, King Calaway, Riley Green, Sam Hunt, Chris Janson, Jon Pardi and Lainey Wilson.

The new group of country artists join previously announced performers including Jason Aldean, Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Elle King, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Cole Swindell and Zac Brown Band.

Country radio personality Bobby Bones and “Entertainment Tonight’s” Rachel Smith will co-host New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash on CBS and Paramount+. The show runs from 7 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. CST, with a pause between 10-10:30 p.m. for local news.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Take a look at Billie Eilish’s latest video for “Male Fantasy”

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Billie Eilish has shared a new visual for her song “Male Fantasy” from her album Happier Than Ever. Eilish also directed and edited the video.

Eilish has released a number of videos from Happier Than Ever, including clips for “Therefore I Am,” “Your Power,” “Lost Cause,” “NDA,” and the title track. All of Eilish’s videos for Happier Than Ever have been self-directed.

Happier Than Ever is Eilish’s second full-length album and the follow-up to her 2019 hit debut When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?   Watch the new video for “Male Fantasy”- here.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Olivia Rodrigo performs “drivers license” at the DMV for her ‘Tiny Desk (Home) Concert’

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Olivia Rodrigo is wrapping up her successful year with a performance for NPR’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert series, shutting down a DMV location to play an acoustic set from her debut album, SOUR.

Rodrigo’s remote Tiny Desk set included a rendition of her breakout hit, “drivers license”, as well as “good 4 u,” “traitor,” and “deja vu” while being joined by a backup band.  You can watch Rodrigo’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert – here.

Rodrigo also recently announced she will embark on her first-ever solo tour next year; however, tickets quickly sold-out. The tour kicks off April 2, 2022, in San Francisco before the U.S. leg wraps in May with two Los Angeles stops. The European leg starts in June with a show in Hamburg, Germany.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

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Go Country 105

Nashville notes

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Brett Eldredge is performing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert tonight. It airs at 11:35 p.m. ET on CBS. 

Carrie Underwood and John Legend will perform their duet, “Hallelujah,” on The Voice season finale tomorrow night at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. 

Midland has extended The Last Resort Tour in 2022, with new dates beginning on February 4 in Laredo, Texas and concluding on April 9 in Bakersfield, California. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time. Visit Midland’s website for a full list of dates. 

Dolly Parton is expanding her perfume empire. The legend has partnered with three retail giants — including HSN, Walmart and Walgreens — to sell her various scents, to collectively carry DOLLY Eau de Parfum, Body Cream, Eau de Toilette, Body Mist and more.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Thomas Rhett and Parker McCollum lead a campfire sing-along to a song by a 'Yellowstone' star

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Thomas Rhett and Parker McCollum joined forces for a sing-a-long around the campfire this weekend. 

In a series of photos and videos taken by athlete Aaron R Davis that were re-shared by Thomas on Instagram Stories, it appears that the hit country singer had an adventurous weekend outdoors that included duck hunting and backyard football with friends.

But a highlight of the experience came when Thomas and fellow country star Parker gathered for a fireside performance of Ryan Bingham‘s “Southside of Heaven,” with Parker playing guitar while he and Thomas sang, “‘Cause I’ve been lost on them back roads/ And many times, I’ve gone blind/ Losing faith in my family/Had drew me out my damn mind.” 

“Southside of Heaven” is featured on Ryan’s 2002 album, Wishbone Saloon. Ryan is an Academy Award-winning singer and songwriter who appears as the character of Walker in the hit series Yellowstone. 

When they’re not harmonizing together around a bonfire, both Thomas and Parker are currently climbing the charts with their respective hits, “Slow Down Summer” and “To Be Loved by You.” 

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Go Country 105

Russell Dickerson to release acoustic album of 'Southern Symphony' songs on Friday

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Russell Dickerson has announced that he is releasing an acoustic collection of songs handpicked off his latest album, Southern Symphony, on Friday.

Titled Studio 900 Sessions, the project will feature stripped-down versions of his current single, “Home Sweet,” and deep cut “Waiting for You,” along with a wedding version of his most recent #1 hit, “Love You Like I Used To.” 

On his social media pages, Russell shared a teaser of the mellow tunes fans can expect to hear with a glistening acoustic preview of “Home Sweet,” which is currently inside the top 20 on country radio. 

“Stripped back some of my favorite songs from the Southern Symphony record for y’all,” Russell shares. 

“Stunning,” Lady A‘s Charles Kelley, who co-wrote “Home Sweet,” remarks in the comment section on Instagram, while one fan praises, “can’t wait to use these at our wedding next summer.”  

Southern Symphony was released as Russell’s sophomore album in 2020. The singer dropped a remix of “Home Sweet” recently featuring Lady A.

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