Interview with Pamela Hopkins

 Posted by at 5:07 pm on February 24, 2021
Feb 242021
 

  • Artist Name:  Pamela Hopkins
  • Hometown:  Little Rock, AR

What project(s) are you currently working on?

I just released “Little Things,” a co-written duet, with Matt Dame and Trafton Harvey, recorded by myself and Matt Dame.  My next release will be “Givin’ a Damn (Don’t Go With My Outfit)” and we plan to release it near the end of April. After that I have 4-5 more songs to release in the next year.  Once I have all 10 of my singles released, we will press a CD and release the songs as a full album. I write weekly with some different Nashville writers…so I’m working on more songs to record next year and will continue to write and create.

What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know?

I just had a burning in my soul to get back into music.  I couldn’t shake the feeling that this is what I needed to be doing.  So I started playing my instruments again and singing again.  I have always loved to sing and perform, even as a little girl.  I gave it all up for a while to pursue other careers and raise a family.  About 8.5 years ago, I made the decision to begin the musical journey again and this time, I’m not stopping.

If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?

I have already been in a few careers.  I was a police officer for 13 years and decided to go back to graduate school and become a teacher.  I taught middle school English for 3 years and 4th grade for 2 years (all subjects).  I am currently a sales rep for Balfour during the day—helping my husband with our territory.  We sell class rings, cap & gowns, announcements, and senior attire, etc… and I’ve been working for Balfour (first as a yearbook rep, now a graduate sales rep) since 2014. I am also a dueling piano player for Willy D’s in Little Rock, AR …so I perform there weekly. My band plays festivals and other venues as the gigs become available…Covid has stopped a lot of that kind of public playing.

What is your favorite downtime activity?

I don’t normally get a lot of downtime.  There is always something that needs to be done.  But, if I can take a day and do nothing, it’s usually when we have scheduled a vacation and my favorite thing to do on a vacation is park my rear-end in the sand on a Caribbean beach somewhere.  I love to travel.

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

Channing Tatum

Who is your favorite sports team(s)?

Collegiate would be the Arkansas Razorbacks

Professional would be the Seattle Mariners.  I love going to live baseball games

What is the last movie that you watched?

I Care A Lot on Netflix (pretty good movie)

What is the last album you listened to?

Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits (on Vinyl)

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

“Purple Rain” Prince and the Revolution

What is the greatest country song of all time?

Garth Brooks “The Dance”

What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?

Rota, Spain

What is your favorite meal?

Sushi

Who is your dream duet partner?

I just picked Matt Dame to write and record “Little Things” with and he is a pretty great duet partner.  But if we are talking about well-known, famous singers, I’d have to say Vince Gill or Chris Stapleton

Who would you like to go on tour with?

Ashley McBryde, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert or Carrie Underwood

What is your ultimate career goal(s)?

My ultimate goal is to travel the world singing my songs for people who feel moved by my music. I want to keep writing and putting out new songs as long as I can.

Interview with Michael Coleman

 Posted by at 5:56 pm on February 23, 2021
Feb 232021
 

  • Artist Name:  Michael Coleman of See Your Shadow Songwriting
  • Hometown:  Columbus, OH…now based in Phoenix, AZ

What project(s) are you currently working on?

Our current project is the female empowerment anthem, “I Know My Worth” in anticipation of International Women’s Day.  After that, I am not sure what will be coming down the turnpike.  We may release another song from our current body of work, but one of the things that we will for sure begin working on is the screenplay based on our song, “Christmas on Cellblock 9”.

What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know?

I do a lot of things in the arts and I probably knew from early on, but my life took me in a different direction, and it was not until I had a milestone birthday that I purposely set out on a deliberate path for a career in music and music has always been the flagship of the creative empire no matter what kind of projects I do.

If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?

Oh my goodness.  I have been fortunate to have held the jobs that I have wanted to hold in my lifetime, but two things that are left on my list of things that I may want to do is (1) be a mayor of a small town and (2) a character actor.

What is your favorite downtime activity?

I love to travel although I have not been able to do any for the last year and am in desperate need of a trip someplace, but of course that will have to wait, so for now what I do is soak in the hot tub with a nice glass of wine.

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

I love Octavia Spencer.  I just feel a good spirit from her whenever I see her, and she is immensely talented. There are some people you know are just good people, Dolly Parton is like that so I would add her to the list as well.  I was a model many years ago and I learned that true beauty comes from the inside out and that is usually what gets me crushing on someone, it could be anyone. I’ve even had some man crushes for the same reason.

Who is your favorite sports team(s)?

I don’t follow sports too much, but I do watch and sometimes go to Ohio State Football games and I love professional wrestling especially the lower leagues, the non WWE.

What is the last movie that you watched?

The last movie I watched was Wonder Woman 1984 and I am so looking forward to King Kong v. Godzilla.

What is the last album you listened to?

The last album I listened to was Rick James’ Greatest Hits. Love listening to him especially on a road trip.

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

This is a hard one. If I had to choose, it probably would be the original Broadway cast album to Jesus Christ Superstar. That album had such an influence on me when I was growing up and is just phenomenal from start to finish.

What is the greatest country song of all time?

“I Hope You Dance”.  It’s a song I wish I would have written myself, it is such a piece of art.  If you were to just look at the lyrics on a piece of paper and read them, you can’t help but be touched.  I just love that piece.

What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?

You have some real diehard country fans in Indiana in places like Muncie and other smaller towns in that region near Indianapolis.

What is your favorite meal?

I love soul food and I could eat fried chicken everyday and I love my homemade habanero macaroni and cheese.

Who is your dream duet partner?

Are you kidding, without a doubt Willie Nelson.  Willie is everybody’s quintessential duet partner. He’s like a country music duet God.

Who would you like to go on tour with?

I wouldn’t mind taking the See Your Shadow Network of Stars on the road with Garth Brooks.

What is your ultimate career goal(s)?

When I started on this journey, my main goal was to become successful enough for a mention in Entertainment Weekly or Variety when I die.  There used to be a small column where people’s names were mentioned.  That is still a goal, but I would love to write the first country and western opera.

Country Music Chart Recap – February 22nd, 2021

 Posted by at 9:44 pm on February 22, 2021
Feb 222021
 

Here you will find this week’s Top 5 for the various country charts that are released each week!

Let us know that you like this feature by Liking the post on Facebook and clicking the heart on our Tweet so we know if we should continue to put this together each week!

About the Charts

Airplay Charts – are based on the number of “spins” a song gets from a group of radio stations that agree to report their data to the particular chart.  Typically, Country Aircheck and Billboard each have a mix of the biggest stations in the country, while charts like Music Row and the various Texas charts are compiled from smaller local stations with more freedom to pick their playlists that usually aren’t part of a big national conglomerate.

Most Added Charts – are based on the number of reporting stations that “added” the song to their regular rotation.

Spin Increase Charts – based on an increase of spins from current week over the previous week.

Songwriter/Producer Charts – Based on the combined chart performance of any songs they have a hand in writing/producing that are currently charting.  Some have several songs on the charts at once!

Most Increased Audience Charts – Based on # of listeners hearing the song.  This is why getting “Added” to a major market station is a big deal for new artists.

Recurrent Songs – Recent releases that have already peaked on the chart and fallen back down.  These are the top songs NOT considered “current releases”

Billboard Hot Country Songs – Blended chart taking into account radio airplay, downloads, streams, sales etc.

Country Aircheck Top 5 Country Airplay Chart

  1. “Beers and Sunshine” by Darius Rucker
  2. “Better Together” by Luke Combs
  3. “Just the Way” by Parmalee & Blanco Brown
  4. “Down to One” by Luke Bryan
  5. “Good Time” by Niko Moon

Country Aircheck Top 5 Most Added

Matt Stell

  1. “That Ain’t Me No More” by Matt Stell
  2. “Getting Over Him” by Lauren Alaina w/ Jon Pardi
  3. “I Can’t” by Caitlyn Smith w/ Old Dominion
  4. “Freedom Was a Highway” by Jimmie Allen & Brad Paisley
  5. “Famous Friends” by Chris Young & Kane Brown

Country Aircheck Top Point Gainers

  1. “Beers and Sunshine” by Darius Rucker
  2. “Lady” by Brett Young
  3. “What’s Your Country Song” by Thomas Rhett
  4. “Glad You Exist” by Dan + Shay
  5. “Somebody Like That” by Tenille Arts

Country Aircheck Top Spin Gainers

  1. “Beers and Sunshine” by Darius Rucker
  2. “Lady” by Brett Young
  3. “Glad You Exist” by Dan + Shay
  4. “What’s Your Country Song” by Thomas Rhett
  5. “Starting Over” by Chris Stapleton

Country Aircheck Top 5 Recurrent Singles

Lee Brice

Lee Brice

  1. “One of Them Girls” by Lee Brice
  2. “Love You Like I Used To” by Russell Dickerson
  3. “Big, Big Plans” by Chris Lane
  4. “Happy Anywhere” by Blake Shelton w/ Gwen Stefani
  5. “I Hope” by Gabby Barrett

Billboard Top 5 Country Airplay Chart

  1. “Beers and Sunshine” by Darius Rucker
  2. “Better Together” by Luke Combs
  3. “Just the Way” by Parmalee & Blanco Brown
  4. “Down to One” by Luke Bryan
  5. “What’s Your Country Song” by Thomas Rhett

Billboard Top 5 Most Added Chart

  • “Famous Friends” by Chris Young & Kane Brown – 21 stations
  • “Glad You Exist” by Dan + Shay – 21 stations
  • “Freedom Was a Highway” by Jimmie Allen & Brad Paisley – 16 stations
  • “Where I Find God” by Larry Fleet – 16 stations
  • “Minimum Wage” by Blake Shelton – 11 stations

Billboard Top 5 Most Increased Audience

  1. “Lady” by Brett Young
  2. “Beers and Sunshine” by Darius Rucker
  3. “Glad You Exist” by Dan + Shay
  4. “What’s Your Country Song” by Thomas Rhett
  5. “Somebody Like That” by Tenille Arts

Billboard Top 5 Most Increased Plays

  1. “Lady” by Brett Young
  2. “Glad You Exist” by Dan + Shay
  3. “What’s Your Country Song” by Thomas Rhett
  4. “Down to One” by Luke Bryan
  5. “Beer and Sunshine” by Darius Rucker

Billboard Top 5 Recurrent Singles

Lee Brice

Lee Brice

  1. “One of Them Girls” by Lee Brice
  2. “Love You Like I Used To” by Russell Dickerson
  3. “Big, Big Plans” by Chris Lane
  4. “Happy Anywhere” by Blake Shelton w/ Gwen Stefani
  5. “I Hope” by Gabby Barrett

Billboard Top 5 Hot Country Songs Chart

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

  1. “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift
  2. “I Hope” by Gabby Barrett
  3. “Better Together” by Luke Combs
  4. “Good Time” by Niko Moon
  5. “Starting Over” by Chris Stapleton

Billboard Top 5 Country Songwriters

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

  1. Taylor Swift
  2. Josh Osborne
  3. Morgan Wallen
  4. Ashley Gorley
  5. Ernest Keith Smith

Billboard Top 5 Country Producers

  1. Joey Moi
  2. Ross Copperman
  3. Dann Huff
  4. Scott Moffatt
  5. Jay Joyce

Billboard Top 5 Country Albums

  1. Dangerous:  The Double Album by Morgan Wallen
  2. What You See is What You Get by Luke Combs
  3. Life Rolls On by Florida Georgia Line
  4. If I Know Me by Morgan Wallen
  5. This One’s For You by Luke Combs

Billboard Top 5 Country Streaming Songs

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

  1. “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift
  2. “Wasted On You” by Morgan Wallen
  3. “Sand in My Boots” by Morgan Wallen
  4. “Better Together” by Luke Combs
  5. “Starting Over” by Chris Stapleton

Billboard Top 5 Country Digital Song Sales

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

  1. “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift
  2. “Chasing After You” by Ryan Hurd w/ Maren Morris
  3. “The Good Ones” by Gabby Barrett
  4. “Tough Ones” by Cooper Alan
  5. “Better Together” by Luke Combs

Billboard Top 5 Folk/Americana Albums

Chris Stapleton

  1. Starting Over by Chris Stapleton
  2. Traveller by Chris Stapleton
  3. Hozier by Hozier
  4. Purgatory by Tyler Childers
  5. Simon and Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits by Simon and Garfunkel

Billboard Top 5 Bluegrass Albums

  1. Cuttin’ Grass Vol 1:  The Butcher Shoppe Sessions by Sturgill Simpson
  2. 40th Anniversary Celebration by Gary Brewer & The Kentucky Ramblers
  3. Home by Billy Strings
  4. Served Live by The Dead South
  5. Not Our First Goat Rodeo by Yo-Yo Ma/Stuart Duncan/Edgar Meyer/Chris Thile

Music Row Top 5 Country Breakout Radio Chart

Dierks Bentley

Dierks Bentley

  1. “Gone” by Dierks Bentley
  2. “Made for You” by Jake Owen
  3. “Good Time” by Niko Moon
  4. “Settling Down” by Miranda Lambert
  5. “One Too Many” by Keith Urban w/ P!nk

Music Row Top 5 Most Added

  1. “Lonely Drum” by Aaron Goodvin
  2. “Glad You Exist” by Dan + Shay
  3. “Gotta Go Rodeo” by Darlinghurst
  4. “Under It With You Tonight” by Smith & Wesley
  5. “Gettin’ Her Over You” by Bobby Wills

Music Row Top 5 Songwriter Chart

  1. Morgan Wallen
  2. Josh Osborne
  3. Ashley Gorley
  4. Ernest Keith Smith
  5. Jesse Frasure

Music Row Top 5 Spin Increases

  1. “Lonely Drum” by Aaron Goodvin
  2. “Glad You Exist” by Dan + Shay
  3. “Undivided” by Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard
  4. “Minimum Wage” by Blake Shelton
  5. “Gotta Go Rodeo” by Darlinghurst

Texas Country Music Chart Top 5 Singles

  1. “Silverado Saturday Night” by Aaron Watson
  2. “I Will” by Darin Morris
  3. “Devil’s Red Hot Sauce” by James Lann
  4. “Old School” by David Adam Byrnes
  5. “Honky Tonk in Heaven” by Kin Faux

Texas Regional Radio Report Top 5 Singles

  1. “Silverado Saturday Night” by Aaron Watson
  2. “Devil’s Red Hot Sauce” by James Lann
  3. “Old School” by David Adam Byrnes
  4. “Missin’ You, Mississippi” by Dustin Sonnier
  5. “Callin’ All Hearts” by Terry McBride

CD Tex Top 5 Radio Downloads

  1. “Movin’ On” by Steele River Band
  2. “All Nighter” by Jeremy Studdard
  3. “Dying in Dallas” by The Whites of Texas
  4. “A Cowboy’s Life” by Matt Mercado
  5. “Break Another Heart” by Kaitlyn Kohler

 

Today’s New Music – February 22nd, 2021

 Posted by at 6:47 pm on February 22, 2021
Feb 222021
 

 

Today’s New Singles

  • Getting Over Him – Lauren Alaina w/ Jon Pardi
  • I Can’t – Caitlyn Smith w/ Old Dominion
  • It’s All Yours – Dave Wilbert
  • Knowing You – Kenny Chesney
  • Lonely Girl – Danny Kensy
  • Savin’ It Up For Saturday Night – J.C. Brae
  • That Ain’t Me No More – Matt Stell
  • The Highway – Jon Hope

Interview with Randy Seedorff

 Posted by at 6:21 pm on February 22, 2021
Feb 222021
 

  • Artist Name:  Randy Seedorff
  • Hometown:  Kansas City, MO

What project(s) are you currently working on?

I am in the final stages of completing an 8 song EP entitled Begin Again.  We are excited for the release of this new project which is a combination of original music, and cover tunes.

What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know?

It seems like a love for music was a part of my life from a very young age.   I knew when I was a teenager that I wanted to pursue a career in music.   I had some local success, and then life kind of took over with work and family responsibilities being my biggest priority.

If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?

I am a licensed minister and serve on staff at a church as a worship pastor.  Part of my love for music is lived out in my calling into ministry.  If I couldn’t do music I would still have a desire to be around people and develop relationships.  It is a privilege to take part in the spiritual growth of others.

What is your favorite downtime activity?

I am a lifetime learner and I love to read.  I want to always be learning, progressively growing, moving forward in my life and faith.  Many times I get inspired to write songs from what I have read.  It will spark and idea or a concept that ends up being a song.  I also enjoy spending some quality time with my wife Maria.  She is my best friend and big supporter and we share this musical life together.

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

I have always enjoyed artists who sing, write their own songs, and play guitar.  Vince Gill is my favorite country artist for all those reasons.  He is the most awarded country artist of all time for his songwriting and singing, and has played and sang in over 30,000 sessions as a guitarist or vocalist.  He continues to enjoy success in his new role as singer and guitarist with the Eagles.  I had a chance to meet him at the NAMM show in Nashville a couple of years ago and he is just as nice and sincere with everyone he meets as he is on camera.

Who is your favorite sports team(s)?

I live in Kansas City Missouri so we are Chiefs and Royals fans around our house.  It was great to be back in the Super Bowl for a second year in a row but it didn’t turn out the way we would have liked.

What is the last movie that you watched?

An unfinished life-It is a movie with Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez, and Morgan Freeman.  It is about a man consumed with a grudge because of the accidental death of his son.  His former daughter-in-law comes to visit and over time they grow closer and heal their emotional wounds.  It is a story about renewing and healing relationships.

What is the last album you listened to?

Way out West by Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

That is an extremely difficult question because I listen to a variety of music.  I would say The Eagles Live 1980 because that album was the soundtrack of my life when I was a young man growing up.  When you go and see the Eagles show you will see and hear thousands of people sing their songs along with them.  Those songs are still timeless today.  I think if the Eagles were a young band starting out today they would be right at the top of the Country genre.  Their music has always had a country flavor to my ear.

What is the greatest country song of all time?

“Go Rest High on That Mountain” by Vince Gill is the greatest in my view.  There are many other songs that would qualify for that distinction that I would not argue with.  But when I think about how much comfort and peace that “Go Rest High on That Mountain” has brought to people in their time of sorrow and grieving it is staggering.  It is a timeless classic that is done over and over at memorial services all over the world.  It evokes emotion in a way that very few songs do.

What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?

I really enjoy Nashville Tennessee.  Nashville is such a great music town period.  Everywhere you turn someone is playing and singing live country music.  The town is all about creativity and making great music for all of us to listen to and enjoy.

What is your favorite meal?

I grew up in Kansas City and they have the best Barbeque in the world here.  My favorite barbeque meal would be The Z Man sandwich from KC Joe’s, Ribs from Arthur Bryant’s, and baked beans from Jack Stack, and a side of fry’s from Gates with a peach ice tea!

Who is your dream duet partner?

I would love to sing with Alison Krauss.  Her voice is absolutely angelic and she is able to duet with folks like Vince Gill, Emmy Lou Harris, Jamey Johnson, and Brad Paisley.

Who would you like to go on tour with?

I would love to tour with Marty Stuart.  His music is straight up high energy country and rockabilly and the players in his band are excellent.  My wife and I have seen his live show many times and have never been disappointed.  His musical legacy is second to none in my book.  He has had three jobs in his life he started with Lester Flatt when he was 13 playing mandolin in his band, then played guitar and mandolin with Johnny Cash as a side man, and then a solo career.

What is your ultimate career goal(s)?

I want to keep writing and playing and performing as long as I can.  I have seen artists that gave up too soon on their dreams.  I believe with all my heart that we are never too old to dream.  Making a lifetime of the best music I can is my career goal.

 Older Entries  Newer Entries