From Texoma Shore to Music Row,
2017 Marks Shelton’s Return to His Roots
Country Superstar Tops Year-End Radio Charts as Most-Played Artist of 2017
Warner Music Nashville Chairman & CEO John Esposito and Platinum-selling Recording Artist Blake Shelton
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (December 21, 2017) – Country music superstar and multimedia entertainer Blake Shelton has long called Warner Bros. / Warner Music Nashville his label home, and last night he inked a deal reaffirming the commitment. Their 17-year partnership has produced accomplishments ranging from 25 No. 1 singles to 10 Gold and Platinum-selling albums, in addition to seven GRAMMY nominations and five CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Award wins. Amongst these other career successes, Shelton’s 2017 Billboard Music Award for Top Country Artist underscores his preeminence in every realm – including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring and social engagement. One of the most visible and constant ambassadors of country music, Shelton has reinforced the genre’s value in front of more than 12 million viewers two nights a week for 13 consecutive seasons and counting as a coach on NBC’s The Voice.
“I remember my first trip to Nashville in 1994,” said Shelton. “I drove down Music Row and don’t know why, but when I passed the Warner Bros. building I said, ‘That’s the label I want to be on!’ Now, all these years later, I’m proud to have spent my entire recording career with such a great company. I look forward to more incredible years with my Warner family.”
The acclaimed recording artist celebrated his resigning yesterday night alongside WMN Chairman & CEO John Esposito, who added: “Blake Shelton is a cornerstone artist for Warner Music Nashville. Blake, Narvel Blackstock and the whole label team put a stake in the ground years ago to prove that Blake was going to do unprecedented things in this business and be the artist to help us bring Warner back to greatness. Blake indeed has and will continue to break new ground. I am thrilled beyond words, and there is no better Christmas present than Blake committing to Warner for many years to come. He is a brother, and I love him and his humanity!”
A staple in the format since his debut in 2001, Shelton’s recommitment demonstrates his unrelenting faithfulness to the country music community. This year showed a similar loyalty to his roots with the release of Texoma Shore. With its traditional-leaning sound and down-home lyrics, the brand new album is his sixth record to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and 11th all-genre Top 10. Lead single “I’ll Name The Dogs” topped the charts this week at country radio.
His third No. 1 single in 2017 (in addition to “A Guy With A Girl” and “Every Time I Hear That Song”), Shelton’s “I’ll Name The Dogs” wraps a year of unprecedented radio success. In the week following album launch in November, the hit-maker became the first artist in Country Aircheck / Mediabase history to have six songs chart simultaneously. Shelton further proved his continued traction at country radio this week by being named the No.1 most-played artist of 2017. Reigning on both the Billboard and Aircheck year-end airplay charts, the latter also placed “A Guy With A Girl” at No. 3 on its list of 2017’s Top 10 Songs.
Shelton will bring these radio favorites and more to fans in 2018 on his headlining “Country Music Freaks” Tour alongside Brett Eldredge, Carly Pearce and special guest Trace Adkins (dates below).
ABOUT BLAKE SHELTON
Country Music Association’s 2012 “Entertainer of the Year,” five-time Male Vocalist of the Year winner and GRAMMY nominee Blake Shelton continues to add to his superstar status. He just released his brand new album Texoma Shore, which became his sixth record to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and marked his 11th all-genre Top 10. Texoma Shore features his latest hit single “I’ll Name The Dogs,” a romantic tune that boasts over 30 million streams and recently became his 25th No. 1 single. In the week following album launch, Shelton became the first artist in Country Aircheck / Mediabase history to have six songs chart simultaneously. Texoma Shore follows 2016’s Gold-certified If I’m Honest, the best-selling country album release of the year, which spawned three chart-topping songs and earned him a No. 1 on both the Billboard Top Country Albums and the all-genre Top Album Sales charts.
A member of the Grand Ole Opry, Shelton has earned a host of awards throughout his career, which most recently include Top Country Artist at the Billboard Music Awards. In 2017 he became the first country artist to win Favorite Album at the People’s Choice Awards in addition to his win for Favorite Male Country Artist. He also took home the trophy for Favorite Country Male Artist at the American Music Awards as well as the first-ever Male Artist of the Year. As a coach for the Emmy Award-winning television show, The Voice, Shelton is a five-time champion, most recently with his contestant Sundance Head.
“COUNTRY MUSIC FREAKS” TOUR DATES
Date City Venue
2/15/18 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
2/16/18 Lubbock, TX United Supermarkets Arena
2/17/18 Las Cruces, NM Pan American Center
2/22/18 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
2/23/18 Moline, IL TaxSlayer Center
2/24/18 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
3/2/18 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
3/3/18 Bossier City, LA CenturyLink Center
3/8/18 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
3/9/18 Greenville, SC Bon Secours Wellness Arena
3/10/18 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
3/15/18 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena
3/16/18 Baltimore, MD Royal Farms Arena
3/17/18 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
Shelton is teaming up with CID Entertainment once again to offer VIP Experiences throughout the tour. In 2018, packages will feature new perks including an autographed 'Country Music Freaks' Tour plaque and an exclusive BS'ers Lounge baseball cap. VIPs will also get access to the BS'ers Lounge where Blake will perform an acoustic set and answer fan questions. More details available via www.cidentertainment.com/events/blake-shelton-tour-2018.
