Big Machine Records

• CONGRATULATIONS to Team Big Machine, who won the inaugural Dan Wheldon Pro-Am Karting Challenge outside of Indianapolis, IN on Saturday. See the photo below of the team: Mark Borchetta, Scott Borchetta, Luca Franchitti, Marino Franchitti, and Clive Wheldon.

• The 10^th Annual Billboard Touring Awards will be handed out on November 14^th in New York and Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, and Rascal Flatts are among the finalists for the awards, which are based primarily on box office numbers reported to Billboard Boxscore from Oct. 1, 2012 through Sept. 30, 2013. Taylor Swift’s Red Tour, with Ed Sheeran, featuring Joel Crouse, Brett Eldredge, Florida Georgia Line, and Casey James is up for the Top Package Award. Taylor, along with Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts, are all up for the Eventful Fans’ Choice Award.
• Taylor Swift has written and recorded a new song called “Sweeter Than Fiction” for a new Harvey Weinstein movie called One Chance.  Until now, only snippets of the song were available.  The song is a happy, upbeat, pop song about watching the one you love rise above and prove everybody wrong, which is appropriate for the movie based on the story of Paul Potts, who went from being a British store clerk to an opera singing sensation after winning Britain’s Got Talent in 2007. Taylor co-wrote the song with Jack Antonoff, the guitarist for the pop group fun.  For fans, who will likely have to wait another year for a new album from Taylor, this is a nice treat to bridge the gap. Get the song here.
• The CMA Awards continue to add to their line-up of performers, and now they have added some superstar collaborations.  Taylor Swift will take the stage with Vince Gill and Alison Krauss, Zac Brown Band will perform with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, whom Zac has called one of the band’s musical heroes.  Also, Hunter Hayes will perform his latest single, “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me” with Jason Mraz, who sings the song with him on his album.  The CMA Awards will be co-hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood live from Nashville on November 6th on ABC.
• Danielle Bradbery’s debut single “The Heart Of Dixie” is making its way up the charts, but the video for the song is getting major feedback from her fans. In fact, this week it debuted in the Top 5 on the FAN-VOTED GAC Top 20 Countdown! Watch the video here.

The Valory Music Co.

• Brantley Gilbert has had a busy week out on the road, as he starts visiting radio and sharing new music from his 2014 release. He has been snapping photos with radio friends, armed with fedoras, toy guns, and even a few tricks up his sleeve. See the hilarious prank he played on WTQR’s Tige and Daniel here.

• Thomas Rhett recorded an album release special Wednesday afternoon at the Bluebird Café in Nashville for Sirius/XM radio.  He played several tracks off his new album, It Goes Like This, live, plus he played a couple of the hits he’s written for other people like “’Round Here,” which was a #1 hit for Florida Georgia Line.  He was joined for part of the taping by his dad, Rhett Akins, who is a former artist and now a very successful songwriter.  The two shared stories, including the pride Rhett felt watching Thomas take the stage at Sanford Stadium as part of Jason Aldean’s Night Train Tour.  Rhett actually played football for the Georgia Bulldogs and he comes from a long line of die-hard Bulldogs fan, so to say that night was a special moment was an understatement.  Rhett also beamed as he talked about running into people all over town who tell him they met Thomas.  He said they usually tell him that Thomas is a great songwriter and talented artist, but what makes him the most proud is that they tell him Thomas is a good guy and someone they’d be willing to help anytime. At one point during the taping, Thomas looked out into the intimate crowd and noticed that NASCAR driver Danica Patrick had slipped into the Bluebird as a fan, just to watch him sing.  He told her they had never met but that he was a big fan of hers.  Then he and his dad dedicated “Parking Lot Party,” a song they co-wrote with Lee Brice to her. The Thomas Rhett album release special will air many times on Sirius/XM just prior to and after the release of his new album, which comes out this Tuesday, October 29^th.

Republic Nashville

• It was announced this week that Florida Georgia Line One will make their debut performance on the “2013 American Music Awards,” which will broadcast live from the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24^th (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on ABC. They join other newcomers One Direction and previously announced performers Miley Cyrus and Imagine Dragons. Additional acts and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.
• Cassadee Pope wrapped up her time on the Rascal Flatts Live & Loud Tour over the weekend, and before she did she managed to get in a small prank.  Each night they invite her on stage to sing their hit “Easy,” but on Saturday night a giant man dressed in drag entered the stage lip syncing Cassadee’s part while she sang from backstage.  Gary LeVox was definitely caught off guard, trying to keep his composure to finish the song, but laughing the whole time as well.  It turns out the very large man was Jay DeMarcus’ bass tech. See the HILARIOUS video here.When Cassadee finally did emerge on stage Gary was actually very sweet and told the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your next superstar in country music.”  They proceeded to sing “I Won’t Let Go” together but were interrupted when another stage hand entered with a giant bouquet of roses for Cassadee from the guys.  On behalf of the band, Gary told her, “You are an absolute spectacular artist.  God has given you an amazing gift and we’re so grateful that we got to share the same stage with you.  Thank you for providing such an amazing tour for us.  We love you and we cannot wait to watch your star rise above.”