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BILLBOARD NAMES EASTON CORBIN TOP NEW COUNTRY ARTIST OF 2010

ITUNES REWIND NAMES EASTON CORBIN COUNTRY BREAKTHROUGH ALBUM OF THE YEAR

                                      DECEMBER 14, 2010

NASHVILLE, TN – Billboard has named Mercury Nashville artist Easton Corbin as the Top New Country Artist of 2010 in “The Year in Music 2010” issue that is on stands now.

In addition, Corbin’s self-titled debut album was named Country Breakthrough Album of the Year by iTunes Rewind Best of 2010 that is currently featured on iTunes.

“I am pretty floored to hear that,” Corbin says. “It’s been a great, great year. Of course, I never expected to receive all of this.

“Everybody has been so good to me, especially the fans,” he says. “It’s because of those guys and country radio that I’m where I am. We just put out the music that we love and hope we’re accepted by the fans and county radio. It’s such an honor to be named to these lists by such iconic institutions as Billboard and iTunes.”

Billboard named Easton’s No. 1 hit “Roll With It” the No. 6 Hot Country Song of the Year, while his debut No. 1 single, “A Little More Country Than That,” was ranked at No. 19.  Corbin is the first country male artist in 17 years to have his first two consecutive singles reach No. 1.

He was ranked No. 9 on Billboard’s list of Top Country Artists-Male, listed between Blake Shelton and Tim McGraw. He also came in ninth on the list of Hot Country Songs Artists.

In addition, Easton was also ranked the No. 1 new artist and the No. 6 male performer this year at country radio in Country Aircheck’s “The Year in Music” issue. “The newcomer story of the year is Easton Corbin, who led the Class of 2010 by a wide margin, more than doubling the points garnered by Steel Magnolia,” the publication says. “Both of his freshman year releases – ‘A Little More Country Than That’ and ‘Roll With It’ -- topped the chart. In a rarity for a rookie, Corbin also cracked the Top 10 most-heard artists of the year.” This is the first time a new artist has achieved such status since Gretchen Wilson in 2004.  

It was announced on Monday that “Roll With It” was named the song that best represents the state of mind of America’s mayors, according to a new survey of mayors commissioned by Reader’s Digest. “I’m honored that the mayors related to ‘Roll With It’ and felt that it helped them through a time when they’re facing such difficult decisions,” says Corbin. He says this honor has given the upbeat and happy song a new meaning for him.

As part of a new grassroots initiative called “We Hear You America” that addresses the challenges facing American cities, mayors of cities with populations of 30,000 or more were surveyed about the impact of the ongoing recession, not only on their local economy, but also on the spirit of their citizens.

The survey asked which popular song best described the state of mind of these mayors and their citizens. “Roll With It” was the top choice, with 47 percent of the vote, followed by Eminem’s “Not Afraid,” with 41 percent. “I think it’s cool that my name is mentioned in the same sentence with Eminem,” Corbin says.

December has been a month to celebrate for Easton, who received three awards at the American Country Awards on Fox on Dec. 6. He won awards in every breakthrough artist category – Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist, as well as Single of the Year: Breakthrough Artist and Music Video: Breakthrough Artist for “A Little More Country Than That.”

Easton is in Nashville writing songs this week for his second album. He will ring in the New Year while performing at Cowboys Red River in Dallas.