WOW! I was thrilled to find out that I was recently the featured artist on the “Width of a Circle” radio program on Deal Radio in the UK. The program, hosted by Gary (Gaz) Richards features a particular artist and weaves a web of music based upon that artist's work as well as their influences and other collaborations and associations. The program has mostly dealt with more well-known artists with readily recognizable songs and names so being added to the roster was a very humbling experience for me. During the hour-long program, five of my songs were featured with connections to the Everly Brothers, the Beatles, and Bob Dylan; with some additional tunes included to draw connections to various themes within the musical web. Gaz has previously included my music on another show he DJs, “Into the Groover,” also on Deal Radio but gave me no indication that he was going to feature me this way. He was kind enough to send me the Mix-Cloud link so I could listen and share the program with my friends, and family. I Hope you will enjoy the program and, perhaps, drop him a note at: gary@dealradio.co.uk

https://www.mixcloud.com/DealRadioShows/width-of-a-circle-volume-10-ft-chad-shue/

Here we are, almost halfway through 2025. What's new? Yes, there has been new music and there have been a couple of new venues added to my list of places I have played; but the big new thing for me is a shift in my attitude and approach to my musical adventure. My approach over the years has been to just let things come to me and not be too pushy or put extra effort into sharing my music. After all, I figured “If You Build it….” You know the rest of that. Well, I am realizing that, if you don't tell them what you've built and where it is, you end up in the middle of nowhere with a limited audience. For the remainder of 2025 it will be my mission to push harder in getting my music out to a larger audience. I have extended my relationship with Nik Pizzigoni and his Whiskey and Cigarettes Country Music Radio Show out of Milan, Italy but syndicated all over the world. I have just begun a new relationship with a Social Media Promoter to help boost views and subscribers to my You Tube page. I recently reinvented my Instagram to, hopefully, reduce the content unrelated to my music and I am making a pledge to be more active on this site and keep everyone more informed about new music and live shows.

Something that may seem counterintuitive to my plan, is that thought that I will be producing fewer new songs this year. However, in reviewing my releases over the last couple of years, it seems to me that I have been pushing quantity over quality. For that, I apologize. This year, it is my plan to review some of the older songs in an effort to scrub some of the lesser quality tunes and the re-introduce some of the songs that should have had more time dedicated to them to improve a good concept. I hope you will be patient and will let me know what you think.

As I move into 2025, I want to take a few lines to thank some of the people who really helped me advance my music in 2024. As you may know, I moved from my home in Washington State to my new home in Abilene, Texas at the end of 2023. One of the first people I met in Abilene was Terri “The Queen” Knight; a brilliant singer/songwriter, who welcomed me to a “song swap” at a local coffee house and then went on to introduce me to Doc at Play Faire Park. That introduction led to a recurring spot on the 2nd Friday of the month for the rest of the year and, hopefully into 2025. Perhaps the most significant helping hand was Terri's assistance in introducing me to the world of radio submission. I have been streaming my music for a few years now but have always wanted to hear my music "on-air." Not only is Terri's music being played regularly on the radio, she is charting near or at the top of many radio charts both in the US and in Europe. Which leads us to DJ Nik Pizzigoni and his Whiskey and Cigarettes Radio Show out of Milan, Italy. Dj Nik's show is syndicated to stations around the world, including Armed Forces Radio. In association with his show, Nik offers a “Featured Artist” promotion where your music and yourself as an artist are featured via his weekly show and his social media posts throughout the year. It has been exciting to tune in to the program on various outlets to hear my songs mixed in with the likes of Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Buck Owens, and so many more. 

Around the same time I was introduced to DJ Nik, I stumbled upon Groover. Groover is basically a “pay for play” site that allows you to upload music and then, for a minimal fee, pitch those songs to an extensive list of media outlets for their consideration. The outlets consist of playlist managers, on air radio stations, bloggers, and influencers from around the world. I have been very pleased to have some of my songs accepted for airplay on stations from Canada to France, to Spain, to Portugal and more and have been added to about a half dozen playlists on the various streaming outlets.  While I am not a big fan of “pay for play,” one of the benefits of Groover is that the folks you pitch your songs to may choose to send you their direct email contact and then you are able to deal with them directly. It was via this side benefit that I became acquainted with Gary (Gaz) Richards from the UK. Gaz has a program, "Into the Groover" which broadcasts from Deal, England every Monday with replays on Tuesdays. Gaz has probably played more of my songs on air in 2024 than any other on-air outlet. We have developed a friendly relationship, and I am starting to develop a small but growing fan base from his show. 

It is my strong hope to continue on the path that I started down in 2024 and present my music to an even greater audience. I look forward to performing in new venues but still returning to the ones who have already welcomed me to their stages. Please be listening for my music and come catch a show or two in the coming year. If you feel like it, drop me a line to let me know when and where you may have heard my music so that I may drop a thank you note to that outlet. All the best to all who read this post.

What a great time I am having with my music! I am so proud to be playing for so many people at places like the Mezamiz Coffee House, Play Faire Park, and the Winchester Pub and Grill but having my music being played on internet AND broadcast radio from the U.S. to Canada and all over Europe. Just had my song “Ill Fated Love” on the Whiskey and Cigarettes Radio Show and my song “I'm So Glad I Found You” is queued up for play on the “Into the Groover” program on Deal Radio based in Deal, England on Monday.

Thank you all for your support of my music.  

Well things are going pretty well for me lately. I have started to play more live shows in Abilene and I am happy to say my music is beginning to receive more airplay and inclusion onto more playlists. With the help of “Groover” I have been able to reach out to more outlets such as Deal Radio in the UK and Montreal Radio in Canada, as well as playlist curators from places like France and Spain who have either played my music on their stations or promoted songs on their various playlists.

I truly appreciate all the support I can get in promoting my music as far and wide as possible.

Oh yes, my latest EP, “You Don't Love Me Anymore” has been released to the streaming universe and is doing pretty well in its first couple of weeks out there. I will be uploading to the songs here soon. 

I am happy to make my newest single, “On the Streets of New Orleans” available for your listening pleasure and FREE DOWNLOAD before it's official release on the streaming services on May 1st. Written to memorialize my recent visit to my favorite party town, the song speaks to the atmosphere, music, and culture of New Orleans while dropping the names of just a few of the players I enjoyed while I was there. Hope you enjoy it.

Reviews are coming in for “Ill Fated Love” from my new EP, “There Goes my Heart (Again)”

"An exploration of love, heartbreak, and the introspection that follows the end of a relationship, Chad Shue's poignant "Ill-Fated Love" offers listeners a contemplative and grounded listening experience that effectively combines country, Americana, and folk styles to whisk up a humble sounding listening experience that feels undeniably authentic. "Ill-Fated Love" unravels a bittersweet ballad that encapsulates the soulful nuances of heartache and introspection. The track, adorned with a touch of twang and a rhythm that mirrors the subtle sway of emotional tides, invites listeners into a narrative of love's delicate fragility, resulting in a relatable and stripped-back piece of songwriting that bears its heart proudly on its sleeve.

The lyrics, delivered with a tender yet weathered vocal timbre, narrate the tale of a love marked by misfortune and the inevitability of heartbreak. Lines such as "Guess I should open up my eyes and start to realize true love isn't meant to be" echo the speaker's internal struggle, a poignant realization that permeates the entire experience. There's a palpable sense of self-reflection powering the narrative of the track forward, creating a deep level of relatability that will strongly resonate with listeners. The strength of the lyrics and the themes they effectively explore is of course strengthened further by the committed performances and there's a definite chemistry amongst the musicians that helps ensure the writing draws the listener in even further. Between the gentle sway of the drums, the melodically rich slide guitar flourishes, expressive vocals, and asserting bass work, the performances gel in a way that most certainly engages.

"Ill Fated Love" is an effective combination of country, Americana, and folk styles and I'm sure lovers of these genres will find it to be a pleasant listening experience."

Andre Avanessian - RadioAirplay.com (Jango Radio)