RELEASE-DATE SHUFFLE

Q4 has seen a big game of release-date shuffle with UMG acts, as Nashville stars Luke Bryan and Chris Stapleton have moved their release dates to accommodate other acts within the label group; insiders say these artists' teams were encouraged to make way for international priority acts U2 and Eminem. Stapleton's drop date was moved to 12/1 and Bryan's to 12/8.

The only problem is that that both megastar acts have moved around since the original adjustment; U2 is now expected on 12/1 and Eminem is believed to be coming on 12/8.

Stapleton and Bryan are nonetheless expected to have two of the bigger year-end debuts.