CMT has revealed a new title and premiere date for its limited eight-part scripted series Sun Records. Formerly known as Million Dollar Quartet, it is based on the Tony Award®-winning musical.

The series will premiere on CMT on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 10 PM ET/PT. The announcement follows the 60th anniversary of the historic Million Dollar Quartet recording sessions featuring Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins on Dec. 4, 1956 at Memphis’ Sun Records Studios. Sun Records will join Nashville to complete CMT’s new Thursday line-up.

The series chronicles Sun Records founder Sam Phillips, and the artists through their sudden rise to fame, set against a backdrop of political change and social unrest.

The cast includes Chad Michael Murray (Sam Phillips), Billy Gardell (Presley and Arnold’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker), Drake Milligan (Elvis Presley), Kevin Fonteyne (Johnny Cash), Christian Lees (Jerry Lee Lewis), Jonah Lees (Jimmy Swaggart), Trevor Donovan (Eddy Arnold), Keir O’Donnell (Dewey Phillips), Jennifer Holland (Sam’s wife Becky Phillips), Margaret Anne Florence (Sam’s assistant Marion Keisker), and Kerry Holliday (Ike Turner).

More than a dozen country artists will perform this weekend in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, to help raise money and collect much-needed items for victims of wildfires that recently ravaged the area.

Zac Brown Band will headline the Mountain Tough Benefit, hosted by Ole Smoky Moonshine, in Pigeon Forge on Sat., Dec. 17. The lineup begins at 10 a.m. ET, also featuring Jim Lauderdale, Rodney Crowell, Sam Bush, Derek St. Holmes, Jason D. Williams, Rob Ickes, Trey Hensley, Randy Kohrs, Sarah Potenza, Mo Pitney, Chelle Rose and others. Music City Roots, WMOT/Roots Radio from Middle Tennessee State University as well as a network of statewide and regional radio stations will broadcast the event. All proceeds will go to the Sevier County Community Fund, established by the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce Foundation to directly benefit families impacted by the wildfires.

On Sun., Dec. 18, emerging singer/songwriter Kaitlyn Baker will perform along with Stephen Goff & The Royals, a regional band, at the Smokies Strong Relief Benefit at Hard Rock Cafe in Pigeon Forge. Presented by hot sauce company Pepper Palace, Sunday’s free lineup runs from 2-6 p.m. and set to include Santa and bounce houses.

“This event is to receive donations for our community and their families, but most importantly to give the children a very Merry Christmas,” said Will C-Nuñez, Executive Director of Marketing for Pepper Palace. “Items to donate can be gift cards, clothing for children or adults and supplies, like toothpaste, toilet paper, or canned foods.”

Fourteen people lost their lives in the fires, which caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.

To donate online, visit mobilecause.com or text PFG 91999. Donations may also be dropped off at SmartBank locations and at Hard Rock Café Pigeon Forge. Checks may be made out to Gatlinburg Relief Fund and mailed to P.O. Box 1910, Pigeon Forge, TN 37868-1910.

The Metro Planning Commission unanimously approved the Music Row Detailed Design Plan (DDP) during its Dec. 8, 2016 meeting. A separate process will now be undertaken to determine the details and feasibility of a form-based zoning code along Music Row.

The DDP addresses land use, transportation, and community character at the neighborhood level. Such proposals include density requirements, height requirements and setback requirements. This DDP is adopted as an amendment to the Green Hills-Midtown Community Plan and therefore as a component of the countywide NashvilleNext General Plan.

Once adopted as an amendment to the community plan, the DDP serves as the primary guide for the neighborhood’s development.

Click to read the full letter.

Leading music industry organizations, including the RIAA, The Recording Academy and the performing rights organizations, sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump to state the importance of intellectual property and rights-holders earning fair market value. This letter comes on the eve of Trump’s meeting with leaders of the tech industry Wednesday (Dec. 14) afternoon.

The correspondence addresses that “music drives innovation” and that “sophisticated technology corporations can do better” in preventing illegal access to music and “paying fair market value.”

The letter is signed by A2IM, American Federation of Musicians, ASCAP, Americana Music Association, BMI, Church Music Publishers’ Association, Christian Music Trade Association, Gospel Music Association, The Living Legends Foundation Inc., Music Managers Forum – U.S., NSAI, NMPA, The Recording Academy, RIAA, Rhythm & Blues Foundation, SAG-AFTRA, SESAC, The Songwriters Guild of America and SoundExchange.

According to the New York Times, top executives from Tesla, Alphabet (Google’s parent), Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook are scheduled to attend tomorrow’s meeting.

Last month, Mr. Trump hosted a similar meeting with members of the media with the main purpose of lashing out at them.