The first round of performers has been announced for the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards on Sept. 16.

Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Old Dominion and Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi are among the first performers revealed for the upcoming awards show, which will be held in Nashville for the first time, with performances being aired from three iconic Nashville music venues including the Ryman Auditorium, the Bluebird Cafe, and the Grand Ole Opry House.

Hosted by reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year and 15-time ACM Award winner Keith Urban, the 55th ACM Awards® will be broadcast on Wednesday, Sept. 16 (live 8:00-11:00 PM ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network, and will be available to stream on demand on CBS All Access.

Artists at the Ryman include Kelsea Ballerini performing “Hole In The Bottle,” Gabby Barrett performing her No. 1 hit “I Hope,” Maren Morris, this year’s most-nominated female artist with five nominations, performing “To Hell & Back,” Old Dominion, this year’s most-nominated group (with a collective six nominations), performing a special medley of their No. 1 hits, and Thomas Rhett, this year’s most nominated male artist with five nominations, featuring Jon Pardi, performing their No. 1 hit “Beer Can’t Fix.”

Artists at The Bluebird Cafe include Jimmie Allen performing his No.1 hit “Make Me Want To,” Luke Combs performing “Better Together,” Miranda Lambert featuring songwriters Natalie Hemby and Luke Dick performing the smash hit “Bluebird,” and Tim McGraw performing his recently released single “I Called Mama.”

Additional acts and presenters, including artists performing from the Grand Ole Opry House, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Midland’s Live At The Palomino Vinyl Celebrates Record Store Day Reboot

The music and magic of Midland’s LIVE at the Palomino show becomes available on vinyl this Saturday, August 29 as part of the first RSD Drops dates, a re-working of Record Store Day, celebrating the people who make up the world of the record stores. Midland’s LIVE at the Palomino LP, whose cover art features an original illustration of the North Hollywood haunt, will be available at select stores across the country. The special vinyl features 17 live tracks that are an unapologetic hybrid of Midland’s classic country embrace of grown-up themes of drinking, cheating and seduction. On the night before the limited edition vinyl’s release, Record Store Day will premiere the Midland LIVE at the Palomino concert special on its Facebook page at 8 p.m. ET on Friday (Aug. 28).

Mark Thomas Joins AVVAY Nashville Office

Mark Thomas has joined AVVAY as Project Manager for the Nashville market. AVVAY assists creatives in booking locations for photo and film shoots and other creative projects and currently serves the Nashville, Portland, Chicago, Dallas and Houston markets with additional market expansion plans on the horizon.

Thomas was most recently Producer, Brand Creative and Promotions at CMT where he managed on-the-ground production and post production of assets for promotion of CMT shows, events and initiatives. Before CMT, he was a part of Calvin Klein’s marketing and production team in New York, New York.

“We’re thrilled to be adding Mark to our team. He brings an impressive range of production experience to the table that’s going to enable us to serve our rapidly growing client-base better than ever,” says Jon Howard, AVVAY’s co-founder and CEO.

Kristian Bush, Matt Stell, Temecula Road, More Set For Country Sway Summer Streamathon

The four-day Country Sway Summer Sway Streamathon is set for Aug. 27-30 featuring over 40 different artist performances. The online concert event, featuring Chris Bandi, Kristian Bush, Brett Kissel, Matt Stell, Temecula Road, Jeremy McComb, Josh Mirenda, Jamie O’Neal, and more, will benefit Music Health Alliance as the non-profit continues to provide immediate critical assistance to members of the U.S. music community who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mountain Home Music Company has signed Jaelee Roberts to its recording roster. Roberts is the daughter of Danny Roberts, the mandolin-playing co-founder for Mountain Home’s bluegrass group The Grascals.

Roberts says, “Some of my biggest musical influences have been or are on Mountain Home, and for me to be among them almost doesn’t seem real. There is always so much amazing music coming from this label, and having the opportunity to make my own music is what I’ve hoped for and dreamed about. I’m so blessed to now be able to call myself a Mountain Home recording artist and to be part of the MH family — and it really is family.”

By her teenage years, Roberts was already recording music with her father, abut also with the Tom T. and Dixie Hall-backed Daughters of Bluegrass. She is currently studying songwriting at Middle Tennessee State University. Earlier this year, she was selected to appear in the juried IBMA Songwriter Showcase.

“I see myself as being a friend and ‘cheerleader’ to others,” she says. “I have been around bluegrass music all of my life and have grown up with so many people around my age that it seriously feels like we’re a huge family. I learn from my peers and I feel like we all learn from each other; it’s really quite cool to see how many of the younger generation are sticking with the bluegrass and classic country roots alongside those who are going for more ‘out of the box’ sounds. I love being part of this music, and I’m so blessed to be surrounded by so many friends who are so talented, and share the love of music just like I do!”

“Jaelee has a rich and smooth quality to her voice that’s entirely her own and contains the wholehearted love she has for music,” says Mountain Home’s Francesca Huffman. “It’s stirring to hear music put together for the sheer joy of participating in it, whether in its creation or performance, and this notion is nearly tangible in her voice, music and presence. We’re elated to officially welcome her to the Mountain Home family!”

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce has joined forces with media administrator Exploration to generate the Music Industry Report 2020, a new look at the economic impact and contribution of the music industry not only in Nashville but internationally. A survey is currently available, and results of survey will be included in the Music Industry Report 2020, to be released in December.

In partnership with Exploration and a team of student researchers, this is the first in a repeating series of market research studies intended to provide both a followup on the Chamber’s original work, as well as a detailed overview of the music industry including its various markets, sub-sectors, establishments, and workforce. The research will rely on real-time data, proprietary databases, and insights and experience from all facets of the industry and will provide compelling, actionable insight to industry leaders and policymakers to guide the success and growth of the music industry well into the next decade.

“This report intends to illuminate the inner workings and facets of the entirety of the music industry, individually and collectively,” said Exploration Co-Founder and CEO, Aaron Davis. “The focus starts in Nashville, TN and extends globally, as Music City is not only where people come to listen and record music, but it’s also where music comes to do business. I’m thankful that during this turbulent year, we will be able to provide some insight that the music industry will be able to use to move forward and put their best foot forward.”

“The Music Industry is a pivotal industry sector for the entire Middle Tennessee region and is interconnected to every corner of the world,” says Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Research, Rupa DeLoach. “Understanding the technological, cultural, and economic pressures that cause this industry to evolve and adapt at a rapid pace in order to survive even before COVID-19 is even more crucial as the music industry and its people navigate and thrive in a post-Covid-19 business and consumer climate.”