Industry Ink: Tatum Allsep, BigXthaPlug, ASCAP Showcase, FEMcountry, More

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Tatum Allsep Honored With Billboard Impact Award

Pictured (Left to Right): TJ Osborne (Brothers Osborne), Tatum Allsep (Music Health Alliance), John Osborne (Brothers Osborne). Photo: Jason Kempin

Tatum Allsep, the Founder and CEO of Music Health Alliance, was presented with the Billboard Impact Award by Brothers Osborne on Wednesday (June 4). Allsep started the fund after incurring life changing medical bills from the pre-term birth of her twins, and has since helped over 32,000 members of the music community access healthcare.

“It’s an honor to stand here with the people who shape the sound of our culture and for the impact of this little engine that could – Music Health Alliance – to be recognized is just so meaningful, thank you,” shared Allsep. “To the MHA team, you offer the most powerful medicine that exists on this planet and that’s hope. And that is something we’ve got. Our industry runs on the beautiful genius of the music mind and it needs to be nurtured. It’s filled with so much uninvited noise – pressure, income instability, isolation – and it is costing our industry big time: creatively, humanly, corporately. In the last few months, MHA has seen a 250% increase in requests for mental health support. Music heals, but even the healers need healing. Please don’t just admire the mission and impact of Music Health Alliance. Feel it. Fuel it. Fund it. We so desperately need you to stand with us to nurture the noise, and then we can truly heal the music.”

Cam Fordham and BigXthaPlug Host CMA Kick Off Event

Pictured (Left to Right): Chris Comstock, Cam Fordham (Partner / Co-Founder, Get Engaged Media), Shaboozey, BigXthaPlug, Ella Langley. Photo: Kevin Wong

Get Engaged Media Partner and Co-Founder Cam Fordham and multi-Platinum artist BigXthaPlug celebrated the start of CMA Fest with an event at Losers featuring Ella Langley, Shaboozey, Sam Hunt, Chris Comstock and more.

ASCAP Hosts Showcase At Bluebird Cafe

Pictured (Left to Right): ASCAP’s Duane Hobson, Austin Jenckes, Jillian Dawn, Grace Gunn, Caylee Hammack, ASCAP’s Emilia James and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad

ASCAP hosted a songwriter showcase at the Bluebird Cafe on Wednesday (June 4). The event featured performances from Caylee Hammack, Jillian Dawn, Grace Gunn and Austin Jenckes.

FEMcountry Hosts First Nashville Showcase

Pictured (Left to Right): Abbey Cone, Caylee Hammack, Rita Wilson, Brittney Spencer, FEMcountry’s Leslie Fram, Angie K, Striking Matches’ Sarah Zimmermann & Justin Davis. Photo: Collette Badora

Leslie Fram’s FEMcountry hosted its first showcase at City Winery last night (June 5), with performances from Abbey Cone, Angie K, Brittney Spencer, Caylee Hammack, Striking Matches and Rita Wilson.

The next FEMcountry showcase is scheduled for July 16 at AB Hillsboro Village. The lineup and ticket information will be announced at a later date.

Gracie Binion Inks With BEC Recordings

Gracie Binion.

Gracie Binion has signed a record deal with BEC Recordings. Binion began writing songs at age nine. She co-wrote “Hunger” for CeCe Winans and was recently featured as a guest vocalist on the newest Elevation Rythym album.

“As a label, we love helping our artists be the best versions of themselves while also giving them the space to be who they’re created to be through their art, and Gracie is such a great addition to our family,” shares Brandon Ebel, President of BEC Recordings “We’re stoked to partner with Gracie and help her ideas come to fruition!”

“I’m so excited to be working with the BEC team. I’ve got a lot up my sleeve for the next couple of years, and they haven’t shied away from any of it. Everyone is so on board, which is rare to find in the industry. I’m a blessed girl, and this is a great team,” adds Binion.

 

The Often Herd To Receive IMBA Grant

The Often Herd.

The Often Herd will receive the 2025 IMBA International Band Performance Grant, which is awarded annually to one outstanding non-U.S. band seeking to grow their presence in the American market.

Formed on the Isle of Mull in 2014, The Often Herd, Rupert Hughes (guitar), Evan Davies (mandolin), Niles Krieger (fiddle) and Sam Quintana (bass), has built a loyal following across the UK and Europe. Their distinct style won them the title of “Best European Bluegrass Band” at the 2018 La Roche Bluegrass Festival in France, and in 2021, they performed as Official Showcase Artists at IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“The Often Herd have established themselves as a stand-out band in the vibrant European Bluegrass scene, with a growing fan base across the continent,” says Christopher Howard-Williams, IBMA Board Member and Founder of Bluegrass in La Roche. “I am delighted that they are receiving this grant, and I’m excited to see the reception they get from American bluegrass fans.”

Lauryn Sink
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