The Americana Music Association has postponed its Honors & Awards ceremony, which had been slated to take place Wednesday, Sept. 16 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Americana Music Association Executive Director Jed Hilly released a statement on Friday (Sept. 11), saying, “despite all our hope, logistical wrangling and passion, we have concluded that it would not be safe to conduct the Americana Honors & Awards at the wonderful and historic Ryman Auditorium next Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. We’ve carefully evaluated safety measures both with an audience and without. It is our conclusion that if just one person walked out of the Ryman with COVID-19, we would not be able to forgive ourselves.”

The organization plans to celebrate the nominees and announce the winners later this fall, with details to be announced soon.
This year’s nominees include Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, the late John Prine, Tanya Tucker, and Yola all vying for the top honor, Artist of the Year.

Carlile leads this year’s nominations with five, including honors for her work as a producer and writer on Tanya Tucker’s While I’m Livin’ album, and for her work as part of the group The Highwomen. Tucker is nominated for Album of the Year (While I’m Livin’), Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year (“Bring My Flowers Now”). The Highwomen are nominated for Album of the Year, for their self-titled project, produced by Dave Cobb. They are also up for Duo/Group of the Year, as well as Song of the Year (“Crowded Table”). Howard is nominated for Artist of the Year, as well as Album of the Year for both artist and producer for her project Jaime. Her song “Stay High” is also nominated for Song of the Year.

Newcomers Black Pumas earned two nominations for Duo/Group and Emerging Act of the Year. Aubrie Sellers earns two nominations, for Emerging Act of the Year and Song of the Year, for “My Love Will Not Change.” Nathaniel Rateliff earns two nominations, for Album of the Year (And It’s Still Alright), as well as Song of the Year for the album’s title track. Drive-By Truckers also earn two nods, for Duo/Group of the Year, as well as Song of the Year (“Thoughts and Prayers”).

The Americana Music Association does plan to move forward with its Thriving Roots: A Virtual Community Music Conference, which is slated for Sept. 16-18, 2020, and will feature artists including Rosanne Cash, John Leventhal, Mavis Staples, Jackson Browne, Rhiannon Giddens, T Bone Burnett, and many others.

Matt Graham, known for his work with clients including Midland, Hailey Whitters, and many others, will lead the music division for new management and brand development firm Range Media Partners as a Co-Founding Partner and Head of Music. He joins managers Dave Bugliari, Mackenzie Condon Roussos, Rich Cook, Michael Cooper, Susie Fox, Sandra Kang, Rachel Kropa, Chelsea McKinnies, Peter Micelli, Lucinda Moorhead, Mick Sullivan, Byron Wetzel, and Jack Whigham. Graham currently serves as Founder and President of Los Angeles-based music management company, BRND MGMT.

BRND MGMT Partner and General Manager, Jack Minihan (formerly of Warner Music and The Creed Co.) will also join Range Media Partners as EVP of Music, as well as the rest of their existing team of managers; Jordan Dettmer, Stephanie Marks, and Alicia Mathews; and associate Isaac Zepeda. Under Graham’s vision, they will look to expand and build out a forward-thinking music department representing artists of all genres, while developing and acquiring key assets in records, publishing and content.

BRND MGMT’s client roster, which will all follow to the new company, includes Grammy-nominated acts Midland (Big Machine) and Wale (Warner Records), as well Nicky Romero (Virgin/Universal Music), The Score (Republic Records), Hailey Whitters (Big Loud) and several developing acts. Midland was recently nominated for Group of The Year at the upcoming 2020 CMA Awards. Prior to forming BRND MGMT, Graham was one of the initial members of Scooter Braun Projects, serving as Senior Manager. He has also served in the past as a music consultant to Awesomeness TV and Netflix. Graham previously worked with numerous other acts, including Jack Harlow, Andrew Watt, Jasmine Thompson and Cody Simpson.

“In challenging times like these, artists need forward-thinking partners to help navigate the many ways in which to monetize their creativity and diversify their businesses,” Graham says. “This new ecosystem will allow our existing team and roster to take advantage of the vast resources available within a fully-integrated and full-service media company with the capacity to not only manage, but also to finance and create. I am honored and excited to launch Range Media Partners together with this remarkable group of friends and colleagues.”

“Matt is a leader within the music industry and has a strong reputation for his character, taste and work ethic,” says Range co-founder Jack Whigham. “While watching him build his own management company, we were blown away by how he represented his clients in such a dynamic way, with a deep understanding of the music business, but also a real knack for film, TV and brand-building. He also happens to be one of the most thoughtful people we’ve ever worked with, which makes us feel lucky to be partnered with him.”

Range Media Partners is supported by a substantial minority investment led by Point72 Ventures, the early-stage venture capital firm founded by Steve Cohen, with participation from former New York Knicks Coach David Fizdale, former Microsoft CMO Mich Mathews-Spradlin, and Grubhub Founder and CEO Matt Maloney.

Photo: Jamie Wright

Miranda Lambert is lending a hand to members of the music industry who are currently struggling with unexpected pet bills through her nonprofit, MuttNation. MuttNation is partnering with the Waggle Foundation to form the MuttNation Fund to help music community members impacted by COVID-19 with their pets’ medical bills.

“It really hit home when my backup singer and close friend Gwen’s shelter dog, Earl, became extremely ill in early March, just as the pandemic was taking hold and our tour had to stop,” Lambert said via a statement. “After taking him to several vets, she was told Earl had a rare liver disorder. Then there were multiple hospital stays, relapses, more hospital stays…Earl is doing great now, but he’ll require ongoing treatment for the rest of his life. It was such an unexpected major expense at an already tough time. So, it got me thinking that there must be a lot more people whose careers in the music industry have been on pause due to lack of live performance opportunities, and who are struggling with their pets’ vet bills. Because music and mutts are my two passions, I knew I had to do something and thought that starting this fund would help both the music community that’s been so supportive of me, and their pets.”

Application for the MuttNation Fund is open to anyone who is a member of the broader music community who has a dog or a cat with medical needs and has been impacted by COVID-19. Music community members include musicians, singers, songwriters, engineers, producers, management, music venue staff and other music industry employees. Applications for support are available at wagglefoundation.org/muttnation/

MuttNation is jumpstarting the Fund with a generous matching grant donation, and the MuttNation Fund at Waggle will be supported and sustained through online donations by caring people who are moved to help after reading the stories about the pet in need on the MuttNation Fund page. 100% of the donations received are sent directly to the pet’s attending veterinarian. If more than enough funds are raised for any one pet, the extra funds rollover into the MuttNation Fund to keep helping more dogs and cats.

For those who are not working members of the music community, Waggle can offer aid too. Applications are available at waggle.org.

Photo: Courtesy Ryman Auditorium

Ryman Auditorium’s first-ever livestream concert series, “Live at the Ryman,” will double its current in-venue audience capacity, from 125 to 250 patrons, beginning Friday, Sept. 11, with multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter, Brett Young, as part of a Nashville Public Health Department strategic pilot program.

Last Friday, the Ryman welcomed back 125 in-person guests with Scotty McCreery. Nashville Public Health Department personnel will be on hand to observe, inspect and ensure compliance throughout the event as part of a pilot program designed to provide a safe return to indoor live music events.

The Ryman will strictly comply with operating plans developed in partnership with the Nashville Public Health Department and Vanderbilt Health that include socially distanced seating, mandatory masks for all guests and staff, as well as enhanced cleaning practices.

In-venue tickets for Young begin at $89, which include an exclusive Hatch Show Print poster and in-person access to the artist Q&A prior to the show. Livestream ticket prices begin at $10 with VIP upgrades available for $40 (livestream ticket and virtual artist Q&A), $75 (livestream ticket, Hatch Show Print poster, series t-shirt and hat) and $95 (livestream ticket, virtual artist Q&A, autographed Hatch Show Print poster and series t-shirt). All merchandise is available for purchase in advance online to commemorate the landmark series.