Muserk Taps Marc Driskill To Lead Music Development In Nashville

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Marc Driskill

Muserk, the modern music copyright and rights management company, has tapped industry veteran Marc Driskill to lead music development in its new Nashville headquarters.

An accountant by trade, Driskill has spent his career working in a hybrid role focused on helping creatives understand the flow of money in the music business—something he will continue to do in his new position. He got his start in business development at ASCAP in 1998. Driskill then moved over to Big Loud, where he served as COO, before returning to ASCAP as VP & General Manager in 2009. In 2012, he became Executive VP & General Manager of Sea Gayle Music, where he stayed for over nine years. Most recently, Driskill worked at FirstBank, where he guided the bank in establishing a greater presence in the music world and facilitated one of the largest music catalog financing facilities in the history of the bank.

“In publishing you really get to roll your sleeves up and work with music you believe in,” he says. “Muserk is a great team that is doing tremendous work to uncover and collect royalties for rightsholders all over the world, and I want to make sure that everyone in Nashville knows that they can trust Muserk to collect every cent.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Marc to Muserk and our mission here in Nashville,” says Paul Goldman, Muserk Founder & CEO. “Marc brings a vast wealth of experience and expertise to our rights management efforts. His extensive knowledge in the copyright space, coupled with his deep understanding of Nashville’s songwriting culture, will be invaluable for Muserk’s growth on Music Row.”

Noah Kahan Shows Off His Transcendent Talent At Sold-Out Bridgestone Arena Run

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Noah Kahan. Photo: Kaitlyn Hungerford

Noah Kahan played the second of his two-night, sold-out Bridgestone Arena run last night (May 25) on his “The Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever)” tour. The folk-pop singer had everyone mesmerized by his vocals and entertainment skills from start to finish. 

Pop singer Ryan Beatty opened up the night with fan favorites such as “Bruises Off The Peach,” “Ribbons,” “White Teeth,” “Bright Red” and “Cinnamon Bread.” He also paid homage to Music City greats by covering Dolly Parton’s “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind” and Brooks & Dunn’s “Neon Moon.” Beatty closed his set with his original song “Little Faith” in an acoustic-style jam session.

Before Kahan even took the stage, the anticipation in the crowd was buzzing. As the lights went out and Kahan’s band started playing, the entire arena sprang to their feet. Kahan took the stage in an all white outfit and started the night off with “Dial Drunk,” immediately sending the energy in the room to full throttle.  

After turning the house lights up so Kahan could take in the crowd, he took a moment to express his gratitude before going into “New Perspective.” 

Noah Kahan. Photo: Kaitlyn Hungerford

Kahan is no stranger to Nashville crowds, as he’s played headlining shows at Cannery Ballroom, Brooklyn Bowl,  the Ryman Auditorium and Ascend Amphitheater on past tours. When sharing about his musical journey, the singer noted that his first show was at The Basement. 

After the moment of reflection, Kahan went into “Everywhere, Everything,” before lighting up the stage with a high energy performance of “False Confidence,” a song he wrote at 17 after just moving to Nashville. He kept the vibes going with “Forever,” relishing in the crowd singing every word.

The stage was then transformed to look like his mom’s living room. After taking a polaroid with a fan and reading a few signs, Kahan sat center stage with his band and led a family-style acoustic sing-along to “Come Over” and “Godlight.” The two performances highlighted Kahan’s vocal ability, with long runs and emotional convictions. 

Getting the crowd back on their feet, Kahan lit up the arena with “Paul Revere,” complete with mesmerizing visuals to reflect the lyrics behind him on stage. He then showed off more of his brilliant songwriting with “All My Love” and “Your Needs, My Needs.” Both songs keeping the crowd buzzing. 

Just as the arena was ready for more, Kahan treated them to the unreleased tune “Spoiled.” Before kicking off the next song, Kahan shared some words of encouragement for those who moved to Music City to chase a dream by taking a risk and betting on themselves.

“I moved here in 2017,” he said. “I spent a long time by myself and did a lot of things by myself. At first, I felt kind of pathetic. Then I realized you can do whatever you want by yourself. Once you realize that, the whole world opens up for you.” The singer said he wrote the next track, “You’re Gonna Go Far,” for anyone who can relate to that.

Erupting from joy after hearing the hit song, the crowd was ready to see what was next, which was “Homesick.” After Kahan jumped and buzzed around the main stage, he ran to the center of the arena floor to his B-Stage. Kahan wanted to have a B-Stage on this tour to be as close to the fans as he possibly could be. With a single spotlight shining down on Kahan and his guitar, he captivated the crowd with “Growing Sideways” and “Maine.”

Noah Kahan. Photo: Kaitlyn Hungerford

Bringing the party back to the main stage, Kahan immediately went into “She Calls Me Back.” Buzzing off the energy from the audience, Kahan went into “Call Your Mom” and “Orange Juice.”

As the night was winding down, Kahan gave another shoutout to his band, and said he wished that he could play for the rest of the night. He then closed out the set with “Northern Attitude,” a song he wrote with inspiration from his hometown of Strafford, Vermont. Kahan ran off stage as snow-colored confetti started falling.

Fans knew better than to think the night was actually over, as they cheered and shined their lights, waiting with anticipation for the singer to come back. Their wish was granted when Kahan came back with a Predators jersey on. He kicked off his encore set with “The View Between Villages,” another song paying homage to his hometown. 

Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan. Photo: Kaitlyn Hungerford

As Kahan, his band and the fans were electrified from the night, everyone was ready for one more big performance. Before going into the final song, Kahan brought out Kelsea Ballerini as a surprise guest. The two are no strangers to performing with each other, as they played together at the ACM Awards two weeks ago. To close out the night, the duo played Kahan’s breakout song “Stick Season,” leaving the audience absolutely enamored.

Kahan’s tour will continue through July with stops in St. Louis, Los Angeles and more before wrapping up at Fenway Park in Boston. All of Kahan’s tour stops will feature The Busyhead Project Action Village, a place that will amplify local mental health organizations and feature a community wall that allows fans to share positive messages. To read more about the initiative, click here. 

BREAKING: Music Row Champion Pat Rolfe Passes

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Pat Rolfe

Pat Rolfe, one of the first women to head a major publishing company on Music Row, passed away on Friday (May 24) after a battle with cancer. She was 77.

Rolfe began her career at Lamar Fike’s Hill & Range, where she worked with artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, Eddie Rabbit, Bill Monroe, George Morgan and more. She became General Manager of the company in 1972.

Rolfe remained at Hill & Range until Chappell Music purchased it in 1975. She stayed with Chappell and eventually rose to Vice President, a post she held until 1987 when Warner Bros. Music purchased it. During Rolfe’s tenure, Chappell Music was named ASCAP Publisher of the Year seven times.

After leaving Chappell, ASCAP Nashville head Connie Bradley hired Rolfe as Director of Membership Relations. She stayed at ASCAP, rising to the position of Vice President, until 2010. During her time at ASCAP, Rolfe brought in writers such as Tony Mullins, Deryl Dodd, Trevor Rosen, Hillary Lindsey, Josh Kear, Chris Tompkins, Michael Knox, Gerry House, Tim Ryan, Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley and Wynonna Judd.

In 1991, Rolfe and other Music Row leaders Judy Harris and Sheila Shipley Biddy formed SOURCE, an organization focused on fostering relationships and opportunities for women in the entertainment industry. Now the longest-running organization for women in the music industry in Nashville, SOURCE continues to be a tentpole institution for the community.

Rolfe also co-founded the Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament that raises money for charity each year. She was inducted into the SOURCE Hall of Fame in 2012.

Rolfe will be remembered for her commitment to championing and mentoring multiple generations of women in the business. She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Mack; her stepchildren, John (Vanessa), Jim (Mary K) and Dick (Michelle); seven grandchildren; brothers, Jim, Mike, Joe, and Charlie Patterson and sister, Margaret Simmons. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marie and George Patterson, and her brother Jerry Patterson and sister-in-law Ann Patterson.

A visitation with the family will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Green Hills Community Church with the funeral service beginning at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Bonaparte’s Retreat Dog Rescue, the Green Hills Community Church or a charity of your choice.

The U.S. Department Of Justice Sues Live Nation

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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), alongside a group of 30 states including Tennessee, has filed a antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation. The suit accuses the live music giant of market dominance, and calls for its split from Ticketmaster.

“We allege that Live Nation has repeatedly wielded its powers to keep its rivals from expanding in the U.S. concert promotions market through threats and retaliation,” shared Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday (May 23) during the lawsuit’s announcement.

Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged in 2010. Their combined dominance in live music has been scrutinized since then, but concerns increased significantly during the ticketing issues that arose with Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour.”

The DOJ alleges that Live Nation has used its market power to stifle competition. In Garland’s remarks on Thursday, he shared that the government will present evidence taken from Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino and Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke as well as Rapino and equity firm Silver Lake capital.

“The threats ultimately succeeded and Silver Lake has tried to sell TEG altogether,” Garland said. “We allege that Live Nation does not maintain its dominance in the live industry by staying ahead of its competition on the merits. It does so by unlawfully eliminating its competition. We allege that Live Nation controls the live entertainment industry in the United States because it is breaking the law.”

Live Nation has rejected the accusations.

“The DOJ’s lawsuit won’t solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices,” the company shared in a statement. “Calling Ticketmaster a monopoly may be a PR win for the DOJ in the short term, but it will lose in court because it ignores the basic economics of live entertainment, such as the fact that the bulk of service fees go to venues, and that competition has steadily eroded Ticketmaster’s market share and profit margin. Our growth comes from helping artists tour globally, creating lasting memories for millions of fans and supporting local economies across the country by sustaining quality jobs. We will defend against these baseless allegations, use this opportunity to shed light on the industry and continue to push for reforms that truly protect consumers and artists.”

Click here to see the DOJ’s full complaint.

This is a developing story.

Cody Johnson’s ‘Dirt Cheap’ Notches Second Week At No. 1 On MusicRow Radio Chart

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Cody Johnson reaches the top spot on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart again this week with his ballad “Dirt Cheap.”

The tune, written solely by Josh Phillips, appears on Johnson’s 2023 album Leather. Johnson is currently headlining his “Leather Tour” with upcoming dates in New Orleans, Louisiana, Panama City Beach, Florida and Bloomington, Illinois. The tour is set to close in University Park, Pennsylvania at the Bryce Jordan Center on Nov. 16.

“Dirt Cheap” currently sits at No. 14 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 13 on the Mediabase chart.

Click here to view the latest edition of the MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

Lainey Wilson Invited To Join The Grand Ole Opry

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Reba McEntire & Lainey Wilson. Photo: Courtesy of NBCUniversal

Following her live performance of her new single “Hang Tight Honey” on NBC’s The Voice last night (May 21), Lainey Wilson was surprised by Opry member Reba McEntire with an invitation to become an official member of the Grand Ole Opry family.

Lainey Wilson with her custom-made belt buckle. Photo: Courtesy of NBCUniversal

The ACM Entertainer of the Year made her Opry debut on Feb. 14, 2020, and will be inducted on Friday, June 7.

“Lainey, I am so proud of you. You did a wonderful job. I have heard that I have inspired you in what you have done so far, and I am thrilled to death if I have had anything to do with your career because you are blowing it up. I was so proud of you at the ACMs the other night and I couldn’t be more proud to be the one that helps you continue to bridge the gap between our generations. I’d like to be the person to invite you to become an official member of the Grand Ole Opry,” said McEntire.

She then presented Wilson with a gift commemorating the occasion, a custom-made belt buckle reading “Opry” and “Lainey” with “2024” emblazoned on its reverse side.

“I am so incredibly honored to be invited to become an official member of the Grand Ole Opy, and to have the legendary Reba McEntire surprise me during tonight’s show was such an unforgettable moment,” shared Wilson. “This is something I’ve always dreamed of, ever since my first trip to the Opry when I was nine years old. I will never forget this moment!”

“There is not a doubt in my mind that Lainey will make an impact on country music and the Grand Ole Opry for generations to come,” says Dan Rogers, Senior Vice President & Executive Producer, Grand Ole Opry. “On the eve of the Opry’s 100th year, we’re so very excited to say ‘welcome home’ to one of country music’s great voices and personalities.”

 

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JUST IN: Date Set For 2025 Grammy Awards

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The Recording Academy has set a date for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, along with other key dates. The ceremony will take place Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. It will broadcast live on CBS Television Network and stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

The final nominees for the 2025 Grammy Awards will be announced on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024.

Key dates for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards season are as follows:

Sept. 16, 2023 – Aug. 30, 2024
Product Eligibility Period

July 8, 2024 – Aug. 23, 2024
Media Company Registration Period

July 17, 2024 – Aug. 30, 2024
Online Entry Period

Oct. 4, 2024 – Oct. 15, 2024
First Round Voting

Nov. 8, 2024
Nominees Announced for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards

Dec. 12, 2024 – Jan. 3, 2025
Final Round Voting

Feb. 2, 2025
67th Annual Grammy Awards

Josh Phillips Notches Second Week At No. 1 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Josh Phillips

Josh Phillips remains in the top spot this week on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart for the second consecutive week. His solo-penned “Dirt Cheap,” recorded by Cody Johnson, earns him the position.

Hunter Phelps sits at No. 2 this week with “Bulletproof,” “Chevrolet” and “Take Her Home.” With “Bulletproof,” “Cowgirls,” “I Had Some Help,” “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us” and “Young Love & Saturday Nights,” Ashley Gorley takes the No. 3 spot.

Recently-named ACM Songwriter of the Year Jessie Jo Dillon maintains her position at No. 4 and Matt Jenkins rounds out this week’s top five.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Cody Johnson Tops MusicRow Radio Chart With ‘Dirt Cheap’

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Cody Johnson has nabbed his fifth No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart with his moving ballad “Dirt Cheap.”

The tune, written solely by Josh Phillips, appears on Johnson’s 2023 album Leather. The singer performed the touching tune on the ACM Awards on Thursday night (May 16).

“Dirt Cheap” currently sits at No. 16 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 13 on the Mediabase chart.

Click here to view the latest edition of the MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

The 59th ACM Awards Focuses On Fun Collaborations & Cultural Moments [Recap]

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Reba McEntire hosts the 59th ACM Awards.

The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards took place Thursday night (May 16) at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Lainey Wilson was crowned ACM Entertainer of the Year, her first time receiving the honor. Chris Stapleton led the night in total wins with four awards, followed by Wilson with three wins, and Luke Combs and Jordan Davis with two wins.

Lainey Wilson performs at the 59th ACM Awards.

Music icon Reba McEntire hosted the two hour show that featured 18 performances from 19 artists, along with several collaborations. She kept things lighthearted and funny during her opening remarks, often highlighting the popularity of country music at the moment.

“From Mother Maybelle to Cowboy Carter, country music is so big in 2024 that there’s room for everybody,” she said. “We all love country [music] and we all are country. We’re keeping the circle unbroken, but growing it to even bigger and better.”

Wilson kicked off the night’s music with a cover of “God Blessed Texas” before transitioning into an exciting performance of her new single “Hang Tight Honey.” Jelly Roll continued the party with a performance of an unreleased song “Liar.”

Post Malone performs at the 59th ACM Awards.

The first award presentation, for Song of the Year, came swiftly. It went to Davis’ “Next Thing You Know,” co-written by Davis, Chase McGill, Greylan James and Josh Osborne.

Davis thanked the songwriting community for embracing him when he accepted. McGill and James stood grinning widely behind him, embracing each other. “I love songwriting because of songs that have won Song of the Year,” Davis said.

In one of the night’s best musical moments, Kelsea Ballerini was joined by folk-pop artist Noah Kahan for a mashup of her “Mountain With A View” and his “Stick Season.” It was the first of many successful collaborations throughout the show.

The next ACM Award went to Dan + Shay for Duo of the Year. The two thanked their families and teams and shared that despite their journey of highs and lows, “the one thing that has remained the same is the love and support from the country music community.”

Greylan James, Chase McGill and Jordan Davis win the award for Song of the Year at the 59th ACM Awards.

For the next award, Old Dominion took home their seventh consecutive win for ACM Group of the Year, tying Rascal Flatts for the most consecutive wins in the category.

Speaking of groups, sister duo Tigirlily Gold gave a warm performance of “I Tried A Ring On.” The sisters, who were crowned New Duo or Group winners earlier in the week, hugged each other with excitement after they wrapped up their ACM Awards debut.

After another musical highlight of the night, a performance of Cody Johnson‘s touching “Dirt Cheap,” viewers heard some new music. Thomas Rhett excited the crowd with his new song “Beautiful As You” and Miranda Lambert set the stage ablaze with the television premiere of her new single, “Wranglers.”

Noah Kahan and Kelsea Ballerini perform at the 59th ACM Awards.

Georgia native Kane Brown sang a soulful rendition of Ray Charles’ classic “Georgia on My Mind,” which Charles performed on the ACM Awards stage 40 years ago. Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani only had eyes for each other as they sang their latest duet “Purple Irises.”

About mid-way through the show, the party subdued for a tribute to the late, great Toby Keith. His close friend and fellow Okie Shelton spoke about the icon before introducing Jason Aldean to perform one of Keith’s biggest hits. Aldean did an excellent job with a reverent version of “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” with accompaniment from a small string section. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as pictures of Keith took over the screens.

Geoff Sprung, Brad Tursi, Matthew Ramsey and Trevor Rosen of Old Dominion win the award for Group of the Year at the 59th ACM Awards.

Stapleton was presented with Male Artist of the Year. Wilson got emotional as she accepted Female Artist of the Year. She thanked McEntire and all of the other women in country music who paved the road before her.

Another highlight of the night came when Stapleton and surprise guest Dua Lipa shocked the audience with an unexpected performance of “Think I’m In Love With You.” The exceptional singers, complete with Morgane Stapleton‘s signature harmonies, sounded perfect together on the funky song.

Wilson earned her next trophy alongside Jelly Roll for Music Event of the Year with “Save Me.” Jelly shared how important the song was to him and his “high school friend” David Ray Stevens who he wrote it with.

Chris Stapleton and Dua Lipa perform at the 59th ACM Awards.

Soon came Post Malone‘s highly-anticipated ACM Awards performance. The Texas-bred artist proved his country cred with a performance of “Never Love You Again” before thrilling the crowd with the history-making “I Had Some Help.”

Before he left the stage, McEntire joined him for a few acoustic verses of the Allman Brothers Band‘s “Ramblin’ Man,” in tribute to the band’s recently-passed Dickey Betts. Malone gushed at McEntire and the country music community’s acceptance of him, often bowing his head in gratitude and respect.

Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay win the Duo of the Year award at the 59th ACM Awards.

In another sweet moment, the son and widow of the late Country Music Hall of Famer Charley Pride appeared to present the ACM Album of the Year award. Rozene and Dion gave the honor to Stapleton for Higher.

With his co-producers wife Morgane and Dave Cobb behind him, he shared, “We do our best to make an album that’s a complete body of work. I hope that’s what this means.” Morgane added, “I am so proud every day to get to work with the love of my life… I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”

Avril Lavigne and Nate Smith perform at the 59th ACM Awards.

After Parker McCollum performed his ACM Award-winning “Burn It Down,” the fire moved over to the big stage with a fun collaboration from New Male Artist of the Year winner Nate Smith and pop icon Avril Lavigne. The two traded verses and smirks on Smith’s “Bulletproof.”

The award of the night, Entertainer of the Year, went to Wilson. She was emotional when she accepted the trophy.

“I remember being a little girl and I would open my window, climb out on our roof and count the stars. I’d see the planes flying over my little town of 200 people. I would dream about being up there in one of those planes,” Wilson shared. “The funny thing is that I still feel like that little girl. I still climb out on the roof and look at the stars—but I feel more eye-level with them now.”

For the last performance of the night, McEntire set the stage on fire and brought the house down with her new single “I Can’t” backed by a 20-person choir. She revealed that she would be back to host the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards next year, which is sure to be a historic night.