Pictured (L-R): RED Creative Group Director of A&R Kaileen Mangan Smith, RED Creative Group Owner/Founder Jeremy Stover, Jon Wayne Hatfield, Big Machine Music President Mike Molinar, Big Machine Music Sr. Vice President Alex Heddle.

Jon Wayne Hatfield has signed an exclusive co-publishing deal with Big Machine Music and Red Creative Group via their joint venture.

“Jon Wayne is a powerhouse in the making,” says Mike Molinar, President of Big Machine Music. “The might of his vocal is topped only by the authenticity of his story and yearning to connect to people via his music.”

“I’m inspired by Jon Wayne’s story and artistry,” adds Jeremy Stover, Owner/Founder of RED Creative Group. “He writes from a place of authenticity that’s rare and refreshing, and we couldn’t be more excited to support his creative journey.”

A Goshen, Ohio native, Hatfield was recently a finalist in this year’s Tennessee Songwriter Competition held at the iconic Bluebird Café. He joins Big Machine’s publishing roster of Jessie Jo Dillon, Laura Veltz, Geoff Warburton and more.

“I’m incredibly excited that I get to work with two of the best teams in town, Big Machine Music and Red Creative,” he says. “I’m honored that they took a chance on a small-town boy from Ohio like me.”

Nina Carter, MaryAnn Keen and Claire Dodelin

BMI has made a series of promotions within the company’s Creative team, including three in Nashville. Nashville’s Nina Carter was elevated to Executive Director, Partnerships & Events, MaryAnn Keen (Country – Nashville) was upped to Senior Director, Creative and Claire Dodelin (Nashville) was promoted to Associate Director, Creative.

Outside of Nashville, Marché Butler (R&B/Hip-Hop – Atlanta), Katie Kilgallen (Pop/Rock – NYC), Chris McCormick (Classical – NYC) and David Streit (Pop/Rock – LA) were also promoted to Senior Director, Creative, and Alex Bostelman (Pop/Rock – LA) was promoted to Director, Creative.

“We are thrilled to recognize these team members for their hard work and outstanding contributions, which collectively support our creative community across all genres of music,” says BMI’s EVP, Chief Revenue & Creative Officer Mike Steinberg. “These well-deserved promotions reflect the talent and dedication that drive BMI’s ongoing success, and we’re confident this group will continue to provide the best opportunities, resources, and support to the music creators that BMI is so fortunate to represent.”

As Executive Director, Partnerships & Events, Carter spearheads initiatives to create valuable performance opportunities for BMI affiliates through strategic partnerships and branded stages at SXSW, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Lollapalooza and CMA Fest. She and her team develop and produce signature BMI events such as Rooftop on the Row, BMI Acoustic Lounge, Key West Songwriters Festival and more, helping to develop non-traditional revenue streams for BMI affiliates through unique experiential opportunities that differentiate BMI from industry competitors.

In their elevated roles, Butler, Keen, Kilgallen, Streit and Bostelman, will continue to support and foster the growth of BMI’s music creators’ careers by educating emerging songwriters on BMI’s services and initiatives, providing new performance and co-writing opportunities and helping them to navigate the industry. They will remain integral in coordinating multiple BMI events and special projects including the company’s annual award shows, BMI stages at Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits Music Festival, SXSW, BMI Acoustic Lounge and more. Identifying and signing new talent and maintaining relationships with existing BMI affiliates worldwide will remain an essential element of their roles.

As Associate Director, Nashville, Dodelin will support Nashville’s growing number of indie/rock music creators, curate showcases, coordinate writing sessions and mixers, and create new opportunities to champion Music City’s thriving songwriting community.

Ty Myers & Waylon Wyatt

VEVO has unveiled their DSCVR Artists to Watch 2026 list for its 12th year of the program. Yesterday (Nov. 12), VEVO began its artist showcase, which will feature live-performance content from each member. In addition to the new class of members, Gigi Perez has been named “DSCVR Artist of the Year.”

The DSCVR Artists to Watch 2026 are Ty Myers (RECORDS Nashville/Columbia Records), Waylon Wyatt (Darkroom), Aaron Rowe (Columbia Records), aron! (Verve Records), Alessi Rose (Capitol Records), Audrey Hobert (RCA Records), Bay Swag (UnitedMasters), kwn (RCA Records), LaBlackie (Universal Music Spain), LeoStayTrill (0207 Def Jam), Luz Gaggi (Sony Argentina), RnBoi (Because Music), ROA (UMLE), Royel Otis (Capitol Records), SAILORR (Bu Vision/10K Projects), Sayf (Atlantic Records Italy / Warner Music Italy), Sekou (EMI/Republic Records/NWS Music Group), Sienna Spiro (Capitol Records) and Zeddy Will (Power Moves, Inc./Vydia).

“Vevo’s DSCVR program and annual Artists to Watch list is a critical part of our ongoing commitment and support to tomorrow’s icons. Vevo offers emerging artists the critical opportunity to build, monetize, and promote their visual catalog, no matter their genre. From Ireland to Puerto Rico, the 2026 DSCVR Artists to Watch come from various corners of the world, representing many scenes and cultures,” shares JP Evangelista, SVP, Content, Programming & Marketing, Vevo. “Using a combination of art and science, data and gut, we can proudly advocate for this group of artists and their future success. Our biggest congratulations to the Class of 2026!

“Gigi Perez is the definition of what it means to be an artist on the rise,” he continues. “With a sound that is bold yet vulnerable, storytelling that’s deeply authentic, and a stage presence that is simply unmatched, she perfectly embodies the next generation of artists that Vevo always loves to champion. She’s a true artist in every sense of the word, and represents the very best of this new generation of global talent: fearless, driven, and completely themselves. The entire team is already so proud of the strides she’s taken in this industry, and we are so thrilled to support her at such a pivotal moment in what promises to be a long and storied career.”

Singer-songwriter, producer, author, playwright, radio host, actor and activist Steve Earle will be featured as the next Poets and Prophets honoree, a series hosted by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Earle’s interview will take place on Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m. in the Ford Theater.

At 19 years-old, Earle hitchhiked from San Antonio to Nashville to begin his musical journey. Upon arrival, he met his new mentor, Guy Clark. Earle then spent 10 years as a staff writer for various publishing companies, before signing with MCA Records. His debut album Guitar Town included two top 10 singles. Additional album releases followed, including Exit 0, Copperhead Road and The Hard Way.

In 1996, he co-launched record label E-Squared, where he went on to release six albums in eight years. Throughout his career, Earle recorded 22 studio albums, wrote a short fiction book, a novel and a play, and produced 11 albums for other artists, including Lucinda Williams’s Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. As a songwriter, Earle has penned songs recorded by Joan Baez, the Highwaymen, Miranda Lambert, Kathy Mattea, Bob Seger, Emmylou Harris, Patty Loveless and Ricky Skaggs, among others. He has also appeared on The Wire and Treme in recurring roles, as well as several movie appearances.

Earle has also collected three GRAMMY awards for Best Contemporary Folk Album, is a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, and a Grand Ole Opry member. He currently hosts the Hardcode Troubadour radio show.

The interview will be moderated by Museum Writer-Editor Allison Moorer and will be accompanied by photos, film and recordings. After the program, Earle will sign commemorative Hatch Show Print posters. The program is included with museum admission and free to museum members. Seating is limited, and a program ticket is required for admittance.