Craig & Mindy Campbell To Open Grindstone Cowboy In Shelbyville

/by

Craig Campbell and his wife Mindy are opening a second location of their Grindstone Cowboy coffee shop, restaurant and music venue in Shelbyville, Tennessee with a grand opening celebration on Nov. 8.

They are partnering with Beth and Mike Davis on the new location, and the day-long celebration begins at 7 a.m. and will include live music and other events culminating in a concert headlined by Campbell at 7 p.m. The Shelbyville Grindstone Cowboy is located in the historic downtown square at 100 Spring Street, and the fully renovated 12,000 square-foot building will eventually include two main floors, a speakeasy and a rooftop area overlooking downtown Shelbyville and the Duck River.

“Anyone who knows us knows we’ve been working on this Shelbyville location for over two years,” share the Campbells. “We can’t believe the time to open the first floor is finally here. We have so many people to thank, starting with Beth and Mike for partnering with us, Shelbyville city leaders, the City Council, Thom Meek, everyone at Dowdle Construction, Mike Daniels, and everyone who has helped make this dream a reality.”

The Campbells are closing Grindstone Cowboy Eagleville at 3 p.m. on Nov. 8 and encouraging customers to make the short drive to Shelbyville for the grand opening festivities. All events, including the live music, are free and open to the public.

Play It Again Music Adds Two

/by

Amy O’Connor and Molly Reinold.

Play It Again Music has expanded its team, adding Amy O’Connor as Director of Digital and Streaming and Molly Reinold as Creative Director.

O’Connor will lead all digital strategy and streaming initiatives across the company’s publishing, artist management and label divisions.

Reinold will oversee creative strategy and development for Play It Again Music’s songwriter and catalog roster, spanning publishing, artist management and label divisions.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Molly and Amy to the PIA family,” says Dallas Davidson, songwriter and founder of PIA. “Their drive, creativity, and expertise will be key as we continue to build on the momentum we’ve seen with our artists. This is a really exciting moment for PIA, and their additions will help keep us pushing forward with full force.”

Nickname Jos Signs With Concord Music Publishing

/by

Pictured (L-R, top row): George Seay (Supper Club Management), nickname jos and Brad Kennard (Concord). (L-R, bottom row): Jen Hubbard (Concord) and Lily Bunta (Concord). Photo: Audrey Spillman

Artist, songwriter, and producer Josef Kuhn, known professionally as Nickname Jos, has inked a global co-publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing. The deal includes his full catalog and future works.

“I am so pumped to join the Concord team,” says Nickname Jos. “Being a part of the formative and creative process is where I thrive most — I’m thankful for the opportunity to continue creating.”

Through his work as a performer, songwriter and producer, he has collaborated with many Nashville indie artists such as Annie DiRusso, Hannah Cole, Samia, The Greeting Committee, Tommy Lefroy, Archie Summers, Mali Velasquez and Kristiane.

In August, he released his debut album Buckshot, which he self-produced. The project combines shoegaze and lo-fi pop mixed with 80’s power pop. His additional singles throughout the year including “Shoulders” and “Armor” have landed him on Spotify’s “Pop Right Now,” “POLLEN,” and “Fresh Finds Indie” playlists.

“We are so excited to be working with Jos, he has impressed us with his extraordinary talent as an artist, producer, writer, and multi-instrumentalist,” shares Concord Music Publishing’s Jen Hubbard (Director, Sync A&R). “He brings a rare authenticity and a distinctive creative fingerprint to every song he touches. This is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to see what we create together. We are truly honored that Jos has chosen Concord as his creative publishing team and champions.”

Nickname Jos is currently on the road with Sombr as part of his band on the “Late Nights & Young Romance Tour.” He will also appear on Saturday Night Live next month for Sombr’s debut as musical guest.

Amazon Music Names Carter Faith As Next Breakthrough Artist [Exclusive]

/by

Rising Nashville star Carter Faith is Amazon Music’s latest Breakthrough artist. Revealed at Amazon Music’s Country Music Month celebration at The Grand Ole Opry, Faith will receive substantial support from Amazon Music, including bespoke video and audio content, global marketing campaigns, increased visibility across Amazon Music’s playlists and programming, and unique opportunities to reach new audiences across Amazon’s diverse businesses.

“For me, there is no one more deserving, and no one more on the precipice of stardom than Carter Faith right now,” shares Emily Cohen Belote, Global Lead/Country Music Programming. “Her lyrical emotional depth, combined with a distinctive vocal style makes Carter’s music memorable and impactful—signaling an evolution towards more emotional honesty and experimentation in modern country music. Her music not only reflects the current state of the genre but also points towards a future where country music continues to evolve and adapt, embracing new influences and pushing creative boundaries.”

Faith says, “It’s always such an honor to be celebrated for my achievements and this nod from Amazon Music feels extra special. I’m just happy to be doing what I love and it blows my mind that my music has connected with people worldwide. This opportunity with Amazon felt like a fun way to give something back to the fans.”

As part of the campaign, Faith also released an Amazon Music Original cover of Addison Rae’s song, “Fame Is A Gun,” today (Oct. 21) via MCA. Adding her soulful country style to the moody and introspective track, her warm vocals bring a new depth to the song, transforming its dark pop edge into a haunting country ballad.

“I wanted to reinterpret this song because I have so many different musical influences, I honestly have just been a huge fan of Addison Rae’s album and thought it would be random and exciting to put my own country twist on her super pop song,” Faith says.

Breakthrough is Amazon Music’s program to support emerging artists, aimed at amplifying the best new talent and championing them at the most crucial moment in their careers. Amazon Music works with each Breakthrough artist and their teams to develop long-term, customized, global plans that are unique to each artist, with no two Breakthrough campaigns looking the same.

Recent Amazon Music Breakthrough artists include fellow country artists Dasha, Gabby Barrett, Nate Smith, Bailey Zimmerman, and BRELAND. Breakthrough includes increased visibility across their stations and playlists, such as Amazon Country Music’s global playlist “Country Heat,” but it also extends to livestream performances (including festivals), bespoke marketing activations and events, social promotion, merch offerings, Amazon Original songs, editorial content, and more. Breakthrough is a long-term program that allows Amazon Music to get behind an artist for the most crucial portion of their career.

Marathon Live Launches Facilities Management Division

/by

Marathon Live has launched a new facilities management division. Tulips FTW, a 550-capacity live music venue in Fort Worth, Texas, is the first client.

The newly launched division includes general operations, talent buying, food & beverage management, sponsorship, marketing, social media, customer relationship management, ticketing, production operations and design, facility design and development and more.

“We are highly focused on leading the industry in creative efficiencies and lowering overheads without sacrificing a high-quality customer and artist experience,” says Marathon Live CEO Mark Dinerstein. “Our expectations are to integrate our successful practices and team members to share our reputation as a top operator in the small to midsize venue segment.”

“Marathon Live changes our dynamic, and we could not be more thrilled to start Tulips’ next chapter with them,” shares Tulips FTW owner Jason Suder. “For years, we have fought alongside our remarkable local music scene to make Fort Worth a premier destination for touring talent, producing unrivaled concerts like Shakey Graves, Sierra Ferrell, Big Freedia, Saosin and thousands more backed by the strength of Fort Worth’s own musicians. Being part of the Marathon Live network only validates our efforts, and this collaboration opens up a world of prowess and access to artists we could not have achieved on our own.”

Industry Ink: Scotty McCreery, Koe Wetzel & Ella Langley, Hudson Westbrook, The C.L.I.M.B.

/by

Scotty McCreery’s ‘Bottle Rockets’ Certified Gold

Pictured (L-R): Dan Rogers (Grand Ole Opry), George Couri (Triple Tigers Records), Annie Ortmeier (Triple Tigers Records), Scotty McCreery, Raffaella Braun (Triple Tigers Records) and Scott Stem (Triple 8 Management). Photo: Chris Hollo for the Grand Ole Opry

Scotty McCreery was presented an RIAA-certified Gold plaque for his No. 1 single “Bottle Rockets (featuring Hootie & The Blowfish)” after performing on the Grand Ole Opry on Friday (Oct. 17). The song was penned by McCreery, Brent Anderson, Derek George, Jeremy Bussey, Monty Criswell, Frank Rogers, Bobby Hamrick, Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber and Jim Sonefeld, and produced by Rogers.

“It was such a thrill to record a song with Hootie & The Blowfish and to see how it connected with the fans in concert, on the radio, and via streaming,” says McCreery. “Thank you to everyone who supported the song. It’s because of you that this song has gone Gold.”

 

Koe Wetzel & Ella Langley’s ‘That’s Why We Fight’ Certified Gold By RIAA

Ella Langley & Koe Wetzel. Photo: Caylee Robillard

Koe Wetzel and Ella Langley’s duet “That’s Why We Fight” has been certified Gold by the RIAA. Wetzel joined Langley at Billy Bob’s Texas on Saturday (Oct. 18) to surprise a sold-out crowd with a performance of the track.

 

Hudson Westbrook Performs On ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’

YouTube video

Hudson Westbrook recently performed his single “House Again” on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’s #LateShowMeMusic.

 

‘The C.L.I.M.B.’ Podcast Celebrates 500 Episodes

The C.L.I.M.B. (Creating Leverage In the Music Business) Show Music Business & Songwriting Podcast recently released its 500th episode.

The podcast is co-hosted by hit songwriter Brent Baxter and Johnny Dwinell.

“Five hundred episodes represents years of showing up, serving creators, and helping them take steps forward in their careers,” says Baxter. “That kind of consistency is what we encourage our listeners to model.”

Dwinell adds, “We’ve seen the industry transform dramatically since our first episode, but one thing hasn’t changed – artists and writers need leverage. Reaching this milestone underscores our commitment to helping them build it.”

Pam Tillis To Host ‘Raise The Woof’ Benefit Show

/by

Pam Tillis

Pam Tillis will host “Raise The Woof,” a benefit show for Animal Rescue Corps (ARC), on Nov. 2 at The Stage in Nashville. Founded in 2010, ARC is a national non-profit that rescues animals in crisis. They also offer education and shelter relief.

Tillis will be joined on stage by Natalie Murphy, Annie Bosko, Allie Colleen, Sam Hunter, Chris Kroeze, Bobby Messano and Henry Particelli, with more special guests to be announced soon.

Tickets for the benefit show can be purchased here.

Kenny Chesney To Return To Sphere In Vegas In Summer 2026

/by

Kenny Chesney live at the Sphere. Photo: Allister Ann

Kenny Chesney has announced he’s returning to the Sphere in Las Vegas in June 2026 for five dates following his recent string of shows there earlier this year.

The hitmaker will return to the groundbreaking venue June 19, 20, 24, 26 and 27 in 2026 with a batch of fresh ideas for the innovative live experience. He soft-announced news of the new shows from the stage during his final weekend at the 17,600-seat venue known for Sphere Immersive Sound, which includes 167,000 individual speakers that can be specifically dialed in to each section, and immersive visual capabilities that deliver over 264 billion pixels across a 160,000 square foot screen.

“You can’t truly understand until you start playing music with all the people there, feeling that energy and the way the visuals and the songs just consume people,” says Chesney of the decision to return. “The more I watched the fans having this experience I’m sure they couldn’t imagine, the more ideas I had – both to reconfigure some of last year’s songs, and a few songs that seemed like they should get this immersive treatment – and wanted to do. I think there are so many ways for people to play this venue, but I feel pretty sure nobody has had more fun there, brought more joy – or that freewheeling Sandbar experience – than No Shoes Nation.”

Tickets for the new Sphere dates go on sale Oct. 31 at Ticketmaster.com.

Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton Among Inaugural Boots On The Bayou Festival Lineup

/by

The inaugural Boots on the Bayou Festival is set for Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, Louisiana.

The two-day festival filled with live music, local food, and Southern hospitality will feature a lineup that includes Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Carly Pearce, Marcus King Band, Elle King, Tyler Braden, Ashley Cooke, Chase Tyler, The Kruse Brothers, Maddox Batson and more.

Festival-goers can choose from a range of ticket options including General Admission, GA+, VIP and VIP Platinum Experience packages at botbmusic.com. On-site camping and RV parking are also available, along with tailgate parties, food trucks, local art vendors and community activations designed to celebrate Louisiana’s vibrant culture.

“Boots on the Bayou isn’t just another festival—it’s a celebration of music, community, and the Louisiana way of life,” organizers shared. “We’re bringing Nashville energy to the bayou and giving fans a world-class experience close to home.”

Jordan Fletcher Gives ‘The Rest Of The Story’ On New EP

/by

Jordan Fletcher has released his new EP, The Rest of the Story, out now via Triple Tigers Records.

Produced by Dave Cobb, the EP takes listeners on a journey through the most defining moments of Fletcher’s life, and includes fan-favorite tracks like “Coke Flavored Icee,” “Lie With You,” “Silver Lining,’ and “Sunshine.” Fletcher co-penned all six tracks, including one solo-write with “Sunshine.” His writing partners on the project included Chris LaCorte, Maggie Rose, Austin Nivarel and more.

“I’ve never kept a journal but if I did, it’d probably look and sound a lot like this project,” says Fletcher. “It’s been a long time coming and I put as much of myself and my life story as I possibly could into this thing. I’m so thankful to everyone who helped me write these songs and I can’t thank Dave Cobb enough for bringing them to life. I hope y’all love it because I lived it.”

Fletcher recently wrapped a tour with rock band Rome and will open for the Eli Young Band in November.

The Rest of the Story Track Listing:
1. “Coke Flavored Icee” (Chris LaCorte, Jordan Fletcher, Randy Montana)
2. “Me And The World” (Jordan Fletcher, Maggie Rose)
3. “Silver Lining” (Austin Nivarel, Jordan Fletcher)
4. “Sunshine” (Jordan Fletcher)
5. “Lie With You” (Bobby Pinson, Ian Christian, Jordan Fletcher)
6. “Last Song I Ever Write” (Ben Chapman, Jordan Fletcher, Meg McRee)