Spirit Music Nashville Welcomes Two Creative Coordinators

Spirit Music Nashville announced that Kennedy Murphy and Andy Hodges have joined the team as Creative Coordinators. In their new roles, they will focus on support for the creative staff and assisting Spirit’s roster of songwriters.

A Wilmington, Delaware native, Murphy made her way to Nashville after earning a Music Business degree from Drexel University. While studying, her love for songs and artist development was solidified during her time interning at Big Deal Music in New York City. After graduation, Murphy landed her first publishing job working as A&R/Creative Coordinator at Back Blocks Music. She can be reached at KennedyM@spiritmusicnashville.com.

Hodges grew up in Manhattan, Kansas. During his undergraduate years at Belmont University, he interned at Full Stop Management, Azoff Company and Live Nation. After graduating in 2019, Hodges began his career on the Revenue Operations team at Global Music Rights in Los Angeles, and moved back to Nashville in 2022. Hodges can be reached at [email protected].

Justin Moore Gets Wild In Nashville To Celebrate ‘Stray Dog’ Release

Multi-Platinum country artist Justin Moore took the stage on Friday (May 5) at Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville. Celebrating the release of Stray Dog, his seventh studio album, he performed new tracks as well as one of No.  1 hits.

Surprise guest Priscilla Block joined him to perform their climbing radio single, “You, Me, and Whiskey.” Moore’s label-mate Riley Green also accompanied him to perform “Everybody Get Along.” Both fan-favorite duets are featured on Moore’s new album.

Moore is currently headlining arenas across the U.S. He has scheduled performances at multiple festivals including iHeart Country Festival and Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam.

Musicians On Call Honors Caregivers With Exclusive Writers’ Round

Musicians On Call (MOC), a nonprofit that brings music to the bedsides of patients, families and caregivers in healthcare environments, showed appreciation to caregivers and hospital workers during Concert For Caregivers. The exclusive, intimate show celebrating National Hospital Week featured award-winning artists and hit songwriters Dierks Bentley, Charles Esten and Jon Nite. Held at the Analog at Hutton Hotel, the night honored the continuous sacrifices made for the health and safety of communities.

In a room filled with hospital staff from facilities throughout Middle Tennessee, Bentley, Esten and Nite entertained the crowd with performances and stories from some of their biggest hits and new releases, including “We Were Us,” “Living,” “I Hold On” and “A Little Right Now.”

“It’s part of our mission at Musicians On Call to bring joy and relief through live music to the hardworking hospital workers across the country during their long shifts. During National Hospital Week, it’s important we take a moment to express our deep gratitude for all that they do to care for their communities,” says Pete Griffin, Musicians On Call President & CEO. “We are happy to have the American Hospital Association and Southwest Airlines helping us show love to these dedicated caregivers. And a special thanks to Dierks Bentley, Charles Esten and Jon Nite for generously giving their time to make it a night to remember.”

During National Hospital Week, the American Hospital Association is distributing the recorded concert to their network of 5,000 member hospitals and health systems.

PLA Media Adds Dreamlined Entertainment Group To Roster

PLA Media will now represent award-winning producer Keith Stegall and Scott Miller of Miller Investment Group’s joint venture, Dreamlined Entertainment Group.

Miller and Stegall are celebrating their enduring seven-year collaboration, which has resulted in a catalog of songs placed among acts like Alan Jackson, Ashley McBryde, Kid Rock and more. The Nashville-based company offers production, publishing and record label services specializing in songwriter and artist development.

Their talent roster includes William Michael Morgan, Bradley Gaskin, The Haygoods and Makayla Lynn as well as Jen Stegall, Michael White and Stegall.

The Dreamlined team consists of President Stegall, Miller, Executive VP of Creative Ginny Johnson and General Manager Jason Campbell.

“I have both admired and cursed Keith over the years as we fought neck and neck in a friendly competition when I was managing Garth and he was producing Alan,” says Pamela L. Lewis, President of PLA Media. “What a talent and an amazing body of work. We are so excited to be working with him and his team.”

Larry Gatlin Celebrates 75th Birthday At The Opry

On the Thursday (May 4) edition of the Grand Ole Opry’s Opry Country Classics, Grammy-winning songwriter Larry Gatlin celebrated his 75th birthday.

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member and eldest of the Gatlin Brothers, turned 75 on Tuesday, May 2. It’s been more than 60 years since the brothers began singing together in  Abilene, Texas at ages six (Larry), four (Steve) and two (Rudy). The trio continues touring today, making them the longest-tenured, still active, family band in country music history.

Gathered with Gatlin’s friends and family, the Opry supplied a birthday cake to salute his milestone.

Gatlin, an Opry member since 1976, celebrated backstage with his brothers, who are also Opry members, as well as his wife and son Janis and Josh Gatlin, Marty Raybon of Shenandoah, Don Schlitz, The Malpass Brothers, the Opry’s Kelly Sutton and more.

Nate Smith’s self-titled debut album has achieved the largest album debut from a new artist this year as well as the largest full-length album debut from a new artist since 2020.

The collection, released on April 28, hit No. 6 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart and No. 30 overall on the Billboard Top 200.

Last week, Smith celebrated the release of the new album with a show at Skydeck on Broadway in Nashville. Prior to his performance, he did a meet-and-greet with Healthcare Heroes as part of Musicians on Call, gifting them with Love Your Melon “Hero Caps” as a thank you for their continued sacrifices. Smith has a special connection to the healthcare community, as he was a nurse assistant for over a decade prior to pursuing music.

Smith recently kicked off his run with Thomas Rhett on his “Home Team Tour 23,” and was nominated for New Male Artist of the Year at the 58th ACM Awards.

AMR Songs, a global independent publishing company founded by music industry veteran Tamara Conniff, has acquired Kimberly Perry‘s songwriting interests in “If I Die Young,” which won The Band Perry the CMA Single of the Year and Song of the Year trophies in 2011.

Nearly 13 years since its release, the chart-topping, multi-Platinum hit “If I Die Young” still averages up to one million streams per week across all platforms. Perry recently released a new version of the song, her first new solo single, “If I Die Young Pt. 2” on Records Nashville/Columbia, which uniquely interpolates the original. Her new version was the No. 1 most added song at country radio on its add-week.

Perry was the only writer of “If I Die Young,” but teamed up with writers Nicolle Galyon and Jimmy Robbins to co-write “If I Die Young Pt. 2” for her solo project. The lyrics tell another poignant story from the same girl, only with a different perspective and trajectory. Perry’s new solo album Bloom will be released June 9.

“Kimberly Perry is an inspiration and tremendous talent, and I’m a huge fan,” says Conniff. “It’s been amazing getting to know her and a complete honor for our team, particularly in this exciting phase of her career as a solo artist. We are obsessed with ‘If I Die Young’ and Part 2 is incredible! It’s going to excite a lot of fans and stimulate even more interest in all of her repertoire.”

“Working with Tamara and AMR Songs has been truly a creative partnership. When I told her I really wanted to re-record my version of ‘If I Die Young,’ she asked if I had ever thought about doing a Part 2 of the song, rewriting both verses to tell the story about the girl that didn’t die young,” says Perry. “’If I Die Young’ has always been my North Star and I feel fans will strongly connect to Part 2 and the new album, which evolved very organically and reflects my life and career growth. I’m so grateful to be working with AMR, as I start my solo career, and can’t wait for the fans to hear ‘If I Die Young Pt 2’!”

WME has added Otto Price to their Christian Music Department in the Nashville office.

With almost three decades of experience, Price brings expertise and a strong network of relationships to the agency as he joins a team that represents many established Christian and Gospel artists. He comes to WME from Square One Creative Group, where he served as a producer, arranger, composer and musician for Jimmie Allen, For King & Country, Kelly Clarkson and more.

Price actively toured with the well-known Christian group DC Talk, playing bass with them for nine years before moving into an A&R position at Warner Music Nashville, where he worked with artists including Amy Grant and Randy Travis, among others.

“Otto brings a wealth of industry knowledge and experience to WME,” shares WME Nashville Co-Heads Becky Gardenhire, Joey Lee and Jay Williams in a joint statement. “He has a deep understanding of the Christian market and will be influential in building upon the Christian Music team’s success.”

In his new role, Price will oversee the daily touring, television, literary and sponsorship opportunities as well as bookings in international territories for artists such as Israel Houghton, Maverick City, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Kierra Sheard-Kelly and more.

CMT Crossroads: The Black Crowes & Darius Rucker is slated to premiere on Tuesday, May 16 at 9 p.m. CT.

The episode has the longtime friends swapping stories and performing each other’s most-celebrated songs, including can’t-miss renditions of The Black Crowes’ “Hard To Handle,” “She Talks to Angels” and “Remedy,” Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel” and “Let Her Cry,” along with a rousing delivery of Drivin N Cryin’s quintessential Southern rock anthem “Straight To Hell.” 

The show was filmed outdoors in front of a live audience in the heart of downtown Austin as part of CMT Music Awards Week, and Chuck Leavell (The Allman Brothers and The Rolling Stones) performed alongside The Black Crowes and Rucker on keyboards during the special.

“It was really cool getting to do Crossroads with Darius,” says Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes. “We both come from similar music scenes in the south and we have a shared admiration for a lot of the same music. Darius has such a powerful voice and has written some great songs. I’m glad we finally got to share the stage with our friend!”

“I’ve been a fan of The Black Crowes for decades, and I’m grateful that we’ve also become good friends over the years,” says Rucker. “The first time I heard ‘She Talks to Angels,’ I remember being so moved by the lyrics that I went around Columbia, South Carolina asking every single bar to play it. I went home that night and put on Bonnie Raitt’s Home Plate, and decided I was going to try to write ‘She Talks to Angels’ for her. ‘Let Her Cry’ was what poured out of me. These guys have been so impactful on my career and sharing the stage with them was a blast.”

CMT Crossroads:The Black Crowes & Darius Rucker will also have an encore airing May 16 at 10 p.m. CT, and on Friday, May 19 at 11 p.m. CT. It will also go live on Wednesday, May 17 on CMT.com, CMT VOD and the MTV app (CMT Crossroads), with subsequent premieres on CMT Music and MTV Live.