Centricity Music Elevates Four

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Christian record label Centricity Music has elevated four team members to VP roles.

Matt Ewald is now the VP of A&R, Kris Love takes on VP of Promotions, Joshua Wurzelbacher will move into VP of Creative and Michael Pons rounds out the promotions as the VP of Finance. This comes on the heels of five promotions earlier this year.

“Centricity has grown over the years in terms of artists, writers and employees” says Caren Seidle, CEO. “This growth has led to increased responsibilities and work load of our staff. These promotions recognize the leadership these employees provide to their departments consistent with the high level of service for which Centricity is known.”

Ewald joined the Centricity team in 2016 and was previously the Senior Director of A&R. Love came to Centricity in 2013 and was previously the Senior Director of National Promotions. Wurzelbacher began his time with the label in 2017 and was previously the Creative Director. Pons joined Centricity in 2020 and was formerly the Senior Director of Finance.

Tanner Adell To Launch ‘The Giddy Up, Gorgeous Tour’ This Summer

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Tanner Adell. Photo: Alexa King Stone

Tanner Adell will launch “The Giddy Up, Gorgeous” this summer. The tour kicks off July 31 in Wisconsin and makes stops in Ohio, Texas and Georgia before wrapping Aug. 21 at Nashville’s EXIT/IN. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (June 13).

“I can’t wait to see all the Bunnies on The Giddy Up, Gorgeous Tour this summer!” says Adell. “It’s not just about playing songs — it’s about sharing stories, energy and real moments with the people who’ve been riding with me since day one. Crown Royal has also been with me since the beginning, so they were the perfect fit to continue this journey with. Pack your boots, your glitter and your heartbreak — this tour’s about to be a full-blown emotional rodeo.”

Alongside the tour announcement, Adell will release her next track “Snakeskin” tomorrow (June 13), written by Adell, Akil “worldwidefresh” King, Michael Lotten, Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor, Josh Miller, Will Weatherly and Anthony Germaine White.

“The Giddy Up, Gorgeous” Tour Dates:
July 31 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin- The Rave II
Aug. 6 – Cincinnati, Ohio- Bogarts
Aug. 7 – Cleveland, Ohio- House of Blues
Aug. 15 – Dallas, Texas- House of Blues
Aug. 17 – Houston, Texas- House of Blues
Aug. 20 – Atlanta, Georgia- Terminal West
Aug. 21 – Nashville, Tennessee- EXIT/IN

Dylan Marlowe & Dylan Scott Celebrate ‘Boys Back Home’ Chart-Topper

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Pictured (L-R, back row): ASCAP’s Kele Currier, Liz Rose Music’s Kate Shirley, Sony Music Nashville’s Jason McColl, Warner Chappell’s Benji Amaefule, BMI’s Josh Tomlinson, Play It Again Music’s Dallas Davidson, SESAC’s Lydia Cahill, Sony Music Nashville’s Nathan Thomas, Studio Bank’s Ron Cox and Pinnacle’s David DeVaul; (L-R, front row): Seth Ennis (BMI), Dylan Scott (ASCAP), Dylan Marlowe (BMI) and Joe Fox (SESAC/Producer). Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

BMI brought the music community together on the rooftop of its Nashville headquarters on Tuesday (June 10) to celebrate the chart-topping success of “Boys Back Home,” recorded by Sony Music Nashville and Play It Again Music’s Dylan Marlowe and Curb Records’ Dylan Scott.

Penned by Marlowe, Seth Ennis and Joe Fox—who also produced the track—the Gold-certified hit marks Marlowe’s first No. 1 as an artist and second as a songwriter.

The event was hosted by BMI, ASCAP and SESAC, and emceed by BMI’s Josh Tomlinson. Industry leaders who took the mic to honor the team included ASCAP’s Kele Currier, Liz Rose Music’s Kate Shirley, Warner Chappell’s Benji Amaefule, Play It Again Music’s Dallas Davidson, SESAC’s Lydia Cahill, Country Aircheck’s Chuck Aly and Sony Music Nashville’s Jason McColl and Nathan Thomas.

Many remarked on the tight-knit friendship and tireless work ethic of Marlowe, Ennis and Fox—qualities that made the song’s rise to the top all the more meaningful. Dylan Scott was also praised for his willingness to uplift new voices and for his role in bringing “Boys Back Home” to life.

BMI’s Josh Tomlinson poses with Seth Ennis, Dylan Marlowe, Joe Fox, Dylan Scott and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen after gifting Ennis with a custom Taylor 210e DLX guitar to celebrate his first No. 1 as a BMI songwriter. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

As part of the celebration, Ennis received a custom Taylor 210e DLX guitar in honor of his milestone, while SESAC gifted Fox a personalized guitar. Studio Bank sponsored the event, with Ron Cox presenting a special donation in honor of the writers to the Georgia Natural Resources Foundation, supporting efforts to preserve the state’s natural, historic and cultural resources.

During his speech, Ennis reflected on his journey in Nashville: “This is 11 years for me in town. Celebrations like this make us feel special, slow down for a second, take a breath and take it in.”

Fox added a dose of humor, saying, “When you come to town, all you want to do is write with songwriters like Dallas Davidson. Then you start writing songs with your friends—and the next thing you know, your first hit is with your friends. These moments are full circle, but I still want a hit with Dallas Davidson.”

Scott expressed his admiration for Marlowe, both as an artist and a person. “Obviously I loved his music, but when I met him, I realized he was just a good ole country boy who loves hunting, fishing and singing. You got a long career ahead of you.”

Marlowe closed the event with heartfelt thanks to his wife and family, his team at Play It Again and Sony Music Nashville, and his co-writers and Scott. “This is something that has been on my heart for a while,” he shared. “I’ve always dreamed of being up here and getting to talk about one of these songs.”

RockForce Expands With New Nashville Office, Taps Jeremy Young To Lead

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Jeremy Young.

RockForce is expanding its operations with a new Nashville office. Executive Vice President of Business Development Jeremy Young will lead the new location. The company supports a wide range of live experiences, including concerts, festivals, major sporting events, award shows, live broadcasts and corporate activations through skilled union and non-union labor sourcing, event and production management, rigging expertise, payroll and integrated technology tools.

“As we continue to grow our national footprint, having a dedicated team in Nashville enhances our ability to serve clients with speed, flexibility, and deep market knowledge,” says Bob McClintock, CEO of RockForce. “Jeremy’s leadership, along with our expanded local presence, positions us to build even stronger partnerships across the live entertainment community.”

Young brings a diverse background spanning artist management, full-scale touring, production oversight, and commercial leadership. He began his career at SFX/Clear Channel Entertainment and later toured with artists including Maroon 5, Gavin DeGraw and All-American Rejects. He went on to manage DeGraw’s career through Vector Management/Live Nation, later leading national sales for CAPS/Cast & Crew before recently joining RockForce.

“RockForce is experiencing meaningful and sustainable growth, and I’m thrilled to be part of it,” adds Young. “I’ve seen firsthand how essential great crews and smart planning are to every successful show. The RockForce team shares that same commitment to excellence, and I’m excited to help drive our next chapter.”

Tyler Childers Fan-Favorite ‘Nose On The Grindstone’ Out Today From Upcoming LP ‘Snipe Hunter’

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Tyler Childers will release his new album, Snipe Hunter, July 25 via Hickman Holler Records/RCA Records.

The 13-track collection showcases the signature artistry Childers has cultivated throughout his career, while continuing to push his own creative boundaries. Longtime fans will rejoice at the inclusion of fan-favorite, “Nose on the Grindstone,” which is officially out now for the first time after years of being played on the road. The project was produced by Rick Rubin with additional production from Childers and Sylvan Esso’s Nick Sanborn.

YouTube video

Childers and his band The Food Stamps, James Barker (guitar, pedal steel), Craig Burletic (bass), CJ Cain (guitars), Kory Caudill (keyboards), Rodney Elkins (drums), Matt Rowland (keyboards) and Jesse Wells (guitar, fiddle) will tour through the fall on his extensive “Tyler Childers On The Road Tour,” which includes upcoming stops at New York’s Forest Hills Stadium (two nights), Nashville’s GEODIS Park (two nights) and London’s O2 Arena, among many others.

Snipe Hunter follows five acclaimed albums Childers has released to date including his 2017 Platinum debut, Purgatory, 2019’s No. 1 Country Squire and 2023’s Rustin’ In The Rain, which debuted at No. 10 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. The record features seven tracks including the two-time Grammy, VMA and ACM-nominated single, “In Your Love,” which, since its release, has garnered over 13.7 million video views and 215 million on-demand streams.

NMPA Honors Kacey Musgraves & Rhett Akins At Annual Meeting

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Kacey Musgraves.

The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) held its annual meeting on Wednesday (June 11) in New York City. The event honored Kacey Musgraves with this year’s Songwriter Icon Award and Rhett Akins with the Non-Performing Songwriter Icon Award.

In a tribute to Musgraves, Leon Bridges performed “Lonely Millionaire.” Musgraves performed a stirring rendition of “The Architect.”

Rhett Akins

“Thank you to David [Israelite] and the NMPA for continuing to hold the line and expand the pie for songwriters of this generation and the next. I am proud to be an ally to songwriters and the NMPA in this fight,” Musgraves said.

Akins’ son, Grammy-nominated artist Thomas Rhett, honored his father with a medley of songs including “That Ain’t My Truck” and “What’s Your Country Song.”

“David, I thank you and the NMPA for all that you do to help songwriters,” Akins said.

The event also featured the Billboard Songwriter Awards which crowned Gracie Abrams as Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year and Aaron Dessner the Triple Threat Award winner. After accepting their awards, the duo performed together on one of their many collaborations, “I Love You, I’m Sorry.”

Rhett Akins, David Israelite.

Global Head of Apple Music Oliver Schusser sat down for a keynote with NMPA President & CEO David Israelite and shed light on Apple Music’s posture within the industry saying, “The team on a day-to-day basis makes sure that songwriters are properly represented on the service. For us it’s all about the music and the creator.”

To end the evening, NMPA EVP and General Counsel Danielle Aguirre and Israelite gave the annual State Of The Industry Address.

Aguirre detailed the legal initiatives driving NMPA’s enforcement efforts, including sending six cease and desist letters this week to B2B vendors who NMPA says engaged in copyright infringement. According to the organization, these companies provide general licensing clients such as bars, casinos and restaurants with interactive music services without obtaining proper licenses and the growing problem demands action.

Israelite discussed the latest industry growth numbers including total revenue for 2024: $7,039,926,906, which is a 13.41% increase year over year. The thesis of the presentation was the need for songwriters and artists to stand together when negotiating where possible, critically with social media platforms who consistently underpay songwriters.

Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins.

Thomas Rhett.

Make Wake Artists Adds New Digital Strategy Department

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Jess Keifer and Kyle Jonas. Photos: Mackenzie Ryan

Make Wake Artists has launched an in-house digital strategy department spearheaded by Jess Keifer as Head of Digital Marketing & Social Strategy and Kyle Jonas as Artist Strategy & Management Coordinator.

Keifer brings over a decade of experience to Make Wake and prior to joining the company served as Senior Director of Fan Engagement & Digital Marketing at Sony Music Nashville, overseeing digital partnerships & campaigns. She also previously served as Digital & eCommerce Manager at Big Machine Label Group. At Make Wake, she now oversees digital strategy across the company’s growing roster, leading campaigns that amplify artist storytelling, drive growth and engage fans across platforms.

“I’m so grateful to [Chris] Kappy and Sophia [Sansone] for their belief in me over the years, and now for trusting me with the opportunity to lead and build this new department on the management side,” says Keifer. “What we’re creating at Make Wake Artists is truly something special. I’m beyond excited to take this next step and work alongside their incredible roster & team as we continue to build for the future.”

Jonas brings over three years of experience in strategy and creative direction to his new position at Make Wake. Known for his work in brand development and crafting compelling narratives that resonate with fans, Jonas will help lead artist strategy at Make Wake and serve as a management coordinator supporting the overall vision for the roster.

“We’ve been patient in building this department because we knew we needed the right people,” says Sansone, Managing Partner at Make Wake. “Jess and Kyle understand both our artists and our culture and they were total no-brainers to bring on. This is the team we’ve been waiting for, and we couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”

The new digital team will oversee marketing initiatives, campaign rollouts, short-form content creation, digital/creator partnerships, fan engagement and performance tracking across platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and more.

BREAKING: Grammy Awards Add Best Traditional Country Album, Reveals 2026 Key Dates & Changes

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Lainey Wilson poses with her Grammy. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

The 68th annual Grammy Awards will take place Feb. 1, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, streaming live on CBS and on demand on Paramount+. Nominations for the 2026 ceremony will be revealed on Nov. 7, 2025, with final round voting taking place Dec. 12- Jan. 5.

The Grammy Awards have also added Best Traditional Country Album to its 2026 awards ballot, the only new music category being added for the 68th annual awards (Best Album Cover, which is awarded to Art Directors, was also added). The existing Best Country Album category will now be named Best Contemporary Country Album.

Best Traditional Country Album will join Field 5, which currently has 13 categories. Four of those categories recognize country, while the others celebrate American roots, Americana, bluegrass, blues, folk and regional roots music. The goal for the newly added Best Traditional Country Album is to recognize artists such as Charley Crockett, Sierra Ferrell, Colter Wall and Noeline Hoffman, who fall outside the realm of mainstream country. Each of these artists have been previously nominated in Americana and American roots categories.

For a new category to be considered for the awards, proposals are sent to the Recording Academy’s Awards & Nominations committee, and then voted on by the Board of Trustees.

“Country music has evolved in a major way over the past decade, with traditional country experiencing a massive resurgence, growing in popularity and volume,” says Recording Academy CEO, Harvey Mason Jr. “Traditional country has a timeless, distinct sound that’s inspired generations of musicians throughout the years. It’s an important part of the country music story and deserves to be celebrated and recognized with intention. This action by our members now opens the door for us to celebrate more artists and a wider range of music. By adding this new category and renaming the Country Album Category, we’re creating more space for all the diverse artists who are shaping the future of country music.”

Part of the description for the new category was provided to Billboard below:

“This category recognizes excellence in albums of traditional country music, both vocal and instrumental. Traditional country includes country recordings that adhere to the more traditional sound structures of the country genre, including rhythm and singing style, lyrical content, as well as traditional country instrumentation such as acoustic guitar, steel guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, piano, electric guitar, and live drums. It also includes sub-genres such as Western, Western Swing, and Outlaw country.”

In addition to Best Traditional Country Album, the Recording Academy has also made several changes to its process, in effect for the 68th Annual Awards. The full Grammy Rule Book can be found here.

“The Academy’s top priority is to represent the music people that we serve each year,” says Mason Jr. “That entails listening carefully to our members to make sure our rules and guidelines reflect today’s music and allow us to accurately recognize as many deserving creators as possible. As we kick off another exciting Grammy Season, we look forward to celebrating the amazing power of music and its ability to bring so many people together.”

Grammy Award Field & Category Updates:

General Field
Eligibility for Best New Artist has been expanded to include artists who have been previously nominated in Album Of The Year, but whose contributions fell below the current 20 percent playing time threshold. This update allows acts who were credited as featured artists on projects that were Grammy nominated for Album Of The Year in a previous awards cycle to be eligible for Best New Artist consideration.

Country Field
The existing Best Country Album Category has been renamed Best Contemporary Country Album, and a new Category, Best Traditional Country Album, has been added.

Classical Field
In Classical Categories, composers and lyricists/librettists are now eligible for Grammy recognition alongside all other key creative personnel including artists, producers and engineers on winning albums.

Packaging Field
The existing Best Recording Package and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package Categories have been combined into one single Category: Best Recording Package. A new Category, Best Album Cover, has also been added.

The physical product eligibility requirement for Best Recording Package, Best Album Notes and Best Historical Album has also been expanded to be more representative of today’s marketplace. This change ensures that physical album packages sold directly to fans through an artist’s or label’s website are eligible for Grammy consideration.

Additionally, the Craft Committee serving in this field is transitioning from a regional to a national model.

Key dates for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards season:

Aug. 31, 2024 – Aug. 30, 2025
Product Eligibility Period

July 7, 2025 – Aug. 22, 2025
Media Company Registration Period

July 16, 2025 – Aug. 29, 2025
Online Entry Period

Oct. 3, 2025 – Oct. 15, 2025
First Round Voting

Nov. 7, 2025
Nominees Announced for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards

Dec. 12, 2025 – Jan. 5, 2026
Final Round Voting

Feb. 1, 2026
68th Annual Grammy Awards, broadcasting live on the CBS Television Network and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+.

Nashville Podcast Network Adds ‘The TouchUp With Tarryn Feldman & Mari Brown’

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The Nashville Podcast Network has added The TouchUp with Tarryn Feldman & Mari Brown to its lineup.

The beauty-meets-humor podcast, featuring celebrity makeup and hair artists Feldman and Brown, who are best known for their work with top names in country music, TV, and pop culture, launches today (June 11) with new episodes dropping every Wednesday everywhere podcasts are heard.

The launch episode features Caroline Bryan, wife of Luke Bryan, Brittney Kelley, owner of Tribe Kelley and wife of country artist Brian Kelley, and Danielle Bradbery.

“I’ve always wanted this network to spotlight voices that represent the creative and personal heartbeat of Nashville,” says Bobby Bones, founder of the Nashville Podcast Network. “Tarryn and Mari have great chemistry, industry experience, and a real way of connecting with people—not just in the beauty chair, but now through the mic. This show’s a perfect fit for what we’re building.”

“This podcast coming to life on Bobby’s network feels like the perfect next chapter,” says Feldman. “Mari and I have spent years getting people ready for the spotlight. Now, we’re flipping the script and sharing the behind-the-scenes—the glam, the giggles, the grind, the good stuff.”

The Nashville Podcast Network is also home to The BobbyCast, Feeling Things With Amy & Kat, In The Vet’s Office with Dr. Josie Horchak, Sore Losers, Get Real with Caroline Hobby and Movie Mike’s Movie Podcast with Mike Deestro.

BMI Foundation Presents the Dolly Parton Songwriters Award to Audrey Ketter

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BMI Foundation Trustee and BMI Vice President, Creative, Clay Bradley and 2025 Dolly Parton Songwriters Award Recipient Audrey Ketter. photo: Erika Goldring for BMI

The BMI Foundation presented Flagstaff-based singer-songwriter Audrey Ketter with this year’s Dolly Parton Songwriters Award at the CMA Fest Ryman & BMI Block Party in Nashville on June 5th.

Established in 2015, the Dolly Parton Songwriters Award is an annual, national competition open to aspiring songwriters with a monetary prize of $10,000 for the best original song entry in the genres of Americana, blues, bluegrass, contemporary Christian, country, folk and roots. Ketter’s winning song “Golden Road” was selected from over 400 submissions by a panel of music industry experts.

“I’m so honored to be receiving the 2025 Dolly Parton Songwriters Award for my song ‘Golden Road,’” said Ketter. “I wrote ‘Golden Road’ about relationships that last throughout time, which I was able to watch in my grandparents’ and my parents’ lives, and I really hope that it resonates with you too. I want to say a huge thank you to BMI, the BMI Foundation and of course, Dolly Parton, for this huge opportunity.”

Surprising Ketter with her salutations, Parton said, “Congratulations to Audrey on being celebrated for her songwriting. Her song ‘Golden Road’ is a beautiful song that will touch many people, like it has me. Songwriting has always been my first love, and I have been with BMI since I published my first song as a very young girl. They have always been so supportive of me as well as all the young writers that come to town. I want to thank BMI for their support of the songwriters’ award named in my honor. We all wish you the very best Audrey and we look forward to hearing your songs throughout the years.”

Ketter wrote her first song at age five, and at eighteen is now releasing her debut album Close to Home. After graduating from high school, Ketter plans to pursue a degree in Commercial Music at Grand Canyon University.