Crowe Boys Plot 15-Date ‘Roaming Europe Tour’

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Crowe Boys. Photo: Nick Swift

The New Orleans-based Crowe Boys, comprised of brothers Ocie and Wes Crowe, have revealed their overseas “Roaming Europe Tour,” which will kick off this summer.

The 15-date run starts in London on Aug. 20 and will visit Germany, Norway, Denmark, Paris, Scotland and Ireland, wrapping on Sept. 20 in Dublin. Tickets for all dates are on sale here.

“We’ve been wanting to visit all of these countries for so long; we kind of can’t believe it’s finally happening,” says Ocie. “Wes and I are looking forward to connecting with new friends and sharing the songs and stories from Made To Wander.”

The tour will follow the duo’s CMA Fest performance, and the release of their upcoming EMI Records Nashville debut album, Made to Wander on June 6.

“Roaming Europe Tour” Dates:
Aug. 20 – The Lexington, London, United Kingdom
Aug. 22 – The Long Road Festival, Lutterworth, United Kingdom
Aug. 23 – The Long Road Festival, Lutterworth, United Kingdom
Aug. 24 – Sounds of Open Air Nashville, Cologne, Germany
Aug. 26 – Belleville, Oslo, Norway
Aug. 27 – Bar Brooklyn, Stockholm, Stockholm County
Aug. 29 – Tonder Festival, Tønder, Denmark
Aug. 30 – Tonder Festival, Tønder, Denmark
Aug. 31 – Once in a Blue Moon Festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Sept. 3 – Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Sept. 4 – La Maroquinerie, Paris, France
Sept. 5 – Electric Brixton, London, United Kingdom
Sept. 7 – Band on the Wall, Manchester, England
Sept. 8 – SWG3 Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
Sept. 10 – The Workman’s Club, Dublin, County Dublin

BREAKING: Capitol Music Group Reorganizes, Taps Candice Watkins As President

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Candice Watkins. Photo: Cedrick Jones

Capitol Music Group is bringing Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) and its country division Capitol Records Nashville, under the Capitol Music Group Nashville banner. The move seeks to fortify its commitment to Music City as a key creative and commercial hub for the label group.

Artists that were previously signed to Capitol Records Nashville will remain at the newly-formed Music Corporation of America (MCA) Nashville label.

To serve as President of Capitol Records Nashville, the company has tapped the highly respected industry veteran, Candice Watkins. She will also serve as Executive Vice President of Capitol Christian Music Group.

“This reorganization reflects our commitment to growing our Nashville operations as a core creative hub in Christian, gospel and country music,” says Capitol Music Group CEO, Tom March. “We’re looking forward to signing and developing the next generation of country artists on Capitol Records Nashville and are thrilled to have an executive of the caliber of Candice Watkins to lead our ambitious plans in country music while also bringing her expertise to our gospel and christian music operations.”

Watkins joins CMG from Big Loud Records, where she most recently served as Senior Vice President of Marketing, overseeing the label’s Marketing, Digital, Creative, PR and Streaming departments. During her tenure at Big Loud she worked closely with artists such as Morgan Wallen, Hardy, Hailey Whitters, Stephen Wilson Jr., Lauren Alaina, Ernest, Kashus Culpepper and others. Prior to joining Big Loud, Watkins worked in Marketing and Artist Development at Universal Music Group Nashville, and held positions at Red Light Management, Mozes Inc., Borman Entertainment and Cross Point Church. She serves on the boards of CMA and ACM.

Capitol Christian Music Group, which includes Motown Gospel and Tamla and distribution operations, will continue to be led by its longtime President Brad O’Donnell in Nashville. CCMG is the world’s leading faith-based music company and is home to such superstars as Anne Wilson, Josiah Queen, Chris Tomlin and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, to name a few. CCMG also publishes the song catalog of industry icon Kirk Franklin. O’Donnell will continue to report to March.

“This new structure will empower our Nashville executives to better serve the incredible artists on our roster. Candice is a brilliant music marketing executive who has an amazing track record in developing career artists,” says John Janick, Chairman of Interscope Capitol. “Having her lead our country music business in Nashville and also add her extensive artist development expertise to our CCMG team is going to be great for our artists and for the entire executive team.”

Watkins shares, “It’s a true honor to step into the role of President of Capitol Records Nashville and EVP of Capitol Christian. These labels have a rich legacy in partnering with some of the most brilliant artists of our industry and I look forward to contributing to its continued success and cultural impact. Excited to collaborate with John, Tom, Lillia and Brad in boldly championing creatives and visionaries.”

Capitol Music Group Nashville’s office is located in the emerging Wedgewood Houston area of Nashville, featuring 40,000 square feet of office space which includes state-of-the-art recording studios, a live performance space and creative content studios. As Capitol Nashville builds locally, it will have the full support of the Capitol Tower in Los Angeles for all label services.

BREAKING: Date Announced For 59th CMA Awards

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Brooks & Dunn accepts the award for Vocal Duo of the Year at The 58th Annual CMA Awards, live from Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, November 20, 2024 on ABC.

The Country Music Association and ABC have announced that the 59th annual CMA Awards will return to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19, airing live on ABC at 7 p.m. central. The show will also be available to stream next day on Hulu.

As previously announced, the eligibility period for the 2025 CMA Awards is July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. Prospective members must apply by Sunday, June 1 to qualify for full voting eligibility this year. The Nomination Ballot will open for voting Monday, July 7. Click here to see more ballot details.

Robert Deaton is Executive Producer, Alan Carter is the Director, and Jon Macks is the Head Writer for the 59th annual CMA Awards. Details on the show’s host and ticket on-sale will be shared in the coming weeks.

2025 ACM Winners Celebrate Wins With Trophies [See Photos]

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Whale Tale Music, Ella Langley & Riley Green celebrate their win for ACM Visual Media of the Year.

The 2025 ACM Awards crowned new and returning winners last Thursday (May 8), sparking celebratory pictures from the winners.

Denise & Alan Jackson with his Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award. Photo: Rand Smith

Riley Green with his ACM trophies for Visual Media of the Year, Single of the Year & Music Event of the Year.

Lainey Wilson with her trophies for Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year & Artist-Songwriter of the Year. Photo: Gilbert Flores / Penske Media

Old Dominion with the Group of the Year trophy.

On The Row: Tanner Adell Steps Into A Bold New Era

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Tanner Adell. Photo: Chase Foster

Tanner Adell recently stopped by the MusicRow office to share a few songs and give insight into her fast-rising career. The boundary-breaking artist impressed the team with her powerhouse vocals, confident stage presence and sharp, thoughtful perspective.

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s John Nix Arledge and Madison Hahnen, Tanner Adell, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson and LB Cantrell

Raised between California and Wyoming and now based in Nashville, Adell fuses country storytelling with the swagger of hip-hop and the shimmer of pop and R&B. A bi-racial artist adopted at birth, she’s been candid about how identity, loss and strength shape her work—particularly on her new single “Going Blonde.” Written solo on a Nashville barstool, the song reflects on the emotional impact of her adoption and serves as a tribute to the birth mother she never met.

The UMPG songwriter performed “Going Blonde” along with several unreleased tracks, including “Snake Skin,” a self-aware reflection on her relationship patterns, and “Boys Team,” her first outside cut that tackles gender inequities in the music business. She also played “Do Angels Drink Whiskey,” a fan-demanded song she first teased on TikTok, and ended with the fiery and fun “You Ain’t In Love.”

“This year I’ve hit a lot of different chords and emotions,” Adell shared. “I have a fan base who likes to party, but they’re also ready to cry with me. For this debut album, I want them to see a lot of new sides of me.”

From her headline “Buckle Bunny Tour” to a standout appearance on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, Adell continues to push boundaries while owning every part of her story, cementing her place as one of country music’s most compelling new voices.

Dillon Carmichael Is ‘Keepin’ Country Alive’ On Latest Album Due In June

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Dillon Carmichael is gearing up for the release of his third studio album, Keepin’ Country Alive, on June 13 via Riser House Records.

The 14-track collection pays homage to Carmichael’s small-town roots, the hardworking spirit of rural America and the enduring power of community, and builds on the success of previously released singles “Keepin’ Country Alive” and “No Matter How Hard I Try.”

A brand new single from the project, “Raised Up Wrong,” is out now on all streaming platforms. Co-written by Carmichael with Devin Dawson, Josh Phillips and Jared Conrad, the defiant and gritty anthem flips the script on Southern stereotypes and proudly reclaims the rural values that shaped the rising singer.

Keepin’ Country Alive Track List:
1. “Raised Up Wrong” (Dillon Carmichael, Jared Conrad, Devin Dawson, Josh Phillips)
2. “Good Ol’ Day”
3. “When She’s Drinkin’”
4. “She Gone” (Dillon Carmichael, Rhett Akins, Michael Whitworth)
5. “Home” (Dillon Carmichael, Trent Willmon, Phil O’Donnell)
6. “No Matter How Hard I Try” (Jonathan Singleton, Jim Beavers)
7. “Someone Like You” (Dan Wilson, Adele Adkins)
8. “Tiny Little Fiddle” (Dillon Carmichael, Brett Tyler, Brent Anderson)
9. “Keepin’ Country Alive” (Dillon Carmichael, Matt Roy, Paul Sykes)
10. “Hell Freezes Over” (Jonathan Singleton, Josh Dunne, Rob Snyder)
11. “I’d Call Grandpa”
12. “She Likes Me This Way” (Dillon Carmichael, Jimmy Melton, Neal Coty)
13. “Heartbreak Waitin’ To Happen” (Dillon Carmichael, Lindsay Rimes, Neil Medley, Matt Rogers)
14. “Goin’ Places” (Joey Hendricks, Andy Skib, Brett James)

Industry Ink: NSAI, The Opry, SiriusXM, Key West Brunch, More

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Lee Thomas Miller Participates In Congressional Roundtable Panel

NSAI President and songwriter Lee Thomas Miller performs

NSAI President and songwriter Lee Thomas Miller was a panelist on a Congressional roundtable on Friday (May 9) in Nashville that focused on music and artificial intelligence and oversight of the U.S. Copyright Office. The roundtable was held by the House Administration Committee Chaired by Bryan Steil (WI) who attended along with Ranking Member Joe Morelle (NY).

 

Savannah Bananas & Party Animals Make Grand Ole Opry Debut

The Savannah Bananas and Party Animals make their Opry debut performing with LoCash. Photo: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry

The world-famous Savannah Bananas and Party Animals surprised the crowd at the Grand Ole Opry Friday night (May 9). The Bananas were in Nashville for their sold-out game at Nissan Stadium on Saturday night, and several Savannah Bananas and Party Animals players barreled through the front doors of the Opry House and ran down the aisles greeting fans as they made their way to country music’s biggest stage to make their Opry debut performing with LoCash on their hit “I Love This Life.”

 

Mac McAnally & Kenny Chesney Reflect On Buddy Jimmy Buffett On Special SiriusXM Tribute

Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally

SiriusXM’s Radio Margaritaville and No Shoes Radio collaborated on a moving tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett with a special episode of Songlines & Stories: Reflections on Jimmy Buffett with Mac McAnally and Kenny Chesney. In the exclusive conversation, McAnally and Chesney shared offstage memories, onstage stories and the enduring impact of their friendship with the freewheeling Jimmy Buffett. From insights into songwriting and music to shows and off-the-cuff laughs, this celebration of legacy, love, and laid-back living offers a few surprises during this session of one of Radio Margaritaville’s best loved programs. Listeners can hear the special on-demand here: sxm.app.link/SonglinesStories.

 

The MLC/NSAI/Bluebird Cafe Host Key West Songwriters Brunch

Pictured (L-R): Jaime Scorby (The Bluebird Cafe), Jill Moody (NSAI), Jennifer Turnbow (NSAI), Lyndsie McClure (NSAI), Jamie Dominguez (The MLC), Ellen Truley (The MLC), Kayla Ott (The MLC) and Erika Wollam Nichols (The Bluebird Cafe)

Songwriters and industry professionals recently gathered in Key West for a special Songwriters Brunch co-hosted by the Nashville Songwriters Association International, the Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) and The Bluebird Café. The event featured intimate live performances and provided an opportunity for music creators and industry professionals to connect and collaborate.

 

Syntax Creative Hires Two New Staffers

Brooke Thielen and Amanda Williams

Syntax Creative has hired two new members to its growing team, including Amanda Williams as Director of Communications, and Brooke Thielen as Release Coordinator. Williams joined Syntax in May 2025 and brings a BA in Creative Writing from Gardner-Webb University, along with a decade of experience in communications and marketing strategy. Thielen came on board in April 2025 as Release Coordinator. A graduate of Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor of Music, she has served in A&R, Artist Services, booking and marketing.

“Amanda has that rare mix of being a clear thinker, a creative writer, and someone who actually cares. She’s going to help us sharpen our message without losing our soul,” shares Syntax CEO Timothy Trudeau. “Brooke is the kind of person you want on your team when things get chaotic. She jumps into the mess, finds what matters, and delivers. And she does it all with heart.”

 

RBR Entertainment Names New Executive Team

Chris Myers

RBR Entertainment has named a new executive team. At the helm is CEO and President Chris Myers, who is now also leading A&R for the label. Donna Roberts, known for her work in production and live entertainment, is helping shape the label’s operational and creative strategies while playing a central role in artist development. Joining her is MJ Brickey, who now serves as Industry Relations Executive. As the Nashville-based label deepens its roots in bluegrass and Americana, former president Billy Droze shifts focus to his solo career while continuing to influence the label’s creative vision.

“This new chapter is about deepening our commitment to the artists we serve,” says Myers. “We’re blending experience with fresh energy, and building something that honors tradition while making space for innovation.”

Taylor Phillips Re-Enters Top 15 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Taylor Phillips.

Taylor Phillips has re-entered the top 15 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. Nate Smith’s “Fix What You Didn’t Break,” Jelly Roll’s “Liar” and Chris Janson’s “Me & A Beer” push the songwriter to No. 12 this week. 

Riley Green remains in the No. 1 slot with solo-penned “Worst Way.” Ashley Gorley stays at No. 2 with “Favorite Country Song,” “Fix What You Didn’t Break,” “I Had Some Help,” “Liar,” “Love Somebody,” “Me & A Beer,” “Not At This Party,” “Park” and “She Hates Me.”

Charlie Handsome (No. 3), Morgan Wallen (No. 4) and Ernest (No. 5) round 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.

Lee Brice Plots ‘What You Know About That Tour’

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Lee Brice has revealed his upcoming “What You Know About That Tour,” set to kick off in Clearwater, Florida on Sept. 11.

Fellow artists joining the tour include Ashley Cooke, Jackson Dean, Corey Kent, Lewis Brice and Grace Tyler. The 15-date tour will visit Fort Lauderdale, Indianapolis, Virginia Beach and more, wrapping on Oct. 25 in Raleigh.

Tickets go on sale this Friday (May 16) here.

“What You Know About That Tour” Dates:
9.11.25- Clearwater, FL- The BayCare Sound
9.12.25- Fort Lauderdale, FL- War Memorial Auditorium
9.13.25- Saint Augustine, FL- The St. Augustine Amphitheater
9.18.25- Youngstown, OH- Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre
9.19.25- Rochester Hills, MI- Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
9.20.25- Rosemont, IL- Rosemont Theatre
9.25.25- Indianapolis, IN- Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
9.26.25- Waukee, IA- Vibrant Music Hall
9.27.25- Fargo, ND- Scheels Arena
10.16.25- Bridgeport, CT- Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
10.17.25- New York, NY- Hammerstein Ballroom
10.18.25- Portland, ME- Cross Insurance Arena
10.23.25- Fairfax, VA- EagleBank Arena
10.24.25- Virginia Beach, VA- The Dome
10.25.25- Raleigh, NC- Red Hat Amphitheater

Ashley McBryde Recognized With Doctorate of Music From Alma Mater

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Doctor Ashley McBryde. Photo: Rebecca Worthington

Ashley McBryde received an honorary Doctorate of Music on Saturday (May 10) from her alma mater, Arkansas State University, during the university’s Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony.

Chancellor Todd Shields recognized during the ceremony that McBryde’s “determination and contributions to American Music is a testament to the opportunities that higher education can open and inspire for generations of Arkansas State University alums.”

YouTube video

“Earning a degree in music has always been something I’ve placed a lot of value in,” said McBryde. “It was something I felt I needed to accomplish. In my time here at A-State, I found my passion not only for performing, but for creating other musicians. The music education program is priceless. I’m so thankful for educators that pushed me to strive for excellence: Greg and Hope Bruner, Robin Dauer, Ed Alexander, Doctor Ken Carroll, Doctor Tom O’Connor and so many more. While my path to music education wound up looking a little different than a traditional one, I never lost my passion for music education, and I work alongside music educators every chance I get. Thank you for shaping me into the advocate I became, the musician I am today and the entrepreneur I didn’t know I was going to have to be.”

McBryde will perform tomorrow (May 13) at Opry 100 Honors: Loretta Lynn, and is also set to perform at CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium, at Country Thunder Wisconsin and Alberta, at WE Fest, and more this summer, along with her headlining dates.