Taylor Austin Dye Signs With Red Street Records

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Pictured (L-R, top row): Red Street Records’ Patrick Waters, Alex Valentine, Amanda Roach, Lex Music Group’s Austin McBride, Lex Lipsitz and Red Street Records’ Andy Elliot; (L-R, bottom row): Red Street Records’ Mike Craft, Taylor Austin Dye and Red Street Records’ Jay DeMarcus

Taylor Austin Dye has signed with Red Street Records.

A Booneville, Kentucky native, Dye has amassed a solid fanbase since her 2023 debut project Out of These Hills followed by her 2024 album Sick of Me. Her viral breakout hit “Rest In Peace” garnered millions of online views and hit the top of the iTunes country charts, leading to a year of major milestones including a Grand Ole Opry debut and a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music. Dye has played for audiences across the nation headlining her own shows and opened for acts including Luke Combs, Keith Urban, Jake Owen, Elle King and more.

“Taylor Austin Dye is a one-of-a-kind artist, and we feel so fortunate to have her as a part of the Red Street team,” says Red Street Records CEO Jay DeMarcus. “She’s worked so hard to build what’s proving to be a stellar career, and we’re honored to partner alongside her and watch her explode!”

“I’m positively thrilled to be part of the Red Street family,” says Dye. “From the moment I first met with their team, I knew they were the right people to help me achieve my dreams, while still staying true to my roots. I’m so excited for this partnership and can’t wait for what’s to come.”

BREAKING: MusicRow Taps Jennie Smythe As Speaker For 2025 Rising Women On The Row

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Jennie Smythe, Founder and CEO of the award-winning Girlilla Marketing, will be the featured speaker at MusicRow’s Rising Women on the Row breakfast, presented by City National Bank. The annual event is set for Thursday, March 20, at 8:30 a.m. at the Omni Nashville Hotel.

Attendees will gain insights from Smythe during an on-stage interview with MusicRow Publisher and Owner Sherod Robertson. Smythe is set to release her memoir Becoming Girlilla in April.

The 12th annual celebration will honor the 2025 class of Rising Women on the Row honorees, which include Lydia Schultz Cahill, Rakiyah Marshall, Michelle Tigard Kammerer, Katie Kerkhover, Jessi Vaughn Stevenson and Julie Sturdivant. Read about the honorees here.

Tickets for Rising Women on the Row are now closed. They will not be sold at the door.

Smythe’s Girlilla Marketing heads digital strategy for a diverse roster of world-famous entertainers and brands, including Dead & Company, Willie Nelson, Darius Rucker, Blondie, Brooke Shields, Iliza Shlesinger, Terry Crews, Kristin Chenoweth, Vince Gill and many others. Smythe is a forward-thinking entrepreneur who leads her self-built company with equal parts passion and drive.

Girlilla Marketing celebrated 15 years of success in 2023. The talented team oversees social media endeavors, partner marketing and content creation for clients. They bring expert knowledge to developing online audiences, digital monetization, virtual events, fan clubs, paid media campaigns, analytics tracking and creative services such as graphic design and video editing.

In her more than two decades of experience, it is no accident Smythe has emerged on top of an ever-evolving field. Motivated by a lifelong love of music, her creative approach has earned numerous awards and recognition. She has been featured in Forbes, the Associated Press, Billboard, MusicRow, Fast Company, People, HITS and The Tennessean. She is a multi-year winner of the Nashville Business Journal’s Women in Music City Awards, a MusicRow magazine Rising Women on the Row honoree and was recognized on the Nashville Post In Charge 2023 Music list.

Smythe is Chairperson of the CMA Board of Directors, as well as on the boards of the CMA Foundation (past chairperson) and Music Health Alliance and recently named a 2025 Advocacy Ambassador by the Susan G. Komen Center for Public Policy. She is a past board member of the Academy of Country Music, and a graduate of the prestigious Leadership Music executive development program. Her early career includes time at Disney’s Hollywood Records, YAHOO! Music, Warner Bros. Records and Clear Channel.

Smythe is married to fellow entrepreneur Shannon Houchins and resides in Nashville with their two children.

Abbey Cone To Go ‘Greener’ This April

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Abbey Cone will release her debut album, Greener on April 11.

“Greener is an album I pieced together when my life felt like it was falling apart,” says Cone. “These songs are some of the most personal I’ve ever written. Although the past year has been one of the hardest of my life, light found its way through the cracks, and I’ve somehow found myself on the other side. This is Greener— a true story.”

Her first full-length project since 2022 EP Hate Me, Greener traces Cone’s journey through the highs and lows of love, capturing the complex emotions that arise along the way. The album opens with “If You Were A Song,” which has garnered over 17 million streams on Spotify. From there, it unfolds like a narrative, beginning at the peak of love, unraveling through the heartache of a breakup and ultimately finding peace in the quiet clarity of closure.

She also dropped the latest single from the project last Friday (Feb. 14), “I Kissed My Friend Last Night,” produced by Matt Martin and co-penned by Cone, Martin and Cece Coakley. The track captures the emotional complexity that follows a breakup, with Cone navigating a mix of conflicting feelings. Set against a backdrop of synths and shimmering guitars, she harmonizes with two versions of herself, one ready to move on and the other still mourning what’s been lost.

Since moving to Nashville at 16, Cone has performed at major events like C2C Festival in London at The O2, Stagecoach, CMA Fest and even made her Grand Ole Opry debut after receiving an invitation from Vince Gill. She was inducted into CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2020 and named one of Pandora’s 10 Country Artists to Watch in 2022. Cone has been building a reputation for her emotionally powerful songwriting that resonates with both the next generation of listeners and beyond.

Cone started 2025 with a guest feature on Mat Kearney’s latest single, “Good Thing Going On,” following a string of releases last year. These included “This Little Lighter Of Mine (Joy Version),” featuring Joy Oladokun, which celebrates finding light in tough times, and “I Hate Springsteen,” both of which will appear on her upcoming project. Cone also co-founded the Nashville writers round series, The Pony Show, and stayed busy on the road, performing alongside Kimberly Perry on CMT’s Next Women of Country Tour, as well as with Mickey Guyton and Morgan Wade. She also joined Brittney Spencer for her Tiny Desk performance, where she helped arrange the set and provided background vocals.

Later this month, Cone will join Stephen Day as a supporting act for the first leg of his nationwide tour, with stops in cities like Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and more.

Greener Track List:
1. “If You Were A Song” (Abbey Cone, Nate Cyphert, Nathan Spicer)
2. “Video Games” (Abbey Cone, Cece Coakley, Matt Martin)
3. “Worst Case Scenario (Worktape)” (Claire Douglas, Madison Kozak, Abbey Cone)
4. “I Hate Springsteen” (Abbey Cone, Madison Kozak, Joe Ginsburg)
5. “Little Bit of You” (Abbey Cone, Tom Jordan, Andrew Stoelzing)
6. “This Little Lighter Of Mine (Joy Version)” (Abbey Cone, Hank Compton, Josh Lovell)
7. “Cry That It Happened” (Abbey Cone, Ava Suppelsa, Madison Kozak)
8. “I Kissed My Friend Last Night” (Abbey Cone, Cece Coakley, Matt Martin)
9. “Greener” (Abbey Cone, Andy Seltzer, Charli Adams, Carys Selvey)

Industry Ink: Taylor Vaughn, Chase Rice, Cody Johnson, FAM, Fort Nash

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Taylor Vaughn Joins Big Feat PR As VP

Taylor Vaughn

Taylor Vaughn has joined Big Feat PR as Vice President. In her new role, Vaughn will be heading up the West Coast office and working across the company’s extensive roster of entertainment clients. Vaughn joins Big Feat after nearly sixteen years within the music and entertainment industry. Prior stops include Vice President at Full Coverage Communications, where she spearheaded numerous award winning, nominated and record breaking campaigns, and nearly 10 years at Republic Records, where she rose to Vice President.

Big Feat PR represents artists including Shinedown, KALEO, Max McNown, Willie Jones, Maddie Zahm, Sports Team, Jack Van Cleaf, S.G Goodman, Little Feat, Bootsy Collins, Taj Mahal, and more and have worked with Universal Music Group’s Republic on artists including Noah Kahan alongside, Verve, Decca, as well as labels including Sony Music, Concord, S-Curve, ATO, AWAL, Third Man, Thirty Tigers, Oh Boy, Last Gang, Empire, Roc Nation Distribution, BMG, New West, and more. Big Feat PR has also worked with brands and industry clients including Dynamic Talent Agency British Underground, Jazz Re:Freshed, Bluesound and MQA across events and showcases from SXSW to Winter Jazz Fest.

 

Chase Rice Light Up Neon Steeple With Two Shows

Chase Rice. Photo: Ash Summerford

Chase Rice recently played two sold-out shows at the Neon Steeple at Eric Church‘s Chiefs in downtown Nashville on Feb. 13-14 featuring songs from his I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell and Go Down Singin’ albums.

 

Cody Johnson & Ashley McBryde Greet Radio & Streamers At Bridgestone Show

Pictured (L-R): Scott Gaines, Lon Helton (Country Aircheck), Andy Flick (WMN), Michael Bryan (Apple Music), Mike Sanders (WZZK), Rod Phillips (iHeart), Victoria Mason (WMN), Cody Johnson, Cris Lacy (WMN), Kathleen St. Clair (SiriusXM), James Marsh (WMN), Travis Daily (Cumulus), Tyler Reese (Cumulus), Justin Newell (WMN) and Mark Niederhauser (WMN)

Warner Music Nashville artists Ashley McBryde and Cody Johnson recently gathered backstage with radio and streaming partners at Bridgestone Arena on Feb. 15 before Johnson’s Nashville show.

 

Family Alliance In Music Offering L.A. Fire Assistance Grants

The Family Alliance In Music is offering a couple of grants for those in need of assistance with child or elder care due to the L.A. fires. Those who have immediate needs should apply here by March 15 for possible assistance.

 

Fort Nash Holds Galentine’s Meetup

Fort Nash Media’s “Women in Country” Galentine’s Meetup. Photo: Ike Everard

Fort Nash recently hosted a Galentine’s event, which brought together 100 artists, songwriters and industry professionals for an evening of community, conversation and celebration.

They are planing a Women In Country Garden Party Happy Hour on May 28 from 5-8 p.m. at Fort Nash Studio. The organization hosts networking events quarterly at their studio as a platform for women in the country industry to connect, collaborate and celebrate their contributions to the genre.

Country Radio Hall Of Fame Announces Class Of 2025 Honorees

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The Country Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2025 was announced today during CRS Honors at Country Radio Seminar 2025.

The three On-Air Personality inductees are Big D & Bubba, Mary McCoy and Rowdy Yates, while the three Radio inductees include Ginny “Rogers” Brophey, Clay Hunnicutt and Gregg Swedberg.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame celebrates individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the industry. To qualify, candidates must have worked in the radio industry for at least 20 years, with 15 years in the country format. Inductees are recognized in two categories: On-Air Personality, highlighting the achievements of on-air talent, and Radio, honoring professionals behind the scenes in programming, management and sales.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction and Dinner will be held on Monday, July 21 at the Virgin Hotel Nashville.

Old Dominion To Launch ‘How Good Is That – World Tour’ In June

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Old Dominion have unveiled their “How Good Is That – World Tour” which will kick off in Charleston on June 5. Ernest and Redferrin will join the band on their North American dates.

The trek will make stops in Jacksonville, Tuscaloosa, Oklahoma City, Lake Tahoe and more, along with visits to Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Belgium and more on the international leg of the tour.

Tickets for all markets except Greensboro will be available via an exclusive Odies fan presale beginning Feb. 25, with the general sale beginning Feb. 28. Fans can sign up for the presale here.

“There’s something special about the energy when you’re outside,” says lead singer/guitarist Matthew Ramsey. “It’s a whole other vibe. When you’re out there under the stars, that energy amplifies everything we’re doing. So after a year of playing all the festivals, it was the only way to match that crazy energy. If there’s one thing we learned from our summers playing shows and festivals, it’s that you can create one really great party by bringing people with you who share your energy, commitment to the fans and desire to really have fun on that stage. Everybody we’re bringing with us knows how to have a great time up there, and they share our love for the people who love our music. I can’t wait to get these evenings started.”

For their “How Good Is That – World Tour,” Old Dominion will team with social impact platform Propeller to support the work of nonprofit Save the Music, which is dedicated to empowering students, schools and communities to reach their full potential through music. Save The Music partners with public school districts to donate new musical instruments, technology, equipment, and resources for music teachers. Through Propeller, concertgoers can be entered to win exclusive experiences and prizes throughout the new tour.

“How Good Is That – World Tour” Dates:
June 5 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium
June 6 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
June 7 – Clearwater, FL – The BayCare Sound
June 12 – Gautier, MS – The Sound Amphitheater
June 13 – Tuscaloosa, AL – Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater
June 14 – Macon, GA – Atrium Health Amphitheater
June 20 – Colorado Springs, CO – Ford Amphitheater
June 21 – Greenwood Village, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
June 26 – Huntsville, AL – The Orion Amphitheater
June 27 – Southaven, MS – BankPlus Amphitheater
June 28 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
July 3 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater
July 5 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion
July 17 – Greensboro, NC – White Oak Amphitheater at Greensboro
July 18 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
July 19 – Canandaigua, NY – CMAC
July 24 – Terre Haute, IN – The Mill Terre Haute
July 25 – Bonner Springs, KS – Azura Amphitheater
July 26 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Zoo Amphitheatre
July 30 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater  +
Aug. 1 – Lake Tahoe, NV – Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys
Aug. 2 – Lake Tahoe, NV – Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys
Aug. 7 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
Aug. 8 – Pocatello, ID – Portneuf Health Trust Amphitheatre
Aug. 9 – West Valley City, UT – Maverik Center
Aug. 22 – Council Bluffs, IA – Harrah’s Stir Concert Cove
Aug. 29 – Windsor, ON – The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor
Aug. 30 – Toronto, ON – Theatre at Great Canadian Resort Casino
Oct. 19 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhagen Vega
Oct. 20 – Stockholm, Sweden – Stockholm Cirkus
Oct. 21 – Oslo, Norway – Oslo Sentrum Scene
Oct. 23 – Hamburg, Germany – Hamburg Docks
Oct. 24 – Utrecht, Netherlands – Utrecht Tivolivredenburg
Oct. 25 – Antwerp, Belgium – Antwerp Trix
Oct. 27 – Belfast, UK – Belfast Ulster Hall
Oct. 29 – London, UK – London Eventim Apollo
Oct. 30 – Manchester, UK – Manchester O2 Apollo
Oct. 31 – Glasgow, UK – Glasgow SEC Armadillo

29th Annual Key West Songwriters Festival Reveals Early Details and Lineups

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The Key West Songwriters Festival, presented by BMI, has revealed initial details for the 29th annual event set to take place from April 30 to May 4, 2025. This year, the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and Rams Head Presents will welcome over 150 BMI-affiliated songwriters to the five-day festival where they will showcase their hits and introduce new music to audiences.

The event will feature both acoustic and full band performances from Nashville songwriters such as Chuck Cannon, Bob DiPiero, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Raul Malo, Lee Thomas Miller, Taylor Phillips, Liz Rose, Jeffrey Steele and Bridgette Tatum while prominent newcomers like Matt Castillo, Bre Kennedy, Jackson Nance, DJ Smoke and The Kentucky Gentlemen make their debut.

The festival will kick off with the official “Sunset Pier Kick Off Party” at the Ocean Key Resort & Spa on Wednesday (April 30), featuring Dylan Altman, Robert Randolph and Guthrie Trapp. On Thursday (May 1), Nate Smith will headline the Coffee Butler Amphitheater with support from Chase Matthew and the annual free block party at Main Stage Duval Street will be held on Saturday (May 3) with talent to be announced soon. “Sunday Songs: Music & Mimosas” at Williams Hall will make its return on the final day, Sunday (May 4), with additional performances to take place at the Key West Woman’s Club at Hellings Curry Museum and La Te Da, which will host intimate theater showcases.

This year’s new venues will include the Marquesa Hotel, The Alamo and Island Dogs, while Rams Head Southernmost Bar & Restaurant will serve as the event’s headquarters. Several established locations will also return, including Key West Theater, Southernmost Resort, Blue Heaven, Dante’s Key West Pool Bar & Restaurant and San Carlos Institute.

“We’re excited for another year of collaborating with BMI and the amazing venues across the island to highlight the industry’s best songwriting talent,” shares Kyle Muehlhauser, owner of the Key West Songwriters Festival and Rams Head Presents.

Proceeds from the festival will benefit the BMI Foundation and the Michelle Foundation, a Key West-based nonprofit that helps children and families in need. Additional info on passes and ticketed shows at the Key West Theater and San Carlos Institute will be available here.

Sony Music Publishing Nashville & RED Creative Group Sign Kelly Archer

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Chelsea Kent (SMP), Kenley Flynn (SMP), Chip Petree (Ritholz Levy Fields, LLP), Tom Luteran (SMP), Anna Weisband (SMP), Dale Bobo (SMP) and Synnovea Halsel (SMP); (L-R, front row): Taylor Lamb (RED Creative), Kelly Archer, Jeremy Stover (RED Creative) and Rusty Gaston (SMP)

Sony Music Publishing Nashville and RED Creative Group have joined forces to sign hit songwriter Kelly Archer to a global publishing agreement. The deal reflects SMP Nashville’s continued partnership with RED Creative Group, which includes signings Jeremy Stover, Cole Taylor, Matt Mulhare and more.

“RED Creative Group and I have had a long run of success together, and I’m excited to build on that by partnering with the team at Sony,” shares Archer of the partnership.

Archer has penned chart-toppers for Brett Young, Justin Moore, Corey Kent and Travis Denning. She is currently climbing the charts with Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood’s duet “I’m Gonna Love You,” which recently entered the top 10 on the Mediabase Country Airplay chart.

Jeremy Stover, President of RED Creative Group, says, “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Kelly. She is a superstar songwriter who continues to leave an indelible mark on music with her songwriting.”

Rusty Gaston, CEO of Sony Music Publishing Nashville, adds, “We are thrilled to welcome Kelly to the SMP Nashville family in partnership with our friends at Red Creative. Kelly is a seasoned craftsman who always brings her best into every writing situation. Her track record speaks for itself, and we believe her brightest and most impactful songs are still ahead.”

Song Suffragettes To Host 11th Anniversary Show In March

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Nashville’s weekly all-women singer-songwriter round, Song Suffragettes, will mark its 11th anniversary with a show on March 3rd at The Listening Room Cafe. The evening will honor reigning ACM Songwriter of the Year, Jessie Jo Dillon, who will receive the 2025 Yellow Rose of Inspiration Award. This annual honor is given to a woman who has served as a musical inspiration to the Song Suffragettes collective. Past recipients include Wynonna Judd, Ashley McBryde, Kelsea Ballerini, Laura Veltz, Liz Rose and Natalie Hemby.

Dillon will take part in an on-stage Q&A to talk about her songwriting achievements as a six-time Grammy nominee and the current Billboard Rising Songwriter of the Year. To celebrate the writer behind hits like “10,000 Hours” and “Lies, Lies, Lies,” special guest and Song Suffragettes alumna Alana Springsteen will perform a selection of Dillon’s most beloved songs.

In addition to Springsteen, several Song Suffragettes alumnae will take the stage, including Karley Scott Collins, Shaylen, Molly Grace, Summer Joy, Regan Stewart, Shantaia, Mōriah, Anna Vaus, Shelby Raye, Abby Cates and Mia Morris.

The evening will also commemorate the 11-year legacy of Song Suffragettes. Since its inception in 2014, the show has highlighted over 450 talented women out of more than 4,500 applicants. More than 76 alumnae have gone on to secure music publishing deals, and 52 have landed recording contracts, including Lainey Wilson, Carly Pearce, Kelsea Ballerini, Brittney Spencer, Megan Moroney and Gayle.

“After 11 years of Song Suffragettes, we’re most proud of the strong community of women who have not only graced our stage, but who consistently come together to support each other in a music community that still undervalues female talent,” says Songs Suffragettes’ Founder Todd Cassetty. “And we will continue to spotlight the finest female singer-songwriters from Nashville and beyond as we honor songwriting icon Jessie Jo Dillon with the Song Suffragettes Yellow Rose of Inspiration Award on March 3rd.”

Tickets for Song Suffragettes’ 11th anniversary show are on sale now.

Red Street Records Elevates Kelly King, Adds Patrick Waters

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Kelly King & Patrick Waters.

Red Street Records has promoted Kelly King to VP of Red Street Publishing. Industry veteran Patrick Waters has joined the team as Senior Director of A&R Country.

“Kelly’s decades of experience and relationships helped put RSR publishing on the map with some big wins, and it became obvious that focusing her guidance on our hit songwriters will amplify all things Red Street,” says Red Street Records General Manager Alex Valentine. “Along with that, the addition of a trusted and multi-genre experienced voice to the recording process makes Patrick the perfect person to lead the A&R charge. Can’t wait to see what these two accomplished music executives dream up next for ‘The Street’.”

King has been instrumental in discovering and developing artists and songwriters in her 30-year career such as Rascal Flatts, Brett James and Brothers Osborne. King has played a key role in the success of numerous chart-topping hits, including Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take the Wheel,” Brothers Osborne’s “Stay A Little Longer,” Carly Pearce and Chris Stapleton’s “We Don’t Fight Anymore,” and several No. 1 singles by Rascal Flatts, including “Rewind.” After earning partnerships at Teracel Music and Good Girl Music, a joint venture with Sony Publishing, King launched her own venture, King Pen Music, in partnership with Warner Chappell Publishing in 2011. In 2022, she joined Red Street Records as Senior Director of A&R/Publishing, where she now leads and oversees the company’s publishing operations.

Missouri native Waters brings over 20 years of experience in the music industry to Red Street Records. He began his career in A&R at Maverick Records in Los Angeles before moving to Warner Brothers Records. In 2011, he relocated to Tennessee, where he played a pivotal role in launching both Interscope and Warner Records’ Nashville offices, contributing to the development and growth of the label’s presence in the city. Waters later worked as an artist manager at Red Light Management, where he helped shape the creative and business strategies for a diverse group of artists. Now, as Senior Director of A&R at Red Street, Patrick will focus on the growth and development of the country roster, which includes Chris Lane, Ryan Griffin, Neon Union, Ryan Larkins and Kaleb Sanders.