In its third-quarter financial report released Monday (Nov. 6), Ryman Hospitality Properties shared that it will “wind down” its joint venture ownership in the country lifestyle television network Circle Network.

The report says, “In September 2023, we determined to pivot from television network ownership in favor of a distribution approach. Therefore, we and our joint venture partner agreed to wind down the Circle joint venture, with operations expected to cease December 31, 2023. As a result, we incurred a loss related to Circle of approximately $10.6 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.”

Circle Network was launched in early 2020. Its programming includes a weekly broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry, hosted by Bobby Bones, as well as a broadcast of WSM’s Coffee, Country & Cody morning show and other country lifestyle programs.

“The Circle brand isn’t going away. The linear TV network will wind down at the end of the year along with the joint venture. Programming like Opry Live and Coffee, Country & Cody will continue to be produced and made available digitally on FAST, streaming and other digital distribution platforms. We also expect Opry Live to air on network television, just not on a dedicated Circle network. Opry Live will also air on Sky Arts in the U.K.,” a Ryman Hospitality spokesperson shared with Country Aircheck.

ASCAP CEO Beth Matthews and ASCAP Chief Strategy & Digital Officer Nick Lehman. Photo: Ed Rode

ASCAP wrapped its Music City AI Symposium on Nov. 7 at the Twelve Thirty Club exploring the topic of AI, what songwriters need to know about it and how writers can use it to their advantage in the writers’ room.

Anna Gressel, Daniel Schnapp, Carletta Higginson, Kevin Madigan, Emily Chapius and Nick Lehman. Photo: Ed Rode

ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams, Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Matthews and Chief Digital and Strategy Officer Nick Lehman kicked off the morning with opening remarks on ASCAP’s dedication to protecting its members rights in the age of AI before the day moved into panel programming.

The first panel, “Navigating AI: Evolving Legal and Policy Frameworks,” was moderated by Lehman and featured leading attorneys Kevin Madigan (Copyright Alliance), Emily Chapius (Deputy General Counsel for the US copyright office), Dan Schnapp (Sheppard Mullin), Anna Gressel (Paul, Weiss), and Warner Music Group Chief Digital Officer Carletta Higginson. The conversation delved into the complex legal implications of AI, protecting creators’ rights, and the evolving landscape of copyright policies. They urged a proactive approach to protecting one’s work in the AI age.

“The big question we are looking at is authorship,” said Chapuis. “Does it have to be created by a human author or is it from machines? It needs to be created by a human, not just generated by an AI system. We are looking for enough human input, enough human creation.”

Curtiss King, Anna Vaus and Chris DeStefano. Photo: Ed Rode

The second session, “Melody, Lyrics & Algorithm: Music Creators in the Age of AI,” featured AI-fluent music creators Curtiss King and Anna Vaus, who shared their experiences and insights into using AI as a tool to enhance their creative process. Singer-songwriter Chris DeStefano moderated the panel, and attendees were left with information about the creative potential and benefits of AI.

Both panels concluded with interactive Q&A sessions, where attendees got to ask ASCAP leaders and the panel speakers alike about their AI expertise.

Pictured (L-R): K. Michelle, Marcus K. Dowling and Jelly Roll. Photo: Josh Brasted/CMA

Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean’s country music reporter in Nashville, was recognized with the 2023 CMA Media Achievement Award on Monday (Nov. 6).

Jelly Roll & Marcus K. Dowling. Photo: Josh Brasted/CMA

The CMA Media Achievement Award recognizes the outstanding achievements of print and internet journalists, columnists, authors, editors, television writers, producers, bookers and syndicated radio reporters in the media as they relate to country music. The award is voted on by publicist members of the Country Music Association.

Dowling was surprised with news of his win backstage at Bridgestone Arena during rehearsals for The 57th Annual CMA Awards by five-time CMA Awards nominee Jelly Roll and first-time performer K. Michelle. Both artists will take the CMA Awards stage tonight (Nov. 8) to perform “Love Can Build a Bridge” during the awards telecast.

Dowling has had a front row seat reporting on country music’s rapid expansion and growing popularity since joining The Tennessean in 2021. The award-winning journalist is also a screenwriter, whose credits include projects with Viacom, A&E Networks and more.

Taylor Freeman

Taylor Freeman has been promoted to Senior Booking Manager at Outback Presents.

Freeman began his career at WME in the music department before moving on to working with various regional and national concert promoters for several years and landing at Outback Presents. He has been with Outback Presents for four years, initially joining the company as a Show Coordinator and then rising to Booking Manager.

Freeman’s primary focus at Outback is working on comedy tours for comedians Leanne Morgan, Taylor Tomlinson, Heather McMahan and Dusty Slay.

Zach Bryan (Photo: Trevor Pavlik) & Morgan Wallen (Photo: David Lehr)

Zach Bryan and Morgan Wallen maintain their positions on both the country streaming songs chart and the country albums chart this week, as neither show movement among the top five according to Luminate data.

Bryan and Kacey Musgraves‘ “I Remember Everything” reigns at No. 1 on the country streaming songs chart with 17 million new streams, adding to 236 million ATD. Wallen’s “Last Night” remains at No. 2 with 12 million streams, adding to a billion ATD, followed once again by Bryan’s “Something In The Orange” at No. 3 with 11 million new streams, adding to a billion ATD. Wallen’s “Thinkin’ Bout Me” keeps the No. 4 slot with 9.9 million streams, adding to 450 million ATD, while Luke Combs‘ “Fast Car” cover continues at No. 5 with 8.9 million new streams, adding to 491 million ATD.

On the country albums chart, Wallen’s One Thing At A Time takes the top slot again with 64K in total consumption (1.9K album only/80 million song streams). Bryan’s self-titled project holds No. 2 with 44K (3.5K album only/52 million song streams), as Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album rests at No. 3 with 34K (312 album only/44 million song streams). Taylor Swift‘s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) bides at No. 4 with 31K (13K album only/24 million song streams), and Bryan’s American Heartbreak persists at No. 5 with 27K (1.3K album only/34 million song streams).