Pictured (L-R, back row): Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, Hipgnosis’ Ashley Alexander, BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart and BMI’s Clay Bradley; (L-R, front row): Nick Schwarz, Cameron Jaymes, Drew Baldridge and Jimmy Yeary. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

Industry members, family and friends gathered on the BMI rooftop on Thursday (Oct. 3) to celebrate the achievement of Drew Baldridge and his historic No. 1 song.

“She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” written by Baldridge, Cameron Jaymes and Jimmy Yeary, and produced by Nick Schwarz, is the first song ever released by an independent artist to reach No. 1 on the country radio charts. Originally released in 2019, the momentous track made way for a tearful, heartfelt celebration.

Among those who spoke, a good friend and early believer in Baldridge, Rusty Gaston, took to the stage to share his congratulations with the artist and co-writers.

“Drew and I have worked together for about 12 years now, and there’s a few things that I want you guys to know about him. He has a heart of gold, he is genuine, he is loyal, he is honorable, he is faith-filled, he is resilient, he is creative, he is an overcomer, he is tough and he is never a victim,” Gaston said with tears in his eyes.

He continued, “When chasing a dream for 12 years, there can be a lot of ups and a lot of downs, but the difference-maker in Drew is when those downs came along, he never allowed himself to be a victim. He was never a person that said, ‘if I only had that,’ or, ‘if that person had only done this.’ Those words were never in his vocabulary. He chose to lean into things that he could control—and that was to create. He would create a new song, a new video, a new way to tour and a new way to get his music exposed.”

After words from Country Aircheck’s Lon Helton and Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, who presented the crew with a donation to Warrior Nation Cancer Foundation on their behalf, it was time for the writers and producer to speak.

Up first was Schwarz, Baldridge’s producer for the last five years, “A few things stood out to me immediately with Drew. One, he is a great songwriter, two, he is great on the mic and most of all, he is an incredible worker. The drive and vision that he has is amazing. It is bold as an independent artist to take your song to radio in the first place, but to get it to No. 1 takes an incredible amount of work.”

Jaymes, who was also celebrating his first No. 1, began by thanking God in a short prayer before sharing gratitude for his family, friends and Drew. “No one deserves it more than you, truly. You are the definition of the ‘good guy.’ In a world and a business where it feels like the nice guys finish last, man, it feels good to see the good guy finish in first.”

Inspired by Jaymes, Yeary took a moment to reflect on why he does what he does. “My intention is in 2 Corinthians, where it says we are supposed to comfort others with the same comfort that we have been given. I think the best way we can do that is to help others realize they aren’t alone in their trials and tragedy.”

Finally, Baldridge started by thanking God and his family joking,“Y’all didn’t know you were coming to a church service did you? We’re getting a little Jesus in here!”

He continued, “What I realized when I was in people’s backyards playing music during the pandemic is that I, and these guys on stage, aren’t writing music for this town. We are writing for people and their human hearts—that is what changed everything for me.”

Jamey Johnson. Photo: David McClister

Award-winning singer-songwriter Jamey Johnson will release his new album, Midnight Gasoline, on Nov. 8 as his first with Warner Music Nashville. The project will mark his first solo studio album in 14 years.

Midnight Gasoline is also the first of Johnson’s Cash Cabin Series, which is a collection of albums recorded at the famed studio in Hendersonville that was owned by Johnny and June Carter Cash, and now owned by their son, John Carter Cash. Johnson spent three weeks recording about 30 songs there, sleeping in his bus that was parked outside.

“I’ve always wanted to make an album there,” he shares. “I went in with an album in mind, where we go in and cut and cut and cut. That is when I knew we were off to the races. This is more than an album; this is a series.”

Also known as Cash One, Midnight Gasoline follows Johnson’s his Platinum-certified That Lonesome Song (2008) and the Gold-certified, Billboard No. 1 album The Guitar Song (2010). The Grand Ole Opry member also released a 2012 duets project, the Grammy-nominated Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran and a Christmas EP.

The new album contains “21 Guns,” “What a View,” “Trudy” and “Sober,” all of which were released during the last few months. His “Someday When I’m Old” is out today (Oct. 4).

“I think the only common thread would be me,” Johnson says of Midnight Gasoline. “There isn’t an overtone or some underlying theme in the songs. They are just glimpses of my life. Some of them are just funny stories, and not all of them were written recently. In that regard, I really am kind of picking up where I left off, grabbing those few songs that were probably ready to put out back then. It’s good to get those out there.

“Some of the songs are new,” he adds. “’What a View’ is one of the first of the new ones that was written for this album. It’s straight from a very personal place.”

The album’s first half was produced by The Kent Hardly Playboys—Wayd Battle, Jim “Moose” Brown, Tom Bukovac, T.W. Cargile, Kevin “Swine” Grant, Cowboy Eddie Long, Dave McAfee, James Mitchell and Chris Powell. Dave Cobb, who also worked on That Lonesome Sound and The Guitar Song, produced the album’s second half.

In addition to partnering with Warner Music Nashville, Johnson has also signed with TKO Artist Management as his new management team.

“Jamey and I have been friends for a long time and frequently spoke about working together. You just don’t miss an opportunity to work with a talent like Jamey Johnson,” shares TK Kimbrell, Owner of TKO Artist Management.

Midnight Gasoline Track Listing:
1. “Bad Guy” (Jamey Johnson and Dale Dodson)
2. “Midnight Gasoline” (Scotty Emerick, Dean Dillon and Jeff Hyde)
3. “What a View” (Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Rob Hatch and Dallas Davidson)
4. “21 Guns” (Jamey Johnson and Jim “Moose” Brown)
5. “Someday When I’m Old” (Aimee Mayo, Chris Lindsey and Troy Verges)
6. “Trudy” featuring Randy Houser (Charlie Daniels)
7. “One More Time” (Jamey Johnson, Ernest Keith Smith and Rob Hatch)
8. “Saturday Night in New Orleans” (Jamey Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Tony Joe White)
9. “Sober” (Jamey Johnson and James Slater)
10. “I’m Tired of It All” (Dallas Davidson and Kyle Fishman)
11. “No Time Like the Past” (Jamey Johnson and Chris Stapleton)
12. “What Do You Answer To” (Jamey Johnson, Ira Dean, Ajay Popoff and Jeremy Popoff)

Eric Church. Photo: Robby Klein

Eric Church has announced his plans to sign over all of his publishing royalties for new song “Darkest Hour” to the people of North Carolina to support relief following the devastation of Hurricane Helene and provide ongoing funds to build a more resilient future for his home state. Available everywhere now, “Darkest Hour” marks his first solo release in over three years.

“From Western North Carolina, East Tennessee, Upstate South Carolina, parts of Georgia and even Florida which took a direct hit, there are so many places that were impacted. Specifically in the area that I’m from, the mountains of Western North Carolina were devastated. There are places that are just biblically gone. These are our family members, they’re our friends, they’re our neighbors—and they’re in dire need of help,” reflects Church. “And I’ve been in the studio for a while, trying some different things and exploring creativity. I had this song that I’d written, and the line that struck me in light of the recent devastation was ‘I’ll come running,’ because there are a lot of people out there right now who are in their darkest hour and they need people to come running. We were going to wait to release music until next year, but it just didn’t feel right to wait with this song. Sometimes you give songs their moment and sometimes they find their own moment.

This song, ‘Darkest Hour,’ was the best way I could think to try to help. We’ve been helping with boots-on-the-ground efforts, but this is something that will live beyond just the immediate recovery. This is not a quick thing to fix, so hopefully ‘Darkest Hour’ will be able to contribute to that for a long time to come. This song goes to my home, North Carolina, now and forever.”

He continues, “‘Darkest Hour’ is a song dedicated to the unsung heroes, the people who show up when the world’s falling apart. This is for the folks who show up in the hardest times, offering a hand when it’s most needed, and standing tall when others can’t. Even in your darkest hour, they come running. When the night’s at its blackest, this is for those who are holding the light, guiding the lost and pulling us through. The message of the song specifically in this time is about Hurricane Helene and the people that need help, but in a broader view, it’s about any challenging times that we have in our life, which we’ll all have. And it’s always important to know that in your darkest hour, there are people that will come running, there are people that will help. And I think it’s also important to be one of the people that go running when other people need help.”

Additionally, Church’s Chief Cares Fund will not only be assisting in North Carolina, but in all states and communities affected from Appalachia to the Gulf. For more information, click here.

Pictured (L-R, front row): Denise Jonas, Emily Peacock (Sr. Creative Dir., JGP) and Leslie T. DiPiero (Pres., JGP); (L-R, back row): Kevin Jonas Sr. (Founder/Chairman Jonas Group Entertainment) and Terri Jo Box. Photo: Cole Barnhill

Texas-born songwriter Terri Jo Box has re-signed her deal with Jonas Group Publishing.

Box was the first writer signed to JGP in 2020, and has had cuts with Cody Johnson on “God Bless The Boy (Cori’s Song)” and Lainey Wilson with “Those Boots (Deddy’s Song)” and “Hillbilly Hippie,” which both appeared on Wilson’s Grammy-winning Bell Bottom Country album.

In addition to her JGP cuts, she’s enjoyed success with Ashley McBryde’s “American Scandal” and “Bible and a .44,” which has also been recorded by Eric Church, Trisha Yearwood and others. Her song, “Dear Old Sun,” written with Miranda Lambert and Gwen Sebastian, was featured on Lambert’s Weight Of These Wings album, which won the 2017 ACM Album of the Year award. Named to the 2023 Class of Up-and-Coming Songwriters by the Association of Independent Music Publishers, Box has also had songs recorded by Patty Loveless, Joe Nichols, Gary LeVox, Wade Hayes, Bryan Martin, Annie Bosko and more.

“I heard something so unique in Terri Jo, that I signed her to a publishing deal even before JGP was established,” says JGE Founder and Chairman Kevin Jonas Sr. “She writes from a different viewpoint from most of us, but she speaks to all of us, and that’s a special gift.”

“Terri Jo has a deep understanding of what makes country music country,” says JGP President Leslie T. DiPiero. “She is a visible thread between new and established artists and writers. Her approach to songwriting and encouragement of all songwriters enriches our creative community.”

“Having Leslie DiPiero on my side is such a gift,” says Box. “Leslie is a songwriter’s best friend; she will fight, crawl, scrap, cheer, celebrate, and work tirelessly to get her writers across the line to win. She, Emily Peacock and the entire team are Music Row royalty, and I am so grateful to call them ‘my team.’ And working with Kevin Jonas Sr. has been an honor and growing experience for me. To have the wisdom AND kindness of somebody who has been so immersed in all aspects of the industry has been invaluable. He is such a lover of songs. Kevin, Denise Jonas, and all ‘the boys’ are such a beautiful, epic, family love story.”

Mike Curb Foundation Establishes Music Program At Occidental College

Mike Curb

The Mike Curb Foundation has gifted Occidental College’s new John Branca Institute for Music $500,000 to establish the Mike Curb Endowed Program in Popular Music History, which seeks to enhance the institute’s curricular offerings by providing a variety of guest speakers and career development events to students and alumni. The program will also name recognized music professionals to the Linda and Mike Curb Fellowship. In celebration of its establishment, an on-campus concert starring members of the school’s music community will be held on Oct. 18.

“We are thrilled that the Mike Curb Foundation is joining forces with the Branca Institute in its inaugural year,” says David Kasunic, John Branca Institute Director & Associate Professor of Music. “This gift rightly emphasizes the study of the history of popular music as a prerequisite to creating and understanding popular music today, and that the people who know this history best are the experienced music professionals who have been part of this history.”

ASCAP Supports Members At All Things Go Music Festival

Pictured (L–R): ASCAP’s Jason Silberman, Nicholas Carpenter (Medium Build), ASCAP’s Jody Klein and Kaitlyn Sugarman

ASCAP team members were on hand to support members during the All Things Go Music Festival in Washington, D.C. and New York City this past weekend (Sept. 28–29).

They met up with Nicholas Carpenter, also known as Medium Build, backstage at the Merriweather Post Pavilion on Sunday (Sept. 29).

Recording Academy Hosts 10th Annual Music Advocacy Day

Michael Trotter Jr., Maggie Rose, Recording Academy’s Harvey Mason Jr. and Todd Dupler, and Recording Academy Nashville Chapter members with Tennessee Representative Mark Green. Photo: Courtesy of the Recording Academy/Tibrina Hobson for Getty Images

A record 2,100 Recording Academy members gathered across the country for the organization’s 10th annual Music Advocacy Day on Tuesday (Oct. 1), a grassroots advocacy movement that aims to connect members with their congressional representatives to discuss issues affecting the music industry.

Participants included multi-Grammy winner and this year’s Music Advocacy Day Artist Ambassador Mark Ronson, double-Grammy nominee Michael Trotter Jr. of The War And Treaty and artist Maggie Rose, who met with the office of New York Representative Daniel Goldman and Tennessee Representative Mark Green to advocate for the Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act, which creates a federal property right to protect artists and other individuals from having their image, voice or likeness misused by generative artificial intelligence (AI) to develop deepfakes and clones, as well as the Fans First Act, American Music Tourism Act, Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act and American Music Fairness Act.

Gotee Records Signs Lydi Lynn

Pictured (L–R, back row): Tyrus Morgan, Keelin Crew, Joey Elwood, Xander Morrison and Brad Moist; (L–R, front row): TobyMac and Lydi Lynn

Gotee Records has signed pop singer-songwriter Lydi Lynn. The Portland native first shared her sound and style through lead single “Keep Breathing,” and now resides in Nashville. She is currently supporting Jervis Campbell on his “Magnolia Tour,” and plans to release her debut EP, Desert Dream, next Friday (Oct. 11).

“I’m honored to be a part of such a phenomenal team and family at Gotee,” says Lynn. “Working on my first EP has been an incredibly special process, and I can’t wait for these songs to be heard. I’m praying they can be a part of someone’s story the way they have been for mine.”

Annual Dogtober Writer’s Round Supports Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts

Pictured (L–R): Jake Rose, Grant Vogel, Jillian Cardarelli and Marcus Hummon. Photo: Nick Tavares/NPT Photography

The PEDIGREE Foundation hosted its annual Dogtober Writer’s Round at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsey on Tuesday (Oct. 1) and raised over $15,300 to support relief efforts for animal shelters and rescues affected by Hurricane Helene.

During the event, songwriters Marcus Hummon, Jillian Cardarelli, Jake Rose and Grant Vogel took the stage to share the stories behind their tunes. Additionally, donations can still be made on the PEDIGREE Foundation’s website.