Jerry Douglas Releases First Album In Seven Years

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Album Art: Willy Matthews

Jerry Douglas has released his first album in seven years, The Set, via Nolivian Records.

On The Set, Douglas showcases five new tracks and six revitalized songs from his catalog. The lead single, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” finds The Jerry Douglas Band delivering a rendition of the Beatles’ 1968 classic. Last month, Douglas released the second single from the album, “Something You Got,” which was originally written and performed by R&B artist Christopher Kenner in 1961. “Something You Got” reimagines the 2012 collaboration between Douglas and Eric Clapton, with Douglas taking lead vocals.

“I’ve left no stone unturned,” he says. “I’ve been producing records for a long time, so I really, really put on that hat for this record. Usually, I like instrumentalists to have free rein in whatever they do. It’s the way they speak. If anybody had an idea, we chased it down to the end. I feel like it’s really finished. I’m really happy with the outcome of this whole experience.”

For the new project, Douglas also turned to his bandmates for material, including Mike Seal’s “Renee,” Christian Sedelmyer’s “Deacon Waltz,” and Daniel Kimbro’s “Loyston.” Additionally, the four musicians collaborated on “The Fifth Season,” a concerto commissioned by the FreshGrass Foundation. The Set concludes with two instrumentals, “Pushed Too Far” and “Sir Aly B,” and is available on all DSPs, CD and 180-gram vinyl.

Douglas is set to be inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame this Thursday (Sept. 26).

The Set Track Listing:
“Gone to Fortingall”
“Renee”
“What Might Have Been” featuring Aoife O’Donovan
“From Ankara to Ismir”
“Something You Got”
“Deacon Waltz”
“The Fifth Season”
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
“Loyston”
“Pushed Too Far”
“Sir Aly B”

Brett Eldredge To Embark On ‘Glow: Welcome To The Family Tour’ This Winter

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Brett Eldredge. Photo: Alysse Gafkjen

Brett Eldredge has announced his 12-date “Glow: Welcome To The Family Tour.”

With support from Stacey Ryan, Eldredge will take the stage on multiple nights at famous venues, including The Chicago Theater, New York’s Beacon Theatre and Boston’s Wang Theatre, before closing at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The announcement follows the news of his third Christmas album, Merry Christmas (Welcome to the Family), out this Friday (Sept. 27) via his own Warm and Cozy Records.

“I feel honored that these Christmas shows have became such a tradition for so many families to get in the spirit of the season,” Eldredge shares. “This upcoming tour is going to be sprinkled with some extra magic, new original Christmas songs and classic holiday stories. My goal is for everyone to feel right at home and leave as part of one BIG beautiful family! Merry Christmas, welcome to the Family! Let’s Glow!”

In addition to the album release, tickets for the journey will go on sale this Friday. For more information, click here.

“Glow: Welcome To The Family Tour” Dates:
Nov. 29 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Wang Theatre
Nov. 30 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Wang Theatre
Dec. 1 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia, presented by Highmark
Dec. 6 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre
Dec. 7 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre
Dec. 8 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre
Dec. 10 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
Dec. 12 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
Dec. 13 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
Dec. 14 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
Dec. 18 – St Louis, MO – Fox Theatre
Dec. 20 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

Keith Urban Takes Over Broadway To Celebrate New Album

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Keith Urban performs on Nashville’s lower Broadway. Photo: John Shearer

Approximately 25,000 fans filled the streets of downtown Nashville on Thursday night (Sept. 19) to celebrate the release of Keith Urban‘s new album High.

With just hours between Urban announcing the show on social media and its start time, attendees got settled for the free show. For nearly 90-minutes, the entertainer gave first-time performances of songs from High.

Keith Urban performs on Nashville’s lower Broadway. Photo: John Shearer

The pop-up on lower Broadway was just another in a series of pop-up shows that have seen Urban surprise crowds in Dallas, Chicago, Minneapolis, BNA Airport (in Nashville), Sydney, Brisbane and a Buc-ee’s parking lot in Alabama. In addition to his pop-up and club shows and driving excursions, by the end of the month Urban will have stopped in Sydney, Brisbane, Nashville, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York and Toronto for national television appearances, digital content and collaborations, podcasts and network television specials.

Tomorrow (Sept. 24), Urban will appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and he will hit The Kelly Clarkson Show on Thursday (Sept. 26).

Jim Kuzmich Joins Thompson Burton

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Jim Kuzmich

Entertainment and corporate attorney Jim Kuzmich has joined Thompson Burton, PLLC as a Partner. He will create both the Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law practice areas at Thompson Burton.

“We are excited to welcome Jim to Thompson Burton and appreciate the expertise he brings for our clients,” says Walt Burton, Partner, Thompson Burton. “We look forward to his leadership in the Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law practice areas.”

Kuzmich has provided legal counsel to small and mid-sized businesses, advising on both challenges and growth opportunities for owners. He also has advised acquisitions and sales of companies, as well as overseeing business partnerships. Kuzmich has assisted startup companies faced with a plethora of legal issues, including entity formation and structure, commercial leasing, intellectual property protection and general operational matters.​

He also brings experience representing musicians, YouTube influencers, producers, songwriters, entertainers and professional athletes. He has extensive knowledge of trademark, copyright, endorsement and licensing law, presenting practical solutions to some of the most common legal issues that musical artists and other creatives face in business. He previously served as In-House Counsel and Vice President to a mid-sized baseball agency specializing in athletic representation. During his time there, he assisted with negotiating player contract salaries, endorsements contracts and preparing salary arbitration cases.​

Industry Ink: Morgan Wallen Foundation, Get A Worm Entertainment, More

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Morgan Wallen Donates $140K To Gibbs Youth Sports In Hometown

Pictured (L-R): MWF Program Director and Wallen’s mother, Lesli Wallen; MWF Executive Director, Kathleen Flaherty; Gibbs Youth Sports Baseball Commissioner William Lynam and Gibbs Youth Sports President Nate Stachey. Photo: Noam Galai/Getty Images for Morgan Wallen Foundation

Ahead of Morgan Wallen’s return to his hometown and shows at University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium this evening (Sept. 20) and Sunday (Sept. 22), The Morgan Wallen Foundation donated $140,000 to Gibbs Youth Sports. During a press briefing held at Neyland Stadium, MWF Executive Director, Kathleen Flaherty and MWF Program Director and Wallen’s mother, Lesli Wallen, presented a check to Gibbs Youth Sports (GYS) President Nate Stachey and Baseball Commissioner William Lynam to renovate Ruritan Park.

“Being a baseball mom, this is very special to me that my son is able to give back to the community that blessed us so much and that he played sports in,” says Lesli. “Nate sent in an application to our foundation asking for any help—that’s all he asked for. I walk up there sometimes at the Gibbs Youth Sports Ruritan Park and I see how in disrepair the park is. So, we started conversations asking what we can do to make this park a better park – and a special place – for our kids to be proud to go to.”

 

Greg Eisenberg Launches Get A Worm Entertainment

Greg Eisenberg

Music industry veteran Greg Eisenberg has launched Get A Worm Entertainment with initial clients Jay Webb and Eddie And The Getaway. The artist management firm based in Nashville will  focus on career strategy, tour coordination, promotion and record release strategy.

Eisenberg’s experience includes working with Sony Music, Warner Music and Universal Music Group. Upon signing Eddie And The Getaway he helped him grow to over 400,000 monthly Spotify listeners, sign a global joint venture publishing deal with Sony ATV/Electric Feel and sign with WME for booking. Webb caught the attention of Eisenberg after collaborating with Eddie on a song called “Cobain.” Webb currently generates over 12 million monthly streams, signed with CAA and is heading out on tour with Chase Matthew.

 

Willie “Prophet” Stiggers Receives SESAC’s Visionary Award

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Sam Kling, Willie “Prophet” Stiggers and SESAC’s Mario Prins. Photo: mèShell studio

Black Music Action Coalition co-founder, president and CEO, Willie “Prophet” Stiggers was presented with SESAC’s Visionary Award at The Highlight Room in Hollywood Sept. 17 in recognition of the organization’s ongoing work championing artists and creating equity within the music industry. The event was attended by several top music industry execs, artists, songwriters and publishers including Bryan Michael Cox, Prophet, Alex Isley, Knox and Kenyon Dixon, among others. “

Prophet’s dedication to equality and racial justice has inspired us all to do more and build a stronger, more equitable creative community. I’m proud to call him a friend,” says Mario Prins, VP, Creative Services.

 

Nashville Briefing Hosts Second Annual Artists To Watch Showcase

Just Jayne performs. Photo: Samuel Harris

The Nashville Briefing held its second annual Artists To Watch showcase Sept 17, which coincided with the release of its 25 Artists To Watch list, and Nashville Briefing’s third print issue, which features Shaboozey on the cover. The showcase highlighted Dawson Anderson, Karley Scott Collins, Christian Hayes and Just Jayne, who were all featured in this year’s list.

Miranda Lambert Recognized With SoundExchange Hall Of Fame Award

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Michael Huppe & Miranda Lambert. Photo: JJ Tanaka

Miranda Lambert was recently recognized with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award as one of the most-streamed creators in the music tech organization’s over-20-year history of administering digital performance royalties.

Lambert has been a SoundExchange member since 2005 and entrusts SoundExchange to collect worldwide neighboring rights royalties on her behalf through more than 65 agreements the organization has with counterpart companies, covering 88% of the global neighboring rights market.

“I am grateful to SoundExchange for this honor and to know that the music I’ve poured my heart into for the past two decades has connected with people all over the world,” the songstress shared. “I’ve been a member since the beginning of my recording career and I appreciate all that SoundExchange does in advocating for the fair treatment of all creators.”

“Miranda Lambert is a dynamic and fearless storyteller who has captured the hearts and imaginations of generations of fans,” stated Michael Huppe, SoundExchange President & CEO. “Miranda explores music well beyond country and embraces life through melody, empathy and wit. She is one of the most significant country artists of this century and we are proud to present Miranda Lambert with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award.”

Lambert released her latest project, Postcards from Texas, last Friday (Sept. 13) and will be honored as this year’s Country Icon at the People’s Choice Country Awards this Thursday (Sept. 26).

Bill Anderson’s New EP ‘Forevermore’ Out Today

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Bill Anderson has released a brand-new EP, Forevermore, available everywhere today (Sept. 20) via MCA Nashville/UMe.

Steve Dorff co-wrote five of the project’s six tracks with Anderson, with Bobby Tomberlin also contributing to “Yesterday, Today, And Forevermore” from the project as well.

Forevermore follows Anderson’s previous collaboration, “The Country I Grew Up With,” which features four fellow Hall of Famers: Bobby Bare, Jimmy Fortune, Vince Gill and Willie Nelson. Last month, Anderson also received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Hero’s Salute to Lee Greenwood Grand Ole Opry event, as well as the Industry Impact Award for his contributions to radio, film and television from the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Forevermore Track List:
1. “I Love Us”  Writers: Bill Anderson, Steve Dorff
2. “All Of Me Loves All Of You”  Writer: Bill Anderson
3. “The Last One I’ll Forget”  Writers: Bill Anderson, Steve Dorff
4. “Brand New Every Day”  Writers: Bill Anderson, Steve Dorff
5. “Yesterday, Today, And Forevermore”  Writers: Bill Anderson, Steve Dorff, Bobby Tomberlin
6. “Stay Gone”  Writers: Bill Anderson, Steve Dorff

Shane McAnally & Jessie Jo Dillon Named As Mentors For 25th Annual NSAI Song Contest

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Shane McAnally (Photo: Robby Klein) & Jessie Jo Dillon (Photo: Noah Needleman)

The 25th annual Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) Song Contest is set to kick off on Oct. 1 with over $30,000 worth of prizes and a chance to win mentor sessions with triple-Grammy winner Shane McAnally and 2024 ACM Songwriter of the Year Jessie Jo Dillon.

The judging process is composed of four parts. First, each entry will be evaluated by an industry professional using a 10-point questionnaire. Next, based on those scores, up to 22 entries will place in the next three rounds of judging which will conclude with a live-taped final judging where the Lyric Category Grand Prize winner will be announced and the Song Category top 10 finalists will be judged before revealing the Song Category Grand Prize Winner. Judging will take place no later than February 2025.

The Song Category Grand Prize Winner will receive $5,000, a one-on-one mentor session with McAnally and a one-year single-song publishing contract with Dream 3 Publishing. Additional prizes include a Taylor Guitars 50th Anniversary guitar, $1,500 towards Guitar Center (courtesy of the Guitar Center Music Foundation), a meeting with a CMT Music & Talent representative, tickets to the 2025 CMT Music Awards, and a performance opportunity at The Bluebird Cafe and 2025 Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival. They will also get industry meetings, sheet music transcription from Musicnotes with a $100 gift card, a 12-month SoundCloud Next Pro subscription, a custom engraved capo from G7th, a Southwest Airlines roundtrip flight, a 2-night stay in Nashville, a $250 gift card and more.

The Lyric Category Grand Prize Winner will take home $2,500, a mentor session with Dillon and a Taylor Guitars 50th Anniversary guitar. They will also receive a meeting with Dream 3 Publishing, tickets to the 2025 CMT Music Awards, a roundtrip Southwest Airlines flight, a two-night Nashville stay, a year-long SoundCloud Next Pro subscription, a custom engraved capo from G7th, a $250 gift card, two tickets to a show at The Bluebird Cafe, $1,500 to spend at Guitar Center, a $100 Musicnotes gift card with a plaque of the winning lyrics and more.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary, all entries will only be $25. Following the end of the promotion, entries will be $35 for NSAI members and $45 for the general public. The contest encourages songwriters from all genres to submit their songs and or lyrics online at www.nsaisongcontest.com or by mail (NSAI–ATTN: Song Contest, 1710 Roy Acuff Place, Nashville, TN 37203) from Oct. 1 at 12 p.m. to Nov. 1 at 5 p.m CT. All entries mailed in must include the submission form, entry fee (no cash accepted), printed lyric sheet and one audio CD (unless a Lyric Category entry). There is no limit to the number of songs or lyrics that songwriters can submit.

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Concludes 23rd Annual Event

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Ashley McBryde headlining the 23rd annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. Photo: Heidi Holloway/Birthplace of Country Music

The Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, presented by Ballad Health and produced by Birthplace of Country Music, concluded its 23rd annual event last weekend.

The event aims to honor the influence of the 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings with various rock, country, bluegrass, Americana performances and more.

Friday (Sept. 13) featured performances from headliner Ashley McBryde as well as The Red Clay Strays, Wilderado, Dave Eggar, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Le’Asha Julius and Weedie Braimah. Other opening day sets included Bella White and Jaime Wyatt, both making their Bristol debut, Holy Roller, Laid Back Country Picker and Florencia & The Feeling.

On Saturday (Sept. 14), Jim Lauderdale united with Wyatt Ellis and Silverada, Logan Ledger and Brittney Spencer performed in addition to Dale Watson & His Lone Stars, Hannah Dasher, 49 Winchester and more. The Wallflowers played their hits, driving home an encore of Tom Petty classics. The evening then closed on Cumberland with Molly Tuttle & the Golden Highway, who had earlier joined AJ Lee & Blue Summit‘s late afternoon set on the same stage.

Post Bop Revival set the pace for Sunday (Sept. 15) with a two-hour set under the tent at Machiavelli’s, along with Stephen Day on State Street, among others. Grace Bowers & the Hodge Lodge and The SteelDrivers then closed out the final day.

Tickets for next year’s event, taking place Sept. 19–21, are available now. For more information, click here.

CMA Foundation Celebrates 2024 Music Teachers Of Excellence

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The 2024 Music Teachers of Excellence class. Photo: John Russell/CMA

The CMA Foundation hosted its eighth Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony, presented by One Country, on Tuesday (Sept. 17) at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.

The event honored 30 educators—10 from Metro Nashville Public Schools, 10 from districts across the state of Tennessee and 10 from across the United States—who were selected for their commitment to bringing a high-quality music program to their students and the musical impact they’ve had on their schools.

Themed around the way music brings color into of our lives, the ceremony was first accented with black and white decor and incorporated more and more color into the room as the evening progressed, creating a vibrant atmosphere at the after party.

The celebration included dinner with over 30 artists from the country music community and multiple performances. Videos illustrating the significance of music education were also shown throughout the night, including a message from Berklee College of Music student Lourde Childs on his journey through music

Tullman Family Office President and Let Music Fill My World Founder Cayley Tullman spoke on behalf of her organization about the importance of ensuring every child in America has access to music education in their school. Walker Hayes took to the stage alongside students from Metro Nashville Public Schools for a performance of “If Father Time Had a Daughter.” One Country CEO Chase Locke and Tenille Townes spoke to the power of music in a person’s life and the impact that goes beyond the classroom. Childs then joined Kassi Ashton for a rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” earning a standing ovation, before Charlie Worsham gave a testimony on how his music career began and recognized the 10 Metro Nashville Public Schools recipients. Next, Priscilla Block sang “Peaked In High School” and Tigirlily Gold expressed their thanks to the sponsors and organizers of the event for celebrating the honorees with a beautiful ceremony and highlighted the 10 educators from across the state of Tennessee. Riley Green followed with a performance of “Jesus Saves,” and Tiera Kennedy and Angie K spoke about their own personal experiences with music education, sharing the support and guidance their music teachers provided in their early years, before focusing on the 10 recipients from across the country. Jordan Davis closed the night with a performance of “Next Thing You Know,” before Alana Springsteen gave a final thank you message and kicked off the after-party.

Additionally, the CMA Foundation gave $5,000 to each honoree—half to help enhance their music program and half for personal use. The CMA philanthropic arm was also able to secure sponsorship for all 30 of its 2024 Music Teachers of Excellence class members through the “Sponsor A Teacher” campaign. To date, it has invested over $1.3 million in its Music Teachers of Excellence honorees to ensure they have the support and funding needed to create thriving programs within their schools and communities.

Applications for the 2025 Music Teachers of Excellence class are open now through Thursday, Feb. 20. For more information, click here.