John Powenski

John Powenski has joined BMI as Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, effective immediately. He will lead Human Resources across the organization, focused on supporting BMI’s continued growth and organizational performance, including the company’s HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Total Rewards, People Operations and more.

Reporting to President & Chief Operating Officer, Todd Horvath, Powenski will be based in BMI’s Nashville office.

“We’re thrilled to welcome John to BMI,” says Horvath. “John’s extensive HR experience and innovative leadership style will support our continued growth and workforce development. His commitment to cultivating talent, elevating employee engagement, and fostering an inclusive culture aligns with BMI’s core values and mission to serve our music creators and business partners. I look forward to working with John and seeing his impact across the company.”

Prior to joining BMI, Powenski served as SVP, Human Resources at Asurion, Inc., where he led enterprise-wide people strategy and global HR operations. Over more than a decade, he held leadership roles across every major HR discipline, partnering closely with executive leadership to drive transformation and build scalable people capabilities across global markets.

Powenski, a Cornell University graduate, also spent a decade at Capital One during its early growth and rapid scaling, partnering with senior leaders through major acquisitions, expansion and complex integration efforts. He began his career in manufacturing HR at Frito-Lay PepsiCo, partnering closely with plant leadership and frontline teams in highly operational environments.

“What drew me to BMI is its rare blend of deep heritage, enduring leadership and distinct sense of purpose in serving its affiliated songwriters, composers and music publishers,” says Powenski. “There’s something powerful about an organization that has shaped so much creative history and yet continues to grow and evolve towards the future. I’m excited to partner with this talented team and help shape what comes next.”

Ella Gibson. Photo: James Bragg

Ella Gibson has signed with G Major Mgmt.

Hailing from a small town in central Illinois, Gibson is currently studying songwriting at Belmont University. She recently won Belmont’s Spring Songwriter’s Showcase Presented by BMI.

“I am so honored to be joining G Major,” shares Gibson. “Already, they have been incredible to work with during our time together. This team inspires me daily with their hard work, kindness and passion for what they do. I am so excited to see all that we accomplish together, and for the new music we’ve been working on.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Ella Gibson to the G Major roster,” says G Major Mgmt founder Virginia Bunetta. “She’s a rare artist whose songwriting feels timeless and her voice and perspective cut through the noise. She represents the next evolution of authentic female artistry.”

Gavin Adcock. Photo: Madelyn Ormond

Gavin Adcock enlisted the help of some fellow country up-and-comers for his new album of vintage country favorites, Country Never Dies, set for release March 13 via Thrivin’ Here Records/Warner Records Nashville.

As a fan of classic country music himself, Adcock wanted the project to be a reminder of where the genre came from and honor those who paved the way for him and other artists. The first song from the album, the Waylon Jennings classic, “Only Daddy That’ll Walk The Line,” is available now.

On Country Never Dies, Adcock enlisted the help of Hudson Westbrook, Jake Worthington, Ashley Cooke, Vincent Mason and several more to join him on the project. Favorites and classics on the new collection include “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “Southern Nights,” “Simple Man,” “Slow Hand” and more.

“I chose these young artists for this project because they’re some of my favorite up and coming artists in all of country music, and I think everyone should listen to ‘em,” says Adcock. “Some of them have already made a good way in the business, and then some of them that maybe y’all have never heard of.

“There’s a bunch of people that these songs mean the world to them,” he continues. “They grew up listening to these songs, hearing their parents or grandparents play them. I think it is important in country music to remember the people who paved the way for us. This is Country Never Dies.”

Country Never Dies Track List:
1. “Only Daddy That’ll Walk The Line” (Gavin Adcock) *Originally performed by Waylon Jennings
2. “Slow Hand” (Hudson Westbrook) *Originally performed by The Pointer Sisters / Conway Twitty
3. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” (Jake Worthington) *Originally performed by George Jones
4. “Southern Nights” (Ashley Cooke) *Originally performed by Glen Campbell
5. “Slide Off Your Satin Sheets” (Braxton Keith) *Originally performed by Johnny Paycheck
6. “Wayfaring Stranger” (Lanie Gardner) *American folk song, performed by Johnny Cash
7. “You Win Again” (Vincent Mason) *Originally performed by Hank Williams
8. “Kentucky Bluebird” (The Creekers) *Originally performed by Keith Whitley
9. “Simple Man” (Austin Snell) *Originally performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd
10. “Big City Blues” (Shelby Stone) *Originally performed by Keith Gattis
11. “Mama Tried” (Gavin Adcock) *Originally performed by Merle Haggard

Avery Anna will release her forthcoming EP, forgive, forget., on March 13th via Warner Records Nashville. In celebration of the release, Anna released “Man Downstairs,” which is available everywhere today.

“This EP forgive, forget. is unlike anything I’ve done so far,” she shares. “It touches on extreme emotions I’ve had in the past couple of years and reached a new level of vulnerability. No calculation or manufacturing, just pure honesty. Truly makes me nervous to share in the best way. ‘Man Downstairs’ is yours now.”

Anna wrote all six tracks alongside Ashley Gorley, Emily Falvey, David Fanning, Andy Sheridan and more.

Anna is preparing to launch her headlining “Girl Of Constant Sorrow Tour,” set to kick off on March 12th in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The project follows her 2025 album let go letters, which has garnered over 1 billion global streams to date.

forgive, forget. Track Listing:
1. “Fear In God (feat. Sam Barber)” (Avery Anna, Sam Barber)
2. “Man Downstairs” (Avery Anna, Michael Tyler, David Fanning and Andy Sheridan)
3. “lonestar alone” (Avery Anna, Ben Williams, Emily Falvey, Sam Bergeson)
4. “Life Ain’t Like The Radio” (Avery Anna, David Fanning, Andy Sheridan, Ashley Gorley)
5. “Blood Runs Thicker” (Avery Anna, David Fanning, Andy Sheridan)
6. “forgive, forget.” (Avery Anna)

Jason Aldean. Photo: Spidey Smith

Jason Aldean will kick off his new “Songs About Us Tour” sponsored by Patriot Mobile in July. Chase Matthew, Mackenzie Carpenter and Dee Jay Silver serve as support on the new 22-city tour.

Kicking off July 16 in Bangor, Maine, the trek will include stops in Oklahoma City, Fresno, Kansas City, Virginia Beach,and more through the end of September. Artist presale tickets are available starting March 3, with general on-sale March 6.

After topping the charts with his hit single, “How Far Does A Goodbye Go,” last week, Aldean today released three surprise tracks from his upcoming album Songs About Us, due out April 24. Aldean shared “Drinking About You,” “Dust on the Bottle,” and his next single, “Don’t Tell On Me,” which is set to impact radio March 2.

Songs About Us follow’s Aldean’s career-spanning collection 30 Number One Hits, which debuted last year at No. 4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, marking Aldean’s 13th Top 10 country album in 20 years. The hitmaker recently wrapped his first-ever headlining run in New Zealand and made his return to Australia for the first time in over a decade.

“Songs About Us 2026 Tour” Dates:
July 16 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater^
July 17 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center^
July 18 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts^
July 23 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena^
July 24 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center^
July 25 – Kansas City, MO – Morton Amphitheater^
July 30 – Ridgefield, WA – Cascades Amphitheater^
July 31 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater^
Aug 14 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre^
Aug 15 – Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center at Fresno State^
Aug 22 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center#%
Aug 27 – Bossier City, LA – Brookshire Grocery Arena^
Aug 28 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater^
Aug 29 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater^
Sep 10 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach^
Sep 11 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater^
Sep 12 – Hartford, CT – The Meadows Music Theatre^
Sep 17 – Hamilton, ON – TD Coliseum^
Sep 18 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview^
Sep 19 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion^
Sep 25 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion^
Sep 26 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion^
^ with Chase Matthew, Mackenzie Carpenter and Dee Jay Silver
# with Chase Matthew and Dee Jay Silver
% with Elizabeth Nichols