UMPG Nashville Adds TC Courtney To A&R Team

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TC Courtney. Photo: Trey Bonner

Universal Music Publishing Nashville has hired TC Courtney as Manager, A&R. Based in Nashville, Courtney will report to UMPG Nashville Chair and CEO Troy Tomlinson.

Courtney joins UMPG from Big Machine Music, where he served for four years in publishing A&R. The New England native has also held positions at Brentwood Benson Music and BMI.

“We are so excited to have TC join our A&R team,” Tomlinson shares. “He brings publishing experience, a fresh perspective, and energy that will complement our A&R staff. His love and appreciation for songwriters make him the perfect fit for us.”

At UMPG, Courtney will be responsible for scouting and developing new talent, as well as helping build opportunity and value for the existing roster of songwriters.

Of the new role, Courtney shares, “I believe that the best publishers are those who prioritize the development and support of songwriters above all else. UMPG’s unparalleled commitment to these values has made them a global leader in music publishing, and I am grateful to join a team whose ultimate priority is to preserve, protect and honor the Nashville songwriting community.”

Big Machine Label Group To Host Pop-Up Event During CMA Fest

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Big Machine Label Group will host a free pop-up event at Lainey Wilson’s new Bell Bottoms Up bar during this year’s CMA Fest.

Throughout the three-day function, fans will be able to meet as well as enjoy acoustic performances by Brett Young, Brantley Gilbert, Midland, Jackson Dean, Conner Smith, Chase McDaniel, Mae Estes, Greylan James, Noah Hicks and more.

Meet-and-greets will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis. To be guaranteed entry and skip the line, fans can obtain fast pass wristbands with a $25 donation to the Music Has Value Fund. The wristbands will be available Wednesday, June 5 from 1 p.m.–5 p.m. at the Big Machine Distillery. For more information, click here.

Full Schedule:

Thursday, June 6
11 a.m. – Conner Smith
12 p.m. – Jackson Dean
1 p.m. – Brett Young

Friday, June 7
11 a.m. – Shaylen & Noah Hicks
12 p.m. – Brantley Gilbert
1 p.m. – CreatiVets

Saturday, June 8
11 a.m. – Greylan James & Chase McDaniel
12 p.m. – Midland
1 p.m. – Mae Estes

Musicians On Call’s 25th Anniversary Celebration Raises Over $380K

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Pictured (L–R): Charles Esten, Trisha Yearwood, Rondal Richardson, Kelsea Ballerini and Pete Griffin. Photo: Heather Durham Photography

Musicians On Call (MOC) held its “Anthems of Healing” 25th anniversary celebration on May 22 at Marathon Music Works, and raised over $380,000 to continue its mission of delivering the healing power of music to patients, families and caregivers in healthcare environments.

Members of the Nashville community and music industry gathered at the special event, which was emceed by Amber Anderson and Kelly Sutton of Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. Guests were treated to live performances by Trisha Yearwood, Wynonna Judd, Charles Esten, Tiera Kennedy and one of the night’s honorees, Kelsea Ballerini. Volunteer musician Abigail Rose opened the show with a performance showcasing her time visiting hospital patients at their bedside.

Scotty McCreery & Raffaella Braun. Photo: Heather Durham Photography

During the celebration, Yearwood presented her friend and longtime MOC supporter Rondal Richardson with the Leadership in Music Golden Ukulele. Richardson, who is the Senior Entertainment & Donor Relations Liaison for the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, has been an advocate for MOC’s mission since it first came to Nashville. Actor, singer-songwriter, MOC Board member and volunteer Esten introduced Ballerini as the night’s Music Heals Golden Ukulele recipient. Following her acceptance speech, she brought the crowd to its feet during her performance, leading a sing-a-long of crowd favorite “You’ve Got A Friend.”

The organization also recognized the contributions of two of its volunteers, Raffaella Braun and Sarah Harralson, with the first awards named after its co-founders. Braun was presented with the Vivek J. Tiwary Volunteer Guide Golden Ukulele by her friend, hitmaker Scotty McCreery. She has been a volunteer guide for MOC since 2016, and has visited more than 17,000 people in the hospital. Fellow volunteer musicians Tigirlily Gold presented Harralson with the Michael Solomon Volunteer Musician Golden Ukulele. She began volunteering in 2015, and has performed for over 19,000 people through the organization.

“We could not have asked for a more extraordinary night kicking off Musicians On Call’s 25th anniversary! To have such iconic artists joining us in honoring the great champions our mission has in Kelsea and Rondal, and the commitment of our volunteers Raffaella and Sarah, meant the world to our organization,” shares Pete Griffin, Musicians On Call President & CEO. “Throughout the rest of the year, MOC will be celebrating the most memorable songs and moments that have touched patients, family members and caregivers over our 25-year history.”

Sarah Harralson with the Michael Solomon Volunteer Musician Golden Ukulele. Photo: Melanie Dunn

Alan Jackson To Return To The Road

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Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson will return to the road with a continuation of his “Last Call: One More For The Road Tour,” starting on Friday, Aug. 2 in Boston.

The journey made stops for standing-room-only crowds in sold-out arenas nationwide in 2022. This year, it will hit an initial list of 10 arenas across America, each marking the last time he’ll ever perform his hits live in that city and surrounding areas.

Jackson’s touring was affected by his diagnosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Disorder, a degenerative nerve condition that causes abnormalities in the nerves that supply the feet, legs, hands and arms, thereby affecting his motor and sensory nerves. The “Last Call: One More For The Road Tour” will feature the country icon giving it all for the fans.

“Fans know when they come to my shows, they’re going to hear the songs that made me who I am—the ones they love,” Jackson says. “I’ve been touring for over 30 years—my daughters are all grown, we have one grandchild and one on the way…and I’m enjoying spending more time at home. But my fans always show up to have a good time, and I’m going to give them the best show I can for this ‘Last Call.'”

All tickets will go on sale Friday, June 7. VIP experiences will also be available. A dollar from every ticket sold will be donated to the CMT Research Foundation. For more information, click here.

“Last Call: One More For The Road Tour” Dates:
Friday, Aug. 2 – Boston, MA (TD Garden)
Saturday, Aug. 24 – Grand Rapids, MI (Van Andel Arena)
Saturday, Sept. 28 – Fayetteville, AR (Bud Walton Arena)
Saturday, Oct. 26 – Kansas City, MO (T-Mobile Center)
Saturday, Nov. 16 – Salt Lake City, UT (Delta Center)
Saturday, Jan. 18 – Oklahoma City, OK (Paycom Center)
Saturday, Feb. 15 – Fort Worth, TX (Dickies Arena)
Friday, March 7 – Orlando, FL (Kia Center)
Saturday, April 26 – Tampa, FL (Amalie Arena)
Saturday, May 17 – Milwaukee, WI (Fiserv Forum)

MaRynn Taylor To Release New EP Tomorrow

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MaRynn Taylor. Photo: Courtesy of Black River Entertainment.

MaRynn Taylor plans to drop her new EP, Get To Know Me, tomorrow (May 31) via Black River Records.

The five-track project includes previously-released singles “How It’s Gonna Go” and “Small Town Spinnin’.” Taylor is a co-wrote the entire collection alongside writing partners Josh Kerr, Barry Dean, Erin Kinsey and more. Kerr is the sole producer of the EP.

Additionally, Taylor recently signed with CAA for representation.

Taylor is set to take her new music on the road this fall to support Dylan Schneider on his “Bad Decisions Tour.” Fans can also catch Taylor at this year’s CMA Fest next week on the Dr. Pepper Amp Stage, the CMA Booth in Music City Center and playing games at the Omni Nashville Hotel. She will also host her “Get To Know Me Party” on June 7.

Get To Know Me Track Listing:
1. “Running Away With You” (MaRynn Taylor, Josh Kerr, Barry Dean)
2. “Small Town Spinnin'” (MaRynn Taylor, Josh Kerr, Erin Kinsey)
3. “Get To Know Me” (MaRynn Taylor, McCall Chapin, Robyn Dell’Unto)
4. “We Could Be In Love Right Now” (MaRynn Taylor, Josh Kerr, Jason Earley)
5. “How It’s Gonna Go” (MaRynn Taylor, Josh Kerr, Parker Welling)

Buchalter Expands Nashville Team

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Pictured (L–R): Jay Bowen, Lauren Kilgore, Lauren Spahn, Aaron Steinberg and John Baxter; Not Pictured: Rebekah Shulman, Jim Zumwalt, Jacob Clabo, Jeffrey Melcher and Bradley Segal

Full-service business law firm Buchalter has expanded its Nashville team by adding 10 attorneys as well as other professional staff members to its Music, Entertainment, Real Estate and Litigation Practices departments.

Shareholders Jay Bowen, Lauren Kilgore and Lauren Spahn come to the firm from Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton LLP alongside Rebekah Shulman, Jim Zumwalt, Jacob Clabo, Aaron Steinberg and John Baxter. Shareholder Jeffrey Melcher moves to Buchalter from Dickinson Wright and Shareholder Bradley Segal comes from Maynard Nexsen PC.

They all join Real Estate Shareholders Josiah Reid, Jeff Farano, Lucas Davidson and Kaitlin White in the Music City office.

Buchalter was founded 91 years ago in Los Angeles, and now has nearly 500 lawyers across 12 offices with 17 practice areas and a range of legal specialties. Buchalter aims to serve clients through all life cycles of business, while offering over 35 industry specialties that cater to clients in diverse sectors.

Its Nashville office was established in 2022 by Office Managing Shareholder Jason Brooks, and moved to new space at 1 Music Circle South. With the latest additions, the firm hopes to provide clients with deeper expertise in the real estate sector as well as thorough intellectual property capabilities, including litigation, especially in the Nashville music and entertainment industry.

“Our decision to expand in Nashville aligns with our growth strategy to better serve our clients and grow our capabilities in thriving business communities,” says Adam Bass, Buchalter President & CEO. “Nashville represents a vibrant and dynamic legal market, and there is no better group to join this office. Jay, Lauren, Jeffrey, Bradley and Lauren, along with their teams bring a wealth of experience, expertise and dedication to our firm. Together, we are poised to make a significant impact in Nashville’s legal landscape and beyond.”

Spotify House Unveils Fresh Finds Rooftop Lineup

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Joining previously-announced main stage artists, Spotify has revealed their line up of emerging country artists set to take over the Fresh Finds Rooftop powered by Samsung Galaxy at Ole Red during CMA Fest 2024.

Aidan Canfield, Alexandra Kay, Ashley Anne, Grace Tyler, Hannah McFarland, HunterGirl, Jenna Paulette, Kashus Culpepper, Maddox Batson, Maggie Antone, Max McNown, Mike Parker, Noah Rinker, Scoot Teasley, Vincent Mason, Waylon Wyatt, Zach Top and Zandi Holup are all set to perform.

Performances will take place each night from June 6-8 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The artists will play in a round-style lineup with two rounds per night, featuring three artists per round. The Fresh Finds Rooftop is free and open to the public.

Dollywood Gives Guests ‘The Dolly Parton Experience’

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The “Songteller” section of “The Dolly Parton Experience” at Dollywood

Dollywood opened its new museum attraction, “The Dolly Parton Experience,” during a special event last week.

Thousands of guests were able to enjoy the multi-faceted experience, which features interactive elements and exhibits spanning the icon’s career that center around the inspiration behind her biggest dreams, the importance of her family and her signature styles. The theme park’s entire Adventures in Imagination area was completely transformed to create the attraction.

The “Songteller” section traces Parton’s roots from Sevier County to the bus she boarded to Nashville the day after her high school graduation. These exhibits showcase some of her favorite mementos from music, movies and television shows, with one room dedicated solely to her acclaimed albums. One of the rooms displays a 360-degree, projection-mapped story sharing how Parton has become one of the most beloved figures in the world. This section also honors her philanthropy efforts, including a live counter tracking the number of books given to children through her Imagination Library program, which is nearing 240,000,000 as of opening day.

The “Behind The Seams” portion offers an understanding of how Parton’s iconic look comes to life with a number of memorable wardrobes.

The “Precious Memories” exhibit aims to honor her friends and family by detailing how their support allowed her to spread her wings and fly to new heights. A new show featuring Parton’s niece Heidi also debuted in the Dreamsong Theater. The country star made a surprise appearance prior to the first show and sat in the audience to watch the entire performance.

“Our old museum really needed a facelift, but instead of a nip-and-tuck we just decided to start all over! There are a lot of interactive elements and technology all through the area, but luckily for all of you, there are no holograms of me in there anywhere. I think the last thing this world needs is a bunch of ‘Dolly-grams’ running around everywhere,” says Parton.

“Seriously though, I’m so proud of the work our people have put into this new experience to make sure it is something our guests will enjoy for many years. It’s been almost three years in the making, and it’s three times larger than anything like this we’ve ever created before, so it really is something! For me, the most special part is the area called ‘Precious Memories,’ because it’s about my family and everything they have done to support me through the years.”

Additionally, one of her former motor coaches is available to tour as part of the attraction. Dolly’s Home-on-Wheels has been considered a fixture of the park for several years, as hundreds of thousands of guests have stepped inside the 1994 Prevost each season.

“I think we can all agree there is no one else in the world like Dolly Parton,” says Eugene Naughton, Dollywood Parks & Resorts President. “She is able to shine a light of positivity and inspiration that has influenced millions of people around the world. Our team has created a remarkable experience that shares Dolly’s inspiring story in an authentic, larger-than-life way. I think ‘The Dolly Parton Experience’ is going to truly move our guests when they see it. We hope they take some of Dolly’s light and share it with the world just like she does every single day.”

For more information, click here.

Weekly Register: Luke Combs Lands Top Debut On Country Streaming Songs Chart

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Luke Combs‘ “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma” lands the top debut on the country streaming songs chart this week. The Twisters: The Album track premiered at No. 4 with 14 million streams, according to Luminate data.

Post Malone and Morgan Wallen‘s “I Had Some Help” holds No. 1 with 49 million new streams, adding to 128 million ATD, and Shaboozey‘s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” sits at No. 2 with 34 million streams, adding to 179 million ATD. Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves‘ “I Remember Everything” remains at No. 3 with 17 million new streams, adding to 757 million ATD, while Wallen’s “Last Night” shifts down to No. 5 with 13 million streams, adding to 1.39 billion ATD.

On the country albums chart, Wallen’s One Thing At A Time resides at the top with 75K in total consumption (1.3K album only/95 million song streams), followed by his Dangerous: The Double Album at No. 2 with 45K (390 album only/58 million song streams). Bryan’s self-titled project persists at No. 3 with 38K (2.2K album only/47 million song streams), as his American Heartbreak ascends to No. 4 with 32K (807 album only/40 million song streams). Beyoncé‘s Cowboy Carter drops to No. 5 with 30K (2.6K album only/34 million song streams).

Keith Hetrick Inks With Withrow Street Music & CTM Publishing

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Pictured (L-R): Bob Squance (Withrow Street Music), Keith Hetrick, Michael Thomas (Withrow Street Music), Thomas Deelder (CTM). Photo: Courtesy of Withrow Street Music

Songwriter and producer Keith Hetrick has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Withrow Street Music and CTM Publishing.

Hetrick is a Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer who has collaborated with Jennifer Lopez, Snoop Dogg, Boyz II Men, and Charlie Wilson. His career highlights include a Grammy nomination for his work on Wilson’s album Forever Charlie, writing his No. 1 Billboard R&B hit “I’m Blessed,” writing and producing K-pop sensation Wanna One’s Platinum-single “It’s Me (Pick Me),” and producing Lopez’s “On My Way” for the Universal Pictures film Marry Me. Hetrick also penned international campaign songs for Pepsi and Kit Kat with Now United, a global pop group formed by Idols creator Simon Fuller.

“I’m looking forward to joining forces with Withrow Street Music and CTM Publishing,” says Hetrick. “The level of talent, as well as a worldwide roster, lends itself to being on the forefront of the next wave of musical taste making and I couldn’t be more excited for this new partnership.”

“Keith is a rare and unique talent and we’re thrilled to make him the first signing at Withrow Street Music,” says the company’s Founder and CEO Bob Squance. “His passion for creating music is unparalleled and his success speaks for itself. We are going to achieve great things.”

“We are incredibly excited to be partnering with Keith,” adds Withrow Street partner Michael Thomas. “On top of being a wonderful person, he is an amazingly talented songwriter, producer, and instrumentalist. We believe strongly in this partnership and look forward to building a diverse catalog together.”