The Country Music Association’s industry development program, CMA EDU, has selected its 2024–2025 membership class.

Established in 2011, the year-long program is designed develop and support the next generation of music industry leaders. Each year, a select group of students from around the country who demonstrate a drive to succeed in the music business are invited to participate. With programming customized to each member, students will engage in professional development and industry exposure opportunities throughout their CMA EDU experience.

CMA EDU also aims to provide members with industry experience through educational materials, expert Q&A sessions, one-on-one career coaching calls with CMA staff, informational panels and access to real-world music industry opportunities including working CMA Fest and the CMA Awards. Programming will cover various topics such as crafting resumes, honing interview techniques, understanding business fundamentals, learning industry norms and enhancing networking proficiency.

Each student will be paired with a mentor from the CMA EDU alumni network to guide them through the program and give insights into their post-graduation endeavors. Since it began, the program boasts a 91% job placement rate at the time of graduation, and this year’s graduating class is on track for the same benchmark. This summer, CMA EDU will welcome the new class of participants for the annual CMA EDU Leadership Summit. The multi-day conference will feature three days of comprehensive professional development sessions, immersive industry education and networking opportunities.

“We are so excited to welcome a new class of CMA EDU,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO. “As our industry continues to progress and expand, it is vital that we are bringing up the next generation of music business professionals with the skills and knowledge that they need to succeed. This 2024-2025 CMA EDU class is a true reflection of the future of our industry, and I have no doubt that these students will continue to light the bright path that country music is on.”

The CMA EDU 2024–2025 Class:
Grady Bachman – Coastal Carolina University
Emily Benson-Tyler – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Kami Berman – University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Sophie Biancalana – Belmont University
Maggie Blazina – Murray State University
Elizabeth Burns – Murray State University
Dillon Cantrell – Carson Newman University
Emily Chin – University of Wisconsin, Madison
Chloe Clevenger – Belmont University
Landon Collins – Middle Tennessee State University
Hannah Cox – Florida Gulf Coast University
Raelon Dahmer – Tennessee State University
Kathryn Danley – Auburn University
Erin deMacedo – Stonehill College
Ava Eszenyi – Boston College
Marc Feliu – University of Miami
Khyri Flounory – Tennessee State University
David Gring – Vanderbilt University
Hasitha Guhan – University of California, Los Angeles
Olivia Guihan – Northeastern University
Cadee Havard – Middle Tennessee State University
Claire Holbrook – Middle Tennessee State University
Emma Jedow – Belmont University
Alondra Johnson – Coastal Carolina University
Loren Joy de Los Santos – Chapman University
Isabella Karageanes – Michigan State University
Mary Chandler Keels – Clemson University
Christian Larson – South Dakota State University
Claire Martin – University of South Carolina
McKay Massengale – Baylor University
Maddie McCoy – University of Montana
Elena Miers – Belmont University
Creed Miller – University of Colorado Boulder
Trey Morris – University of Tampa
Macy Dot Neal – Belmont University
Grayson Pitt – Vanderbilt University
Karly Ramnani – University of Southern California
Alison Reed – The University of Alabama
William Rogers – Loyola University New Orleans
Kayla Ross – High Point University
Abigail Roubinek – University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Matthew Thorn – University of Notre Dame
Bella Veal – University of South Carolina
Mary (MK) Ware – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Carly Webster – Sinclair Community College
Sara West – Vanderbilt University
Alyssa Willett – Middle Tennessee State University
Michelle Wu – Northeastern University
McKenna York – Carson-Newman University

Johnny Cash at Cash Cabin in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Photo: Alan Messer

A new album of previously unreleased Johnny Cash recordings from 1993 have been unearthed and compiled into a brand new album, Songwriter, featuring tunes penned solely by the master himself.

The album will be released June 28 via Mercury Nashville/UMe, and a first taste of the project can be heard with “Well Alright,” an upbeat, infectious tune featuring a galloping beat and taut acoustic upright bass about finding love in, of all places, the laundromat.

In early 1993, Cash found himself between contracts and recorded an album’s worth of demos at LSI Studios in Nashville. 30 years later, son John Carter Cash rediscovered the songs and stripped them back to just the powerful vocals and acoustic guitar. Along with co-producer David “Fergie” Ferguson, the two invited a select group of musicians that played with Cash, including guitarist and Hall of Famer Marty Stuart, the late bassist Dave Roe, drummer Pete Abbott and several others to the Cash Cabin in Hendersonville, Tennessee, to breathe new life into the tracks and take them back to the roots and heart of the songs.

Songwriter kicks off with the opening track, “Hello Out There,” which sounds like Cash reaching out from the beyond concerned about mankind and the state of the world. “Poor Valley Girl” is about wife June Carter Cash and her mother, country pioneer, Maybelle Carter, likely written in the wake of her passing in 1978. “Drive On” was inspired by the chronic pain he suffered from due to a broken jaw in the early ’90s and is about the hardships endured by veterans in the Vietnam War.

The 11-track collection showcases the breadth of Cash’s writing, with songs of love, family, sorrow, beauty, spiritual salvation, survival, redemption and some lighthearted humor he was known for as well. Songwriter will be available to stream and download, as well as on CD and a variety of vinyl options, including standard black and several limited edition color variants.

“I wanted it to be songs that mostly people hadn’t heard and that paid close attention to who he was as a songwriter and who he was as an American voice,” says John Carter. “One of my most important focuses in the past 10 years is to make sure that history, as best that I can possibly, is to give history the opportunity to notice him as the great writer he is. Bob Dylan says he’s one of the greatest writers of all of American written music and I agree. I want to put that in the forefront. His writing voice specifically is a certain voice, that I think if America wants to know their history, that’s a good place to look. Johnny Cash is definitely one true voice that we can listen to, specifically to his writings.”

Songwriter Track List:
1. Hello Out There
2. Spotlight
3. Drive On
4. I Love You Tonite
5. Have You Ever Been to Little Rock?
6. Well Alright
7. She Sang Sweet Baby James
8. Poor Valley Girl
9. Soldier Boy
10. Sing It Pretty Sue
11. Like A Soldier

Pictured (L-R): Lorenzo Zenteno, Nick Barnes, Louie Thesinger, Brian Hill and Lance Roberts. Photo: Courtesy of UTA

Louie TheSinger has signed with UTA for worldwide representation.

The Texas native has racked up nearly 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and millions of worldwide streams, including on his most-streamed track “Down Here” (featuring Paul Wall). He weaves a colorful tapestry of cultural influences into his music, reflecting his Fort Worth upbringing and his Mexican American roots, and released his first single for Universal Music Group, “Brothers,” in January.

He recently announced his new “Desperado Tour,” set to kick off on June 15 at the House of Blues in Orlando. The tour marks his first U.S. trek, with stops in San Antonio, San Diego, Denver and more.

Louie TheSinger is managed by Lorenzo Zenteno at Premier Live MGMT.

SmithField. Photo: Erika Rock

Country duo SmithField is celebrating 100 million global streams ahead of the release of their debut album, Country With Heart (Part One), on May 24.

Produced by the duo’s Trey Smith, the project features seven new songs co-penned by writers including Trannie Anderson, Dave Cohen, Bobby Hamrick, Adam Wood, Ava Suppelsa and Brian Bunn, among others.

“Reaching 100 million streams before our debut album release is incredibly surreal,” shares SmithField. “It’s validating to know that people love and care about our music enough to hit this milestone. The best part is: we’re about to say so much more.”

They are currently in the midst of Josh Turner‘s “Greatest Hits Tour,” and are set to ring in the album’s release with a show at Nashville’s Analog at the Hutton Hotel on May 23.

Cheatham, Palermo & Garrett Celebrate 184 Years

Pictured (L-R): Tracy Gershon, Rose Palermo, Cindy Mabe and Mary Ann McCready

Law firm Cheatham, Palermo & Garrett celebrated 184 years on Music Row with a client reception. Partner Rose Palermo is often referred to as “Nashville’s divorce attorney to the stars.” Palermo has handled splits for Jewel, Conway Twitty, Tracy Lawrence, Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Ben Folds, Mel Tillis, Kelsea Ballerini and Janis Oliver.

Musicians Hall Of Fame & Museum Unveils Glen Campbell Exhibit

Pictured (L-R): Linda Chambers, Britt Chambers-Hawker, Steven Curtis Chapman, Steve Wariner, Kim Campbell, Julian Raymond, Dave Kaplan and Scott Seine. Photo: Angela Smith

The Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum has unveiled their new Glen Campbell exhibit, in partnership with Big Machine Label Group and Surfdog.

Musicians, special guests and industry executives gathered for the exhibit reveal last Thursday (April 18). The event celebrated the release of Glen Campbell Duets – Ghost on the Canvas Sessions. It also featured a panel discussion with Julian Raymond, Dave Kaplan, Steve Wariner, Steven Curtis Chapman, Kim Campbell and Cal Campbell.

“When you look around the entire museum, you can see and feel Glen’s work in so many of the other exhibits,” said Linda Chambers, Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum CEO. “We talk about the Musicians Hall of Fame representing all genres of music because studio musicians don’t play genres… they just play music.”

CMHOFM Hosts Annual Kickoff Party For Museum Members

Pictured (L-R): Ben Hall (Vice President of Development, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Patrick Thomas (Chair, Troubadour Advisory Council), Hailey Whitters, Lisa Purcell (Executive Vice President of External Affairs, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum) and Marie Bradshaw (Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum). Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted its annual kickoff party for its Troubadour members last week, which featured a performance by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Hailey Whitters. Whitters performed hits such as “Everything She Ain’t,” “I’m In Love” and more.

Troubadour is a membership tier of the museum that is geared towards young professionals. Membership includes quarterly networking events, concerts, exhibition previews and more.

Gibson Gives & FirstBank Amphitheater Raise Over $48,000 For Music Education

Pictured (L-R): Jason Golden (Superintendent of Schools, Williamson County), Rick McEachern, Nancy McEachern (Owners, FirstBank Amphitheater), Erica Krusen (Global Executive Director, Gibson Gives), Demetra Kopulos (VIP Program Manager, FirstBank Amphitheater), Alex Tinker (Project Manager, Gibson Gives) and Mark Kinzer (Director of Fine Arts, Williamson County). Photo: Gibson

Gibson Gives and FirstBank Amphitheater partnered again to raise funds for Williamson County Public Schools and music education initiatives. The companies brought 22 signed guitars to the Julien’s Music Icons Auction and raised $48,825 for the Gibson Gives and FirstBank Amphitheater Music Education Program.

Signed guitars came from artists such as Lana Del Rey, Noel Gallagher, Tenacious D, Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, Chicago, Tears For Fears, Kenny Loggins, Steve Miller Band, Goo Goo Dolls and more.

“United in our commitment, we stand with FirstBank Amphitheater in our efforts to support Williamson County schools, recognizing the invaluable role of music and arts education in shaping young minds and fostering growth for every student,” says Erica Krusen, Gibson Gives, Global Executive Director.

Fund Recovery Hosts Nashville Charity Concert

Pictured (L-R): The Warren Brothers, Natalie Hemby, Ross Copperman. Photo: The Fund Recovery

The Fund Recovery hosted its annual charity dinner and concert at City Winery Nashville last Tuesday (April 16). The event raised over $230,000 to provide scholarships for mental health and addiction treatment.

Hosted by JT Hodges and Matt Rodgers, the lineup included The Warren Brothers, Natalie Hemby and Ross Copperman. Among those in attendance were Steve Hutchinson, Landyn Hutchinson, Eric Decker, Jessie James Decker, Tim Brown, Isaac Bruce, Jimbo Covert, Marshall Faulk, Anthony Munoz, Orlando Pace, John Randle, Ed Reed, Warren Sapp, Will Shields, Jan Stenerud, Andre Tippett, Kellen Winslow, Blaine Bishop, Brad Hopkins, Neil O’Donnell, Al Smith and Delanie Walker.

“Fund Recovery has provided over $2,000,000 in life-changing care to over 800 scholarship recipients,” said Ryan Cain, Executive Director, Fund Recovery. “Yet as addiction becomes more prevalent, resources become scarcer. We are proud of our work to provide treatment and save lives. That’s why our annual dinner and concert is so important. For one night, we can bring the best of the best across music and sports to raise some money to help others while having a whole lot of fun.”