Kayla Adkins

River House Artists has promoted Kayla Adkins to Creative Director, Publishing.

In this position, Adkins will expand on her previous role of Creative Manager as she continues to develop and manage the publishing roster of new and existing songwriters.

She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)’s recording industry program, and joined River House Artists in 2018. Since then, Adkins has played a crucial part in the career development of the company’s publishing arm and the growth of artists such as Pillbox Patti, Austin Snell, Neil Medley, Zach Seabaugh and Knox. She was recently selected as part of MusicRow‘s N.B.T. Class of 2024.

“Watching Kayla grow as a publisher and become a true advocate for our songwriters over her time at River House has been inspiring,” says Zebb Luster, GM/VP, River House Artists. “She has great creative instincts, incredible working relationships with both our staff and our roster, and she truly cares about the long-term development of our songwriters. The respect she has earned in such a short time with the publishing community speaks for itself.”

“In one of my first classes at MTSU, each student was asked to share what our dream job in the music industry was and why. When it was my turn, I announced to the class that I wanted to be a Creative Director at a publishing company and my dream was to help songwriters make their dreams come true,” says Adkins. “Nine years later, I have been given that opportunity at River House Artists, my home away from home. A huge thanks to Lynn [Oliver-Cline] and Zebb for seeing something in me that I couldn’t yet see in myself. They have taught me everything that it means to be a champion of songs and their creators, and I am excited to continue working with our genre-bending roster that inspires me daily and for the future of our company as a whole!”

Tennessee Songwriters Week contestant. Photo: Courtesy of Hunter Berry Photography

It’s time for another Tennessee Songwriters Week, the competition series that showcases the talent of songwriters in the Volunteer State. Presented by the Tennessee Dept. of Tourist Development, The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and Taylor Guitars, this year marks the sixth annual edition of the series.

Throughout late January, over 1,200 songwriters performed at nearly 50 qualifying round venues across the state, including Memphis, Collierville, Jackson, Cookeville, Murfreesboro, Linden, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Johnson City, Bristol and more, for a chance to compete in the 2024 Tennessee Songwriters Week.

Now, select songwriters will move on to one of seven Tennessee Songwriters Week showcases, including at the Lafayette’s Music Room in Memphis (Feb. 18), Bijou Theatre in Knoxville (Feb. 19), Songbirds Foundation in Chattanooga (Feb. 20), Ole Red in Gatlinburg (Feb. 21), The Down Home in Johnson City (Feb. 22), Temple Theatre in Portland (Feb. 23) and Franklin Theatre in Franklin (Feb. 24).

Seven finalists, one from each showcase, will earn the opportunity to perform at the iconic Bluebird Cafe during a private event in March with music industry professionals. Finalists will also win a branded commemorative Taylor guitar, a two-night stay in Nashville, a $100 gift card for travel and a one-year NSAI membership.

“Since the inception of the event, we have shared our mission with Tennessee Songwriters Week, to recognize the wealth of talent Tennessee has brought, and continues to bring, to the world,” says Erika Wollam Nichols, COO & General Manager of The Bluebird Cafe. “We are looking forward to this year’s week of music in February, culminating in the finale at The Bluebird in March.”

Judges for this year’s events include musicians, radio show hosts, publishers and Grammy-nominated producers as well as sister duo Tigirlily Gold, singer-songwriter Alex Hall, songwriter Adam Brown, singer-songwriter and producer Anthony Smith, country artist Butch Baker, independent soul artist Talibah Safiya, musician and entrepreneur McKenzii Webster, representatives from The Bluebird Cafe, NSAI, CMT and more. Judges consider lyric originality, performance and connection with the audience.

Past showcase winners include bop artist Harzee from Memphis, Chattanooga’s alternative blues and indie singer-songwriter Katrina Barclay, Middle Tennessee’s Jacob Rice and Maura Streppa.

The full lineup has been unveiled for this year’s Boots And Hearts Music Festival, taking place Aug. 8-11 at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds in Oro-Medonte, Ontario.

As previously announced, Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett and Cody Johnson will headline the festival and perform along with Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Megan Moroney, NeedToBreathe, Nate Smith, Lonestar and Madeline Merlo.

The four-day event will launch with the annual Kick-Off Party on Thursday night (Aug. 8), starring Midland, Lonestar and 2023’s Emerging Artist Showcase winner Shantaia.

On Friday (Aug. 9), Jess Moskaluke and Nate Haller will join Boots And Hearts first-timers Johnson, Brothers Osborne and Moroney on the Main Stage. Chayce Beckham will headline the Front Porch Stage, which will feature Redferrin, Kalsey Kulyk, Buck Twenty and Taylor-Rae.

Matchbox Twenty will also take the Main Stage, marking their only Canadian date for the year, in addition to headliner Rhett, NeedToBreathe, Hunter Brothers and Elyse Saunders on Saturday night (Aug. 10). Jackson Dean will headline the Front Porch Stage that day, with Bryan Martin, Lauren Watkins, Texas King and Alee performing as well.

“The growing popularity of country music not only attracts a wider audience but allows an opportunity for more creativity in curating our artist lineup. It’s important to us to unite fans and create lasting memories with an experience they can’t get any where else,” says Brooke Dunford, Boots And Hearts’ Director of Talent Buying & Business Development. “Continuing with the tradition of creating a unique experience for our fans, we are ecstatic to welcome legendary rock band Matchbox Twenty to our stage. We always strive to curate a lineup that delivers electric energy for both fans and artists, and we’re confident this year’s lineup will do exactly that.”

On Sunday (Aug. 11), Aldean, Pearce, Smith and Merlo will be joined by Alexandra Kay on the Main Stage. The Front Porch Stage will showcase Alana Springsteen, Dillon James, Dayna Reid and Brian John Harwood throughout the day. Canadian group Emerson Drive will then headline that night and play together for the last time before they retire after nearly 30 years.

The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) has taken legal action against music streaming platform Pandora in the United States District Court located in Nashville. According to The MLC, it seeks to recover unpaid royalties and late fees due under the compulsory mechanical blanket license obtained by Pandora to reproduce and distribute musical works in America via its consumer music streaming platform.

The MLC was appointed by the Register of Copyrights to administer the blanket license and is the only entity authorized to collect and distribute the license royalties and enforce the license obligations on behalf of rightsholders. The action asserts that Pandora has underreported and underpaid mechanical royalties due in connection with the operation of its ad-supported music streaming offering marketed as “Pandora Free,” and further says that Pandora Free is an interactive service under the law, meaning that mechanical royalties are due for all streaming activity on the service. According to the organization, Pandora has only reported a portion of the activity on Pandora Free and refused to report and pay mechanical royalties for the rest of the activity.

The company now seeks corrected usage reporting and associated unpaid royalties and late fees for periods dating back to Jan. 1, 2021, along with an order requiring compliance going forward.

“The MLC has worked closely and tirelessly with blanket licensees to ensure their compliance with the compulsory license terms. Our team repeatedly sought to resolve this issue directly with Pandora, but Pandora has refused to correct their reporting or royalty payments,” says Kris Ahrend, CEO of The MLC. “The MLC is the only entity that has the statutory authority under the Music Modernization Act (MMA) to take legal steps to enforce the obligations of streaming services. We have brought this action to ensure that our members receive all the mechanical royalties they are due in connection with the use of their songs by Pandora on the Pandora Free service.”

A lineup of talent is set to celebrate music star Mavis Staples with performances during “Mavis Staples 85th: All-Star Birthday Concert.” Presented by Blackbird Presents and Live Nation, the tribute is set for April 18 at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles.

Those performing include Chris Stapleton, The War And Treaty, Black Pumas, Grace Potter, Hozier, Jackson Browne, Jeff Tweedy, Michael McDonald, Nathaniel Rateliff, Norah Jones, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’ and more.

Staples is both a Blues and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer as well as a civil rights icon and three-time Grammy winner. The Kennedy Center honoree has also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and National Arts Lifetime Achievement Award. Considered a soul, gospel and R&B pioneer, Staples was No. 46 on Rolling Stone’s 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., performed at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration and for former U.S. President Barack Obama.

Over the past few decades, Staples collaborated with Prince, Bob Dylan, Arcade Fire and Bon Iver, among others.

“At the end of last year, I was talking about retiring,” she says. “But after sitting with it for a while, I stopped myself and thought, ‘Well, what would I do?’ I asked the Lord, ‘Why am I still here? What do you want of me? Have you kept me around for a reason?’ And the only reason I could see is to sing my songs. That’s why I’m still here, and I’m looking forward to this show with my friends singing my songs too!”

“Producing this show is the honor of my life, as we all come together to celebrate a woman whom has given so much to so many over the years through her actions, her music and her magic,” says Keith Wortman, Blackbird Presents CEO & Chief Creative Officer.

Tickets for the celebration will be available this Friday (Feb. 16). For more information, click here.