Pictured (L-R, back row): Luke Laird, Emily Furman, Alex Tamashunas; (L-R, front row): Abby Holcomb, T.D. Ruth (Serling Rooks Hunter McKoy Worob & Averill LLP), Ben West, Beth Laird, Kelsey Granda. Photo: Spencer Combs

Creative Nation has signed songwriter/producer Ben West to an exclusive worldwide publishing and producer management deal.

A Detroit-area native, West began his career working on Los Angeles-based sync projects for major networks like ABC, Disney and others before scoring a 2x Platinum, Top 10 Billboard hit with P!nk’s “Try” in 2012. Written alongside beloved songwriter/producer Busbee, “Try” pointed West towards Nashville.

West has co-written songs such as Lori McKenna’s “The Tunnel,” Brett Eldredge’s “Songs About You,” Parker McCollum’s “Heart Like Mine,” Blake Shelton’s “Neon Time,” Carly Pearce’s “Show Me Around” and Kelly Clarkson’s “I Dare You.” His most recent production credits include the entirety of emerging country artist Stephen Wilson Jr.’s Søn of Dad album, as well as Patrick Droney’s Subtitles for Feelings, and tracks by Pearce, Hailey Whitters, Ashley Monroe, Monsta X and more.

“I was a fan of Ben’s writing and production long before we met. He puts artists and their visions before all else, germinating song ideas into cohesive, living, breathing works of art. As cliche as it is, I mean it when I say we are lucky to work with Ben,” says Creative Director of Publishing, Alex Tamashunas.

“Creative Nation has been a fan of Ben West as a songwriter and producer for a long time but we never had the chance to meet. Lori McKenna loves writing with him and encouraged me to reach out. Once we connected, I instantly knew he would fit our culture because he is an exceptional talent and human and our whole team wanted to work with him. We are so excited about building his momentum together,” shares Co-Founder and CEO, Beth Laird.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of what Beth and Luke have built at Creative Nation. Getting to know their exceptional team has been an absolute delight, and their ability to accommodate arrangements like mine is truly unique. I am deeply appreciative of their faith in me, as well as their vision and support for both the writing and production aspects of my work. I couldn’t be more excited to join this talented roster!” West says.

Pictured (L-R, back row): Warner Chappell Music’s Ben Vaughn, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, Spirit Music’s AJ Burton, MCA Nashville’s David Friedman, BMI’s Mason Hunter, Warner Chappell Music’s Jessi Stevenson; (L-R, front row): Randy Montana, Jon Randall, Parker McCollum, Monty Criswell, Rhett Akins. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI

Last week, music industry members gathered at Nashville’s Star Rover Sound to celebrate Parker McCollum‘s first-ever No. 1 party. Hosted by BMI, the evening recognized the MCA Nashville star’s three recent consecutive chart-toppers, “Pretty Heart,” “To Be Loved By You” and “Handle On You.”

With McCollum as a co-writer on each hit, Randy Montana was highlighted for the success behind the singer’s double-Platinum No. 1 debut single “Pretty Heart,” followed by Rhett Akins for his follow-up Platinum-certified No 1. single, “To Be Loved By You.” Monty Criswell was recognized for his contributions on the Platinum-certified chart topper, “Handle On You.”

In addition to celebrating the hits, MCA Nashville also surprised McCollum with certification plaques that encompassed all his recent accolades, including additional Gold certifications for “Young Man’s Blues” and Gold Chain Cowboy.

BMI’s Mason Hunter served as the emcee and brought all the writers and McCollum’s producer Jon Randall to the stage to be admired. All of the men on stage were BMI affiliates.

Pictured (L-R): Red Light Management’s Nick Rhodes, UMG Nashville’s Mike Harris, Chelsea Blythe, Cindy Mabe and Lori Christian, producer Jon Randall, Parker McCollum, Red Light Management’s Enzo DeVincenzo, UMG Nashville’s Rob Femia. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI

Those on hand to say a few words at the party included Warner Chappell’s Jessi Stevenson, Spirit/Fluid’s AJ Burton and MCA Nashville’s David Friedman, as well as Mitch Ballard from the BMI office in Austin, Texas. Sponsored by Studio Bank, the evening included a donation presentation made by Kari Barnart on behalf of McCollum and the songwriters in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

When it came time for the songwriters to speak, Criswell kicked it off. He spoke about his journey with cancer over the past year.

“I spent the summer in chemo at the Ingram Cancer Center. It’s at the top of my list of things I never want to do again,” he said. “[‘Handle On You’] went No. 1 the week I started chemo, so they’re kind of intertwined together.”

He spoke about his battle, sharing that his care team would often ask about where “Handle On You” was on the charts. “At the end of four months, they scanned me again,” Criswell added. “It came back clear.”

Criswell shared that after an upcoming surgery, his doctors expect the cancer won’t return. He addressed the team behind the hit by saying, “Y’all [help us] keep food on the table and keep the lights on. If you worry if you’ve made a difference, this summer you paid deductibles and copays at Vanderbilt’s Ingram Cancer Center.”

Randall was next to speak about the songs.

“As a songwriter, I’m still amazed that we show up, have a couple cups of coffee and have nothing on this blank page. By the end of the day, there’s something there that didn’t exist yesterday,” Randall said. “Everybody in here is a part of it… It takes a village.”

Akins spoke about meeting McCollum, “Getting together in a room with a complete stranger is like going to therapy. You get in there and lay it out on the table,” he said. “Parker, thank you for giving me that day and sharing a piece of you life with me [for ‘To Be Loved By You’].”

When Montana spoke, he recognized the herculean effort it takes to get a No. 1, something he learned early in life as the son of another hit songwriter, Billy Montana.

“I grew up the son of a songwriter, so I’ve lived this life before I was the one doing it. I know hit songs are hard to come by,” he said. “I’m extremely grateful to be here today.”

McCollum thanked everyone in his support system, from his family, band and crew, publisher, label, management team, co-writers and more.

“Somehow—without really knowing what I was doing at any point in time and just faking it until I made it—I’ve got the best label (UMG and MCA), the best publishing company (Warner Chappell), the best management (Enzo DeVincenzo, Nick Rhodes and Red Light) and the best business managers,” he said. “I’ve got the best promotion team and the best agent. I don’t really understand how I fell into those hands.

“[I write with] the best songwriters and the best producer in country music, Jon Randall,” McCollum added. “I get way too much credit. Everybody else does all the hard work and I get to go out there and get all the glory. I enjoy absolutely every second of working with all of you.”

Cody Johnson. Photo: Chris Douglas

Cody Johnson is set to release his third studio album Leather on Nov. 3 via COJO Music / Warner Music Nashville.

To celebrate the announce, Johnson has released brand-new tracks “Work Boots” written by Jason Afable, Brett Beavers and Canaan Smith, and “Watching My Old Flame Go Out” by Kat Higgins, Wynn Varble and Clint Daniels. Both songs appear on Leather, which was produced by Trent Willmon.

“This round of songs, I have to say, is the best round of songs I have ever recorded and I feel like that’s the way it should be,” Johnson says. “Each album should outdo the last one.”

Johnson’s current single, “The Painter,” was the most-added song in the nation in its debut week on the charts, launching with the biggest add date of his career with 73 stations jumping to put the song on air. “The Painter” is the follow up to Johnson’s career-making, double Platinum-selling and Grammy-winning, two-week No. 1 hit “’Til You Can’t,” and the top-five smash “Human.”

Fans can pre-order the 12-track record now.

Leather Track List:
“Work Boots” (Jason Afable, Brett Beavers, Canaan Smith)
“Double Down” (Jeff Hyde, Adam James, Clint Daniels)
“Watching My Old Flame” (Kat Higgins, Wynn Varble, Clint Daniels)
“That’s Texas” (Andy Sheridan, Erik Dylan, Wyatt McCubbin)
“Dirt Cheap” (Josh Phillips)
“Jesus Loves You” (Mark Holman, Chase McGill, Michael Hardy)
“Whiskey Bent” (feat. Jelly Roll) (Adam James, Mikey Reaves, Rocky Block)
“Leather” (Ian Munsick, Rivers Rutherford, Jeremy Spillman)
“People In The Back” (Devin Dawson, Austin Taylor Smith, Mark Trussell)
“Long Live Country Music” (feat. Brooks & Dunn) (Phil O’Donnell, Wade Kirby, Trent Willmon)
“The Painter” (Kat Higgins, Benjy Davis, Ryan Larkins)
“Make Me A Mop” (Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Alan Shamblin)

Kane Brown has released a new single, “I Can Feel It,” a track that interpolates Phil Collins’ legendary drum solo and 1980’s single “In the Air Tonight,” as well as its accompanying video.

The high energy track was penned by Brown, Gabe Foust and Jaxson Free, with Collins also credited as a writer. “I Can Feel It” is the follow up to Brown’s 10th career No. 1, “Bury Me In Georgia,” which topped the charts last week, and his current CMA-nominated, double-Platinum, No. 1 hit, “Thank God” with wife Katelyn Brown.

On Wednesday, Brown announced his new “In The Air Tour,” which will kick off in March and hit 29 cities including Newark, Toronto, Las Vegas and Atlanta, before wrapping in Arlington, Texas at Globe Life Field on Sept. 14.

The busy entertainer recently received the ACM Honors International Award for his contributions to the country format on a global scale. He’ll perform tonight at iHeart Radio’s Music Festival, appear on Today Sept. 28 for a chat, and perform at the People’s Choice Country Awards the same day, which airs on NBC/Peacock.