The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) is accepting nominees for Publisher candidates for its Board of Directors and Unclaimed Royalties Oversight, Dispute Resolution and Operations Advisory committees.

Under the Music Modernization Act of 2018 (MMA), certain governance positions at The MLC are reserved for representatives of Publishers. The terms of several Publisher seats on the Board and the organization’s advisory committees are slated to end later this year.

The MLC will submit all recommendations it receives to the Board’s Publisher Nominating Committee for consideration. Elections for the open Board seats will be held this summer. Board and committee members sit for three-year terms and may be re-elected. Seats are filled pursuant to The MLC’s Bylaws.

There is an opening on the Board of Directors for one (1) Publisher representative.

The openings on The MLC’s advisory committees include:
– One (1) Publisher seat on the Unclaimed Royalties Oversight Committee, which recommends policies and procedures to The MLC’s Board related to the distribution of unclaimed accrued royalties
– Two (2) Publisher seats on the Dispute Resolution Committee, which recommends policies and procedures to the Board for the processing of royalties related to works that are subject to disputes over ownership
– Two (2) Publisher seats on the Operations Advisory Committee, which makes recommendations to the Board concerning the operations of The MLC, including the efficient investment in and deployment of information technology and data resources

The MLC’s Board of Directors and committees meet regularly, and all meetings allow for virtual participation such that travel is not generally required. Members are expected to devote sufficient time to prepare for and participate fully in all meetings. More information on The MLC’s Board of Directors and advisory committees can be found here.

Suggestions should be made by May 24. To suggest a candidate for a Publisher representative seat to The MLC’s Board or committees, complete the suggestion form available here.

Music Row and the Kiwanis Foundation of Nashville are joining forces for “Country Music for Covenant,” a fundraiser in support of the students of The Covenant School, on April 27 at the Local in Nashville.

Rodney Clawson, Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson, Chris Tompkins, and many more will be on hand to perform in the round during the benefit, and the event will also include a silent auction.

Tickets for the show are available for a minimum donation of $25, with all proceeds going directly to The Covenant School. Tickets and more information can be found at country4covenant.eventbrite.com. Those unable to attend can also make a one-time donation here.

Carrie Underwood during “Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency.” Photo: Jeff Johnson

Due to high demand, Carrie Underwood has extended her “Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency” production at Resorts World Theatre with three shows taking place Dec. 13, 15 and 16.

Designed exclusively for Resorts World Theatre, the residency has become a must-see as all 18 shows were sold-out in 2022. Underwood will return kickoff the 2023 run in this summer, starting June 21.

“We had a blast on the road with ‘The Denim & Rhinestones Tour’,” she says,”but it’s always nice to come back ‘home’ to Resorts World Las Vegas to continue ‘Reflection’. This show is truly a celebration of all my music, and I love having the chance to welcome fans from all over the world who come to see us in Vegas.”

Tickets for the additional shows will go on sale to the general public this Friday, April 28. American Express Card Members can purchase tickets to the new shows before then, beginning, tomorrow (April 25) at 10 a.m. PT until this Thursday, April 27 at 10 p.m. PT.

For more information, click here.

Cole Swindell will launch his headlining “Twelve Tour” this fall on Oct. 12. The tour will include special guests Nate Smith, Conner Smith, Avery Anna and Greylan James.

Swindell will make stops in Pittsburgh, Saginaw, Fort Wayne, Cedar Rapids, and more before wrapping in Rome, Georgia on Nov. 4.

“My fans know 12 is my number… so, here we go… 12 SHOWS, 12 DIFFERENT SETS,” the artist exclaims. “We are kicking this off Oct. 12 and I can’t wait to be out on the road with Nate, Conner, Avery Anna and Greylan!”

His Down Home Crew will have the opportunity to purchase tickets during the Down Home Crew presale starting tomorrow (April 25). Tickets will go on sale to the public in most markets this Friday, April 28—the day of Swindell’s Stereotype Broken deluxe album release—at 10 a.m. local time. For more information, click here.

Ernest. Photo: Delaney Royer

Two-time 2023 ACM nominee Ernest has announced that he will hit the road for the “This Fire Tour” in the fall. Launching in Oxford, Ohio on Oct. 18, Ernest will bring along country traditionalist Jake Worthington, hit songwriter John Morgan and his Cadillac Music songwriter Cody Lohden on the 15-show run.

“I’m really excited to get the Ern show back on the road with the fellas,” Ernest shares of the tour announcement. “The show’s gonna be a hell of a time! Anytime we get to play to a room full of people who come to hear our music—it’s an unmatched feeling. The tour last year was a blast, and since then we dropped another 13 songs. If you haven’t yet, go listen to Two Dozen Roses, then come out and sing some country music with us.”

Ernest’s Two Dozen Roses album released earlier this year to much acclaim. The 24-track project included the 11 songs from his debut album Flower Shops as well as 13 new songs that helped carve out the first album’s story—hence the deluxe album’s title, Two Dozen Roses. Added songs include the anthemic tour namesake, “This Fire,” the nursery-rhyme ear worm “Miss That Girl,” the heartbreaker “Songs We Used To Sing” and more.

The singer-songwriter spoke with MusicRow about Two Dozen Roses earlier this year, saying that he was so inspired by the Flower Shops album that he just kept writing.

“I started writing more songs that sounded like they could fit on Flower Shops. When I looked up after a few months, I was like, ‘Wow, we still got a thing here,'” he shared.

The sound captured on Two Dozen Roses is decidedly country, with the shine of ’70s and ’80s pop-country. In addition to Joey Moi‘s hit-making production, Ernest says that having studio giants such as Paul Franklin and Brent Mason playing on the songs helped his vision come to life.

One of his proudest moments on Two Dozen Roses is his Dean Dillon feature on “What Have I Got To Lose,” a song he wrote alongside the Hall of Famer and Brian Kelley.

“That was my first time writing with Dean. Brian Kelley had a day with him and he asked if I wanted to join,” Ernest shared. “I showed up, we wrote a couple songs for Brian and then Dean picked up a guitar and [went] down this rabbit hole. We just watched as fans while Dean made that song what it is.

“It’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever been a part of because it sounds like so many of the songs I idolized growing up,” he says, pointing out that Dillon singing on the song was a huge honor. “I’ve got a Dean Dillon feature and I’m over the moon about it.”

Ernest also has a song with soon-to-be-tour-mate Worthington on Two Dozen Roses, “Heartache In My 100 Proof.” He says, “I’m such a Jake Worthington fan. I’m a stan. Having him on there is perfect.”

Catch Ernest on the “This Fire Tour” on the dates below. General ticket on-sale goes wide Friday, April 28 at 10 a.m. local time.

“This Fire Tour” Dates: 
^ with Jake Worthington
* with John Morgan
+ with Cody Lohden
Oct. 18 – Oxford, Ohio – Brick Street Bar *+
Oct. 19 – Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Intersection *+
Oct. 20 – Rosemont, Ill. – Joe’s Live *+
Oct. 21 – Indianapolis, Ind. – 8 Seconds Saloon *+
Oct. 26 – Chattanooga, Tenn. – The Signal ^+
Oct. 27 – Oxford, Miss. – The Lyric ^+
Oct. 28 – Starkville, Miss. – Rick’s Café ^+
Nov. 2 – Columbia, S.C. – The Senate ^+
Nov. 3 – Tampa, Fla. – Dallas Bull ^+
Nov. 4 – Fort Myers, Fla. – The Ranch ^+
Nov. 10 – Baton Rouge, La. – Texas Club ^+
Nov. 11 – Atlanta, Ga. – Buckhead Theater ^+
Nov. 16 – Athens, Ga. – Georgia Theater ^+
Nov. 18 – Greenville, S.C. – Blind Horse Saloon ^+
Nov. 28 – Nashville, Tenn. – Ryman Auditorium ^+