New June Carter Cash Documentary Set To Air On Paramount +

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A new documentary titled June, which focuses on the life and career of June Carter Cash, is set to premiere Jan. 16 exclusively on Paramount+.

As a five-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, comedian, musician, actor and author, Carter Cash opened for Elvis, appeared onscreen with Robert Duvall and Jane Seymour and co-wrote one of the most recognizable country songs of all time, “Ring of Fire.” Perhaps at times overshadowed by her iconic husband Johnny Cash, the film lets her talent take center stage.

Featuring rare and never-before-seen archival material revealing the extraordinary life’s work of Carter Cash and her career, paired alongside one-of-a-kind interviews with the woman herself, the film also includes sit-down moments with her family, admirers and friends, including Dolly Parton, Reese Witherspoon and Willie Nelson, among others.

June is produced by Sandbox Productions, Sony Music Vision and Maxine Productions (a part of Sony Pictures Television). The documentary made its world premiere at the DOC NYC Festival on Nov. 12.

Brandy Clark & Allison Russell Named NYU’s 2024 Americana Artist-In-Residence

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Brandy Clark and Allison Russell

Brandy Clark and Allison Russell have been chosen as the 2024 Americana Artist-in-Residence participants at NYU Steinhardt.

Throughout the 2024 spring academic semester, Clark and Russell will be working closely with NYU students through a series of lectures, workshops and classroom visits. The award-winning songwriters, singers and multi-instrumentalists will present, curate and moderate a variety of discussions, workshops, classroom visits and performances.

Clark and Russell are the third and fourth Americana artists to participate in the NYU Artist-in-Residence after Rosanne Cash in 2021-22 and Taj Mahal in 2023. The program is part of a partnership between The Americana Music Foundation and NYU that aims to educate students on the origins, history and cultural impact of Americana music.

Tigirlily Gold Helps Musicians On Call Launch New Program

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Pictured (L-R): Musicians On Call’s Pete Griffin, TriStar Centennial Medical Center’s Tom Ozburn, Tigirlily Gold and Musicians On Call’s Dr. Todd Rubin

Musicians On Call (MOC), the nonprofit that brings music to the bedsides of patients, families and caregivers in healthcare environments across the nation, and TriStar Centennial Medical Center have partnered to offer a new live music program within the Nashville hospital. Every month, MOC Volunteer Musicians will fill TriStar Centennial’s Garden Court with soothing and upbeat music as patients, healthcare staff and loved ones pass through the information center.

Tigirlily Gold performing at the besides of TriStar Centennial Medical Center patients

On Dec. 19, MOC and TriStar Centennial Medical Center celebrated the launch of the new program with a live performance by Tigirlily Gold. Following the live performance, the sister duo visited patients at their bedsides to socialize and play more music. They have been a committed volunteers since 2018, and have performed for nearly 700 patients, family members and caregivers both at their bedsides and virtually. This year they also helped the nonprofit relaunch the MOC Bedside program at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center in Las Vegas.

Additionally, MOC is currently recruiting musicians and music lovers to serve as certified volunteers for its MOC Bedside program in Middle Tennessee. For more information, click here.

Gospel Music Association To Open Nashville-Based Dove Center In 2025

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Downtown Nashville will become home to another hall of fame and music museum in 2025. The Gospel Music Association has announced their plans to open the Dove Center and Gospel Music Museum on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Commerce Street.

In a Christmas video, the GMA revealed that the center will include the Dove Awards Theatre, exhibits that highlight the history of the gospel music industry, a Hall of Fame area for the Gospel Music Hall of Fame’s members and more.

“Developed to preserve the legacy of our historic past, support the impact of today’s artists and plant seeds for the future, we believe the Dove Center will be a beacon of light for the kingdom of God,” said Gospel Music Association President/Executive Director Jackie Patillo in the video.

Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves a diverse community of creatives and professionals within the Christian and Gospel music industry. Since 1969, the association has hosted the annual Dove Awards, a night to honor a diverse range in sound and musical stylings in Gospel, pop, hip-hop and more. During last year’s awards at Lipscomb Allen Arena in Nashville, Brandon Lake took home the trophy for Artist of the Year. The association also hosts many events and programs throughout the year to celebrate their message, including GMA Christmas and Sound Mind Initiative.

Brett Young Spreads Holiday Cheer During ‘2023 USO Holidays Tour’

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U.S. Navy Admiral Christopher W. Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, host the “2023 USO Holidays Tour,” featuring performances and troop engagements from country music singer-songwriter Brett Young, actor Dulé Hill, magicians Penn & Teller, NFL Super Bowl Champion & Pro Bowler Vince Wilfork, and magician & spray paint artist Justin Flom. Photo: Courtesy of the Dept. of Defense

Brett Young was among the stars helping to spread holiday cheer on the “2023 United Service Organizations (USO) Holidays Tour.”

U.S. Navy Admiral Christopher W. Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, host the “2023 USO Holidays Tour,” featuring performances and troop engagements from country music singer-songwriter Brett Young, actor Dulé Hill, magicians Penn & Teller, NFL Super Bowl Champion & Pro Bowler Vince Wilfork, and magician & spray paint artist Justin Flom. Photo: Courtesy of the Dept. of Defense

The USO provides global entertainment, a care-package delivery program, military spouse and youth programming and more from over 250 locations around the world. The 2023 tour visited installations in the United Kingdom, Poland, Romania and Germany.

“It was such an honor to be part of the USO’s amazing tradition to boost our military’s morale for over 80 years,” says Young. “This was an experience I will never forget.”

Two-time NFL Super Bowl Champion Vince Wilfork, magician and spray paint artist Justin Flom, actor Dulé Hill and magicians Penn & Teller also joined the journey, which marked the first USO tour for all involved. They performed for service members, civilians and families stationed overseas. The shows included magic, comedy, tap-dancing and music as well as opportunities for the audience to take photos with the stars.

MusicRow’s Top 100 Songwriters Of 2023

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Zach Bryan. Photo: Trevor Pavlik

Since 2018, MusicRow has published a weekly Top Songwriter Chart that ranks the week’s top 60 songwriters based on song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams.

Using proprietary software, the points earned by each song are evenly split among the song’s co-writers, echoing how the publishing business works in Music City with respect to revenues and ownership, while displaying the overall success of active songs for each songwriter. This way, the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart reflects the most active and successful songwriters in Nashville one week at a time.

Zach Bryan earned the most points on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart throughout 2023, putting him at the top of the year-end list.

After breaking through in a big way in 2022 with his Warner Records debut album American Heartbreak, which remained in the upper echelons of the charts throughout 2023, Bryan continued to release a lot of new music this year. American Heartbreak, his self-titled project and his Boys Of Faith EP included primarily solo-writes, allowing Bryan to collect all of the points those songs earned.

Songs that kept Bryan dominating the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart include “Something in the Orange,” “Oklahoma Smokeshow,” “Burn, Burn, Burn,” “Sun To Me,” “Dawns,” “I Remember Everything,” “Hey Driver,” “East Side of Sorrow,” “Tourniquet,” “Sarah’s Place,” “Deep Satin” and more. All but three are solo writes.

Ashley Gorley. Photo: Katie Kauss

Ashley Gorley comes in at No. 2 on MusicRow‘s Top 100 Songwriters of 2023 list. A fixture on the country charts, Gorley added many more hits to his songbook this past year, including “Gold” (Dierks Bentley), “Girl In Mine” (Parmalee), “Truck Bed” (Hardy), “God Gave Me A Girl” (Russell Dickerson), “All I Need Is You” (Chris Janson), “World On Fire” (Nate Smith), “Save Me The Trouble” (Dan + Shay) and more.

Gorley also nabbed 12 cuts on Morgan Wallen’s One Thing At A Time album, which has broken consumption records since its release in early 2023. He was named the 2023 ACM Songwriter of the Year, took home ASCAP’s Country Music Songwriter of the Year award for the tenth time and was awarded Songwriter of the Year across all genres for Variety‘s annual Hitmakers event.

At No. 3 on MusicRow‘s Top 100 Songwriters of 2023 list is Ryan Vojtesak, who was another major player on Wallen’s One Thing A Time. Vojtesak, also known as Charlie Handsome, co-wrote “Last Night,” “Everything I Love,” “One Thing At A Time,” “Hope That’s True,” “Whiskey Friends,” “You Proof,” “Neon Star,” “Thinkin’ Bout Me,” “Single Than She Was,” “Me To Me,” “180 (Lifestyle),” “Had It,” “Cowgirls” and “Good Girl Gone Missin’.”

Ryan Vojtesak

Morgan Wallen himself placed at No. 4 on the year-end list. In addition to his One Thing At A Time album soaring through 2023, his 2021 Dangerous: The Double Album continued to be a major success. Wallen also sold out stadiums across the world all year on his “One Night At A Time World Tour.”

Tracy Chapman rounds out the top five songwriters of 2023, again exemplifying the power of a solo write. Chapman’s 1988 anthem “Fast Car” was given a second chapter to its story when Luke Combs (No. 13 on the list) recorded it for his Gettin’ Old album.

Combs’s version was a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts in 2023, and won Chapman the CMA Award for Song of the Year, making her the first Black woman to win the award.

Chapman is also the highest ranking female on the list. As the annual data continues to be male dominated, 14 additional female songwriters can be found in the top 100 this year—which is made up of 116 songwriters due to tied scores. This is tied with last year’s 15 female songwriters included in the list and is down from 2021’s group of 20 within the top 100.

MusicRow’s Top Songwriters of 2023:
1. Zach Bryan
2. Ashley Gorley
3. Ryan Vojtesak
4. Morgan Wallen
5. Tracy Chapman
6. John Byron
7. Chase McGill
8. Jordan Schmidt
9. Taylor Swift
10. Michael Hardy
11. Ernest Keith Smith
12. Jason DeFord
13. Luke Combs
14. Josh Thompson
15. Ray Fulcher
16. Hunter Phelps
17. Thomas Rhett
18. Chayce Beckham
19. Lainey Wilson
20. Taylor Phillips
21. Ross Copperman
22. Jessi Alexander
23. Parker McCollum
24. Dallas Wilson
25. Zach Crowell
26. Jacob Kasher
27. Dan Isbell
28. Christopher Anthony Lunsford
29. Matt Dragstrem
30. Shane McAnally
31. James McNair
32. Jon Nite
33. David Fanning
34. Josh Osborne
35. David Ray Stevens
36. Julian Bunetta
37. Chris Stapleton
38. Heath Warren, Jacob Hackworth, Jet Harvey
39. Josh Kear
40. Austin Nivarel, Joe Ragosta, Rob Ragosta
41. Tony Lane, Travis Meadows
42. Monty Criswell
43. Jordan Davis
44. Josh Hoge
45. Brett Tyler
46. Dan Wilson
47. John Pierce
48. Tully Kennedy, Kurt Allison
49. Geoff Warburton
50. Blake Pendergrass
51. Craig Wiseman, Tommy Cecil, Patrick Murphy
52. Justin Ebach
53. Bart Butler
54. Travis Wood
55. Brock Berryhill
56. Dan Smyers, Jordan Reynolds
57. Cole Taylor
58. Tyler Hubbard
59. Chris LaCorte
60. Randy Montana
61. Scotty McCreery
62. Rhett Akins
63. Carly Pearce
64. Ben Johnson
65. Nate Smith
66. Miranda Lambert
67. Nicolle Galyon
68. Bryan Simpson
69. Hillary Lindsey
70. Keith Urban
71. Luke Dick
72. Kane Brown
73. Hailey Whitters, Ryan Tyndell
74. Mitch Oglesby
75. Kelly Archer
76. Dylan Scott
77. Kacey Musgraves
78. Josh Melton, Matt Alderman
79. Megan Moroney, Ben Williams
80. Greylan James
81. Trannie Anderson
82. Bailey Zimmerman
83. Lindsay Rimes
84. Lee Thomas Miller
85. Jessie Jo Dillon
86. David Garcia
87. Neil Thrasher, Kelley Lovelace
88. Jaxson Free
89. Kelsea Ballerini
90. Rodney Clawson
91. Austin Shawn
92. Alex Palmer
93. Casey Brown
94. Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen
95. Paul Jenkins
96. Marty James, Frank Romano
97. Brad Tursi
98. Gregg Allman, Robert Kim Payne
99. Jared Mullins
100. Jaten Dimsdale

Barry Neil Shrum & Dennis Disney Launch New Music Row Law Firm

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Pictured (L-R): Dennis Disney, Barry Shrum and Doug Smith. Photo: Callie Disney

Industry veterans Barry Neil Shrum and Dennis Disney have joined forces to form the new Music Row law firm, Shrum Disney & Associates, providing both transactional and litigation services.

Located at 54 Music Square East, the boutique firm practices in the areas of entertainment, intellectual property, business/commercial law, endorsements, licensing, new ventures and start-ups.

“Collectively, we represent some of the most amazing talent—creators and business leaders—in music and entertainment,” says Shrum, Founder & CEO. “Whether they are seen frequently on national television, topping radio or consumption charts, touring a hundred plus shows a year to standing-room-only crowds, launching and growing influential businesses or just starting out in the entertainment or music industries, we provide personalized legal services uniquely tailored to each client.”

Shrum has been practicing law for over 30 years, starting in Philadelphia as a lawyer in the litigation department of a mid-sized Center City firm and then going in-house as counsel to a Fortune 50 conglomerate, all the while honing his legal skills to fulfill his goal of defending the rights of under-represented musicians, songwriters and artists. In 1996, he decided to return to his home in Tennessee, to build a practice on Music Row. Since 2009, Shrum has served as a professor at Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, teaching Entertainment Law & Licensing, Copyright Law, Cyber Law, Music Publishing and Legal Issues in the Entertainment Industry. He received his Juris Doctorate from Delaware Law School at Widener University, and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from Lipscomb University.

“We’re a boutique firm by design, which means we’re able to be nimble, strategic, creative and effective,” adds Disney. “We strive to provide legal services using unique pricing models, making legal support affordable to almost any client. Because of our combined experiences, we’re comfortable handling just about any legal matter, from structuring and closing complex deals to managing and protecting the assets and intellectual property rights of creators, businesses and entrepreneurs.”

Disney is a 39-year veteran of the music and entertainment industry, having started as a studio engineer while completing his undergraduate degree. Over the course of his career, Disney has held executive positions at various entertainment companies, including record labels, artist management firms, book publishers and his own marketing agency. Prior to starting Shrum Disney & Associates, he was Chief Operating Officer at Maximum Artist Group, where he oversaw company operations, business and legal affairs and strategic planning for each of the firm’s clients. From August 2009 through May 2018, Disney was an adjunct professor at the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business and taught Entertainment Distribution and Promotion. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in music business from Belmont University and a Juris Doctorate from Nashville School of Law.

Additionally, Shrum Disney & Associates has tapped Doug Smith, Jr. as Director of Paralegal Services. Smith’s duties include overseeing all paralegal, law clerk and administration services.

Oak Ridge Boy Joe Bonsall Officially Retires From Touring

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Joe Bonsall. Photo: Brandon Wood / Indie Bling Studio

Joe Bonsall, tenor singer for The Oak Ridge Boys for the past 50 years, has officially announced he is retiring from touring.

Bonsall shared this message with Oak Ridge Boys fans: “Many of you know I have been battling a slow onset (over four years now) of a neuromuscular disorder. I am now at a point where walking is impossible, so I have basically retired from the road. It has just gotten too difficult. It has been a great 50 years, and I am thankful to all The Oak Ridge Boys, band, crew, and staff for the constant love and support shown to me through it all. I will never forget, and for those of you who have been constantly holding me up in prayer, I thank you and ask for you to keep on praying. There is a young man named Ben James singing for me out there, and he needs your love and encouragement … his sound is different than mine, but he brings a ton of talent to the table! The Oak Ridge Boys will finish the ‘Farewell Tour’ without me, but rest assured, I am good with all of it! God’s Got It!!!”

During a Dec. 30 concert in Greenville, Mississippi, fellow Oaks Duane Allen, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban introduced James to an enthusiastic audience at Harlow’s Casino Resort.

The Oak Ridge Boys are planning a full touring calendar for their “American Made: Farewell Tour” beginning Jan. 20. They anticipate returning to the studio with Dave Cobb in late January, their fifth pairing with the super-producer.

Carrie Underwood Launches Workout Music Channel On SiriusXM

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Carrie Underwood has launched a second SiriusXM channel, Carr-Dio By Carrie’s Country, available to stream anytime exclusively on the SiriusXM app and on satellite channel 105 beginning Jan. 5-8.

Expanding on the popular Carr-Dio show from Carrie’s Country, the new fitness music channel plays high-energy workout tracks alongside fitness advice from Underwood herself. She curated the songs on the new channel, and reveals that one of her personal favorites to work out to is “Watch The World Burn” by rock band Falling In Reverse.

“One of the easiest ways to spice up a workout is with music,” says Underwood. “If you find the right jam and you get into it and you can dance in between sets and have a good time with it… Listen to music that makes you happy or pumps you up, and go for it! It’s all about just picking music that makes you feel good. I like stuff that I can either dance to or get mad with—it kind of depends on my mood and what I’m doing.”

Underwood has other fitness ventures as well, including her community-powered fitness app Fit52, which follows her fitness routines and offers hundreds of healthy recipes to help nourish the body, mind and soul while achieving personal wellness goals. For more information, click here.

Red Street Publishing Signs Brian White

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Pictured (L-R): Mike Craft, Don Koch, Madison Policastri, Kelly Rich, Brian White, Alex Valentine and Jay DeMarcus

Red Street Publishing has added seasoned hitmaker Brian White to its roster.

White has more than 400 cuts to date, including 16 No. 1s. His credits include Michael English‘s “Holding Out Hope To You” and The Martins‘ “The Promise,” both of which took home a Dove Award for Song of the Year, as well as Rodney Atkins‘ “Watching You,” which was named SESAC Country Song of the Year, and Jason Aldean‘s chart-topper “Blame It On You.”

White’s work has been recorded by other Christian artists such as We Are Messengers, Ben Fuller, Consumed By Fire, Danny Gokey, Kutless, 7eventh Time Down, Avalon, Point of Grace, Mandisa, 4Him, Larnelle Harris, Karyn Williams and Selah, among others. He has also scored more cuts in the country and pop markets with Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins, Gary Allan, The Swon Brothers, Steve Holy, Earl Scruggs, Terri Clark, Kix Brooks and BlackHawk.

Additionally, White worked as a touring artist with the band Brian White And Justice for 15 years.

“Brian and I grew up as writers together in the mid ’80s. He has become one of the few in Nashville who write Christian and country music equally well. I am proud to have him as a part of our Red Street writing team,” says Don Koch, Red Street’s EVP of Publishing/A&R.

“I’m beyond grateful to be a part of the Red Street family,” shares White. “They have put together an amazing team and I’m excited about the opportunity to work together with them. I have a lot of musical history with both Jay [DeMarcus] and Don and I’m looking forward to adding to our story!”