Old Crow Medicine Show Unveils New Album Due In June

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Old Crow Medicine Show will unveil their new album Union Made on June 5 on Hartland Records via Firebird Music.

The project features appearances from nearly a dozen guests including Maggie Rose, Turnpike Troubadours’ Evan Felker, Jesse Welles, John Carter Cash and Ana Cristina Cash. The projects reflects upon the people, places and stories of America.

“This is a fascinating time in our short history as a nation,” Secor says. “We wanted to meet that moment by collecting a bunch of songs that speak to the joys and potentials, the rights and the wrongs of where we are today, where we’re going, and what can embolden us to have a more perfect union in the future. There are wonderful, ghostly American sounds that only bands steeped in folk music traditions know how to conjure, and it seems like an important time for those voices to be heard.”

The first preview, “My Side Of The Mountain,” is available now. Written by Ketch Secor, Molly Tuttle and Luke Combs, the song features Tuttle, Del McCoury and Ronnie McCoury.

“Molly Tuttle and I got together with Luke Combs to write this song,” shares Secor. “Both Luke and I owe a lot to the scenic town of Boone, high in the hills of westernmost North Carolina where the song is set. Another musician with deep roots in the area is Bluegrass legend Del McCoury. ‘My Side of the Mountain’ celebrates the distinct culture and sound of the Appalachian people of WNC, some of our country’s most self-reliant folk. This song is for them.”

The band also recently announced the first ever vinyl release of their 2006 sophomore album Big Iron World, remastered by producer David Rawlings and been on the road this year for their “Back to the Roots Tour.”

Union Made Track List:
1. “Howdy Do America (feat. Jesse Welles)” (Ketch Secor, Jody Stevens)
2. “Lincoln Highway” (Ketch Secor)
3. “My Side Of The Mountain (feat. Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury & Molly Tuttle)” (Ketch Secor, Luke Combs, Molly Tuttle)
4. “Revolution Now (feat. Evan Felker)” (Ketch Secor, Lee Oskar)
5. “Last American Waltz” (Ketch Secor, Critter Fuqua)
6. “Merrimack & Monitor” (Ketch Secor)
7. “Rainbow Stew” (Merle Haggard)
8. “Rye Whiskey” (Ketch Secor)
9. “Beautiful Land (feat. Maggie Rose & Lee Oskar)” (Ketch Secor, Eric Tyrone Dozier)
10. “Lewis and Clark” (Ketch Secor)
11. Y’all All Come (feat. John Carter Cash & Ana Cristina Cash)” (Ketch Secor)
12. “For What It’s Worth” (Stephen Stills)

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Carly Pearce Is ‘Delightfully Snarky & Sassy’

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Carly Pearce. Photo: Luke Rogers

Ballads dominate this edition of DISClaimer, but a few of the country stars are making toe-tapping sounds as well.

Our balladeers include Riley Green, Reba McEntire and Braxton Keith. Willie & Shooter are emoting so mellow that they’re nodding off.

For tempo tunes, turn to Shaboozey, Vincent Mason and the team of Ella Langley & Morgan Wallen. Not to mention feisty Carly Pearce, who wins the Disc of the Day award.

Returning to ballad mode, we welcome Steven McClintock as our DISCovery Award winner this week.

VINCENT MASON / “Don’t Ask Me”
Writers: Hillary Lindsey/Jack Rauton/Luke Laird/Vincent Mason; Producers: Brett Truitt, Jake Gear, Vincent Mason; Label: MCA Nashville/Music Soup/Interscope Records
– Nominated as New Male Artist by the ACM, Mason has a new uptempo ditty that exudes boyish charm. The acoustic-based track bubbles along with jaunty innocence while the lyric paints a picture of a heartbroken fellow who has no one to blame but himself.

KIP MOORE / “Faith in the Wind”
Writers: Andrew DeRoberts/Kip Moore/Luke Preston; Producers: Andrew DeRoberts, Kip Moore; Label: KM
– A solitary soul sings of his journey into a mystery future while a lustrous, echoey track surrounds his meditation. He’s on a quest, but does not know his destination in life. Haunting and highly listenable.

ASHLEY McBRYDE / “Lines in the Carpet”
Writers: Caroline Watkins/Lauren Hungate/Lori McKenna; Producer: John Osborne; Label: Warner Records Nashville
– “What If We Don’t” remains the single. But McBryde continues to tease her forthcoming album Wild (due May 8) with this driving, urgent cry of the heart. A woman continues doing her day-after-day domestic chores feeling trapped and miserable, but her husband is oblivious. McBryde continues her unbroken reputation for quality country.

SHABOOZEY / “Born to Die”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: American Dogwood
– Shaboozey’s next album will be a concept collection that tells a tale of western revenge. Its lead single rushes forward with rhythmic energy. “Raise a glass to always living life like we ain’t born to die,” he sings in the dark party anthem. Arguably the most innovative and creative sonic personality in contemporary country music. Long may he sing.

ELLA LANGLEY & MORGAN WALLEN / “I Can’t Love You Anymore”
Writer: Ella Langley; Producer: none listed; Label: Columbia/SAWGOD
– These two red-hot stars team up for a stirring, breezy, rhythmic duet with swapped verses and Wallen harmonizing nicely on the choruses.

RILEY GREEN / “My Way”
Writer: Riley Green; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
– Anticipating his role on TV’s Marshals (airing this Sunday), Green issues a baritone ballad of sad resignation over a failed romance. His fluid, intimate, expressive delivery is framed by gently plucked guitar, bass, dobro and strings. Country eloquence. The song will be featured during Green’s episode of the CBS-TV hit.

STEVEN McCLINTOCK / “To You From Me”
Writers: Richard Addrisi/Steven McClintock; Producer: none listed; Label: SM
– Record promo veteran Bill Wence has been boosting indie artists for 52 years. His latest discovery sings this sweet, melodic love song in a soft tenor that is earnest and sincere. Piano and steel accompaniment add to the romantic mood. Co-writer Addrisi (1941-2025) was best known for penning the evergreen “Never My Love.”

CARLY PEARCE / “You Can Have Him”
Writers: Carly Pearce/Carter Faith/Lauren Hungate/Tofer Brown; Producer: none listed; Label: Blue Highway Records
– Delightfully snarky and sassy. Addressing the gals around her, Pearce tells them they’re welcome to a dude with loose morals and a wandering eye. Packed with attitude and personality, not to mention twangin’ steel.

BRAXTON KEITH / “Don’t No More”
Writers: Braxton Keith/Liz Rose/John Pierce; Producer: Alex Torrez, David Dorn; Label: Warner Records Nashville
– She’s left him behind. Evidently, she’s quite good at completely blocking out their past, and he reports it all in this yearning ballad. Pristinely produced, well written and sung with heart.

SHOOTER JENNINGS & WILLIE NELSON / “When I’m Stoned”
Writer: Jason Phillip Boland; Producer: Shooter Jennings; Label: HELL PONY ARCHIVES
– These two celebrated 4/20 this week as the annual weed-awareness date with this ditty. It’s way beyond “laid back” and sounds like they recorded it in an oil drum. Both vocalists seem to be meandering around looking for the melody. The band is Jason Boland & The Stragglers, whose original version is better.

CORB LUND & HAYES CARLL / “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”
Writers: Garth Brooks/Randy Taylor; Producer: none listed; Label: New West Records
– These two Americana stars have a strikingly effective arrangement of the Garth Brooks classic. It’s just their voices, an acoustic guitar and a cello, and it is absolutely brilliant and stunning. The broken rodeo man in the lyric comes truly alive here. Open your ears for something utterly refreshing, and play this.

REBA McENTIRE / “One Night In Tulsa”
Writers: Kylie Frey/Neal Coty/Thom McHugh; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Rockin’ R Records/MCA
– Country heartbreak in the throat of a Great. Every singer in this industry needs to listen to this ballad for a lesson in excellence.

SHAWN CAMP / “Sis Draper”
Writers: Guy Clark/Shawn Camp; Producer: Shawn Camp; Label: Truly Handmade Records
– Shawn is at No. 1 on the bluegrass chart this month with the title tune of his The Ghost of Sis Draper concept album. Draper was a fiddle hero of Camp’s when he was growing up in Arkansas. His homage to her is a ethereal, bluesy lament with fiddle notes weaving in and out of the mix. His misty, moody vocal is exquisitely dramatic. Essential listening.

Guitar Center Business Solutions Hosts Inaugural Tech Expo ‘Resonate’

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Mastering engineer Raelynn Janicke, Custom House at Guitar Center Moderator Davey Rieley, Grammy®-winning producer/mixer F. Reid Shippen and multi-No 1 songwriter Jamie Moore. Photo: Courtesy of Guitar Center, Canaan Kagay

Guitar Center Business Solutions hosted its inaugural integrated technology expo Resonate at Nashville’s Music City Center on April 9.

The free, one-day event brought together account managers across the Business Solutions brands, 30-plus key manufacturer partners, and hundreds of industry professionals, innovators and creators for a day of education, demonstrations and live experiences focused on the future of audio, video and integrated systems.

Nashville was selected as the host city for its reflection of today’s converging markets and its status as headquarters of Guitar Center Business Solutions, which includes Audio Video Design Group, Guitar Center Professional, Custom House at Guitar Center and the Guitar Center Music Foundation.

Curtis Heath, Guitar Center Business Solutions President, gave the opening remarks, followed by a diverse lineup of sessions and experiences. Highlights included a standing-room-only keynote presentation from Coach Micheal Burt, presentations from Shure, Logitech, QSC, Legrand and Electro-Voice, a live radio broadcast from WSM Radio’s Lexi Carter, an appearance by the Titans Cheerleaders in support of Guitar Center’s partnership with the Titans’ new Nissan Stadium, and a Nashville songwriter round featuring Josh Phillips and Brock Berryhill.

The program also included a Guitar Center Music Foundation segment and concluded with a Pro Audio Solutions Panel titled “Technology, Workflow, and the Modern Creative Process,” featuring Nashville-based audio professionals F. Reid Shippen, Raelynn Janicke and Jamie Moore. Moderated by Custom House at Guitar Center’s Davey Rieley, It featured Shippen, a 12-time Grammy®=-winning producer and mixer and co-founder of ONCE.app; Janicke, mastering engineer at Infrasonic, with credits including Zach Bryan, Lake Street Dive, Benson Boone, The Shins and Hudson Westbrook; and  Moore, a multi-No. 1 songwriter whose work has been recorded by Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Florida Georgia Line, Tim McGraw and Morgan Wallen. The discussion explored how technology integrates into today’s creative process, from songwriting and production through mastering, while highlighting how different creators rely on different tools and workflows to bring ideas to life.

“Resonate was an excellent opportunity to bring together all the Business Solutions account managers, our key manufacturer partners and decision-makers across music, education and enterprise,” says Heath, Guitar Center Business Solutions President. “As systems are converging faster than organizations can adapt, the industry needs clear leadership around how everything connects, and Guitar Center Business Solutions is proud to meet that challenge. The Resonate expo marked a firm tentpole in that journey, with plenty more to come.”

Amanda Shires, John Paul White, Sam Palladio Among Musicians Corner Spring Lineup

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Musicians Corner

Amanda Shires, John Paul White, Sam Palladio, Amythyst Kiah and more are among the lineup for Nashville’s free concert series Musicians Corner, which is returning this spring for its 17th year in Centennial Park beginning May 15.

The five week series will showcase a variety of performers at 11 concerts that will take place every Friday from 5 – 9 p.m. and Saturday from 12 – 6 p.m. from May 15-June 13, with a special Sunday performance over Memorial Day Weekend (May 24). Musicians Corner’s 2026 Spring Series kicks off on May 15-16 with performances from Sunny War, The Foxies, ENDLAF and more.

The spring series also includes the return of Musicians Corner’s three-day Memorial Day Weekend with performances by The Verve Pipe, Madi Diaz, Leah Blevins, Palladio and more May 22- 24. More artists are slated to be announced next month, including the Lightning 100 Stage lineup, which will feature 24 local emerging artists of varying genres. In addition to live music, each event will also feature artisan vendors, craft beer, wine, and cocktails, a variety of local food trucks, Kidsville activities, and featured community partners.

Musicians Corner will also return Aug. 28 for its annual Fall Series with events each Friday evening through Sept. 25, including the return of FREE FEST, in partnership with Lightning 100, over Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 4-6) and a special event in conjunction with AMERICANAFEST on Sept. 18.

Musicians Corner Spring Artist Lineup:

Friday, May 15
Sunny War • The Foxies • Abigayle Oakley • Rosa Rodriquez V. • Tre. Charles

Saturday, May 16
TBA • ENDLAF • Gustavo Moradel • EG Vines • TBA

Friday, May 22 – Memorial Day Weekend
Amanda Shires • Leah Blevins • Ava Swan • Küf Knotz & Christine Elise • Tim McNary

Saturday, May 23 – Memorial Day Weekend
The Verve Pipe • Nicole Atkins • TBA • Viva Mexico Mariachi • Bee Kelly

Sunday, May 24 – Memorial Day Weekend
Madi Diaz • Sam Palladio • The Explorers Club • Ducky Neptune • Dori Valentine

Friday, May 29
Cedric Burnside • Teddy & The Rough Riders • TBA • Vaveyla • Natasha Blaine

Saturday, May 30
Amythyst Kiah • Norista Freeze • Brandy Zdan • Los Locos Tristes • Tavior Mowry

Friday, June 5
Nashville Symphony • Amy Stroup • Melanie MacLaren • Kapali Long • Alana Cruz

Saturday, June 6
John Paul White • TBA • Eric Mcentee • Kent Burnside • Noah Torralba

Friday, June 12
S.G. Goodman • TBA • Emma Ogier • The Minks • Roderick August

Saturday, June 13
Grizfolk • Emily Scott Robinson • ZG Smith • J. Zachariou • Tenette Smith

Society Of Leaders In Development Hosts 29th Annual Crawfish Boil

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Members of SOLID’s 2026 Board of Directors. Photo: Morgan Jergens

The Society of Leaders in Development (SOLID) hosted its 29th Annual Crawfish Boil on April 21 in the Sony Music Publishing parking lot.

This year’s event set a SOLID record with over 500 attendees, and was followed by an official after party at the Virgin Hotel Rooftop.

Attendees enjoyed crawfish from Spicy Heads Crawfish, non-seafood options from All Seasons Sports Grill, paired with a wide range of food, beverages. Participating vendors and partners included NB Goods, New Heights Brewery, Black Box Ice Cream Truck, White Squirrel Brewery, Black Sheep Tequila, Honeytree Meadery, Twisted Sistuhs, Image Brand Nashville, and more. The event also featured live music from DJ Dom and DJ Solo, games, and interactive experiences throughout the evening.

“After two years of attending the SOLID Crawfish Boil and hearing it called THE event in Nashville, being on the planning committee this year felt special,” shares SOLID’s 2026 Co-Chair, Shana Saunders. “It’s more than food and music, it’s real community. It took a lot to bring it all together, but working alongside Chandel, our social committee, and the SOLID family made it something I’m proud to be part of.”

Photo: Morgan Jergens

Photo: Morgan Jergens

Photo: Morgan Jergens

Photo: Morgan Jergens

Photo: Morgan Jergens

BMI’s Rooftop On The Row Launches 8th Season With Zach John King & Aniston Pate

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Pictured (L-R): Tyler White, Zach John King & Aniston Pate. Photo: Katie Mathis for BMI

BMI kicked off the eighth season of its Rooftop On The Row series on April 21 with rising artists Zach John King and Aniston Pate.

Over 500 industry guests observed the Music City skyline from BMI’s Nashville office as DJ Smoke warmed up the crowd and host Tyler White introduced each performer and surprised the crowd with his first-ever performance of his new song, “Oh Yeah Baby.” The Love On The Spectrum star co-wrote the track with Drew Trosclair, Jeff Garrison and Lee Thomas Miller, and it is set for release May 15.

Pate led the evening by diving into “Driving Crazy” and “Kickin’ It,” showcasing her gritty sound. The West Texan followed with her first-ever performance of “I Don’t Drink In The Morning” and wrapped her set with the title track from her upcoming EP, Handful, due out on May 1.

King, who is currently in the middle of Morgan Wallen’s “Still The Problem Tour,” commanded the crowd with high-energy performances of “Life Behind Bars” and “I Deserve a Heartbreak,” and also announced the release of his new single “Backwoods” set for release on Friday (April 24). He ended the night with his rowdy and confessional radio single “When I Get To Drinkin’” and “Space.”

BMI’s Rooftop On The Row series returns May 19 with headliners Avery Anna, Tyler Halverson and Julianna Rankin. 

Aniston Pate. Photo: Katie Mathis for BMI

Zach John King. Photo: Katie Mathis for BMI

Photo: Katie Mathis for BMI

The Red Clay Strays Shake The Rafters With Gratitude On New Album ‘Grateful’ Due In June

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The Red Clay Strays will release their latest album Grateful via HBYCO Records/RCA Records on June 5. The electrifying opening track from the project, “Demons In Your Choir,” is out everywhere now.

“Demons In Your Choir” is a personal spiritual meditation unlike anything in the band’s previous body of work, swiftly building from a few stirring notes on the organ into a foot-stomping singalong, complete with wall-shaking guitar riffs and a backing gospel choir led by Grammy-winning musician Shannon Sanders.

Produced by Dave Cobb, Grateful is a collection of 11 soul-searching songs that can spill out of dance halls on Saturday night and fill church steeples on Sunday morning in equal measure. The album showcases The Red Clay Strays’ gift for time-tested soul and sweat-drenched rock on standout tracks like the churning hit single, “People Hatin’” and the tender “If I Didn’t Know You,” the latter joined by a heartwarming video co-starring avowed fan/comedian Matt Rife and fitness influencer Mariah Morse, boasting over 4.1 million views on YouTube. With Grateful, The Strays turn survival into jubilation on a celebration of faith, a soundtrack to gratitude, and a reflection of the road traveled along the way.

YouTube video

“Moment of Truth was a big album about having faith in dark times, looking to a higher power,” says The Red Clay Stray lead singer and guitarist Brandon Coleman. “And Made By These Moments focused on realizing those dark times that you were having to have faith through, which made you who you are. You made it through when you didn’t think you would. And now we’re at a point where we’re grateful. Looking to God in whatever situation you’re in is a denominator in all of the albums.”

“The title of the album’s a literal meaning to us at this moment in our careers,” adds bassist Andrew Bishop. “We’re grateful for how we came out of Made By These Moments and what we have now.”

The Red Clay Strays will celebrate Grateful with their biggest tour slate thus far, resuming tomorrow (April 24), with a top-billed appearance at Stagecoach. The band will hold a press conference on-site at the festival on April 24, which Amazon Music will broadcast exclusively that fans at 8:50 pm PT on Prime Video, the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, and the Amazon Music app. The group’s full Stagecoach set will also stream to fans worldwide here.

Another upcoming highlight will be the band’s special headline performance for the upcoming Season 52 of PBS’ Austin City Limits taping April 27 at the ACL Live at the Moody Theater, as well as hugely anticipated headline shows across the country through November.

Breakaway Names Megan Wise Vice President, Brand Partnerships

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Megan Wise. Photo: David Bradley

Breakaway has tapped Megan Wise as Vice President, Brand Partnerships.

Wise began her trajectory at CAA, rising from the mailroom to agent. She later joined the Country Music Association, where she oversaw brand partnerships, most notably brokering the first-ever presenting sponsorship of CMA Fest and the CMA Fest television special with SoFi. Wise most recently served as Vice President of New Business at Anotherland Agency.

“Megan brings a rare mix of instinct, experience, and real relationships,” says Adam Lynn, Breakaway CEO and Co-Founder. “As Breakaway continues to scale its brand partnerships business, she has a proven ability to translate cultural insight into meaningful, revenue-driving partnerships. We’re excited for her to help shape our next phase of growth in a way that’s both strategic and impactful.”

“Breakaway isn’t just a festival, it’s a lifestyle brand that has captured the attention of a new generation of fans,” shares Wise. “I am thrilled to join a team of industry innovators who have built a powerhouse independent platform. The company is perfectly positioned to create high-impact, 360-degree partnerships across a full ecosystem that includes festivals and concerts, talent management and label services, and a growing media division. I couldn’t be more excited to apply my experience during this next chapter of growth.”

Michael Bryan Launches Southern Drift

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Jordon Isbell, Michael Bryan & Taryn Anderson. Photo: Lance Wilson / RUN CLUB

Michael Bryan, former Global Head of Country Music for Apple Music, has launched Southern Drift, a Nashville-Based management and media company.

The company’s initial ventures include management for Charlie Worsham, a two-time ACM and CMA award winner, and the chart-topping podcast God’s Country, hosted by hit songwriters Reid and Dan Isbell.

Taryn Anderson has been tapped as Chief Operating Officer/General Manager. She has previously served as CFO/COO of Sandbox Entertainment and Account Executive at FBMM, Inc.

Jordon Isbell joins as Vice President, Marketing and Executive Producer of the God’s Country Podcast. She joins from her role as Senior Marketing Director at Virgin Music Group, where she oversaw the Nashville roster, following her time as Founder of 270 Media & Co.

“I’ve spent my career watching how music moves, and it’s never been more fluid,” Bryan says. “Artists aren’t staying in one lane, and fans aren’t either. What pushed me to start Southern Drift was seeing the gap between how artists are building today and how the industry is still structured. We built Southern Drift to move with it, not control it.”

Dan + Shay’s New Single ‘Say So’ Igniting The Conversation Around Mental Health Awareness

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Dan + Shay. Photo: Robby Klein

Dan + Shay’s personal, hope-filled new song “Say So” is helping raise national and community awareness about the grave and timely topic of suicide prevention.

The poignant track arrived at country radio with 112 stations adding the single to immediate rotation, making it the most added song of the week. “Say So” also received overwhelming support by a massive multi-platform launch, including major market billboards from YouTube, Pandora, Spotify and Amazon as well as radio world premieres across major networks including iHeart, Audacy, Cox, Connoisseur, Summit and Beasley.

“If you need somebody, say so” banner on Music Row

A powerful accompanying video, conceptualized and directed by the duo’s Dan Smyers, offers a long-lasting visual that allows room for watchers to react, and mobilize, in their own way. Days after the song and video arrived, banners inspired by the music video were seen around Nashville.

“Music can offer a respite for people during troubled times,” says Stephanie Rogers, EVP and Chief Communications Officer of The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “It also has the power to send potentially lifesaving messages and elevate our culture’s consciousness. Dan + Shay’s song, inspired by a friend lost to suicide, and which urges listeners, ‘If you need somebody, say so’ encourages those in distress to reach out to someone when they’re struggling. It’s important we all learn to speak openly about suicide and mental health, whether we notice someone struggling or could use some friendly support. This song, which assures listeners, ‘If you’re going through hell, you’re not alone,” offers a beacon of hope.”

YouTube video

If you or a loved one is in crisis, please call or text 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741 to talk to someone who can help.

Written by Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Jimmy Robbins and David Hodges, “Say So” is the first release of more music to come from the duo this year. Dan + Shay are set to perform on April 24 at Stagecoach in Indio, California.