Darius Rucker‘s 12th annual Darius and Friends benefit for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will return as a live event this year on Aug. 17 following last year’s virtual concert due to the pandemic. The annual fundraiser, which has raised over $2 million to date, will return to the Ryman Auditorium to celebrate with an all-star roster of friends to be announced in the coming weeks.

“The incredible work being done at St. Jude really made an impact on me when I had a chance to visit and hear the patients’ stories,” shares Rucker. “They are some of the bravest people I’ve ever met and being able to support them with this event is always a highlight of my year. I’m so glad we’ll be back to performing in front of a full house at the Ryman for such a great cause!”

Artists who have performed with Rucker in past years have included Lauren Alaina, Brooks & Dunn, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Ashley McBryde, Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers and Brett Young, among many others.

Tickets to the 12th annual Darius and Friends benefit are available for purchase to the general public on Friday, July 23. Livestream passes to enjoy the concert from home will also be available here.

Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 33rd MusicRow Awards, we take a look at the MusicRow Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year category. The Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year is voted by MusicRow’s subscribed members to honor a Nashville songwriter and recording artist who for the first time wrote or co-wrote a Top 10 song for the first time during the eligibility period of June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021.

The MusicRow Awards will be announced virtually among multiple MusicRow platforms on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. Presenting Sponsor of the 2021 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribed members. Voting is now open and closes on July 23 at 5 p.m.

To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscribed member here.

Tenille Arts had a history-making single with “Somebody Like That.” Written by Arts, Allison Veltz Cruz and Alex Kline, it is the first country song performed and produced entirely by females to reach No 1. This success earned the trio multiple MusicRow Awards nominations. Arts was selected for the CMT Next Women of Country Class of 2021, and was nominated for ACM New Female Artist of the Year. This summer she’ll be working her follow-up single “Back Then, Right Now” and hitting the road with Lady A.

Ben Johnson of trio Track45 has two qualifying songs which earned him a nomination for Breakthrough Artist-Writer: “Gone” recorded by Dierks Bentley, and “One Of Them Girls” recorded by Lee Brice. His chart action during the eligibility period also includes “All My Favorite Songs” by Weezer which was a hit on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart. Johnson’s other cuts include ”Believe” by Meek Mill and Justin Timberlake, “On Me” by Thomas Rhett and Kane Brown ft. Ava Max, “Hot Beer” by Dillon Carmichael, and “Give Heaven Some Hell,” by Hardy, which is nominated for MusicRow Awards Song of the Year. Johnson also co-produced Kylie Morgan’s debut EP.

Chris Lane scored his first No. 1 as a songwriter with “Big Big Plans.” He wrote the song with Jacob Durrett and Ernest Keith Smith, a fellow nominee for Breakthrough Artist-Writer. Lane’s previous hits as a recording artist were outside cuts including “I Don’t Know About You,” “Fix,” and “Take Back Home Girl” ft. Tori Kelly. Lane is following the success of “Big Big Plans” with new single, “Fill Them Boots,” and a tour of the same name. He also dropped the tracks “Summer Job Money,” “That’s What Mamas Are For,” and is featured on Dustin Lynch’s “Tequila On A Boat.”

Ashely McBryde is a co-writer of her hit single “One Night Standards” along with Nicolette Hayford and Shane McAnally, marking her first entry into the top 10 as a songwriter, despite her notable past success. The song was released on Sept. 23, 2019, as the lead-off single to her second studio album, Never Will, and peaked at radio a year later. McBryde is the 2019 MusicRow Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Her co-writes have been recorded by artists including Chrissy Metz, Carly Pearce, Dan Smalley and Shy Carter. McBryde returns to the road this summer, including her first headlining shows at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

Parker McCollum earned his first No. 1 at country radio with “Pretty Heart,” which received RIAA Platinum certification and was featured on his Hollywood Gold EP, the highest-selling debut country EP of 2020. McCollum’s year of many highlights includes numerous sold-out shows, and his debut performance on the Grand Ole Opry. His full-length major label debut album, Gold Chain Cowboy, is set for release July 30. McCollum wrote “Pretty Heart” with frequent collaborator Randy Montana, who is the reigning MusicRow Breakthrough Songwriter and is in the running for Male Songwriter of the Year this year.

Ernest K. Smith scored an impressive five qualifying hits during the eligibility period. His cuts include “Big Big Plans,” which also earned a Breakthrough Artist-Writer nomination for Chris Lane. Smith also co-wrote Sam Hunt’s “Breaking Up Was Easy in the ‘90s,” Florida Georgia Line’s “I Love My Country,” Morgan Wallen’s “More Than My Hometown” and “Heartless” recorded by Diplo ft. Morgan Wallen. Smith contributed eleven tracks to Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album. He has Lane’s current single “Fill Them Boots,” FGL’s “Blessings,” and Zayn’s “Tightrope,” as well as his own new single “American Rust.”

Country Community Comes Together To Support The Bilbreys

Coming Home: Rebuilding the Bilbreys

The country music community came together for a night of music, stories, laughter, and tears in support of famed host and radio personality, Keith Bilbrey during Coming Home: Rebuilding the Bilbreys. Bilbrey and his wife, Emy Joe, lost their home on June 22 after a devastating house fire.

Governor Mike Huckabee and Larry’s Country Diner’s Larry Black hosted the event. Country music artists and industry peers who participated include The Bellamy Brothers, Bill Anderson, Charlie McCoy, Chonda Pierce, Craig Morgan, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Deborah Allen, Devon O’Day, Doyle Dykes, Exile, Larry, Steve & Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers, Gene Watson, Gus Arrendale, The Isaacs, Jimmy Fortune, Janie Fricke, Jeannie Seely, John Berry, Kelly Lang, Lacy J. Dalton, Lee Greenwood, Lorrie Morgan, The Malpass Brothers, Mark Wills, Marty Stuart, Moe Bandy, Nadine (Larry’s Country Diner), Nan Kelley, The Oak Ridge Boys’ Duane Allen and Richard Sterban, Rhonda Vincent, T. Graham Brown, Teea Goans, and T.G. Sheppard.

“Keith and Emy Joe Bilbrey have lots of friends that we certainly saw here at this wonderful tribute, where so many of the luminaries of the Nashville entertainment scene came in person to show their support,” shares Governor Huckabee. “Many others who couldn’t be here offered contributions in other ways to a couple who lost everything in a horrific house fire. Everyone wants to make sure that Keith and Emy Joe not only know that they are loved, but will rebuild their home and lives with the help of the country music community.”

AIMP Atlanta Chapter Holds Kickoff Event

Pictured (L-R): Michael Lau (AIMP NY Chapter President), Teri Nelson Carpenter (AIMP LA Chapter President), David Porter (Co-Founder & CEO of MIME), Tony D. Alexander (Co-Founder, President & Managing Director of MIME), and John Ozier (AIMP National Chair & Nashville Chapter President)

On July 15, the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) held their AIMP Atlanta Chapter kickoff event at the new 4U Recording studio in Atlanta.

During the event, John Ozier (AIMP National Chair and Nashville Chapter President), Teri Nelson Carpenter (AIMP Los Angeles Chapter President), and Michael Lau (AIMP New York Chapter President) discussed their Chapters’ latest initiatives, how they work together to achieve national goals, and the overall benefits of the AIMP.

The effort to establish an Atlanta Chapter of the AIMP is being led by Tony D. Alexander, Co-Founder, President, and Managing Director of Made in Memphis Entertainment (MIME), which runs its MIME Publishing Group and Beatroot Music companies from Atlanta via the new 4U Recording studio and offices. Alexander and MIME Co-Founder & CEO David Porter, a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee for his work at Stax Records, including writing “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Coming” for Sam & Dave, were on hand for the event as well.

Sony Music Nashville Adds Kaileen Mangan As Regional Promotion Manager

Kaileen Mangan

Sony Music Nashville has appointed Kaileen Mangan as Regional Promotion Manager, Arista Nashville. Mangan will report to Josh Easler, Vice President, Promotion, Arista Nashville.

Mangan most recently held the position of Promotion Coordinator, MCA Records, and prior to that Assistant to Promotion EVP at UMG. Following her graduation in 2018 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, she moved to Nashville where she had spent her two previous summers interning at CMA, Iconic Entertainment, CMT and Essential Broadcast Media.

“Kaileen has an unmistakable passion, enthusiasm and vision for record promotion,” shares Easler. “When I first met her, I knew she had the talent and skills that would equip her to become an immediate champion of our artists and music. We are beyond excited she is joining our Arista Nashville promotion team.”

“I’m so grateful and thrilled for this opportunity,” says Mangan. “I’m eager to join Josh, Steve and the regionals in promoting Arista Nashville’s phenomenal roster. Can’t wait to hit the ground running in the Midwest and get my Portillo’s fix, of course.”

Mangan can be reached at kaileen.mangan@sonymusic.com.

ASCAP Experience, ASCAP’s signature event created to inspire, educate, and connect aspiring songwriters and composers, has announced the upcoming schedule of virtual expert sessions slated for July and August.

Leading the lineup is a conversation between Grammy winners Chris Stapleton and Dan Wilson to take place on July 28 where the pair will discuss the art of writing music together, and share tips to ensure your collaborators are as thrilled with the results as you are. Additionally, on Aug. 11, top film and TV composers take the stage for a trio of educational sessions with insider tips on navigating a music career, the process of scoring a scene, film/TV scoring business essentials and more.

The virtual sessions are free to attend and take place twice monthly on Wednesdays via YouTube, Instagram, and on the ASCAP Experience website. For more information and to RSVP to upcoming events, click here.

A full description of the upcoming ASCAP Experience events can be found below:
July 28
“The Art of Collaboration with Chris Stapleton and Dan Wilson” — Grammy-winning songwriters Chris Stapleton and Dan Wilson will talk about how they’ve worked together and with other artists to create some of the 21st century’s biggest hits. Stapleton has co-penned huge songs with Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan and Justin Timberlake, in addition to his chart-topping career as a solo artist; Wilson’s resume includes top 10 hits and Grammy winners for Halsey, Dierks Bentley, Adele, The Chicks, his band Semisonic and more.

August 11
“What Every Film/TV Composer Needs to Know About the Business” — A distinguished lineup of composers will offer tips on the business know-how that every professional film/TV composer needs to sustain a long-term career, and explain their own journeys of breaking through and finding success. Featuring composers Siddhartha Khosla (This Is Us), John Powell (How to Train Your Dragon), Pinar Toprak (Captain Marvel) and Joel Beckerman, the founder of Your Music, Your Future.

August 25
“Songwriting for the Voice” — Vocal coach Matt Ramsey with songwriter/producer/vocalist Autumn Rowe and Grammy-winning arranger-composer Vince Mendoza will explain how to craft songs that take advantage of the voice’s natural abilities and limitations. They’ll discuss what makes a melody or lyric singable, pitching your song to fit different vocalists, how to leave room for vocals in your arrangements and mixes, and much more.

Kolby Cooper. Photo Gabriel Muniz

Singer-songwriter Kolby Cooper will release his six-track EP, Boy From Anderson County, on Friday, Aug. 6. This will mark his debut project with BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records in partnership with Combustion Music since signing with them in June.

All six songs on the upcoming project were produced by Phillip Mosley. The title track kicks off the project with Cooper’s heavy southern drawl delivering a heartfelt love song, reminiscing on the impact his wife has had on his life and recognizing it was her who made him a man. Co-written by Cooper, Jameson Rodgers, and Brent Anderson, Cooper’s vocals are at the forefront in “Good For You,” as he pines after the girl who didn’t let him hold her back, while “Way To Go” is self-deprecation at its finest but leaves Cooper enlightened by the mistakes of his past.

The up-beat, “This Song Don’t Make No Sense” finds Cooper dumbfounded by his former affirmation for his departed ex while “Her Favorite Songs,” a tongue-in-cheek song flaunting all of Cooper’s success to a formidable antagonist, wraps up the EP.

Boy From Anderson County Track List:
1. Boy From Anderson County (Kolby Cooper, Jordan Walker)
2. Good For You (Kolby Cooper, Jameson Rodgers, Brent Anderson)
3. Excuses (Kolby Cooper, Brett Tyler, Jordan Walker)
4. Way To Go (Kolby Cooper, Mike Walker, Josh Jenkins)
5. This Song Don’t Make No Sense (Kolby Cooper, Jordan Walker, Matt McKinney)
6. Her Favorite Songs (Kolby Cooper, Jordan Walker, Jacob Davis)