Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has signed Catie Offerman to an exclusive publishing deal.

Based in Nashville, Offerman has written with Liz Rose, Natalie Hemby, Nicolle Galyon, Lucie Silvas, Jeremy Spillman, Brett James, Troy Verges, Chase McGill, Ryan Beaver and more. The New Braunfels, Texas native got her start as a fiddle player performing for artists all over the country.

“Most girls dream about their wedding day, but I always dreamed about the day I signed a publishing deal!” said Offerman. “I am so excited to be a part of the UMPG family. Universal is one of the most impactful companies in music. UMPG instantly felt like home to me, and I’m especially grateful to UMPG Nashville A&R Travis Gordon for ‘getting’ it! I love the whole team so much and can’t wait for this next chapter!”

“Catie’s songs captured all of us at UMPG after our first meeting. They draw you in and give a great definition of who she is a songwriter and artist. We’re beyond excited she chose UMPG to be her publishing home and look forward to delivering strong creative opportunities that support her journey as a songwriter,” said Kent Earls, UMPG Nashville Executive Vice President/General Manager.

Offerman is set to release new music in 2019. More information is available at catieofferman.com.

Musicians Corner will return to Centennial Park for its 10-year celebration with a two-day kickoff on Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11. The series provides free public access to live music and supports local and emerging artists.

The 2019 Spring Lineup will include 22 events, taking place on Fridays and Saturdays in May and June. These inclusive events will feature multi-genre and multicultural musical performances on the Main Stage and Lightning 100 Acoustic Stage, food trucks, the Pub, local artisan vendors, Kidsville activities, and featured community partners. Events will take place from 5 – 9 p.m. on Fridays and from 12 – 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

Musicians Corner’s May and June events will feature over 125 artists including boisterous folk troubadour Langhorne Slim & The Law, Grammy award-winning songwriter and former member of The Civil Wars, John Paul White, local indie rocker Soccer Mommy, roots rocker Parker Millsap, outlaw country singer Nikki Lane, American roots crooner Pokey LaFarge, moody Seattle songwriter Damien Jurado, Armenian folk singer Bedouine, local Americana hero Will Hoge, soulful indie-folk duo The Watson Twins, gritty folk rocker Aaron Lee Tasjan, former True Detective singer Lera Lynn, bluegrass songstress Sierra Hull, classic country champion Joshua Hedley, and many more.

On June 29, John Paul White will headline a showcase curated by Single Lock Records, the Muscle Shoals, Alabama-based record label that he co-founded. “We’re looking forward to partnering with our friends at Musicians Corner to present a Single Lock Records showcase on June 29,” said John Paul White, Co-Founder of Single Lock Records. “This will be a chance for folks to see the future of our label: Nashville residents The Prescriptions, Birmingham’s Duquette Johnston, local rock heroes Exotic Dangers, and 1/2 of the Single Lock String Section (along with Kimi Samson), Caleb Elliott. We’re incredibly proud to be joined at the hip with these amazing artists – and to show them off with the help and support of the fine folks at Musicians Corner.”

“Over the past decade, Musicians Corner has supported emerging artists, craft makers, and small businesses in addition to providing free music events for the Nashville community. Musicians Corner plays an important role in Nashville’s identity as Music City,” said Mayor David Briley.

In addition to the general schedule, Musicians Corner will partner with the Nashville Symphony for the third year to present a performance by the Grammy award-winning Nashville Symphony orchestra in Centennial Park on Thursday, June 6. Musicians Corner will also partner with American Artisan Festival for a three-day event on June 14, 15, and 16 featuring high quality contemporary craft and fine art, and a lineup of local performers to be announced at a later date.

“We’re excited to return to Centennial Park to celebrate ten years of free live music for the city of Nashville. The lineup features a great mix of some of our favorite artists who have performed on our stage over the years, as well as many new faces who we’re excited to showcase for the first time,” said Justin Braman, Musicians Corner Program Director.

Musicians Corner 2019 Main Stage Artist Lineup
Friday, May 10
The Watson Twins • Angel Snow • Don Gallardo & Lilly Winwood • Lauren Farrah • Daphne Michelle

Saturday, May 11
Langhorne Slim & The Law • Becca Mancari • Jason Eskridge • Katy Kirby • The Katawicks

Friday, May 17
Sierra Hull • Kyshona • Austin Plaine • Giri & Uma Peters • Katie Ruvane

Saturday, May 18
Parker Millsap • Brandy Zdan • &More (Chill Moody & Donn T) • Viva Mexico • Savannah Sgro

Friday, May 24
Will Hoge • Shelly Colvin • Emily Earle • Karina Daza • Avi Jacob

Saturday, May 25
Aaron Lee Tasjan • Erin Rae • AJ & The Jiggawatts • SONTALK • EG Vines

Friday, May 31
Lera Lynn • Hush Kids • Quinn DeVeaux • Sarah Zuniga • Jess Jocoy

Saturday, June 1
Joshua Hedley • Lilly Hiatt • Teddy & The Rough Riders • The Pressure Kids • McKenzie Lockhart

Thursday, June 6
Nashville Symphony

Friday, June 7
Pokey LaFarge • Amythyst Kiah • Esther Rose • Samuel Herb • Daniel Daniel

Saturday, June 8
Nikki Lane • Molly Burch • Sam Lewis • Veaux • Stacey Randol

June 14, 15, 16*
In Partnership With American Artisan Festival
Lineup To Be Announced

Friday, June 21
Damien Jurado • Kelsey Kopecky • Lydia Luce

Saturday, June 22
Soccer Mommy • Bantug • Idle Bloom • Briston Maroney • Sophia Boro

Friday, June 28
Bedouine • Jamie Drake • Robby Hecht • Ethansroom • Gustavo Guerrero

Saturday, June 29
Single Lock Records Showcase
John Paul White • Caleb Elliott • The Prescriptions • Exotic Dangers • Duquette Johnston

Thursdays, September 5, 12, 19, 26
Lineup To Be Announced At A Later Date

*The June 14, 15, 16 events will be held in partnership with the American Artisan Festival.

Black River Entertainment has announced a promotion and a new hire for the organization. Marketing Coordinator Nikki Abbamont has been promoted to Marketing Manager, while Drew DeSirey has been hired as Graphic Designer. Both report to Vice President of Marketing, Tanya Welch.

Abbamont joined Black River Entertainment in May 2017 as the Publicity and Marketing Coordinator before fully transitioning to Marketing Coordinator in 2018. Now serving as the Marketing Manager, she will continue to contribute to and execute marketing campaigns for the Black River roster including Abby Anderson, Kelsea Ballerini, Hannah Kerr, Josh Wilson and Carolina Story.

“Nikki is unrelenting in all the best ways. She earned this promotion with her commitment to excellence and her positive, infectious energy,” said Welch.

DeSirey is a Nashville native and recent graduate of Watkins College of Art. His work in graphic design and in-house photography will benefit all of Black River Entertainment and its subsidiaries including: Black River Records, Black River Christian and Black River Americana.

“I am beyond blessed to have started my graphic design career here at Black River,” DeSirey said. “I can’t say enough good things about this company, and the people I work with!”

“Drew’s fresh design aesthetic coupled with his appreciation for our format make him an exciting addition to our creative team,” Welch said.

In Jennifer Nettles’ new song “I Can Do Hard Things,” she sheds light on the duality of the human experience, asserting that we are made for circumstances both easy and daunting, noting how daily circumstances are rarely solely one or the other.

“I Can Do Hard Things,” with production from Julian Raymond, highlights the ability to forge light, strength and grit through difficult situations, and provides a voice of solidarity and comfort to women around the world who are, daily, overcoming obstacles and inspiring those around them.

“I saw that we are resilient,” Nettles, the 2019 recipient of the Human Rights Campaign Ally for Equality Award, wrote in an essay on medium.com, “That change is hard, and loss is hard, and being a Mom is hard, and living one’s Truth is hard. That Truth became so loud that I had to sing it.”

Nettles knew the video for the vulnerable song had to be just as hard-hitting. The clip, directed by Katie Kauss, edited by Alex Chaloff and produced by BMLG’s Jake Basden, allows a diverse group of women to tell their stories of hardship, struggle, resilience, grit, failures and successes.

Two leaders in Nashville’s music industry are among the women featured in the video.

Ali Harnell, who has spent years in the live touring industry as part of AEG, was recently named President and Chief Strategy Officer at Live Nation, to spearhead the company’s Women Nation initiative. The video highlights her commitment to leadership in the live music industry, and to opening doors for other females who aspire to become part of the industry.

Holly Gleason, an award-winning journalist and author who has also handled PR for Kenny Chesney, shared her struggle in the aftermath of a sexual assault.

Others featured in the video for “I Can Do Hard Things” include photographer Kate Davis, who is also Chief of Staff for an actress and activist, and is in the process of adopting a baby as a single woman; transgender advocate and former business owner and stylist Jaime Combs; artist and writer Caroline Randall Williams, who uses her work to bring light to the stories of women of color; Morgan Leigh Garner, a singer/songwriter, mother and Army wife; Audrey Ynigez-Gutierrez, a graduate research assistant who is also a caregiver to her disabled mother; and Danielle Randolph, an active firefighter and member of the National Guard working to change perceptions of women in male-dominated industries.

The video, which was filmed on a set south of Nashville, features stark black-and-white footage, with intimate snippets revealing pieces of each woman’s story.

“It was not an excessive production but by using creativity, authenticity and a strong vision, they created something that a $100,000 music video couldn’t,” Gleason tells MusicRow.

“I have been very private about my situation for a lot of reasons. Probably three or four people know I’ve really struggled with it, and Jake is one of them. He told me that Jennifer was working on a project to help empower women to stand in their truth and to create a community of strength,” Gleason said. “The whole video happened quickly, in like 10 days.”

Gleason, who serves as Nashville Editor for Hits Daily Double, has forged ahead with new career accomplishments, including the book Woman Walk The Line: How The Women In Country Music Changed Our Lives, which earned the Belmont Book Award last year. She was also inducted into Nashville’s SOURCE Hall of Fame in 2018.

She takes to heart the struggle each woman featured in the video for “I Can Do Hard Things” has endured as they have made their accomplishments.

“Every woman in the piece…those struggles weigh on their soul. People don’t know how it feels to be this amazing science researcher on the rise, but to also have a parent with a chronic illness. Or a single woman adopting a baby.

“Everybody on the set fell into an instant friendship—‘Who are you? Where are you from? What do you do?’ It was like a fellowship. When I filmed my piece, a couple of the women came and sat off-camera, because either they had had a similar experience, or they knew someone who had been through that. So you had that kind of quiet support during the filming, and you knew you weren’t alone. People had a lot of curiosity about each other. You felt like your struggle mattered. But, it was also women eating salads and bagels and laughing. There was a lot of laughter on the set,” Gleason recalls.

The video highlights Harnell’s rise in the touring industry. At AEG, Harnell managed the Southeast region and oversaw national touring activity since 2004. She also programmed and developed AEG Presents’ C2C Festival and served as producer for the All For The Hall benefit concerts. She rose to the role of Sr. VP, AEG Touring Team for AEG Presents, where she oversaw all aspects of bookings and operations, as well as national touring activity for Sugarland, Keith Urban, Little Big Town and others. She has also served as artist co-manager for The Shadowboxers. In 2014, she was named Promoter of the Year by IEBA and made Billboard’s Top 50 Women in Music list. In 2015, she was nominated for CMA Promoter of the Year. Earlier this year, she joined Live Nation’s Women Nation in a new role as President and Chief Strategy Officer.

“Jennifer is a unicorn goddess of a woman and an immense talent,” Harnell tells MusicRow. “We did Sugarland’s first tour when they got back together. We were hanging out in her dressing room, and she played me this song. I was familiar with the book Love Warrior. I knew I had to be part of this—I had a connection to the song and of course to Jennifer.”

When she got a call from director Kauss about the video, she knew it was something she wanted to be part of. Harnell notes that women make up less than 20 percent of top leaders across all industries, and in her new role at Live Nation, she is focused on opening doors for rising female executives.

“Everyone wants to know my blueprint and I’m careful of creating a strategy around it. I acknowledge that I have worked hard and am seen as a leader but we have a long way to go. For me, I try to mentor women, because you can’t be what you don’t see.

“There are a lot of men in control in this space—radio programmers, concert promoters. There is a pipeline issue. How do you create more opportunities, and find ways for men to advance so that it makes room for women? I also think, culturally, women take the lead on family planning and homemaking but the societal norm is on women and that can hinder careers. They want to be doing well from the kitchen table to the boardroom table.”

Harnell commended all of the women who came forward to share their stories with the world through Nettles’ video for “I Can Do Hard Things.”

“That’s how we change things, by telling our stories and changing the narrative.”