Music Will, the largest non-profit music education program for schools in the U.S., has unveiled their brand new National Advisory Board.

United by a commitment to increasing access and participation in K–12 public school music programs, Board members deepen Music Will’s connections across the music industry to advance their mission of changing lives through music education. The new national advisory board consists of artists Darryl McDaniels (Run-D.M.C.), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Wyclef Jean, Kristin Chenoweth, Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Caroline Jones (Zac Brown Band), and more.

Industry Board executives include Brad Turcotte (Artist Management, Vector Management), Brittney King Brock (Music Industry Executive & Founder of Moms In Music), Craig Kallman (Chief Music Officer, Atlantic Music Group), Ellen Mangan (Founder of EJM Artists), Erica Krusen (Sr Dir Cultural Influence, Gibson, Inc | Global Executive Dir, Gibson Gives, Foundation), Hannah Gold (Senior Talent Buyer & Producer – Newport Festival Foundation & Dreamcatcher Events), Justin McIntosh (Artist Management, JTMC Entertainment), Kelly Ridgway (VP Global Marketing – CTK Enterprises), Kelly Voigt (SVP, Global Communications, Concord), Lee Dannay (VP A&R, Thirty Tigers), Madeline Nelson (Founder and CEO, Purple Cow Innovation), Paul Peck (President and Co-Founder, Fandiem) and Dave Wish (Founder & Chief Vision Officer, Music Will).

“I was lucky to have music woven into my education from an early age, as it shaped who I am as an artist and as a person,” says Jones. “That’s why I’m so passionate about the work Music Will is doing to make music education accessible, inclusive, and empowering for every student. I’m honored to join the National Advisory Board and help ensure more young people have the chance to find their voice through music.”

Cole Swindell is helping Mountain Dew launch its new “Thirst Guards” campaign this weekend which aims to bring cold drinks directly to fans at key lake destinations nationwide.

The campaign kicks off 0ver the July 4th weekend and features on-demand delivery services and pop-up stations at popular outdoor destinations. Mountain Dew will deploy Sea-Doos to bring drinks directly to boaters and lake-goers at Lake of the Ozarks, MO. On July 5-6, visitors can text (803)-MTN-DEWS with their location and request a cooler refill, while supplies last.

Swindell is scheduled to make appearances on July 6 near MarineMax Osage Beach, helping the Thirst Guard hand out drinks and merch. In addition to Missouri, the Thirst Guards campaign will set up shop at Lake Travis, Texas, Miller Beach, Indiana and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with on-land activations aimed at reaching beachgoers.

Additionally, Mountain Dew is launching a limited-edition sunglasses collaboration with Pit Viper. The custom-designed colorway shades will be available starting July 16 exclusively on TikTok Shop.

“I’ve always been a big fan of Mountain Dew, so I’m hyped to lead the Mountain Dew Thirst Guards and help keep the party going July 4th weekend,” says Swindell. “Catch me at Lake of the Ozarks filling up coolers, passing out Pit Vipers and blasting my new music — an ideal summer day!”

“Nothing kills the vibe faster than an empty cooler – that’s why the Mountain Dew Thirst Guards are here to save the summer, keeping you stocked up and the good times rolling,” adds Michael Smith, VP Flavored CSD Marketing, PepsiCo Beverages U.S. “We’ve tapped one of our biggest fans, country music superstar, Cole Swindell to lead the Thirst Guards and surprise fans at Lake of the Ozarks July 4th weekend with ice cold DEW, Pit Vipers and more.”

West Coast-based live event production services and systems integration provider 3G Productions LLC has acquired Main Light’s 70,000-square-foot location in Nashville.

“The Nashville market has been a key focus as we execute our strategy of growing into a national full-service production company,” says 3G Productions CEO Keith Conrad. “With the acquisition of Main Light’s Tennessee branch, we get a world-class production warehouse, an experienced team of experts in the local market and a wealth of best-in-class lighting equipment. This move enables us to better support our budding client base in the region while adding new clients looking for high-quality, one-stop-shop production services.”

3G Productions has taken over Main Light’s Antioch neighborhood building, its full inventory and all seven employees. Main Light still maintains ownership and operations of its three locations in Wilmington, Delaware, Teterboro, New Jersey, and headquarters in Las Vegas, all of which will continue to operate with a sole focus on dry-hire lighting rentals. 3G will continue to support Nashville’s local dry-hire clients, with the added benefit of also being able to furnish them with video, audio and rigging gear.

Pictured (L-R): Lili McGrady, President of Humanable; Bart Herbison, Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI); Ashley Hertzog Embry, SOURCE Nashville Program Chair; Aileen Crowley, Co-President of Sureel and Ken Gay, Co-Founder of Monarrch.

SOURCE Nashville brought together music industry leaders, members of the tech world and legal experts for a “Real Talk on Artificial Intelligence: The Music Industry’s Response to AI” panel at the CMA offices on June 26.

The sold-out event addressed one of the most pressing issues facing the creative community today: the rise of generative AI and how it impacts ownership, attribution and compensation for music creators.

The panel was moderated by Bart Herbison, Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, and featured innovators at the forefront of AI rights management including Lili McGrady, President of Humanable, a new certification company offering a trademark seal for music created without the use of generative AI; Aileen Crowley, Co-President of Sureel, an AI attribution platform helping creators control how their intellectual property is used and monetized by AI systems; and Ken Gay, Co-Founder of Monarrch, a generative rights management company pioneering real-time AI royalties for style and likeness usage.

Herbison opened with insight into Tennessee’s ELVIS Act, the landmark legislation passed in 2024 that now protects voice, likeness and image against unauthorized AI use. He also discussed federal efforts like the proposed NO FAKES Act, aimed at ensuring nationwide protections for artists. With AI-generated songs now produced at a rate of over 800,000 per day, the panel was a timely and necessary conversation that not only educated attendees but equipped them with tools to act.

“This is not about ‘picking a side’ that you think is wholly right or wrong,” said SOURCE Nashville Program Chair Ashley Hertzog Embry. “It’s about acknowledging the nuance of this very complicated matter, and having choices about how to respond.”

Additional, SOURCE has announced that tickets are on sale now here for the upcoming 22nd SOURCE Nashville Hall of Fame Awards hosted by Brenda Lee and Jeannie Seely with Mandy Barnett at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum on Aug. 26.