Pictured (L-R): BMI’s David Preston, manager Kerri Edwards, Big Loud Mountain’s Craig Wiseman, Round Hill’s Penny Gattis, songwriter and producer Michael Carter, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, BMI artist Cole Swindell, Sony/ATV Tree Publishing’s Terry Wakefield and Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito. Photo: Steve Lowry.

Cole Swindell’s latest No. 1 party couldn’t be contained to one location, or to one song. The Warner Music Nashville artist is lobbing hit songs at the top of the charts faster than he can find time to schedule parties.

Instead, music industry members celebrated three of Swindell’s chart-topping tunes with a pub crawl, taking over three bars on Demonbreun Street in Nashville on Monday afternoon (Sept. 12).

At SOUTH, Swindell and company celebrated “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” which was released in 2014.

Swindell, Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, and Michael Carter wrote the song in 2013 during a Florida Georgia Line tour. Swindell, Hubbard and Kelley are BMI writers; Carter is associated with ASCAP.

Carter recalled, “We got in the room to write and BK brought in this boom box and he said somebody—I think it was an old flame or something—had sent him a message on Facebook the night before and said, ‘Hope you get lonely tonight.’ So he came in and told us, and we were like, ‘Hell yeah, that sounds good.’ We had a beat going and were in their dressing room. I think we wrote the song in an hour. Then the rest of the day, we were playing that work tape for everybody.”

Carter had much to celebrate during the evening. In addition to being a co-writer on two of the chart-topping songs, he has producer credit on all three of the No. 1 hits.

“FGL could have easily given that song away. I didn’t even have a record deal,” said Swindell. “For us to be on a team where we believed enough in a song, and had enough people around us that believed in the song, that’s a huge compliment to me, even more so than the song going No. 1, that y’all believed in me what we were doing.”

Kelley and Hubbard could not attend, but sent in their congratulations by video.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Terry Wakefield pulled triple duty during the event, as the company has publishing on each of the three songs. Also on hand to honor “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight” were ASCAP’s Beth Brinker and BMI’s David Preston, as well as Kerri Edwards of 243 Music (and manager for Swindell and Luke Bryan), Round Hill Music’s Penny Gattis, and Big Loud Mountain’s Craig Wiseman.

As has become tradition at No. 1 parties, the event was also used to help people in need. Gattis announced a donation on behalf of the songwriters to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee that would provide 800 meals. Pinnacle Bank’s Ron Cox announced a donation on behalf of the songwriters to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Warner Music Nashville leader John Esposito said that Swindell’s need to condense three No. 1 parties into one massive shindig is a testament to his success. “The only other artist, because he’s so busy, that we’ve been backed up and had to do three No. 1s in a row with is Blake Shelton, so that is pretty good company.”

Pictured (L-R): Big Yellow Dog’s Carla Wallace, Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, BMI’s Josh Tomlinson, BMI singer-songwriter Cole Swindell, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, writer Adam Sanders, producer Michael Carter and Sony/ATV Tree Publishing’s Terry Wakefield. Photo: Steve Lowry

From there, the crowd made its way to the second party stop, Dawg House, to fete “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey.” The track was penned by Swindell, ASCAP writer Adam Sanders and SESAC writer Josh Martin. Sony/ATV’s Wakefield and Big Yellow Dog Music’s Carla Wallace were among those presenting honors.

“It’s one of the first songs I heard when you came into my office with your EP,” Wallace told Sanders. “No. 1 songs are really hard to get. Any No. 1 song is great to celebrate, but when you can say you wrote it with one of your closest friends, you and Cole, that’s really amazing. For anyone out there trying to write a country song, this is your element…it has whiskey, America, and cheatin’. So bring it,” Wallace quipped.

Wakefield shared similar sentiments for Swindell. “When Cole turned in his very first demo session, what song was on it? ’Ain’t Worth The Whiskey.’ That just shows you the caliber of writer he was from the very beginning.”

BMI’s Josh Tomlinson, son of Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, made his first No. 1 party presentation on behalf of the performing rights organization. He was joined by ASCAP’s Beth Brinker.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Bradley Collins, Sony/ATV Tree Publishing’s Terry Wakefield, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, BMI songwriter Jody Stevens, producer Michael Carter and Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito. Photo: Steve Lowry.

The party goers, still in full swing, concluded the celebration at Tin Roof, where they honored “Let Me See Ya Girl,” penned by Swindell, Carter and BMI songwriter Jody Stevens. Publishers on the song include Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Colden Rainey Music, and 243 Music.

“We have five No. 1 singles in a row,” said Esposito, referring to Swindell’s latest chart-topper, “You Should Be Here.” “We are on our way to our sixth and I couldn’t be one iota prouder.”

“I never miss a chance to let you know how thankful I am,” Swindell told the crowd. “I grew up a fan. When I fell in love with music and found out who guys like Craig Wiseman were in college, who were writing the songs I was covering, I knew I want to make people feel the way they made me feel when I hear this music. Those songs, we can tell you right where we were when we first heard them. It puts you back at that place, and the fact that music can do that, I think that has a little bit to do with why we all do this. The power is music is real.”

The Academy of Country Music’s Executive Search Committee has announced a search for its open CEO position. The search comes after the ACM’s former CEO Bob Romeo stepped down in May.

The CEO will be responsible for results related to the ACM’s two televised shows as well as relationships with networks. This person will also oversee ACM Lifting Lives and its related charitable endeavors, as well as the ACM’s operating structures and processes.

“Over its more than 50 years, the Academy of Country Music has built a strong legacy and deep relationships in country music,” says ACM Board President Ken Tucker. “Our CBS-televised awards shows are annual anchors for artists, fans and the industry, and our ACM Lifting Lives charitable endeavors give even more meaning to all we do. This is an exceptionally exciting time for a new leader to join us as we continue the Academy’s growth and further its mission.”

The ACM describes the ideal candidate as a process-driven, results-oriented leader, with experience in executive and/or senior management roles in the media/entertainment industry. The ideal candidate will have a background in event marketing and management, with experience establishing and executing long-term visions and strategic plans.

Applicants are encouraged to submit materials to submissions@acm-search.com and direct inquiries to questions@acm-search.com.

The deadline for application is Oct. 14.

CMA has announced that 30 country artists will appear in a new music video, “Forever Country,” to be released on Sept. 20.

The music video is set to an intricate medley of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again,” and Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” All are former CMA Entertainers of the Year.

The corresponding single will be released to country radio on Friday (Sept. 16) at 8:30 a.m., ET, across the U.S.

This single was produced by Shane McAnally, a CMA Board member and CMA Award winner. The video was directed by Grammy Award-winning director Joseph Kahn.

According to ForeverCountry50.com, participating artists include Alabama, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Randy Travis, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Trisha Yearwood. Teasers on social media will continue to roll out this week until CMA announces the full list of participating artists.

“’Forever Country’ is a moving tribute to country music, country music fans, and the artists who have built this format into what it is today,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “This music video is the product of the CMA Board of Directors who came together in support of this project as a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the CMA Awards, a statement on the heritage and future of the country music industry, and a reflection of this year’s Awards theme — ‘Then. Now. Forever Country.’”

CMT has named Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton and Carrie Underwood as the artists to be celebrated at the 2016 CMT Artists of the Year special. The ceremony will premiere from Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Each artist will be honored with never-before-seen performances during the 90-minute special on CMT.  In addition, Kelsea Ballerini will accept the second annual Breakout Artist of the Year honor. Stapleton earned that honor in 2015. Additional awards, performers and special guests will be announced at a later date.

Thirty years ago, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt made musical history with the release of the Grammy-winning Trio album, which included the hit “To Know Him Is To Love Him,” in addition to “Those Memories Of You,” “Wildflowers,” and the Grammy-winning “Telling Me Lies.” The success and reach of the album demanded follow-up, Trio II, released in 1999.

On Friday, Sept. 9, Rhino Records released The Complete Trio Collection, a three-disc set that includes remastered versions of the 1987 and 1999 albums, with a third disc that boasts a 20-cut collection of outtakes and unreleased tracks from the original sessions.

“It’s nice to have it all together,” said Parton. “I just think we all take such pride in this. I know that for me, this will always stand as one of the greatest musical things that I’ve done in my entire life. I’ve never been prouder of anything else. I love these girls like sisters, but what we did as ‘The Trio’ will stand up long after we’re all gone.”

Disc one is a remastered version of the original Trio album. Released in the spring of 1987, the set went on to sell over four million copies. Produced by the George Massenburg, Ronstadt says the trio selected the perfect producer for the project.

“He was just great at listening and at carrying out a whim,” said Ronstadt. “The music ideas would come from us, and he would keep us from getting into a muddle and going off in twenty-nine different directions. He has the best way of recording acoustic instruments—where they still sounded natural, but they sounded at their best. He was really an invaluable partner, in that he really didn’t interfere with us. He let things develop, and just kept things organized.”

Harris also recalls hearing the music collectively. “When I heard it, I remembered we did that, but I had forgotten how great it was. It was like a Christmas present that you forgot to open, and you finally get to discover.”