The “Sac Song & Wine Series” is returning for its third year to Clarksburg, California just outside Sacramento at the Miner’s Leap Winery beginning May 16.

The five-week series will take place once a month on Friday evenings through Oct. 10, bringing some of the biggest hit songwriters from Nashville to share the stories behind how some of the biggest hits in country music came to be.

The “Sac Song & Wine Series” will kick off May 16 with songwriters Tyler Reeve and Cole Taylor. Other writers taking part in the series include James Otto, Lee Thomas Miller, Wendell Mobley, Jordon Walker, Jerry Flowers and artist/actor Charles Esten.

Attendees will be treated to a live DJ set by DJ Louie Giovanni, The Sac Song & Wine Hometown Hero Series, food truck options, lawn games and more. Tickets are on sale now at sacsongandwineseries.com.

“Sac Song & Wine Series” Dates:
May 16: Tyler Reeve & Cole Taylor
June 20: James Otto & TBA
August 15: Lee Thomas Miller & Wendell Mobley
September 19: Jordon Walker & Jerry Flowers
October 10: Charles Esten & TBA

Fancy Hagood will be honored with the HRC Visibility Award from the Human Rights Campaign at their Nashville dinner on March 8 at the JW Marriott Nashville.

Hagood embraces his LGBTQ+ identity, offering visibility and representation within the country music industry. He has also released two albums, Southern Curiosity and American Spirit, both of which share his personal journey with audiences. In attendance will be Kacey Musgraves who, in 2022, teamed up with Hagood for “Blue Dream Baby,” which earned accolades from influential figures like Elton John, and HRC President Kelley Robinson will be on hand to address attendees and discuss the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ equality.

“Expanding LGBTQ+ visibility in all spaces is such an integral part of this fight for LGBTQ+ equality,” says Robinson. “As Fancy Hagood takes the country music world by storm, his commitment to being authentically who he is lets the world know that LGBTQ+ people belong everywhere and our stories deserve to be heard. To also be joined by award-winning country music star Kacey Musgraves illustrates the power of having committed LGBTQ+ allies alongside us in the fight for equality. This will be a beautiful night of celebration and community building as we continue our work to advance LGBTQ+ rights.”

At 17, Hagood moved to Nashville from his hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas with the dream of becoming an openly queer country artist. In 2021, he released his debut album, Southern Curiosity, a fusion of country, glam rock and confessional pop, which earned a nomination for Best Country Record at the 2022 Libera Awards. In October of last year, Hagood released his second solo album, American Spirit, which blends his country roots with a sense of both return and new beginnings. He’s worked with acclaimed producers such as John Osborne, Jarrad K and Jeremy Lutitio, and has collaborated with other major artists such as Musgraves and Orville Peck.

“It is such an honor to be receiving HRC’s Visibility award and to be joined by other LGBTQ+ advocates all committed to making our state and country a better place for our community,” shares Hagood. “As a gay country artist who moved to Nashville at just 17 years old, I understand first-hand the barriers LGBTQ+ people face in this industry and beyond. I also recognize the resilience of our community — we are powerful, we are fearless and we are strong — and we will continue to work together to overcome any barrier placed in our way.”

“At its heart, country music is about real life and real people, and that includes the LGBTQ+ community,” adds Musgraves. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to support my friend and fellow country music star, Fancy Hagood, whose talent and authenticity is opening doors for more representation and inclusion in the industry. I have a deep love for this community, and I remain committed to continue making this world a better place for all LGBTQ+ people.”

HRC’s Nashville Dinner will unite the organization’s most dedicated advocates, members and supporters from across the state to raise funds for the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ equality. Tickets and more information are available here.

David Garcia has renewed his global publishing deal with Spirit Music Group. Additionally, Spirit Music Group has acquired Garcia’s co-publishing, writer’s share and producer rights to specific songs. In 2019, Spirit Music Group first signed Garcia, which included acquiring his existing catalog and securing a publishing deal for his future works.

“David Garcia is one of one,” shares Frank Rogers, Chief Creative Officer, Spirit Music Group/CEO, Spirit Music Nashville. “David is a force as a songwriter, producer and musician. He writes greats songs, helps artists reach their full potential in the studio and works as hard as anybody in the industry. It has been a joy to partner with David and we are thrilled to continue our relationship into the future!”

“The team at Spirit Music Group, both in Nashville and New York, have been amazing partners,” adds Garcia. “I can proudly say that it is a place where music creators are loved and appreciated. I am grateful for Frank Rogers’ and Jon Singer’s [Chairman, Spirit Music Group] continued support. I am looking forward to more great years ahead with them, and the entire Spirit team.”

Garcia is a four-time Grammy Award winning record producer and songwriter, and has achieved chart-topping success across multiple genres, with 26 No. 1 songs to his name. His early success was with Christian music, where he produced and co-wrote several hit songs. He has been named ASCAP’s Christian Songwriter of the Year twice, written three of ASCAP’s Christian Song of the Year, and has garnered nine Dove Awards.

In 2016, Garcia marked his first No. 1 song in country as producer and co-writer of Kip Moore’s “More Girls Like You.” His multi-genre success continued in 2017 when he produced and co-wrote four tracks on alternative rapper NF’s platinum-selling album Perception.

Garcia also co-wrote and produced cross-genre mega hit “Meant to Be” with Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line. It made history as the longest-charting No. 1 song on the Billboard Country Music Chart, holding the top spot for 50 weeks and breaking multiple Billboard records. The tune has sold over 10 million copies and has earned Diamond certification from the RIAA. In the same year, Garcia worked with Carrie Underwood, co-producing her album Cry Pretty and co-writing six tracks, including “Southbound.”

He has received several accolades, including the 2018 Spotify Secret Genius Award for country music and the 2019 ACM Award for Music Event of the Decade. Garcia has written and produced chart-topping hits for artists like Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Chris Tomlin, Tyler Hubbard and Hardy, among others.

Garcia was represented in the transaction by Derek Crownover and Megan Pekar of Loeb and Loeb.

Kobalt Music has launched new publishing platform KOSIGN, designed to empower artists, songwriters and producers to collect their publishing royalties seamlessly.

KOSIGN aims to provide a flexible, frictionless alternative to traditional publishing deals, offering artists and songwriters the tools, insights and transparency they need to take full control of their global publishing income. Kobalt estimates there is over $1 billion publishing royalties to collect for this underserved market every year, and KOSIGN is built to help artists claim it.

“For too long, talented emerging artists have struggled to navigate the complexities of music publishing and collect the royalties they’ve rightfully earned,” says Laurent Hubert, CEO of Kobalt. “KOSIGN removes those barriers, giving songwriters a clear, accessible path to manage their publishing with the same power and sophistication previously reserved for major artists and songwriters.”

Built on Kobalt’s global infrastructure, KOSIGN offers a streamlined, intuitive experience that makes publishing simple, efficient, and transparent. According to Kobalt, key features of the new platform include:

– Global Royalty Collection – Collects publishing royalties directly from DSPs in most territories, powered by the same platform trusted by Kobalt’s top-tier clients.
– Seamless Song Registration – One streamlined interface to submit songs for global registration, handled by Kobalt’s expert admin team.
– Real-Time Transparency – Track earnings by territory, platform, and song.
– Total Flexibility – A rolling-term agreement, with ability to move elsewhere at any time.
– Full Ownership – Songwriters keep 100% of their copyrights.
– Expert Support – Backed by Kobalt’s world-class publishing admin team.
– Selective Platform — Open via application and invite-only, ensuring top-tier admin quality.

“KOSIGN is more than just a platform—it’s a movement,” says Jeannette Perez, President & Chief Commercial Officer of Kobalt. “It’s about giving artists and songwriters the freedom and support they deserve to thrive in today’s music industry. Whether you’re an emerging artist building your career or an established songwriter looking for more flexibility, KOSIGN gives you the tools, transparency, and expertise to succeed.”