This week’s MusicRow Weekly covers key moments in the industry. Click here to see the full edition.

This week’s newsletter includes the heartbreaking loss of Ben Vaughn, President & CEO of Warner Chappell Music Nashville. Vaughn passed away Thursday morning (Jan. 30) at the age of 49, leaving the Nashville music community in shock. Over his decade-long tenure, he made a lasting impact by overseeing all creative and commercial activities at Warner Chappell Nashville, while also being a dedicated advocate for songwriters and their rights.

Dolly Parton announced that her Dolly: An Original Musical will premiere at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville this summer before heading to Broadway in 2026. She also revealed Dolly U, an immersive educational experience tied to the musical’s world premiere.

Morgan Wallen unveiled plans for his highly-anticipated fourth studio album, I’m The Problem, along with a 10-city, 19-date stadium tour that has fans buzzing.

After nearly 40 years with BMI, Alison Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Distribution & Publisher Relations Officer, will retire at the end of March. Additionally, Audacy’s David Field announced he is stepping down from his role as President/CEO and as a member of the Board of Directors.

Big Machine Label Group has appointed Tim Reynolds as Vice President of Digital Marketing. ShopKeeper Management promoted Crystal Dishmon to Co-Manager of Miranda Lambert, while Laura Spinelli was elevated to Day-to-Day Manager for Lambert.

Several new signings were announced this week. Braedon Barnhill inked a record deal with The Valory Music Co. Country band Clay Street Unit signed with Monument Records in partnership with Sony Music. Hudson Westbrook joined River House Artists in a publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing Nashville. Universal Music Publishing Nashville signed Dalton Davis to an exclusive global publishing agreement, while Ed Williams entered an exclusive publishing agreement with Jody Williams Songs and Warner Chappell Music. Lenny Pey secured a joint global publishing deal with Endurance Music Group and hit songwriter-producer Jordan Schmidt.

This week’s My Music Row Story featured Red Light Management’s Zach Sutton, who guides the careers of award-winning, multi-Platinum artists Jordan Davis and Riley Green, along with rising stars Preston Cooper, Georgia Webster, Scott Wolverton and Bizzy.

In addition, the latest MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart is included, with Jelly Roll earning the No. 1 spot with “Liar.” Explore more chart data here.

MusicRow Weekly is delivered every Friday, featuring Nashville’s top music industry news, exclusive interviews, song reviews, radio and songwriter charts and more. Sign up for free here.

Rosanne Cash & Country Music Hall of Fame Host Conversation with Nashville School of the Arts Students

Pictured (L-R): NSA teacher Ryan Murphey, Rosanne Cash, several NSA students and Adam Ollendorff, senior manager of music programs for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Rosanne Cash recently participated in a conversation about her life, work and creative pursuits with nearly 40 students from the Nashville School of the Arts songwriting and stage band classes. The interactive conversation was coordinated by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and Cash in support of the museum’s educational mission. Students engaged in the conversation and posed questions about Cash’s songwriting process and experiences throughout her career. Cash was joined by Adam Ollendorff, the museum’s senior manager of music programs.

J4 Signs With LuckySky Music

Pictured (L-R): Bill Warner (President / LuckySky Music), Kirsti Manna (VP & Creative Director / LuckySky Music), Joseph Wandass IV (J4), Tori Martin (LuckySky Music artist and songwriter) and Jason Engelman (CEO /LuckySky Music)

Songwriter/artist/producer Joseph Wandass IV, better known as J4, has signed with LuckySky Music as a staff writer. He received his first major label cut on pop artist Kechi Okwuchi (from America’s Got Talent) in 2022. As an artist, J4 has shared the stage with Josh Turner, Michael W. Smith, Lee Greenwood, Darryl Worley, Walker Hayes and others. Along with being an artist J4 graduated with a Master’s of Music from Belmont University and also teaches as an Adjunct Professor of Recording Industry Studies at Middle Tennessee State University.

‘Nashville Music History’ Series with Dr. Don Cusic To Launch In February

Don Cusic

The Metropolitan Historical Commission is presenting the Curb Lecture Series “Nashville Music History” with Author and Historian Dr. Don Cusic at RCA Studio B on Wednesday night beginning Feb. 12. Each lecture will last about an hour and 15 minutes and allow for audience questions and comments.

The $10 per session registration fee supports the Nashville Historical Foundation and its work to support historic preservation projects and community education. Space is limited and registration for one or all sessions may be made through Eventzilla. Registration is also available at the door, if space allows. For additional information, contact scarlett.miles@nashville.gov or the Metro Historical Commission 615-862-7970.

Jordan St. Cyr Inks With Hsquared Management

Hsquared management’s Leigh Holt and Kelli Haywood with Jordan St. Cyr (center)

Hsquared Management has signed Juno Award-winner, singer-songwriter Jordan St. Cyr.  The endeavor marks the company’s second joint signing since industry veterans and entrepreneurs Kelli Haywood and Leigh Holt launched their new company last summer. Known for his No. 1 song “Weary Traveller” as well as other hits like “Fires” and “Rescue,” St. Cyr released his second album, My Foundation, last year. St. Cyr will be on the “Storyteller Tour” throughout 2025 and is working on new music also coming this year.

“Jordan brings a rare combination of genuine artistry and roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic that immediately resonated with us,” share Haywood and Holt. “As a former contractor who built his music ministry from the ground up, he understands the value of authentic relationships and putting in the hard work needed to create something meaningful. His proven success and heart for connecting with people make him a perfect fit for our roster. We’re excited to build alongside him in this next chapter of his career.

Kacey Musgraves. Photo: Courtesy of Interscope Records & MCA Nashville

Kacey Musgraves has released a new mini-documentary detailing the making of her critically acclaimed album Deeper Well, available on YouTube.

Titled Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well (The Making of the Album), the film offers an inside look at Musgraves and her co-producers, Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk, as they worked for months at New York City’s iconic Electric Lady Studios. The documentary provides an intimate glimpse into the creative process behind the album, along with footage of Musgraves braving the frigid landscapes of Iceland to film the music video for the title track.

Deeper Well has earned four nominations at this Sunday’s (Feb. 2) Grammy Awards, including Best Country Album, Best Country Song, Best Country Solo Performance and Best Engineered Album – Non-Classical. Musgraves also received a fifth nomination for Best Americana Performance for her collaboration with Madi Diaz on the song “Don’t Do Me Good.”

In 2023, Musgraves scored her first Hot 100 No. 1 hit with “I Remember Everything“ with Zach Bryan. The song went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Country Duo or Group Performance in 2024, making Musgraves the only artist ever to win Grammy Awards for Best Country Album, Best Country Song, Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Duo or Group Performance. “I Remember Everything“ also made history as the first country music duet in 40 years to top the Hot 100, following Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ “Islands in the Stream“ in 1983.

Musgraves recently wrapped up her “Deeper Well World Tour“, which saw sold-out performances in cities around the world, including Nashville, London, Los Angeles, New York, Amsterdam, Brussels, Chicago and more.

Ben Vaughn

Shock and grief rocked the Nashville music community yesterday (Jan. 30) with the news that President & CEO of Warner Chappell Music Nashville Ben Vaughn had tragically passed away.

Vaughn spent over a decade at the helm of the company, overseeing all creative and commercial activities across A&R, administration, business development, finance and human resources. Vaughn also worked with staff songwriters, while actively engaging in songwriter advocacy and rights protection initiatives.

Read his full obituary here.

Songwriters, artists and industry members took to social media to share remembrances of Vaughn. Below are some of those messages.

From Belmont, to internships, to first jobs, to today, we worked our dreams and careers in tandem for nearly 30 years. Ben Vaughn was a deep man of God and a follower of Jesus Christ. He was a Music Row Titan who believed in the power of music, the magic of a song, and the unending value of songwriters everywhere. His career accolades are astonishing and were only eclipsed by his love for his children and late wife Carlee. Nashville feels emptier without him, but his spirit will always live on thanks to the enduring legacy he’s created. – Rusty Gaston, CEO, Sony Music Publishing Nashville

Man, this one hurts. Ben changed our lives when he signed us to a publishing deal 12 years ago and we have been together ever since. He was a true champion for songwriters, and a good friend. Sending lots of love to his family and our Nashville community who will all miss him dearly. Rest in peace Brother. – Dan Smyers of Dan + Shay

Like so many in our industry, I knew Ben as a thoughtful, creative, passionate leader, a man who believed in the power of great songs, who loved country music, and who worked tirelessly to support songwriters. Yet I also had the unique opportunity to experience Ben’s love of Belmont University and his deep passion for supporting the next generation of industry leaders. Ben was a Belmont alum, a Belmont parent, the chair of the Curb College Advisory Board, and, in August, he began serving on the University’s Board of Trustees. Ben met his wife Carlee and got engaged on campus, and he was so proud when his son decided to enroll at Belmont this fall. Ben was a critical figure in my own journey to Belmont, and I have witnessed and learned about the investment he made in mentoring countless Belmont students and alumni with dreams of working in the music business. I will forever remember Ben as a Godly man of strong character, whose humor, kindness, warmth and generosity were evident to all who had the good fortune to know him, and I will remember him as my friend. – Brittany A. Schaffer, Dean, Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business

One of the first people I met when I came to Nashville and one of my favorites…one of the last song guys left. RIP buddy. – Riley Green

I am going to miss my friend. Ben was always kind, honest and a champion for songwriters and artists. So unbelievably generous. We also never had a conversation that he didn’t brag on his incredible children. This town will never be the same. We have worked together since 2009. Like all of Nashville today, I’m heartbroken and in continual prayer for his children and family. – Hillary Scott of Lady A

Ben was a humble, even quiet man, with a huge heart and love for songwriters and his team. His devotion and care of his late wife Carlee as she fought cancer was absolutely beautiful. His love for his children was above all else, his priority. Our community has lost a friend and a great man. – Troy Tomlinson, Universal Music Publishing Nashville

The Nashville songwriting community lost a warrior, a mentor, a leader, and a friend today. Ben Vaughn graduated college and worked his way up the ladder to the highest level and carried that role of President/CEO of Warner Chappell Nashville with dignity and strength. He oversaw their incredible success for over a decade. He has been my publisher, in some capacity, for at least 20 years and there is no one more respected in the world of music publishing. The songwriters of Nashville are better off today because of Ben and he leaves an incredible void on music row both professionally and personally. We send our prayers to his children during this terrible time. – Lee Thomas Miller, NSAI President

Our hearts are heavy today in learning about the passing of longtime ACM Board Member and former ACM Board Chair, and good friend to all of us, Ben Vaughn. Ben was a champion of the Country Music genre and strong advocate for songwriters and good songs, rising to President and CEO of Warner Chappell Music Nashville. He served as Board Chair of the Academy in 2018 and was the first music publisher to serve as chairman in the Academy’s history, in addition to serving on the ACM Lifting Lives board. On behalf of the ACM Board, ACM Lifting Lives Board, and the ACM staff, we send our condolences to Ben’s family, friends, coworkers, and all of those who crossed his path and were lifted up by his passion. His memory will live on forever through the great music he made happen. – Damon Whiteside, CEO, Academy of Country Music

This man believed in the band as songwriters from the very beginning. More than that though, he was a kind soul and a great friend. – Charles Kelley of Lady A