Scotty McCreery & Darius Rucker Surprise C2C Fans With ‘Bottle Rockets’

Scotty McCreery brought out surprise guest Darius Rucker to perform “Bottle Rockets” and “Wagon Wheel” with him during his C2C:Country 2 Country performance in front of a packed crowd at The O2 in London, England on March 13. The performance was the first time the two singers had ever performed “Bottle Rockets” live, which was a No.1 hit for McCreery and Hootie & The Blowfish in 2025. McCreery also performed on C2C Belfast on March 14 and C2C Glasgow on March 15, and the North Carolina native will perform with the Grand Ole Opry at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Friday (March 20).

 

Rob Bowman Chats About Muscle Shoals Book At Country Music Hall Of Fame Event

Author, professor and Grammy winner Rob Bowman recently participated in a book talk at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum discussing his new book Land of a Thousand Sessions: The Complete Muscle Shoals Story, 1951–1985. The conversation was led by museum writer-editor RJ Smith. The region is the subject of Bowman’s new book and he dug deep, interviewing studio musicians and stars including David Hood, Millie Jackson, Mick Jagger, Candi Staton, Ray Stevens, Mavis Staples and Bobby Womack to illustrate how so much music came out of this tiny corner of the South. The program was presented in support of the museum’s major exhibit “Muscle Shoals: Low Rhythm Rising.”

 

The King Returns to Studio B: Don Cusic To Explore Elvis’ Nashville Legacy

Elvis Presley‘s enduring legacy will be the focus of an upcoming lecture at Historic RCA Studio presented by music historian and author Don Cusic on March 24 at 6:30 p.m. The lecture is part of the ongoing Curb Lecture Series in partnership with the Metro Historical Commission and will explore how Presley’s recordings at RCA Studio B helped shape the sound of modern popular music. Cusic brings deep insight to the subject, having authored Elvis and Country Music, a definitive work examining Presley’s influence on country, rock, and American music at large. Admission is $10, with all proceeds benefiting The Nashville Historic Foundation.

 

New Musical Theater Nashville Showcase Series Features ASCAP Composers

ASCAP composers Sarah Aili and Meredith DiMenna performed excerpts from their original musical theater works Back in Birmingham (written by Aili and Radney Foster) and I Make Sense in Texas (written by DiMenna) at The First Stage, a new musical theater showcase series, on March 7 at The Analog in Nashville. Spotlighting local Nashville theatrical composers and performers, The First Stage, presented by New Musical Theater Nashville in partnership with ASCAP and Analog at Hutton Hotel, is designed to jumpstart the development of new works for the stage by connecting writers with performers, musicians and audiences in Music City.

 

Cody Parks & The Dirty South Ink With BLKIIBLK / Frontiers Music

Country metal band Cody Parks and The Dirty South has signed with BLKIIBLK / Frontiers Music. To celebrate the signing, the band has released their new single “Snake Shaker,” available now on all streaming platforms alongside an accompanying music video.

“I’m beyond excited and blessed to be a part of the BLKIIBLK / Frontiers family,” says Parks. “The opportunity to work with industry veterans Jeff Stevenson, Tom Lipsky, and Bob Chiappardi was a no-brainer. Having a team aligned with my vision for country metal makes this the perfect home for my music, and I can’t wait for the world to hear what we have cookin’.”

 

Erin Enderlin & Co-Writers Celebrate ‘The Gray House’ At The Opry

Songwriters Erin Enderlin, Jim “Moose” Brown and Jeff Fahey and musician Jenee Fleenor celebrated Amazon’s The Gray House at the Grand Ole Opry on March 14 with performances of three of their four cuts from the MCA soundtrack, including “Blood In The River,” “I’ll Be Here With You,” and “Heart of America.”

“Watching the Opry is where I really fell in love with country music, and every time I get to step into that circle is a dream come true,” says Enderlin. “To get to celebrate the incredible story of The Gray House and the songs I wrote for the soundtrack with my friends and co-writers on that stage – that’s a memory I will treasure.”

 

Brooke Lee Sings National Anthem At Texas Indycar Race

Brooke Lee performed the national anthem at the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington on March 15 which featured a 70-lap NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on a street circuit surrounding AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field in Texas. Lee’s new song, “Just Because” releases March 20 and follows recent tracks “Burn To Black” and “Desert Darling.”

 

Jake Hoot Debuts New Kids Book ‘The Great Big Blowout’

Season 17 winner of The Voice Jake Hoot has released his new children’s book, The Great Big Blowout published by Hoot Hollow Story Co. The lighthearted story is inspired by a true family moment that turns an ordinary day at the park into a memorable adventure.

“In my ten years of being a dad, I’ve learned that parenting comes with plenty of stressful and overwhelming moments,” says Hoot. “But in the grand scheme of life, it’s so much better to laugh at those moments. They’re the memories that will last a lifetime. I try to find humor in the little, mundane things. My hope is that parents in every season of parenting know they’re not alone. There are many highs and lows along the way, and the journey becomes a lot more enjoyable when we choose to laugh through it, knowing that not everything will be picture perfect.”

Over the past decade, conversations around live events have increasingly centered on safety, access and experience. In arenas and amphitheaters across the country, artists and venues are thinking more intentionally about how fans move through a space, how they interact with staff and how they feel once the lights go down. For a growing number of industry leaders, that conversation now includes sensory inclusion.

Founded in 2014 in Birmingham, Alabama, KultureCity has become a global force in sensory accessibility, working with more than 7,000 venues and events across 40 countries. The organization focuses on individuals with invisible disabilities and sensory needs, including those with autism, PTSD, dementia and traumatic brain injuries—people for whom loud volumes, flashing lights and densely packed crowds can present significant barriers to participation.

Through staff training, sensory tools, technology and designated quiet spaces, KultureCity is helping reshape how public spaces welcome guests who may experience sensory overload. In 2025 alone, the organization supported more than 3.5 million people through its programs, distributed 1.8 million sensory bags, built 988 sensory rooms and placed 632 mobile sensory stations. Its app, which allows families to preview available resources and plan ahead, has been downloaded 1.9 million times.

The live music industry has increasingly embraced that mission. KultureCity has activated at major tours across genres, including Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres World Tour,” where the organization was present at every show from 2022 through 2025, impacting more than 25,000 lives. It supported Paul McCartney’s 2025 North American tour, reaching more than 3,000 fans, and teamed with Stevie Nicks for nine shows that impacted over 1,500 attendees.

In the country space, Lainey Wilson partnered with KultureCity for every stop of her 2025 “Whirlwind Tour,” with the organization activating at all 31 dates. Across the run, 726 sensory bags were distributed, directly impacting 4,604 fans. At each venue, KultureCity staffed a table near entrances, offering complimentary sensory bags equipped with fidget tools, specialized glasses designed to soften strobe effects and noise-canceling headphones. The bags are free, and fans keep them.

While touring partnerships extend access on the road, permanent infrastructure at venues further anchors the effort. In 2021, KultureCity partnered with Bridgestone Arena and the Nashville Predators to make the downtown Nashville venue fully sensory inclusive. Staff members receive annual training from medical professionals on recognizing and responding to sensory overload. Sensory bags are available through Guest Services, and families can preview features through the KultureCity app before attending an event.

The venue also created The Lauren Daigle Sensory Room, a dedicated space designed by medical professionals to provide a quieter, more secure environment for guests who may need a break. Outfitted with bean bags, visual light panels, tactile activity features and calming design elements, the room reflects a broader shift in how arenas are thinking about the full spectrum of fan experience.

For fans like Wilder Key, those details can make the difference between staying home and being in the building.

“When you first go into a concert and you don’t know how loud it’s going to be, [that’s a challenge], but if it’s not too loud, then I’m usually fine,” Wilder says. “I like to get a sensory bag, put the headphones on and mess with some of the fidgets.”

Wilder, who is autistic, attends shows with his mom, Shea Fowler. For their family, predictability and preparation are key. “Having sensory bags available is a huge relief because I’m constantly trying to make sure we don’t forget the headphones or a fidget—and we don’t know what we may be allowed to bring in,” Shea explains. “We’ve been in environments at theme parks and other places where it’s a whole thing. We have to step out of line and talk through it [with security], which just adds another layer of stress.”

That uncertainty can be enough to deter families from attending altogether. Knowing resources are built into the venue and clearly communicated changes that calculus.

“Knowing that KultureCity is in most every venue we go too, or we can open up the app and figure something out, is really nice,” Shea says.

For Wilder, the message to other kids who may be hesitant about concerts is simple. “Almost 100% of the time, headphones will be enough,” he says. “If they’re not enough, you can always step out and take a break.”

As more artists and venues adopt sensory-inclusive practices, the shift signals something larger than a single room or a table near the entrance. It reflects an evolving understanding of audience development—one that recognizes accessibility not as a niche accommodation but as part of doing business well.

Live music has always been about shared experience. Through partnerships with organizations like KultureCity, the industry is broadening who gets to share in it.

CMA returned to the U.K. last week to support this year’s Country to Country festival, continuing CMA’s ongoing commitment to developing country music globally through strategic worldwide initiatives and partnerships.

“C2C continues to be a highlight of our year,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “From an unforgettable Songwriters Series to the excitement around the CMA Spotlight Stage in London and Glasgow and for the first time, Berlin and Rotterdam, this week was a powerful reminder of how deeply Country Music connects with fans around the world. It was also incredibly meaningful to host our first International Summit in London and bring together our partners across the U.K. and Europe to reflect on the continued growth we’re seeing throughout the region. The passion from fans and partners reminds us why this genre continues to thrive, and we’re excited to build on that progress.”

Last Wednesday (March 11), CMA held its inaugural International Summit at Soho Works in London. The gathering included 140 invited industry members, and supported career development through activities and networking throughout the day. The summit included a keynote panel moderated by Mark Sutherland (Host, The Money Trench – The Music Industry Podcast), with speakers including Scott Borchetta (Founder/Chairman, Big Machine Records and Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment), Rachel Davies (Commissioning Editor, BBC Popular Music Television), Jim King (CEO, AEG Presents U.K. and European Festivals), and Trahern. A CMA Task Force panel also took place moderated by Alex Hannaby (Head of U.K., SVP International, HYBE Label Service), alongside breakout sessions.

CMA also showcased a collection of data highlighting country consumption in the U.K. and Europe. During the presentation, CMA showed that country music consumption has grown by 181% across the U.K. and country’s share of the overall U.K. music market has doubled since 2o20, marking it the fastest-growing genre in the U.K. for three consecutive years.

“As country music continues its incredible international growth, the CMA continues to be front and center in its outreach and effectiveness in bringing together best in class partners to expand globally,” shares Borchetta.

“The BBC has been supporting country music for decades, and it’s been a joy to see the appetite for the genre grow exponentially in recent years,” adds Davies. “It’s also been wonderful to reflect this growth in our TV commissioning. Over the last year alone, we broadcast Grand Ole Opry: Live in London on BBC Two, we streamed the CMA Awards live, marking the moment with a dedicated country music channel on BBC iPlayer, featuring a night of classic country-related programming that has been broadcast on the BBC over the years. Other highlights included our BBC Two factual entertainment series, Rob Brydon’s Honky Tonk Road Trip, our broadcast of the CMA Fest and more. Country artists were also spotlighted on returning series such has Later… with Jools Holland and Radio 2’s Piano Room, which we show in vision on BBC iPlayer. It’s really important to us that we continue to collaborate with colleagues across the BBC, and with the wider industry, so that we can continue to play our part in celebrating international and homegrown country artists for years to come.”

“The CMA Summit in London was an outstanding opportunity for connection, collaboration and genuine momentum for country music across the U.K. and Europe,” explains King. “Having so many leaders, promoters and partners together with such shared purpose made the conversations both energizing and productive. The coordination and partnership investment that CMA brings to the genre is unique, and it remains a key driver of country music’s continued growth internationally. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead and proud to support CMA’s work in strengthening the genre’s development across global markets.”

CMA also held the inaugural CMA Songwriters Series on Thursday (March 12) at indigo at The O2. Performers for the sold-out evening included Ashley Cooke, Emily Ann Roberts, Keith Urban and Kristian Bush, with Urban serving as host.

Lastly, CMA continued its Spotlight Stage in London and Glasgow this year, while also adding Berlin and Rotterdam to the lineup. Throughout the four locations, performances included Crowe Boys, Dylan Schneider, Elizabeth Nichols, Emily Ann Roberts, The Jack Wharff Band, Jade Eagleson, John Morgan, Julia Cole, Liam St. John, Mae Estes, McCoy Moore, Noah Rinker, Solon Holt and Tyce Delk. 

Red Street Records has promoted staffers Cambria Sojka and Sally Allgeier and added Olivia Vardy to the label team.

Allgeier adds Digital Partnerships to her existing title of National Director of Country Promotion, while Sojka rises to Director of Marketing and Creative, both serving the country and Christian rosters. Vardy joins the team as the Digital Marketing Coordinator.

Sojka continues her creative responsibilities while working arm in arm with the label’s country A&R, streaming, PR and radio departments to serve as the project manager of Red Street Country releases. Allgeier will continue to serve as National Director of Radio Promotion for the country roster while taking on the added responsibility of leading Red Street in the management of DSP partner accounts for both the CCM and country formats. Vardy joins the staff to serve both the Creative and Digital Streaming departments, executing digital marketing initiatives that promote artists and new releases.

“Leading with our artist first mentality, it’s been a mission at Red Street to cultivate the next generation of outstanding executives and leaders in Nashville,” says Red Street GM Alex Valentine. “Watching Cambria and Sally grow within the culture of the team at Red Street has been truly inspiring. Their contributions have been vital to the progress we’ve made over the past few years and these moves are very well deserved. We’re also very happy to welcome Olivia to the Red Street family and look forward to the impact she’ll have on our future.”