Opry Entertainment Group (OEG) has appointed Gary Scott as Chief Operating Officer.

With over 25 years of experience in hospitality operations, asset management and strategic leadership, Scott brings extensive expertise to OEG as the business continues to grow and innovate.

A subsidiary of Ryman Hospitality Properties, OEG produces multi-platform entertainment experiences through its growing portfolio of entertainment venues, including the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium, WSM Radio, the Blake Shelton-inspired Ole Red brand, ACL Live at Moody Theater and Category 10, Luke Combs’ new live music venue, bar and restaurant in downtown Nashville. OEG connects music fans with their favorite artists through concerts, tours, music-inspired restaurants, retail, publishing, digital content and more.

Scott joins OEG from Ridgeline Hospitality Group, where he was Principal and Owner, providing comprehensive counsel to clients in the hotel, gaming, food and beverage and hospitality industries. Prior experience includes key roles at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and MGM Resorts/The Mirage Hotel & Casino, where he directed business, marketing, growth and operations strategies.

Scott will work closely with retiring COO Pete Weien during his transition.

“We are thrilled to have Gary join the OEG team at such an exciting time for the business,” says Patrick Moore, CEO of Opry Entertainment Group. “His focus on driving operational excellence, employee engagement and workplace culture within fast-paced entertainment environments makes him a great addition to our organization as our growth continues to accelerate.”

“From the expansion of Ole Red to the launch of Category 10 and everything in between, OEG has experienced extraordinary growth over the past decade thanks to bold strategy and strong leadership,” shares Scott. “It is an honor to join this dynamic and talented team as we shape the future of Opry Entertainment Group together.”

Pictured (L-R, top row): Kate Shirley, Scott Ponce, Emily Vincent (Torrez Music Group), Dave Pacula, Gracie Glass and Matt Cottingham (Lewis Brisbois); (L-R, bottom row): Alex Torrez (Torrez Music Group), Braxton Keith and Liz Rose.

Singer-songwriter Braxton Keith has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Liz Rose Music.

The Texas native recently signed with Warner Music Nashville after building a following with independent releases, including his fan-favorite song “Cozy,” which currently has over 26 million streams. Keith spent the last few years bringing his energetic live shows to venues across the Lone Star state, opening for artists like Randall King. He has been on the road this fall, sharing stages with Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson and Corey Kent.

“Liz Rose Music is thrilled to welcome Braxton Keith to our family. His talent and passion for music are unmatched and we look forward to celebrating many successes together,” says Scott Ponce, Creative Director at Liz Rose Music.

“Liz has always been a true, constant friend in my life, so it’s fitting that we’re getting to work together again! Emily Vincent and I at TMG are excited for Braxton to join the Liz Rose Music crew,” adds Alex Torrez, CEO of Torrez Music Group, Keith’s management team.

“Liz Rose Music is a tight-knit crew and I’m grateful to have found a place that feels like home for my first publishing deal,” says Keith. “Their dedication to artistic integrity and leading with the music made it an easy decision to join such a talented team.”

Pictured (L-R): Matt Cottingham (Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP), Brendan Cooney, TC Courtney (UMPG) and Don Glista (UMPG). Photo: Universal Music Publishing Group

Songwriter Brendan Cooney has signed a worldwide, exclusive publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Nashville.

Hailing from New England, Cooney moved to Nashville in 2016 after 10 years writing, recording and touring with alternative rock act The Gallery. After his move to Music City, Cooney began sharpening his passion and craft for songwriting, developing his compelling hooks and skillful lyricism. In 2020, he had his first radio single with “Something You Ain’t Ever Had” recorded by Waterloo Revival. Since then, Cooney’s cuts have amassed over 40 million streams worldwide.

“Brendan embodies an exceptionally rare combination of talent and tenacity, making him exactly the kind of songwriter UMPG is proud to partner with,” says TC Courtney, Manager, A&R, UMPG Nashville. “He’s a true student of the craft, with a reverence for the rich history of Nashville as well as a hand on the pulse of where the industry is headed.”

“I’m very grateful to have been given the opportunity to work with TC and the entire UMPG team,” adds Cooney. “Their love of songs and passion for developing songwriters was evident from our first meeting. I’m excited for what the future holds and couldn’t ask for a better team to help me get there.”

The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) has revealed the nominees who will be voted upon for induction at its 2025 Induction & Awards Gala in New York City.

Songwriters with a notable catalog become eligible for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame 20 years after their first significant commercial release of a song. Eligible voting members have until midnight EST on Dec. 22 to submit ballots with their choices of up to three nominees in each of the songwriter and performing songwriter categories.

Nashville Songwriter Hall of Famers Tom Douglas, Sonny Curtis, Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham are included in the initial songwriter list to be voted on, as is record-breaking country hitmaker Ashley Gorley.

Sheryl Crow and the Doobie Brothers are in the performing songwriter category. The full list is below with a five-song selection from their catalogs.

Songwriters:

Walter Afanasieff – “All I Want for Christmas Is You” * “Hero” * “License To Kill” * “Love Will Survive” * “One Sweet Day”
Steve Barri and P.F. Sloan – “Secret Agent Man” * “Eve Of Destruction” * “Where Were You When I Needed You” * “You Baby” * Can I Get to Know You”
Mike Chapman – “The Best” * “Love Is A Battlefield” * “Ballroom Blitz” * “Stumblin’ In” * “Kiss You All Over”
Sonny Curtis – “Love Is All Around (Theme from The Mary Tyler Moore Show)” * “I Fought the Law” * “Walk Right Back” * “More Than I Can Say” * “I’m No Stranger to the Rain”
Tom Douglas – “The House That Built Me” * “Little Rock” * “I Run To You” * “Grown Men Don’t Cry” * “Love Me Anyway”
Franne Golde – “Dreaming of You” * “Nightshift” * “Don’t Look Any Further” * “Don’t You Want Me” * “Stickwitu”
Ashley Gorley – “I Had Some Help” * “Last Night” * “You Should Probably Leave” * “Play It Again” * “You’re Gonna Miss This”
Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins – “Say My Name” * “The Boy Is Mine” * “You Rock My World” * “Deja Vu” * “Telephone”
Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter – “One Tin Soldier (Theme from Billy Jack)” * “Don’t Pull Your Love” * “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)” * “It Only Takes a Minute” * “Country Boy (You Got Your Feet In L.A.)”
Tony Macaulay – “Baby Now That I’ve Found You” * “Build Me Up Buttercup” * “Don’t Give Up On Us” * “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All” * “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)”
Roger Nichols – “We’ve Only Just Begun” * “Rainy Days and Mondays” * “I Won’t Last a Day Without You” * “Out in the Country” * “Times Of Your Life”
Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham – “I’m Your Puppet” * “Cry Like a Baby” * “A Woman Left Lonely” * “Out of Left Field” * “It Tears Me Up”
Narada Michael Walden – “How Will I Know” * “Freeway of Love” * “You’re a Friend of Mine” * “Baby Come to Me” * “Who’s Zoomin’ Who?”

Performing Songwriters:

Bryan Adams – “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” * “Heaven” * “All for Love” * “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” * “Summer of ‘69”
George Alan O’Dowd p/k/a Boy George – “Karma Chameleon” * “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me”* * “Time (Clock Of The Heart)” * “Love Is Love” * “Miss Me Blind”
George Clinton – “Atomic Dog” * “Flash Light” * “(Not Just) Knee Deep” * “I’d Rather Be With You” * “Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)”
Sheryl Crow – “All I Wanna Do” * “Soak Up The Sun” * “If It Makes You Happy” * “A Change Would Do You Good” * “Everyday Is a Winding Road”
Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons p/k/a Doobie Brothers – “Listen to the Music” * “Takin’ It to the Streets” * “Black Water” * “What a Fool Believes” * “Long Train Runnin’”
Marshall Mathers p/k/a Eminem – “Lose Yourself” * “Stan” * “Mockingbird” * “Houdini” * “Rap God”
David Gates – “Everything I Own” * “Make It With You” * “Baby I’m-A Want You” * “The Guitar Man” * “If”
Janet Jackson – “Black Cat” * “Together Again” * “Again” * “Got ‘til It’s Gone” * “Rhythm Nation”
Tommy James – “Mony Mony” * “Crimson and Clover” * “Crystal Blue Persuasion” * “Sweet Cherry Wine” * “Tighter, Tighter”
Mike Love – “California Girls” * “Good Vibrations” * “The Warmth of the Sun” * “I Get Around” * “Fun, Fun, Fun”
Alanis Morissette – “You Oughta Know” * “Ironic” * “Hand in My Pocket” * “Thank U” * “Uninvited”
Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella p/k/a N.W.A – “Express Yourself” * “Dopeman” * “Fuck Tha Police” * “Gangsta Gangsta” * “Straight Outta Compton”
Steve Winwood – “Higher Love” * “Gimme Some Lovin’” * “I’m a Man” * “Valerie” * “Roll With It”

Luke Bryan‘s Crash My Playa has added more country power to its 10th anniversary lineup.

Lainey Wilson, Travis Denning and Kendell Marvel will be joining the star-studded event on Jan. 15-18 at Moon Palace Cancun.

Wilson will join Bryan, Jason Aldean, Bailey Zimmerman and more for the finale event, “Luke Bryan & Friends.” Denning will have two sets throughout the weekend, while Marvel will helm a late-night Honky Tonk Experience and perform at the Welcome Party.

“Lainey, Travis and Kendell each bring something special to the stage that really makes this 10th year complete,” says Bryan. “Packages are almost sold out – trust me, you don’t want to miss out on this unforgettable weekend!”

The three join the previously-announced lineup of Bryan, Aldean, Zimmerman, Kane Brown, Dustin Lynch, Dylan Scott, Elle King, Jackson Dean, Nate Smith, Dasha, Ella Langley, Tucker Wetmore and DJ Rock. Limited travel packages are still available.