Pictured (L-R, top row): Jimmy Buffett, Bill Cody and Colin Reed; (bottom row): The Fairfield Four

The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp have announced the Music City Walk of Fame will induct Jimmy Buffett, gospel quartet The Fairfield Four, Ryman Hospitality Properties’ Colin Reed and Grand Ole Opry announcer Bill Cody this fall.

Members of the public are invited to view the ceremony on Oct. 30 at Music City Walk of Fame Park. Reed and Cody will be recognized in tribute to the Grand Ole Opry’s upcoming 100th anniversary. Buffett, who passed away last year after a four-year battle with cancer, will be inducted posthumously.

“From Jimmy Buffett’s island-infused melodies to the soulful acapella harmonies of The Fairfield Four, this is an exceptional group,” says Ken Levitan, Chairman of the NCVC Board of Directors and Founder of Vector Management. “We are especially proud to induct two Grand Ole Opry icons. Colin Reed’s contributions to the growth and success of the hospitality industry, including his leadership in reopening the Opry after the 2010 flood, are unparalleled. Bill Cody has been instrumental in preserving and promoting Nashville’s music legacy as a revered Opry host, country music historian and long-time emcee of the Music City Walk of Fame ceremonies.”

The inductees, honored for their work preserving Nashville’s musical heritage, mark the 105th, 106th, 107th and 108th stars on the Music City Walk of Fame. Music City Walk of Fame member and former Buffett band member, Mac McAnally, will induct Buffett and BMI Nashville’s Shannon Sanders will induct The Fairfield Four. Additional presenters and an additional inductee will be announced at a later date.

Buffett, with hits such as “Come Monday” and “Margaritaville,” moved to Nashville after college to further his career in country music and release his first album, Down to Earth, in 1970. The Fairfield Four, composed of members Joseph Thompson, Levert Allison, Larrice Byrd and Bobbye Sherrell, have earned three Grammy Awards, two Lifetime Achievement Awards and a spot in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Reed currently serves as Executive Chairman of the Board at Ryman Hospitality Properties after serving as CEO since 2001 and Board of Directors Chairman since 2005. Cody is well-known as the voice of the Grand Ole Opry and the host of the Music City Walk of Fame induction ceremonies.

The Music City Walk of Fame, established in 2006, is located on Nashville’s Music Mile and features star-shaped medallions honoring inductees. The project is run by Music City Inc., with support from founding partner Gibson along with BNA, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks. Public nominations are accepted in categories such as Artist, Musician, Songwriter and Producer/Executive, and are reviewed by a selection committee.

Little Big Town is offering up some extra holiday joy this year with the release of their first-ever Christmas album The Christmas Record, due out Oct. 4 via Capitol Records Nashville.

A taste of the new album, “Christmas Night With You,” is available now on all DSPs.

From the warm, inviting opening track “Glow” to the irresistible groove of closer “Holiday,” the 11-track album is packed with country classics and festive originals to keep the celebration going through the New Year and beyond. Favorites like “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Tennessee Christmas” and “If We Make It Through December” get the LBT treatment on the new project, which was produced by Dave Cobb.

Band members Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook will also be ringing in the holidays with NBC on their one-of-a-kind special, Little Big Town’s Christmas at The Opry. The two-hour holiday special will feature performances from the beloved group along with some special guests.

This fall, they will hit the road for the “Take Me Home Tour,” which kicks off Oct. 24 in Greenville, South Carolina and makes stops at arenas nationwide with special guest Sugarland.

The Christmas Record Track List:
1. “Glow”
2. “Santa Claus Is Back In Town”
3. “If We Make It Through December”
4. “Someday At Christmas”
5. “Christmas Night With You”
6. “Believe In Christmas”
7. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
8. “Tennessee Christmas”
9. “Christmas Time Is Here”
10. “Evergreen”
11. “Holiday”

Pictured (L–R, top row): Ellen Truley, Lindsey Major and Andrew Mitchell; (L–R, bottom row): Joya Carmichael and Rick Marshall

The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) has promoted five existing leaders in an effort to enhance its tools, resources and operations for the benefit of its members and other stakeholders.

Since before The MLC began full operations, Ellen Truley has led outreach and educational activities that seek to reach rightsholders wherever they are located, while also strengthening partnerships and industry relations. To further these endeavors, she has been elevated to Chief Marketing & External Affairs Officer and will continue to develop and execute The MLC’s overall marketing strategy and oversee the organization’s advertising, marketing and communications efforts as well as coordinate its educational activities, songwriter relations, industry partnerships, government relations and other external affairs.

Lindsey Major, who created and has since managed The MLC’s Support Team, has risen to Chief Member Experience Officer. In her new role, she will be responsible for designing, implementing and coordinating the delivery of world-class experiences to the organization’s membership as well as the development and enhancement of its tools that enable members to register works, claim their shares of previously-registered works, submit proposed matches of their works to unmatched usage and more.

Having led The MLC’s matching efforts since the beginning, Andrew Mitchell has been promoted to Chief Analytics & Automation Officer. In this new position, he will continue to oversee matching, including the company’s internal Matching Team and its recently-announced Supplemental Matching Vendor Network, while designing, developing and implementing new strategies for harnessing data, leading fraud prevention efforts and developing new ways to automate The MLC’s internal business processes.

Joya Carmichael has spearheaded the organization’s attempts to create, document and manage the end-to-end royalty distribution process starting with the very first monthly royalty distribution. To build upon that work, she has been elevated to Chief Administrative Officer and will continue to lead the team that coordinates and manages The MLC’s end-to-end royalty distribution process, while expanding her remit to manage other key internal processes and lead various process documentation and process improvement initiatives for the company.

Rick Marshall has worked to ensure The MLC’s compliance with its statutory and regulatory obligations since joining the organization in 2021 in addition to managing its interactions with DSPs and the blanket compulsory licensing process. Having risen to General Counsel earlier this summer, he now leads The MLC’s in-house legal team and coordinates all of the organization’s legal matters, including its interactions with the U.S. Copyright Office, the conduct of its important enforcement obligations under the Music Modernization Act (MMA), the management of any pending litigations as well as the provision of legal advice and guidance to the rest of The MLC’s team.