Ernest Plots ‘The Legalize Country Music Road Show’ Tour For Fall

Ernest. Photo: Delaney Royer

Ernest has announced he’ll kick off his fall headlining tour, “The Legalize Country Music Road Show,” in Vancouver on Sept. 4.

The tour will visit Los Angeles, Fort Worth, Milwaukee, Knoxville, Des Moines and more through October 17. Tickets for “The Legalize Country Music Road Show” are available starting May 31 here. Ernest fan club presale tickets will begin Wednesday, May 29 and include select VIP packages.

The artist songwriter released his sophomore album, Nashville, Tennessee in April, and has been featured by CBS Mornings, Live With Kelly and Mark, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Los Angeles Times, Billboard and more.

He continues his run as a songwriter of nine No. 1s for artists including Jelly Roll, Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, Morgan Wallen and Chris Lane. He currently has the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 track with Post Malone feat. Wallen with “I Had Some Help.”

“The Legalize Country Music Road Show” Tour Dates:
Sept. 4 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
Sept. 5 – Kelowna, BC – Community Theater
Sept. 6 – Redmond, Ore. – General Duffy’s
Sept. 12 – Los Angeles, Calif. – El Rey Theater
Sept. 13 – Anaheim Calif. – House of Blues
Sept. 14 – Modesto, Calif. – The Fruityard
Sept. 26 – Fort Worth, Texas – Billy Bob’s
Sept. 27 – Stephenville, Texas – Twisted J’s Live
Sept. 28 – Nacogdoches, Texas – Banita Creek Hall
Oct. 5 – Grand Junction, Colo. – Warehouse 2565
Oct. 10 – Des Moines, Iowa – Wooly’s
Oct. 11 – Milwaukee, Wis. – The Rave
Oct. 12 – Madison, Wis. – The Sylvee
Oct. 17 – Knoxville, Tenn. – The Mill and Mine

Noah Kahan Shows Off His Transcendent Talent At Sold-Out Bridgestone Arena Run

Noah Kahan. Photo: Kaitlyn Hungerford

Noah Kahan played the second of his two-night, sold-out Bridgestone Arena run last night (May 25) on his “The Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever)” tour. The folk-pop singer had everyone mesmerized by his vocals and entertainment skills from start to finish. 

Pop singer Ryan Beatty opened up the night with fan favorites such as “Bruises Off The Peach,” “Ribbons,” “White Teeth,” “Bright Red” and “Cinnamon Bread.” He also paid homage to Music City greats by covering Dolly Parton’s “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind” and Brooks & Dunn’s “Neon Moon.” Beatty closed his set with his original song “Little Faith” in an acoustic-style jam session.

Before Kahan even took the stage, the anticipation in the crowd was buzzing. As the lights went out and Kahan’s band started playing, the entire arena sprang to their feet. Kahan took the stage in an all white outfit and started the night off with “Dial Drunk,” immediately sending the energy in the room to full throttle.  

After turning the house lights up so Kahan could take in the crowd, he took a moment to express his gratitude before going into “New Perspective.” 

Noah Kahan. Photo: Kaitlyn Hungerford

Kahan is no stranger to Nashville crowds, as he’s played headlining shows at Cannery Ballroom, Brooklyn Bowl,  the Ryman Auditorium and Ascend Amphitheater on past tours. When sharing about his musical journey, the singer noted that his first show was at The Basement. 

After the moment of reflection, Kahan went into “Everywhere, Everything,” before lighting up the stage with a high energy performance of “False Confidence,” a song he wrote at 17 after just moving to Nashville. He kept the vibes going with “Forever,” relishing in the crowd singing every word.

The stage was then transformed to look like his mom’s living room. After taking a polaroid with a fan and reading a few signs, Kahan sat center stage with his band and led a family-style acoustic sing-along to “Come Over” and “Godlight.” The two performances highlighted Kahan’s vocal ability, with long runs and emotional convictions. 

Getting the crowd back on their feet, Kahan lit up the arena with “Paul Revere,” complete with mesmerizing visuals to reflect the lyrics behind him on stage. He then showed off more of his brilliant songwriting with “All My Love” and “Your Needs, My Needs.” Both songs keeping the crowd buzzing. 

Just as the arena was ready for more, Kahan treated them to the unreleased tune “Spoiled.” Before kicking off the next song, Kahan shared some words of encouragement for those who moved to Music City to chase a dream by taking a risk and betting on themselves.

“I moved here in 2017,” he said. “I spent a long time by myself and did a lot of things by myself. At first, I felt kind of pathetic. Then I realized you can do whatever you want by yourself. Once you realize that, the whole world opens up for you.” The singer said he wrote the next track, “You’re Gonna Go Far,” for anyone who can relate to that.

Erupting from joy after hearing the hit song, the crowd was ready to see what was next, which was “Homesick.” After Kahan jumped and buzzed around the main stage, he ran to the center of the arena floor to his B-Stage. Kahan wanted to have a B-Stage on this tour to be as close to the fans as he possibly could be. With a single spotlight shining down on Kahan and his guitar, he captivated the crowd with “Growing Sideways” and “Maine.”

Noah Kahan. Photo: Kaitlyn Hungerford

Bringing the party back to the main stage, Kahan immediately went into “She Calls Me Back.” Buzzing off the energy from the audience, Kahan went into “Call Your Mom” and “Orange Juice.”

As the night was winding down, Kahan gave another shoutout to his band, and said he wished that he could play for the rest of the night. He then closed out the set with “Northern Attitude,” a song he wrote with inspiration from his hometown of Strafford, Vermont. Kahan ran off stage as snow-colored confetti started falling.

Fans knew better than to think the night was actually over, as they cheered and shined their lights, waiting with anticipation for the singer to come back. Their wish was granted when Kahan came back with a Predators jersey on. He kicked off his encore set with “The View Between Villages,” another song paying homage to his hometown. 

Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan. Photo: Kaitlyn Hungerford

As Kahan, his band and the fans were electrified from the night, everyone was ready for one more big performance. Before going into the final song, Kahan brought out Kelsea Ballerini as a surprise guest. The two are no strangers to performing with each other, as they played together at the ACM Awards two weeks ago. To close out the night, the duo played Kahan’s breakout song “Stick Season,” leaving the audience absolutely enamored.

Kahan’s tour will continue through July with stops in St. Louis, Los Angeles and more before wrapping up at Fenway Park in Boston. All of Kahan’s tour stops will feature The Busyhead Project Action Village, a place that will amplify local mental health organizations and feature a community wall that allows fans to share positive messages. To read more about the initiative, click here. 

BREAKING: Music Row Champion Pat Rolfe Passes

Pat Rolfe

Pat Rolfe, one of the first women to head a major publishing company on Music Row, passed away on Friday (May 24) after a battle with cancer. She was 77.

Rolfe began her career at Lamar Fike’s Hill & Range, where she worked with artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, Eddie Rabbit, Bill Monroe, George Morgan and more. She became General Manager of the company in 1972.

Rolfe remained at Hill & Range until Chappell Music purchased it in 1975. She stayed with Chappell and eventually rose to Vice President, a post she held until 1987 when Warner Bros. Music purchased it. During Rolfe’s tenure, Chappell Music was named ASCAP Publisher of the Year seven times.

After leaving Chappell, ASCAP Nashville head Connie Bradley hired Rolfe as Director of Membership Relations. She stayed at ASCAP, rising to the position of Vice President, until 2010. During her time at ASCAP, Rolfe brought in writers such as Tony Mullins, Deryl Dodd, Trevor Rosen, Hillary Lindsey, Josh Kear, Chris Tompkins, Michael Knox, Gerry House, Tim Ryan, Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley and Wynonna Judd.

In 1991, Rolfe and other Music Row leaders Judy Harris and Sheila Shipley Biddy formed SOURCE, an organization focused on fostering relationships and opportunities for women in the entertainment industry. Now the longest-running organization for women in the music industry in Nashville, SOURCE continues to be a tentpole institution for the community.

Rolfe also co-founded the Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament that raises money for charity each year. She was inducted into the SOURCE Hall of Fame in 2012.

Rolfe will be remembered for her commitment to championing and mentoring multiple generations of women in the business. She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Mack; her stepchildren, John (Vanessa), Jim (Mary K) and Dick (Michelle); seven grandchildren; brothers, Jim, Mike, Joe, and Charlie Patterson and sister, Margaret Simmons. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marie and George Patterson, and her brother Jerry Patterson and sister-in-law Ann Patterson.

A visitation with the family will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Green Hills Community Church with the funeral service beginning at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Bonaparte’s Retreat Dog Rescue, the Green Hills Community Church or a charity of your choice.

Lauren Watkins To Deliver Full-Length Debut Album In June

Photo: Brayln Kelly Smith. Album Art: Courtesy of Big Loud Records/Songs & Daughters

Lauren Watkins will deliver her full-length debut album, The Heartbroken Record, on June 21 via Big Loud Records/Songs & Daughters.

Today (May 24), she shared the track “Settling Things,” which depicts gentle scenes of small-town life, along with its accompanying video filmed at Patsy Cline’s “Dream Home.”

The Nashville native co-wrote the entire 17-song collection, which includes collaborations with Sheryl Crow and Ashley Monroe, as well as previously-released tunes featuring Jake Worthington and Carter Faith.

“I didn’t want to just put an album out—I wanted it to be purposeful,” Watkins reflects. “It’s the past several years of my life, and that was just so much heartbreak and dramatic girl-feelings, but I think in a really deep and relatable way…and it just needs to get off my chest.

“There were a lot of years where I was running away from doing this; but I ended up asking myself, ‘What’s the point of living through something if I don’t share it with people? If I don’t share the things I’ve learned with the gifts I’ve been given?’ At the end of the day, all I want is for people to hear this record and feel seen,” she adds. “I think that’s all any of us ever really need.”

Watkins worked alongside Diamond-certified producer Joey Moi to capture a special sonic blend that melts her organically smooth, hazy twang and delicate-but-daring undertone with a rich 2000s thump. With each track, she seeks to highlight the messy magic of love and loss through unexpected twists in perspective.

“It’s exactly the space in country I thought was missing and wanted to fill,” the songstress continues. “It’s sweet and warm, but also gritty and tough at the same time, and that’s my favorite thing. I love it.”

The Heartbroken Record Track Listing:
1. “Leavers Leave” (Lauren Watkins, Lance Miller, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)
2. “Mama, I Made It” (Lauren Watkins, Rocky Block, Lauren Hungate)
3. “Heartbroken Record” (Lauren Watkins, Will Bundy, Caroline Watkins)
4. “Sad Songs And You” (Lauren Watkins, Lauren Hungate)
5. “Set My Heart On Fire” (feat. Sheryl Crow) (Lauren Watkins, Emily Landis, Summer Overstreet, Lydia Vaughan)
6. “Stuck In My Ways” (Lauren Watkins, Will Bundy, David Garcia, Emily Landis)
7. “Gatlinburg” (Lauren Watkins, Jessie Jo Dillon, Carter Faith, Lauren Hungate, Ashley Monroe, Caroline Watkins)
8. “Anybody But You” (Lauren Watkins, Rodney Clawson, Mark Holman, Ernest Keith Smith)
9. “Settling Things” (Lauren Watkins, Lauren Hungate, Luke Laird)
10. “One Trick Pony” (Lauren Watkins, Will Bundy, Lydia Vaughan, Caroline Watkins)
11. “Fly On The Wall” (feat. Jake Worthington) (Lauren Watkins, Andy Sheridan, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)
12. “Shirley Temple” (Lauren Watkins, Nicolle Galyon, Meg McRee)
13. “Pretend You’re Coming Home (feat. Ashley Monroe)” (Lauren Watkins, Ashley Monroe, Mark Trussell)
14. “Jealous Of Jane” (Lauren Watkins, Brad Warren, Brett Warren, Caroline Watkins)
15. “Cowboys On Music Row (feat. Carter Faith)” (Lauren Watkins, Jessie Jo Dillon, Carter Faith, Lauren Hungate, Ashley Monroe, Caroline Watkins)
16. “Burn The Bridge” (Lauren Watkins, Will Bundy, Emily Landis, Mark Trussell)
17. “Too Much To Dream” (Lauren Watkins, Forrest Finn, Nicolle Galyon)

Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Holds Block Party [See Photos]

Carly Pearce performs at the Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Block Party. Photo: Jason Kempin for Getty Images, Courtesy of the Recording Academy

The voting and professional members of the Recording Academy’s Nashville Chapter enjoyed the organization’s annual Block Party earlier this week.

Hosted at 6th & Peabody, the 23rd edition of the Block Party featured great food, drinks and fun performances by Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Hannah Dasher, Rissi Palmer, Carly Pearce, Brittney Spencer and Cory Wong. DJ Smoke kept the music playing between live performances.

Attendees dined on a fully-stocked taco bar and Daddy’s Dogs hot dogs. The warm weather made for the perfect kickoff to summer.

Brittney Spencer performs at the Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Block Party. Photo: Jason Kempin for Getty Images, Courtesy of the Recording Academy

Rissi Palmer and Miko Marks perform at the Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Block Party. Photo: Jason Kempin for Getty Images, Courtesy of the Recording Academy

Hannah Dasher performs at the Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Block Party. Photo: Jason Kempin for Getty Images, Courtesy of the Recording Academy

Tasha Cobbs Leonard performs at the Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Block Party. Photo: Jason Kempin for Getty Images, Courtesy of the Recording Academy

Cory Wong performs at the Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Block Party. Photo: Jason Kempin for Getty Images, Courtesy of the Recording Academy

Ryan And Rory Sign With BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville

Pictured (L–R): Jordan Keller (KTAG Law), Dustin Kovacic (KTAG Law), John Hamlin (Switched On Management), Jon Loba (BMG), Ryan Follesé, Rory John Zak, Darin Murphy (CAA), Chris Burrus (CAA), Peter Strickland (BMG) and Ford Pickert (Switched On Management); Not Pictured: JoJamie Hahr (BMG) and Katie Kerkhover (BMG).

Country duo Ryan and Rory has signed with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville.

Comprised of Ryan Follesé and Rory John Zak, the pair released the track “Pour Decisions” today (May 24). The tune will be featured on their self-titled debut EP, out July 26.

A Nashville native, Follesé is a chart-topping singer-songwriter and American Music Award (AMA) winner. Zak hails from Raleigh, North Carolina, and is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter who has played over 300 shows per year since he was 17. Follesé, son of established songwriters Adrienne and Keith Follesé,  co-wrote all six tracks on the duo’s upcoming debut, including five with his family, while Zak added instrumentals and harmonies to the project.

“Filling a much-needed space in the format, country duo Ryan and Rory are introducing themselves with a fresh sound on ‘Pour Decisions,'” shares JoJamie Hahr, EVP Recorded Music, BMG Nashville. “Ryan Follesé’s award-winning success and masterful songwriting paired with Rory John Zak’s multi-instrumental abilities and relentless passion for delivering captivating performances provides a firm foundation as we lean towards their debut, self-titled EP in July.”

Kayley Green Inks With Sony Music Nashville

Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s Ken Robold, Jen Way, Jason McColl; Kayley Green; SMN’s Taylor Lindsey and Randy Goodman. Photo: Adam Davis

Kayley Green has signed with Sony Music Nashville. She is releasing her debut single with the label, “Live Fast Die Pretty,” today (May 24).

Hailing from Florence, South Carolina, Green started singing in church and eventually moved to Nashville and started gigging on lower Broadway. She caught the eyes and ears of superstar Keith Urban, who heard Green singing one night on Broadway and invited her to join him at his next Bridgestone Arena show. Green soon became the topic of conversation among the Sony Music Nashville A&R team in the audience, as Urban gave her the stage to cover “Independence Day” and trade lines with him on “We Were Us.”

She signed with Sony and began working with producer/songwriter Ross Copperman while still holding down a weekend headline slot at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row.

“I’ve never doubted that I was born to sing, but a record deal was something I was afraid to even dream about,” says Green. “It felt unbelievably far out of reach in the bars I played in for so long, so to say that signing with Sony Music Nashville is an actual dream come true is quite the understatement. I am so grateful to be supported by such an incredible team!”

Green is represented by WME.

SongwritingWith:Soldiers Expands Team

Pictured (L-R, top row): Scott O’Neal & Daryl Evans. (L-R, bottom row): Kristin Starling & Jordyn Hay

SongwritingWith:Soldiers, a nonprofit organization that works with veterans and their families through collaborative songwriting programs, has added new team members and made internal promotions.

The organization welcomes Scott O’Neal as VP of Advancement. A Nashville native and Vanderbilt University graduate, O’Neal has held Director roles at Montgomery Bell Academy and Jewish Foundation of Greater Nashville. He also served as COO for The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Daryl Evans has also joined the team as VP of Operations. Evans earned his MBA from University of Alabama, and has since held roles in a diverse array of companies from startups to Fortune 500 companies, focusing on nonprofit leadership. He most recently served as Director of Social Enterprise for Crossroads Campus.

Additionally, the organization’s Kristin Starling has been named President, where she will lead the organization’s growth efforts. Jordyn Hay has been promoted to Program Director.

“Adding these important roles will prepare and position SongwritingWith:Soldiers to do what we are most often asked, ‘How can SW:S deliver more programs and help more veterans?'” shares Starling. “The need remains great, and together we can all do more.”

The U.S. Department Of Justice Sues Live Nation

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), alongside a group of 30 states including Tennessee, has filed a antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation. The suit accuses the live music giant of market dominance, and calls for its split from Ticketmaster.

“We allege that Live Nation has repeatedly wielded its powers to keep its rivals from expanding in the U.S. concert promotions market through threats and retaliation,” shared Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday (May 23) during the lawsuit’s announcement.

Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged in 2010. Their combined dominance in live music has been scrutinized since then, but concerns increased significantly during the ticketing issues that arose with Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour.”

The DOJ alleges that Live Nation has used its market power to stifle competition. In Garland’s remarks on Thursday, he shared that the government will present evidence taken from Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino and Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke as well as Rapino and equity firm Silver Lake capital.

“The threats ultimately succeeded and Silver Lake has tried to sell TEG altogether,” Garland said. “We allege that Live Nation does not maintain its dominance in the live industry by staying ahead of its competition on the merits. It does so by unlawfully eliminating its competition. We allege that Live Nation controls the live entertainment industry in the United States because it is breaking the law.”

Live Nation has rejected the accusations.

“The DOJ’s lawsuit won’t solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices,” the company shared in a statement. “Calling Ticketmaster a monopoly may be a PR win for the DOJ in the short term, but it will lose in court because it ignores the basic economics of live entertainment, such as the fact that the bulk of service fees go to venues, and that competition has steadily eroded Ticketmaster’s market share and profit margin. Our growth comes from helping artists tour globally, creating lasting memories for millions of fans and supporting local economies across the country by sustaining quality jobs. We will defend against these baseless allegations, use this opportunity to shed light on the industry and continue to push for reforms that truly protect consumers and artists.”

Click here to see the DOJ’s full complaint.

This is a developing story.

Blaine Barcus Tapped As President Of Integrity Music

Blaine Barcus

Blaine Barcus has been tapped to lead Integrity Music as President. He takes the helm from Jonathan Brown, who will step into a new role as the label’s Chief Global Officer.

Barcus most recently served as Senior Vice President of A&R at Provident Entertainment, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, after previous stints at Word Entertainment/Warner Music Group and Creative Trust.

He holds a B.A. in communication from the University of Missouri, and moved to Nashville in 1996 to pursue his dream of working in Christian music. Since then, Barcus has worked as a tour manager, drummer, artist manager and label executive. Over the span of his music career, he has worked directly with artists including Zach Williams, Cain, Third Day, Matt Maher, Steven Curtis Chapman, Matthew West, Building 429, I Am They, David Leonard, Ben Fuller and Seph Schlueter.

“Blaine’s reputation in the Christian music industry for developing and launching artists as well as
shepherding songs to CCLI success is second to none,” says Bill Reeves, CEO of David C Cook, Integrity Music’s parent company. “I’m thrilled to have Blaine join Integrity Music to help expand the label’s opportunities while continuing the great missional work of equipping the church through songs of substance that transform lives.”

“It is truly an honor and blessing to join the amazing team at Integrity Music,” Barcus says.
“Integrity has an incredible legacy of equipping the worldwide church by supporting and serving
worship leaders, artists and songwriters. I hope to play a small part in continuing the Kingdom
impact of this great organization by pouring into the next generation of Christian creatives.”

Starting in 2011, Brown served as Integrity Music’s Vice President/Managing Director until he assumed the position of President in 2017. In this new role, he will expand international partnerships and reach for both Integrity Music and David C Cook.

“Jonathan has led Integrity Music with a strong vision for its missional purpose and global reach,” says Reeves. “It’s that heart for the nations so apparent in his work that I wanted to expand his role to seeking global opportunities for the growth of our music and book publishing business units.”