It’s time for another Tennessee Songwriters Week, the competition series that showcases the talent of songwriters in the Volunteer State. Presented by the Tennessee Dept. of Tourist Development, The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and Taylor Guitars, this year marks the sixth annual edition of the series.

Throughout late January, over 1,200 songwriters performed at nearly 50 qualifying round venues across the state, including Memphis, Collierville, Jackson, Cookeville, Murfreesboro, Linden, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Johnson City, Bristol and more, for a chance to compete in the 2024 Tennessee Songwriters Week.

Now, select songwriters will move on to one of seven Tennessee Songwriters Week showcases, including at the Lafayette’s Music Room in Memphis (Feb. 18), Bijou Theatre in Knoxville (Feb. 19), Songbirds Foundation in Chattanooga (Feb. 20), Ole Red in Gatlinburg (Feb. 21), The Down Home in Johnson City (Feb. 22), Temple Theatre in Portland (Feb. 23) and Franklin Theatre in Franklin (Feb. 24).

Seven finalists, one from each showcase, will earn the opportunity to perform at the iconic Bluebird Cafe during a private event in March with music industry professionals. Finalists will also win a branded commemorative Taylor guitar, a two-night stay in Nashville, a $100 gift card for travel and a one-year NSAI membership.

“Since the inception of the event, we have shared our mission with Tennessee Songwriters Week, to recognize the wealth of talent Tennessee has brought, and continues to bring, to the world,” says Erika Wollam Nichols, COO & General Manager of The Bluebird Cafe. “We are looking forward to this year’s week of music in February, culminating in the finale at The Bluebird in March.”

Judges for this year’s events include musicians, radio show hosts, publishers and Grammy-nominated producers as well as sister duo Tigirlily Gold, singer-songwriter Alex Hall, songwriter Adam Brown, singer-songwriter and producer Anthony Smith, country artist Butch Baker, independent soul artist Talibah Safiya, musician and entrepreneur McKenzii Webster, representatives from The Bluebird Cafe, NSAI, CMT and more. Judges consider lyric originality, performance and connection with the audience.

Past showcase winners include bop artist Harzee from Memphis, Chattanooga’s alternative blues and indie singer-songwriter Katrina Barclay, Middle Tennessee’s Jacob Rice and Maura Streppa.

The full lineup has been unveiled for this year’s Boots And Hearts Music Festival, taking place Aug. 8-11 at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds in Oro-Medonte, Ontario.

As previously announced, Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett and Cody Johnson will headline the festival and perform along with Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Megan Moroney, NeedToBreathe, Nate Smith, Lonestar and Madeline Merlo.

The four-day event will launch with the annual Kick-Off Party on Thursday night (Aug. 8), starring Midland, Lonestar and 2023’s Emerging Artist Showcase winner Shantaia.

On Friday (Aug. 9), Jess Moskaluke and Nate Haller will join Boots And Hearts first-timers Johnson, Brothers Osborne and Moroney on the Main Stage. Chayce Beckham will headline the Front Porch Stage, which will feature Redferrin, Kalsey Kulyk, Buck Twenty and Taylor-Rae.

Matchbox Twenty will also take the Main Stage, marking their only Canadian date for the year, in addition to headliner Rhett, NeedToBreathe, Hunter Brothers and Elyse Saunders on Saturday night (Aug. 10). Jackson Dean will headline the Front Porch Stage that day, with Bryan Martin, Lauren Watkins, Texas King and Alee performing as well.

“The growing popularity of country music not only attracts a wider audience but allows an opportunity for more creativity in curating our artist lineup. It’s important to us to unite fans and create lasting memories with an experience they can’t get any where else,” says Brooke Dunford, Boots And Hearts’ Director of Talent Buying & Business Development. “Continuing with the tradition of creating a unique experience for our fans, we are ecstatic to welcome legendary rock band Matchbox Twenty to our stage. We always strive to curate a lineup that delivers electric energy for both fans and artists, and we’re confident this year’s lineup will do exactly that.”

On Sunday (Aug. 11), Aldean, Pearce, Smith and Merlo will be joined by Alexandra Kay on the Main Stage. The Front Porch Stage will showcase Alana Springsteen, Dillon James, Dayna Reid and Brian John Harwood throughout the day. Canadian group Emerson Drive will then headline that night and play together for the last time before they retire after nearly 30 years.

The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) has taken legal action against music streaming platform Pandora in the United States District Court located in Nashville. According to The MLC, it seeks to recover unpaid royalties and late fees due under the compulsory mechanical blanket license obtained by Pandora to reproduce and distribute musical works in America via its consumer music streaming platform.

The MLC was appointed by the Register of Copyrights to administer the blanket license and is the only entity authorized to collect and distribute the license royalties and enforce the license obligations on behalf of rightsholders. The action asserts that Pandora has underreported and underpaid mechanical royalties due in connection with the operation of its ad-supported music streaming offering marketed as “Pandora Free,” and further says that Pandora Free is an interactive service under the law, meaning that mechanical royalties are due for all streaming activity on the service. According to the organization, Pandora has only reported a portion of the activity on Pandora Free and refused to report and pay mechanical royalties for the rest of the activity.

The company now seeks corrected usage reporting and associated unpaid royalties and late fees for periods dating back to Jan. 1, 2021, along with an order requiring compliance going forward.

“The MLC has worked closely and tirelessly with blanket licensees to ensure their compliance with the compulsory license terms. Our team repeatedly sought to resolve this issue directly with Pandora, but Pandora has refused to correct their reporting or royalty payments,” says Kris Ahrend, CEO of The MLC. “The MLC is the only entity that has the statutory authority under the Music Modernization Act (MMA) to take legal steps to enforce the obligations of streaming services. We have brought this action to ensure that our members receive all the mechanical royalties they are due in connection with the use of their songs by Pandora on the Pandora Free service.”

Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson are reviving the iconic MuzikMafia for a 20th-anniversary celebration tour set to kick off Feb. 23 at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.

A musical movement founded in the early 2000s, MuzikMafia became synonymous with breaking genre boundaries and fostering creativity. Big & Rich, Wilson and Cowboy Troy, key figures in the original MuzikMafia lineup, are set to bring back the magic that made the movement a force to be reckoned with. The legendary MuzikMafia jam sessions launched numerous careers and often had stars like Kid Rock, Martina McBride, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Bon Jovi, Faith Hill and others drop by to jam on any given night.

The tour is expected to showcase a mix of classic hits from their massive debut albums Here For The Party and Horse Of A Different Color that defined the artists’ careers, as well as new collaborations that demonstrate their enduring creativity.

“Reuniting for the ’20th Anniversary Celebration Tour’ feels like coming home,” says Big & Rich. “The energy and camaraderie that defined the movement are as alive as ever, and we can’t wait to share that with our fans.”

Wilson adds, “I’m not sure if it’s the smile on Kenny’s face, the fire in John’s eyes, or the red of my neck…but something tells me this year’s 20th anniversary is gonna be epic!”

MuzikMafia “20th Anniversary Celebration Tour” Dates:
2/23 – San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, San Antonio, TX
3/9 – Ostrich Festival, Chandler, AZ
4/6 – Rock the Country, Gonzales, LA
5/10 – Rock the Country, Rome, GA
6/2 – Worldwide Technology Raceway, Madison, IL
6/8 – Bradley 315 Fest, Bourbonnais, IL
6/21 – Rock the Country, Mobile, AL
7/6 – Pearl River Resort, Choctaw, MS
7/12 – Country Concert, Fort Loramie, OH
7/13 – Beaver Dam Amphitheater, Beaver Dam, KY
7/19 – Rock the South, Cullman, AL
7/27 – Rock the Country, Anderson, SC
8/16 – Turning Stone Resort Casino – Event Center, Verona, NY
8/17 – Foxwoods Resort Casino – Premier Theater, Mashantucket, CT