Kelsea Ballerini & Carly Pearce Celebrated At ASCAP Grammy Brunch

Carly Pearce & Kelsea Ballerini attending the ASCAP Grammy Brunch at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles. Photo: Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP
Country stars Kelsea Ballerini and Carly Pearce were celebrated last week at the ASCAP Grammy Brunch in Los Angeles for their Grammy nominations. ASCAP President & Chairman of the Board Paul Williams and ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews hosted the celebration.
Lenny Kravitz, Dan Nigro, Theron Thomas, Deputy, Alexander 23, Andrew & Polly, Ashley Gorley, Autumn Rowe, Blessing Offor, Cimafunk, Claudia Brant, Desmond Child, Emily Bear, Emily Warren, Fito Páez, Jermaine Dupri, KentheMan, Natalia Lafourcade, Patti Austin, Ryan Ellis, Shawn “Clown” Crahan of Slipknot and Snow Wife were also in attendance.
MTSU Alumni Bring Home Multiple Grammy Awards

MTSU Alumni Gathering. Photo: Courtesy of Andrew Oppmann/MTSU
During the 66th annual Grammy Awards, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) alumni took home multiple Grammys across genres. Julien Baker, a member of indie group Boygenius, took home three awards alongside band mates Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. The group won Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song and Best Alternative Music Album. Christian artist Lecrae won two awards for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song and Best Contemporary Christian Music Album.
Jason Hall and Jimmy Mansfield were recognized by the Recording Academy for their engineering, mixing and vocal work on Lainey Wilson‘s Bell Bottom Country, which won Best Country Album. Along with Hall and Mansfield, Josh Kear also was also featured on Wilson’s album with his composition work on “Watermelon Moonshine.”
Tenille Townes Raises $418,000 For The Sunrise House

Tenille Townes during her 13th annual “Big Hearts For Big Kids” benefit. Photo: Robert Chavers
CCMA Award-winning artist Tenille Townes held her 13th annual “Big Hearts For Big Kids” benefit, where she raised $418,000 for The Sunrise House.
Dean Brody, Caylee Hammack and Eric Paslay played a writers’ round at the event before a headline set from Townes.
The artist was 15 years old when she first started the annual benefit, which is held in her hometown of Grand Prairie, Alberta. The Sunrise House is an emergency youth shelter in the singer’s hometown, and the annual event has seen nearly three million dollars donated. With the funds raised, the shelter recently opened a new facility and is now able to serve triple the amount of youth.
“The youth shelter in my hometown has always been incredibly important to me and I started ‘Big Hearts For Big Kids’ because I believe that everyone is worthy of love, belonging and a little help when we need it,” says Townes. “I grew up in a community that taught me how to look out for each other, and putting on this event through the past 14 years has shown me the power of a small group of people coming together. I’m so proud of the way everyone continues to show up, gather around some music, bid on some auction items and change the course of many kids lives because of it.”
BBR Music Group To Throw It Back Again For CRS 2024
/by Lorie HollabaughBBR Music Group is throwing it back again this year for Country Radio Seminar (CRS) with its Decades Party, set to take place Feb. 29 at the Omni Nashville Hotel in the Broadway Ballroom.
The event will feature Parmalee, Chayce Beckham, HunterGirl and more performing hits from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and beyond, and will include a few surprises as well. Hosted by Blair Garner, the evening aims to be a true celebration of the music that defines a generation.
“Last year’s Decades Party was like totally rad! Grab your leg warmers and hairspray and come dance the night away with your BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville family,” says JoJamie Hahr, EVP, Recorded Music, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville.
The party will immediately follow Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley, and is open to all CRS registered attendees. Beginning on Feb. 27, on-site registration for CRS will be available at the Omni Hotel Nashville. For more information, click here.
Messina Touring Group Promotes Three To VP
/by LB CantrellLauren Caire, Keena Cheatham, LeeAnn Rotondo
Messina Touring Group, the promoter for touring giants such as Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Ed Sheeran, Eric Church, George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Shawn Mendes and The Lumineers, has promoted three team members to VP roles.
Lauren Caire has been elevated from Director of Finance to VP of Finance, Keena Cheatham has risen from Promoter Rep to VP of Touring and LeeAnn Rotondo has been promoted from Director of Ticketing to VP of Ticketing.
“It thrills me to see our MTG team grow—these individuals are just another example of the incredible MTG team,” shares CEO Louis Messina. “Watching them grow and achieve makes me so happy; the success of our team is my biggest accomplishment.”
Caire joined MTG in 2015 as a Senior Accountant. She has since managed finances for the company and all of its tours, including a marquee year in 2023 anchored by Swift’s headline-dominating “Eras Tour,” Sheeran’s record-breaking “Mathematics World Tour,” Strait’s stadium run and more. The Nashville native also managed the design and opening of MTG’s first office outside of its Austin home base in 2019, expanding the promoter’s presence into Music City. She is currently overseeing MTG Nashville’s upcoming move to Nashville Yards.
Cheatham joined MTG in 2013 as a Promoter Rep on Swift’s “Red Tour,” and has had a role in over half of the MTG roster in both the pop and country music sectors. The MusicRow N.B.T. Class of 2024 member leads the charge for some of the promoter’s biggest clients, including serving as the point person for Sheeran since 2014 and playing an instrumental part in Church’s “The Gather Again Tour,” which reported over 860,000 in ticket sales, grossed over $100 million and took home the award for Top Country Tour at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.
Rotondo joined MTG in 2015 as a Ticket Manager, primarily to assist with ticketing for Swift’s “1989 Tour.” Now she spearheads all ticketing for Swift’s tours, as well as many other MTG clients including Church, Chesney and Shelton. Under her direction, ticketing at MTG has evolved from an isolated process led by each touring team into an innovative model with a centralized department that leads all tours at the forefront of the quickly-evolving ticketing industry.
Congratulate Caire via lauren@messinatouring.com, Cheatham via keena@messinatouring.com and Rotondo via leeann@messinatouring.com.
Dierks Bentley To Return To The Road On ‘Gravel & Gold Tour’
/by Lorie HollabaughDierks Bentley has announced over 30 new dates for his “Gravel & Gold Tour,” kicking off this summer.
Chase Rice and Lee Brice will join the dates as direct support along with a diverse lineup of special guests including Graham Barham, Tyler Braden, Kaitlin Butts, Mae Estes, Ella Langley, Randy Rogers Band, Zach Top, Tanner Usrey, Bella White and more.
Bentley will visit Toledo, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Charleston, Colorado Springs and more on the trek, with a Nashville date at Bridgestone Arena set for Sept. 7. Tickets go on sale this Friday (Feb. 16). For more information, click here.
“The ‘Gravel & Gold Tour’ has been the best of my career, and I’m not ready to leave it behind,” explains Bentley. “We are so locked in with this production that it allows me to be living right in the moment with the fans, and that’s the magic! I’m bringing along some old friends and some newer artists who are all putting their own unique spin on country, bluegrass and Americana music. I can’t wait to watch their shows and hopefully sing with them too. Those collaborations are a highlight of my summer every year.”
“Gravel & Gold Tour” 2024 Dates:
* Chase Rice + Check Local Listings
^ Lee Brice + Check Local Listings
+ On sale to be announced
> On sale March 1
< On sale March 8
‘ Not a Live Nation Date
6/07 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena *
6/08 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP *
6/13 – Toledo, OH – The Huntington Center *
6/14 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center *
6/15 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center ^
6/27 – Lafayette, LA – CAJUNDOME*<
6/28 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater*
7/18 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC *
7/19 – Scranton, PA – The Pavilion at Montage Mountain *
7/20 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater +
8/04 – Bonner, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater
8/08 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion *’
8/09 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center *
8/10 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena *
8/15 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion *
8/16 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview*
8/17 – Camden, NJ- Freedom Mortgage Pavilion *
8/22 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre STL*
8/23 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center *
8/24 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center *
8/29 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater *
8/30 – Colorado Springs, CO – Sunset Amphitheater *’
8/31 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre *\9/06 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre *
9/07 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena *
9/12 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park ^
9/13 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium ^
9/14 – Simpsonville, SC – CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park^
9/19 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena * >
9/20 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena *
9/21 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater^
Cody Johnson & Hardy To Headline Country Thunder Bristol Festival In June
/by Lorie HollabaughCody Johnson and Hardy are set to headline this year’s Country Thunder Bristol Festival this summer, taking place June 28-29 in Bristol, Tennessee.
The fourth installment of the festival will also include performances by Bailey Zimmerman, Trace Adkins, Lonestar, Priscilla Block, Shenandoah, Travis Denning, Jake Worthington, Josh Ross and Emily Ann Roberts, with additional artists to be announced.
“The diversity of this year’s lineup guarantees something for every country music fan,” says Country Thunder Music Festivals CEO, Troy Vollhoffer. “Whether you’re a fan of traditional country, contemporary sounds, or anything in between, it will be a weekend that Eastern Tennessee will never forget.”
Two-day General Admission, Gold Circle, Platinum Experience, Camping and all the extras are on sale now at countrythunder.com or by phone at 1-866-388-0007.
Grand Ole Opry House To Celebrate 50th Anniversary In March
/by Madison HahnenHome of the famous Grand Ole Opry, the Grand Ole Opry House will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a star-studded lineup on March 16.
The lineup includes Opry members Bill Anderson, Jeannie Seely and Connie Smith, who all performed at the house’s grand opening in 1974. Additional members scheduled to perform consist of Mandy Barnett, Clint Black, The Gatlin Brothers, Del McCoury, Gary Mule Deer, Don Schlitz, Riders In The Sky and Mark Wills.
The anniversary show falls exactly 50 years to the day since the venue opened with a historic show, which featured performances by Roy Acuff, Osborne Brothers, Minnie Pearl and more, with President and Mrs. Richard Nixon in attendance. The Grand Ole Opry House is the current ACM Theater of the Year, and is nominated for Venue of the Year at this year’s CMA Touring Awards. Additionally, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.
Tickets are available now. For more information, click here.
Event & Venue Details Announced For 32nd Annual Tin Pan South
/by Liza AndersonDetails regarding events, venues and more for the 32nd annual Tin Pan South have been announced. Presented by Regions and produced by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), the songwriters festival is set for April 2-6.
For the first time in Tin Pan South history, festival programming will include midday events that aim to dive deeper into the songwriting world. There will be a Legislative Panel hosted by Analog at the Hutton Hotel on April 3 featuring Danielle Aguirre (EVP & General Counsel, National Music Publisher’s Association), Mitch Glazier (Chairman & CEO, RIAA) and Bart Herbison (Executive Director, NSAI) at 12 p.m. as well as a Songwriter Conversation starring Siedah Garrett at 2 p.m., with an option to purchase a lunch add-on for the afternoon.
The festival has also partnered with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to present a “Poets and Prophets” program featuring songwriter Jackie DeShannon at 2:30 p.m. on April 6. Festival ticket-purchasers can purchase discounted museum admission and reserve tickets, which include museum admission with an entry time of 12:45 p.m., followed by the program. For more information, click here.
Tin Pan South will consist of several returning venues such as 3rd and Lindsley Nashville, Analog at the Hutton Hotel, The Bluebird Cafe, The Lounge at City Winery Nashville, Commodore Grille, Cross-Eyed Critters Watering Hole, Hard Rock Cafe, The Listening Room Cafe and Station Inn in addition to the festival’s newest venue Anzie Blue.
Craig Alvin & Jason Spiewak Open Noble Steed Studios In Muscle Shoals
/by Lorie HollabaughCraig Alvin & Jason Spiewak. Photo: Courtesy of Noble Steed Studios
Grammy-winning sound mixer and audio engineer Craig Alvin has joined forces with entertainment industry veteran Jason Spiewak of Noble Steed Music to open Noble Steed Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
Noble Steed Studios. Photo: Courtesy of Noble Steed Studios
Noble Steed Studios is a recording facility that offers artists a wide range of modern and old-world equipment. Inspired by the rich history of Muscle Shoals, the studio features one-of-a-kind gear including a Universal Audio (UA) 610 console, the type originally used by acts such as The Rolling Stones when they recorded in the area.
The studio’s large format console is a Harrison Series 12 console, which was used on multiple big country albums including The Chicks’ albums Wide Open Spaces and Fly. Additionally, Randy Travis’ “You And You Alone” was mixed on that actual Harrison board. Noble Steed Studios also includes an exclusive guest house available to artists and crew members.
Spiewak established himself during his time at indie labels Artemis Records, Studio E Records and TVT Records. He has worked with artists including Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz, Pitbull, Kittie, Warren Zevon, Steve Earle and Ying Yang Twins. Spiewak co-founded the Warner Music (ADA) distributed-label Rock Ridge Music in 2004 and was later named the company’s President, signing Rachel Platten, Sister Hazel, Reel Big Fish, Barry Manilow and Run DMC.
With a career spanning three decades, Alvin has worked with roster of well-known artists spanning various genres. His recording credits include Hanson, Little Big Town, Amy Grant, Vanessa Carlton, Will Hoge, Andrew Belle, Brittany Howard. Alvin also won two Grammys for his engineering on Kacey Musgraves‘ Golden Hour album in 2019.
Additionally, Spiewak and Noble Steed Music have signed musician Sol Philcox-Littlefield. Philcox-Littlefield is an accomplished session musician with over 60 Platinum- certified and 300 Gold-certified records to his name. He has contributed to over 25 No. 1 songs on country radio, hundreds of Billboard charting records, and was nominated for the 2023 ACM Electric Guitar Player of the Year as well as honored by the Country Music Hall of Fame. His collaborators include Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Kelsea Ballerini, Sam Hunt, Midland, Luke Bryan, Nate Smith, Jelly Roll, Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Dustin Lynch, Parmalee, Jon Pardi, Cole Swindell and more.
Sheryl Crow Releases ‘Do It Again’ From Forthcoming Album ‘Evolution’
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto: Courtesy of The Valory Music Co.
Sheryl Crow has released new single “Do It Again” from her forthcoming 11th full-length studio album, Evolution, due out March 29 via The Valory Music Co.
“I feel like I’ve been writing this song for thirty years,” Crow explains. “To me, life is one long exploration in how to live joyfully. It’s a work in progress.”
The contemplative tune is part of the 10-track project, which was produced by Mike Elizondo. Other Evolution songs include the previously released lead single “Alarm Clock” and the title track.
The nine-time Grammy winner has sold 35 million copies of her first nine studio albums worldwide, seven of which charted in the top 10 and five were certified multi-Platinum.
Evolution Track Listing:
1. “Alarm Clock”
2. “Do It Again”
3. “Love Life”
4. “You Can’t Change The Weather”
5. “Evolution”
6. “Where”
7. “Don’t Walk Away”
8. “Broken Record”
9. “Waiting In The Wings”
10. “Digging In The Dirt (Digital Deluxe Only)”
Industry Ink: ASCAP, MTSU, Tenille Townes
/by Madison HahnenKelsea Ballerini & Carly Pearce Celebrated At ASCAP Grammy Brunch
Carly Pearce & Kelsea Ballerini attending the ASCAP Grammy Brunch at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles. Photo: Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP
Country stars Kelsea Ballerini and Carly Pearce were celebrated last week at the ASCAP Grammy Brunch in Los Angeles for their Grammy nominations. ASCAP President & Chairman of the Board Paul Williams and ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews hosted the celebration.
Lenny Kravitz, Dan Nigro, Theron Thomas, Deputy, Alexander 23, Andrew & Polly, Ashley Gorley, Autumn Rowe, Blessing Offor, Cimafunk, Claudia Brant, Desmond Child, Emily Bear, Emily Warren, Fito Páez, Jermaine Dupri, KentheMan, Natalia Lafourcade, Patti Austin, Ryan Ellis, Shawn “Clown” Crahan of Slipknot and Snow Wife were also in attendance.
MTSU Alumni Bring Home Multiple Grammy Awards
MTSU Alumni Gathering. Photo: Courtesy of Andrew Oppmann/MTSU
During the 66th annual Grammy Awards, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) alumni took home multiple Grammys across genres. Julien Baker, a member of indie group Boygenius, took home three awards alongside band mates Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. The group won Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song and Best Alternative Music Album. Christian artist Lecrae won two awards for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song and Best Contemporary Christian Music Album.
Jason Hall and Jimmy Mansfield were recognized by the Recording Academy for their engineering, mixing and vocal work on Lainey Wilson‘s Bell Bottom Country, which won Best Country Album. Along with Hall and Mansfield, Josh Kear also was also featured on Wilson’s album with his composition work on “Watermelon Moonshine.”
Tenille Townes Raises $418,000 For The Sunrise House
Tenille Townes during her 13th annual “Big Hearts For Big Kids” benefit. Photo: Robert Chavers
CCMA Award-winning artist Tenille Townes held her 13th annual “Big Hearts For Big Kids” benefit, where she raised $418,000 for The Sunrise House.
Dean Brody, Caylee Hammack and Eric Paslay played a writers’ round at the event before a headline set from Townes.
The artist was 15 years old when she first started the annual benefit, which is held in her hometown of Grand Prairie, Alberta. The Sunrise House is an emergency youth shelter in the singer’s hometown, and the annual event has seen nearly three million dollars donated. With the funds raised, the shelter recently opened a new facility and is now able to serve triple the amount of youth.
“The youth shelter in my hometown has always been incredibly important to me and I started ‘Big Hearts For Big Kids’ because I believe that everyone is worthy of love, belonging and a little help when we need it,” says Townes. “I grew up in a community that taught me how to look out for each other, and putting on this event through the past 14 years has shown me the power of a small group of people coming together. I’m so proud of the way everyone continues to show up, gather around some music, bid on some auction items and change the course of many kids lives because of it.”
CRS Reveals 2024 ‘Amazon Music Presents: Country Heat’ Lineup
/by Liza AndersonThe “Amazon Music Presents: Country Heat” showcase lineup for Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2024 has been revealed.
Lady A will headline the event, which will also include performances by Chayce Beckham, Ella Langley, Dylan Marlowe and Josh Ross.
The trio is bringing their request line to CRS, as song requests will be gathered in advance to build their setlist. Detailed information on how this will be conducted will be announced.
Country Heat is Amazon Music’s global playlist for country music fans. Updated weekly, the playlist features a mix of chart-topping hits and breaking singles from both established and emerging acts.
“The Amazon Music global marquee playlist, Country Heat, connects fans with a range of artists, from influential icons to artists on the brink of stardom,” says Michelle Tigard Kammerer, Head of Country Music, Amazon Music. “This year at CRS, we’re bringing Country Heat to life with an incredible showcase helmed by superstar trio, Lady A, and an exciting slate of performances from artists selected as part of the Amazon Music 2024 Breakthrough Artists to Watch program.”
Set to close out the first day of CRS 2024, the showcase will take place on Feb. 28 from 6-8:30 p.m. in the Broadway Performance Hall at the Omni Nashville Hotel.