Ebie McFarland, Publicist/Owner of Essential Broadcast Media, will be the featured speaker at MusicRow’s Rising Women on the Row breakfast, presented by City National Bank. The annual event is set for Tuesday, March 3, at 8:30 a.m. at the JW Marriott in Nashville.
Attendees will gain insights from McFarland during an on-stage interview with MusicRow Publisher and Owner Sherod Robertson.
The 13th annual celebration will honor the 2026 class of Rising Women on the Row honorees, which include Courtney Allen, Jackie Augustus, Sara Knabe, Victoria Mason, Sophia Sansone and Elisa Vazzana. Read about the honorees here.
Tickets for Rising Women on the Row are now closed. They will not be sold at the door.
McFarland, whose clients include Nashville’s biggest stars, Country Music Hall of Fame members, Lone Star institutions and outliers across genres, opened Essential Broadcast Media in 2007. Currently Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen, Darius Rucker, as well as Hootie & the Blowfish and his alt-roots supergroup Howl Owl Howl count on her and her team to create media strategy and steward interaction. Leaning more to the Texas, outlier and red dirt schools of music, she also counts Miranda Lambert, Kaitlin Butts, Koe Wetzel and Whiskey Myers, the Outlaw Music Festival, among her clients, as well as Tape Room Music.
Recent career highlights include her campaign for Chesney’s book tour for Heart Life Music, his No. 1 New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction and Combined Print and E-Book Nonfiction debut, following a massive run as the first solo and country act to have a residency at Sphere. She’s been involved with Lambert’s critically hailed Postcards from Texas and establishment of her Big Loud Texas Label; for Church, she’s straddled the IMAX major theatrical release of and subsequent “Free The Machine Tour” in support of his groundbreaking Evangeline vs The Machine. In addition, she continues expanding the impact of Strait’s stadium sized shows and ongoing records, while also overseeing Morgan Wallen’s “I’m The Problem” tour and album. Beyond the superstars, she is enlivened working with new and established artists looking to maximize their potential, setting strategy to expand horizons for Kaitlin Butts, Ian Munsick, Maddox Batson and more.
A four-time CMA Award winner and a MusicRow Rising Women on the Row honoree, McFarland has been named to the Billboard Power Players, Nashville Business Journal’s Women in Music City and 40 Under 40 lists. She resides in Nashville with her husband, Jon-Paul and their shih tzu, Emmylou.
5th Annual Nash To Naples Songwriter Fest Raises $415,000 For Charity
/by Lorie HollabaughMatt Jenkins, Josh Jenkins & Heather Morgan.
The Annual Nash to Naples Songwriters Fest wrapped a successful fifth year on Jan. 24, drawing thousands of fans to Cambier Park in downtown Naples, Florida.
The sold-out event featured Nashville songwriters Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Trevor Terndrup and Heather Morgan, who offered up an inside look at the stories behind their most memorable songs while guests enjoyed local food trucks, a VIP Happy Hour, and pre-show and kid-friendly festivities. Benefiting veterans, military families, and children in need, the festival raised over $415,000 for local charity Home Base Florida and international charity Hacienda of Hope, based in Ecuador.
“Naples continues to be super receptive and aligned to the Nash to Naples mission of inspiring community, generosity and creativity through nights of stories and songs,” says co-founder Mitch Vanderhagen. “It was a record year on all fronts and we’re grateful for the fans, sponsors, vendors, volunteers, amazing causes and everyone else who helped make it all happen.”
Nash to Naples was founded in 2021 by Nashville native Carter Hamric and Vanderhagen, a Naples native, who set out on a mission to host a Songwriter Fest that would bring the best songwriters from Nashville to the heart of Naples with proceeds benefiting worthwhile causes. After five years and over 5,000 attendees, the events have raised more than $710,000 for local and international charities.
Photo: Courtesy of Nash to Naples.
Photo: Courtesy of Nash to Naples.
BREAKING: MusicRow Taps Ebie McFarland As Speaker For 2026 Rising Women On The Row
/by MusicRow StaffEbie McFarland, Publicist/Owner of Essential Broadcast Media, will be the featured speaker at MusicRow’s Rising Women on the Row breakfast, presented by City National Bank. The annual event is set for Tuesday, March 3, at 8:30 a.m. at the JW Marriott in Nashville.
Attendees will gain insights from McFarland during an on-stage interview with MusicRow Publisher and Owner Sherod Robertson.
The 13th annual celebration will honor the 2026 class of Rising Women on the Row honorees, which include Courtney Allen, Jackie Augustus, Sara Knabe, Victoria Mason, Sophia Sansone and Elisa Vazzana. Read about the honorees here.
Tickets for Rising Women on the Row are now closed. They will not be sold at the door.
McFarland, whose clients include Nashville’s biggest stars, Country Music Hall of Fame members, Lone Star institutions and outliers across genres, opened Essential Broadcast Media in 2007. Currently Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Eric Church, Morgan Wallen, Darius Rucker, as well as Hootie & the Blowfish and his alt-roots supergroup Howl Owl Howl count on her and her team to create media strategy and steward interaction. Leaning more to the Texas, outlier and red dirt schools of music, she also counts Miranda Lambert, Kaitlin Butts, Koe Wetzel and Whiskey Myers, the Outlaw Music Festival, among her clients, as well as Tape Room Music.
Recent career highlights include her campaign for Chesney’s book tour for Heart Life Music, his No. 1 New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction and Combined Print and E-Book Nonfiction debut, following a massive run as the first solo and country act to have a residency at Sphere. She’s been involved with Lambert’s critically hailed Postcards from Texas and establishment of her Big Loud Texas Label; for Church, she’s straddled the IMAX major theatrical release of and subsequent “Free The Machine Tour” in support of his groundbreaking Evangeline vs The Machine. In addition, she continues expanding the impact of Strait’s stadium sized shows and ongoing records, while also overseeing Morgan Wallen’s “I’m The Problem” tour and album. Beyond the superstars, she is enlivened working with new and established artists looking to maximize their potential, setting strategy to expand horizons for Kaitlin Butts, Ian Munsick, Maddox Batson and more.
A four-time CMA Award winner and a MusicRow Rising Women on the Row honoree, McFarland has been named to the Billboard Power Players, Nashville Business Journal’s Women in Music City and 40 Under 40 lists. She resides in Nashville with her husband, Jon-Paul and their shih tzu, Emmylou.
Angela Abbott Named Vice President/Music Licensing & Strategy At TouchTunes
/by Lorie HollabaughAngela Abbott.
Angela Abbott has been named Vice President of Music Licensing and Strategy at TouchTunes.
In her new role, she will lead TouchTunes’ music team and manage relationships with labels, publishers and performing rights organizations. Abbott will report to General Counsel Amy Tenbrink.
Abbott brings more than a decade of experience across music licensing and business affairs. She previously held senior roles at Pandora, TIDAL and Soundstripe, where she negotiated licensing agreements and advised executive leadership on rights strategy and product launches. Her work includes the launch of Pandora’s on-demand subscription service and creative initiatives tied to the release of the Prince and Aaliyah catalogs to streaming.
“Music is central to the TouchTunes experience,” says Charles Goldstuck, Executive Chairman of TouchTunes. “Angela’s background across streaming and licensing makes her uniquely suited to help us expand how music connects people in social spaces.”
“Angela brings a rare combination of licensing expertise, operational discipline, and cultural understanding,” adds Tenbrink. “She will play a key role as we continue to evolve our music strategy and deepen our industry partnerships.”
Additionally, Abbott is Global Chair of Partnerships and Development for Women in Music and a member of the Recording Academy.
Randall King & Clayton Toney Join Neon Coast
/by Madison HahnenMartha Earls, Randall King and Clayton Toney. Photo: Emily McMannis
Randall King and his day-to-day manager Clayton Toney have joined Neon Coast’s management roster.
Across his catalog, King has garnered over 500 million streams, including fan favorites “You In A Honky Tonk,” “Hey Cowgirl,” and “Mirror, Mirror.” As a touring artist, King currently notches 150 shows a year. He takes from influences such as Keith Whitley, George Strait, and Dierk Bentley, and has earned critical acclaim for his sophomore album Into The Neon, which he co-produced.
Toney has helped build King’s career over the past seven years, now serving as his co-manager. Through his time with King, he has plotted more than 1,500 live shows and supported the creative development of all EPs and albums, including Into The Neon. Toney has also been involved in A&R projects from Cody Johnson, including Human: The Double Album and Leather Deluxe Edition, as well as Johnson’s breakout hit “Til You Can’t.”
“Randall and Clayton are exactly the kind of artist-manager partnership we love to support,” says Martha Earls, Founder of Neon Coast. “They’ve grown something special the right way — on the road, through songs that matter, and with a clear creative vision. We’re excited to welcome them to the Neon Coast family and help amplify what they’ve already built.”
“2026 is starting HOT and looking real good. I’m thankful to Howie Edelman and Scott Gunter at Durango for all they’ve helped us accomplish so far, excited for this new adventure with Neon Coast, and thrilled to keep Clayton on board for this next chapter,” shares King. “The future of country music is bright!”
“It’s been a pleasure working with Randall since the early days of his career, and I’m grateful to Martha and the Neon Coast team for sharing our continued vision for his future,” adds Toney. “We knew from our first meeting that their passion for Randall and all he’s accomplished was unparalleled. Their excitement and eagerness were contagious and easy to see, and we can’t wait to see where this partnership takes us.”
Kaitlin Butts, Tyler Childers, Brandi Carlile, More To Participate In Record Store Day
/by Lauryn SinkThis year’s Record Store Day is set to take place on April 18. The annual event designed to celebrate brick-and-mortar record stores will bring exclusive releases to various stores around the world.
Billy Strings’ tiny desk, Brandi Carlile‘s Live At Easy Street Records Vol II, Donovan Woods‘ Not A Greatest Hits Vol II, John Prine‘s Found Dogs and BBC Sessions, Kaitlin Butts‘ Yeehaw Sessions, Tyler Childers‘ Live From Dinosaur World, Waylon Jennings & The Waylors‘ The Balladeer meets the Dukes of Hazzard and many more will be included in the promotion.
Each record store is responsible for deciding which titles to include. The event only takes place in-store, but extra inventory may be sold online at a later date. During Record Store Day, each record falls into one of three categories: Exclusives, RSD First, or Small Run/Regional Titles. Each record will only sell between 20,000 and 450 copies across the country.
Find participating stores here.
Find a full list of special releases here.
Steep Canyon Rangers Slates ‘Next Act,’ Due In May
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Steep Canyon Rangers have released a new track, “Heart’s the Only Compass (feat. Steve Martin),” from their upcoming studio album, Next Act, due out May 22 on Yep Roc Records.
“It’s natural to look back at history, especially our personal history, and feel like things turned out in a way that makes perfect sense,” says songwriter Graham Sharp about the new single. “After hearing some stories of my grandparents’ younger days and seeing people around me learning about their family history through DNA tests, it struck me just how much of a crapshoot it is. When every daily choice seems monumental, it feels good to think that the generations before us didn’t know what they were doing anymore than we do. And the best you can do is follow your heart.”
Recorded by Julian Dreyer and produced by Mike Ashworth and the Steep Canyon Rangers, Next Act represents a return to the band’s bluegrass roots and the music that first shaped them. The album, their 15th studio project, features guest appearances by Martin, Edie Brickell on “Halfway to Reno,” and Celia Woodsmith of Della Mae on “Hard Times.”
Previously released tracks from the project include the title track, which explores reinvention, and “Circling the Drain,” which is inspired in part by Barbara Kingsolver’s novel Demon Copperhead.
In support of Next Act, the band is set to launch a 27-date tour in February which includes a series of dates with Steve Martin & Martin Short, an evening with the Nashville Symphony, and festival appearances including MerleFest, Kerrville Folk Festival, and RockyGrass.
Russell Dickerson Plans Nashville Birthday Bash Show At Ascend In May
/by Lorie HollabaughRussell Dickerson. Photo: Mick Bodie
Russell Dickerson is celebrating his birthday this year with a hometown blowout, the “Nash-Birthday Bash,” on May 8 at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater.
The hometown celebration promises “cakes, candles, and carnage,” with Dickerson performing alongside a lineup featuring Tyler Hubbard, Adrien Nunez and Kevin Powers. Tickets for the Nash Bash go on sale Feb. 6.
On Friday (Feb. 6), Dickerson will release a stirring new track “The Roses,” an intimate, piano-driven love story penned by Dickerson with Michael Hardy, Chase McGill and Jordan Schmidt that captures the beauty of finding purpose, meaning, and fulfillment through deep connection and commitment. Dickerson’s “Russellmania Tour 2026” is also set to launch April 23 in Raleigh, visiting amphitheaters and venues across the country.
Dolly’s ‘Threads: My Songs in Symphony’ Teams With Nashville Symphony For Summer Series
/by Lorie HollabaughDolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony will join the Nashville Symphony at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center for a multi-week limited series from June 16-July 31 celebrating the Summer of Dolly Parton.
Created and co-produced by Parton, Schirmer Theatrical and Sony Music Publishing, the multimedia symphonic experience features Parton’s songs and stories accompanied by original video content, with Dolly herself appearing on-screen to lead audiences through the visual-musical journey. The 90-minute performance features a cast of guest vocalists and musicians along with new and innovative orchestrations by David Hamilton. The performance includes hits like “Jolene,” “Coat Of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You,” in addition to Dolly’s personal favorites and more. General on sale for the shows will begin Feb. 6 here.
Downtown Nashville will come alive in tribute to the National treasure this summer, with the city hosting a constellation of Dolly-centered experiences including the opening of Songteller Hotel & Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum and Parton’s exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame, in addition to the limited series with the Nashville Symphony.
After a sold-out world premiere with the Nashville Symphony, Threads continues its performances in cities across the country with further stops in eight cities including Portland, Phoenix, Kansas City and more, plus another stop in Nashville before landing there for the exclusive summer engagement.
Industry Ink: Turnpike Troubadours, Dwight Yoakam, Kashus Culpepper, Country Music Cruise
/by Lauryn SinkTurnpike Troubadours Honored With Pandora Billionaire Plaque
Photo: Preston Hoffman
Turnpike Troubadours was honored last week with a Pandora Billionaire plaque, celebrating earning over one billion streams on the platform. VP of Programming at SiriusXM Pandora, Johnny Chiang, surprised the band with the plaque during their sold-out show at Fort Worth’s Billy Bob’s.
Turnpike Troubadours has amassed more than 2.2 billion streams globally and over 1.7 million equivalent units sold to date. Furthermore, the band was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, appeared in an episode of Yellowstone, and has become a recurring presence in Paramount’s Landman, with eight of their songs featured to date.
Dwight Yoakam & Friends Host CHLA Benefit Show
Photo: Brian Bowen Smith
Dwight Yoakam, Charley Crockett, Marcus King, Lukas Nelson, Shooter Jennings and Grace Potter took the Roxy stage in LA last week benefiting the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).
Crockett joined for a cover of “Streets of Bakersfield,” Nelson jumped in for “Long White Cadillac” and Willie Nelson’s “Bloody Mary Morning.” Jennings took the stage for “Carmelita” and “Good Time Charlie.” Potter stepped in for Yoakam’s new album track “I Don’t Know How To Say Goodbye (Bang Bang Boom Boom)” and more.
Kashus Culpepper Performs On ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’
Kashus Culpepper made his late-night television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night (Feb. 3), performing “Man Of His Word.” The appearance celebrates the release of his debut album Act I.
This week Culpepper will headline back-to-back sold-out shows at New York City’s Mercury Lounge before heading to Australia with Wyatt Flores. He’ll continue to headline and support Flores and Eric Church throughout the spring.
Country Music Cruise Hosts Songwriter Round With Wynn Varble, Leslie Satcher & Wade Hayes
Wynn Varble, Leslie Satcher & Wade Hayes.
Wynn Varble, Leslie Satcher and Wade Hayes kicked off the sold-out 12th Annual Country Music Cruise with a Songwriter Session on board Holland America’s luxury m/s Eurodam ship. The week-long cruise featured headline performances by Randy Owen, Shenandoah, Patty Loveless, Josh Turner, Neal McCoy and more than 20 additional artists and songwriters.
Artist Applications Now Open For 2026 IBMA Official Showcase
/by Lauryn SinkPhoto: Jay Strausser
IBMA Official Showcase Artist has opened applications for this year’s showcase, set for this fall in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Thirty selected acts will be invited to perform as Official Showcase Artists during IBMA Bluegrass Ramble during IBMA World of Bluegrass. Official Showcase Artists typically perform twice throughout the event, which is set for October 20-22, including appearances at the Chattanooga Convention Center and IBMA Bluegrass Ramble venues.
In addition to showcase performances, selected artists will receive IBMA Business Conference registrations, priority access to Gig Fair appointments, complimentary Exhibit Hall booth space, up to three Individual IBMA Memberships and featured promotion through IBMA communications.
Applications must be submitted online by March 1.