Morgan Wallen Donates $100,000 To Chicago’s Bessemer Park

Pictured (L-R): Jenna Sanchez, Cubs Charities Representative; Morgan Wallen; Rosa Escareño, General Superintendent & CEO of Chicago Park District. Photo: David Lehr

Morgan Wallen presented a $100,000 check for the revitalization of Chicago’s Bessemer Park baseball fields as his “One Night At A Time World Tour” resumed in Chicago at Wrigley Field.

Wallen’s donation to the home field of Baker and Bowen High School students complemented a previous $150,000 donation form Cub Charities. Altogether, the donations will contribute to a fully upgraded diamond with new backstop, side wings and dugouts, as well as a full rehabilitation of the playing surface for multiple levels of play.

“Our mission with the Morgan Wallen Foundation is to support youth programs in the areas of sports and music. We are thrilled to donate $100k to Bessemer Park to give the kids a place to play ball here in South Chicago,” says Wallen. “This donation combined with being back on stage performing for my fans tonight at Wrigley is a true double header for me.”

Wallen’s donation comes as his “One Night At A Time World Tour” is once again underway, with 83,076 fans in attendance across both nights in Chicago, making him the first country artist to sell out two back-to-back nights at Wrigley Field.

Elle King Joins Campaign to Save Rockwood Music Hall In New York

Elle King. Photo: Matthew Berinato

Elle King has joined the Campaign to Preserve Rockwood Music Hall in New York City.

The iconic venue that has hosted more than 75,000 shows and helped launch the careers of thousands of artists is struggling to stay open. The benefit concert series will kick-off on June 30 with a performance by Sara Bareilles, who is leading the campaign. King will headline a show there on July 31 and the series also includes performances by Chris Thile, Ingrid Michaelson and more.

King also recently teamed with with hit producer Diplo to release a new song, “Without You.” Earlier this month, she hosted CMA Fest with Dierks Bentley and Lainey Wilson in Nashville. The three-hour primetime concert special will air July 19 and includes performances by some of the biggest names in music. That weekend, King and Diplo also filmed the music video for “Without You.”

Macy Dot Neal Wins Inaugural Dolly Parton Songwriters Award

Picture (L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, Macy Dot Neal, BMI’s Mitch Ballard. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI

The BMI Foundation presented Nashville-based singer-songwriter Macy Dot Neal with the inaugural Dolly Parton Songwriters Award for her song “Texas, Tennessee” at the CMA Fest Ryman and BMI Block Party on June 8.

The Dolly Parton Songwriters Award is an annual, national competition open to aspiring songwriters with a monetary prize of $10,000 for the best original song entry in the genres of Americana, blues, bluegrass, contemporary Christian, country, folk and roots.

Originally established in 2015 as the Nashville Songwriting Scholarship, the award was created to celebrate the BMI 75th anniversary and pay homage to the musical epicenter and “Songwriting Capital of the World,” Nashville, Tennessee. In 2022, the program was revised to honor the creativity and generosity of the legendary artist Dolly Parton with an endowment from Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston as well as a contribution from country superstar Luke Combs.

Neal has performed at venues across both Austin and Nashville and has opened for Kacey Musgraves, Gary P. Nunn and Zane Williams, among others. She was named the 2020 Young Artist of the Year by the Texas Country Music Association and is studying songwriting and music business at Belmont’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.

Upon receiving the award, Neal said, “I have been writing songs for as long as I can remember, and I truly cannot thank you enough for supporting my dreams. And it’s named after the Queen herself, Ms. Dolly Parton, which makes it even more special! Thank you BMI and thank you for all you are doing to support songwriters.”

Songwriting legend Parton commented, “Congratulations to Macy on receiving the BMI Scholarship this year! I know you are building quite a reputation as a songwriter as well as being a great singer and entertainer. Songwriting for me has always been my first love and I have been with BMI since I published my first song as a very young girl. They have always been so supportive of me as well as all young writers that come to town. I want to thank BMI for their support of the songwriters’ award named in my honor. We all wish you the very best, Macy, and we look forward to hearing your songs throughout the years.”

‘Lost In Time: A Tribute To Bill Pursell’ Wows At 3rd & Lindsley

Photo: JaiJai Jackson

3rd & Lindsley celebrated a musical tribute for the late composer, arranger, pianist and Belmont University’s 37-year professor of Music, Dr. William (Bill) Pursell, with a grand performance on June 15.

Vocalist Laura Pursell, The Nashville All-Stars and the Nashville Recording Orchestra conducted by Steve Maudlin performed Pursell’s iconic arrangements and songs from his 50-year musical career. Pursell played on recordings with Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Dan Fogelberg, Chet Atkins and more along with some of his last original works.

Country Music Hall of Fame musician and longtime friend of Pursell, Charlie McCoy, opened the evening with a spirited and harmonica-filled set and guest vocalist Julia Holland stepped in for one song from Pursell’s Millenium LP. An A-list of musicians onstage was comprised of guitarists Tom Hemby and Pat Bergeson, bassist Jim Ferguson, drummer Bob Mater and pianist Jason Coleman.

A full slate of Nashville artists have signed on for a concert benefiting The Covenant School. Taking place Aug. 7 at the Grand Ole Opry House, the night will honor the students, faculty and the families impacted by the horrific shooting at the Nashville school this spring.

Hosted by longtime country music radio and broadcast personality Storme Warren, “A Covenant Knight at the Grand Ole Opry House” will feature performances from Jason Aldean, Morgan Wallen, Old Dominion, Lee Brice, Maddie & Tae, Jeffrey Steele, Needtobreathe, Anne Wilson, Brandon Heath, Zach Williams and other special guests.

The show is produced by two Covenant School parents and industry music veterans, Houston Phillips and Chad Schultz, along with Covenant Staff, in conjunction with Opry Entertainment Group.

“This event stands as a powerful testament to the unwavering strength of Nashville’s country music community, friends, neighbors, and especially parents,” says Phillips. “I was truly moved by the inherent goodness of those who offered support, no questions asked, as we worked to create an event that would lift up our community and contribute to Covenant School’s ongoing recovery efforts.”

Limited tickets will be available to the public beginning Friday, June 30 at 10 a.m. central. All proceeds will go to The Covenant School Community Fund to continue mental health support for healing, ease the transition back into the building and equip the school for a safe, successful new year together.

Following the Aug. 7 show, A Covenant Knight at the Grand Ole Opry House will air for six consecutive nights on Circle Network, starting Aug. 19.

Holly Gleason

Nashville-based journalist Holly Gleason has won the prestigious overall Entertainment Journalist of the Year award at the LA Press Club’s recent annual Southern California Journalism Awards.

In addition to taking the top entertainment prize, Gleason won in the Music Criticism (all platforms) and Entertainment News (Magazine) categories, with the latter awarded for Pollstar’s “Why Dolly Parton Belongs in the Rock Hall” piece. She also received two second place awards for Entertainment Feature and Best Arts Commentary for Pollstar’s “How Miranda Lambert Danced in the Fire and Became a Global Superstar” and a Library of Congress National Registry of Song essay on “Stand By Your Man.”

“It was shocking on so many levels,” Gleason says. “Los Angeles is the epicenter of the entertainment industry. I came of age as a writer and critic out here, writing for Rolling Stone, the LA Times, Musician, Bsm, Creem and so many more, so I know how high the bar is set here—and how much it takes to even be in the conversation. Telling the stories of women in music, especially country music, has been important to me always. To see Dolly, Miranda and Tammy be recognized in this room is amazing!

“And criticism is something I’ve always felt is important—not to say how music sounds, but to create context and understanding,” she adds. “There are so many friends, peers and writers I admire among the nominees. It is wonderful to be in their company. At a time when music writing is more lifestyle than addressing the recording, writing, touring or performing, it’s thrilling to be counted among so much work of this caliber.”

In a night that saw all platforms of journalism across hard news, science, sports, politics and various forms of entertainment coverage recognized, the event drew a record of over 2,300 entries.

Gleason is an esteemed author, journalist and academic whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, Musician, Variety, Oxford American, Playboy, Interview and Miami Herald. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame/Case Western Reserve Fellow is also the 2022 LA Press Club’s Entertainment Journalist of the Year, the 2019 CMA Media Achievement Award winner, and creator/contributor of the 2018 Belmont Book Award-winning Woman Walk The Line: How The Women of Country Music Changed Our Life.

She recently co-authored Miranda Lambert’s New York Times best-seller Y’All Eat Yet: Welcome to the Pretty B*tchin Kitchen, and her latest book, Prine on Prine: Interviews & Encounters, will be published by Chicago Review Press in September.

Rachel Burleson

Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) has appointed Rachel Burleson to Director, Streaming.

Burleson previously held the title of Project Manager for the Big Machine Records (BMR) imprint, which boasts an impressive roster of artists including Tim McGraw, Carly Pearce and Jackson Dean, among others.

“Since joining Big Machine, Rachel’s talent, knowledge, drive and attention to detail have been invaluable,” says BMR’s General Manager Clay Hunnicutt. “This next step as Director of Streaming puts her in the right place at the right time to continue to grow our entire artist line up. She is the perfect person for the job!”

“Rachel has been a true pro since joining the Big Machine family,” adds BMLG’s EVP, Label Operations Mike Rittberg. “With her close working relationships between Big Machine’s artist roster and internal teams, we have full confidence she’ll excel in her new role.”

Burleson’s previous career stops include time at Creative Nation, where she served as Manager, Records & Management, as well as internships with Sony Music Nashville, KP Entertainment and Activist Artist Management (formerly ROAR). She is a graduate of Belmont University.

“It’s been an honor to work with the Big Machine team for the past few years,” shares Burleson. “I’m excited for the opportunity to continue serving our artists in my new role and helping them connect with listeners across streaming platforms.”

Reach Burleson at rachel.burleson@bmlg.net.

Lauren Lieu

Lauren Lieu has been promoted to Sr. Director of Creative at Dallas Davidson‘s Play It Again Music Group.

After joining Play It Again Music Group (PIA) as Director of Creative in 2021, Lieu has been instrumental in the growth and success of songwriters including Davidson, Lee Brice, John Morgan, Dylan Marlowe, Kyle Fishman and John Edwards. Prior to PIA, she served as Creative Manager at Ole Music Publishing.

In her new role, Lieu will serve as the head of PIA’s Publishing Department, reporting to Davidson.

“Lauren Lieu is a warrior. A songwriter champion. All our recent success is 100% attributed to her passion, work ethic and unteachable tenacity. I’m so thankful to have her on our team,” says Davidson.

“I am so grateful for Dallas Davidson,” shares Lieu. “Dallas took a chance on me and has shown me nothing short of trust, loyalty and genuine belief in his team. Thank you for being such a great mentor and for encouraging innovative ideas within this company. To the writers, thank you for trusting me with your careers and letting me be a part of your creative journeys. Working with this group and experiencing their talent has been such a dream. We have the best team here at PIA and I’m thrilled to continue working with every one of you.”

Play It Again Music Group is a full-service music company housing Davidson’s longtime Play It Again Publishing and Double Down Music Publishing, as well as label/artist management and development division PIA Entertainment, established in 2020.