Charlie Handsome
Since 2018, MusicRow has published its weekly Top Songwriter Chart that ranks the week’s top 60 songwriters based on song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams.
Through the use of proprietary software, the points awarded to each song are evenly distributed among a song’s co-writers, mirroring the revenue and ownership structures common in Music City’s publishing industry. This system highlights the overall success of active songs for each songwriter. As a result, the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart provides a weekly snapshot of the most active and successful songwriters in Nashville.
Charlie Handsome accumulated the highest number of points on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart in 2025, securing the top spot on the year-end rankings.
Handsome’s year included 23 cuts on Morgan Wallen’s I’m The Problem album, such as hits “I Got Better,” “What I Want,” “Just In Case,” “TN,” “Love Somebody” and “Smile.” Alongside Wallen, he also worked on Marshmello and Jelly Roll’s “Holy Water,” and BigXthaPlug and Ella Langley’s “Hell At Night.” Charting cuts from Post Malone, Moneybagg Yo, Ernest and more also contributed to his top placement. Throughout 2025, Handsome also received numerous accolades, including BMI Country Songwriter of the Year, BMI Country Song of the Year and a CMA Triple Play Award.
Riley Green. Photo: David Higgs
Riley Green ranks No. 2 on MusicRow‘s Top 100 Songwriters of 2025 list. Green’s year showcased the power of a solo-write, with “Worst Way” and “Don’t Mind If I Do” leading the way for him. Additional songs that charted for Green in 2025 include “Damn Good Day To Leave,” “You Look Like You Love Me” and “Change My Mind.”
2025 also added numerous awards to Green’s trophy case, including the CMA Award for Single of the Year, Music Video of the Year and Song of the Year. At the ACM Awards, Green took home Single of the Year, Musical Event of the Year and Visual Media of the Year.
Landing at No. 3 on MusicRow‘s Top 100 Songwriters of 2025 list is Morgan Wallen. With his I’m The Problem release, Wallen’s points came from “Love Somebody,” “Smile,” “I’m The Problem,” “Just In Case,” “I Ain’t Comin’ Back,” “Superman,” “Come Back As A Redneck,” “Don’t We,” “Eyes Are Closed,” “Falling Apart,” “Genesis,” “I Got Better,” “Interlude,” “Kick Myself,” “Leavin’s The Least I Could Do,” “Miami,” “Missing,” “TN,” “What I Want,” “Where’d That Girl Go,” “Whiskey In Reverse” and “Working Man’s Song.”
Wallen closed out 2025 by becoming the highest RIAA-certified country artist of all time, third overall all-genre. He was also Billboard‘s No. 1 Top Artist of 2025, and garnered his fifth consecutive Top Country Artist award. He was also the recipient of the CMA International Artist Achievement Award, Apple Music’s Top Artist of the Year and MusicRow‘s Entertainer of the Year.
Morgan Wallen. Photo: Spidey Smith
Ashley Gorley placed at No. 4 this year. Gorley earned points with Thomas Rhett and Jordan Davis’ “Ain’t A Bad Life,” Koe Wetzel’s “Surrounded,” Wallen’s “TN,” “Kiss Her In Front Of You” and “Don’t We,” Chris Janson’s “Me & A Beer,” HARDY’s “Favorite Country Song,” Dasha’s “Not At This Party,” Dierks Bentley’s “She Hates Me” and plenty more. In 2025, Gorley was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was also named ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year for the 12th time, NSAI Songwriter of the Year, Top Male Songwriter of the Year at the NMPA Gold & Platinum Gala and MusicRow‘s Male Songwriter of the Year. Gorley also nabbed two CMA Triple Play Awards.
Blake Pendergrass rounds out the top five songwriters of 2025. His cuts throughout the year included Rhett and Davis’ “Ain’t A Bad Life,” Vincent Mason’s “Wish You Well,” Tucker Wetmore’s “Brunette,” and Wallen’s “Working Man’s Song,” “Where’d That Girl Go,” “The Dealer,” “Number 3 and Number 7,” “Missing,” “Miami,” “Interlude,” “I Got Better,” “Genesis,” “Falling Apart,” “Eyes Are Closed,” “Don’t We,” “20 Cigarettes” and “Superman,” among others. Pendergrass also received his first BMI Award in 2025.
This year’s data remains predominantly male, with only 12 female songwriters appearing in the top 100, which includes 119 names due to tied scores. This marks a decrease from last year’s total of 17 female songwriters.
MusicRow’s Top Songwriters of 2025:
1. Ryan Vojtesak
2. Riley Green
3. Morgan Wallen
4. Ashley Gorley
5. Blake Pendergrass
6. Ernest Keith Smith
7. Chase McGill
8. John Byron
9. Jessie Jo Dillon
10. Ty Myers
11. Jason DeFord
12. Ben Johnson
13. Josh Miller
14. Taylor Phillips
15. Michael Hardy
16. Neil Medley
17. Dan Alley
18. Jacob Kasher
19. Megan Moroney
20. Jordan Walker
21. Chris LaCorte
22. Carson Chamberlain, Zach Top
23. Johnny Clawson
24. Joybeth Taylor
25. Rocky Block
26. Shaboozey
27. Luke Combs
28. Hudson Westbrook
29. Ella Langley
30. Sean Cook
31. Nevin Sastry
32. Joe Fox
33. Lydia Vaughan
34. Zach Bryan
35. Hunter Phelps
36. John Morgan
37. Jacob Davis
38. Luke Laird
39. Eric Church, Scooter Carusoe
40. Andy Albert
41. Zach Abend
42. Grady Block, Jamie McLaughlin
43. Jeremy Spillman, Natalie Hemby, Parker McCollum
44. Beau Bailey
45. Joe Reeves
46. Jaxson Free
47. Jordan Reynolds
48. Trannie Anderson
49. Tucker Beathard
50. Tim Nichols
51. Thomas Rhett
52. Russell Dickerson
53. Jonathan Singleton
54. Jimi Bell, Jonathan Sherwood
55. Michael Tyler
56. Michael Pollack
57. Jake Torrey, Sam Romans
58. Robert Hazard
59. Summer Overstreet
60. Lainey Wilson
61. Lindsay Rimes
62. Chris Stapleton
63. Austin Post
64. Ben Williams
65. Benjy Davis, Driver Williams, Jackson Dean
66. Louis Bell
67. Jeremy Stover
68. Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy
69. Dan Isbell
70. Julian Bunetta
71. Andy Sheridan
72. Josh Thompson
73. Chris Tompkins
74. Jesse Frasure
75. Will Bundy
76. Miranda Lambert
77. Brent Anderson
78. Nate Smith
79. Brad Rempel, Josh Ross
80. Zach Crowell
81. Shy Carter
82. Sam Barber
83. David Mescon, Rob Hatch
84. Avery Anna, Wyatt McCubbin
85. Max McNown
86. Alex Maxwell, Chase Matthew, Ciaran Wilkie, Hunter Huff
87. Ross Copperman
88. Ava Suppelsa, Trent Dabbs, Jamie Kenney
89. Dean Dillon
90. Justin Ebach
91. Tyler Hubbard
92. Greylan James
93. Ryan Beaver
94. Dallas Wilson
95. Chris Lucas, Preston Brust
96. Cole Swindell
97. Lalo Guzman
98. Thomas Archer
99. Alex Bak
100. Xavier Landum
Kameron Marlowe Slates Headline Tour For Spring
/by Lorie HollabaughKameron Marlowe. Photo: Riley “HULLI” Hulligan
Kameron Marlowe has announced he’ll return to the road on his new spring headline tour, “Kameron Marlowe Live On Tour,” beginning Feb. 19.
Marlowe will hit clubs and theaters nationwide on the new tour, with shows in Fort Worth, Grand Rapids, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Seattle, Sacramento and more through early May. Tickets for the tour go on sale this Friday, (Jan. 9), here with select pre-sales launching throughout the week.
The hitmaker has three albums, multiple RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications and over 1.2 billion global streams to his credit, and released his third album, Sad Songs For The Soul, early last year along with a slew of singles throughout the summer and fall. Up next for the artist is a chapter of Southern rock originals slated for release later this year.
Spring 2026 Kameron Marlowe “Live On Tour” Dates:
1/15 – 1/18: Cancun, MX – Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa*
2/19: Wyandotte, MI – District 142
2/20: Cleveland, OH – GLOBE IRON
2/21: Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection
2/26: Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
2/27: Springfield, IL – Boondocks
2/28: Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
3/7: Rotterdam, NLD – C2C Festival, Rotterdam Ahoy*
3/8: Berlin, GER – C2C Festival, Uber Eats Music Hall*
3/13: Belfast, IRE – C2C Festival, SSE Arena Belfast*
3/14: Glasgow, SCT – C2C Festival, OVO Hydro*
3/15: London, UK – C2C Festival, The O2*
3/26: Lubbock, TX – Cook’s Garage (Indoors)
3/27: Fort Worth, TX – Billy Bob’s Texas (Main Stage)
3/28: Stillwater, OK – Tumbleweed Dance Hall
4/10: Pelham, TN – The Caverns
4/16: Waco, TX – The Backyard Bar Stage and Grill
4/17: Buda, TX – Buck’s Backyard
4/18: Helotes, TX – Floores Country Store (Outdoor)
4/24: Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
4/26: Indio, CA – Stagecoach*
4/30: Great Falls, MT – The Newberry
5/1: Airway Heights, WA – Northern Quest Resort & Casino (Pend Oreille Pavilion)
5/3: Seattle, WA – Showbox Sodo
5/5: Petaluma, CA – Mystic Theatre
5/7: San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater
5/8: Fresno, CA – Warnors Center for the Performing Arts
5/9: Sacramento, CA – Cal Expo Grandstands
* Festival date
CRS To Offer Early Bird Rate For One Day Only
/by Madison HahnenCRS will offer their early bird rate of $599 for one day only, tomorrow (Jan. 8). This will be the last chance to pay the lowest rate possible. During the sale, both the standard and Throwback Sale registration options will appear at checkout. Attendees must select “Throwback Sale Registration” to receive the discounted rate. On Jan. 9, CRS 2026 registration will return to the regular rate of $698.
CRS 2026 will offer three days of education, networking, and collaboration for broadcasters, programmers, artists, labels, managers, and media March 18-20 at the Omni Hotel Nashville. Programming will include Cycle of a Song, The New Faces of Country Music Show, artists conversations and case studies, Digital Music Summit Programming, leadership panels, networking opportunities, label lunches, Acoustic Alley, CRS Honors and more.
Registration is available here.
Veteran Music Exec Bobbii Jacobs Launches New Destination Event Series ‘Backstage Access Presents’
/by Lorie HollabaughBobbii Jacobs
Veteran music executive Bobbii Jacobs has launched Backstage Access Presents, a destination-driven event series designed to bring artists and industry tastemakers together in intimate, experience-led settings.
Backstage Access Presents goes beyond traditional industry settings, pairing music with iconic destinations to encourage deeper engagement among artists, programmers, music supervisors, and tastemakers. Jacobs’ past events have brought together artists and industry professionals representing Americana, AAA, country, hot AC, pop, rock and beyond, creating a rare, multi-format ecosystem that reflects how music is truly consumed today.
More than a live showcase, Backstage Access Presents is positioned as a breeding ground for collaboration, where artists are introduced across formats and industry leaders can discover music in a setting that mirrors real life. Through curated live performances, shared meals, immersive experiences, and intentional downtime, Backstage Access Presents is designed to remove barriers and encourage authentic relationship building. The company kicks off 2026 with a Napa Valley event April 14–16, blending curated live music with culinary experiences, world-class wine and cross-format dialogue.
“I’ve always believed the most meaningful industry moments happen outside of conference rooms,” says Jacobs. “Backstage Access Presents is about creating an environment where artists and industry leaders can truly connect, where conversations are organic, collaboration feels natural, and everyone leaves inspired.”
Jacobs’ career spans radio promotion, record labels, media, and live events, with credits working with artists such as Mariah Carey, Tina Turner, Lenny Kravitz, Norah Jones, Avril Lavigne, Matchbox Twenty, Edwin McCain, Gavin DeGraw and UB40, among many others. She previously held senior roles at LAVA Records and HITS Magazine, and as an entrepreneur founded and led multiple companies including Leverage MPC and BSG Entertainment. Jacobs is a founding force behind destination music events such as Live In The Vineyard, Live In The Vineyard Goes Country and Yountville Live.
Kelly McCartney Re-Launches Record Bin Radio
/by Lorie HollabaughKelly McCartney. Photo: Stacie Huckeba
Creator, host and producer Kelly McCartney has relaunched Record Bin Radio this week as an eclectic rock, rhythm and roots Internet station, broadcasting 24/7.
The standalone station is a combination of free-form, AOR, and Triple-A. The relaunch is rooted in McCartney’s belief that listeners value a curated mix of familiar music and new discoveries, selected by a trusted programmer.
“Because I hand-pick every song in the library, there’s nothing too chaotic, edgy, or harsh, so it flows pretty seamlessly,” notes McCartney. “You can be listening to Art Blakey one minute then find yourself at Lucy Dacus without having noticed that you ticked through a bunch of artificial genre boxes in between. That’s why I call it ‘Radio without Borders.’ I’ve never been a flag-waver. Whether with Record Bin or elsewhere, my approach to diversity starts with normalization. And that’s across every category — race, gender, and orientation, of course, but also levels of success. I love Bonny Light Horseman as much as I love REM. That said, I’m very excited about She Rocks Sundays.”
Each week, She Rocks Sundays interrupts Record Bin’s regular programming to play 24 hours of female and non-binary artists from across the rock-rhythm-roots rainbow with episodes of Carmel Holt’s SHEROES sprinkled in.
During its former 95-episode run on Apple Music, Record Bin Radio hosted stars and upstarts from the roots/rock arena, including Hozier, Brandi Carlile, Brandon Flowers, Gaby Moreno, Allison Russell, Rickie Lee Jones, and Taj Mahal, while it also honored legends like Nina Simone, Tina Turner, the Kinks, and Sinéad O’Connor with dedicated specials. In its return, Record Bin continues its commitment to weave the past, present, and future of great music together into a patchwork of generations, genres, and geographic regions.
IBMA Foundation Announces The Planning Stages Scholarship For Live Music Production
/by Lorie HollabaughThe IBMA Foundation has announced a new college scholarship dedicated to live music production established by Claire Armbruster and Jeff Koontz, co-owners of Planning Stages, Inc. in Brevard, North Carolina.
The Planning Stages Scholarship for Live Music Production will recognize creative professionals whose dedication and expertise make live performances possible. It supports students pursuing college, community college or vocational training in live music event production, talent buying and related fields.
“This scholarship was created because my own career has been shaped by working behind the scenes, making live music happen,” says Armbruster. “I’ve always found the greatest satisfaction in the planning, talent buying, coordination, and problem solving that allows artists and audiences to share a meaningful experience, without needing recognition for who made it happen. Over time, I’ve seen how essential these roles are and how limited the pathways can be for people who want to learn them.
“Partnering with the IBMA Foundation felt like a natural choice because they understand that live music is built by many hands, both on stage and off. The Foundation’s commitment to education and mentorship aligns deeply with my desire to give back by supporting practical learning and sustainable careers for those who help music shine from behind the curtain.”
The Planning Stages scholarships may be applied toward tuition, internships, and educational expenses, and the first scholarship of $2,000 will be awarded in August for the fall semester of the 2026-27 school year. The deadline to apply for all IBMA Foundation-hosted college and technical training scholarships is June 1.
Armbruster and Koontz plan to make a donation in 2027 to create an endowment at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to support the new scholarship for generations to come. They welcome donations to the new scholarship from anyone who works in live music production, or who have enjoyed being in the audience at a festival or concert spotlighting bluegrass music. To make a donation, contact the Foundation at info@bluegrassfoundation.org, call 615-260-4807, or donate here.
Jelly Roll, Sarah Michelle Gellar & Chrissy Teigen To Serve As Judges On ‘Star Search’ Reboot
/by Lauryn SinkJelly Roll.
Jelly Roll, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Chrissy Teigen will serve as judges on the Netflix reboot of Star Search, according to Deadline. The show, hosted by Anthony Anderson, is set to premiere on Jan. 20, with episodes airing live Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The show will feature talent across categories including music, dance, variety, comedy, magic and juniors, with real-time fan voting aiding in weekly elimination decisions.
The original series aired from 1983 to 1995 and helped launch the careers of Beyoncé, Adam Sandler, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Dave Chappelle, Christina Aguilera and others. The show was rebooted for one season at CBS in 2003 with Arsenio Hall as host.
Jason Raff and David Friedman will serve as showrunners. The show is produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment with Collins, Dionne Harmon, Madison Merritt, Elaine Metaxas, Taraji P. Henson and Steve Mosko serving as executive producers.
MusicRow’s Top 100 Songwriters Of 2025
/by Madison HahnenCharlie Handsome
Since 2018, MusicRow has published its weekly Top Songwriter Chart that ranks the week’s top 60 songwriters based on song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams.
Through the use of proprietary software, the points awarded to each song are evenly distributed among a song’s co-writers, mirroring the revenue and ownership structures common in Music City’s publishing industry. This system highlights the overall success of active songs for each songwriter. As a result, the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart provides a weekly snapshot of the most active and successful songwriters in Nashville.
Charlie Handsome accumulated the highest number of points on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart in 2025, securing the top spot on the year-end rankings.
Handsome’s year included 23 cuts on Morgan Wallen’s I’m The Problem album, such as hits “I Got Better,” “What I Want,” “Just In Case,” “TN,” “Love Somebody” and “Smile.” Alongside Wallen, he also worked on Marshmello and Jelly Roll’s “Holy Water,” and BigXthaPlug and Ella Langley’s “Hell At Night.” Charting cuts from Post Malone, Moneybagg Yo, Ernest and more also contributed to his top placement. Throughout 2025, Handsome also received numerous accolades, including BMI Country Songwriter of the Year, BMI Country Song of the Year and a CMA Triple Play Award.
Riley Green. Photo: David Higgs
Riley Green ranks No. 2 on MusicRow‘s Top 100 Songwriters of 2025 list. Green’s year showcased the power of a solo-write, with “Worst Way” and “Don’t Mind If I Do” leading the way for him. Additional songs that charted for Green in 2025 include “Damn Good Day To Leave,” “You Look Like You Love Me” and “Change My Mind.”
2025 also added numerous awards to Green’s trophy case, including the CMA Award for Single of the Year, Music Video of the Year and Song of the Year. At the ACM Awards, Green took home Single of the Year, Musical Event of the Year and Visual Media of the Year.
Landing at No. 3 on MusicRow‘s Top 100 Songwriters of 2025 list is Morgan Wallen. With his I’m The Problem release, Wallen’s points came from “Love Somebody,” “Smile,” “I’m The Problem,” “Just In Case,” “I Ain’t Comin’ Back,” “Superman,” “Come Back As A Redneck,” “Don’t We,” “Eyes Are Closed,” “Falling Apart,” “Genesis,” “I Got Better,” “Interlude,” “Kick Myself,” “Leavin’s The Least I Could Do,” “Miami,” “Missing,” “TN,” “What I Want,” “Where’d That Girl Go,” “Whiskey In Reverse” and “Working Man’s Song.”
Wallen closed out 2025 by becoming the highest RIAA-certified country artist of all time, third overall all-genre. He was also Billboard‘s No. 1 Top Artist of 2025, and garnered his fifth consecutive Top Country Artist award. He was also the recipient of the CMA International Artist Achievement Award, Apple Music’s Top Artist of the Year and MusicRow‘s Entertainer of the Year.
Morgan Wallen. Photo: Spidey Smith
Ashley Gorley placed at No. 4 this year. Gorley earned points with Thomas Rhett and Jordan Davis’ “Ain’t A Bad Life,” Koe Wetzel’s “Surrounded,” Wallen’s “TN,” “Kiss Her In Front Of You” and “Don’t We,” Chris Janson’s “Me & A Beer,” HARDY’s “Favorite Country Song,” Dasha’s “Not At This Party,” Dierks Bentley’s “She Hates Me” and plenty more. In 2025, Gorley was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was also named ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year for the 12th time, NSAI Songwriter of the Year, Top Male Songwriter of the Year at the NMPA Gold & Platinum Gala and MusicRow‘s Male Songwriter of the Year. Gorley also nabbed two CMA Triple Play Awards.
Blake Pendergrass rounds out the top five songwriters of 2025. His cuts throughout the year included Rhett and Davis’ “Ain’t A Bad Life,” Vincent Mason’s “Wish You Well,” Tucker Wetmore’s “Brunette,” and Wallen’s “Working Man’s Song,” “Where’d That Girl Go,” “The Dealer,” “Number 3 and Number 7,” “Missing,” “Miami,” “Interlude,” “I Got Better,” “Genesis,” “Falling Apart,” “Eyes Are Closed,” “Don’t We,” “20 Cigarettes” and “Superman,” among others. Pendergrass also received his first BMI Award in 2025.
This year’s data remains predominantly male, with only 12 female songwriters appearing in the top 100, which includes 119 names due to tied scores. This marks a decrease from last year’s total of 17 female songwriters.
MusicRow’s Top Songwriters of 2025:
1. Ryan Vojtesak
2. Riley Green
3. Morgan Wallen
4. Ashley Gorley
5. Blake Pendergrass
6. Ernest Keith Smith
7. Chase McGill
8. John Byron
9. Jessie Jo Dillon
10. Ty Myers
11. Jason DeFord
12. Ben Johnson
13. Josh Miller
14. Taylor Phillips
15. Michael Hardy
16. Neil Medley
17. Dan Alley
18. Jacob Kasher
19. Megan Moroney
20. Jordan Walker
21. Chris LaCorte
22. Carson Chamberlain, Zach Top
23. Johnny Clawson
24. Joybeth Taylor
25. Rocky Block
26. Shaboozey
27. Luke Combs
28. Hudson Westbrook
29. Ella Langley
30. Sean Cook
31. Nevin Sastry
32. Joe Fox
33. Lydia Vaughan
34. Zach Bryan
35. Hunter Phelps
36. John Morgan
37. Jacob Davis
38. Luke Laird
39. Eric Church, Scooter Carusoe
40. Andy Albert
41. Zach Abend
42. Grady Block, Jamie McLaughlin
43. Jeremy Spillman, Natalie Hemby, Parker McCollum
44. Beau Bailey
45. Joe Reeves
46. Jaxson Free
47. Jordan Reynolds
48. Trannie Anderson
49. Tucker Beathard
50. Tim Nichols
51. Thomas Rhett
52. Russell Dickerson
53. Jonathan Singleton
54. Jimi Bell, Jonathan Sherwood
55. Michael Tyler
56. Michael Pollack
57. Jake Torrey, Sam Romans
58. Robert Hazard
59. Summer Overstreet
60. Lainey Wilson
61. Lindsay Rimes
62. Chris Stapleton
63. Austin Post
64. Ben Williams
65. Benjy Davis, Driver Williams, Jackson Dean
66. Louis Bell
67. Jeremy Stover
68. Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy
69. Dan Isbell
70. Julian Bunetta
71. Andy Sheridan
72. Josh Thompson
73. Chris Tompkins
74. Jesse Frasure
75. Will Bundy
76. Miranda Lambert
77. Brent Anderson
78. Nate Smith
79. Brad Rempel, Josh Ross
80. Zach Crowell
81. Shy Carter
82. Sam Barber
83. David Mescon, Rob Hatch
84. Avery Anna, Wyatt McCubbin
85. Max McNown
86. Alex Maxwell, Chase Matthew, Ciaran Wilkie, Hunter Huff
87. Ross Copperman
88. Ava Suppelsa, Trent Dabbs, Jamie Kenney
89. Dean Dillon
90. Justin Ebach
91. Tyler Hubbard
92. Greylan James
93. Ryan Beaver
94. Dallas Wilson
95. Chris Lucas, Preston Brust
96. Cole Swindell
97. Lalo Guzman
98. Thomas Archer
99. Alex Bak
100. Xavier Landum
Universal Music Group Partners With NVIDIA AI
/by Lauryn SinkUniversal Music Group has partnered with NVIDIA to undertake collaborative research and development to in the space of music creation and rightsholder compensation.
Through the partnership, the companies aim to explore music discovery, enhance fan engagement opportunities and assess artist creation tools. UMG’s Music & Advanced Machine Learning Lab (MAML) previously trained its models using NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure.
“We’re excited to establish this ground-breaking strategic relationship which unites the world’s leading technology company with the world’s leading music company in a shared mission to harness revolutionary AI technology to dramatically advance the interests of the creative community and the role of music in global culture,” says Sir Lucian Grainge, UMG’s Chairman and CEO. “We eagerly embrace the opportunities that AI presents, and the fact that NVIDIA is choosing to take a leadership position in the tech industry in their commitment to responsible AI principles is critically important. We look forward to working closely with NVIDIA to direct AI’s unprecedented transformational potential towards the service of artists and their fans as we work together to set new standards for innovation within the industry, while protecting and respecting copyright and human creativity.”
“We’re entering an era where a music catalog can be explored like an intelligent universe — conversational, contextual, and genuinely interactive,” adds Richard Kerris, NVIDIA VP/GM of Media. “By extending NVIDIA’s Music Flamingo with UMG’s unmatched catalog and creative ecosystem, we’re going to change how fans discover, understand, and engage with music on a global scale. And we’ll do it the right way: responsibly, with safeguards that protect artists’ work, ensure attribution, and respect copyright.”
Industry Ink: Molly Tuttle, Craig Morgan, Margo Price, Lani Rose
/by Lauryn SinkMolly Tuttle Performs On ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’
Molly Tuttle. Photo: ABC/Randy Holmes
Molly Tuttle kicked off the year with an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. She performed her Grammy-nominated single “That’s Gonna Leave A Mark.”
Tuttle will hit the road this year on the “Molly x Marty: Guitars on Fire — The Cosmic Twang Tour,” featuring the Molly Tuttle Trio with Marty Stuart & His Famous Superlatives Live in Concert, kicking off Feb. 5 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Craig Morgan Performs At NFL’s NFC West Title Game
Craig Morgan. Photo: Courtesy of San Francisco 49ers.
Craig Morgan recently performed “God Bless America” as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL’s NFC West Title game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Over his career, Morgan has amassed nearly 2.5 billion career streams and charted over 25 songs on Billboard. He released his American Soundtrack EP last year via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville.
Margo Price Performs On CBS
Margo Price played CBS Saturday Morning‘s first Saturday Session of 2026, performing two songs from her GRAMMY-nominated album, Hard Headed Woman, and a rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “Deportee (Plane Wreck At Los Gatos).”
Price is nominated for Best Traditional Country Album at this year’s Grammy Awards. Her album Hard Headed Woman (Deluxe) is available now on Loma Vista Recordings.
Lani Rose Signs With Anotherland
Lani Rose.
Lani Rose has signed with Anotherland. The Texas based artist is currently working on new music.
“Every conversation I’ve had with Anotherland has furthered my confidence in partnering up with them,” shares Rose. “The DNA of the Team has given them the unique heart posture to cultivate artists (and projects) such as myself, all without compromising in the realm of identity/integrity. Truly, I believe that I will grow freely and supported with Anotherland into much of my best work. As I’ve shared with those closest to me, I’ve never been this excited to sign with a label.”
Big & Rich To Play Bluebird Cafe Alive Hospice Benefit
/by Lorie HollabaughBig & Rich.
Big & Rich will perform a special show at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe on Jan. 20 benefiting Alive Hospice, the Middle Tennessee nonprofit healthcare organization.
The duo will be traversing their 20+ year-career during the two-hour show that will feature hits like “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy,” “Comin’ To Your City,” “Eighth of November,” ‘Lost In This Moment,” and many others. The show will be recorded live for an upcoming special release.
Proceeds from the event will support Alive Hospice’s mission to provide compassionate end-of-life care and support to patients and families throughout the region. The annual benefit is celebrating its 33rd event in 2026, and is one of Nashville’s highly anticipated events each year. Tickets go on sale Jan. 9 here.
“We’re honored to play the Bluebird and support the incredible work Alive Hospice does for our community,” says Big & Rich. “This is going to be a special night in a very special room. Nashville is a special place, the Bluebird is an international icon and our excitement to play this room as a part of such an important program is a great way to kick off 2026.”