A collection of AFM Local 257 members are set to perform at 3rd and Lindsley next Tuesday (Aug. 9) as part of the “For Those We Lost” benefit concert.

Starting at 7 p.m. CT, the event aims to raise money for the Nashville Musicians Association Beneficiary Fund. The Fund has paid out more than $300,000 to the beneficiaries of 78 AFM Local 257 members who passed away since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hosted by bassist Dave Pomeroy, who has served as president of AFM Local 257 since 2009, performers for the evening include Jeff Coffin, Larry Cordle, John Cowan, Don Schlitz, Guthrie Trapp Trio, Three Ring Circle, The SloBeats, and the McCrary Sisters, with more to come.

The special show will honor many of the prominent AFM 257 members lost during the pandemic, including John Prine, Joe Diffie, Beegie Adair, Hargus “Pig” Robbins, Charlie Daniels, Bob Moore, Jan Howard, Joe Diffie, Dallas Frazier, JT Gray, Bill Pursell, Tim Akers, Roland White, and Kenny Malone.

Tickets are available here.

Mitchell Tenpenny Earns Wave Of Accolades, Announces New Album Due In September

Riser House/Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville recently hosted a celebration for Mitchell Tenpenny to commemorate him reaching one billion streams, as well as his first triple-Platinum plaque presentation. The private party was held at Nashville’s Nightscape entertainment and event venue.

Over the course of his career, Tenpenny has tallied over 1.3 billion on-demand streams, and his first-ever single, “Drunk Me,” has now amassed nearly 580 million global on-demand streams. The singer-songwriter also earned a Gold plaque for his debut album, Telling All My Secrets, and a Gold plaque for his current single “Truth About You.”

During the event, Tenpenny announced that he will release a 20-track album on Sept. 16 titled This Is The Heavy. Tenpenny co-wrote all the songs on the upcoming project and produced it alongside Jordan M. Schmidt.

“I hope the fans are as excited as I am that this music will be out soon,” Tenpenny shares. “I spent an enormous amount of time writing during the pandemic and sharing bits and pieces of what I was working on along the way. The fans really showed up for me by giving me feedback on what they were liking. Their direction helped shape this album and stretched me as a songwriter and artist.”

 

 

Scott & Sandi Borchetta Issue $150,000 Grant to Music Health Alliance

Big Machine Label Group Founder/President/CEO Scott Borchetta and his wife Sandi, who serves as BMLG’s Executive Vice President of Creative, have issued a $150,000 grant to the Nashville-based Music Health Alliance. Their contribution was issued through their Music Has Value fund, which was established in 2015 to provide financial support to organizations that support those who make music, aspire to make music, and access and appreciate music.

“For over 30 years, Scott and Sandi Borchetta have made a profound impact on Nashville and the music industry through their leadership, entrepreneurship, and philanthropic endeavors,” says Music Health Alliance Founder & CEO Tatum Allsep. “We are overwhelmed by their generous contribution today through their Music Has Value fund. This grant will greatly help us in our mission to Heal the Music.”

“Access to healthcare is something every human deserves and the work that Music Health Alliance does to help those working in music gain access to medicine, mental health resources or even COVID-19 relief, is nothing short of heroic,” the Borchettas add. “In order for those working in the music business to create and produce their best work, they must be healthy and well. We are proud to know that this Music Has Value grant will provide healthcare to so many people in our music community.”

 

 

Barbara Mandrell Celebrates 50 Years In The Opry Family

Grand Ole Opry celebrated Country Music Hall of Fame member Barbara Mandrell on her 50th anniversary as a member of the Opry family with two shows last weekend (July 20). The three-time ACM/CMA Entertainer and four-time ACM/CMA Female Vocalist of the Year was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on July 29, 1972.

Opry member Carrie Underwood, CeCe Winans, Suzy Bogguss, Linda Davis, Jeannie Seely, Janelle Arthur, Mandy Barnett, and Connie Smith honored the legend who was in attendance along with her family and friends.

“Everyone talks about Barbara’s beauty. But, as gorgeous as she is, she is just as beautiful inside. In addition to all of those other things we love about her, she has always worn her faith on her sleeve. She let us know you can love the Lord AND raise a little…heck,” Underwood shared before welcoming Mandrell to the stage. “She has been such an inspiration to me and so many others that stand on the shoulders of great female artists like her. It’s especially fitting to pay tribute to her tonight, in this sacred place we both hold so dear.”

“There are so many great, great huge talented woman that performed for us tonight and said so many incredible things about me…they know I love them. And the Opry…Lord knows I love the Opry,” shared Mandrell. “My last show when I retired in 1997 I chose my home to do my finale performance on and it was this one.”

A 9x People’s Choice Award winner, Mandrell released “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” in April 1981 as the lead single from her album Barbara Mandrell Live. The song hit the No. 1 spot on July 4 of that year and helped propel her Live album to be certified Gold by the RIAA and helped her win the 1981 CMA Entertainer of the Year.

 

Watershed Festival Celebrates 10th Anniversary With Packed Weekend

Watershed Music And Camping Festival hosted a sold out crowd this past weekend, with over 25,000 fans attending the festival’s tenth anniversary celebration. The three-day event kicked off with sets from Chase Rice, Jessie James Decker, Runaway June, Hailey Whitters, Callista Clark and more. The evening wrapped with a lively performance from Morgan Wallen.

Saturday’s festivities continued with a stacked lineup of Jordan Davis, Dylan Scott, Jameson Rodgers, Tenille Townes and Caylee Hammack. Miranda Lambert rounded out the evening with a singalong-stacked show.

Sunday closed out the weekend with performances by Jake Owen, Michael Ray, Lauren Alaina, LOCASH and Tenille Arts, followed by headliner Kane Brown.

 

PLA Media Expands To California Market

PLA Media has expanded their staff-base to Los Angeles as executive team member Matt Williams has transitioned to the west coast. Williams started his tenure at PLA’s Nashville office.

Williams is an award-winning graphic designer, website designer, writer, and consultant. With over a decade of experience, he has established an eclectic portfolio working with clients in a diverse range of industries including entertainment, healthcare, hospitality, technology, non-profit and more. He has worked in agency and corporate settings, as well as freelance, collaborating closely with everyone from project managers and CEOs to talent managers and musicians.

As graphic and website designer, Williams leads in design branding and aesthetics. His clients have included the Tina Turner Museum, Waste Tech Solutions, All Things Tudor and the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center. In this role, he creates logos, websites, and brand imaging for a plethora of PLA clientele.

“At PLA we are pleased to continue our professional relationship with our creative graphic designer, Matt Williams. Having a branch in this crucial market brings broader perspective and strengthens our ability to attract and serve our diverse and growing client base,” explains Pam Lewis, Founder and President at PLA Media.

BMI is partnering with Third Man Records for “BMI At The Blue Room,” a first-ever showcase featuring BMI songwriters and multi-genre, up-and-coming talent. The event is slated for Aug. 10 at Third Man Records’ headquarters in Nashville.

Beginning at 5 p.m. CT, the show will feature performances from Belmont alums and five-piece band of creatives Future Crib, former SUSTO bandmates and synth pop group Babe Club, and Australian indie songwriter Jo Schornikow.

Audiences of all ages are encouraged to attend.

Newly signed RCA Nashville artist Corey Kent packed out the Basement East on Friday night (July 29) for a high-energy show.

Following an entertaining set by opener Faren Rachels, Kent started his show with a fan-favorite, “Feels A Lot Like This.” His talent was evident from the moment he opened his mouth as he effortlessly combined Justin Timberlake-esque runs and gravely hollers throughout the night.

Kent often spoke about his journey to becoming a breakout country artist. The Oklahoma native told the story of his move to Nashville, saying that he was able to land a publishing deal and started writing songs for other artists, but didn’t find that to be fulfilling.

“I found myself with what I thought was my dream job. I was writing songs for a publishing company here in town, but I was writing songs for other people. I found out that my dream job wasn’t writing songs for other people, it was writing my songs and playing them for the good people of Nashville, Tennessee like you tonight.

“I was so busy with ‘chasing the dream’ when I lived here that I was taking for granted the things in life that really matter,” Kent said. “One day I woke up and realized that the dream I was chasing I had right in the palm of my hands. I just wasn’t even paying attention.”

In a standout moment, Kent then sang an unreleased song, a coming-of-age tune likely called “How You Know You Made It,” that references the dream he was always chasing: happiness.

Throughout the evening, Kent thrilled concert-goers with fan-favorites “Same Thing,” “Highway,” “There’s Always Next Year,” and “Gold.” He also took on some classic covers, too, putting his own spin on The Marshall Tucker Band‘s “Can’t You See,” Kenny Chesney‘s “Keg In The Closet,” and The Beatles‘ “Come Together.” His rocking band more than kept up.

In another standout moment, he sang an acoustic version of Travis Tritt‘s “Great Day To Be Alive,” smiling into the raucous crowd.

When it came time for him to perform his wildly successful debut single, “Wild As Her,” the crowd was amped up. Every hand in The Basement East went up as the talented singer delivered the TikTok trendy bridge, “I don’t wanna fix her, I just wanna kiss her / Fuel a little fire in her soul.”

“This song is changing our lives,” he said. “[When we released it], we had no big team behind us or a bunch of money promoting what we were doing. We relied on the every day person to listen to our music and if they liked it, to tell their friends about it.

“That’s exactly what happened with this song. For over two straight weeks, this was the most streamed country song in the entire world!” Kent said with a grin. “We’d love it if you sang it along with us.”

The Basement East obliged, singing every word.