For King & Country, Anne Wilson See Big Wins At 2022 K-Love Fan Awards

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For King & Country. Photo: Jason Davis

For King & Country racked up triple wins during Friday night’s (June 3) broadcast of the 9th Annual K-Love Fan Awards. The duo took home Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Group/Duo of the Year honors during the ceremony, which was originally taped live in front of a sold-out crowd at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry on May 29.

Anne Wilson. Photo: Jason Davis

Newcomer Anne Wilson received two awards for Female Artist of the Year and Breakout Single of the Year (“My Jesus”), while Matthew West was named Male Artist of the Year during the special evening.

Other winners included Katy Nichole‘s first K-Love Fan Award nomination and win for Worship Song of the Year (“In Jesus Name (God Of Possible)),” and Sadie Robertson Huff‘s win for the first-ever Podcast of the Year Award for Whoa That’s Good.

Collaborative performances took place throughout the evening from Blanca with Dante Bowe, CeCe Winans with Lauren Daigle, Jonathan Traylor with Jordan Feliz, Kirk Franklin with Maverick City Music, and Riley Clemmons with country star Walker Hayes. Additional performances included Wilson, Cain, Chris Tomlin, Elevation Worship, For King & Country, Nichole, West, Phil Wickham, Tauren Wells, and TobyMac.

Matthew West. Photo: Jason Davis

West and Wells hosted the show, which capped a weekend of in-person, fan-focused events, including a songwriter’s showcase hosted by Steven Curtis Chapman, and a worship service with Brandon Lake, Pat Barrett and Wickham.

2022 K-Love Fan Awards Winners:
Male Artist Of The Year – Matthew West
Female Artist Of The Year – Anne Wilson
Group/Duo Of The Year – For King & Country
Artist Of The Year – For King & Country
Breakout Single – Anne Wilson – “My Jesus”
Worship Song Of The Year – Katy Nichole – “In Jesus Name (God Of Possible)”
Song Of The Year – For King & Country – “For God Is With Us”
Film Impact – American Underdog
Book Impact – Michael W. Smith – The Way Of The Father
Sports Impact – Tim Tebow
Podcast Of The Year- Sadie Robertson Huff – Whoa That’s Good

Casi Joy Inks With Rusty Harmon’s Vere Music, Adds Management To Team [Exclusive]

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Casi Joy inks with Vere Music

Country/pop artist Casi Joy has inked an exclusive deal with Vere Music. The singer-songwriter has also tapped Richard Ellis and Ron Stone of Gold Mountain Entertainment for management to round out her team.

The news comes on the cusp of her forthcoming single release, “Everything’s Fine,” on Friday, June 17. Co-written alongside Lauryn Tauber and Justin Klump, the track holds a timely yet positive message weaved together with Joy’s wit and tongue-in-cheek lyrics.

“Casi Joy has built a solid team over the years, including world class management, digital marketing, publicity, and brand partnerships,” notes Rusty Harmon, head of Vere Music. “Vere is excited to partner with an artist that exemplifies knowledge of the industry, has great songs, and is an energetic performer.”

Joy has shared the stage with country music heavy hitters including Maren Morris, Keith Urban, Carly Pearce, Dustin Lynch and other various chart topping artists. She has also garnered a social following of over 350,000 and over 40 million combined views online. The Kansas City native released plenty of new music in 2021, including fan-favorite tracks “The Money,” “Namaste” and “Senses Fail.”

“I’m so excited to get started with Rusty and the Vere Music team, and I can’t wait to see where this next step takes me. It feels like a match-made in heaven, and I’m so grateful to be working with a team who believes in me and my music,” Joy shares.

Music Industry Organizations Conclude First Annual TSU Music Accelerator Program

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TSU students. Photo: Courtesy of 353 media

A handful of music industry organizations recently completed the three-week Maymester Music Accelerator Program at Tennessee State University. The Music Accelerator Program at TSU is a program in partnership with Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), Nashville Music Equality, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Wasserman Music, and YouTube Music.

Over the course of the 3-week program, TSU students heard from influential music executives, and took advantage of internship placements across multiple music industry companies, including Wasserman Music, Warner Music Nashville and LVRN.

Breland (far right) speaking to TSU students. Photo: Courtesy of 353 media

Speakers who participated in the program included Post Malone manager Dre London; Artistry Group founder/CEO Max Gousse; Tuma Basa (Youtube Music); Andrew Lieber (MAC Agency); Roddy Ricch manager Shawn Holiday; recording artists Breland, Blanco Brown and Joy Oladokun; Mary J Blige’s manager Ashaunna Ayars; Marcus Johnson (Goldenvoice/AEG); Brandon McEachern and Marcus Allen (Broccoli City); EMPIRE product manager Russell Barrett; RIAA’s Jackie Jones; VP of EMPIRE Tina Davis; BMG’s Tim Reid and Jon Loba; Wasserman Music agents Lee Anderson, Lenore Kinder, Callender, Chappel McCollister and Mallory Smith, and many more.

“The Music Business Accelerator course was a one-of-a-kind learning experience that exposed students to successful music professionals,” shares Dr. Mark Crawford, Professor of Music and Coordinator of Commercial Music, TSU. “Whether having guests in the classroom, or visiting a music related company, the course provided real-time and real-life information that have enabled the students to see their future careers as a tangible goal and not an ambiguous dream. This course provided inspiration, calculation, and anticipation of things to come!”

Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, co-founder/co-chair of BMAC, adds, “Black Music Action Coalition wants to be intentional about addressing the erasure of Black artists, executives, and the creative community on Music Row by creating a real pipeline to opportunities and resources to level the playing field in Nashville. I was able to watch the students in this music accelerator program show up at 8:15 in the morning on a daily basis, ready to learn and were completely engaged for over 3 hours, as some of the most successful and influential leaders in the entertainment industry poured into them. The students were able to learn about publishing, management & branding, distribution, marketing, tour routing & talent buying and even participate in a focus group for an upcoming release from an artist signed to a major label. Three weeks of nonstop action.”

Stiggers continues, “I met some incredible artists, rappers, singer-songwriters, managers, and producers who will definitely make their mark in this industry. Not only through the paid internships that follow this program, but we will continue to work directly with all of these students to ensure they are equipped with all they need to succeed. This was an incredible first step, of which many BMAC will take with those in Nashville dedicated to racial, social and economic justice. We are grateful for the partnership with Dr. Crawford, Wasserman Music, RIAA, Youtube Music, Nashville Music Equality and Tennessee State University.”

Kendell Marvel Debuts New Track From Upcoming Album ‘Come On Sunshine’

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Kendell Marvel. Photo: Laura E. Partain

Kendell Marvel has announced he’ll release his latest album, Come On Sunshine, on Sept. 23 via CmdShft. Ahead of the release, “Put It In The Plate,” a southern-fried stomper, is available everywhere now.

Produced by Beau Bedford, Come On Sunshine explores the wide range of Marvel’s influences. The 10 tracks delve into some of life’s experiences through country, rock and blues. The project also features a handful of familiar songwriters and musicians, including his longtime friend and collaborator Chris Stapleton, Al Anderson, Dan Auerbach, Devon Gilfillian, Waylon Payne,  Mickey Raphael, and more.

“I’m 51 years old, which means I’m long past the point of catering to anybody,” Marvel explains. “I’m just telling the stories I want to tell. I like to work with people who are different than me. Working with Beau Bedford in Dallas meant that I was playing with guys I’d never met before. Guys who had different ideas, different tones, and different ways of playing than my friends back home. We recorded the album live, finishing the whole thing in four days. That’s how you capture magic.”

He continues, “The same thing can be said for the people I write with. I prefer left-field people—people who come from different backgrounds and different genres. Devon Gilfillian comes from the R&B world; he hears different melodies than I do. Waylon is a gay man, so he has some experiences that are different than mine. I love to surround myself with people like that, and sit in the writing room with someone who isn’t just like me. Because that’s how you capture magic, too.”

Marvel will perform the new music throughout this summer with upcoming shows at Charlotte’s The Evening Muse, Memphis’ Growlers, Boise’s The Olympic Venue and Spokane’s Lucky You Lounge, among others. Additionally, his Nashville residency, “Kendell Marvel’s Honky Tonk Experience,” will return to Exit/In on Aug. 9 with a selection of special guests.

Come On Sunshine Track List:
1. “Don’t Tell Me How To Drink” (written by Kendell Marvel and Chris Stapleton)
2. “Keep Doing Your Thing” (written by Kendell Marvel)
3. “Hell Bent On Hard Times” (written by Kendell Marvel and Dean Alexander)
4. “Never Lovin’ You” (written by Kendell Marvel and Chris Stapleton)
5. “Come On Sunshine” (written by Kendell Marvel and Devon Gilfillian)
6. “Put It In The Plate” (written by Kendell Marvel and Dee White)
7. “Off My Mind” (written by Kendell Marvel, Dan Auerbach and Al Anderson)
8. “Fool Like Me” (written by Kendell Marvel and Waylon Payne)
9. “Habits” (written by Kendell Marvel and Kolby Cooper)
10. “Dyin’ Isn’t Cheap” (written by Kendell Marvel and Josh Morningstar

Brooke Eden Releases ‘Left You for Me’ From Upcoming EP ‘Choosing You’

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Brooke Eden. Photo: Ford Fairchild

Brooke Eden is previewing a bit of her new EP Choosing You, out July 29 via BBR Music Group/BMG, with a brand-new track, “Left You For Me,” out now.

Of “Left You For Me,” Eden says, “Sometimes there’s shame in staying in relationships for too long. I wanted to write a song that celebrates leaving whatever toxic situation you might’ve been in so you can be the best version of you.”

The five-track EP follows Eden’s 2021 trilogy of releases, and is a personal statement of love, self-acceptance, and resilience. Co-written by Eden and produced by longtime collaborator Jesse Frasure, the collection is an account of Eden’s journey to back to herself.

One question–“What makes you happy?”–spawned writing sessions that were therapeutic for the singer-songwriter. In those sessions, Eden wrote about healing, learning, love, loss, happiness, and the threads that tie them all together. On Choosing You, she’s joined by collaborators Steph Jones, Jon Stone, Sarah Buxton, and Brandon Day.

Eden is prepping for a busy month, as she’s performing at the Grand Ole Opry tonight (June 3), her first appearance at the venue since her duet with Trisha Yearwood. On June 11, she’ll appear on the Maui Jim Stage at CMA Fest.

Choosing You Track List:
1. “Knock” (Brooke Eden, Steph Jones, Jesse Frasure)
2. “Left You For Me” (Brooke Eden, Kyle Schlienger, Jon Stone)
3. “Comeback Love” (Brooke Eden, Jesse Frasure, Sarah Buxton)
4. “Heartless” (Brooke Eden, Connie Harrington, Lindsay Rimes)
5. “Off The Ground” (Brooke Eden, Cary Barlowe, Jesse Frasure, Brandon Day, Alysa Vanderheym)

CMA Fest Unveils Additional Performers, New Nissan Stadium Platform Stage

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The Country Music Association has announced additional performers hitting the stage during the 49th edition of CMA Fest, taking place in downtown Nashville from June 9-12.

Alan Jackson will no longer be performing at this year’s festival. However, Brothers Osborne and Old Dominion will take the Nissan Stadium main stage with opening acts Deana Carter, Sara Evans, Everette, Randy Houser, Angie K, Kylie Morgan and Shenandoah.

New to this year’s lineup, CMA Fest will host performances from the special Platform Stage in the center of Nissan Stadium. Featured performers on the inaugural stage will include Priscilla Block, Madeline Edwards, Kat & Alex, Maddie & Tae, Frank Ray, Lily Rose, and Dylan Scott. Additionally, Brittney Spencer will welcome the Nissan Stadium crowd on Thursday night as she performs the National Anthem.

Russell Dickerson will kick off the CMA Close Up Stage on Thursday as the Artist of the Day at Fan Fair X. Additional acts that have been added to the CMA Fest lineup include Ryan Charles, Brooke Eden, Mae Estes and Ella Langley. Eden will also kick off the Chevy Riverfront Stage on Thursday morning performing the National Anthem.

While four-day passes and single night tickets for the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium are nearly sold out, fans can still purchase tickets to the Nighttime Concerts at Ascend Amphitheater, the new Riverside Retreat premium destination along the Cumberland River, and Fan Fair X inside Music City Center.

Morgan Wallen To Headline 2023 Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam

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Morgan Wallen. Photo: John Shearer

After kicking off the tenth annual Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam on Thursday night (June 2) at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach, festival organizers shared that Morgan Wallen will headline next year’s lineup on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

“Morgan Wallen is by far the most requested headliner we have ever had in the history of Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam as the fans hear their lives in his music,” shares festival Executive Producer, Rendy Lovelady. “Judging by the passionate crowd response tonight, we are all excited to welcome him to Panama City Beach!”

The 11th edition of the event will take place June 1-4, 2023. Additional headliners and the full lineup will be released in the coming weeks. Tickets for next year’s festival are available for purchase now at GulfCoastJam.com.

“Morgan’s lyrics are about living in small towns, the way you can get pulled away by your dreams and the things or loves you leave behind,” adds Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam COO Mark Sheldon. “That’s real life… and his fans and our jammers see and live that stuff every day. The way his music is connecting makes him the perfect headliner for us.”

This year’s event kicked off with a headlining performance from Brett Young. Entertainment for today (June 3) includes sets from Old Dominion, Gary Allan, Jordan Davis, Randy Rogers Band, Tyler Rich, Ryan Griffin, Tigirlily, and Presley & Taylor.

Florida Georgia Line will make one of their last headline appearances Saturday night (June 4) after Chris Janson, Maddie & Tae, Frankie Ballard, Darryl Worley, Steve Moakler, Nate Barnes, and Chandler Flint take the stage. Sunday will wrap with headliners Brooks & Dunn, Scotty McCreery, Mitchell Tenpenny, Tracy Lawrence, Corey Smith, Elvie Shane, Confederate Railroad, and Pepsi Southern Original winner Jonboy Storey.

Alexander Ludwig Reminisces About ‘Highway 99’ On Upcoming Album

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Alexander Ludwig. Photo: Daniel Delgado Jr.

Alexander Ludwig will drop his new full-length debut album, Highway 99, on Aug. 26 via BBR Music Group/BMG. To celebrate the album announcement, Ludwig has released the summer-ready first single from the LP, “Faded On Me,” today (June 3).

Packed with 16 tracks of universal stories about small towns, wild nights, broken hearts, and big dreams, the album is the follow-up to his 2021 self-titled EP and career-launching 2020 single “Let Me Be Your Whiskey.” The project was produced by Kurt Allison and Tully Kennedy, longtime members of Jason Aldean‘s band. Other album collaborators include David Lee Murphy and Michael Dulaney.

A songwriter since the age of 12, Ludwig grew up in Vancouver, Canada. Every weekend, he’d venture into the Canadian backcountry with his family, making the trip up Highway 99 to his family’s cabin on Whistler Mountain.

“If my album could be summed up in a song it would be ‘Faded On Me,’” Ludwig explains. “The song spoke to me so much. As a kid, my parents taught me to roll with the punches, and this song is all about that. Taking whatever life throws your way and throwing it right back.”

In addition to working on new music, the well-rounded entertainer stars in the STARZ TV series  Heels, which is currently in production on its second season. Most recently, Ludwig can be seen in STX’s college sports drama National Champions, as well as the drama film Heart of Champions. He’s also set to star in Guy Ritchie’s The Interpreter for MGM and Amazon.

Alabama’s Randy Owen Mourning Loss Of Mother, Martha Owen

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Rachel Carroll, Randy Owen, Reba Patterson; (L-R, front row): Martha Owen, Yeuell Owen

Randy Owen, lead vocalist of the iconic Alabama band, is mourning the loss of his mother Martha Alice Teague Owen, who passed away on Thursday (June 2). She was 90.

Martha and her husband Gladstone Yeuell Owen, who passed in 1980, introduced their son Randy and daughters Reba Patterson and Rachel Carroll to music. The family formed The Singing Owen Family when the siblings were children. The Gospel group performed in churches and at events in Alabama and the south during the ’60s and ’70s.

Randy would go on to form Alabama, one of the most iconic bands in country music. The group celebrated 80 million albums, charted 43 No. 1 singles, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Martha died surrounded by family in Fort Payne, Alabama following a short illness. Members of the Owen family are asking for privacy during this time.

Martha’s visitation will be held on Sunday (June 5) at 4 – 8 p.m. at the Rainsville Community Church in Rainsville, Alabama. Her funeral service will take place on Monday (June 6) with the timing to be determined.

Alabama is currently on a 30-city tour but is rescheduling this weekend’s concerts due to Martha’s passing. June 3 in Roanoke, Virginia will now take place on Dec. 9; and June 4 in Fayetteville, North Carolina will take place on Dec. 11. All prior ticket purchases will be honored at the new dates.

Date Set For 35th Annual Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament

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The 35th annual Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament (MRLGT) will be held on Monday, Aug. 15 at the Old Natchez Country Club in Nashville. The tournament’s proceeds will once again benefit United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee (UCPMidTN).

The beloved fundraiser is one of Music Row’s longest-running charity events.

“The MRLGT is unlike any other golf tournament, in that you don’t have to know how to play to enter! It brings the women of Music Row together in a unique and fun setting, all while raising money for United Cerebral Palsy,” says former ASCAP executive Suzanne Lee, who has long been part of the MRLGT. “ASCAP has been a sponsor since the beginning. Connie Bradley heard about it, thought a tournament featuring only music industry women to support such a wonderful cause was a great idea, and wanted to become a founding sponsor of the event.”

The MRLGT is UCPMidTN’s single biggest annual fundraiser and the money raised is vital to the success of the organization’s mission. In 2021, the tournament raised over $100,000 for a grand total of $2.4 million raised in the tournament’s 35 year history.

Herky Williams, a MRLGT founder, shares, “What I am most proud of is the monies from our event going directly to people in need. We built 179 wheelchair ramps, supplied over 2,400 pieces of medical equipment to needy patients, and served 248 families just last year. We used to serve just Middle Tennessee, and now we serve the whole state of Tennessee. This makes me the proudest of anything I have ever been involved in.”

Golfers in their costumes at the Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament. Photo: Courtesy MRLGT

A tradition of the MRLGT is teams collaborating on themed costumes.

“The theme dressing of the foursomes every year continues to be a highlight of mine,” Williams says. “Each year, teams dress up according to the popular topics of the day. And the male caddies who participate help create a fun atmosphere to start the day, I remember Keith Urban in a skirt and wig one year. It was hilarious!”

Lee agrees, saying, “I always look forward to seeing the team costumes and believe me, there have been some seriously creative outfits through the years! In the early days of the tournament, we’d have a parade to show off the costumes, which was great fun. However, watching each year’s tournament make a difference in the services UCP provides is the best memory of all.”

Those interested in participating this year, please visit mrlgt.com. Registration for the tournament will open in late June, with more details to be announced soon.

For more information, or to become a sponsor or contributor, email MRLGTnash@gmail.com.