The Country Music Association has announced the departure of long-time employee and current Director of International Relations, Bobbi Boyce. After nearly 30 years of service to CMA, she will be stepping away from the organization at the end of this month.

“I have always been proud to work at CMA and have loved being a part of the country music community, which is such a special family,” says Boyce. “I will cherish the memories I am taking with me. It’s time to concentrate on other projects in particular as the Trustee for Davy Jones’ Trust, but I look forward to watching the continued growth of country music internationally.”

Beginning her career with CMA in 1992 as the organization’s European Assistant, Boyce eventually took the helm as CMA’s Director of International Relations. Throughout her time with the organization, she supported all CMA international initiatives, including the worldwide distribution of CMA’s television properties such as the CMA Awards, CMA Fest and CMA Country Christmas.

Working with CMA members, Board of Directors and staff, as well as the wider country music industry both internationally and domestically, Boyce has helped establish the organization’s international task forces as well as brought on key international broadcasters.

“For many years now, Bobbi has acted as a leading voice for CMA’s international efforts both to our international partners and to our local Nashville community,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA, Chief Executive Officer. “She has been instrumental in making sure that the bridge between Nashville and our partners across the globe was strong, secure and supportive of the genre overall. Thanks in no small part to her efforts, we have continued to see significant growth in country consumption internationally. I, and CMA as a whole, will miss working with Bobbi dearly, but am excited to see her able to focus more time on her other projects.”

“A publicist, networker, connector and facilitator, Bobbi’s presence has been a cornerstone to CMA’s international agenda for almost three decades,” adds Milly Olykan, CMA, Vice President, International Relations and Development. “From overseeing all our international awards and editing our CMA television properties for international audiences, to the countless relationships she has fostered, Bobbi has given so much of herself to keep the international flames burning for CMA. While we are sad to see her stepping away from her work with CMA, we are eternally grateful for her dedicated service to our organization and wish her all the best!”

To reach Boyce after April 30, contact bobbiboyce75@gmail.com.

Sony Music Publishing Nashville has signed breakthrough singer-songwriter Madeline Edwards to a worldwide publishing agreement.

Edwards incorporates jazz, soul, gospel and country influences into her unique sound. She was listed as a Hot Country Spotify Artist to Watch 2022, a member of CMT Next Women of Country’s class of 2022, and was named a Top 20 Breaker artist on NPR.

Currently working on her debut album, she made her national radio debut on Sirius XM and released “Port City” as the follow up to her hit song “The Road,” which has garnered over 6 million streams to date. She has performed on Lady Gaga‘s Born This Way tribute record with The Highwomen, NPR‘s Tiny Desk Concert, and made her national television debut at the 2021 CMA Awards where she sang alongside Mickey Guyton and Brittney Spencer.

Edwards also recently embarked on the “All American Road Show Tour” alongside Chris Stapleton. Featuring Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson, the April 23 stop in Lexington, Kentucky marked Edwards’ first stadium show.

“True artists like Madeline don’t come along every day. It was obvious from our first meeting that she has a gift of revealing her heart in each song,” Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO, Rusty Gaston, notes. “We can’t wait for the world to discover what we’ve already gotten to experience.”

Sony’s Senior Manager of Creative, Mya Hansen, and Creative Coordinator, Synnovea Halsel, add, “We knew from the moment we saw Madeline play that she is an extraordinary talent with limitless potential. We are thrilled to welcome her into the Sony Music Publishing family!”

“I knew SMP was the right family for me the moment we connected. I’m very excited for this new chapter and the music I’ll be creating with this team,” shares Edwards.

Nineties hitmakers BlackHawk are returning with a new project of never-before-heard songs from the early days of their career. Blue Highway is set for release on June 24 via BFD/Audium Nashville, and the album’s first single, “Baby The Rain Must Fall,” is available now.

The album features twelve archival tunes from 1992 that were only recently mixed and mastered with bass, drums, electric guitar and mandolin. The compilation features the vocals of all three original members of BlackHawk–Henry Paul, Dave Robbins and the late Van Stephenson, who died of cancer in 2001. All twelve cuts were written by the trio.

“Looking back on BlackHawk’s beginnings, I’m always reminded of the innocence and personal character of our songwriting, and both the fragile beauty and strength of our voices,” says Paul. “For Van and Dave and I, it was magic watching this exciting chapter in our life’s musical journey unfold. This album once again brings the three of us together and sheds light on the dawn of our creation in those early days.”

“This collection of songs brings home the fact that it wasn’t by chance that Van and Henry and I got to have this dance with you,” adds Robbins.

Paul and Robbins are dedicating the upcoming release to the memory of their departed bandmate. In 2006, BlackHawk established the Van Stephenson Cancer Research Fund which, since its inception, has generated over $400,000 for the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

“Without Van, BlackHawk would have never been, and his uniquely beautiful talent was at the heart of all we did,” explains Paul. “Dave and I continue to honor our last promise made to him by keeping BlackHawk together and doing what we can do help find a cure for cancer.”

Blue Highway Track List:
1. Don’t Put Yourself Down
2. Baby The Rain Must Fall
3. Southern Wind
4. I’m Gonna Find a Way
5. Where The Wild Roses Grow
6. Not By Chance
7. Heavy Hand
8. Heart With a View
9. Blue Highway
10. Breathe The Night
11. One Good Reason
12. Wide Open Spaces

Operation Song, the non-profit pairing accomplished Nashville songwriters with the military community to help them tell their stories through song, has added several leaders to its Board to help grow the charity’s reach.

The Operation Song Board of Directors has expanded to include Mike Sistad, Storme Warren, Jeff Mefford, and Joe Forte. 

“For the past decade, we have empowered veterans, active-duty military and their families to tell their stories and to express themselves through the process of songwriting. We have produced more than 1,000 songs, and there are many more stories to be told. Our Board members have strong ties to Music City and the U.S. military and all share our vision of helping the brave men and women who serve our country to be heard and to heal,” shares Bob Regan, songwriter and founder of Operation Song.

In January, the Board also elected Bob Leonard as President of the Board. A U.S. Navy Desert Storm Veteran and a 20-year healthcare executive, clinician, and entrepreneur, Leonard’s skill set includes management, startups, strategy, marketing, and business development.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mike, Storme, Jeff and Joe as Board members,” says Leonard. “They bring a wealth of relevant knowledge and expertise to advance the mission of Operation Song. Given their track records and enthusiasm, I’m excited for them to help guide Operation Song into the future.”

Sistad, who serves as Vice President of ASCAP, is a longtime ASCAP executive and songwriter advocate who has signed top talent, including Chris Stapleton, Kelsea Ballerini, Old Dominion, and Carly Pearce.

Warren is a TV and radio broadcaster best known as the host of the Storme Warren Morning Show on Sirius XM’s The Highway.

Mefford serves as CFO for the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. Prior to that role, he was the CFO for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and assisted with launching the Nashville Downtown Partnership, Nashville Sports Council, Nashville Healthcare Council and the Music City Bowl.

Forte is a technology Director with VMware and has been consulting for the US Department of Defense and state/local governments for more than 25 years. During his career, he worked closely with the U.S. military including several assignments in the Middle East and Afghanistan. He has also been a musician and songwriter for 30 years.

The Save The Music Foundation and SongFarm.org hosted their third annual “Hometown To Hometown” event in Nashville on Tuesday (April 26). The event honored Grammy award-winning songwriters Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne.

Hosted by Cody Alan, the show featured performances and special appearances by Brandy Clark, Walker Hayes, Kylie Morgan, and Carly Pearce. Attendees also had the chance to hear from teachers and students impacted by Save The Music and SongFarm.org’s programs.

The benefit was sponsored by CMT, Gibson Gives, MAXISIQ, and Wrensong. Funds raised will support music programs at under-resourced high schools in the honorees’ hometowns of Mineral Wells, Texas (McAnally) and Pike County, Kentucky (Osborne), as well as in Nashville.

McAnally has established himself as one of the top songwriters in Nashville with over 40 No. 1 songs, three Grammy awards and two Songwriter of the Year Awards from the Academy of Country Music. Osborne is a multi-Platinum, Grammy award-winning songwriter who has notched 26 No. 1 songs on the country charts.