Lineup Revealed For CMA Fest Nighttime Concerts At Ascend Amphitheater

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The lineup for the CMA Fest Nighttime Concerts at Ascend Amphitheater has been unveiled.

Taking place on Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11, night one will feature Chris Janson as headliner as well as performances from Boy Named Banjo, Lanco, Peytan Porter and Mitchell Tenpenny.

Saturday night will be presented by Warner Music Nashville. Shy Carter will host the evening headlined by Cole Swindell, with performances from Ingrid Andress, Tyler Braden, Carter and Randall King.

Tickets for the Nighttime Concerts at Ascend Amphitheater are required for entry with public on-sale beginning Friday, April 29 at 10:00 a.m. CT. A limited number of four-day passes, plus newly-announced single night tickets for the Nissan Stadium nightly concerts, are available now.

Additional performers, Fan Fair X activities, stage lineups and more, will be announced in the coming weeks.

‘Friends Of Ralph Murphy’ MTSU Songwriting Benefit Set For May 19

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Ralph Murphy

A new writer’s room is being named in memory of songwriter/publishing exec Ralph Murphy in the new MTSU Songwriting Center, and a special benefit concert is being held May 19 in support of the new project. Murphy was a songwriter, publisher, artist, producer and Music Row ambassador who passed in May of 2019 following a brief illness.

Among the artists performing at the 3rd and Lindsley show are Carlene Carter, Mary Gauthier, Tony Arata, Pat Alger, Roger Cook, Jim Moose Brown, and Kathie Baillie and Michael Bonagura of Baillie & The Boys.

MTSU songwriters Kaleigh Wooten, Natalie Madigan, Saylor Brasseaux, and Katie Dunlap will open the show.

Those unable to attend the concert can donate by visiting mtsu.edu/supportmedia and noting the “Ralph Murphy Songwriting Room” in the giving designation box.

Scooter Carusoe Signs With Endurance Music Group & Warner Chappell Nashville

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Pictured (L-R): Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, EMG’s Michael Martin, Carusoe, EMG’s Lauren Funk, Warner Chappell’s Ryan Beuschel. Photo: Ed Rode at Virgin Hotels Nashville

Endurance Music Group and Warner Chappell Nashville have partnered on a worldwide publishing agreement with acclaimed songwriter Travis Hill, known professionally by his pen name Scooter Carusoe.

Carusoe has lived and worked in the Nashville music community for over two decades. Among his over 20 No. 1 hits are Darius Rucker’s “For the First Time,” Brett Eldredge‘s “Wanna Be That Song” and “Mean to Me,” and Kenny Chesney‘s “Better as a Memory” and “Anything but Mine.” His recent successes include “You All Over Me” from Fearless (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift, “Want That Back” by Eldredge, and “Some Habits” by Cole Swindell.

Carusoe’s songs have been performed on the Grammys, the CMA Awards, and the ACM Awards, and have earned multiple NSAI, ASCAP, and SESAC awards. He also is the co-founder of independent music publisher Carnival Music.

EMG President, Michael Martin, shares, “One of the standout reasons I left ASCAP a few years ago to start EMG was the opportunity to work with Travis. I’ve been fortunate to walk with him on his journey from A&R to publishing and to witness his impact as a writer and lyricist on our music community. The entire EMG family loves working with Scooter, and we’re thrilled to enter this new and exciting season with the Warner Chappell team.”

Warner Chappell Nashville Vice President of A&R, Ryan Beuschel, adds, “I’ve been a huge fan of Scooter’s since 2005 when I first heard his self-penned mega-hit, ‘Anything But Mine.’ I’ve always admired his ability to paint pictures with poignant lyrics and stories that make the listener feel like they’re watching a music video unfold in their mind. It’s a dream come true to have Scooter in the Warner Chappell family!”

Bill Anderson To Release New Album ‘As Far As I Can See: The Best Of’ In June

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Bill Anderson Photo: Walter Fabry, Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame

Bill Anderson is releasing a new album of some of his hits, As Far As I Can See: The Best Of, on June 10 through MCA Nashville/UMe, which has been Anderson’s label home for most of his seven-decade long career.

Pictured (L-R): Lindsey Terry (UMGN), Tara Master (UMe), Troy Scott (UMGN),
Cindy Mabe (UMGN), Bill Anderson, Lee Willard (Anderson’s Manager) Scott Adkins (Adkins Publicity),
Kelli Wasilauski (Adkins Publicity)

The 16-song collection shares its name with the current exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame, “Bill Anderson: As Far As I Can See,” and comes from the opening line of one of the first songs he ever wrote, “City Lights,” which was a hit for Ray Price in 1958.

In addition to “City Lights,” “Still,” Po’ Folks,” The Tip Of My Fingers,” and “Sometimes,” the album also features a new song with country icon Dolly Parton. Along with the newly-recorded duet, the project includes Anderson and Parton’s first-ever collaboration, an incredibly rare demo of “If It Is All The Same To You,” recorded in 1964 and eventually released as a duet with Jan Howard on Anderson’s chart-topping 1969 album of the same name.

The new project is being released in conjunction with the first-time digital release of seven of Anderson’s albums from the 1960s.

“Needless to say I am thrilled over my new association with UMG.  Not only do they have 23 years’ worth of my back catalog ready to introduce to the digital world, but I am reuniting with Dolly Parton on this project,” says Anderson.  “Dolly sang some demos for me (and with me) back in the early sixties when she was new in town. One was a duet called, ‘If It’s All The Same To You,’ which had gone missing for years. UMG has recovered it and included it along with my and Dolly’s new duet in this package. That’s called connecting the dots across more than fifty years. How cool is that?”

As Far As I Can See: The Best Of Track Listing:
“City Lights” – 1961
“Walk Out Backwards” – 1961
“Three AM” – 1964
“Still” – 1963
“The Tip of My Fingers” – 1961
“I Love You Drops” – 1964
“I Get The Fever” – 1966
“Po’ Folks” – 1961
“Wild Week-End” – 1967
“Happy State Of Mind” – 1968
“My Life (Throw It Away If I Want To)” – 1969
“Sometimes” featuring Mary Lou Turner – 1975
“If You Can Live With It (I Can Live Without It)” – 1972
“The Corner Of My Life” – 1973
“If It Is All The Same To You” featuring Dolly Parton (demo) – circa 1964
“Someday It’ll All Make Sense” featuring Dolly Parton – 2022

Chris Stapleton Raises Over $1 Million For His Home State

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Chris Stapleton. Photo: Andy Barron

Last Saturday night (April 23), Chris Stapleton’s “A Concert for Kentucky” stadium show raised over $1 million for the Outlaw State of Kind Hometown Fund.

The sold out event was the first concert ever held at the University of Kentucky’s Kroger Field and featured performances by Stapleton along with Willie Nelson and Family, Sheryl Crow and Madeline Edwards.

“Every night we walk on a stage, we do our best to help people forget their troubles or celebrate or remember or hope or heal. Every night we play, a portion of those profits always goes to charity. As a musician I can’t think of a greater honor than reaching a point where we can play a show for 40,000 people and give all of the profits back to a community that has been so unfailingly loyal and supportive,” Stapleton shares. “It is a tremendously pure and rewarding moment to get to provide the medicine that is music in that space. I’m grateful to everyone who came to the show and to all of the musicians, managers, agents and crew members that made this moment possible.”

The Hometown Fund is administered by the Blue Grass Community Foundation and supports a variety of causes close to the Stapleton’s heart in his home state of Kentucky. Initial Hometown Fund grants include $250,000 to The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, as well as additional pledges to the American Red Cross, UK Healthcare Kentucky Children’s Hospital, the Community Foundation of Western Kentucky’s Disaster Relief Fund, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Additional Hometown Fund grants will continue to be made throughout the year.

Stapleton will continue his extensive “All-American Road Show” tour throughout the year with upcoming stops at Los Angeles’ The Forum, Denver’s Ball Arena, Chicago’s Wrigley Field, DC’s Merriweather Post Pavilion and Long Island’s Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, among others.

Ben Strain Upped To Senior Creative Director At MV2 Entertainment

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Ben Strain

MV2 Entertainment has elevated Ben Strain to Senior Creative Director of the company, whose current roster includes Josh Thompson, Johnny McGurie, Forrest Finn, Andrew Stone, Joe Whelan, and Blake Henderson.

Originally from Tullahoma, Tennessee, Strain is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and spent more than a decade in the music publishing business, working for Sony/ATV, Ole Music, and Monument Publishing prior to joining the team at MV2. He also spent several years working for Sony Records.

Strain joined MV2 in the fall of 2018 and has helped grow the independent music publishing company with catalog acquisitions of hit songwriters Josh Thompson, Natalie Hemby, and David Frasier. He’s also been instrumental in placing songs, including for Jordan Davis, Morgan Wallen, Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Mitchell Tennpenny, Michael Ray, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, and Jon Pardi, which has led to 17 Mediabase and Billboard No. 1 hits. Strain also played a key role in launching MV2’s independent label, New Lost City Records, in the spring of 2020.

“Ben has proven himself to be a leader and valuable team player that knows how to move things forward with writers, artists and hit songs,” shares MV2 General Manager Tony Harrell. “We are grateful to have Ben leading our creative team as we continue building our great company.”

“I’ve had the honor of working with some of country music’s best and most creative songwriters,” adds Strain. “I’m so grateful to be part of the Nashville music business community, and I look forward to continuing the growth of MV2 with Tony Harrell, Nicole Sherrill and Lindsey Parrish. With the support of James Archer and Blake Gage, I know that this next chapter will be our best yet. I’m excited for the future of MV2 3.0.”

Bobby Bones Slates Two Comedy Dates For Nashville In June

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Bobby Bones is bringing his standup comedy back to Music City in a special two-night stand at the CMA Theater in Nashville with “Bobby Bones: No Bad Words–Comedically Inspirational–Nashville Only– World Tour” on June 17-18.

Rising artists Tiera Kennedy and Lexie Hayden are set to open the shows, and tickets will go on sale this Friday, April 29 at 10 a.m. CT via BobbyBones.com.

The new shows come nearly four years after his sold-out tours, “Bobby Bones Red Hoodie Comedy Tour” and “Funny & Alone Tour.” The multi-faceted entertainer unites his signature clean comedy with some inspirational stories for the limited run.

The radio and TV personality is also a two-time No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Bare Bones: I’m Not Lonely If You’re Reading This Book and Fail Until You Don’t: Fight Grind Repeat. He is set to release his first children’s book, Stanley The Dog: The First Day of School, on June 14.

Ernest Breaks Into Top 10 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Ernest. Photo: Delaney Royer

Singer-songwriter Ernest enters the top 10 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week, moving up four spots to No. 8. Ernest is a co-writer on Morgan Wallen’s “Wasted On You,” Jelly Roll’s “Son Of A Sinner,” and his own country tune, “Flower Shops.”

Eric Church remains at the pinnacle of the chart this week with “Heart On Fire” still burning up the charts. Because he is the only writer on “Heart On Fire,” all of the points earned from the song’s airplay, digital download track sales, and streams go entirely to Church on the Songwriter Chart.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

CRB Unveils Members Of 2023 CRS Agenda Committee

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Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc has announced the members of its 2022-2023 CRS Agenda Committee.

Steering this year’s Committee are Joey Tack (WLHK/Indianapolis) as Chairman and Brent Michaels (KUZZ/Bakersfield) as Vice-Chair. Both have served in leadership positions on the 2021-2022 agenda committee but have swapped the roles in which they previously held.

“We’re thrilled with this year’s diverse group of professionals from all corners of the country music industry! I’m confident this superb team will meet the challenge and continue building on the last 53 years of CRS excellence,” Tack offers.

The committee includes Zena Burns (Futuri), Michael Chase (WMN), Emily Cohen Belote (Amazon Music), Beville Dunkerley (SiriusXM/Pandora), Karina Farias-Dey (Edison Research), Tim Foisset (Warner Music Nashville), Alek Halverson (iHeart Media), Shelley Hargis-Gaines (Broken Bow Records), Krista Hayes (Cumulus Nashville), Mason Meyer (Rubber City Radio), Nicole Michalik (Beasley Media), Tommy Moore (ACM), Ashley Morrison (Cox Media Group), Nick Steele (Audacy), Jesse Tack (Hubbard/Cincinnati) and Monta Vaden (Country Aircheck).

The CRS 2022-2023 Agenda Committee consists of volunteer professionals from all sectors of the country radio, streaming, and record industries. The committee is responsible for planning events for the upcoming year’s CRS.

CRS will return in 2023 from March 13-15 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Registration for next year’s event will open later this year.

BREAKING: Sony Music Nashville Ups Lauren Thomas, Shane Allen Announces Exit

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Lauren Thomas. Photo: Matthew Berinato

Steve Hodges, Executive Vice President of Promotion & Artist Development at Sony Music Nashville, has announced the promotion of Lauren Thomas to Vice President, Promotion & Artist Development, Columbia Nashville.

Thomas will take on the role previously held by Shane Allen, who announced he will be exiting the company after six years at the helm of the Columbia Nashville promotion team. Thomas’ promotion is effective immediately, and Allen will remain at the label group until the end of May.

“When Shane informed me that he wanted to pursue another chapter in his professional career, LT was the obvious first choice candidate,” says Hodges. “There could not be a more qualified and passionate person for this job than her! For the past seven years I’ve watched LT grow into one of the most successful and well-liked professionals I have ever worked with.” He continues, “I am elated that she will be the future leader of the Columbia Nashville Promotion & Artist Development team.”

“I am tremendously honored to be part of the Columbia Nashville team and the long-standing legacy of the imprint,” shares Thomas. “Thank you to Randy Goodman, Steve and Shane for the opportunity I have had to grow and learn under your leadership. In addition, I am so grateful to the entire SMN team for your constant belief and inspiration.”

Thomas first joined Sony Music Nashville in October 2009 as National Promotion Coordinator for Arista Nashville. Within a year, she was promoted to Regional Promotion Manager for the imprint, and, in 2016, named Director of Promotion for Sony Music Nashville. In 2020, Thomas was promoted again to VP, National Promotion.

Reach Thomas at lauren.thomas@sonymusic.com.