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!”

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.

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.

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.

Morgan Wallen. Photo: David Lehr

Morgan Wallen tops the charts this week with the release of his newest single, “Don’t Think Jesus.” The new track racked up 17 million first week streams, making it the top country streaming song this week and fifth all-genre, according to Luminate data.

Wallen also takes the No. 2 spot on the top country streaming songs chart as “Wasted On You” earns 6.9 million streams. He appears twice on the top country albums chart, coming in at No. 1 with Dangerous: The Double Album gaining 51K in total consumption (1.6K album only/61 million streams) and No. 5 with If I Know Me adding 17K in total consumption.

Elsewhere on the albums chart, Luke Combs maintains his place at No. 2 as What You See Is What You Get earns 19K in total consumption. He moves into No. 3 with This One’s For You gaining 17K in total consumption. Taylor Swift‘s Red (Taylor’s Version) falls one spot to No. 4, adding 17K in total consumption, according to Luminate data.

“AA” (Walker Hayes) drops down one spot to No. 3 on the country songs chart as the single gains 6.4 million streams. “Til You Can’t” (Cody Johnson) also falls one spot to No. 4 as it earns 6.1 million streams. “Doin This” (Combs) seals the top five with 6.1 million streams.