Sony Music Nashville Sr. VP of Media and Corporate Communications, Allen Brown, has announced he will retire after 43 years in the music industry.

Brown worked for CBS Records and Sony Music Nashville or directly with artists who were signed to these label groups for over 38 years. He first shared the news of his retirement with the Sony Music Nashville staff at a dinner in the rotunda of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, where Brown once served as a tour guide.

In an emailed statement, Brown said, “I could spend all my remaining time after retirement thanking everyone who has helped, encouraged, mentored and been there for me these past several years! I am so blessed to have worked with and known you!”

It is not clear whether Brown’s position will be replaced.

2x Grammy-winner Natalie Hemby will appear as a special guest on Alicia Keys‘ upcoming world tour stop at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater on Sept. 24. Hemby wrote three songs on Keys new Keys album.

“This is so beyond my wildest dreams, opening for someone I’ve loved since I first heard her music,” says Hemby. “I’m such a fan of [Alicia Keys], and she is such a kind friend letting me open her last show for her in Nashville.”

Outside of her collaborations with Keys, she has written music for superstars such as Lady Gaga, Kacey Musgraves, Ed Sheeran, Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, Brothers Osborne, and more. She is also a founding member of female supergroup The Highwomen alongside Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile and Amanda Shires.

Hemby will also join Morris on her “Humble Quest Tour” starting Aug. 10 at Huntington Bank Pavillion in Chicago, and wrapping in Milwaukee on Aug. 13 at BMO Harris Pavillion. For a full list of Hemby’s upcoming tour dates, click here.

Mojo Music & Media has acquired a stake in the writer share, artist and record royalties of legendary writer, artist and actor Jerry Reed, as well as 50% interest in the publishing catalog of acclaimed songwriter Bob Morrison. Mojo previously owned Reed’s publishing catalog, so this additional acquisition will allow them complete control of the icon’s legacy of works.

In the three years that Mojo has owned Reed’s publishing catalog, the company’s creative team has landed multiple syncs including “I Feel For You” in NBC’s Good Girls, “East Bound And Down” in a national advertising campaign for Hyundai, and “When You’re Hot You’re Hot” in summer season spots for Chevrolet. The string of placements will continue into this spring and summer with “When You’re Hot You’re Hot” and “East Bound And Down” featured in Nissan’s NCAA March Madness spots, deep cut “I Shoulda Stayed Home” featured in the A24 thriller X, and “Guitar Man” appearing in Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming Elvis biopic.

The Morrison deal brings 76 country and pop chart singles including such standards as Johnny Lee’s “Lookin’ For Love,” Kenny Rogers’ “Love The World Away,” Conway Twitty’s “Don’t Call Him A Cowboy,” Highway 101’s “Whiskey If You Were A Woman,” and The Chicks’ “Tonight The Heartache’s On Me.” The Reed acquisition features 50 charting singles spanning three decades including “Amos Moses,” “Guitar Man,” “A Thing Called Love,” “When You’re Hot You’re Hot” and “East Bound And Down.”

“Our joint venture with Bob Morrison and 360 legacy deal with Jerry Reed’s daughters underscore Mojo’s commitment to partnering with the most beloved and influential songwriters and writer/artists in every genre,” comments Mojo’s Co-Founder and CEO, Mark Fried. “Bob and Jerry, through their envelope-pushing writing, musicianship and drive, helped country music win millions of new fans and expand its influence in film and television and we’re proud to have already begun revitalizing their songs and amplifying their collective achievements.”

Morrison shares, “I’ve had the good fortune to work with great music people. I have the same feeling about the folks at Mojo. They’re real song fans, we’ve got a true partnership, and I’m really excited about the adventure we’re about to go on.”

Lottie Zavala, Reed’s daughter, adds, “[My sister] Seidina and I are extremely grateful to Mark and everyone at Mojo for loving Dad and wanting to keep his music and memory alive. It means the world to us! And we couldn’t be more excited about all the media projects we’re working on together to make sure his songs and story continue to entertain and inspire future fans.”

Texas-born singer-songwriter Koe Wetzel has quietly built a substantial following since he started releasing his signature blend of country, grunge rock, and Americana music.

Wetzel’s influences range from country mainstays such as Johnny Cash, George Jones and Willie Nelson, to rap icons The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac and 50 Cent, to grunge pioneers Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden and Nirvana. The cornucopia of Wetzel’s musical taste had created a unique sound that fans crave. Favorites among his catalog are “Drunk Driving,” “Something to Talk About,” and “Good Die Young,” all of which Wetzel wrote himself.

Since 2015, Wetzel has quietly sold over 200,000 units, garnered 100 million streams and views, and went from playing dingy bars to headlining festivals in Texas. He made Pollstar’s Top Worldwide Tours in 2020 and 2021, and sold over 120,000 tickets last year alone.

In 2017, Wetzel released his debut album Noise Complaint, which lit his career aflame. Fans relished in the rowdy spirit and distinctive sound found on “February 28, 2016” (48.6 million Spotify streams), “Something To Talk About” (45.4 million Spotify streams), “Love” (31.2 million Spotify streams), and “Fuss & Fight” (26.7 million Spotify streams). Playing four nights a week throughout Texas and Oklahoma, Wetzel’s shows started to sell out—without the support of a label, agent, or any traditional team members.

After following up Noise Complaint with 2019’s Harold Saul High, which produced one of Wetzel’s most popular tunes “Kuntry & Wistern,” the singer aligned with Columbia Records in 2020 and released his third LP, Sellout.

“Most everybody in the Texas and red dirt scene does the same thing,” Wetzel says when asked about his DIY beginnings. “We were on the road for eight or nine years before we signed with Columbia. There was a long time period before we even signed a record deal that everything was all grassroots, all completely us. We decided [to sign because] there’s only so much you can do for so long until you need somebody else’s help. We weren’t ashamed to say that.”

Like many from the Texas music scene, Wetzel admits there was a bit of backlash from fans when it came to signing on the dotted line to be a major label artist. That’s why he named his first project with the label Sellout.

“We got a lot of hate when we came on the scene with Noise Complaint because our music is not your normal stuff. It’s not what country music fans are used to listening to,” Wetzel admits. “So we grew this solid fan base and they helped to get us to where we were [when we signed]. We were selling out rooms across the US, and that was all because of the fans. Whenever somebody from Texas or the red dirt music scene signs with a major label, the fans feel like, ‘He has sold out. He is not going to make the same music anymore.’

“[The truth is] Columbia let us take the reins and do it how we wanted to. I decided if [some fans] were going to think that way, then we’re going to call the record Sellout and hopefully that will give them insight on how we haven’t changed.”

Not only does Wetzel’s disruptive attitude and the refreshing blend of his musical influences draw fans in, but his witty online persona keeps them coming back. He’s not afraid to poke fun at himself, and there’s a special camaraderie with his fans through his presence on social media.

“I usually just tweet whenever I’m drunk, so whatever comes out, comes out,” Wetzel quips. “People seem to like it. I usually don’t wake up and just hop on Twitter and just start tweeting. It’s more like I wake up in the morning, like, ‘Holy, shit. What did I tweet?'”

But even with his major label deal and rapidly growing success, Wetzel doesn’t have any plans of leaving his roots in Texas.

“I’ll stay in Texas,” he says. “Nothing against Nashville, I love Nashville. I go there to write every now and then. I’ve got a lot of friends in Nashville, like Ernest, Hardy, Jelly Roll, and Parker McCollum, but I’ll stay in Texas.

“We just finished our new record, Hell Paso. Once we got off the road in July, we’re going start our new country record so I’m sure I’ll be up in Nashville a little bit more to write and do some collabs with some of the guys up there.”

Wetzel just released his brand new single, “April Showers.” The music video, directed by John Park, stars Wetzel enjoying his last day on earth.

Wetzel is currently on a 32-date headlining tour, making it’s stop in Franklin on Thursday night (April 21) at the FirstBank Amphitheater. Tickets for tonight’s show are still available here.

The Grammy Museum is hosting a new Power Of Women In Country Music exhibit highlighting the past, present and future of country’s greatest female trailblazers. The exhibit launches May 27 and will run through Oct. 2.

The Power Of Women In Country Music explores the rich history of women as a driving force in country music. The exhibit will take visitors on a journey through the history of women in country, from the early years and post-World War II, to the emergence of Nashville as a country music mecca, and to female country artists becoming international pop sensations.

International superstars, including Dolly Parton, Rosanne Cash, LeAnn Rimes, Shania Twain, and Taylor Swift; as well as contemporary artists, such as Mickey Guyton, Rissi Palmer, Leah Turner, Carly Pearce and more will be featured in the new exhibit.

“I was thrilled to have my very own exhibit at the Grammy Museum a few years ago,” shares Parton. “They are fantastic at bringing music memorabilia to the fans. So, of course I wanted to support the Women In Country exhibit. I hope you enjoy a little glimpse into my world, from one country fan to another.”

“I am so inspired by the fearlessness, creativity and resilience of these artists,” adds Kelsey Goelz, Grammy Museum’s Associate Curator and curator of the exhibit. “Each generation of women in country music has paved the way for the next, and now, they’re headlining festivals, winning Grammys, and breaking streaming records.”

Additionally, LeAnn Rimes is scheduled for a special Public Program moderated by Marissa R. Moss, author of Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be, to celebrate the new exhibit on May 31.