Music Health Alliance To Host 1st Annual ‘Coulda Shoulda Woulda’ Benefit

Music Health Alliance (MHA) is holding its first annual “Coulda Shoulda Woulda” event to benefit the Nashville-based non-profit on April 19 at Nashville’s City Winery. Songwriters Hardy, Randy Montana, Hunter Phelps and Jameson Rodgers are set to join in an evening of stories and songs at 6:30 p.m. CT with SiriusXM’s Storme Warren hosting.

The night of music will showcase the artists in the round performing songs that “coulda, shoulda, woulda” been a smash, along with their biggest hits. Additionally, a rare autographed vinyl collection will be available for silent auction at the event.

“So many songs are truly remarkable but end up forgotten in the back of a drawer or placed on hold and never recorded,” shares Grammy-winning songwriter and MHA board member, Liz Rose. “Guests will get to hear some never-heard-before songs and ones that got away… the ‘coulda, shoulda, woulda’ songs from some of today’s biggest hitmakers.”

Tables start at $1,000 and are available now by contacting events@musichealthalliance.com.

For every $1 donation, MHA is able to provide $30 in life-saving healthcare resources to Heal The Music. The team assists music industry professionals with the entire spectrum of their healthcare needs, ranging from assistance with medical bills or physical and mental health guidance including finding doctors or medicine, finding financial grants while recovering from a serious health issue, affordable health insurance, or answers to Medicare questions.

Nominees Announced For Seventh Annual AIMP Awards

The Nashville Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) has announced the nominees for its seventh annual AIMP Awards, which will take place on April 19 from 4 – 6 p.m. CT at The Listening Room Café.

The awards event will open to nominees only, in person, but will be available for livestream at no cost to local members. Access to the livestream will be available for purchase for $6.00 to non-members and AIMP members in chapters outside of the Nashville community.

This year’s categories consist of Rising Songwriter of the Year, Rising Artist-Writer of the Year, Artist-Writer of the Year, Song Champion of the Year, Publisher’s Pick of the Year, Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Publisher of the Year.

The most nominated independent publisher this year is SMACKSongs, who takes home nine nominations. Big Machine Music follows with six, and Round Hill Music and Curb | Word Music Publishing both have four. Michael Hardy, who was just named ACM Songwriter of the Year, leads as most nominated individual with four nominations.

Voting for all AIMP Nashville Chapter members will begin today (March 15) and ballots will close at 5 p.m. CT on March 21. See the full list of nominees below:

AIMP Rising Songwriter Of The Year
– Brinley Addington (Spirit Music)
– Sara Davis (Big Machine Music)
– Josh Jenkins (SMACKSongs)
– John Morgan (Play It Again Music Group)
– Brett Tyler (Combustion Music)
– Dallas Wilson (Riser House Entertainment)

AIMP Rising Artist-Writer Of The Year
– Tenille Arts (Noble Vision Music)
– Callista Clark (Big Machine Music)
– Hannah Ellis (Curb | Word Music Publishing)
– Dylan Marlowe (Play It Again Music Group)
– Kylie Morgan (SMACKSongs)
– CJ Solar (Edgehill Music)

AIMP Artist-Writer Of The Year
– Jimmie Allen (Endurance Music)
– Lee Brice (Play It Again Music Group)
– HARDY (Relative Music)
– Walker Hayes (SMACKSongs/Rare Spark Media Group)
– Ryan Hurd (Big Machine Music)
– Morgan Wallen (Big Loud)

Song Champion Of The Year
– Jake Gear (Hang Your Hat Music)
– Lee Krabel (SMACKSongs)
– Cris Lacy (Warner Music)
– Colt Murski (Curb | Word Music Publishing)
– Ciara Shortridge (Curb | Word Records)
– Trina Smith-Dort (MeGusta Music)

AIMP Songwriter Of The Year
– Corey Crowder
– Jesse Frasure
– Ashley Gorley
– Michael Hardy
– Hunter Phelps
– Jonathan Singleton

AIMP Publisher Of The Year
– Big Loud Publishing
– Big Machine Music
– Kobalt Music
– Round Hill Music
– SMACKSongs
– Spirit Music

AIMP Publisher’s Pick Of The Year
– “Bigger Man” written by Joy Oladokun, Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz – Prescription Songs/Heroes and Halos Music/JRM Publishing/Round Hill Music/Big Machine Music – recorded by Joy Oladokun and Maren Morris

– “Briefcase” written by Walker Hayes, Lori McKenna – SMACKSongs/Rare Spark Media Group /Concord Music Publishing/Creative Nation – recorded by Walker Hayes

– “Miles” written by Luke Preston, Elvie Shane, John Sherwood – Anthem Entertainment/Little Louder Publishing/Rome Phrey Publishing – recorded by Elvie Shane

– “Over You is You” written by Tenille Arts, Matt Stell, Ben Stennis, Alex Kline – Young Guns Publishing/Kobalt Music /Noble Vision Music/Endurance Music/Sheltered Music Publishing – recorded by Matt Stell and Tenille Arts

– “Truth About You” written by Matt Alderman, Mitchell Tenpenny, Thomas Archer – Curb | Word Music Publishing/MV2 Entertainment/Riser House Entertainment – recorded by Mitchell Tenpenny

– “Younger Me” written by TJ Osborne, John Osborne, Kendell Marvel – King Pen Music/Concord Music Publishing- recorded by Brothers Osborne

AIMP Song Of The Year
– “Abcdefu” written by GAYLE, Dave Pittenger, Sara Davis – Big Yellow Dog/Art House Entertainment/Big Machine Music – recorded by GAYLE

– “Buy Dirt” written by Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins, Jacob Davis – Anthem Entertainment/SMACKSongs/Combustion Music – recorded by Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan

– “Chasing After You” written by Brinley Addington and Jerry Flowers – Mojo Music/Anthem Entertainment- recorded by Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd

– “half of my hometown” written by Kelsea Ballerini, Shane McAnally, Jimmy Robbins, Nicolle Galyon, Ross Copperman – SMACKSongs/Tempo Investments/JRM Publishing/Round Hill Music

– “Sand In My Boots” written by Michael Hardy, Josh Osborne, Ashley Gorley – Relative Music/SMACKSongs/Round Hill Music – recorded by Morgan Wallen

– “Til You Can’t” written by Ben Stennis and Matt Rogers – Young Guns Publishing/Anthem Entertainment – recorded by Cody Johnson

CMHOF Promotes Five Staff Members, Adds Historian

Pictured (L-R, top row): Joe Bridges, Grace Cavanaugh, and Patrick Huber; (L-R, bottom row): Paige Maillet, Aubrey Miller, and Kayla Zabosek

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has promoted five staff members to associate director or director roles across five departments. The museum also recently welcomed Patrick Huber as historian-editor.

Huber recently joined the museum as Historian and Editor in the museum services department. In this role, he will contribute to exhibitions, museum publications, public programs and other educational initiatives that document and interpret the history of country music and the genre’s contributions to American culture. Huber is professor emeritus of Missouri University of Science and Technology, where he taught U.S. history for more than 20 years and won more than a dozen campus teaching and research awards. He is the author or editor of six books and has earned numerous awards and national recognition for research and documentation of country, blues and bluegrass history.

Grace Cavanaugh has been promoted to Associate Director of Event Services and Catering. She oversees the event services team, which manages more than 1,000 private and internal events annually. Since joining the museum in 2015, Cavanaugh has served as Event Services and Catering Manager and, most recently, Senior Event Services and Catering Manager. With more than 13 years of experience in the event industry, she previously worked with Sodexo.

Paige Maillet has been named Associate Director of Guest Relations. She oversees all aspects of the visitor experience for the museum, Hatch Show Print and Historic RCA Studio B tours, as well as other publicly ticketed events and programs. Her oversight includes box office sales, information and membership desks, greeters, tour guides, reservationists and ushers. During her seven-year tenure with the museum, Maillet has served as Guest Relations Specialist, Guest Relations Coordinator, Assistant Reservations Manager, Reservations Manager and most recently Ticketing Services and Reservations Manager.

Aubrey Miller has been promoted to Director of Public Relations. In this role, she develops and implements public relations and media relations strategies, as well as executes external communications campaigns for museum initiatives, including exhibitions, public and family programming, education programs, development and community outreach efforts, along with museum-operated Hatch Show Print and Historic RCA Studio B. Miller previously served as Public Relations Manager and most recently Senior Manager of Public Relations. Prior to joining the museum staff in 2019, she served as Senior Manager of Public Relations and Video/Photo Production for the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Kayla Zakosek has been named Associate Director of Retail. In her new role, she helps oversee the retail stores and develop strategies to drive sales that provide key operating revenue for the museum. Her oversight includes operation of four stores featuring merchandise for the museum and Hatch Show Print. Zakosek joined the museum in 2019 as Store Manager. She previously held the position of Retail Store Manager at the United Center in Chicago.

Joe Bridges has been promoted to Associate Director of Security. He is responsible for a safe working environment for staff, visitors and guests during all hours and events. His job entails maintaining and enforcing security policies and procedures; providing security for the buildings, artifacts and other company assets; and overseeing daily security operations, among other duties. Bridges previously served as Senior Security Manager.

Kristian Bush Explores Parallels Across His Musical Career On ’52 – The Podcast’

Kristian Bush

Grammy-winning entertainer Kristian Bush and country music journalist Cindy Watts have teamed up to present 52 – The Podcast.

The pair will explore the parallels between popular songs from Bush’s back catalog and the new tracks from his four-volume release 52, whose first installment 52 – ATL X BNA lands March 25 via Big Machine Records.

The multi-instrumentalist offers insight into the songwriting process, his day-to-day life and the journey that took him from his hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee, to Atlanta, Nashville, and around the world as part of his various bands, including Sugarland.

“The only thing better than listening to music is listening to music with someone else,” Bush shares. “I met Cindy years ago–me writing songs and her writing about songs. Somewhere along the way, we discovered we were both from the same tiny hometown and have been friends ever since. This podcast is like the liner notes I always wish I had, with the person that I always wished had written them.”

The first episode of 52 – The Podcast is available now on all podcast platforms. Original episodes will be released for free every week for 52 weeks as a companion to his upcoming 52-song project.

Parker McCollum Scores Second No. 1 With ‘To Be Loved By You’

Parker McCollum. Photo: Chris Kleinmeier

Parker McCollum, the freshly crowned ACM New Male Artist of the Year, has landed his second consecutive No. 1 on both the Billboard and Mediabase charts with “To Be Loved By You.”

McCollum’s major label debut Hollywood Gold, which was released last fall, became the top-selling debut country EP of 2020, and earned the Texas native his first No. 1 with the Platinum-selling debut single, “Pretty Heart.”

He also recently made a childhood dream come true by performing to a sold-out crowd at the famed RodeoHouston, selling over 73,000 tickets.

“It’ll be years before I truly look back and realize what happened this week,” shares McCollum. “I was nervous that all my hard work and sacrifice wouldn’t be worth it in the long run. Well, after selling out RodeoHouston and having my second No. 1 I can assure you all–it was damn worth it. Every single last bit of it was worth it.”

Gable Bradley Signs With Big Yellow Dog Music

Gable Bradley. Photo: Courtesy of Shore Fire Media

Gable Bradley has signed with Big Yellow Dog Music. The singer-songwriter’s upcoming EP, Born Ready, is due out May 6, with the project’s lead single, “Spade,” available now.

“Sometimes things are only meant for a little while, and that’s okay,” shares Bradley. “This song is about soaking up the journey… two runaway hearts looking for love. I think everyone can relate to that.”

Growing up in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Bradley developed an early love for playing music when his mom enrolled him in piano lessons in third grade. At 17, he began teaching himself guitar, and later began playing bars at colleges across the southeast.

In 2016, he moved to Nashville and worked blue collar jobs while immersing himself in the creative community, eventually landing at Big Yellow Dog.

Born Ready Track List:
1. “Just Another Night” (Gable Bradley, Daniel Agee, Blake Chaffin)
2. You Always Do” (Bradley, Daniel Agee, Jason Nix)
3. “Muscle Car” (Bradley, Danny Myrick)
4. “Spade” (Bradley, Jon Stark, Lydia Vaughan)
5. “Born Ready” (Bradley, Will Bundy, Josh Miller)
Produced by Daniel Agee

Mike Whelan Joins Round Hill As Sr. VP / General Manager [Exclusive]

Mike Whelan

Music publishing veteran Mike Whelan has joined Round Hill Music as Sr. VP / General Manager. The news follows publishing executive Mark Brown‘s exit from the same role.

Whelan brings with him 35 years of publishing experience, including stints with Polygram Music, Acuff-Rose Publishing, Sony/ATV Publishing and Ole Music. He most recently served as Sr. Creative Director at MV2 Entertainment.

Whelan has worked with writers Bob McDill, Dean Dillon, Tony Martin, Skip Ewing, Casey Beathard, Jordan Davis, Adam Hambrick and more. As a plugger he has had over 85 BMI and ASCAP award-winning songs—40 of which have topped the charts.

Now at Round Hill, Whelan will work alongside Bob Squance, Sr. Director A&R, and Lindsay Will, Manager of A&R. The company’s roster includes a diverse group of writers, including hitmaker Jimmy Robbins.

“Round Hill has been here for 10 years. We’ve come a long way in a short time. I want to help Round Hill grow and continue the success that they’ve already had,” Whelan tells MusicRow. “Get ready for Round Hill 2.0. We’ve got some incredible plans and some great things coming in the future.”

Reach Whelan at mwhelan@roundhillmusic.com.

Craig Morgan Shares His Life Story In Upcoming Memoir ‘God, Family, Country’

Craig Morgan. Photo: Nate Griffin

Craig Morgan is sharing his story in his new memoir, God, Family, Country, due out from Blackstone Publishing on Sept. 27.

Written by Morgan with Jim DeFelice, the new book sheds light on Morgan’s life as a country star, TV personality, and military operative, and reveals personal stories about his time working alongside the CIA as a soldier in Panama or fighting sex traffickers as an undercover agent in Thailand.

Morgan has charted 25 songs on Billboard during his country career, which has yielded hits like “Redneck Yacht Club,” “Almost Home,” and the four-week No. 1, “That’s What I Love About Sunday.” In 2008, he was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

The hardworking artist has also always possessed an unwavering duty to country. In 2006, as “That’s What I Love about Sunday” topped the country charts, Morgan was riding in a convoy of Humvees in Iraq. An avid outdoorsman, a former sheriff’s deputy who’s still a member of the auxiliary, and always a husband and father first, he has lived his life by the deepest values: God, family, country.

Morgan spent seventeen years serving in the Army and Army Reserves and remains an avid supporter of America’s military, making 16 overseas trips to perform for our troops. He’s a recipient of the 2006 USO Merit Award and in 2018 was awarded the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Medal in recognition of his significant dedication to our military men and women around the world.

In addition to his forthcoming memoir, Morgan will also put his survival skills learned in the military to work in the new TV series Beyond The Edge which premieres March 16 on CBS as he competes for Operation Finally Home, which provides custom-built, mortgage-free homes to wounded veterans and their families.

Brothers Osborne, Brandi Carlile Among First Round Of Grammy Performers

Brothers Osborne, Brandi Carlile

The first slate of artists scheduled to perform at this year’s 64th Annual Grammy Awards have been revealed. Among them will be current nominees Brothers Osborne, Brandi Carlile, BTS, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X with Jack Harlow, and Olivia Rodrigo.

Representing Nashville, Brothers Osborne received two Grammy nominations this year for Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“Younger Me”) and Best Country Album (Skeletons).

Meanwhile, 6x Grammy winner Carlile is nominated for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Right On Time,” for Song Of The Year for (“A Beautiful Noise” with Alicia Keys), and for Best American Roots Performance for “Same Devil.”

Elsewhere, BTS are up for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Butter”), and 7x Grammy winner Eilish received seven nominations this year: Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Music Video for “Happier Than Ever,” as well as Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for Happier Than Ever, and Best Music Film (Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter To Los Angeles).

Two-time Grammy winner Lil Nas X is nominated for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best Music Video for “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” Album Of The Year (Montero), and Best Melodic Rap Performance (“Industry Baby”). Harlow has two nominations this year for his work on Montero, in the categories of Best Melodic Rap Performance and Album Of The Year.

First-time nominee Rodrigo is up for seven awards: Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Drivers License,” Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for SOUR, Best New Artist, and Best Music Video for “Good 4 U.”

This year’s Grammy Awards will broadcast live on CBS from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 3 at 7 p.m. CT . Hosted by Trevor Noah, the show will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

‘May We All: A New Country Musical’ Reveals First Round Of Special Guests For This Summer

May We All: A New Country Musical, co-produced by Florida Georgia Line‘s Brian Kelley, has unveiled the first round of dates for its all-star rotating lineup of guest artists running from June 7-25. Another round of dates are expected to be announced in the coming weeks for guest artists including Kelley, Chris Ruediger, Cooper Alan, and Nick Fradiani, among others.

Stepping into the role of Bailey Stone, the multi-week roster slated to perform at Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville includes Alana Springsteen, Angie K, Alexandra Kay, Breland, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Canaan Smith, Danielle Bradbery, Jamie O’Neal, Lainey Wilson, Lindsay Ell, LoCash, RaeLynn, Robyn Ottolini, Scarlett Burke, Sydney Sierota, Thomas Mac, Tigirlily, and Trent Harmon.

May We All follows the story of Jenna Coates, a small-town girl whose big-city singing career is over before it begins, and how she returns to the people and the places of her past to find a path to the future. However, lot has changed in Harmony, Tennessee, since Jenna left and not necessarily for the better. If Jenna and her hometown are going to dig themselves out of their current crises, they’re going to need each other and music.

The production boasts a score of fan-favorites from Brooks & Dunn, Chris Stapleton, Dolly Parton, Florida Georgia Line, Jessica Andrews, Johnny Cash, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Little Big Town, LoCash, Loretta Lynn, Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, Reba McEntire, Runaway June, Sara Evans, Tim McGraw, and Zac Brown Band. Two original songs co-written by Kelley and FGL duo-mate Tyler Hubbard will debut exclusively as part of the musical.

May We All: A New Country Musical Dates:
June 7 | LoCash
June 8 | Breland
June 9 | Jamie O’Neal
June 10 | Robyn Ottolini
June 11 | Thomas Mac and Alana Springsteen *
June 12 | Caleb Lee Hutchinson and Alexandra Kay *
June 14 | Lainey Wilson
June 16 | Danielle Bradbery
June 17 | Sydney Sierota
June 18 | Angie K and Scarlett Burke *
June 21 | Trent Harmon
June 22 | Lindsay Ell
June 23 | Tigirlily
June 24 | RaeLynn
June 25 | Canaan Smith
*Two performances

Tickets are available now via TPAC.org, by phone at 615-782-4040, or at the TPAC Box Office.