Big Machine Music Songwriters & Staff. Photo: Courtesy of Big Machine Music
Big Machine Music recently celebrated their 2025 accolades, which included industry awards, new RIAA certifications, GRAMMY nominations and more.
The independent publisher took home 2025 AIMP Nashville Publisher of the Year, earned Mediabase and Billboard’s No. 1 Most Played Song of the Year with “High Road” (Koe Wetzel, Jessie Murph – co-written by Laura Veltz), SESAC’s Song of the Year and CMA Song of the Year nominee “Am I Okay?” (Megan Moroney – co-written by Jessie Jo Dillion), and AIMP Nashville Song of the Year “The Painter” (Cody Johnson – co-written by Benjy Davis).
“To say I am proud of all our songwriters and team is an understatement,” said Mike Molinar, President of BMM. “On behalf of myself and the BMM team, it is a privilege to represent such world class songwriters and to be a part of helping their songs make such a tremendous impact.”
Veltz and Dillon garnered two of the five nominations for GRAMMY Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical for 2026. Dillon is nominated for the third consecutive year, and Veltz is nominated for the second time after being nominated in 2023. The company’s songwriters have also earned awards this year for ACM Songwriter of the Year, AIMP Songwriter of the Year, MusicRow Female Songwriter of the Year, CMA Triple Play (Jessie Jo Dillon), NSAI Songs I Wish I’d Written (Daniel Ross, Jessie Jo Dillon), ASCAP Most-Performed Country Songs of the Year (George Birge, Matt Dragstrem) and BMI Most-Performed Songs of the Year (Jessie Jo Dillon, Geoff Warburton, Laura Veltz, Daniel Ross, Justin Moore).
Boasting 13 of Country Aircheck’s Top 100 Most Played Songs of 2025, Big Machine Music also achieved five Airplay No. 1 songs, bringing their total to 65 No. 1 hits. Additionally, they added 36 new RIAA Platinum and Multi-Platinum certifications to their overall tally this year, with “She Got the Best of Me” (Luke Combs) and “Heartless” (Diplo feat. Morgan Wallen) reaching Diamond certification status. With this addition, Big Machine Music now holds 6 of the current all-time Diamond-certified country songs.
Sync placement also played into the publisher’s big year, including placements for Uber Eats x March Madness (“INDUSTRY BABY” – Nick Lee), Uber x Game Day (“INDUSTRY BABY” – Nick Lee), Kelsea Ballerini x SoFi (“Baggage” – Jessie Jo Dillon) and Jackson Dean x T-Mobile Friday Night Lights (“Turn On The Lights” – Jackson Dean & Jessie Jo Dillon). Additionally, tracks from songwriters were featured in hit TV shows including The White Lotus, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Nobody Wants This, Countdown and Tulsa King.
Big Machine Music Celebrates 2025 Accolades
/by Madison HahnenBig Machine Music Songwriters & Staff. Photo: Courtesy of Big Machine Music
Big Machine Music recently celebrated their 2025 accolades, which included industry awards, new RIAA certifications, GRAMMY nominations and more.
The independent publisher took home 2025 AIMP Nashville Publisher of the Year, earned Mediabase and Billboard’s No. 1 Most Played Song of the Year with “High Road” (Koe Wetzel, Jessie Murph – co-written by Laura Veltz), SESAC’s Song of the Year and CMA Song of the Year nominee “Am I Okay?” (Megan Moroney – co-written by Jessie Jo Dillion), and AIMP Nashville Song of the Year “The Painter” (Cody Johnson – co-written by Benjy Davis).
“To say I am proud of all our songwriters and team is an understatement,” said Mike Molinar, President of BMM. “On behalf of myself and the BMM team, it is a privilege to represent such world class songwriters and to be a part of helping their songs make such a tremendous impact.”
Veltz and Dillon garnered two of the five nominations for GRAMMY Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical for 2026. Dillon is nominated for the third consecutive year, and Veltz is nominated for the second time after being nominated in 2023. The company’s songwriters have also earned awards this year for ACM Songwriter of the Year, AIMP Songwriter of the Year, MusicRow Female Songwriter of the Year, CMA Triple Play (Jessie Jo Dillon), NSAI Songs I Wish I’d Written (Daniel Ross, Jessie Jo Dillon), ASCAP Most-Performed Country Songs of the Year (George Birge, Matt Dragstrem) and BMI Most-Performed Songs of the Year (Jessie Jo Dillon, Geoff Warburton, Laura Veltz, Daniel Ross, Justin Moore).
Boasting 13 of Country Aircheck’s Top 100 Most Played Songs of 2025, Big Machine Music also achieved five Airplay No. 1 songs, bringing their total to 65 No. 1 hits. Additionally, they added 36 new RIAA Platinum and Multi-Platinum certifications to their overall tally this year, with “She Got the Best of Me” (Luke Combs) and “Heartless” (Diplo feat. Morgan Wallen) reaching Diamond certification status. With this addition, Big Machine Music now holds 6 of the current all-time Diamond-certified country songs.
Sync placement also played into the publisher’s big year, including placements for Uber Eats x March Madness (“INDUSTRY BABY” – Nick Lee), Uber x Game Day (“INDUSTRY BABY” – Nick Lee), Kelsea Ballerini x SoFi (“Baggage” – Jessie Jo Dillon) and Jackson Dean x T-Mobile Friday Night Lights (“Turn On The Lights” – Jackson Dean & Jessie Jo Dillon). Additionally, tracks from songwriters were featured in hit TV shows including The White Lotus, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Nobody Wants This, Countdown and Tulsa King.
Results Global Adds Two To Agency Team
/by Lauryn SinkKelly Ridgway & Abbey Kovacevich.
Results Global, a Nashville-based full-service marketing agency, has added Kelly Ridgway and Abbey Kovacevich to its team.
Ridgway joins as Global Marketing Lead/Head of NYC Office. She most recently served as VP of Global Marketing at CTK Enterprises. At CTK, Ridgway has contributed to two Clio-winning campaigns, including Dolly Parton’s TikTok launch and Rockstar album campaign. Previously, she was US General Manager at WMA, leading award-winning digital campaigns for Republic Records and Celine Dion. She has been active in shesaid.so, previously co-directing its NY chapter and appearing in its 2019 Alternative Power List. She serves on the board of Music Will, is a member of the Recording Academy and CMA, and has previously mentored at SXSW, NYU, and as part of various student leadership programs. Ridgway can be reached here.
Kovacevich joins as Manager, Marketing and Communications. She is a graduate of Miami University, where she earned her degree in Communications and Entrepreneurship. She began her career at Triple 7 PR, where for three years she supported and led high-profile campaigns spanning entertainment, lifestyle, and wellness. Her portfolio includes work on major events such as the MTV VMAs, the CMT Music Awards, and Scott Hamilton & Friends, in addition to numerous health and wellness initiatives and celebrity-driven projects. After her agency tenure, Kovacevich launched into a successful freelance career, partnering with clients across industries to deliver dynamic publicity and marketing support. Over the past year, she has managed campaigns for organizations including Wags & Walks, as well as various festivals, national tours, influencer initiatives, and brand collaborations. Kovacevich can be reached here.
“We are excited to further expand the Results Global team. Kelly Ridgway is transitioning from CTK Enterprises, bringing the same passion as part of the Results team. Kelly’s global marketing expertise will continue to be a wonderful contribution to an array of campaigns. And we are thrilled to formally establish our Communications division with the hiring of Abbey Kovacevich,” Results Global agency co-heads John Zarling and Jackie Campbell share in a joint statement.
Flatland Cavalry Slates ‘Spring Tour 2026’
/by Lauryn SinkFlatland Cavalry. Photo: Louie Nice
Flatland Calvary will hit the road next year on the “Spring Tour 2026” with a mix of headlining and support dates.
Kicking off February 6 in Auckland, New Zealand as support for Lainey Wilson, the headlining U.S. leg will begin on March 19 in Mobile, Alabama. The 25-date tour will hit various cities both in the US and internationally including Brisbane, Melbourne, Fort Lauderdale, Knoxville, and Richmond among others before wrapping in Indianapolis on May 9 as support for Morgan Wallen’s “Still The Problem Tour.” Throughout the tour, the group will also be playing at various festivals including Troubadour Festival and Tortuga Music Festival.
Tickets will be on sale beginning Dec. 19 following fan club presale, which begins tomorrow (Dec. 17).
Over the past two years, the band has garnered consecutive ACM Award nominations in the category of Group of the Year for both 2024 and 2025 and earned their first RIAA Gold certification for their breakout single “A Life Where We Work Out.”
2026 Tour Dates:
2/6: Auckland, NZ – Spark Arena *
2/8: Christchurch, NZ – Wolfbrook Arena *
2/11: Brisbane, QLD – Brisbane Entertainment Centre *
2/12: Brisbane, QLD – Brisbane Entertainment Centre *
2/14: Newcastle, NSW – Howlin’ Country *
2/16: Sydney, NSW – Qudos Bank Arena *
2/19: Melbourne, VIC – Rod Laver Arena *
2/20: Melbourne, VIC – Rod Laver Arena *
2/22: Adelaide, SA – Adelaide Entertainment Centre *
2/26: Perth, WA – RAC Arena *
3/19: Mobile, AL – Saenger Theatre
3/20: Baton Rouge, LA – Texas Club (Outdoors)
3/21: Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street Amphitheatre
3/28: Bryan, TX – Troubadour Festival
4/9: St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
4/10: Fort Lauderdale, FL – Tortuga Music Festival
4/11: Clearwater, FL – The BayCare Sound
4/16: Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
4/17: Richmond, VA – Allianz Amphitheater
4/18: Knoxville, TN – Knoxville Civic Auditorium
4/23: Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company
4/24: Columbia, SC – Township Auditorium
4/25: Lexington, KY – Gatton Park
4/30: Canyon, TX – The Lumberyard
5/9: Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium #
* supporting Lainey Wilson
# supporting Morgan Wallen
Whiskey Myers To Host Eighth Annual Wiggy Thump Festival In April
/by Lorie HollabaughWhiskey Myers. Photo: Khris Poage.
Whiskey Myers‘ eighth annual Wiggy Thump Festival is set for April 25 in Palestine, Texas.
Along with performances by the hometown hosts themselves, this year’s lineup also includes Stoney LaRue, The Band Feel and 79 South. The festival supports the local Anderson County Youth Livestock Association, and has raised more than $250,000 for the cause to date. Tickets are on sale now via WhiskeyMyers.com.
The festival announcement follows Whiskey Myers’ seventh studio album, Whomp Whack Thunder. Along with the 11-track album, 2025 was a packed year of live shows for the band, including their “What We Were Born To Do Tour,” the “Live in 25 Tour” co-headlined with the Tedeschi Trucks Band, the band’s personally-curated Moon Crush “Whiskey Moon” vacation in Miramar Beach, Florida, appearances at Stagecoach, Talladega Superspeedway and The Kelly Clarkson Show, and more.
In total, Whiskey Myers has sold nearly three million albums and amassed over 4.1 billion streams, while earning nine Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certifications as an independent band.
JUST IN: Morgan Wallen Becomes RIAA Highest Certified Country Artist Of All Time
/by Madison HahnenMorgan Wallen. Photo: Spidey Smith
Morgan Wallen has been named RIAA’s highest certified country artist of all time, as well as the third most-certified artist, all-genre (behind Drake and Taylor Swift for solo titles).
Wallen has amassed 239.5 million certified singles (solo + collaborations) and 26 million album certifications across his catalog. This feat also makes him the No. 2 digital singles-certified solo artist, all-genre. He received his first Gold certification in 2018 for “The Way I Talk” and “Up Down” before notching Gold for “Whiskey Glasses” in 2019, which was 13x Platinum certified today (Dec. 16).
“Morgan Wallen’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable. A trajectory powered through deep fan connection, multiple creative collaborations and partnerships with Big Loud and Republic Records,” shares RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier. “Less than a decade after earning his first Gold singles, he has officially become the highest RIAA certified Country artist with 265.5M units, including credits on five Diamond-certified or higher singles! The sheer volume of streams behind this achievement speaks to how actively audiences continue to show up and his sustained journey reshaping modern music. Congratulations on this new height as Morgan and his team set their sights on the next.”
His 2025 I’m The Problem album is 4x Platinum certified, while 22 of its 37 songs are Gold-certified or higher. Additionally, every track on If I Know Me and Dangerous: The Double Album (including the bonus configuration) is now RIAA certified. Dangerous: The Double Album and One Thing At A Time are now both 9x Platinum certified. “Last Night,” and “Wasted On You” are each 12x Platinum.
Wallen now has five singles that are Diamond-certified or higher, including the newly Diamond certified “Heartless” with Diplo.
Nashville In Sync Unveils 2026 Board Of Directors
/by Lauryn SinkNashville In Sync has revealed its 2026 Board of Directors.
Big Yellow Dog Music’s Alex Stefano will lead as President. Honestly Good Music’s Katie Jelen will serve as Vice President. Additionally, Heather Cook, Paige Reese, Amanda Kelso, Sarah Flick, ET Brown, Amber Stoneman, Liz Rogers Langham, John Moses, Kourtney Kirkpatrick, Brandon Schott, Ben Short, Emma Smith, Daniel Higbee, Emily Belue, Zach Green and Jamie Baranski will take on various roles within the Board.
Nashville In Sync is a coalition of music licensing professionals dedicated to elevating the sync community, focusing on the core pillars of opportunity, connection, education, diversity, celebration and event excellence.
Nashville In Sync’s 2026 Board of Directors:
President – Alex Stefano
Vice President – Katie Jelen
Secretary – Heather Cook
Treasurer – Paige Reese
Communications CHAIR – Amanda Kelso
Communications CO-CHAIR – Sarah Flick
Membership CHAIR – ET Brown
Membership CO-CHAIR – Amber Stoneman
Panels & Events CHAIR – Liz Rogers Langham
Panels & Events CO-CHAIR – John Moses
Community Liaison CHAIR – Kourtney Kirkpatrick
Community Liaison CO-CHAIR – Brandon Schott
Volunteers CHAIR – Ben Short
Volunteers CO-CHAIR – Emma Smith
Social CHAIR – Daniel Higbee
Social CO-CHAIR – Emily Belue
Sponsorship CHAIR – Zach Green
Sponsorship CO-CHAIR – Jamie Baranski
PD Mac Bruno Receives 2026 Steve Ferguson CRS Scholarship
/by John Nix ArledgeMac Bruno
Mac Bruno, Program Director at KQKI (Morgan, Louisiana), has been honored with the 2026 Steve Ferguson Country Radio Seminar (CRS) Scholarship. Bruno was chosen by a panel of country radio programmers and industry professionals and will receive a paid registration to attend the 2026 Country Radio Seminar, scheduled for March 18–20, 2026, in Nashville.
Bruno’s career with KQKI began in 1996 when he entered the Colgate Country Showdown, placing second in the competition and earning himself a spot as the station’s nighttime on-air personality. Today, nearly three decades later, Bruno continues to hold his nighttime role while also serving as the station’s Program Director. Throughout his career, Bruno has remained dedicated to small-market radio and deeply rooted in the community KQKI serves.
“I’m honored to have been awarded a scholarship to attend the 2026 Country Radio Seminar in Nashville,” says Bruno. “This incredible opportunity will help me learn, grow, and bring even more to the listeners and community I serve every day. I’m grateful for the recognition and excited to represent our area in Music City!”
The Steve Ferguson CRS Scholarship is administered by GrassRoots Promotion and was created in memory of WTHO (Thomson, Georgia) Program Director Steve Ferguson, who passed away in 2018.
Nancy Tunick, Co-Owner and Managing Partner of GrassRoots Promotion, says, “We are pleased to present Mac Bruno with the Steve Ferguson CRS Scholarship in recognition of his commitment to independent artists, his authentic connection to his community, and his collaborative spirit within the radio and record community. These are qualities that truly reflect Steve Ferguson’s enduring legacy.”
Bruno will be formally recognized during the 2026 Country Radio Seminar, with additional details to be announced.
ASCAP Foundation Appoints Patricia Leonard As Executive Director
/by Lauryn SinkPatricia Leonard.
The ASCAP Foundation has appointed Patricia Leonard as Executive Director. She follows Nicole George-Middleton, who was recently promoted to Executive Vice President, Head of Creative Membership at ASCAP.
“For 50 years, The ASCAP Foundation has succeeded by providing recognition and support so that developing music creators of all kinds can flourish,” says Paul Williams, ASCAP Foundation President. “We are elated to have Patricia Leonard take over the Executive Director role and confident that her love of music and her deep background in the arts and philanthropy will enable the Foundation to continue to thrive for years to come.”
“I couldn’t be happier to join an organization with such noteworthy roots in the music community,” adds Leonard. “The Foundation’s history of providing music education and nurturing aspiring songwriters and composers while extending the legacies of some of its most accomplished members is truly special and I look forward to sustaining that mission.”
She was formerly Chief Philanthropy Officer with the Princess Grace Foundation, where she led the planning and execution of charitable events and sponsorship opportunities and created new programs such as the Crown Patrons Society for high-value donors. Prior to that, she served as the Director of Institutional Giving for the Manhattan Theatre Club and as Director of Institutional Relations for the Metropolitan Opera. Leonard serves on the boards of the New York New Music Ensemble and New York Women Composers, and is a founding member of the New York Composers Circle.
Jordan Reynolds & Summer Overstreet Jump Into Top 20 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by Madison HahnenJordan Reynolds & Summer Overstreet
Jordan Reynolds and Summer Overstreet have both reached the top 20 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. Both writers are represented on the chart with Tucker Wetmore’s “3,2,1,” which recently reached No. 1 on country radio.
Riley Green remains at No. 1 for the tenth consecutive week with his solo-penned Ella Langley duet “Don’t Mind If I Do.” Chase McGill stays at No. 2 with “20 Cigarettes,” “Happen To Me,” “I Got Better,” “It Won’t Be Long” and “the hell you are.”
Josh Miller (No. 3), Blake Pendergrass (No. 4) and Charlie Handsome (No. 5) round out this week’s top five.
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.
ECCHO Live Adds Six New Board Members
/by Lauryn SinkECCHO Live has expanded its Board of Directors, adding Joe Birdsong (CFO, Premier Global Productions), Joseph Logsdon (Account Rep, 3G Productions), David Schultz (Tour Manager, Parmalee), Aaron Siebert (VP Global Projects, Tait), Marni Wandner (Founder, Future Present) and Taylor Watson (Tour Manager, Hardy).
“ECCHO Live is continuing to expand our reach as we grow our mental health and financial coaching initiatives and beyond,” says Chris Lisle, Founder of ECCHO Live. “These new board members deeply understand the challenges and needs of the live event industry. Their knowledge and passion will help us continue to serve this community in meaningful ways.”
The board expansion follows the recent hiring of a new Program Manager and Director of Marketing.