Priscilla Block, Lilly Hiatt, and Regi Wooten and Friends have been added to the lineup for Nashville’s downtown 4th of July celebration, Let Freedom Sing! presented by Dr Pepper.

As previously announced, Brad Paisley will headline the giant show on Lower Broadway, which will feature the largest fireworks show in Nashville history with the pyrotechnics synchronized to a live performance by the Nashville Symphony. Sirius XM host Storme Warren will serve as emcee on the First and Broadway stage, and Symphony Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero will be conducting for the first time in over a decade. Jason Eskridge will perform the National Anthem, and veteran support group Operation Song will kick off the lineup of live music. The Nashville Symphony will perform at Ascend Amphitheater at the conclusion of the concert. The fireworks show will be from 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The free, family-friendly event has regularly drawn more than 200,000, and as many as 343,000 in 2019. This will be the 18th annual celebration produced by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp and the 37th in the city’s history.

“We are proud to bring together this diverse lineup to celebrate Independence Day in a big way,” said Butch Spyridon, president and CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “The free event is a thank you to Nashvillians after the year we’ve had, as well as a way to jumpstart our tourism economy with an influx of visitors. They will find a lot of reasons for an extended visit to Nashville – from an ALABAMA concert at Bridgestone Arena to a Nashville SC match on July 5 and more.”

To begin its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiative, the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) partnered with EnterGain to conduct a survey of its members in order to have a starting point for its efforts to be a more diverse and inclusive organization. EnterGain Senior Advisor Yuna Perry and Managing Directors James Celentano and Mikal Celentano presented the results at the AIMP Global Music Publishing Summit that took place this week.

While this was the first survey of its kind for the AIMP, it was sent to all 1,006 AIMP members with a 16% response rate. Almost 80% of respondents chose “white” as one of their ethnicities, and compared to the U.S. population, membership was underrepresented in all other ethnicities. For example, 6.6% identified as Black/African American, and 7% as Hispanic/Latinx. 82% of respondents identify as straight, 10% “preferred not to say,” and LGBTQ is represented at 8%.

80% of respondents said over 80% of their income comes from music-related activities. They work across a multiplicity of genres, and 52% are self-employed or work at companies with 5 or fewer employees. Most noted they rely on the AIMP for education and networking.

When it comes to education level, 26% of respondents have a 4-year non-music degree; an additional 25% have a 4-year music business degree; and 8% earned a 4-year music degree and 18% of respondents have a graduate degree.

While a majority (92%) said they did not have a disability, when asked about their needs at future in-person events, many had the same requests for accessibility options as respondents who did indicate they have a disability. These groups expressed interest in visual and auditory assistance, accessible restrooms, ramps/elevators, parking, and service animals. Also, approximately 40% of all respondents showed interest in continuing virtual/online events.

On a 5-point scale ranging from Not Diverse at All to Exceptionally Diverse, nearly 90% of respondents rated the independent music publishing community as at least Somewhat Diverse or better.

“Response to the survey showed that the AIMP community is ready to engage in these important topics,” said EnterGain co-founder and Managing Director Celentano. “A lot of actionable insight is coming out of the survey phase of the AIMP’s DEI initiative, and we look forward to facilitating the upcoming DEI workshops, to explore how AIMP members can foster an even more welcoming and equitable independent publishing community,” added Perry, Senior Advisor at EnterGain.

“It was so important for us to ask our members the kind of questions that don’t come up in typical day-to-day conversations, so we can see where we can help support and educate our community to be a better environment for everyone,” said John Ozier, AIMP National Chair and Nashville Chapter President. “We are already addressing some of the specific requests with the trainings, upcoming new website, an initial meeting on July 15 to gauge interest in an Atlanta chapter, and our LA Chapter has already established a DEI Committee. And we’re so pleased to be able to offer to our members a free, three-session workshop on DEI from EnterGain to help educate and empower our members around these issues.”

EnterGain will conduct a three-session workshop series at no cost to AIMP members interested in deepening their understanding of the barriers and solutions around diversity, equity, and inclusion and provide actionable takeaways that can be applied in their professional lives. The three 90-minute training sessions are scheduled for June 21, June 28, and July 6 at 1 p.m. CST. They will be co-led by two executive-level facilitators from EnterGain, with virtual session tools and interactive discussions.

Registration is now open to all AIMP members. To register, click here.

Indie recording artist Kylie Frey has inked a publishing deal with Carnival Music.

The Louisiana native has a commanding voice and has developed an authentic and true sound. Her way of turning a phrase has earned her over 1.5 million streams in just one month, and has also been resonating with radio listeners. She is currently celebrating that her latest collaborative effort “Horses In Heaven (featuring Randy Houser)” has risen to No. 1 on the Texas Regional Radio Report, marking her sixth chart-topper on the TR3 chart. The song peaked in just 9 weeks–breaking Frey’s own 11-week chart record for fastest climb for a female in the chart’s history.

“Within ten minutes of meeting Kylie, I heard a classic country voice, some serious guitar picking and a song that stopped me dead in my tracks,” says producer and Creative Head of Carnival Frank Liddell. “When I learned she was a rodeo queen headed out to a weekend goat-tying camp… and that her parents made boudin for a living, I knew she had to be a Carnival writer,” he adds. “We are honored to join her awesome team and be a part of what I know will be an adventurous ride to success.”

“I got my dream publishing deal. My name on the wall at the coolest company in town surrounded by people that push me to just be myself more than ever before,” shares Frey.

Mac Powell, former frontman of the four-time Grammy Award-winning band Third Day, recently joined Capitol Christian Music Group’s artist roster.

His first release on the label, “River of Life” is available now and is the first track from his forthcoming solo album due later this year. From his many years with Third Day, Powell brings his nearly three decades of experience and soulful delivery of heartfelt lyrics together for his upcoming album.

“It’s interesting that within the medical community the bloodstream is called the ‘River of Life,'” Powell shares about the new song. “We as believers know that our true life comes from the grace and mercy of Jesus–poured out from his sacrifice on the cross. In John chapter 4, Jesus shares with the woman at the well – Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. Let us all partake in this River of Life that is given by our Savior!”

Over the last year, Powell continued to share his music as part of the Drive-In Theatre tours with Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith as well as this spring with Zach Williams and CAIN.

Maren Morris Takes Flight With U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds

Maren Morris had the thrill of a lifetime on Friday, June 4 when she flew in an F-16 with the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds.

This high-flying ride came in advance of the Thunderbirds headlining demonstration at The Great Tennessee Air Show held every June in Smyrna, Tennessee. BBR Music Group’s Blanco Brown performed the National Anthem at Saturday’s show while Track45 performed it on Sunday.

 

 

Dustin Lynch Hosts Multi-Day Pool Situation In Vegas

Broken Bow Records recording artist Dustin Lynch hosted his own “Dustin Lynch Pool Situation: Vegas” last Thursday (June 3) through Sunday (June 6).

The first country music-themed full-weekend pool party of its kind included special guests Jordan Davis, HARDY, and Brandi Cyrus, in addition to surprise appearances by MacKenzie Porter and Conner Smith throughout the Las Vegas strip.

“What a rush! Year 1 of the Pool Situation was certainly a situation – in the best way possible. We live for that connection of all being on the same wavelength to celebrate, forget about the real world, and just live in the moment,” shares Lynch. “Our mission this weekend was to give our fans the best weekend possible, and want to come back and do it again and again. It sure feels like we accomplished that, along with a bunch of ideas to make next year even bigger and better.”

Lynch kicked off the sold-out multi-day event at Drai’s with the “Where It’s At” Welcome Party on Thursday with a supercharged DJ set by Cyrus. Lynch also headlined Friday’s “Cowboys and Angels” Pool Party at Encore Beach Club. Performing for the first time this year with a full band, Lynch played some of his fan favorites, including “Ridin’ Roads,” “Good Girl,” and “Momma’s House,” plus a slew of others since his 2012 breakout.

 

 

Blanco Brown To Release First Taste Of New Music Since 2020 Life-Threatening Accident

‘TrailerTrap’ creator and mastermind behind the triple-Platinum sensation “The Git Up,”  Blanco Brown will release “Nobody’s More Country” on June 18 via BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records. This marks Brown’s first new music since his life-threatening accident in 2020.

Written by Brown, Tyler Hubbard, Jordan Schmidt, and Quintin Amey, the track reaffirms Brown’s country status as he pulls inspiration from his Georgia roots. Throughout the song, Brown also notes that while he appreciates all of the places country music has taken him—“there’s no place like home.”

“I’ve been all around the world and have seen people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds uniting over their love of country music—the music ties us together,” says Brown. “It’s the sound of home. It’s the sound of my Georgia heart. It’s hard to imagine anybody loving it more than me.”

Fans will get a sneak peek of the song as he performs the new track tonight (June 9) on the RAM Trucks Side Stage at the CMT Music Awards where he is nominated for Group Video of the Year with Parmalee for “Just the Way.”

 

 

Midland Lead Singer Mark Wystrach To Appear In New Film The Eyes Of Tammy Faye

Midland lead singer Mark Wystrach appears in the upcoming film The Eyes of Tammy Faye which will be released by Searchlight Pictures on Sept. 17.

Directed by Michael Showalter, the film is an intimate look at the rise, fall and redemption of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker. In the 1970s and 80s, Tammy Faye and her husband, Jim Bakker, created the world’s largest religious broadcasting network and theme park, and were revered for their message of love, acceptance and prosperity. Bakker was known for her indelible eyelashes, idiosyncratic singing, and eagerness to embrace people from all walks of life. However, financial improprieties, scheming rivals, and scandals toppled their carefully constructed empire.

Wystrach acts alongside Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Cherry Jones, Fredric Lehne, Louis Cancelmi, Sam Jaeger, Gabriel Olds, and Vincent D’Onofrio.