Mike Donehey, founding member of CCM band Tenth Avenue North, is launching his solo career with the debut of his new EP, Work of Art. 

The project is being released as a thank-you to his fans and those who supported his Kickstarter campaign for his full-length album, set for release later this year on Fair Trade Music Services. During 2020 while at home during the pandemic, Donehey began writing as a therapeutic process to deal with the abrupt end of his band, which called it quits in 2020, as well as being home during lockdown. It was during this time that he realized that his musical career was not ending, but pivoting.

Donehey’s Kickstarter campaign reached its goal in just 13 hours. By the end of the campaign, Donehey had raised more than $100k to continue to make and release new music on his solo venture. Because the goal was reached and beyond, next week he is also releasing a second EP, A Father and Two Sons, which is an exploration of a parable from Jesus with three thematic songs each from a different character’s perspective.

“I think I’ve written more songs this year than I ever have in that span of time of being home,” he says. “The Work of Art EP is all about the different things it takes to make and keep beautiful relationships. The songs are about listening, becoming less defensive, radical ownership and radical acceptance. My full-length album is due in the fall, and it is about my spiritual journey and the things I’ve been wrestling with lately. From starting over, to stepping into the unknown, to forgiving people I don’t want to, to loving my wife and children better.”

Donehey’s podast, Chasing The Beauty, airs on KLOVE’s Access More network.

Andie Rankins Promoted To Dir. Publishing Admin At Essential Music

Andie Rankins has been promoted to Director of Publishing Administration at Essential Music Publishing. Rankins manages the administration of a growing catalog of award-winning copyrights, and previously served as Manager of Publishing Administration, where she led the conception and development of the intuitive new online licensing tool for the company’s catalog. In her expanded duties, Rankins will also guide the overall growth of the publishing administration arm of the company and expand the metadata initiatives. She joined Provident in 2015, following stints at Music Services, Inc. and LifeWay.

John Pate Inks With Mixtape Music

John Pate has signed a publishing deal with Mixtape Music. His new single, “He Didn’t Know,” was released February 25.

Pate, who hails from Jackson, Tenn., attended college at Faulkner University and during that time traveled all over the Southeast singing in an a capella quartet. When the group disbanded, he transferred to the University of Memphis Lambuth and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Entertainment. After moving to Nashville, he interned for 50 Egg Music.

IBMA Foundation Announces $12,050 In Arnold Shultz Fund Grants

The International Bluegrass Music Association Foundation recently awarded $12,050 in Arnold Shultz Fund grants to eight programs and individuals in Alaska, Arizona, California, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The Arnold Shultz Fund was established in 2020 by the IBMA Foundation to encourage participation in bluegrass music by people of color.

“We’re proud to announce the first round of Arnold Shultz Fund grant recipients, and we hope to keep doing this for many years to come,” said Dr. Richard Brown, co-chair of the Shultz advisory committee. “We are pleased to offer a proactive, helping hand to individuals who come from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in the bluegrass community. Bluegrass music belongs to everyone. We are grateful to our donors who continue to support the IBMA Foundation and this initiative, especially during the COVID pandemic. Their generosity has made it possible to award grants to these very deserving musicians and program organizers.”

Arnold Shultz Fund grant recipients:

• BASEArizona and Jam Pak Band, BanJam 2021; Chandler, AZ
• Bluegrass Pride and Decolonizing the Music Room, “Juneteenth: A Rainbow Revival”; San Francisco, CA and Fort Worth, TX
• Dancing with the Spirit, Bluegrass Song Videos & Curriculum for Alaskan Village Schools; Fairbanks, AK
• Nokosee Fields, recording project; Lafayette, LA
• Louisville Folk School, “Black Voices in Kentucky Music History”; Louisville, KY
• NorthStar Church of the Arts, “Country Soul Songbook”; Durham, NC
• Stephen Wang, guitar lessons; Los Gatos, CA
• Tray Wellington, audio and visual gear upgrade; Johnson City, TN

The Nashville Songwriters Association International held its 21st Annual Song Contest, welcoming aspiring songwriters from around the world to enter their songs and/or lyrics for a chance to win, on Feb. 16.

The contest, which was presented by Martin Guitars, Strings and CMT, had nearly 2,500 entries. After several rounds of judging, a total of 22 songs placed in the contest following the final judging by a panel that included Jacqueline Renner, CEO of C.F.Martin & Co., Leslie Fram, Senior VP of Music & Talent at CMT, Tim Hunze, Senior Director of Creative at Anthem Entertainment, and NSAI Board President Steve Bogard.  “I Do” by Matthew Soileau (co-written by Brandon Chase) won the coveted top prize.

Matthew Soileau

Soileau, who hails from Spring, TX, took home $5,000 cash, mentor sessions with Tenille Townes and songwriters Ross Golan and Joe London, and a one year single-song contract with Anthem Entertainment along with several other prizes, including a brand new Martin Guitar.

Claire Bunnik from Pefferlaw, Ontario, Canada won the contest’s Lyric-Only category with her entry “Raising A Son,” winning a mentor session with Grammy-winning songwriter-artist Brett James, $2,000 cash, a Martin Guitar and more.

The other nine finalists also won a Martin Guitar, an industry meeting, and one year of NSAI membership. Every contest entry also has a scorecard evaluation from the judging that will be sent out to participants.

The Women’s Music Business Association has announced a new program allowing members and alumni to engage with one another. Leading the program are WMBA Alumni Co-Chairs Aimee Graham and Melissa Flaxman, overseen by WMBA Executive Board member Lindsey Clark.

The alumni series will kick-off on March 31 at 6 p.m. via Zoom, with a conversation with Clark (Deaton Flanigen Productions), Executive Board Chairwoman Brandi Simms (MooTV, Moo Creative & The Steel Mill), and board member Amery Fridenstine (Above Board Consulting). The event is open to members and alumni of WMBA, as well as the public.

Furthermore, the alumni program will be creating more opportunities for the membership and alumni to come together through mentorship programs, social events, and more.

Joining Simms, Clark and Fridenstine on the WMBA board are Cameo Carlson (Mtheory Nashville), Mary Catherine Kinney (Spotify), and Legal Counsel Lauren Spahn (Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley, & Norton LLP).

Celebrating its 21st year, the WMBA is dedicated to fostering opportunities for women within the music industry through education, networking, industry involvement, and community service.

Brandi Carlile. Photo: Sachyn Mital

Brandi Carlile will lend a hand to a few deserving organizations with her upcoming special livestream concert from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Sunday, March 28.

The show, which is Carlile’s first full-band performance since before the pandemic, will broadcast via Veeps with a portion of ticket sales benefiting two organizations: The Rainey Day Fund and Fanny’s School of Music, with all remaining proceeds supporting Carlile’s band and crew. Tickets for the show are on sale now, including a ticket bundle that includes a pre-order of Carlile’s forthcoming memoir, Broken Horses. Full ticket details can be found at brandicarlile.veeps.com.

Broken Horses reveals Carlile’s own story, recounting the events of her life that have shaped her music and the music that has shaped her life, and is due out on April 6 via Crown, an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. Along with her upcoming show and memoire release, Carlile is nominated in two categories at the 63rd Grammy Awards: Best Song Written for Visual Media (“Carried Me With You” from Onward written with Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth) and Best Country Song (“Crowded Table” performed by The Highwomen written with Natalie Hemby and Lori McKenna). She also produced The Secret Sisters’ acclaimed new album, Saturn Return, which is nominated for Best Folk Album.