Robert Deaton Inducted Into North Carolina Music Hall Of Fame
Robert Deaton and Luke Combs. Photo: David Bergman
Robert Deaton was recently inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame alongside Luke Combs, Clyde Mattocks, David Childers, Hattie “Chatty Hattie” Leeper and Dexter Romweber.
“I love being from North Carolina,” Deaton shared from the stage. “It made me who I am today. I’m so honored to be going in with this amazing group of creative people, especially my buddy Luke Combs. I’d also like to do a shoutout, even though he’s not able to be here, to Eric Church. He’s a Tar Heel, a member of this Hall of Fame (2015), and he was influential in me being here tonight.”
Cobblestone Road Taps Mike Kraski As General Manager
Mike Kraski.
Cobblestone Road Entertainment has tapped Mike Kraski as the company’s General Manager.
“This opportunity is a dream come true for me,” shares Kraski. “Not only do Casey and Laura understand the music business, they’ve lived it. Their purity of intent to help artists realize their hopes and dreams is nothing less than inspiring, and I take very seriously their vision for this company.”
“When we formed Cobblestone Road Entertainment, we were very specific about the qualities we wanted in our staff like leadership, experience, proven track record and esteem,” adds Co-Founders Casey Barile and Laura Turner-Barile. “Mike filled all of those qualities and more. We’re excited about the foundation we’re building, and thrilled to have Mike in the driver’s seat orchestrating all of the great things to come.”
CRB/CRS Now Accepting Applications for the Rusty Walker Scholarship Program
The Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) are now accepting applications for the 2026 Rusty Walker Scholarship Program until Nov. 12. Interested parties may apply here.
Eligibility for the Rusty Walker Scholarship is limited to full-time radio station employees who will be attending CRS for the first time. Three scholarship recipients will be selected and will receive complimentary registration, hotel, and airfare for CRS 2026
Craig Morgan Performs National Anthem At Bengals vs. Steelers Game
Craig Morgan.
Craig Morgan recently performed the national anthem during Thursday night’s Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers matchup at Paycor Stadium.
Morgan has amassed nearly 2.5 billion career streams and charted over 25 songs on Billboard. His memoir, God, Family, Country, is available now.
Rock City Worship Signs With Capitol Christian Music Group
Pictured (L-R): Stephen Brewster (The Harmony Group); Nathan Montgomery (Rock City Worship member and Central Worship Pastor at Rock City Church); and Chad Fisher (Pastor at Rock City Church).
Rock City Worship has signed with Capitol Christian Music Group.
“Rock City Worship brings a fresh worship expression and a compelling mission,” says Garrett Davis, Vice President of A&R for Capitol CMG. “We are excited about this new partnership and to reach, inspire and serve people with their music.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to join the Capitol CMG family,” adds Pastor Chad Fisher of Rock City Church. “Our prayer is that Rock City Worship’s music will reach far beyond our church walls and inspire people everywhere to encounter the power of Jesus.”
Alex Miller Visits RFD-TV
Alex Miller and Market Day Report host Suzanne Alexander.
Alex Miller visited RFD-TV studios recently as a part of their “Countdown To The FFA Convention.”
Miller discussed his time in FFA, his experience earning the American FFA Degree for Excellence in 2023 and his new single.
Olivia Harms Signs With She Laughs Media
Pictured (L-R): Shari Lacy (She Laughs Media, Senior Publicist), Harms, and Krista Dykes (She Laughs Media, Founder & CEO).
Olivia Harms has signed with She Laughs Media ahead of her national television debut on The Road. The show premiered yesterday (Oct. 19) on CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.
Amazon Music To Feature Brandon Lake On Songline Docu-performance Series
Amazon Music will feature Brandon Lake for the next Songline performance. The audio release of the docu-performance series is set for Oct. 29 and will feature nine reimagined versions of his songs including “Honey In The Rock,” “King of Hearts,” “That’s Who I Praise,” “When A Cowboy Prays,” “Gratitude,” “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” “Too Good Not To Believe,” “Daddy’s DNA” and “I Know A Name.”
“I hope fans can see a bit of my songwriting process that happens before a song ever reaches a stage or a stream,” shares Lake. “It felt really special to be able to pull back the curtain with Songline and show not only how songs are made, but their impact on fans and the artists and songwriters that wrote them.”
Penelope Road Inks With Make Wake Artists
/by Lauryn SinkPenelope Road. Photo: Garrett Cardoso
Penelope Road has signed a management deal with Make Wake Artists. The rock-soul-pop quintet consisting of Charles Eastman (vocals, keys), Max Moore (vocals, guitar), Koan Roy-Meighoo (lead guitar, vocals), James Kopp (bass, vocals) and Anthony Smith (percussion) will be co-managed by Make Wake’s founder and CFO Chris Kappy and Eric Berger.
Signed to Warner Records, the Atlanta-based band is set to release their third EP, Chance Encounter, on Oct. 31.
“We’re beyond thrilled to be working with Make Wake,” Penelope Road shares. “Their passion for us – our music, our vision and our community – is unrivaled. That passion paired with their down-to-earth yet still highly professional attitude represents exactly how we want to navigate the music industry and grow the Penelope Road world.”
“Penelope Road is a rare mix of raw talent, drive and passion, and we’re honored to welcome them to the Make Wake family,” Berger adds. “They’re building a unique sonic identity and bringing live band energy back to the forefront for young audiences. With their drive and the support of Warner Records, Atlas Touring, and Make Wake behind them, there’s no ceiling on what they can achieve. We’re thrilled to help them reach the masses.”
Michael Bryan Exits Apple Music
/by Lauryn SinkMichael Bryan. Photo: Saami Bloom
Michael Bryan has exited his position as Global Head/Country Music at Apple Music after five years with the company.
Bryan joined as Head/Apple Music Country in 2020. At Apple, he was promoted to Dir./Editorial Operations & Audio Production in 2022 and Global Head/Country Music last year.
Prior to Apple Music, Bryan served as Talent Agent/Artist Development Lead at CAA for three years. Additionally, he spent time as iHeartRadio/Nashville SVP/Programming and WSIX PD, as well as stops in Orlando, Norfolk and New Orleans.
He shared the news on his LinkedIn, stating in part, “Today is my last day at Apple. Nearly six years. Three roles. Four managers. One extraordinary chapter I’ve chosen to close at its peak.”
Bryan can be reached here.
Warner Chappell Music Nashville Elevates Eric Reid
/by Madison HahnenEric Reid. Photo: Sophie Gilliam
Warner Chappell Music Nashville has promoted Eric Reid to Jr. Manager, A&R. Through his new role, he will identify and develop new talent, pitch songs and create new opportunities across the roster. He will also support onboarding new songwriters, maintain marketing materials and assist with songwriting camps. He will report to Austen Adams, President, WCM Nashville.
“Eric brings a lot of passion and drive to everything that he does,” says Adams. “He consistently goes above and beyond for our team, and our songwriters trust and respect him. We’re excited to see him grow in this next chapter.”
“I am incredibly thankful to be afforded the opportunity to continue my career at Warner Chappell,” adds Reid. “Thank you to all of my mentors and friends that have provided guidance and support, especially Jessi Vaughn Stevenson, Bethany Mako, Phil May, Austen Adams, and our entire Warner Chappell team. It is a privilege to work with people that believe in me so much. I am honored to continue working with such talented songwriters and dedicated industry professionals, as well be a part of the Music Row community. I’m excited for the next chapter as I take on this new role!”
Reid first joined Warner Chappell last year as Coordinator after holding internship roles at Liv Write Play, Round Hill Music, Creative Nation, Twelve6 Entertainment, and BMI. He also co-founded Four Count Entertainment, an artist development company, and Who’s Next, a Nashville-based writer’s round. Reid is also Director of Education on the board of Young Entertainment Professionals Nashville.
Industry Ink: Robert Deaton, Cobblestone Road, CRB/CRS, Craig Morgan, More
/by Lauryn SinkRobert Deaton Inducted Into North Carolina Music Hall Of Fame
Robert Deaton and Luke Combs. Photo: David Bergman
Robert Deaton was recently inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame alongside Luke Combs, Clyde Mattocks, David Childers, Hattie “Chatty Hattie” Leeper and Dexter Romweber.
“I love being from North Carolina,” Deaton shared from the stage. “It made me who I am today. I’m so honored to be going in with this amazing group of creative people, especially my buddy Luke Combs. I’d also like to do a shoutout, even though he’s not able to be here, to Eric Church. He’s a Tar Heel, a member of this Hall of Fame (2015), and he was influential in me being here tonight.”
Cobblestone Road Taps Mike Kraski As General Manager
Mike Kraski.
Cobblestone Road Entertainment has tapped Mike Kraski as the company’s General Manager.
“This opportunity is a dream come true for me,” shares Kraski. “Not only do Casey and Laura understand the music business, they’ve lived it. Their purity of intent to help artists realize their hopes and dreams is nothing less than inspiring, and I take very seriously their vision for this company.”
“When we formed Cobblestone Road Entertainment, we were very specific about the qualities we wanted in our staff like leadership, experience, proven track record and esteem,” adds Co-Founders Casey Barile and Laura Turner-Barile. “Mike filled all of those qualities and more. We’re excited about the foundation we’re building, and thrilled to have Mike in the driver’s seat orchestrating all of the great things to come.”
CRB/CRS Now Accepting Applications for the Rusty Walker Scholarship Program
The Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) are now accepting applications for the 2026 Rusty Walker Scholarship Program until Nov. 12. Interested parties may apply here.
Eligibility for the Rusty Walker Scholarship is limited to full-time radio station employees who will be attending CRS for the first time. Three scholarship recipients will be selected and will receive complimentary registration, hotel, and airfare for CRS 2026
Craig Morgan Performs National Anthem At Bengals vs. Steelers Game
Craig Morgan.
Craig Morgan recently performed the national anthem during Thursday night’s Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers matchup at Paycor Stadium.
Morgan has amassed nearly 2.5 billion career streams and charted over 25 songs on Billboard. His memoir, God, Family, Country, is available now.
Rock City Worship Signs With Capitol Christian Music Group
Pictured (L-R): Stephen Brewster (The Harmony Group); Nathan Montgomery (Rock City Worship member and Central Worship Pastor at Rock City Church); and Chad Fisher (Pastor at Rock City Church).
Rock City Worship has signed with Capitol Christian Music Group.
“Rock City Worship brings a fresh worship expression and a compelling mission,” says Garrett Davis, Vice President of A&R for Capitol CMG. “We are excited about this new partnership and to reach, inspire and serve people with their music.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to join the Capitol CMG family,” adds Pastor Chad Fisher of Rock City Church. “Our prayer is that Rock City Worship’s music will reach far beyond our church walls and inspire people everywhere to encounter the power of Jesus.”
Alex Miller Visits RFD-TV
Alex Miller and Market Day Report host Suzanne Alexander.
Alex Miller visited RFD-TV studios recently as a part of their “Countdown To The FFA Convention.”
Miller discussed his time in FFA, his experience earning the American FFA Degree for Excellence in 2023 and his new single.
Olivia Harms Signs With She Laughs Media
Pictured (L-R): Shari Lacy (She Laughs Media, Senior Publicist), Harms, and Krista Dykes (She Laughs Media, Founder & CEO).
Olivia Harms has signed with She Laughs Media ahead of her national television debut on The Road. The show premiered yesterday (Oct. 19) on CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.
Amazon Music To Feature Brandon Lake On Songline Docu-performance Series
Amazon Music will feature Brandon Lake for the next Songline performance. The audio release of the docu-performance series is set for Oct. 29 and will feature nine reimagined versions of his songs including “Honey In The Rock,” “King of Hearts,” “That’s Who I Praise,” “When A Cowboy Prays,” “Gratitude,” “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” “Too Good Not To Believe,” “Daddy’s DNA” and “I Know A Name.”
“I hope fans can see a bit of my songwriting process that happens before a song ever reaches a stage or a stream,” shares Lake. “It felt really special to be able to pull back the curtain with Songline and show not only how songs are made, but their impact on fans and the artists and songwriters that wrote them.”
Keith Urban Closes Out ‘High and Alive Tour’ With An Unforgettable Night At Bridgestone Arena
/by Madison HahnenKeith Urban at Bridgestone Arena.
Keith Urban’s final stop on his “High and Alive World Tour” took place on Friday night (Oct. 17). The country superstar turned Bridgestone Arena into a celebration of music, connection and pure joy, wrapping up the tour in front of a sold-out crowd.
After opening sets from Karley Scott Collins, Alana Springsteen and Chase Matthew, the night opened with a silhouette of Urban and his band projected on a glowing white screen. He launched into “Straight Line,” igniting instant energy in the arena, before rolling into “Where the Blacktop Ends”.
Between songs, Urban took a moment to shout out the night’s openers and interact with fans, reading signs from the crowd and declaring, “This night is about being yourself. Sing and dance as loud as you want to.”
Keith Urban at Bridgestone Arena.
Early in the set, he delivered a vibrant mashup of “Long Hot Summer” and Bob Marley’s “Is This Love,” followed by “Messed Up As Me” and the fan-favorite “Better Life.” A standout moment came when he surprised the crowd by bringing out opener Chase Matthew for a soulful cover of “Here Without You” by 3 Doors Down.
Urban reimagined “Somewhere in My Car” with an intimate piano intro before the full band kicked in, with the arena singing every word. Karley Scott Collins joined him onstage for “We Were Us,” adding rich harmonies to the beloved duet. From there, he kept the hits rolling with “Cop Car” and a nostalgic mashup of “Days Go By” with Uncle Kracker’s “Drift Away.”
One of the most visually stunning moments of the night came during “’Til Summer Comes Around,” when the lights circled the arena in a soft halo. A glittering disco ball illuminated “Kiss a Girl,” seamlessly flowing into “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me.” Urban then powered through “Wild Hearts” before teaming up with opener Alana Springsteen for a gorgeous acoustic rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide.”
Alana Springsteen & Keith Urban at Bridgestone Arena.
As the show built toward its midpoint, the hits kept coming with “The Fighter,” “Somebody Like You” and “One Too Many,” featuring P!nk on the big screens in perfect sync. Urban then made his way down a catwalk to the B-stage for a stripped-back run that included a cover of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” “Coming Home” and “You’ll Think of Me.” In a signature Urban moment, he signed a guitar onstage and handed it to a fan in the crowd.
Back on the main stage, he delivered a stunning performance of “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” before launching into the anthemic “Wasted Time,” complete with a massive confetti blast that showered the entire arena.
For the encore, Urban returned with a spontaneous improvised song about the tour and the Nashville crowd. The rest of the encore included “Stupid Boy” lit by thousands of glowing cell phone lights, The Notorious Cherry Bombs’ “Making Memories of Us” and David Dundas’ “Jeans On.”
Before the night came to a close, Urban took a moment to shout out his road crew, the backbone of the massive tour, then tore into “Heart Like a Hometown.” For the finale, Urban delivered a joyful cover of New Radicals’ “You Get What You Give” followed by “You Look Good in My Shirt.”
Keith Urban at Bridgestone Arena.
Luke Combs Leaps Into Top 10 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by Madison HahnenLuke Combs. Photo: Robby Klein
Luke Combs has climbed into the top 10 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. “15 Minutes,” “Back In The Saddle” and “Days Like These” all push the country star to No. 6 this week.
Riley Green remains at No. 1 for the second consecutive week with his solo-penned Ella Langley duet “Don’t Mind If I Do.” Blake Pendergrass moves to No. 2 with “20 Cigarettes,” “Ain’t A Bad Life,” “Brunette,” “Heart Of Stone,” “I Got Better,” “Just In Case,” “Miami,” “Superman” and “Wish You Well.”
Chase McGill (No. 3), Charlie Handsome (No. 4) and Morgan Wallen (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.
Brad Paisley Adds European Dates To ‘Truck Still Works World Tour’
/by Lorie HollabaughBrad Paisley. Photo: Conner Petersen
Brad Paisley will extend his “Truck Still Works World Tour” into 2026 with a summer tour of Europe.
Newly announced shows in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany and Switzerland have been added to the tour, which kicked off in May and includes a leg in Canada set to begin next month. Paisley’s fan club presale begins Oct. 22, with the public on-sale launching Oct. 24. Tickets are available at BradPaisley.com.
Last week, Paisley announced the release of a new Christmas album, Snow Globe Town, due out on Nov. 7. The 16-track album features eight new songs written by Paisley as well as some all-time favorite Christmas classics. A new song from the project,”Leave The Christmas Lights On” is available now at all digital retailers.
2026 “Truck Still Works World Tour”:
June 9 – Helsinki, Finland – House of Culture
June 11 – Ålesund, Norway – SBM Arena
June 13 – Hamar, Norway – Vikingskipet Open Air
June 16 – Stockholm, Sweden – Gröna Lund
June 17 – Gothenburg, Sweden – Liseberg
June 23 – Munich, Germany – Tollwood
June 24 – Zurich, Switzerland – The Hall
Canada Leg of 2025 “Truck Still Works World Tour”
Nov 4 – Abbotsford, BC – Abbotsford Centre
Nov 5 – Kelowna, BC – Prospera Place
Nov 7 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
Nov 8 – Lethbridge, AB – VisitLethbridge.com Arena
Nov 14 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
Nov 15 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre
Dec 11 – London, ON – Canada Life Place
Dec 12 – Hamilton, ON – TD Coliseum
Dec 13 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
Tyler Childers & The Lumineers To Headline Railbird Music Festival 2026
/by Lauryn SinkTyler Childers & The Lumineers.
Tyler Childers and The Lumineers are set to headline the 2026 Railbird Music Festival, taking place June 6 and 7 at The Infield at Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky.
Additionally, across the two days of performances, Zach Top, Ella Langley, Caamp, Mt. Joy, Sam Barber, Muscadine Bloodline, Stephen Wilson Jr., Houndmouth, Robert Earl Keen, Shane Smith & The Saints, The Wallflowers, Margo Price, Watchhouse, Shakey Graves, Waylon Wyatt, Evan Honer, Laci Kaye Booth, Willow Avalon, Braxton Keith, The Creekers, Kashus Culpepper, Carter Faith and more will take the stage.
One-day and 2-Day GA, GA+, VIP, Platinum tickets, as well as 2-Day Superfecta and Cabana packages will be available beginning Wednesday, October 22.
More information on ticket packages is available here.
Luke Combs Adds London, Edinburgh & Montreal Shows On ‘My Kinda Saturday Night Tour’
/by Lorie HollabaughLuke Combs. Photo: Robby Klein
Luke Combs has added three new shows to his massive “My Kinda Saturday Night Tour” next year due to overwhelming demand after tickets went on-sale last week, and nine shows immediately sold-out.
Combs added second nights at Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau (May 29) and Edinburgh’s Scottish Gas Murrayfield (July 24) as well as a third and final night at London’s Wembley Stadium (August 2). Nine shows on the tour immediately sold-out, including two nights at Wembley Stadium, two nights at Ireland’s Slane Castle, Green Bay’s Lambeau Field, Toronto’s Rogers Stadium, Amsterdam’s Johan Cruijff Arena and more.
Additional stops on the tour include Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, South Bend’s Notre Dame Stadium, Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium, Columbus’ Ohio Stadium, Paris’ Accor Arena and Sweden’s Ullevi. Special guests on the 2026 run include Dierks Bentley, The Script, The Teskey Brothers, Thomas Rhett, Ty Myers, Jake Worthington, Thelma & James and The Castellows. Tickets for the three new shows are available for pre-sale starting Thursday, (Oct. 23) with general on-sale following Oct. 24. Combs’ official fan club, The Bootleggers, once again have early access to tickets through fan pre-sale starting tomorrow, (Oct. 21).
The tour adds to an already historic career for Combs, who recently became the highest RIAA-certified country artist ever with 168 million units sold (surpassing Garth Brooks) and made history as the first country artist to headline both Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. Combs is also the first country artist with two songs earning a billion streams on Spotify and the first with four singles certified RIAA Diamond.
Combs released The Prequel earlier this month, a new three-song collection featuring “My Kinda Saturday Night,” “15 Minutes” and “Days Like These” and is nominated for three awards at the upcoming CMA Awards: Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year (“Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma”).
Konrad Snyder Inks With Electric Feel Publishing
/by Madison HahnenPictured (L-R): John Bradley (Country A&R, Electric Feel), Austin Rosen (CEO & Founder, Electric Feel), Konrad Snyder, Hannah Babitt (BABZ) and Jeff Colvin (Marcus & Colvin, LLP) (not pictured Chandler Nicole Sherrill – Senior Director of Creative Electric Feel). Photo: Callie Mangrum
Grammy and CMA-nominated songwriter, record producer, recording engineer, and mix engineer Konrad Snyder has signed with Electric Feel Publishing’s Nashville publishing roster.
Based in Nashville, Snyder has collaborated with a genre-diverse roster of artists, including Leon Bridges, Kacey Musgraves, Madi Diaz, Joy Oladokun, Stephen Sanchez, Noah Kahan, Wilder Woods, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Marcus King and more. Notably, Snyder was a co-producer on Sanchez’s “Until I Found You,” which has garnered over 1 billion Spotify streams. He also co-penned and co-produced two of Diaz’s tracks of the Grammy-nominated album Weird Faith, “Girlfriend” and “Obsessive Thoughts.”
“Electric Feel has always stood out for how deeply they care about the people behind the music”, says Snyder. “From our first conversation, I could feel their drive and momentum. As a producer and writer, that kind of partnership means everything. I’m proud to be joining their family.”
“We are beyond excited to be working with Konrad Snyder at Electric Feel! His ability to seamlessly move between songwriting, production and engineering—while creating timeless records—is truly inspiring,” adds Chandler Nicole Sherrill, Senior Director of Creative, Electric Feel Entertainment. “Konrad brings heart, depth, and craft to everything he touches. I’m incredibly grateful to our dear friend and brilliant manager, Hannah Babitt, for introducing us to Konrad and recognizing the incredible work we could do together. On behalf of the entire EF team, it’s a true honor to support such an extraordinary talent. We’re thrilled to be part of this next chapter with him.”
Snyder is managed by BABZ.