Ryan Griffin has revealed the artwork and track list for his upcoming major label debut, Name On It. The six-song EP features tracks all co-written by Griffin with writers like Nicolle Galyon, Emily Weisband, Josh London, and more, each inspired by personal stories of his own.

Griffin has previewed the EP with recent releases “Down,” “One Prayer Left,” “Going Going Gone,” his debut single “Right Here Right Now,” and the EP’s title track, which all feature stories of love, faith, gratitude and good times. Produced by Mark Trussell, Jason Massey and busbee, Name On It is due everywhere Aug. 28.

Moving to Music City at 17 after growing up on his family’s farm in Florida, Griffin first found success as a songwriter, penning songs like Kelsea Ballerini’s Platinum-selling hit “Dibs.” Featured as a SiriusXM Highway Find, he has racked up more than 20 million streams in the U.S. with his independently released tracks, including the infectious “Woulda Left Me Too,” “Best Cold Beer” and “Play It By Heart.”

Song Suffragettes Welcome Runaway June To Aug. 24 Show

The Song Suffragettes partnered with the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission for their August shows. Monday night’s (Aug. 24) show at The Listening Room Cafe will feature Runaway June along with Jenna Paulete, Emily Landis, Trannie Stevens, Mignon and Mia Morris. The show will also be livestreamed on the Song Suffragettes’ YouTube page starting at 6 p.m. CT.

Georgia Thunderbolts Ink With Mascot Records

Pictured (L-R): Richard Young (Kentucky Headhunters), Zach Everett (Georgie Thunderbolts), T.J. Lyle (Georgia Thunderbolts), Ron Burman (Mascot Records), Logan Tolbert (Georgia Thunderbolts), Riley Couzzourt (Georgia Thunderbolts), Bristol Perry (Georgia Thunderbolts), Fred Young (Kentucky Headhunters)

Southern rock group The Georgia Thunderbolts have signed with Mascot Records. The band has also signed a management deal with Richard Young of Kentucky Headhunters fame. Additionally, United Talent Agency will represent the Thunderbolts for North American bookings. The band’s first record, a self-titled EP, The Georgia Thunderbolts, is being released today (Aug. 21). A new single from the album, “So You Wanna Change the World,” is also out today with an accompanying video.

“The Georgia Thunderbolts are very excited to be signed to such a wonderful team as Mascot Records,” says Thunderbolts lead singer T.J. Lyle. “It truly is an honor for us. We wanted to work with a label who understands us for who we are and what we can bring to the table. We found that in the Mascot Records family.”

Jay Clementi Joins SongwritingWith: Soldiers As Music Director

Jay Clementi has joined SongwritingWith:Soldiers in the newly-formed position of Music Director. Darden Smith, who is stepping down from his executive role, will continue as a board member and participate in the transformative SW:S weekend retreats and workshops that pair veterans with professional songwriters to craft songs about combat and the transition home. SW:S programs, which serve all branches of the military and are provided free of charge, have gained national attention for the positive gains experienced by participants.

“I have been writing with SW:S since 2012 and proud to be a lead songwriter for the past two years,” said Clementi. “It’s truly an honor to take my commitment to the organization to the next level as Music Director, and I’m thrilled to work with Mary and Kristin to expand our programs for veterans and their families.”

In 2018, Tucker Beathard had recently gotten out of a record deal and was determined to make music on his own terms. He teamed up with a group of his favorite co-writers, and poured his frustrations and musical ambitions into a hefty batch of songs. The result was Nobody’s Everything, the first in a two-part album project that served as his freedom song, the chance to record music he felt fully represented him as an artist.

That project caught the attention of another label, Warner Music Nashville, and he signed with the label in January of last year.

“Before I signed, I had 20-something songs recorded, and I told them, “Look, this is what you’re signing up for, take it or leave it.’ That’s what made them want to sign me, which was cool. They just let me do my thing.”

Now he’s set to finish what he started, with his latest project KING, the culmination of that 20-song project.

KING centers on a boisterous country-rock vibe, throbbing with propulsive energy on tracks like the opener, “Better Than Me.” And for Beathard, that was the idea.

“A catchy guitar riff, just upbeat rock, and one that just sets the tone. When I make an album, I think about set lists for live shows. ‘Better Than Me’ is an all-around just a perfect opening one, in my opinion, just to hook you and lock it in, and just in your face, to set the tone for it.”

“Paper Town” captures a risk-it-all attitude, the tale of two kids in search of acceptance and freedom.

“I’ve always loved that song and talking about just the attitude of feeling like you’re bigger than a town. They are just like, ‘Man, let’s say screw this town.’ It’s just definitely a different substance lyrically and sonically, it definitely brought a different feel to it.”

The son of country songwriter Casey Beathard (known for hits such as Kenny Chesney’s “Don’t Blink” and Eric Church’s “Like Jesus Does”), Tucker grew up entrenched in Nashville’s songwriting scene, and connects with that essence of “Paper Town,” as it ponders whether a change of scenery would be the right move, especially as an artist whose own work veers more toward punk rock than straight-forward country.

“I ask myself that question every day, because it’s tough when you’re doing your own thing and when you have a tough time fitting in. Where do you go when it doesn’t fit in a specific category or box? I think it’s always natural to feel like you don’t fit in somewhere when you’re not easily accepted somewhere. It’s like a chip on your shoulder, and that’s definitely a personal song that stems from just that feeling, for sure.”

Instead, he’s synthesized his penchant for country wordplay and his need to wrap those in slabs of hard-driving rock, and welcomed his father Casey as a co-writer on four of the album’s songs, including “You Would Think” and “You On.”

“Me and my dad, we’re totally different, as far as writing, our preferences and styles. When I started getting into writing, I realized that a lot of the songwriting format and style that was naturally ingrained in me is that ‘three chords, and the truth’ attitude.’ When we started writing together, I was even surprised myself sometimes of how great it was and how well we work together. He loves writing with me because sometimes I bring a fresher thing that he didn’t think about to the table, and I love writing with him because he’s just one of the best writers in town, to say the least.”

Fans will be familiar with “Faithful,” as Tucker first began sharing acoustic renditions of the song on social media back in 2015. Now, the song takes on a full-fledged coat of earthy-rock sheen.

“That might be the oldest song on this record,” he says. “Through my journey through the music business, and getting out of a signed deal before, and just sitting on that song for so long, I’ve recorded it multiple times, but I’ve never had the opportunity to release it. I just kept thinking of ways to keep it exciting.”

But for all of the album’s devil-may-care swagger, it quietly concludes in “I Ain’t Without You,” a tribute to Tucker’s late brother, Clayton Beathard, who was tragically killed at age 22 during an altercation at a Nashville bar in December 2019. KING is a tribute to Clayton’s middle name.

Tucker and his father co-wrote KING‘s stunning and hopeful closing track just weeks after his brother Clayton’s passing.

“it was a product of just everything that I was starting to learn and grow in during that event pretty much. To be honest, I’ve always been scared of not being the first person to go in my family, just because I’ve always been scared of not being able to handle the weight of an event like that. I knew I wasn’t strong enough, and then it happened and I found out pretty quick that I wasn’t necessarily wrong about me personally not being strong enough to get through that. But honestly, I learned the strength and power of Jesus Christ in that moment. The whole situation made me think about the idea of, ‘I’m strong enough to get through this, but not without you.’

“There’s a lot of things that I think I am, that I wouldn’t or couldn’t be without [Clay]. It was just a truth that I was starting to see, and more than ever, and my dad was the only one that could relate to that, and understand where I was coming from, because we were dealing with that tragedy together. I realized pretty quickly that was a song that would make this whole album feel full circle and just put the stamp on this whole book, so to speak, that I wanted to release.”

Mere months after his brother’s passing, tours began shuttering as the COVID-19 pandemic intensified. But for Tucker, being forced to stop touring ended up as a blessing.

“I’m glad that I didn’t have to just jump right back into the swing of things, because, it just definitely helped having time to just be with family, grieve and get through a lot of the emotional stuff. I definitely miss playing, but it’s been great.”

Tour or no tour, Beathard is thankful to have finally released the long-awaited project, one where he can offer every facet of his artistry.

“I’m always going for uniqueness when putting together a project,” he says. “I think a lot of people won’t even know what you’d call it, but as long as they know it’s me, and they can’t find that anywhere else, then that’s what I’m going for.”