Nashville-based alternative pop band In Color has signed with Big Loud Rock. To celebrate the signing, the band has released their debut EP Snow Day, out now.

Formed in early 2024, In Color members Holden Clontz, Matthew Hastings, Val Hoyt and Miles Laderman lean on a silent bond sealed by years of friendship and a collective passion for pushing boundaries. They bring dimension to alternative pop, threading unshakable melodies through multi-layered soundscapes.

“We’re so excited to welcome In Color into the Big Loud Rock roster,” shares Big Loud Partner and Big Loud Rock President Joey Moi. “The band’s natural chemistry, clear creative vision, and incredible songwriting make them the real deal. We can’t wait for the world to hear what they’ve been cooking up.”

“For us, it’s always been about the music,” says In Color. “Finding a label that puts the artists first and truly champions the creative process was our top priority. With Big Loud Rock, we’ve found a partner who is just as passionate about the songs as we are. We’re ready to get to work.”

In Color’s debut EP Snow Day features a brand new song “I Want You,” as well as their breakout debut single “Headlights,” (which has amassed over five million global streams across DSPs,) as well as standout tracks “Is There Anyone?” and “Liar.”

“Snow Day has been our journey of exploration and discovery,” explains In Color. “It’s us learning who we are as a collective, weaving our different talents and inspirations into something that feels alive—something that moves us both sonically and lyrically. In creating this music, we’ve found the ground beneath our feet, a place from which we’ll keep reaching, stretching, and growing together.”

In Color is set to support The Band Camino on select dates of their North American tour this fall, which kicks off later this month.

Ole 60 has released their debut album, Smokestack Town, today (Oct. 3).

With production from Jacquire King and Justin Eckerd, the six piece folk-rock band takes listeners into a fictional world based small town America. The 11 track project explores change, heartbreak and more with upbeat anthem to haunting ballads. The album has influences from Smashing Pumpkins, Third Eye Blind, Radiohead, John Prine and Nicholas Jamerson. The record also includes a cover of Coldplay’s “Yellow.”

All 10 original tracks were penned by frontman Jacob Ty Young, with four of them being solo-writes. Additional writers on the project include Kyle Sturrock, Nolan Taylor, Rob Langdon and more.

“When we were writing this album, we didn’t really know what it would be,” Young shares. “I think at its core it’s a collection of stories and feelings. We tried to create an album that felt complete both lyrically and sonically and I’m very proud of what we ended up with. In an age of double-deluxe albums, we wanted to give the people something raw and unfiltered that felt like it had to be listened to from start to finish.”

Smokestack Town Track List:
1. “Smokestack Town” (Jacob Ty Young)
2. “Starting New” (Jacob Ty Young, Kyle Sturrock)
3. “Who We Are” (Jacob Ty Young, Nolan Taylor)
4. “Let You Down” (Jacob Ty Young)
5. “Nancy Avenue” (Jacob Ty Young, Dwight McGlynn)
6. “Say The Word” (Jacob Ty Young)
7. “Watching Me Bleed” (Jacob Ty Young, Jack Wharff)
8. “Back Around” (Jacob Ty Young)
9. “Really Wanna Know” (Jacob Ty Young, Rob Langdon)
10. “Yellow” (Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Johnny Buckland, Will Champion)
11. “Watching Scary Movies With The Volume Down” (Jacob Ty Young, Rob Langdon)

Entertainment company American Troubadours is bridging Nashville’s creative community with the Hollywood film community in several upcoming projects.

Building on the box-office success of Reagan, the company is extending its impact in major motion pictures with upcoming projects such as That’s Amore!, a romantic musical comedy written and directed by Academy Award-winner Nick Vallelonga (Green Book) and starring John Travolta, Katherine Heigl, Christopher Walken and Dan Aykroyd.

American Troubadours is uniquely positioned to bring Nashville’s voice to Hollywood screens. Music-driven films and biopics have grossed more than $7 billion globally in the past decade, with recent hits like Elvis and Bohemian Rhapsody proving the enduring power of music-centered storytelling. Nashville’s music industry alone contributes $5.5 billion annually to the city’s economy, and more than 60% of major film and TV productions now feature licensed music from Nashville writers and publishers. With its deep roots in Music City and creative reach into Hollywood, American Troubadours is uniquely positioned to fuel this growing cultural exchange.

Founded and led by award-winning producer and composer Vince Emmett, the company is dedicated to bringing history, music, and culture vividly to life through timeless narratives across film, television, streaming, and digital platforms.

Emmett, whose credits include the feature film Reagan (2024), which opened as the top new film over Labor Day weekend 2024, brings more than three decades of experience working with Oscar, Grammy, Golden Globe, and Emmy-winning actors and artists.

“I’ve lived and worked with icons inside an industry that thrives on story in song,” says Emmett. “That uniquely qualifies American Troubadours to build a creative home that vividly bridges music and film while honoring the voices of the past and amplifying those of today.”

Karley Scott Collins stopped by the MusicRow office last week to share a few songs and stories from the making of her debut album, Flight Risk, which was released on Friday (Sept. 26).

Collins started out her creative career as an actress in California, learning guitar on a rented Martin only to meet the requirements for an audition. That experience inspired her to shift her focus to music.

Influenced by the sound of Stevie Nicks, Collins says the project has been a work in progress her whole life, but she started intentionally writing for the album about five years ago.

Across the 16 tracks, Collins explores themes of heartbreak, acceptance, desire and jealousy all weaved together. She co-produced the album alongside Nathan Chapman and co-wrote on every track, collaborating with hitmakers such as Alex Kline, Joybeth Taylor, Scott Stepakoff and many more.

“I want fans to take away from the music the same thing I’ve taken away from it, which is being able to have growth and healing through the music. In writing the songs and making the record, I feel like I grew so much, learned a lot and healed from so many things. I would hope that fans hearing the record would have that same experience.”

Collins kicked off the visit with the confessional “Runner,” before continuing into the bold “Cowboy Shit” and standout track “Quit You.”

Collins will continue her run on Keith Urban’s “High and Alive Tour” through the rest of this month.

 

The Lucky Classic Softball Game Adds 11 Celebrities

The Lucky Classic softball game, set for Nov. 16 at First Horizon Park, has added 11 celebrities to its lineup. Jordan Davis, Tigirlily Gold, Shawn Johnson East, Andrew East, Colbie Caillat, Chris Kirkpatrick, Mitchell Tenpenny, Maddox Baston, LANCO, Shawn Booth and David Bakhtiari will join the previously announced lineup of Russell Dickerson, Ashley Cooke and Tucker Wetmore. University of Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello will coach and over 20 MLB players will join for the night filled with baseball and music.

“Ashlyn and I couldn’t be more excited to bring The Lucky Classic to Nashville this off-season,” shares Jake Burger. “This city is home for us, and we wanted to create something that blends our two worlds, music and baseball, while giving back to a community we love. The outpouring of support for The Burger Family Foundation and the Down syndrome community has already been incredible, and we can’t wait to see everyone at the ballpark for a day of fun, connection, and unforgettable memories.”

 

Eric Paslay To Bring ‘Song In A Hat’ To Harmony for Hope Gala

Eric Paslay will bring his interactive co-writing performance experience “Song in a Hat” to the stage at this year’s Harmony for Hope Gala, taking place on October 18 in Atlanta, Georgia. Joining Paslay is Kristian Bush of Sugarland and ACM Award-nominated singer-songwriter Cyndi Thomson.

For the experience, audience members can submit song ideas to be randomly selected and if your idea is chosen, you’ll join the artists on stage to help write a song in real time. The audience member who submitted the idea will receive a split of the royalties if the song is cut.

Hop On A Cure was founded in 2022 by Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band, John Driskell Hopkins (Hop), and his wife Jennifer, following his diagnosis with ALS. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

 

BMI & C3 Presents Extend Festival Partnership

BMI and C3 Presents have extended their long-standing partnership through 2028. The renewed multi-year agreement solidifies BMI as the only performing rights organization with stages at the Austin City Limits Music Festival and Lollapalooza.

“BMI’s partnership with C3 Presents has been one of our most valued relationships over the years as we have been able to provide our affiliates with a powerful platform to connect with new audiences,” says Mason Hunter, AVP, Creative, Nashville. “Together, we’ve built a proven track record for discovering incredible talent and we look forward to elevating our mission in the years to come.”

“The BMI stage has helped shape our festivals over the years by providing musical discovery with artists in the early phases of their careers,” adds Charlie Walker, President, C3 Presents. “We value our two decades-long relationship and look forward to many more years to come.”

 

Tyler Rich Pens Second Children’s Book ‘Leave the Wolf Wild’

Tyler Rich has penned his second children’s book, Leave The Wolf Wild. Inspired by RIAA GOLD-certified hit song “Leave Her Wild,” the picture book celebrates individuality, acceptance and the courage to be yourself. The book is self-published by Rich and illustrated by Robby F. It follows his debut children’s book, Dogs Don’t Die.

“This book is about more than just a wolf pup, it’s about all of us,” says Rich. “I wanted to write a story that shows kids, and reminds adults too, that our uniqueness is what makes us beautiful. We’re at our best when we stay true to ourselves.”

 

Straight No Chaser Signs with Nashville’s Green Hill

Straight No Chaser, the RIAA-Certified Gold a cappella group, has signed with Green Hill. The group’s upcoming holiday album, Holiday Road, will be their first release with the label.

“We are thrilled to welcome these music veterans to the Green Hill family,” says Green Hill Music General Manager Blake Davis. “Their unmatched musicality, dynamic a cappella artistry, and signature humor bring something truly unique and captivating to today’s musical landscape. This Christmas album blends timeless classics with fresh favorites, showcasing why they were among the pioneers of the all–a cappella style. It’s a release destined to become a holiday favorite for listeners of all generations. Straight No Chaser truly knows how to put on a performance to remember.”

“Our group’s catalog of songs cover everything from 1950s doo wop to what’s on the radio today,” shares Straight No Chaser member Walter Chase. “Partnering with Green Hill Music, a label known for its legacy of iconic vocal music, is a perfect match for Straight No Chaser. We are so proud of our new album, Holiday Road and excited to join Green Hill Music with its release to reach fans of Straight No Chaser far and wide.”

 

Michael Sarver Signs With WieRok Entertainment Group

2009 American Idol finalist Michael Sarver has signed with WieRok Entertainment Group. His new track “Warrior” is available now.

“I used to chase dreams in country music, but deep down, I knew God was calling me elsewhere,” Sarver says. “‘Warrior’ isn’t just a song, it’s my testimony, born from the battles of fear, doubt, and spiritual warfare I’ve fought. God made me a warrior, and I’m finally stepping into that truth. If you’ve ever felt under attack or worn down, this song is for you. You’re not alone, and you were built for battle too.”

“What excites me about welcoming Michael Sarver to WieRok is his authenticity,” adds Lance Wieland, co-founder and CEO, WieRok Entertainment Group. “He’s walked through fame; he’s walked through struggles; and what he carries now is something deeper, a faith that’s been tested and proven. ‘Warrior’ is a statement of who he is and what he believes.”