Dax. Photo: Desmond K Ye

Dax recently stopped by the MusicRow offices to share his unconventional story of finding music.

MusicRow’s Lauryn Sink, Madison Hahnen & LB Cantrell, Dax, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson & John Nix Arledge.

The Canadian-born rapper moved to the United States as a child and pursued basketball throughout his college career. Music wasn’t Dax’s first love, basketball was. But during a bus ride with his basketball team, he felt an unexpected urge to write. The poem he created that day ignited a new passion within him, leading him to commit to poetry at 22 years old. As a senior in college, that transitioned into songwriting.

“My songs come from things I’ve been through, things I’m trying to manifest, things I’m trying to avoid or things I’m trying to explain,” he shared.

Dax writes all of his songs alone, tailored to the life he’s lived.

“I just like writing. Some songs take me two days and some songs take me six months. I love to write alone, that’s what helps with my mental health.”

Some of his most recent work is inspired by his journey with alcohol. After his first year of touring, Dax realized that he was unable to go multiple days without drinking, and decided to challenge himself to change. His most recent track, “Man I Used To Be,” was released in August after six months without a drink.

With more music on the way, Dax will embark on his Lonely Dirt Road Tour this October. The run will travel to Texas, California, New York and more before wrapping in London, Ontario in November.

TobyMac Announces “Hits Deep Tour” Lineup

TobyMac has announced the lineup for his “Hits Deep 2026 Tour,” which will feature Crowder and Jeremy Camp. The tour will cover over 30 dates, and will kick off Feb. 5 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

“‘Hits Deep’ has become a touring tradition that I look forward to every year. What happens on stage is always rich, always passionate and intense,” shares TobyMac. “My prayer is that everyone leaves the show refreshed spiritually, as well as moved by the music. We’ve always described this tour as being deep in hits, as well as hits that hit you deep. This year’s lineup is a little different, with fewer artists, but way more hits. It’s a great triple pack, going beyond my expectations. I can’t wait to perform the songs of Heaven On My Mind live. This is gonna be a night for the books, so come one, come all!”

House Of Worship Streaming Event Set For Feb. 1

CeCe Winans, Hillary Scott, Michael W. Smith, Chris Brown (Elevation Worship),= and 21 other artists will be featured in a one-of-a-kind House of Worship event set to stream Feb. 1 in partnership with The Fuel Music and in:ciite® Events. Churches, small groups and more are invited to register at houseofworshipmusic.com/events for the World Vision sponsored event that promises to be an unforgettable night of worship with believers from around the globe.

Executive produced by Michael W. Smith and Dove Award-winning, Australian worship pioneer Darlene Zschech, House Of Worship was recorded and filmed in-the-round at World Wide Stages with all 25 artists together in the same room.

Pat Barrett Readies Fourth Album I’ve Got A Fire For October

Pat Barrett will release his fourth album, I’ve Got A Fire (Bowyer & Bow / CCMG) on Oct. 3. Barrett has already begun previewing the project with previous releases: “Praise The Lord Forever” in June and “I’ve Got A Fire” in August, and the just-released “Hard Part Of A Dream.” The title cut, which continues to grow in weekly streams, has resonated with listeners thanks to the song’s heartwarming video that features Barrett’s spunky, endearing father.

Barrett is set to share fresh originals from I’ve Got A Fire throughout the fall and into 2026 as he supports Brandon Lake on his “King of Hearts Tour,” which starts Oct. 2 in Sunrise, Florida, and is scheduled to make 50 stops.

Integrity Music Hosts Dove Week Event At Trevecca

Integrity Music will host an event at Trevecca at University Commons during Dove Awards week on Oct. 6 featuring Aaron Williams, Britt Nicole, Warren Peay, and Holly Brand. A portion of proceeds from this event will benefit People Loving Nashville who serve the unhoused community in Nashville. They will have beverages and lite snacks for sale from their coffee shop Paradeisos Coffee Company.

The Digital Media Association (DIMA), the trade association representing the world’s leading streaming services, has revealed new research around the streaming and spending habits in the Americana fan genre.

Through the research, it was found that Americana fans spend more than double on music annually than any other genre, with the average fan spending $837 on recorded music, live and merchandise compared to $400 in other genres. It was also revealed that Americana fans spend 24% more time listening than other genre fans. 71% of Americana fans also pay for an on-demand subscription, beating the 44% national average.

“This research underlines the passion of the Americana community and how streaming is deepening that engagement.” says Graham Davies, President and CEO, DIMA. “Americana has grown from a regional scene into a genre with national and international reach. With streaming now representing 69% of recorded music revenues globally, streaming services are powering this growth by connecting artists directly with audiences everywhere. Innovations from streaming services help ensure that Americana creators and rights holders in genres like Americana reach audiences across the country and around the world, and empower fans to discover new music and build deeper, lasting relationships with their favorite artists.”

DIMA’s research also spotlighted the Americana listener demographic, revealing that 76% of Americana music streamers are under 44, and the strongest concentration of U.S. listeners are in the South Central and South Atlantic regions. Additionally, 90% of Americana fans largely stream at home, with an additional 73% consistently listening in their car.

Russell Dickerson has notched his sixth No. 1 single with “Happen To Me.” The track sits in the top spot on both the Country Aircheck/MediaBase and Billboard Country Charts this week.

The tune was co-penned by Dickerson alongside Chase McGill, Chris LaCorte, Jessie Jo Dillon and Robert Hazard. Dickerson also co-produced the track with LaCorte and Josh Kerr.

“Happen To Me” has amassed over 200 million global streams, giving Dickerson his biggest streaming debut to date. The single has received RIAA Platinum certification, and has spent multiple weeks at No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway, Canada and UK Country Radio. It has also continued to jump up the Billboard Hot 100, and has reached the Top 20 on Hot AC and cracked the Top 40 across all genres.

Pictured (L-R): Chief Zaruk, Co-Founder of The Core Entertainment; Cameron Whitcomb and Simon Tikhman, Co-Founder of The Core Entertainment. Photo: Dylan Godfrey

The Core Entertainment has signed acclaimed singer-songwriter Cameron Whitcomb to its artist management roster.

With more than 400 million global streams, over six million Spotify listeners and upwards of three million social media followers, Whitcomb is an exciting new voice in country music. His upcoming debut album, The Hard Way, arrives Sept. 26 via Atlantic Records. Whitcomb was recently named to both Spotify and Amazon Music’s Artists To Watch lists, and has been selling out shows across North America.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Cameron into The Core family,” share Simon Tikhman and Chief Zaruk, co-founders of The Core Entertainment. “He’s an extraordinary talent whose music reflects both grit and vulnerability, and he’s already connecting with fans on a massive scale. We couldn’t be more excited to support his journey and help him build a career with real longevity.”

“I’m so grateful to be joining The Core,” says Whitcomb. “From the moment we met, it felt like family. They understand where I’ve come from, where I want to go, and they’re as passionate as I am about making music that lasts. I can’t wait for what’s ahead.”