Noah Hicks Readies New Project ‘Small Town Does’ For October

/by

Noah Hicks will release his new project, Small Town Does, on Oct. 10 via Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. A new single from the album, “Country Tonight,” is out now.

“Country Tonight” finds Hicks itching to ditch the hustle and bustle of the city for the calm of the country, as he seethes with pent-up longing to escape from the concrete jungle and return to his red dirt roots. Infused with southern grit, Small Town Does features hard-working anthems and slow-rolling backroad ballads across its eight songs co-written by Hicks, and includes previously-released tracks “Small Town Does” and “Get Enough,” in addition to “Country Tonight.” Among the writers contributing to the album are Zach Abend, Lindsay Rimes and Jeremy Stover.

“This project means a lot to me,” shares Hicks. “It’s made up of songs I’ve written over the last couple of years, and I think it does a good job of telling you a little more about me and the life I’m living. It’s important to me to keep giving fans new music, and I’m excited to see what they think of Small Town Does!”

Next month, Hicks will embark on his headlining “Small Town Does Tour” which will kick off on the album’s release day (Oct. 10) in Nashville before visiting cities including Chicago, Baltimore, Philadelphia and more, and wrapping in Athens on Nov. 5.

Small Town Does Track List:
1. “Country Tonight” (Noah Hicks, Zach Abend, Troy Cartwright)
2. “Better Bad Habit” (Noah Hicks, Zach Abend, Jordan Walker, Justin Wilson)
3. “That Fire” (Noah Hicks, Paul DiGiovanni, Jeremy Stover, Cole Taylor)
4. “Small Town Does” (Noah Hicks, Zach Abend, Cole Taylor)
5. “The Best For Me” (Noah Hicks, Paul DiGiovanni, Jeremy Stover, Cole Taylor)
6. “Might As Well Be Gone” (Noah Hicks, John Pierce, Lindsay Rimes)
7. “Get Enough” (Noah Hicks, John Pierce, Lindsay Rimes)
8. “More People Don’t” (Noah Hicks, Will Bundy, Jeremy Stover, Cole Taylor)

Weekly Register: Zach Top Breaks Into Top Five

/by

Morgan Wallen has maintained his spot atop the country albums and streaming songs charts this week, according to Luminate data. His duet with Tate McRae, “What I Want,” remains at No. 1 on the songs chart with 13 million streams this week adding to its 311 million total, while his I’m The Problem record holds its top position on the albums chart with 105K in total consumption.

On the albums chart, Wallen takes the No. 2 spot with One Thing At A Time garnering 35K in total consumption. BigXThaPlug holds the No. 3 spot with I Hope You’re Happy gaining 30K in total consumption. Zach Top takes the No. 4 spot with Ain’t In It For My Health garnering 28K in total consumption. Rounding out the albums chart is Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album with 27K in total consumption.

On the songs chart, Wallen holds the top four positions. “I Got Better” takes the No. 2 spot with 12 million streams this week. “I’m The Problem” and “Just In Case” come in at No. 3 and No. 4 respectively with 11 million streams each this week. At No. 5 this week is BigXThaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman’s “All The Way” with 9.6 million streams.

A New Level: Russell Dickerson Talks Career Highs & What Comes Next [Interview]

/by

Russell Dickerson

When Russell Dickerson posted a quick video from a hotel gym earlier this year, he didn’t expect it to launch the biggest single of his career. “Happen To Me,” built around a playful nod to Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” quickly became more than a viral moment. It scored his highest streaming debut to date with more than 175 million global streams, landed at No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway and the UK Country Radio Airplay Chart, and now sits at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.

At his Famous Back Home album release event in August, Dickerson was surprised with an RIAA Gold plaque for the track—a milestone he admits still feels surreal.

Triple Tigers Co-President Annie Ortmeier, Russell Dickerson and Co-President Kevin Herring at Dickerson’s Famous Back Home release party

“I thought ‘Bones’ was the single,” he says, recalling how he fought to make it the lead. But when the lighthearted “Happen To Me” caught fire, Dickerson leaned in, letting fan response rather than a marketing plan set the tone. “It was an instant grat track. We just threw up a video for fun,” he says. “Next thing you know, it’s my biggest song yet. You hope for those moments, but you can’t manufacture them.”

That moment marks a new chapter for an artist who’s been quietly stacking wins for nearly a decade. With five multi-Platinum No. 1 hits, a reputation for tireless touring and a catalog built around love and optimism, Dickerson has carved out his own lane in a crowded landscape. Famous Back Home captures both sides of that story: the family man who still writes about life with his wife and sons at the center, and the entertainer who wants his shows to feel as big as any in the format.

Co-produced with longtime collaborator Josh Kerr and featuring his first outside cuts, the record finds Dickerson stretching sonically without abandoning the hooks and heart that built his career. Songs like “Sippin On Top of the World” lean into sludgy guitars and arena-ready choruses, while “Never Leave,” written by Josh Miller, Greylan James and Matt Roy, show off his sincerity. “Never Leave” made its way to Dickerson after Thomas Rhett came over to Dickerson’s house to preview his then-unreleased album. When the song didn’t appear on the track list, Dickerson wasted no time cutting his own vocal—and then landed a guest appearance from Vince Gill.

“I knew as soon as Thomas didn’t use it, I wanted it,” Dickerson says with a laugh. “And then Vince Gill ended up on it. That’s a bucket list moment.”

Russell Dickerson

Even as the album experiments with sounds and collaborators, Dickerson says he avoided chasing the brooding, minor-key trends dominating much of country radio. “It’s so easy to get pulled toward whatever’s hot,” he admits. “But I’ve learned to trust my instincts. I want to stand out, not blend in. Positivity is my lane.”

He points to Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett and even Christian newcomer Forrest Frank as examples of artists building long careers on good vibes rather than heartbreak. “That’s what keeps fans coming back,” he says. “It feels true to who we are.”

That commitment to connection runs through the album’s live DNA. Dickerson road-tested songs like “Dust” and “Bones” acoustically for VIP audiences long before release day, watching for the moments that made people sing back. He talks about hauling full production rigs into undersized venues, ignoring budget lines for confetti cannons and treating every show like the biggest of his career.

“Every show counts,” he says. “Once people get in the door, we want to give them the best night of their lives. That’s how you build lifelong fans.”

The approach seems to be working. With the venue sizes increasing, Dickerson has hit the road with what he calls his most confident show yet. Famous Back Home feels like the soundtrack to that climb—a project rooted in the same sincerity that powered “Yours” and “Blue Tacoma,” but with a bigger sonic and emotional scope.

With “Happen To Me” racing up the charts and the album introducing a broader sound, Dickerson says his ultimate goal hasn’t changed: keep growing the live show, keep making music that reflects his life and protect his time with his family along the way.

“Success for me is being able to say no when I need to,” he explains. “To keep building this thing, but not at the expense of the people I love.”

He grins, thinking about the next benchmark. “I’ve always said arenas are the dream. And when we get there, maybe stadiums after that. We’ll see. For now, we’re just going to keep taking the next step.”

‘Robert Earl Keen & Friends: Applause For The Cause’ Raises $3 Million For The Texas Hill Country

/by

Pictured: Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country’s Austin Dickson, Buc-ee, Buc-ee owner Arch “Beaver” Aplin III and Robert Earl Keen gather together during ‘Robert Earl Keen & Friends Applause for the Cause Benefit’ at White Water Amphitheater in Canyon Lake, Texas. Photo: Erika Goldring

“Buc-ee’s Presents Robert Earl Keen & Friends: Applause For The Cause” on Aug. 28 was a raging success, raising three million dollars for the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country in the wake of the region’s devastating July 4 floods.

The star-studded benefit at Whitewater Amphitheater outside of New Braunfels saw a special set swap between Keen and Tyler Childers, a revisiting of The Marfa Tapes songs from Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall, and Jack Ingram, two touching tributes to Charlie Robison, and countless, whole-crowd sing-alongs. From the stage, Keen reiterated the charge he gave himself and everyone in his orbit since July 4: “Do as much as you can, for as long as you can.”

Cross Canadian Wagweed performs during ‘Robert Earl Keen & Friends Applause for the Cause Benefit’ at White Water Amphitheater. Photo: Erika Goldring

Financial services company Thrivent offered concertgoers a unique opportunity to write messages of gratitude for first responders and connected on-site directly with Texas Search and Rescue volunteers. Along with its clients, Thrivent has raised and donated nearly one million dollars to help support flood relief efforts in the region.

“Behind all the money collected and volunteer time on the ground, there is an immense sense of community and connection here,” says Thrivent Community Engagement Leader Amber Schraeder. “As the residents cried, we cried. As they prayed and hoped for recovery, we prayed and hoped with them. As the Hill Country recovers, we will be here to recover with them.”

Under the supervision of BetterUnite, Applause For The Cause raised 3 million dollars through ticket sales, merchandise purchases, a pre-party auction, and online donations throughout the live stream. For those who missed out on the live stream, Applause For The Cause can be re-watched on demand on Robert Earl Keen’s YouTube channel, merch can still be purchased here, and direct donations can still be made to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country here.

BMI Honors Troubadour John Fogerty

/by

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, Troubadour John Fogerty, BMI’s Mike O’Neill and BMI’s Mason Hunter. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI

An American music titan was saluted Monday evening (Sept. 8) as rock royalty John Fogerty was presented with BMI’s Troubadour Award.

“I hope I’m worthy of all this attention,” said the humble legend who has a catalog of immortal songs he wrote for Creedence Clearwater Revival as well as his solo albums. “I’m pretty overwhelmed.”

John Fogerty performs of “Up Around The Bend,” “Bad Moon Rising” and “The Old Man Down the Road” alongside his sons, Shane and Tyler Fogerty. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI

Fogerty was saluted in song and speeches during an invitation-only two-hour cocktail party, banquet and ceremony. BMI’s Clay Bradley presided.

“You are in for a real treat, I promise you,” said Bradley when he took the stage. “The power of music can transcend time itself.”

A stellar lineup of talents sang Fogerty’s enduring classics. New sensation Jesse Wells kicked it off with “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.” Z.Z. Top’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Billy Gibbons joined with Grammy winning La Marisoul for a Spanglish rendition of “Green River.” Classic rock vocalist Jay Buchanan turned in an electrifying version of “Fortunate Son.”

Writer David Wild gave the induction speech. “Legacy is the title of his new album,” Wilds said. Named for “a legacy you created, nurtured and ultimately won back. You won
a happy ending that you deserve, and that’s the most heartening legacy of all. These are songs that defined and graced all of our lives
.songs made to outlive us, and what Troubadour could have a better legacy than that?” Fogerty battled in the courts for years to regain control of his copyrights, which was a symbolic victory for all music creators.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, BMI’s Mike Steinberg, Billy F Gibbons, La Marisoul, The War And Treaty, Lainey Wilson, 2025 BMI Troubadour John Fogerty, Jay Buchanan, Jesse Welles, BMI’s Mike O’Neill and Mason Hunter. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI

The evening’s celebratory mood was amped up by The War and Treaty, who offered a barn-burning “I Put a Spell on You” and a soul-saturated “Born on the Bayou.” Then Lainey Wilson capped the tribute music with “Proud Mary.”

All of the performances were given standing ovations. Interspersed among them were video congratulations from Chris Stapleton, Eric Church and Dolly Parton, among others.

The Troubadour Award recognizes songwriters who have made significant contributions to the music industry and whose work has endured over time. It celebrates songwriting prowess and impact. Prior recipients have been Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, the late John Prine and attendees Gibbons, John Oates and Robert Earl Keen.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Mike O’Neill, 2025 Troubadour John Fogerty, 2024 Troubadour John Oates, 2023 Troubadour Billy F Gibbons, 2015 Troubadour Robert Earl Keen and BMI’s Clay Bradley pose at the ceremony in Nashville. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI

“I can’t believe this is happening,” said honoree Fogerty. “Like many of you, I was captivated by music. This is a town that music has built
by people who were captivated by music like I was. I heard Hank Williams and Nashville became a symbol for me, a magical place.

“The main thing I want to say is I’ve been blessed. I don’t know what else to say. I love you all.”

For Legacy, John Fogerty re-recorded his classics with a new band including his sons Tyler and Shane. They joined him on stage to rip through a set including a thrilling “Up Around the Bend,” a long jam on “Old Man Down the Road” and the rousing, apocalyptic “Bad Moon Rising.” At age 80, Fogerty still sounded astounding, singing with passion in the same keys that the raspy rock tenor originally recorded his hits in.

The banquet crowd was spellbound, reveling in an intimate mini concert by a songwriter’s songwriter, an American original, a national treasure and a true, modern Troubadour. Notable musicians in attendance included Elizabeth Cook, Fats Kaplan, Jeff Hanna, Dave Pomeroy, Liz Rose, Ray Kennedy, Carmella Ramsey, Matraca Berg, Steve Fishell, Kenny Vaughan, Bob DiPiero and 2025 Americana Lifetime Achievement honoree Regina McCrary, as well as Keen, Gibbons and Oates.

The event was the unofficial kick-off of the Americana Music Association’s annual celebration week. Known as AmericanaFest, it takes place in various Nashville venues Sept. 9-13.

Zack Dyer Signs With UMPG Nashville

/by

Zack Dyer & Sam Nasr.

Zack Dyer has inked an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Nashville.

Dyer hails from Minnesota and first made his mark in Music City with a Tim McGraw cut in 2020. He has also penned songs cut by Jake Owen, Jon Pardi, Max McNown, Seaforth, Drew Green, Graham Barham, Sophia Scott and more. He recently received his first RIAA-certified Platinum single for Tyler Braden’s “Devil You Know.”

“Zack is a truly special talent whose songs connect the moment you hear them,” says Sam Nasr, Manager, A&R, UMPG Nashville. “The possibilities are endless for him, and we’re excited to help take his career to the next level!”

“So pumped to officially join the Universal family,” adds Dyer. “From the very first meeting, Sam and the entire UMPG team made me feel right at home. Their belief in me as a songwriter means the world, and I couldn’t imagine a better crew to chase this dream with. Sam is an absolute rockstar and having her in my corner is truly a songwriter’s dream. I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get to work with the UMPG fam.”

Cowgirls At The Cowboy Returns For Fourth Year With Ella Langley Headlining

/by

Pictured (L-R, top row): Jenny Tolman and Ella Langley; (L-R, bottom row): Trannie Anderson, Mae Estes and Willow Avalon

Ella Langley is set to headline Cowgirls at The Cowboy, the nation’s only all-female country music festival which returns to Jackson Hole and the stage of the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar on Oct. 9-11.

Jenny Tolman is once again curating the fourth annual event, designed to celebrate strong women in music. Langley’s headlining appearance at Cowgirls at The Cowboy will mark her debut Jackson Hole performance. Cowgirls will kick off on Thursday night with a Songwriter Showcase featuring Tolman, Willow Avalon and Trannie Anderson. Friday night will feature Tolman, (who will appear on the forthcoming Taylor Sheridan/Blake Shelton-produced CBS performance series, The Road,) and co-headliner Mae Estes. Tickets will be sold for each night, and may be purchased at cowboybarjh.com.

The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, soon to enter its 90th year, is widely regarded as a national treasure and is regularly named one of the top honkytonks in the country.

RIAA Reports Paid Streaming Increases In Mid-Year Report

/by

The RIAA has released its Mid-Year 2025 US Recorded Music Revenue Report, reflecting a high of $5.6 billion across all formats.

Paid subscription revenues grew 5.7% to $3.2B, driven by US subscription accounts rising 6.4% year over year to 105M. Streaming continued to dominate with $4.68B in revenues, accounting for 84% of the market. Vinyl held steady at $457M, making up more than three-quarters of all physical music revenues following a nearly two-decade resurgence. For the fifth consecutive year, more vinyl was shipped than CDs.

“The number of paid subscriptions hit a historic milestone, surpassing 100 million accounts, while revenues from all formats reached $5.6 billion in the first half of 2025 – important markers that underscore music’s enduring value and demand for human artistry supported by record labels and collaborative partnerships,” shares RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier.

“These numbers show a stable and sustainable foundation as music continues to be one of America’s strongest exports with US artists accounting for one in three global streams – more than the next six countries combined. Aligning our reporting to international standards allows us to tell that story more clearly than ever,” adds RIAA VP of Research Matt Bass.

The full report is available here.

John Pershing Joins ASCAP As SVP & Chief Technology Officer

/by

John Pershing.

ASCAP has added John Pershing as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, effective Sept. 22.

“ASCAP is excited to bring John on board as we continue to drive innovative global technology solutions that benefit our songwriter, composer and publisher members as well as our licensees,” shares ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. “He will be instrumental as we harness the power of AI in exciting new ways to create growth, solve market needs, and advance efficiencies.”

“ASCAP has a future forward approach to developing technology initiatives that drive industry solutions,” adds Pershing. “It is especially exciting to join the team at a time when there are so many new opportunities to innovate in service of ASCAP’s strategic goals across the organization.”

Pershing joins ASCAP from What If Media Group where he held the role of CTO and Head of Product for the past six years. At the company, he was responsible for all IT functions, including software, product and data engineering, corporate IT structure and operations, information security and more. Before What If Media Group, he serves as Vice President of Software Engineering at 1010data.

Styles Haury Inks Publishing Deal With WinSongs Music

/by

Pictured (L-R, back row): Aaron Steinberg (Buchalter), Jim Zumwalt (Buchalter) and Kris Rochester (Manager, Run The Roost). (L-R, front row): Chris DeStefano (WinSongs), Styles Haury, Erin Kidd (WinSongs) and Matthew Jafari (Keller Turner Andrews & Ghanem).

Styles Haury has signed an exclusive publishing deal with WinSongs Music.

“I’m fired up to join the roster over at WinSongs,” says Haury. “It’s exciting to have a team that believes in my writing and me as an artist. Chris DeStefano and I clicked from the very first session. Talk about a Swiss Army knife from his productions to writing to playing instruments, he’s on another level. It’s also super refreshing to have someone like Erin Kidd on the team. Kind of like finding that perfect tree to hang your deer stand in the fall that’s how I feel about this partnership; when it’s right it’s right!”

Haury’s co-wrote Luke Bryan’s No. 1 “Country On” and has earned additional cuts by Craig Morgan, Shawn Austin, Craig Campbell, Jimmie Allen, Sadie Bass and others.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with a talent like Styles,” shares DeStefano (Owner/Founder, WinSongs). “He is a creative force with an insatiable passion, exceptional skills, and unwavering drive to become a successful songwriter. Moreover, he possesses the voice and star quality of a superstar artist.”

“There is an energy circling up around Styles on The Row that’s contagious,” adds Kidd (Creative Director, WinSongs) “Through his writing, he embodies those country music values and way of life we all know and love!”

Over the past few years, Haury made his Opry debut, signed a record deal with Good Company Ent. (Jake Owen, Keith Gale), appeared on the Bobby Bones Show and released his project, God’s Grocery Store, Aisle 1. Additionally, he’s opened for acts including Darius Rucker, Brett Eldridge, Brantley Gilbert, Jake Owen, Chris Janson, and others.