Gretchen Peters will participate in a Songwriter Session at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on May 12 in the museum’s Ford Theater.

Peters will perform and share stories behind the hit songs she has written during the program. Peters’ catalog includes George Strait’s “The Chill of an Early Fall,” Martina McBride’s “Independence Day” and “My Baby Loves Me,” and Faith Hill’s “The Secret of Life,” among many others. In 2015, she was honored in the museum’s Poets and Prophets: Salute to Legendary Songwriters series.

Presented by SunTrust, the Songwriter Session is included with museum admission, and is free to museum members. Seating is limited, and a program pass is required.

ASCAP has appointed Nick Lehman as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy & Digital Officer, reporting directly to ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. Lehman will oversee Strategy, Business Development, Product Development and Administration Services as ASCAP enhances services to its songwriter, composer and music publisher members as well as to its music licensing partners.

Matthews said, “ASCAP is driving innovation through strategic partnerships and digital product development to move the entire industry toward data alignment and better services to music creators and our industry stakeholders. Nick’s track record of launching, scaling and transforming converged media and technology companies through product innovation and strategic alliances makes him a perfect fit for ASCAP’s transformation agenda. I am thrilled that he will be part of our executive leadership team.”

Lehman said, “The ASCAP repertory of music is not only an enormously positive force in our culture, but it is a major catalyst for driving the growth and success of virtually every media platform. I am excited to help lead ASCAP into new areas, technologies and partnerships that will support our members and help them thrive in the future.”

Nicholas Lehman most recently worked as Chief Strategy Officer for TEGNA, where he was responsible for guiding the media company’s vision, cultivating strategic partnerships, incubating new businesses, and driving innovation initiatives throughout all areas of the company.

Prior to TEGNA, Lehman was President of Digital for NBCUniversal. During his tenure, he oversaw and transformed a portfolio of the company’s native digital businesses, including Fandango, and launched a series of new convergent media brands for NBCUniversal.

Before joining NBCUniversal, Lehman served as CEO of Plum TV and as COO of Programming for IAC. He also held several executive roles at MTV Networks, where he oversaw digital strategy and operations and launched multiple new businesses in the digital music, mobile, gaming, and social media spaces.

Lehman has an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an undergraduate degree from Brown University. He and his wife, Tracy, have two children.

Winter Jam 2018 has landed at #2 on Pollstar’s newly published “2018 1Q YTD Worldwide Ticket Sales Top 100 Tours” chart, taking the top spot of all music tours on the chart. Following the #1 tour “Disney On Ice,” Winter Jam ranks ahead of first quarter tours by such superstars as Bruno Mars and Blake Shelton.

Christian music’s largest annual tour, Winter Jam hit 46 cities across the country from January through March, boasting 17 sold-out shows, including capacity crowds at Philips Arena in Atlanta, St. Louis’ Scottrade Center, and Kansas City’s Sprint Center.

This year’s Winter Jam Tour Spectacular was headlined by rockers Skillet and showcased worship leader Kari Jobe (featuring Cody Carnes), pop hitmakers Building 429, comedian John Crist, breakout hip-hop recording artist KB, tour creators and hosts, NewSong, chart-topper Jordan Feliz, and a message from author, speaker and evangelist Nick Hall. In addition, the Pre-Jam Party featured Dan Bremnes and singer/songwriter Mallary Hope, along with new artist Westover. Hollyn joined Winter Jam for a 12-date stint in March, along with a variety of one-night-only special guests—this year including Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols, fan favorite Matthew West, singer/songwriter Francesca Battistelli, and ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck and his wife, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, among others.

“Each year it’s hard to see Winter Jam come to a close because the artists who travel with us become like family,” said tour creator and NewSong co-founder Eddie Carswell. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity God has given us with Winter Jam; we give our all to this tour every year. It’s still unbelievable to me that I get to be a part of it.”