Hunter Hayes, with support from Samsung Electronics America, Inc., has generously gifted $100,000 to the CMA Foundation to fully renovate the well-worn music room at the Nashville School of the Arts, home to 621 students in Davidson County. Hayes has always supported and noted the importance of having a dedicated workspace in schools for students to bolster their creative inspiration.

“I’ve always loved what music and charity organizations can do together, and I believe every child should have a place in school that allows them to discover more about their passions and be creative,” shared Hayes. “Thanks to the support of Samsung, CMA Foundation and numerous sponsors, we are able to help restore the Nashville School of the Arts guitar lab and give the students the necessary tools to practice and grow as musicians and artists.”

“Nashville School of the Arts is profoundly grateful for Hunter Hayes. His generosity in providing the new recording studio will allow our students to develop their remarkable talents as performs and future music industry leaders,” said Nashville School of the Arts’ Executive Principal Dr. Gregory Stewart.

The month-long renovation to create a state-of-the-art guitar lab and recording studio kicks-off on Wednesday, Oct. 4 with two performances for the entire school and community by Hayes at the Nashville School of the Arts. Hayes will also perform as part of The Grand Ole Opry’s 92nd Birthday Bash where he is enlisting NSA students to join him for two performances.

Hit songwriters Shane McAnally, Hillary Lindsey and Emily Shackelton joined Big Machine Records newcomer Carly Pearce on stage last night (Oct. 2) to celebrate the Oct. 13 debut of her Every Little Thing.

A weight hung over the fan event at the new location of Nashville’s Listening Room Cafe. Namely, the tragedy that took place at Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas over the weekend.

“Today has been an extremely heavy day,” said Pearce before a moment of silence. “Being an artist and songwriter, we know so many that were out there in Vegas. I hope tonight we honor those who lost their lives and everyone was affected, and remember why we love music so much—especially country music. Music heals.”

Of the album’s 13 tracks, Pearce performed nine titles acoustically, in the round. Four titles were new to fans, not having been previously available for instant grat. Young, front row fans recorded and sang along to each title.

Pearce wrote her debut, heartbreak ballad, “Every Little Thing,” with Shackelton and producer/writer busbee. Shackelton, a new mother of 13 days, performed a beautiful piano accompaniment for Pearce. Shackelton took the mic for the second title performed, “You Know Where To Find Me,” a co-write with Pearce and busbee. The evening wrapped with Pearce and Shackelton’s co-write “Careless.”

“Daniel [Lee] changed my life,” said Pearce. “He was looking to find an artist to work with from the ground up with busbee. He was the one person who told me I could in a sea of people who said I couldn’t…And thank you to Kos [Weaver], who let Daniel sign me to BMG.”

The Kentucky native introduced Shane McAnally, who has one outside cut on the project, “Feel Somethin’” with Natalie Hemby and busbee, in addition to a Pearce co-write with busbee and Pearce, “If My Name Was Whiskey.” The latter title was released to SiriusXM as a preview in addition to other instant-grat tracks. Pearce noted it reminds her of the timeless feel that the music from female country artists in the late ‘90s and early 2000’s had.

“Even when you sing a happy song,” said McAnally to Pearce, “you have that unbelievable country tear that we have been missing for so long. It feels like home hear that voice on the radio. Its funny that that is a breath of fresh air, that a stone cold country voice is taking us by surprise. But thank God they’re playing this record and you stayed in the game, because we need you.”

“I know Kelsea Ballerini and I have totally fan-girled over Hillary Lindsey,” praised Pearce of the songwriter. “I think everybody in Nashville kinda wants to be Hillary.”

Lindsey performed two of her titles, two outside cuts, “Hide The Wine,” written with Ashley Gorley and Luke Laird, noting it will be her next single after “Every Little Thing.” Secondly, Lindsey performed “I Need A Ride Home” with Pearce, also co-written with Gorley in addition to Matt Jenkins.

Pearce spontaneously welcomed Allison Veltz in addition to her sister Laura Veltz at separate times to the stage for their respective co-writes, “Doin’ It Right” and “Color.”

Pearce concluded by thanking two essential players who made Every Little Thing possible, BMLG owner Scott Borchetta and his A&R right hand Allison Jones, in addition to producer busbee and Vector managers Ken Levitan and Kevin Spellman.

“I’ve wanted [to make an album] my entire life,” concluded Pearce to the writers and audience. “It all begins with a song and I am truly grateful for letting me cut your songs and letting me write with you. I idolize you all as writers and artists and singers so thank you for doing this with me. I had so much fun making this album—front to back, it’s from my heart.”

Hattiesburg, Mississippi native Adam Doleac bucked family tradition to launch a career as a singer-songwriter. Doleac’s grandfather, Malcolm C. Doleac, started Doleac Electrical Company in Hattiesburg in 1947, with little more than $500 and a used service truck. Adam Doleac’s father took over the company after Malcolm died.

“He wanted me to take it over too, and I had all that in me and I could have very well stayed there,” Adam Doleac says. “But I’ve always had something that I always want more. I feel like I’m letting myself down if I’m not doing something that is very hard to achieve.”

With that drive for success in his blood, Doleac began writing songs and performing. In 2010, Doleac moved to Nashville. Eventually, he built a touring schedule of more than 200 shows per year on the road. Doleac signed with Sony/ATV and stayed close to Nashville to focus on songwriting. The focus has paid off; Doleac co-wrote “Don’t” for Darius Rucker’s upcoming album For The Last Time, in addition to every track on his own EP.

Doleac is managed by 287 Management, led by Jake LaGrone and Greg McCarn.

During a visit to the MusicRow offices, Doleac performed songs from his recently released self-titled, six-song EP, including “Everybody Needs Somebody,” and “Whiskey’s Fine,” which became a “Highway Find” on SiriusXM. Doleac’s frequent writing collaborator Lindsay Rimes produced the album.

“I’m from Mississippi and this has that bluesy flavor I like to do,” he said.

Doleac will join Ashley McBryde and High Valley on SiriusXM and Live Nation’s The Highway Finds Tour this fall.

“All those people who have been listening to the songs and have been becoming fans the past several months, I’m just excited to get out there and meet them and shake some hands,” Doleac says.

Adam Doleac Track List

“Bigger Than Us” (Adam Doleac / Lindsay Rimes / Michael Heeney)
“Shady” (Adam Doleac / Brock Berryhill / Taylor Phillips)
“Refill” (Adam Doleac / John Gurney / Matt Roy / Taylor Phillips)
“Everybody Needs Somebody” (Adam Doleac / Jon Nite / Tom Douglas)
“Whiskey’s Fine” (Adam Doleac / Monty Criswell)
“Some Girls” (Adam Doleac / Lindsay Rimes / Monty Criswell / Luke Sheets)

Cameron Strang will exit the Warner Music Group Board of Directors after six years of service, according to an announcement made Tuesday (Oct. 3) by Warner Music Group.

Three new members will join its Board of Directors: Jon Platt, Max Lousada and Noreena Hertz. Effective Oct. 1, Lousada and Platt, respectively the heads of WMG’s Recorded Music and Music Publishing divisions, have expanded their leadership roles as Board members, helping to chart the company’s future direction.

Previously serving from 2014-2016, international economist Noreena Hertz rejoined the Board effective Sept. 15. As a result of the changes, the WMG Board of Directors increases from 11 to 13 members.

“As the creative leaders of WMG’s two major divisions, Max and Jon are excellent additions to our Board,” said Len Blavatnik, Chairman & Founder of Access Industries. “I am also pleased to welcome Noreena back onto the Board, joining an impressive group of experts across business, technology, entertainment and media. I, along with Steve and the other directors, would like to thank Cameron Strang for his service on the Board; we are deeply appreciative of his many contributions.”

“I am very pleased to welcome these three leaders to our Board of Directors,” said Steve Cooper, CEO, WMG. “With Max now bringing his entrepreneurial vision to our entire Recorded Music operation, and Jon leading Warner/Chappell to new heights around the world, they will bring invaluable insight to our Board. I’m also delighted that we’ll once again draw on Noreena’s unique global perspective and experience, which were so welcome during her previous tenure.”