Evie Grace Fowler Joins Black River Publishing

Evie Grace Fowler. Photo: Courtesy of Black River Entertainment

Evie Grace Fowler has joined Black River Publishing as Creative Coordinator.

“Evie brings an amazing energy to our creative team,” shares Black River Publishing’s Vice President of Publishing, Rebekah Gordon. “Over the past year, she’s truly proven herself to be a valuable asset during her time as an intern. She’s well connected and deeply involved in the Nashville music community, and her passion and drive make her such a great fit for Black River and our incredibly talented roster of writers.”

A Belmont University alum, Fowler previously interned at Black River Publishing. During her time at Belmont, she served as Co-President of the Belmont University Songwriters Association, and participated in BMI’s 2024 Catalog Cast.

“I am thrilled to officially join the Black River Publishing team and to have the opportunity to champion such an amazing roster of songwriters,” adds Fowler. “Rebekah and Sarah [Hudspeth] have been so kind to take me under their wings, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to learn from and work alongside them.”

Fowler is already on the job, based in the company’s Nashville office reporting to Gordon. She can be reached at efowler@blackriverent.com.

Charles Wesley Godwin Shares Favorites In New ‘Hometown Sessions’ Video Series

Charles Wesley Godwin. Photo: David McClister

Charles Wesley Godwin is offering fans a taste of some of his favorite songs in a new weekly performance YouTube series, “The Hometown Sessions.”

The series includes fan-favorites as well as reworked versions of beloved live show staples delivered to fans with weekly performance video drops on YouTube. It kicks off today with the release of Godwin’s rendition of Tyler Childers‘ “Whitehouse Road.”

YouTube video

Teaming up with his longtime band The Allegheny High, Godwin collaborated with director Justin Clough, who shot the performances at The Metropolitan Theater in Godwin’s hometown of Morgantown, West Virginia. “It’s one of my favorite venues in my hometown,” Godwin shares. “We chose some of our favorite songs to perform live and even reworked a few. Can’t wait for y’all to see these!”

“The Hometown Sessions” span Godwin’s career and feature songs such as “All Again” from his breakout album Family Ties, tracks from his most recent EP Lonely Mountain Town, including the title track and “It’s The Little Things,” as well as songs from his breakthrough debut Seneca—“Hardwood Floors,” “Seneca Creek,” “Strawberry Queen” and more.

Godwin continues his “The Lonely Mountain Town Tour” now through November, along with support dates for Eric Church and Whiskey Myers in the fall.

“The Hometown Sessions” Release Schedule:
July 15: Whitehouse Road (Hometown Sessions)
July 22: All Again (Hometown Sessions)
July 29: Strawberry Queen (Hometown Sessions)
August 5: Hardwood Floors (Hometown Sessions)
August 12: She Don’t Love Me Anymore (Hometown Sessions)
August 19: It’s The Little Things (Hometown Sessions)
August 26: Lonely Mountain Town (Hometown Sessions)
September 2: Seneca Creek (Hometown Sessions)

Industry Ink: Old Dominion, Shenandoah, NSAI, Tiera Kennedy, Grace Bowers

Old Dominion Hosts Blues Brothers Reunion At Windy City Smokeout

Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi with Old Dominion. Photo: Mason Allen

Old Dominion was joined by Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi on-stage at Windy City Smokeout for a special reunion of the cult classic film, The Blues Brothers. Taking the form of their characters Jake and Elwood Blues, the duo sat in with the band for a special performance of “Hotel Key.”

“We got a special little treat for you…” Matthew Ramsey of the band said from the stage. “It’s kind of a big deal… we got some American icons for you…We got legends coming out on the stage…All the way from Calumet City, Illinois… the Bluuuuuuuuuuues Brothers!”

 

Shenandoah Performs On Fox & Friends

YouTube video

Shenandoah performed its iconic No. 1 hit “Two Dozen Roses” on Fox & Friends over the weekend. Originally scheduled to appear earlier in the week, the band’s performance was delayed due to the flooding in Texas.

“We want to thank Emily Compagno and all of our friends at Fox for making this wonderful appearance possible,” explained Marty Raybon, founding member of the band. “Fandango! Our continued thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in Texas who were affected by the terrible floods. God Bless Texas!”

 

NSAI Hosts FBI Personnel For Cyber Security Briefing

Pictured (L-R): Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Hinkle, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, Supervisory Intelligence Analyst Andrew Mayher, FBI Nashville Field Office ,Tim Nichols (Pro Songwriter), Public Affairs Officer Elizabeth Clement Webb, FBI Nashville Field Office, J.T. Harding (Pro Songwriter), Supervisory Special Agent Chris Smith, FBI Nashville Field Office, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Henderson, FBI Nashville Field Office, Brett James (Pro Songwriter), Jimmy Yeary (Pro Songwriter), Bart Herbison (Executive Director, NSAI).

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) recently hosted personnel from the FBI Nashville Field Office for a music industry briefing about cyber security and threats, focusing on both preventive measures and what to do if you are the victim of such attacks.

 

Tiera Kennedy Visits CMHOFM Songwriting Camp

Tiera Kennedy with museum songwriting camp participants and camp. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Tiera Kennedy visited the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s intermediate-to-advanced songwriting camp as a guest artist, where she answered questions about her career and songwriting and performed her song “Found It in You.” Songwriting camp at the museum offers budding songwriters from ages 11 to 18 an opportunity to hone their craft, learn from professionals and meet likeminded peers.

 

Grace Bowers Signs With IMG Models

Grace Bowers. Photo: David McClister

Grace Bowers, award-winning guitarist, singer/songwriter and bandleader, has signed with IMG Models to secure opportunities in the fashion and beauty space.

Gaining traction during the pandemic, Bowers has performed at the Grammy Awards, CBS’ New Year’s Eve Live and more as well as spent the last year touring with The Red Clay Strays, Gary Clark Jr., Slash, and The Roots. She continues to be represented by WME and managed by Scooter Weintraub, Pam Wertheimer and Pam Adams at W Management.

Dreamcatcher Adds Phil Guerini, Expands Callista Clark Team

Callista Clark. Photo: Andrew Gallivan, Olivia Rose Styling and Collin Pruitt

Phil Guerini has joined Dreamcatcher Management to focus on Callista Clark’s career development.

Formerly a Disney Channels Worldwide Music Strategy executive and CEO of Jonas Group Entertainment, Guerini brings a lifetime of music business experience, including supporting the career launches of Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Luke Combs, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and Kelsea Ballerini, among others.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Powell Hedley and Dreamcatcher Management in this exciting endeavor. At just 21, Callista is already one of country music’s most dynamic voices—blending striking vocal maturity with deeply resonant songwriting,” says Guerini. “Having recently spent time with Callista and listening to the music she’s preparing to release, I think she’s not only a rising star, but someone who will quickly move to the head of the class and is ready to step boldly into her next chapter.”

Clark has also signed with Matt Payne and Powell Hedley’s Tonight We Make History Publishing. John Strohm is legal counsel for Clark, and will also oversee career development alongside Dreamcatcher executives.

“We are blessed to have Callista as a client across management, recorded music and publishing,” says Hedley, Dreamcatcher CEO. “It takes a village to make magic happen. When she delivered ‘Tell the Truth’ and Ross knocked the production out of the park, we knew it was time to rise to the occasion. This brain trust of top music executives has been hand selected to deliver what she deserves—a career at the very highest level. We are proud and humbled to be a part of this next chapter in partnership with such a special artist.”

Megan McLaughlin also joins Dreamcatcher as day to day for Clark, and will also be managing her writing calendar. Chelsea Giberson has joined Dreamcatcher to oversee social media and marketing.

Clark’s next single, “Tell the Truth,” is slated for release via Stem on Aug. 8.

Braxton Keith To Embark On ‘This Ain’t My First Tour Tour’ This Summer

Braxton Keith. Photo: Benjamin Humphrey

Braxton Keith is set to embark on his “This Ain’t My First Tour Tour” in July. The tour will stop in Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma and many more through November. Additionally, he will join Cody Johnson, Gavin Adcock and Luke Bryan on select dates between his headlining shows.

Additionally, he is set to release his latest track, “Baby You Do,” this Friday (July 18).

“‘Baby You Do’ is about the memory of a past love,” Keith says. “It haunts you when you sleep and then again when you wake up. It sticks with you. It’s about the ghost of a person whose love you wish you still had, but know you can never get back.”

“This Ain’t My First Tour Tour” Dates:
Sep. 19 – Pasadena, TX – Pasadena Livestock and Rodeo
Sep. 20 – Mission, TX – Las Palmas Race Park
Sep. 27 – Shreveport, LA – Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
Oct. 2 – Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre
Oct. 11 – Angelton, TX – Brazoria County Fair
Oct. 16 – Midland, TX – Braden Joplin Memorial Concert
Oct. 24 – Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street Amphitheater
Nov. 7 – Waco, TX – Camp FIMFO

CeCe Winans To Celebrate The Season With New 2025 Christmas Tour

CeCe Winans is sharing the joy and peace of the Christmas season with audiences nationwide this December on her “Christmas with CeCe Winans Tour,” kicking off Dec. 10 in Austin.

Special guests Angie Winans and Debbie Winans, CeCe’s sisters and fellow vocalists, will join her on the eight-city trek, which will include stops in Hattiesburg, Boston, Philadelphia and more through Dec. 20. The holiday experience will celebrate the true meaning of the season through unforgettable music and soulful moments of worship, and fans can expect a mix of Winans’ most beloved hits as well as timeless Christmas classics. Tour dates and ticket information are available at cecewinans.com.

“I’m truly thankful for the opportunity to bring this Christmas tour to so many cities,” says Winans. “There’s nothing like the joy and peace that this season brings, and being able to share that through music is a blessing. I’m especially excited to be doing this with my sisters; it’s going to be a beautiful time of worship, celebration, and togetherness.”

Winans’ recent albums, Believe For It and More Than This have resonated strongly with fans, leading to over one billion streams and downloads, multiple award wins, and a tour resurgence garnering over 100 shows across the globe over the last two years.

Anne Wilson Plots Benefit Concert For Kentucky Tornado Relief

Anne Wilson will return to her home state for a benefit concert at Corbin Arena in Corbin, Kentucky on Aug. 11, raising funds for families and communities impacted by the deadly tornado that struck Eastern Kentucky in May.

All proceeds from the show will benefit tornado recovery efforts in the region, supporting both The Sheppard Family Foundation’s direct work with families in London and Laurel County and the region-wide Appalachian Tornado Relief Fund. Tickets are on sale now.

“Kentucky is my home, and both the London and Somerset areas hold such dear memories for me,” shares Wilson. “When I found out about the tornadoes that hit in May and the devastation they caused, I knew I wanted to host a night that could bring hope and raise money for those in need. I’m so excited to be playing Corbin Arena for the very first time — the same venue where I saw so many concerts growing up. I’m praying this night of music brings healing, comfort and strength to those in need. I can’t wait to be back in my home state.”

Cameron Walker Signs With Big Machine Music

Pictured (L-R): Big Machine Music VP Tim Hunze, Cameron Walker, Big Machine Music President Mike Molinar, Endurance Entertainment’s David Lovett. Photo: Courtesy of Big Machine Music

Cameron Walker has inked an exclusive co-publishing deal with Big Machine Music.

“The entire team at Big Machine Music has been a dream to work with creatively and administratively,” shares Walker. “I feel incredibly fortunate to be in such great hands with people who allow me to fully focus on creating. It is an honor to be part of the BMM family.”

A Southport, Connecticut native, Walker now resides in Nashville and has had his songs recorded across genres by Sabrina Carpenter, Seventeen, All Time Low, Jax, Royal & the Serpent and Austin Snell, among others, as well as notching No. 1 singles on the K-pop and J-pop charts. Walker’s tunes have also been featured in commercials for Apple, Ford and Nike, as well as heard in TV shows and films across Disney, 20th Century Studios and more.

“Cam is the consummate creative. The breadth of his work across genres and sync as a songwriter, musician and performer is so impressive,” says Mike Molinar, President of Big Machine Music. “He is a musician’s musician and exactly the type of songwriter who will continue to flourish as the songwriting community further expands globally.”

Thomas Edwards Signs With Warner Music Nashville

Pictured (L-R, back row): Mike Dupree (SVP Creative Director, Warner Music Nashville), Stephanie Wright (SVP A&R, Warner Music Nashville), Cris Lacy (Co-Chair/Co-President, Warner Music Nashville) and Patrick Worstell (Director Marketing, Warner Music Nashville); (L-R, front row): Gregg Nadel (Co-Chair/Co-President, Warner Music Nashville), Thomas Edwards and Rusty Morrell (FORM Management). Photo: Andrea Schollnick

Rising singer-songwriter Thomas Edwards has signed a record deal with Warner Music Nashville.

“I’m so excited to be working with Warner and their great team of driven people,” Edwards shares. “After spending the last four years in town improving my craft as a writer and artist, I am excited to let these songs out in the world with great partners at Warner. I look forward to challenging myself as a creative and all the great music to be made ahead!”

To celebrate the signing, Edwards will release his new song, “Drunk Enough,” this Friday (July 18). Penned by the singer along with Dave Cohen and Aaron Ratiere, the track follows previously released “Old Crowd” and his debut song “Runnin’ Through That T,” which was inspired by his collegiate football career at the University of Tennessee.

Tyler Rich’s ‘Leaving California Tour’ Set To Launch In September

Tyler Rich

Tyler Rich will embark on his new “Leaving California Tour” this fall, kicking off Sept. 28 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The 13-date tour will hit cities including Omaha, Des Moines, Las Vegas, Portland, L.A. and more through Nov. 22, and follows Rich’s nationwide headlining tour earlier this year. Ticket sales for the tour will roll out in stages beginning with the Artist Pre-Sale starting today (July 15), and tickets will be available to the general public starting July 18 at TylerRich.com.

Rich heads into the new tour fresh off the release of his sophomore album Hello California, and on the heels of the release of his two latest singles, “When?” and “Summer Of Us,” which dropped over the last two months. Since debuting on the country scene he has racked up over half a billion streams and scored three No. 1s on SiriusXM’s The Highway, including the Gold singles “The Difference” and “Leave Her Wild,” as well as the viral favorite “Better Than You’re Used To.”

Tour Dates:
July 16 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry *
August 2 – Wahoo, NE – Saunders County Fair *
August 21 – Wheatland, CA – The Event 2025 *
August 22 – Lakehead-Lakeshore, CA – A Lakeshore Live Music Session *
September 6 – Dinuba, CA – Night on the Range *
September 11 – San Diego, CA – Moonshine Beach *
September 12 – Lodi, CA – Lodi Grape Festival *
September 13 – Clearlake Oaks, CA – Cache Creek Vineyards *
September 27 – Windsor, CO – Hoedown Hill Country Music Festival *
September 28 – Colorado Springs, CO – The Black Sheep
October 2 – Long Island, NY – Mulcahy’s
October 17 – Sauget, IL – Pop’s Nightclub
October 23 – Omaha, NE – Barnato
October 24 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
October 25 – Iowa City, IA – Wildwood
November 7 – Las Vegas, NV – Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
November 8 – Portland, OR – Ponderosa
November 13 – Pittsburgh, PA – Cadence Clubhouse
November 14 – Stamford, CT – Palace Theatre Upstage
November 15 – Waynesboro, VA – The Foundry at Basic City
November 21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater
November 22 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades

*previously announced dates