Lakelin Lemmings Inks With Stone Country Records

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Pictured (L-R, top row): Brown Sellers Brown’s Ash Bowers, Kendra Whitehead and Jason Sellers. (L-R, bottom row): Brown Seller Brown’s Benny Brown and Lakelin Lemmings. Photo: Courtesy of Brown Sellers Brown/ Stone Country Records

Singer-songwriter Lakelin Lemmings has signed a record deal with Brown Sellers Brown imprint Stone Country Records.

Lemmings began playing in talent shows and local festivals in West Tennessee at just six years old and began writing and recording in Nashville at 12. When she was 17, she signed her first publishing deal.

Her label debut “American Dreamin'” will release on June 20. Drawing from her inspirations including Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and Miranda Lambert, the track is a high-energy tune about her small town. Lemmings co-wrote the song with Neal Coty and Ash Bowers.

“Lakelin is the real deal – not only as a singer but as a country songwriter,” says BSB Founder Benny Brown. “It’s not often you find a teenage artist who’s not only ready to be signed, but who’s still able to sing honest songs that girls and young women can relate to.”

“Beyond her undeniable talent as a singer-songwriter, Lakelin knows exactly who she is as an artist—unapologetically country and completely herself,” adds BSB executive Ash Bowers. “She’s not just chasing a dream and she’s not chasing trends; I’m confident we are about to see a career with purpose and longevity, built one song at a time.”

“I’m so excited to release ‘American Dreamin’’,” shares Lemmings. “One of my dreams came true when I signed with Stone Country Records. I want me and my music to be a light in this world and industry – and inspire others to be proud of who they are and where they came from. And I think Benny, Ash and everyone at Stone Country Records are the right people to help me do that.”

Bowers will also represent Lemmings through Brown Sellers Brown Management.

Waylon Jennings Birthday Celebration To Be Held At Chief’s

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On Saturday (June 14), Waymore’s Outlaws is set to host a birthday celebration, “Runnin’ With Ol’ Waylon,” honoring Waylon Jennings for what would have been his 88th birthday. The event begins at 8 p.m. at Chief’s On Broadway and tickets are available here.

“Keeping Waylon’s spirit alive is important to us, the fans he made over decades of hits and to a new generation of fans,” says Carter Robertson, who sang backup for Jennings on the road and in the studio. “This show is like a live documentary, with Waylon’s voice introducing songs, and former band members speaking, and then you have us on stage who actually recorded the hits and lived the stories.”

In addition to Robertson, the band consists of Jennings’ bass player Jerry “Jigger” Bridges, keyboard player Barny Robertson, drummer Jeff Hale and steel guitarist Fred Newell, who collectively performed on the recordings of many of Jennings’ hit songs, and lead vocalist and guitarist Tommy Townsend.

Anthem Music Publishing Acquires Song Catalog From Marty Robbins

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Marty Robbins

Anthem Music Publishing has acquired a catalog of songs from legendary country and western singer-songwriter Marty Robbins.

Among the standout titles is “Big Iron,” Robbins’ 1960 classic that reached No. 5 on the U.S. Country chart and peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was introduced to a new generation of fans with its feature in the 2010 video game Fallout: New Vegas.

Also included is the groundbreaking hit “El Paso,” released by Columbia Records in 1959, which topped both the Billboard Hot 100 and U.S. Country charts. The song earned Robbins the 1961 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. “My Woman, My Woman, My Wife,” a deeply personal ballad that reached No. 1 on the U.S. Country chart, is also included. The track earned Robbins his second Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording in 1970.

“Marty Robbins was a towering figure in American music – an artist whose storytelling transcended genre and era. His songs are woven into the fabric of country and western music heritage, and continue to influence artists and resonate with fans to this day,” says Jason Klein, CEO of Anthem Music Group.

“We’re honored to see Marty’s music find a new home with Anthem Music Publishing. His songs have stood the test of time, captivating generations with their vivid storytelling and emotional depth. We’re confident that Anthem will not only preserve Marty’s legacy, but elevate it—introducing his work to new audiences while honoring the timeless spirit of the originals,” states the Marty Robbins Estate. “Marty’s music has always belonged to the people, and we believe Anthem shares that same dedication to keeping it alive for generations to come.”

BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill’s Contract Extended Through 2029

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Mike O’Neill

The BMI Board of Directors have extended President & CEO Mike O’Neill‘s contract through Dec. 31, 2029.

“Under Mike O’Neill’s leadership, BMI has grown into the most successful performing rights organization in the business,” says Pete Masucci, Managing Director, New Mountain Capital and Chair of the BMI Board. “With Mike’s ongoing guidance, BMI will continue to deliver on its commitment to modernize its infrastructure, invest in new technology and services and grow the value of its songwriters, composers and publishers’ music. Our decision to grant this extension demonstrates the confidence we have in Mike and the BMI team as they continue to innovate on behalf of the music creators they represent and ensure their ability to thrive in a changing industry.”

A 30 year veteran of BMI, O’Neill has also spent time on the company’s creative team, as well as Domestic Licensing and revenue generation before being named CEO in September 2013. Prior to joining BMI, he served as Director, Group and National Accounts for CBS-TV Network. He also held the roles of Vice President, Media Licensing and Administration and Senior Vice President, Sales Administration, Licensing and Repertoire during his time at CBS-TV network.

Over the past year, O’Neill has lead a slew of programs that back BMI’s mission to protect and grow the value of its roster’s music. The initiatives include increasing distributions for BMI songwriters, composers and publishers by 13%, expanding staff to support the company’s service upgrades, and investing in BMI’s technology to improve its product development and services.

Under O’Neill, BMI has also launched new online dashboards that provide songwriters and composers with insight and transparency into their royalty payments, created a new call center for customer service and collaborated with Music Nation to establish a licensing infrastructure in the UAE. O’Neill also assisted in the hiring of three executives for the roles of Chief Financial Officer, Chief Technology Officer and the newly created role of Chief Transformation Officer.

“I have never been more optimistic about the future of BMI, and there are only greater things ahead,” adds O’Neill. “BMI’s mission to drive value for our affiliates, increase our distributions and ensure the long-term success of our family of songwriters, composers and publishers continues at full speed. I am delighted the BMI Board and NMC have the confidence in me and the incredible BMI team as we continue to work on behalf of our affiliates and licensing partners, invest in our company and position BMI for continued growth.”

Louie TheSinger Slates ‘One For The Hometown Tour’ For Fall

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Louie TheSinger will embark on his 14-city “One For The Hometown Tour” this fall beginning Sept. 11.

The tour, which will support his new album One For The Hometown, which released June 6, will visit New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Nashville, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Denver and more through Oct. 11. Tickets will be available starting June 10 via a Citi presale with additional presales running throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning June 12.

“I can’t wait to get on the road and show people that I’m just a regular person and that anyone can do this,” says Louie. “I had never officially left Texas until I was an adult. Getting to tour the country with my music, I would have never guessed.”

Louie performed at a Billy Bob’s Texas street day show last week and at CMA Fest in support of his new album. His One For The Hometown album features his recent releases “Quicker Way to Jesus,” “Good Girl” and title track, “Hometown (feat. Chris Pérez).”

“One For The Hometown Tour” Dates:
Thu Sep 11, 2025 | Philadelphia, PA | Theatre of Living Arts
Fri Sep 12, 2025 | New York, NY | The Gramercy Theatre
Sun Sep 14, 2025 | Chicago, IL | House of Blues
Tue Sep 16, 2025 | Washington, D.C. | The Howard Theatre
Thu Sep 18, 2025 | Nashville, TN | Exit/In
Sat Sep 20, 2025 | San Antonio, TX | The Aztec Theater
Sun Sep 21, 2025 | Houston, TX | House of Blues
Fri Sep 26, 2025 | Albuquerque, NM | Revel Entertainment Center
Sat Sep 27, 2025 | Denver, CO | Summit
Wed Oct 01, 2025 | Los Angeles, CA | Belasco
Thu Oct 02, 2025 | Sacramento, CA | Ace of Spades
Sat Oct 04, 2025 | Phoenix, AZ | The Van Buren
Thu Oct 09, 2025 | Oklahoma City, OK | Tower Theatre
Sat Oct 11, 2025 | Fayetteville, AR | JJ’s Live

UMPG Nashville Elevates Sam Nasr To Manager, A&R

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Sam Nasr. Photo: Georgia Caparos

UMPG Nashville has promoted Sam Nasr to Manager, A&R. She will continue to report to Troy Tomlinson, Chairman and CEO of the Nashville division.

In her elevated role, Nasr will seek out and develop new talent and support existing clients by finding opportunities. Nasr most recently served as A&R Coordinator, a role she has held since July 2022. Nasr hails from Miami and is a graduate of Belmont University.

“Soon after Sam joined the UMPG Nashville team, it became obvious that she loved and respected songwriters,” says Tomlinson. “Her work ethic and determination to put songwriters in the ‘right room’ rather than just ‘any room’ quickly made her a favorite A&R person among the songwriters in her care. Her positive attitude, quick smile, kindness and desire to grow are just precursors to the career ahead of her.”

“Songwriters are the heart of this town, and I feel incredibly grateful to be a part of this community,” adds Nasr. “I’m honored to step into this new role and am excited to continue building with Troy Tomlinson, the creative team and the incredible songwriters at UMPG.”

The Songwriters Hall Of Fame Induction & Awards Dinner Announces Presenters & Performers

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Dan + Shay, Kristin Chenoweth, Nile Rodgers and more are set to present or perform at the upcoming 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner this Thursday (June 12) at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

Other performers and presenters include Mary-Mitchell Campbell; Aaron Dessner; Sadie Gorley; Debbie Gibson; Heavenly, Hannah Joy & Rodney Jr. Jerkins; Vernon Reid, Corey Glover, Will Calhoun & Doug Wimbish (p/k/a Living Colour); Alan Menken; Moriah; Sam Opoku; Daphne Brower; Mary Kate Morrison; Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (p/k/a Pasek and Paul); Teddy Riley; and John Stamos.

Ashley Gorley is among this year’s inductees, along with George Clinton; Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons (of The Doobie Brothers); Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins; Mike Love; and Tony Macaulay. Singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams will be the 2025 recipient of the eminent Hal David Starlight Award, an award gifted to young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry with their original songs, and Stephen Schwartz will be the 2025 recipient of the esteemed Johnny Mercer Award.

Megan Moroney Lands Second Chart-Topper With ‘Am I Okay?’

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Megan Moroney. Photo: Cece Dawson

Megan Moroney’s Platinum smash “Am I Okay?” has landed at No. 1 this week, reigning atop the Country Aircheck/Mediabase chart.

The title track from her sophomore album, “Am I Okay?” marks the second No. 1 from Moroney, who previously soared to the top of the charts with her triple Platinum breakthrough single “Tennessee Orange.” Written by Moroney, Luke Laird and Jessie Jo Dillon and produced by Kristian Bush, “Am I Okay?” is the opening track to Moroney’s latest full-length project, which was released in July 2024 and became the year’s third-biggest debut from a female country artist and landed on Best Of lists like Rolling Stone’s “100 Best Albums of 2024.”

Moroney will dive back into her “Am I Okay? Tour” this week. The 50-date headline run includes two-night stands at famed spots like Roadrunner, The Greek Theatre and Red Rocks Amphitheatre, with dates through October 12.

CMA Fest Powers A More Than $2 Million Gift To The CMA Foundation

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Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts performs onstage during day three of CMA Fest 2025 at Nissan Stadium on June 07, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for CMA

The Country Music Association wrapped its 52nd Annual CMA Fest yesterday (June 8), bringing in an estimated 95,000 fans from all 50 states and 33 countries to the heart of Music City. The weekend featured over 300 performances across four days and over 100 CMA Fest debuts. The festival raised over $2 million dollars to support music education through the CMA Foundation.

Cody Johnson Performs At Nissan Stadium During CMA Fest. Pictured: Clark Tedesco (VP Marketing, Warner Music Nashville), Cody Johnson, Cris Lacy (Co-Chair/Co-President, Warner Music Nashville)

“What an incredible four days and nights. Even with a few weather interruptions, the energy and spirit of our fans never faded,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “From legendary acts to artists playing CMA Fest for the very first time, this year was a celebration of discovery, connection and community. And the fact that it all helps fund the CMA Foundation’s work in music education makes it even more impactful.”

From 2024 CMA New Artist of the Year Megan Moroney drawing a capacity crowd to kick off CMA Fest at the Chevy Riverfront Stage on Thursday morning, to surprise appearances at Nissan Stadium by Trace Adkins, BigXthaPlug, Jelly Roll, Noah Kahan, Brandon Lake, Travis Tritt and Lainey Wilson, to an updated “Fan Alley” activation and so much more. this year’s event delivered powerful memories at every turn.

During the day, fans explored multiple outdoor stages, Fan Fair X events and Ascend Amphitheater night shows. Click the link to see highlights from day-time events on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Over at Nissan Stadium, fans were treated to unique lineups on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with surprise guests and Platform Stage performances in addition the the scheduled lineups.

The television special, CMA Fest Presented by SoFi, will air June 26 at 7 p.m. central time on ABC hosted by Ashley McBryde and Cody Johnson.

Ryman And BMI Block Party Returns For Fourth Year. Pictured: BMI’s Leslie Roberts and Zach John King (Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI)

Carrie Underwood Celebrates 20 Years Of Some Hearts & Two Years Of ‘Carrie’s Country’ On SiriusXM. Pictured (L-R): SiriusXM’s Christina Mooney and Kathleen St. Clair, Carrie Underwood, SiriusXM’s Randy Dry, Cody Alan and Lauryn Snapp. (Photo: Jeff Johnson)

Colbie Caillat & Mitchell Tenpenny Make Their Duet Debut At The Grand Ole Opry. Pictured: Mitchell Tenpenny, Colbie Caillat. (Photo: Chris Hollo for the Grand Ole Opry)

Kelsea Ballerini Makes Surprise Appearance at SoFi Lounge During CMA Fest. Pictured: Lauren Stafford Webb (SoFi, CMO), Kelsea Ballerini, Sarah Trahern.

George Jones Statue Debuts At Ryman Icon Walk

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George Jones’s statue on the Ryman Auditorium’s Icon Walk. Photo: Catherine Powell

A statue honoring George Jones has been added to the Ryman Auditorium’s Icon Walk, joining the likenesses of Charley Pride, Loretta Lynn, Little Jimmy Dickens and Bill Monroe.

“Today, we add another legendary artist to the Ryman’s Icon Walk by bringing forth George Jones, who had a fabulous career and is revered as one of the greats,” says Ryman Hospitality Properties Executive Chairman Colin Reed at the statue’s unveiling. “The Ryman and the Opry were lucky to be a part of George’s story for so many years, so we feel it is only fitting to have George added here among these other stars who have made a lasting impression on country music.”

Pictured (L-R): RHP Executive Chairman Colin Reed, Nancy Jones, Jamey Johnson and Patrick Moore, CEO Opry Entertainment Group. Photo: Catherine Powell

The statue was created to honor Jones’s significant contributions to the historic venue and Music City, and Jones’s beloved wife Nancy and daughter Susan attended the unveiling, along with country music star Jamey Johnson, who honored Jones during the ceremony.

“The Ryman was one of George’s favorite places to play music,” says Nancy Jones. “He truly revered it as the ‘Mother Church’ and loved the acoustics. To have his legacy live on here permanently, and to see all the people who joined us today and continue to embrace him and his music, means so much to our family.”

The Ryman team collaborated once again with artist Ben Watts, the artist behind the existing four statues. Each statue takes approximately one year to complete and reflects the deep reverence for these trailblazers and their ties to the Mother Church of Country Music. Visitors can find Jones standing at the northwest corner of the building near the venue’s driveway on Fifth Avenue next to the likeness of Charley Pride, Loretta Lynn and Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass Music