Ignition has added three new members to its team, spanning operations, digital, and artist management.

Vanessa Menzo has been named Artist Relations & Director of Digital and Social Media, bringing a background in advertising and five years of experience running her own business. She can be reached here.

Kennedy Fisher steps in as Manager of Operations & Creative/Digital Strategy, working across day-to-day operations, social strategy, and content development for the company’s roster. A graduate of Belmont University’s Creative Media program, the Indiana native relocated to Nashville in 2021. She can be reached here.

Tayler Burke joins as Day-to-Day Manager for rising country artist Tyra Madison. Originally from Kentucky and raised in Ohio, she moved to Nashville in 2020 and got her start in social and content, helping shape Madison’s voice and presence online. She can be reached here.

Blue Harbor Music recently celebrated the company’s two-year anniversary.

Since inception, Blue Harbor Music has built a roster composed of 10 writers, which includes Jacob Bryant, Ben Chapman, John Davidson, Nick Donley, Alex Hall, Will Jones, Kendell Marvel, Meg McRee, Anthony Olympia and Trey Pendley.

“I am so proud of our team at Blue Harbor Music and the amazing writers that we work with,” says President Steve Markland. “It’s an honor to represent such an extraordinary roster of incredibly talented and unique creators. We look forward to building a robust catalog of strong, diverse, meaningful songs as well as artist careers that stand out and set trends amongst today’s modern music business. We are truly excited and over the moon about our mission here at Blue Harbor Music!”

Accomplishments from the past two years include the launch of Pendley’s career, who has a record deal with Leo33, as well as development for Hall, Jones and more. Across the roster, there are several major label cuts.

“When I joined the team at Blue Harbor Music, I was already impressed by the roster Steve and Miller [Arant] had built and what they had achieved in just one year,” shares Senior Creative Director Kendall Lettow. “Looking back now on our two-year anniversary makes me very excited for what is ahead for our team of writers and artists.”

“I’m a huge fan of our writers and am so proud of the roster we’ve built over the past two years,” adds Arant, Creative Coordinator. “Working with Steve, Kendall, and the incredible Music Row community has been such an amazing experience, and I’m so excited for what’s ahead.”

Gospel artist, producer and community leader Terran “T-RAN” Gilbert has been appointed as an Ambassador of the Music and Entertainment Industry by the Tennessee House of Representatives. The honor places T-RAN among a lineage of artists who have long served as cultural ambassadors for the state, including icons such as Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire.

T-RAN marked the momentous occasion with a live performance on the House floor at the Tennessee State Capitol, delivering his new single “More of You” alongside live strings and acoustic guitar, transforming the legislative space into something deeply human, spiritual and unifying.

“This moment is bigger than me,” T-RAN shared. “It represents the power of faith, the influence of music, and the importance of seeing our stories—our culture—recognized at the highest levels.”

Originally from Chattanooga, T-RAN is also the founder of 22Visionz Entertainment, a creative agency spanning music, film, and digital content, and the visionary behind the nonprofit Live And Not Die Inc., which has impacted communities nationwide through outreach rooted in faith, music and mental health awareness.

Guitar Center Business Solutions is launching Resonate, its first-ever industry technology expo, at the Music City Center in Nashville on April 9.

The one-day event will gather integrators, educators, venue operators and enterprise leaders for hands-on demos and real-world insight into how audio, video and control systems are evolving and increasingly working together. Registration is free for early registrants.

Resonate will feature a keynote from Coach Micheal Burt, international speaker, best-selling author and founder of The Greatness Factory. Additional programming will include a Custom House Songwriter’s Round with Nashville hit makers Josh Phillips and Brock Berryhill, and presentations hosted by HP, Legrand and more.

“We created Resonate as systems are converging faster than organizations can adapt, and the industry needs clearer leadership around how everything connects,” says Curtis Heath, president of Guitar Center Business Solutions. “Our experience across education, performance and enterprise environments positions us to help the market move forward with solutions that are practical, scalable and built to last.”

SOURCE Nashville Hosts Luncheon Panel With Taylor Lindsey, Emily Stephenson

SOURCE Nashville welcomed members to the CMA Event Space on March 26 for a luncheon panel focused on leadership and the women helping shape Nashville’s music business from the top. Moderated by SOURCE Nashville board member Ashley Hertzog Embry of Hearts Bluff Music, the discussion featured Taylor Lindsey, Chair and CEO of Sony Music Nashville, and Emily Stephenson, President of Downtown Music Publishing. The conversation explored key leadership topics including mentorship, company culture, confidence, work-life balance, and the evolution of the music industry in recent years.

 

Cumulus Media’s ‘Your Music Plus’ Series Features New Luke Bryan Single

Cumulus Media has released a new installment of its series, “Your Music Plus” featuring Luke Bryan and his new single, “Country And She Knows It.” The exclusive multi-part audio campaign debuts this week and airs for the next eight weeks on Cumulus Media’s country stations across the U.S. In the latest take on Cumulus Media’s popular on-air feature, MCA’s Luke Bryan takes listeners behind the making of the new high-energy single.

“It’s an absolute thrill to partner with MCA and have Luke Bryan’s new song, ‘Country And She Knows It’ as our next ‘Your Music Plus’ campaign,” says Greg Frey, VP of Music Partnerships, Cumulus Media. “This song is an infectious anthem that speaks directly to Luke’s core audience and the fans who show up at his shows, as well as listeners across our country stations. Combined with Luke’s unique take on his music, career, and life through exclusive audio, this is the perfect YMP to lead us into summer.”

 

Darin & Brooke Aldridge Inducted Into Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame

Bluegrass favorites Darin & Brooke Aldridge were inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame last weekend, placing the duo among an elite class of artists who have shaped the sound and legacy of Appalachian music including The Carter Family, Doc Watson, Emmylou Harris, Jim Lauderdale, Dolly Parton, Earl Scruggs, and more. The duo recently released their uplifting new single, “You Don’t Knock,” from their forthcoming gospel album Soul Condition on Billy Blue Records which features their first collaboration with acclaimed vocalist John Cowan.

“Our Blue Ridge Mountain roots run strong and deep,” says Darin & Brooke Aldridge. “We take great pride in our heritage and in carrying a piece of it with us wherever our music leads. It’s humbling to be even a small branch on such a grand tree of remarkable musical talent right here in our home state of North Carolina.”

 

Malpass Brothers Inducted Into North American Country Music Association International Hall of Fame

The Malpass Brothers were inducted into the 29th Annual North American Country Music Association International Hall of Fame over the weekend. They joined fellow honorees Dallas Wayne, Ken Mellons, Stevie Lee Woods, David Mills, and Con Hunley. In front of a packed audience, the duo took the stage to perform several songs ahead of their official induction.

“It is truly an honor to be inducted into the North American Country Music Association International Hall of Fame,” shares Chris Malpass. “As traditional country music artists and songwriters, we strive to keep our heroes’ legacy alive while creating our own sound. Sharing this honor with so many of our mentors means the world to us. We are incredibly grateful and thank NACMAI and all the country music fans for their support.”