Pictured (L-R): BJ Hill (WCM), Chase Matthew, Ethan Escue, Lloyd Potts (Ignition) and Christie Walls (Ignition). Photo: Courtesy of Ignition Nashville

Singer-songwriter Ethan Escue has signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music (WCM) Nashville and Ignition Nashville.

A native of White House, Tennessee, Escue’s musical talent first caught the attention of artists like Hayden Coffman and Austin Williams while he was working at a car dealership. His songwriting quickly gained recognition, and he landed cuts including Williams’ latest single, “Between Us” and Coffman’s “Better Off.” Escue recently made the leap to pursue songwriting full time, and with over 100 million streams as a songwriter, has been steadily building his name on Music Row, collaborating with Chase Matthew and Brandt Carmichael, among others. He penned five tracks on Coffman’s Love And A Heartbreak album, including “Only Smoke When I Drink,” “Another Girl, Another Bar” and “Woke Up Drunk (Again).”

“Ethan paints stories in a way that’s both familiar and memorable,” says BJ Hill, SVP, A&R, WCM Nashville. “He’s an incredible songwriter—and even more so, an excellent human being. We’re excited to support his growth alongside our amazing partners at Ignition Nashville.”

“It’s always a pleasure to work with someone as dedicated and talented as Ethan Escue,” says Christie Walls, Head of Publishing, Ignition Nashville. “Not only is he a phenomenal songwriter, but he’s also an incredible person outside the room. Ethan has a remarkable gift for top-lining and crafting unforgettable melodies and hooks that truly resonate. His work ethic, attitude, and creativity set him apart in every way.”

“Growing up just 25 minutes from Nashville, I always dreamed of writing songs on Music Row,” says Escue. “It was an even bigger dream of mine to be a part of such a staple in the scene like Warner Chappell. I’ve admired so many writers over the years from there and have always wanted to be a part of that creativity. I also couldn’t ask for a better group to partner with than the team at Ignition. They are some of the hardest-working people in Nashville and I know with them they are going to make even bigger waves in Nashville than they already have. Between Snap, Ken, Chase, Christie, BJ, Julie, and everyone else behind me, I know I’ve got champions in my corner to help me grow and succeed as a songwriter. I want to thank everyone at both Ignition and WCM for this opportunity and I can’t wait to get to work. It’s just now getting started.”

Mary Chapin Carpenter’s new album Personal History is slated for release on June 6.

The eleven track collection, produced by Josh Kaufman and recorded live at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in Bath, England, is more autobiographical for the singer than any project she’s released before.

“A novel that I’ve loved for years is My Name is Lucy Barton, written by Elizabeth Strout,” says Carpenter. “There’s this moment where the main character is taking a creative writing course, and her teacher says to her, ‘You will only have one story. You will write your one story in many ways.’ I remember reading that line and taking an audible breath. In that moment, I said out loud to no one, ‘Oh, that’s what the songs are.’”

On the heels of the album’s release, Carpenter will join forces with fellow Grammy-winning artist and songwriter Brandy Clark for a special tour this summer and fall. In addition to her work as a musician, last fall Carpenter unveiled her new podcast, Hope is a Muscle, which finds her in conversation with people from all walks of life including Joan Baez, Adriene Mishler, John Darnielle and U.S. CongressmanJamie Raskin. During its run, the podcast was in the top five music podcasts on both Apple and Spotify Platforms.

Personal History Track List:
1. “What Did You Miss”
2. “Paint + Turpentine”
3. “New Religion”
4. “Girl And Her Dog”
5. “The Saving Things”
6. “Hello My Name Is”
7. “Bitter Ender”
8. “The Night We Never Met”
9. “Home Is A Song” (feat. Anäis Mitchell)
10. “Say It Anyway”
11. “Coda”

Allyson Gelnett (Massey).

Curb Records has elevated Allyson Gelnett (Massey) to National Director of Promotion & Strategic Initiatives.

In her new role, Gelnett will work with Senior Vice President, Promotion, RJ Meacham to oversee the creation and execution of promotional strategies to expand fan growth and drive airplay and exposure in pivotal country markets. Gelnett will help with the alignment of promotion, marketing and branding efforts for the Curb Records roster.

“Allyson’s passion for our artists and their music has been clear from day one,” says Meacham. “She builds genuine partnerships with radio and streaming and brings an unmatched drive to deliver results. Her hustle, adaptability, and sharp instincts in an ever-shifting landscape make her the perfect fit for this role.”

“I’m incredibly honored to step into this new role and continue championing the artists and music that make Curb so special, building on a strong foundation that drives long-term success for our team and our artists,” adds Gelnett. “I’m especially thankful to Mike Curb and RJ Meacham for their persistent trust and unwavering support.”

Gelnett first joined Curb Records in 2018 as Director, Regional Promotion on the country promotion team.

The second annual “I’m Just Me: A Charley Pride Celebration of Inclusion” will take place on May 6 at the Hall Park Hotel in Frisco, Texas, as part of ACM Awards week. Mickey Guyton will serve as host for the evening.

The celebration is named after Pride, the late legendary country artist and baseball player. During his career, he fought through racial discrimination, eventually becoming recognized for his musical talents. He notched a total of three Grammy Awards, the ACM Pioneer Award in 1994 and a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. He was the first Black artist to earn a No. 1 country record and leaves a lasting impact through the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation’s Charley Pride Fellowship Program.

“We’re honored to support this celebration that uplifts trailblazers pushing the genre forward, while reaffirming our commitment to broadening the narrative and welcoming a wider range of voices into the spotlight,” shares Ryan Redington, GM of Amazon Music.

The ceremony will honor and recognize the achievements of more than ten honorees, including artists, executives and allies in country music who capture Pride’s victories and relentlessly serve as trailblazers and representatives of hope, advocacy and innovation in the music industry.

This year’s honorees include country singer-songwriter Brittney Spencer, singer, songwriter, producer and American Idol judge Lionel Richie, Guyton, singer, songwriter and record producer Shaboozey, Mexican-American singer-songwriter, artist, actor and activist Freddy Fender Estate, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and Grandmother of Juneteenth Opal Lee, President and CEO of F2 Entertainment Fletcher Foster, The Tennessean/USA Today country music reporter Marcus Dowling, Head of Country Music at Amazon Music Michelle Tigard Kammerer and CEO of mtheory Cameo Carlson.