Triple 8 Management has partnered with Sureel, an innovator in AI attribution, detection, protection, and monetization, to become the first artist management company to proactively offer its artists the opportunity to safeguard their creative works.

The collaboration sets a new precedent in the music industry, ensuring that artists maintain control over their creative works in the age of artificial intelligence. Sureel’s platform takes a collaborative approach, providing AI companies with easy-to-integrate tools to ensure responsible AI that fully respects artist preferences. This turns AI companies into responsible innovators, enabling them to commercially release generated outputs with full rights clearance and broad artist support.

Through Sureel’s advanced attribution and rights management technology, Triple 8 Management’s diverse roster now has access to cutting-edge tools that control opt in or out of AI Training with custom thresholds, protect their music artistic styles from being used in AI training without consent by setting time-and-date stamp behind ownership, and monetize their influence within the AI landscape by setting new standards for ethical licensing and revenue generation

“We’re committed to fostering an environment where our artists can create freely without fear of exploitation,” says Paul Steele, Partner, Triple 8 Management. “AI is reshaping the industry, and this partnership with Sureel ensures our artists’ rights are not only protected but positioned to benefit from these advancements. Sureel streamlines that process, so AI companies know exactly how to respect our roster’s preferences, and our artists see a clear path to protect and monetize their work.”

“AI is not a threat, inaction is,” says Tamay Aykut, Founder and CEO of Sureel. “By taking action now, the Triple 8 Management team is setting a new industry standard. They are demonstrating that artists can and should have control over their creative influence in AI training.”

Locash

Locash have snagged the No. 1 song on country radio this week with “Hometown Home,” hitting the top of the Billboard Country Airplay and Country Aircheck/Mediabase Airplay charts.

This is the duo’s fourth career No. 1. Previous hit singles include “I Love This Life,” “I Know Somebody” and “One Big Country Song.” “Hometown Home” also marks their first No. 1 on their new label, Galaxy Label Group.

“Seeing ‘Hometown Home’ sitting at the top of the Billboard chart has been amazing in ways we couldn’t imagine,” Locash told Billboard. “It’s our first No. 1 since we went ‘all in’ and bet on ourselves and launched our own record label. We get to appreciate this No. 1 on so many levels…as writers, as artists, and as record label executives. This song is so special and so lyrically rich. It’s been epic watching it land on people’s hearts. It just feels different bringing this No. 1 HOME.”

“Hometown Home” is featured on the duo’s upcoming album Bet The Farm, releasing April 18. The project also features previously released tunes “Buzzin,” “Isn’t She Country” and “When I’m Older.”

Jelly Roll. Photo: Eric Ryan Anderson

Award-winning artist Jelly Roll will speak today (April 8) at the World Literacy Summit at Oxford University in London. The keynote address and subsequent Q&A will highlight his journey, starting in a juvenile justice system at age 15, to empowering young people through education, earning his GED while incarcerated and involvement with institutions that encourage literacy and education.

Additionally, yesterday (April 7), he received the Global Literacy Award at the Sheldonian Theatre in recognition of his contributions and advocacy for improving foundational literacy within the justice system, domestically and internationally, through various programs and resources.

Eddie Montgomery

Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery has been named Brand Ambassador for Southern Kentucky Distillery.

Founded by three Kentucky natives, Southern Kentucky Distillery created the first “legal” bourbon in Kentucky’s Cumberland County since prohibition. SKD offers a variety of products, including six flavors of Slate Fork Moonshine, Ancient Sun Vodka, Turby’s Cherrywood Bourbon, Mad Monkey Cinnamon Whiskey and more.

SKD is situated in the Foothill Mountains of Appalachia, between Lake Cumberland, Dale Hollow Lake and the Cumberland River. The distillery is a popular destination for the thousands of tourists exploring the area or traveling along the Bourbon Trail or Moonshine Trail.

“SKD is honored and proud to have Eddie as our Brand Ambassador,” shares Co-Founder, Kevin Dailey.  “We are a family business and Eddie fits right in with us. We feel he is the right guy to help us grow our brands regionally and nationally. Eddie represents hard working folks that also like to play hard – he couldn’t be more perfect for us.”

“I’m so happy that I gotta sit on my hands to keep ‘em from wavin’ at everybody,” adds Montgomery. “These guys are home-grown, true-blue Kentuckians, I couldn’t be prouder. They’re more like brothers and family than they are like partners. We are gonna be bringing the party together to you this summer!”

Montgomery continues to tour coast-to-coast with a collection of rowdy and heartfelt songs including his latest collection, Home Run, a six-song EP filled with stories of fatherly wisdom, brotherly appreciation and a boot-stomping rendition of Montgomery Gentry’s first single “Hillbilly Shoes.”

Pictured (clockwise): Lydia Vaughan, Deric Ruttan, Dan Wilson & Jimmy Yeary.

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has revealed its 2025 Board of Directors.

Deric Ruttan, Lydia Vaughan and Dan Wilson were elected to the board as first time members, while Jimmy Yeary is re-joining the board. Kelly Archer, Jessie Jo Dillon, David Hodges, Lee Thomas Miller, Tim Nichols, Josh Osborne, Troy Verges and Parker Welling were all re-elected for two year terms.

Roger Brown will once again serve as Legislative Chair for one year, while Rhett Akins and Caitlyn Smith will serve in the Artist Writer positions again. The Industry Liaison position will be re-served by Brett James.

Existing board members also include Trannie Anderson, Steve Bogard, Chris DeStefano, J.T. Harding, Byron Hill, Josh Kear, Jamie Moore, Jon Nite, Liz Rose, Jenn Schott and Emily Shackelton, who will be serving the second of their two-year term this year.

The 2025 officers include Miller, who will serve as President alongside Vice President Schott. Nichols will be the Sgt.-at-Arms, while Hill will serve as Secretary and Bogard as Treasurer.

The NSAI Board elections take place in two phases, one involving voting by the NSAI Professional Songwriter Membership, while the other consists of appointments made by the NSAI Board of Directors.