Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, Broken Bow Records’ Lee Adams, Trannie Anderson (BMI), Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, Lainey Wilson (BMI), ASCAP’s Duane Hobson, Paul Sikes (ASCAP), Endurance Music Group’s Lauren Funk, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Shelley Hargis and Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

Lainey Wilson brought members of the music industry out to Mt. Juliet last week to celebrate her seventh and eighth chart-toppers, “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” and “4x4xU,” with a special event at the historic Bradley’s Barn.

Pictured (L-R): One Riot’s Amy Patton, Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, Reservoir’s John Ozier, Jon Decious (BMI), BMI’s Clay Bradley, Lainey Wilson (BMI), Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, Broken Bow Records’ Lee Adams and BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Shelley Hargis. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

Originally established in the mid-1960s by Country Music Hall of Fame member Owen Bradley, the studio was converted from a horse barn into a cutting-edge recording facility. It quickly became a creative haven for legends like Merle Haggard, George Jones, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, J.J. Cale and more—helping shape the Nashville sound. After a fire destroyed the original barn in 1980, it was rebuilt in 1984 and continued to serve as a creative space for the Bradley family. Today, Owen’s great-grandchildren, John and Lillian Grace Bradley, have updated the space to host events and live music, preserving its legacy for a new generation.

Hosted by BMI and ASCAP, the event welcomed guests to explore country music artifacts. The parking lot was filled with 4×4 trucks in a nod to Wilson’s hit “4x4xU.”

Pictured (L-R): Red Light Management’s Mandelyn Monchick, Jon Decious, Lainey Wilson and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

After a special welcome from BMI’s Clay Bradley, the company’s MaryAnn Keen led the program, beginning with a celebration of “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.” Wilson was joined onstage by co-writers Trannie Anderson and Paul Sikes, with tributes from ASCAP’s Duane Hobson, Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, Endurance Music Group’s Lauren Funk and BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Shelley Hargis.

Sikes shared a personal moment, saying his father had come to town for the celebration. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for his support,” he said. “Lainey is a generational talent. I’m honored to be a small part of that.”

Anderson reflected on her journey during her speech. “I moved to Nashville 10 years ago in June. My dream was to figure out some way to write songs full time,” she said. “Having a couple No. 1s under my belt, with one of my best friends in the entire world, is bigger than I ever dreamed.”

Bradley’s Barn. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

The celebration continued with “4x4xU,” which had earned ACM nominations that very morning for Song of the Year and Visual Media of the Year. Wilson took the stage with co-writer Jon Decious, who gave a shoutout to fellow co-writer Aaron Raitiere. In Raitiere’s absence, Decious presented Wilson and Red Light Management’s Mandelyn Monchick with matching jerseys—designed by Raitiere after they wrote the song—as a symbol of their belief in its success from the beginning.

Joining the celebration were Sony Music Publishing’s Gaston, Reservoir’s John Ozier, One Riot’s Amy Patton and Broken Bow Records’ Lee Adams.

Sponsored by Studio Bank, the event also featured a special donation presentation from Kari Barnhart on behalf of Wilson and her co-writers to support Wilson’s Heart Like A Truck charitable fund, which champions causes that aim to change lives and celebrate resilience.

Decious was also honored with a custom Taylor 210e DLX guitar to mark his first No. 1 as a BMI songwriter. When he spoke, he thanked his family, team and village, and joked, “I don’t know what goes into making a No. 1 record, but I’m glad y’all know,” drawing laughter from the crowd. “To get to celebrate this song with everyone who is family to me is like a movie. Thank you.”

To close the celebration, Wilson offered heartfelt thanks to her collaborators and supporters.

“I could not have hand picked a better team of people to be in my life,” said the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year. “Y’all are more than just team members. Y’all are family. A lot of people say don’t mix business and pleasure, but that just ain’t how we roll. We just can’t help it, because we fight for each other when it’s family involved.”

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s John Nix Arledge, Trannie Anderson, Lainey Wilson, Paul Sikes and MusicRow’s LB Cantrell. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s John Nix Arledge, Jon Decious, Lainey Wilson and MusicRow’s LB Cantrell. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

Pictured (L-R): Michael Warren, MŌRIAH, Kohl Almire, & Tanner Davenport. Photo: Thomas Crabtree

mtheory has revealed the four new participants selected for its Equal Access Development Program, a year-long artist and management initiative aimed at uplifting underrepresented voices in country music.

This year’s cohort includes artists MŌRIAH and Michael Warren, along with management professionals Tanner Davenport and Kohl Almire. Now in its third year, the program offers financial support, business development, and direct access to key industry leaders—helping to build a more diverse and sustainable talent pipeline within the genre.

Launched in 2022 by an all-female leadership team at mtheory—including Cameo Carlson, Tiffany Provenzano and Chantrel Reynolds—Equal Access is among the first structured efforts to address systemic gaps in opportunity across the country music space. The program targets both artist and executive development, aiming to close those gaps from both sides of the stage.

“In 2025, research continues to highlight the persistent racial and gender disparities in the country music industry, impacting every aspect of the business – from radio airplay and songwriting to publishing, streaming, label signings, artist development, and touring,” shares Carlson, CEO, mtheory. “Addressing these systemic barriers requires intentional, sustained efforts like ‘Equal Access,’ and we remain dedicated to fostering greater representation of underserved communities in country music and equipping an outstanding new generation of talent for success. In a time where creative expression faces increasing challenges and DEI initiatives are waning, mtheory is proud to remain firmly committed to this work.”

Past Equal Access participants have included artists such as Madeline Edwards, Miko Marks, Camille Parker and Denitia, as well as management professionals like Charlene Bryant, Justin Tomlinson and Brittney Boston. Over the last three years, the program has facilitated more than 100 industry connections for each of its members.

“Since we launched ‘Equal Access,’ managers from our program have gone on to work country albums at major labels, sign country artists to their management rosters, help bridge the gap between the black rodeo circuit and the music industry, and much more,” says Provenzano, Executive Director, Equal Access. “With backing and guidance from our program, artists have been able to record and release new music, film music videos, and sign numerous publishing, record, distribution and booking deals. We’ve also helped them grow their social followings, build their teams, secure radio airplay and even play The Grand Ole Opry for the first time. We look forward to helping this new cohort make their own mark on country music.”

Zach John King is set to release his upcoming new EP, Slow Down, on May 23 via Sony Music Nashville. A new track from the project, “I Deserve A Heartbreak,” is out now.

Produced by Ryan Wilson, King co-wrote all six tracks on the new collection, which explores the many stages of heartbreak including denial, regret, acceptance and everything in between. Writers contributing to the new EP include Matt McVaney, Thomas Archer, Kyle Fishman, Joybeth Taylor and more.

The announcement of the new album follows the success of the EP’s title track, “Slow Down,” with the song racking up five million global streams as well as placements on Spotify’s Hot Country playlist and Apple Music’s Today’s Country playlist, among others.

“This EP is the first project this year where I finally feel like I’ve captured a full picture of who I am—both as a person and as an artist,” King shares. “Once you listen top to bottom, you’ll get the good and the bad sides of me—the heartbreaks, the love stories, my mistakes, the things I care about, and the person I’m still becoming. Every track holds a piece of my story, and my hope is that when people listen, they find a piece of their own story in it too. I’m so stoked to get it out to my fans and let them connect with it. Slow Down—the EP—is the most honest storytelling I’ve ever put to music, and whether people love it or hate it, I’m proud of what it represents. It’s vulnerable, real, and exactly where I’m at right now.”

King is hitting the road as an opener for Nate Smith’s “Through The Smoke Tour” and will continue touring with Vincent Mason on his “Hell Is A Dance Floor Tour” as well.

Slow Down Track List:
1. “Lose You” – (Zach John King / Alex Hope / Sasha Sloan)
2. “She Didn’t Have To” – (Zach John King / Beau Bailey / Matt McVaney / Joybeth Taylor)
3. “I Deserve A Heartbreak” – (Zach John King / Thomas Archer / Michael Lotten)
4. “Slow Down” – (Zach John King / Thomas Archer / Kyle Fishman / Michael Taylor)
5. “Hole In The Wall” – (Zach John King / Abram Dean / Jimmy Robbins)
6. “Cold Shoulder” – (Zach John King / Zarni Dewet / Tom Whall)