CRB Unveils 2026–2027 Board of Directors

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Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. (CRB) has unveiled the 2026–2027 CRB Board of Directors.

Returning CRB officers include Kurt Johnson (Townsquare Media) as President, John Shomby (Country’s Radio Coach) as Vice President and Matt Sunshine (The Center for Sales Strategy) as Secretary.

New additions include Travis Daily (Cumulus), Shelley Hargis (BBR Music Group), Jay Cruz (Big Machine Records|Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment) and Mike Molinar (Big Machine Music).

“Our board represents so many different perspectives across country radio and the music industry, and that range of experience is incredibly important to the work we do,” says Johnson. “I’m grateful to each of these leaders for their service, and I’m excited about the ideas, conversations, and collaboration as we continue to build the future of CRB and CRS.”

The complete 2026–2027 CRB Board of Directors consists of Chuck Aly (Country Aircheck), Justin Chase (Beasley Media Group), George Couri (Triple 8 Management), Cruz (Big Machine Records|Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment, Travis Daily (Cumulus), Tim Foisset (Spotify), Gator Harrison (K-LOVE), Hargis (BBR Music Group), Debra Herman (Apple Music), Kenny Jay (Albright & O’Malley & Brenner), Jennifer Johnson (Riser House Entertainment), Johnson (Townsquare Media), Ashley Layfield (WFUS/Tampa, WUBL/Atlanta), Jon Loba (BMG), Mike McVay (McVay Media), Brent Michaels (KUZZ/Bakersfield), Damon Moberly (MCA), Mike Molinar (Big Machine Music), Jordan Pettit (Big Loud), Rod Phillips (iHeartCountry), Joel Raab (Joel Raab Country Radio & Media), Tim Roberts (Audacy), John Shomby (Country’s Radio Coach), Sunshine (The Center for Sales Strategy), Greg Strassell (Hubbard Radio), RJ Meacham (Summit House Entertainment), Stacy Waugh (Big Loud), Allison Warren (Cumulus) and Kristen Williams (Warner Music Nashville).

Charlie Morgan continues as Board Member Emeritus.

CRS 2027 is scheduled for March 17–19 at the Omni Nashville Hotel.

Luke Bryan To Be Featured On ‘Live From Roku City’

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Luke Bryan. Photo: Jim Wright

Luke Bryan is celebrating his new album with the release of his “Live From Roku City” performance, launching tomorrow (Sept. 19).

The performance features “Play It Again,” “Country and She Knows It” and a cover of “Where Everybody Knows Your Name,” from the series Cheers.

“Thank you to the team at Roku for allowing me to share my music with my fans and Roku users in such an exciting and interactive way. I had a blast performing on stage against the iconic Roku City skyline,” says Bryan.

“Luke Bryan knows how to turn any stage into a celebration, and we’re thrilled to bring that energy to Roku City,” shares Lisa Holme, Head of Content, Roku Media. “To borrow a line from Luke himself, we didn’t want this night to end. We’re excited to celebrate his new album alongside his fans and create a uniquely Roku experience that brings Luke and his music directly to millions of streamers.”

Bryan released new album, Signs, today (Sept. 18) via MCA. His “Farm Tour” continues tonight in Ohio.

Industry Ink: ‘All for the Hall Los Angeles,’ Craig Morgan, Brett Kissel, More

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Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, Lukas Nelson Perform At ‘All For The Hall L.A.’ Benefit

Lukas Nelson, Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll and Lukas Nelson took the stage at The Novo in the L.A. Live complex for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “All for the Hall Los Angeles” benefit, presented by the Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation.

Hosted by Wilson, the guitar pull included a cameo appearance by Grammy-winner John Mayer on “Phone, Keys, Wallet” with Wilson, marking the first time they’ve performed the song together live. The event also included a performance by six high school students from Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles of their song “I’ll Overcome,” which they wrote during a Words & Music program with their class, with support from songwriters Phil Barton and Liz Rose. The Love Junkies, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose, kicked off the night’s festivities with a special performance at a patron party on Sept. 16. Proceeds from “All for the Hall Los Angeles” support the museum’s many educational programs.

 

Craig Morgan Performs National Anthem At Colts’ Season Opener

Craig Morgan. Photo: Courtesy of Indianapolis Colts

Craig Morgan performed the National Anthem at the Indianapolis Colts season opener against the Baltimore Ravens at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sept. 13. The performance, which was preceded by members of the Professional Firefighters Union presenting the colors and a poignant moment of silence in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, aired live on CBS.

 

Brett Kissel Inks With MPI Talent Agency

Brett Kissel

Brett Kissel has signed with MPI Talent Agency for worldwide agency representation. Kissel will be represented by Jordan Tubiolo, MPI’s Vice President of Global Touring, and Paul O’Neil, who heads MPI’s recently established Canadian office. The agency will work alongside Kevin Bushey, President and CEO of Elevation Entertainment Agency. Kissel will expand his “The Side You’ve Never Seen Tour” with a limited run around the holiday season, visiting some of his favorite venues as well as stops requested directly by fans.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to join the MPI team alongside Jordan, Paul and Kevin,” says Kissel. “I’ve got a fire lit inside me and a long list of goals and dreams I want to chase, and I’m excited to have this team beside me as I go after them. I’m incredibly grateful to be welcomed into the MPI family and to have people around me who believe in what’s ahead.”

 

Taylor Steele Joins Quartz Hill Music Group As Publicity Manager

Taylor Steele. Photo: Hayley Gjertsen

Taylor Steele has joined Quartz Hill Music Group as Publicity Manager. Steele’s previous stops include Amazon, Broadcast Music, Inc., Universal Music Group Nashville, and most recently, 117 Entertainment. In her new role, Steele will assist in building and strengthening strategic media and industry relationships for all artists on QHMG imprints Quartz Hill Records and Stone Country Records, as well as for Brown Sellers Brown Management.

Steele will report directly to Vice President of Publicity & Media Marketing Natalie Kilgore. Her new role is effective immediately, and she can be reached at taylor@qhmusicgroup.com.

 

Judy Collins’ Career Spotlighted In Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s AMERICANAFEST Program

Judy Collins and Vice President of Museum Services Michael Gray at the museum. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Folk music legend Judy Collins participated in a discussion about her career earlier this week in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Ford Theater led by the museum’s Vice President of Museum Services Michael Gray. Collins shared stories about the early 1960s music scene in Greenwich Village, where she encountered Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger.

She also discussed creating hits like “Someday Soon”; recording with country music luminary Buddy Emmons and James Burton in L.A.; championing songwriters Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen; and how her relationship with Stephen Stills inspired him to write “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.” The program was presented in partnership with the Americana Music Association and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum during the association’s 26th annual AMERICANAFEST.

 

Singer-Songwriter Anne Elise Signs With NCS Records

Pictured (L-R): NCS Records Director of Label Operations and A&R Claire Bacon; Anne Elise; Nashville Christian Songwriters Founder and President John Chisum; and Nashville Christian Songwriters Vice President Bryant Urich.

Singer/songwriter Anne Elise has signed with Nashville Christian Songwriters’ NCS Records. A Belmont University student and former member of the collective Ezra Worship, Elise’s debut NCS Records single, “Changing,” is out now.

“I’m so excited to see this next chapter unfold with NCS Records,” Elise says. “I’m grateful to work with such an amazing team of people who are eager to help bring my music to those who need to hear it and can be encouraged by it.”

Dolly Parton’s ‘Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol’ To Visit 25 Cities Nationwide

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Photo: Courtesy of Dolly Parton Enterprises

Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol holiday musical is set to kick off Nov. 14 in Princeton, West Virginia, before heading to 25 cities across the country.

Set in the 1930s in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, the production imagines Ebenezer Scrooge as the owner of a mining company town. The holiday tale re-written features music and lyrics by Dolly and the book by David H. Bell, adapted for the stage by Bell, Paul T. Couch, and Curt Wollan. Tickets for all performances are on sale now.

Parton described the musical as “My love letter to the Smoky Mountains, to Christmas, and to the timeless reminder that love, compassion, and generosity are gifts that we can all share.”

“The holidays have always held a special place in Dolly’s heart,” says Couch, “and this year that love feels significantly more poignant. ‘A Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol’ represents another meaningful way to experience the many musical gifts that Dolly created for us to enjoy and connect with her, and it’s with that spirit that we’ll share her beautiful songs and stories.”

2026 Tour Schedule:
November 14 – Princeton, WV – Chuck Mathena Center
November 15-16 – Morgantown, WV – Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre
November 17 – Huntington, WV – Keith-Albee Perf. Arts Center
November 21 – Sheboygan, WI – Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts
November 22 – Appleton, WI – Thrivent Hall at Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
November 24 – Minneapolis, MN – State Theatre
November 25 – Omaha, NE – Orpheum Theater
November 28 – Tyler, TX – Cowan PAC (or is it UT Tyler Cowan Center)
November 29 – Lubbock, TX – The Buddy Holly Hall
December 1 – Pensacola, FL – Saenger Theatre
December 2 – Macon, GA – The Piedmont Grand Opera House
December 3 – Oxford, MS – Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts
December 4 – Baton Rouge, LA – River Center Theatre for Performing Arts
December 6 – Orange, TX – Lutcher Theater
December 8 – Fayetteville, AR – Walton Arts Center
December 10 – Wheeling, WV – Capitol Theatre
December 11-12 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
December 13 – Wabash, IN – Ford Theatre at Honeywell Center
December 16 – Toledo, OH – The Stranahan
December 17 – New Philadelphia, OH – Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas
December 18 – Akron, OH – Akron Civic Theatre
December 19-20 – Midland, MI – Midland Center for the Arts
December 23 – Indianapolis, IN – Clowes Hall (Butler University)

Kenny Chesney To Host ‘Silver Sands Marina’ Album Release Show In Nashville

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Kenny Chesney. Photo: Allister Ann

Kenny Chesney will host a pop-up album release show for his upcoming project Silver Sands Marina on Sept. 25 at the Pinnacle.

“This new music – maybe because we’ve had so much time to get it to this place – has taken me back to when albums mattered, the songs kind of spoke to each other, and we found some really special, unusual things,” says Chesney. “Between loving this record and just getting to play a little bit at TODAY, I figured we should keep rocking – and maybe make it a little bit bigger than a Keg in the Keys or Keg in the Closet show.

“So, we got everybody together… and we’re taking over the Pinnacle in Nashville,” he continues. “One night only, probably not more than a couple thousand tickets, and we’re trying to make it fun and fair to get in. If the band and I can get it together, we’re gonna play five, six, maybe even seven of these eleven songs, and I can’t wait.”

A limited number of tickets will be available for $10 through Fair AXS. Fans can register through Sept. 19 at 9 p.m. CT for a chance to purchase tickets. Those selected will receive a private ticket link connected to their AXS account.

Fans can celebrate Silver Sands Marina at an activation in the Pinnacle plaza on Sept. 24 from 5-10 p.m. CT and Sept. 25 from 12-10 p.m. CT. The experience will feature life-size displays, photo opportunities, food trucks, bars and more. Physical copies of the album, including signed vinyl and CDs, along with special variants, will also be available for purchase.

Riley Green Stays Close To Home On ‘That’s Just Me’ [Interview]

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Riley Green. Photo: David Higgs

For years, Riley Green has built his career one venue at a time. And while that hasn’t changed, what were once bars, restaurants and clubs are now national arenas, television appearances and awards shows.

While his rise to international fame might seem like an overnight success to newfound fans of tracks such as “Different ‘Round Here,” “Worst Way,” “Don’t Mind If I Do,” and his award-winning collaboration with Ella Langley, “You Look Like You Love Me,” Green had a very different experience.

“We played all over the place in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi for years,” Green tells MusicRow. “And I have a lot of those fans that knew me early on to thank for even signing a record deal, but it’s definitely reached a place that I never thought it would.”

It’s at these new heights that Green is releasing his latest album, That’s Just Me. With more people discovering his music than ever before, Green isn’t looking to change what he does. He views his wider reach as an opportunity to introduce that same sound to an even larger group.

“I’m definitely reaching a much bigger audience now between acting [on Marshals] and being a coach on The Voice. To me, those are opportunities to get in front of people that might not be country music fans,” Green explains. “The new album speaks to fans that have known me from the beginning because, even though I’m doing a lot of other things now, I’m still writing from the same place and trying to continue to do what got me here.”

Riley Green. Photo: David Higgs

That mindset guides his songwriting as well. Across his five solo-penned tracks on the album, Green’s sincerity and straightforwardness remain at the core of his penmanship.

“There’s a simplicity to how I say things. I think that’s what’s helped me be successful because a lot of my songs are relatable,” says Green. “I write about where I grew up and a lot of people think, ‘I grew up the same way.’ So, where some songwriters can get a little bit too ‘songwriter-y’, for lack of a better term, I think there’s a simplicity to country music and how you can tell a story that appeals to a lot of people.”

Between filming The Voice and being out on the road, Green finds it harder than ever to set up scheduled writes with other songwriters, which leads to him writing during his time off in his home state of Alabama.

“Sometimes it’s just wherever [inspiration] strikes me—which is usually when I’m on my farm in Alabama. If it’s something I’m passionate about or I think I’ve got figured out that day, I just write it.”

Even as his platform grows, Green says broadening what he writes is about just to appeal to a larger audience would be a mistake. Instead, he looks for artistic growth elsewhere.

“I think that the only thing I could do to hurt myself in my career is change who I am,” Green shares. “Musically, I try to push myself and find melodies that are a bit unique, or maybe I look to co-writers that have helped me find a melody that I wouldn’t come up with.”

That philosophy carries into the album’s collaborations. Green uses the project to both highlight artists coming up behind him and nod to the people that shaped him, tapping Hannah McFarland and Jake Worthington alongside Brooks & Dunn and Alabama’s Randy Owen.

Riley Green. Photo: David Higgs

“I feel like my job with the spotlight that I’ve got now, and being blessed with the opportunities I’ve got, is to do a couple of things,” he says. “One of them is to help out people that are where I was and that I’m a fan of and bring them into some of these opportunities. And then also shed a little bit of light on the inspiration that I got from guys like Brooks & Dunn and Randy Owen and keep showing the younger generation the music that inspired me to write and record and perform.”

While some of the collaborations happened naturally, some surprised Green altogether. He originally sent “Lookout Mountain” to Owen simply because he wanted him to hear the track.

“I sent Randy ‘Lookout Mountain’ not thinking he would be a part of the song. I just wanted him to hear it, and he texted me and said, ‘Do you need a partner on that one?’,” recalls Green. “I texted Ronnie Dunn ‘Pave All Them Red Dirt Roads’ and he said, ‘I can sing it on Monday.’ So I was surprised at how easily all that stuff came together. It doesn’t always work out that way.”

Taken as a whole, the name That’s Just Me becomes the perfect title. The project captures Green’s influences, the steadfastness of his form, and the artists he wants to champion moving forward. Rather than change his tune for a new wave of fans, Green doubles down on the people and places that got him here.

Brandy Clark’s New Album ‘The Bird’ Set For January

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Brandy Clark. Photo: Pamela Springsteen

Brandy Clark will celebrate the New Year with the release of her new album, the bird, on Jan. 15 via Reprise Records. In advance of the release, Clark has shared a new song from the project, “American Roots,” today (Sept. 18).

the bird spotlights the search for connection in a world often defined by division. The project, produced by Shooter Jennings and recorded with members of Clark’s road band, Gabe Burdulia, Amanda McCoy and Erin Nelson, explores love, loss, isolation, and what it means to belong. The 11-track album also includes collaborations with Rosanne Cash and SistaStrings.

“My hope is that listeners will feel as inspired and entertained by this body of work as we did while making it,” shares Clark. “We had such a great time bringing these songs to life in the studio, and I hope that spirit comes through. More than anything, I hope everyone who listens can find a little piece of themselves somewhere in these songs.”

Clark will also embark on her extensive “Take Flight World Tour” next year, with shows in Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, Charleston, Atlanta and more. Tickets go on sale today at brandyclarkmusic.com.

The Bird Track List:
1. “The Loner And The Lonely”
2. “Tower”
3. “Still Found You”
4. “Goodnight Los Angeles”
5. “And The Sun Said To The Moon”
6. “American Roots”
7. “The Bird”
8. “Astronaut” (feat. SistaStrings)
9. “Stranger On A Plane”
10. “Old Woman” (feat. Rosanne Cash)
11. “If There’s Someone You Love”

Chubby Checker & Gil Cunningham Named To IEBA Hall Of Fame

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Chubby Checker & Gil Cunningham. Photo: Courtesy of IEBA

The International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) will induct Chubby Checker and Gil Cunningham into the IEBA Hall of Fame. The inductions will take place during the 2026 Honors & Awards Ceremony on Oct. 6 at The Pinnacle.

Checker’s catalog includes seven top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including “Pony Time” and “Limbo Rock.” “The Twist” became the only recording to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in two separate chart runs. He was awarded the first Platinum Single, first Grammy for a rock and roll recording and is a recent inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

“Chubby Checker represents something that every talent buyer understands, the extraordinary value of an artist who can connect with an audience generation after generation,” says Brian Wagner, Executive Director of IEBA. “His influence extends far beyond an iconic song or dance. He helped change the way audiences participate in live music, and more than six decades later, that connection remains at the heart of what makes live entertainment so powerful.”

Cunningham began his career as a talent buyer in 1988. In 2003, he joined his wife, Liz Cunningham, in expanding Neste Event Marketing into talent buying and event production. Live Nation acquired the company in 2019, creating Neste Live!, which today represents more than 125 clients, books more than 900 shows annually and works with major festivals including Country Thunder, Country Jam and WE Fest. He has been awarded IEBA Talent Buyer, Event Producer, Festival Buyer and Entertainment Buyer of the Year, the IEBA President’s Award and multiple ACM Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year honors, including his fifth ACM Buyer of the Year recognition in 2025. He has served as President and Vice President of IEBA, and worked with the Country Music Association and the T.J. Martell Foundation.

“Gil Cunningham represents the very best of the talent-buying profession and of IEBA,” shares IEBA Chairman Emeritus and WME Partner, Barry Jeffrey. “Great buyers combine knowledge and instinct with relationships, trust and a willingness to take a chance on an artist before everyone else sees what they see. Gil has done that throughout his career, while giving back to this organization and mentoring the people coming behind him. His impact can be seen in the artists he has championed, the events he has helped build and the professionals whose careers he has influenced.”

Dylan Marlowe Readies Self-Titled Sophomore Album

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Dylan Marlowe will release his self-titled sophomore album on Nov. 6 via Sony Music Nashville.

Marlowe is giving fans an early peek into the project with the release of “In This Boat,” out today.

“I wrote this song with Michael Tyler, Zach Abend, and Thomas Archer. I think Michael came in with the idea,” says Marlowe. “It’s funny because it’s not rocking like the other stuff on the album but somehow, it fits cohesively. There’s a lot of songs about breaking up, there’s a lot of songs about hard times and calling it quits, but there’s not a lot of songs about times getting hard and figuring it out, which I think is cool.”

Writers contributing to the new project include Tucker Beathard, Jameson Rodgers, Brent Anderson, Chris Tompkins and more. Inspired by the sounds of Sum 41, Blink 182 and Eric Church, the 13-track project was co-produced by Marlowe and Joe Fox.

Marlowe is on the road this fall with upcoming appearances in Oklahoma, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Dylan Marlowe Track List:
1. “No Coincidence” (Dylan Marlowe, Tucker Beathard, Zach Abend)
2. “Shotgun Seat” (Dylan Marlowe, Michael Hardy, Smith Ahnquist, Jordan Schmidt)
3. “Wrench In My Plans” (Dylan Marlowe, Corey Crowder, Jameson Rodgers)
4. “Call You Mine” (Dylan Marlowe, Zach Abend, Dan Alley, Smith Ahnquist)
5. “She’s Havin’ A Fire” (Dylan Marlowe, Joe Fox, Jeb Gipson, Smith Ahnquist)
6. “In This Boat” (Dylan Marlowe, Zach Abend, Michael Tyler, Thomas Archer)
7. “Rock The Jukebox” (Dylan Marlowe, David Garcia, Hunter Phelps)
8. “Here Lately” (Joe Fox, Abram Dean, Trannie Anderson)
9. “Catchin’ Strays” (Dylan Marlowe, Tucker Beathard, Lindsay Rimes)
10. “Save A Buck” (Dylan Marlowe, Kyle Fishman, Chris Tompkins, Travis Wood)
11. “Death Do Us Part” (Dylan Marlowe, Zach Abed, Brent Anderson, Jameson Rodgers)
12. “Mother Of A Memory” (Dylan Marlowe, Hunter Phelps, Zach Abend)
13. “Dishes” (Jeffrey Jordan)

Ty Myers Unveils ‘Two Braids & The Truth – My Tribute To Willie’

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Ty Myers has unveiled his new album, Two Braids & The Truth – My Tribute To Willie.

The 10-song homage to Willie Nelson features tracks that inspired Myers from a young age. Produced by Brandon Hood, he previewed the project with “Always On My Mind” featuring Carter Faith. Nelson is featured on “Write Your Own Songs.”

Myers will join Willie Nelson & Family and Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts as a special guest for a pair of co-headlining shows in Connecticut and Pennsylvania later this month.

The project follows his sophomore LP Heavy On The Soul, released in March. He is currently amidst his “The Legal Tour” through November.

Two Braids & The Truth – My Tribute To Willie Track List:
1. “Bloody Mary Morning”
2. “Write Your Own Songs (feat. Willie Nelson)”
3. “Me and Paul”
4. “Shotgun Willie”
5. “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (feat. Ben Haggard)”
6. “Whiskey River”
7. “Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground”
8. “Always On My Mind (feat. Carter Faith)”
9. “Night Life”
10. “I’ll Fly Away”