2027 Dates Announced For HITS HOME Music Conference

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HITS HOME 2026. Photo: Dwell House

The inaugural global HITS HOME Music Conference took place in Nashville at the Virgin Hotel a few weeks ago with more than 300 attendees from 10+ countries. The music business conference will return to Nashville April 18-20, 2027.

Designed around the simple premise that the future of music could be discovered the same way music itself often is – through surprise, spontaneity, and shared moments, the conference featured conversations with leaders like Warner Records Nashville’s Cris Lacy, Neon Coast’s Martha Earls, Riveter Management’s Charlene Bryant, Primary Wave’s Lexi Todd, A2IM’s Ian Harrison, and Billboard‘s Kristin Robinson. 

The three-day experience began with a “Welcome Home Party” on Sunday evening sponsored by genni and Concord, and Monday was filled with segments, talks, and “music moments,” before concluding Tuesday with a rooftop brunch and self-directed “house visits” across offices in Nashville. Live performances included Nashville-based artists like Kat Luna, dominique., Iris Copperman and Restless Road, as well as Finn Forster from the UK, Muryel from Berlin, Germany; and Beau Shearer from Australia.

A post-lunch “Food Coma Comeback” variety show blended comedy, games, and music into something closer to a shared experience than a scheduled segment. And at one point, the unexpected took over entirely: a full flash mob by Belmont University’s RVX K-Pop Dance Team performing “GOLDEN” turned the room into a collective moment of surprise and energy.

“We intentionally blurred the line between conversation and experience – bringing together industry dialogue, live performances, comedy, and moments no one saw coming. The result felt less like a conference and more like a home. The surprises – from day-of programming reveals to flash-mob energy – created a sense of shared discovery you can’t replicate on a run-of-show. And that feeling is the point. It’s exactly why HITS HOME will return to Nashville in 2027,” says Nick Maiale, Founder of HITS HOME & jump.global. “HITS HOME will always be rooted here – we’re proud to continue shining a light on Nashville’s music culture while welcoming voices and perspectives from around the world.”

The War And Treaty Sign With Atlantic Outpost, Slate New Album

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The War and Treaty. Photo: Luke Rogers

The War and Treaty have signed with Atlantic Outpost, first reported by Billboard.

Alongside the signing, the duo have revealed their new album, The Story of Michael and Tanya, will be released on June 19. The 10-track project features collaborations with Whoopi Goldberg, Valerie June and Wynonna. The first track from the album, “Don’t Say Goodbye,” is out now.

“Evoking hard, honest emotions first required me to find those parts in myself,” Tanya Trotter shared to Billboard. “Once you find them, there’s a strength to the urgency that feels like you’ll be at your wits’ end if you don’t express that emotion.”

“For The War and Treaty, feeling every aspect of what we’re writing and singing has grown from representing routine emotions to now demanding that people connect with our spirit,” added Michael Trotter.

The husband and wife duo are two-time Grammy nominees, and were crowned Emerging Artist of the Year in 2019 at the Americana Music Honors & Awards. In 2022, they were named Duo/Group of the Year at the same awards, as well as in 2023.

Also in 2023, The War and Treaty hit No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 with Zach Bryan collaboration “Hey Driver.” Billboard also honored them in 2024 with the Groundbreaker Award. They released their last album, Plus One, in 2025.

The War and Treaty have also slated a headlining show at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 13. Tickets go on sale May 15.

The Story of Michael and Tanya Track List:
1. “Litty” (feat. Whoopi Goldberg)
2. “Don’t Say Goodbye”
3. “You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore”
4. “Shouldn’t Have”
5. “Darlene and Gene”
6. “Reclaim All of Your Time” (feat. Valerie June and Wynonna)
7. “Lay This Bottle Down”
8. “Don’t Give Up Now”
9. “Holy Ghost Fire”
10. “High Heels”

Activated Events Adds Three To Team

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Michael Valenzuela, Josh Stolo & Michael Hamill. Photo: Courtesy of Activated Events

Activated Events has added three members to its team.

Michael Valenzuela joins as Senior Vice President of Revenue. He brings over 24 years of experience in media and sales leadership, most recently serving as Market Manager for Audacy across San Diego and Riverside Counties, where he oversaw seven radio stations. In his new role, Valenzuela will be initially focused on expanding revenue across sponsorships, corporate hospitality, marketing partnerships, venues and new event opportunities.

“Michael brings a strong track record of building high-performing teams, and driving meaningful revenue growth,” says Steve Thacher, CEO of Activated Events. “We’re excited to have him on board and confident he will play a key role in helping us scale Activated Events and continue building something special.”

“Events have always been where my heart is,” adds Valenzuela. “I’m fired up to expand upon that vision here at Activated Events and help take the company to new heights.”

Josh Stolo has been added as Director of Operations & Strategic Development. He joins from Brew Ha Ha, where he served as General Manager and played a key role in producing a wide range of events, including the widely celebrated Punk in the Park series. In his new role, Stolo will work across multiple areas of the business, focusing on site operations and builds, sourcing and developing new venues, supporting strategic partnerships and contributing to talent buying within select genres.

“Josh comes to us with hands-on experience producing memorable live events and a deep understanding of what it takes to execute at a high level,” says Thacher. “His expertise in operations and venue development is exactly what we need as we continue to scale and bring new events and markets to life.”

Michael Hamill joins the team as Staffing Manager. He brings over 15 years of hospitality experience, most recently serving as People Operations Manager at M Culinary Concepts in Phoenix.

‘Boone Creek’ Returns With Unearthed Tracks, First Vinyl Reissue In Nearly 50 Years

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Boone Creek, the self-titled 1977 debut from the boundary-pushing supergroup of future bluegrass luminaries Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Wes Golding and Terry Baucom, is being reissued by Craft Recordings and HighTone Records on June 26.

A preview track/first single from the project, Boone Creek’s soul-stirring take on the Flat & Scruggs bluegrass classic, “I’m Gonna Settle Down,” is available to stream now. The track showcases the dazzling musicianship and fiery chemistry of the band’s four bluegrass masters.

Boone Creek is making its cd and streaming debut with the reissue, which includes four recently unearthed bonus tracks salvaged from the long-lost session tapes—left-field performances that show the band pushing the form into truly uncharted territory. The project is also being reissued on vinyl for the first time.

In 1976, Skaggs and Douglas were fresh off of their tenure with bluegrass powerhouse J.D. Crowe & the New South when they joined forces with songwriter Golding and Baucom to create a daring new sound that honored bluegrass tradition while boldly expanding its possibilities. As they pulled from jam-band looseness, timeless pop craft, and even the sunlit soft-rock textures of the 1970s, Boone Creek incorporated electric guitar, drums, piano, horns and synthesizers into their arrangements.

When Boone Creek first presented their debut to Rounder, the label deemed portions of the material “too commercial,” prompting the band to go back and record more material in a more traditional bluegrass vein. The resulting album combined songs from these two sets of sessions for a diverse project that extends far beyond the then-accepted boundaries of bluegrass music.

In the years following the album’s release, the master tapes of the unreleased songs disappeared, but nearly five decades later, the tapes were tracked down, although they were moldy and badly damaged. Through intense restoration efforts, four songs that never made the original LP were rescued, revealing an even bolder, more experimental side of Boone Creek that feels decades ahead of its time. Those tracks include the freewheeling “Hitchhiking to California” and horn-laced “Dream Song,” which drifts into a subtly psychedelic haze – two standouts on a landmark album and lost cornerstone of the progressive bluegrass movement.that feels strikingly modern even decades later.

“It’s been over 50 years since Boone Creek made these recordings and it’s great to hear them remastered,” says Skaggs. “They sound better than ever, and I never thought the previously unreleased cuts would see the light of day. A big thanks to my bandmate, brother Jerry Douglas, for assisting in the remastering process – great job!”

“We hope you again enjoy Boone Creek’s freshman effort along with a glimpse back into the ’70s, where the personalities and young dreams of a band gone on safari were never to be completed,” adds Douglas. “This effort formed who we are individually today, unfortunately losing Terry in December of 2023. We thank everyone involved for their tenacity and forward thinking in bringing this remastered lost treasure back into the light.”

Prior to disbanding, Boone Creek put out just one more album, One Way Track, a 1978 LP that marked the first release from the then-newly launched Sugar Hill Records. During their brief lifespan, the band cycled through a number of bass players, including country legend Vince Gill (who contributes a harmony vocal part on “Misty Wind,” one of the newly recovered tracks).

Stephen Wilson Jr. Wins ACM Award For Visual Media Of The Year

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Joe Sivick (Missing Piece Group), Alicia Jones (ALJ Management), Haley Montgomery (Academy of Country Music), Stephen Wilson Jr., Patch Culbertson (Big Loud), Brianne Deslippe (Big Loud), Amy Beard (Big Loud) and Nicholas Marquez (Big Loud). (L-R, front row): Shari Roth (Big Loud), Brian Corona (Big Loud), Nate Yetton (Big Loud) and Jordy Dettmer (Range Management)

Stephen Wilson Jr. has been awarded his first ACM Award for Visual Media of the Year for his “Cuckoo” official video, which he co-directed with his longtime creative collaborator Tim Cofield.

Wilson Jr. was surprised with the award by ACM Head of Artist Relations Haley Montgomery at WXPN’s NON-COMMvention yesterday (May 6).

Wilson Jr.’s latest single “Gary” just broke the top 40 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. He recently wrapped the entirely sold-out first leg of his “Gary The Torch Tour” and announced a second leg with added West Coast, Southeast and international dates. In between headline dates, he will support Dave Matthews Band at the Gorge Amphitheater and Brandi Carlile at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Treaty Oak Revival Plots Second Leg Of ‘West Texas Degenerate Tour’

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Treaty Oak Revival. Photo: Paige Williams

Treaty Oak Revival has added a second leg of their “West Texas Degenerate Tour,” which extends the tour through November.

The newly-announced dates include stops at The Greek Theater in Los Angeles, Truliant Amphitheater in Charlotte, Moody Center in Austin, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Houston and more. The tour features support from Wade Forster, William Clark Green, Gannon Fremin & CCREV, Perfect Union, Andy Buckner, Cigarettes at Sunset, KG & The Bad Habits, Ben Quad, 80 ACRES, Belmont, Austin Meade and 49 Winchester, varying by date. Ticket pre-sales begin May 13, with general on sale beginning May 15.

Treaty Oak Revival’s latest album West Texas Degenerate marks another milestone in what has been a meteoric rise for the band. The album earned the country rockers their first No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums and Americana/Folk Albums charts and has since amassed over half a billion streams. Marking the biggest debut of their career, the album also opened at No. 2 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums, No. 3 on Top Country Albums, and No. 21 on the Billboard 200.

They’ve racked up over 3 billion global streams, 8.2 million monthly Spotify listeners, two self-released, Gold-certified albums (No Vacancy and Have A Nice Day), and five Platinum singles so far, and were recently nominated for Best Country Duo or Group at the 52nd American Music Awards.

2026 “West Texas Degenerate Tour”:
May 14, 2026 – Southaven, MS – BankPlus Amphitheater
May 15, 2026 – Birmingham, AL – Coca-Cola Amphitheater
May 16, 2026 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
May 17, 2026 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
May 28, 2026 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
May 29, 2026 – Macon, GA – Atrium Health Amphitheater
May 30, 2026 – Savannah, GA – Rock the Country Festival ^
June 4, 2026 – Fort Worth, TX – Billy Bob’s
June 18, 2026 – North Lawrence, OH – The Country Fest 2026 ^
June 19, 2026 – Bloomington, IL – Tailgate N’ Tallboys 2026 ^
June 25, 2026 – Bonner Springs, KS – Country Stampede ^
June 26, 2026 – North Platte, NE – NEBRASKAland Days ^
June 27, 2026 – Sioux Falls, SD – Rock the Country Festival ^
July 1, 2026 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
July 8, 2026 – Chicago, IL – Windy City Smokeout ^
July 10, 2026 – St. Paul, MN – MN Country Club Festival ^
July 11, 2026 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena
July 17, 2026 – Cheyenne, WY – Cheyenne Frontier Days ^
July 18, 2026 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 23, 2026 – Paso Robles, CA – CA Mid State Fair
July 24, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre
Aug. 7, 2026 – Des Moines, IA – Casey’s Center
Aug. 8, 2026 – Oshkosh, WI – xRoads41 ^
Aug. 9, 2026 – Hastings, MI – Rock the Country Festival ^
Sept. 17, 2026 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
Sept. 18, 2026 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Sept. 19, 2026 – Charlotte, NC – Truliant Amphitheater
Sept. 24, 2026 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
Sept. 25, 2026 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
Sept. 26, 2026 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Oct. 2, 2026 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Oct. 3, 2026 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Oct. 23, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels
Oct. 24, 2026 – Phoenix, AZ – The Smoke Show ^
Oct. 29, 2026 – Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street Amphitheater
Oct. 30, 2026 – Stephenville, TX – Melody Mountain Ranch
Nov. 12, 2026 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
Nov. 13, 2026 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Newly announced dates in bold
^ festival

Bonnaroo Unveils 2026 SuperJam Lineup

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Bonnaroo has revealed the details of its annual SuperJam, led this year by Kesha.

KESHA PRESENTS: SUPERJÂM ESOTERÍCA: THE ALCHEMY OF POP will take place June 13 in This Tent from 8:45-10:30 p.m. Kesha will be joined on-stage by Blondshell, Chromeo, Del Water Gap, Grouplove, Margo Price, Mountain Grass Unit, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and Wyatt Flores. More guests will be announced at a later date.

Bonnaroo will take place June 11-14 in Manchester, TN. Headliners set to perform this year are Skrillex, The Strokes, RÜFÜS DU SOL, and Noah Kahan. Additional performers include GRiZ, Teddy Swims, The Neighbourhood, Role Model and more.

Jackson Dean Celebrates Second Chart-Topper ‘Heavens To Betsy’

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Pictured (L-R, back row):Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, River House Artists’ Lynn Oliver Cline, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, Sony Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, Jody Williams Songs’ Jody Williams and Little Louder’s Arturo Buenahora. (L-R, front row): Benjy Davis, Luke Dick, Jackson Dean and Driver Williams. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

Jackson Dean filled the BMI lobby yesterday (May 5) to celebrate his second ever chart-topper “Heavens To Betsy.”

Emceed by BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, the event honored the artists, songwriters, publishers and industry team members who contributed to the single’s success.

Written by Dean, Benjy Davis and Driver Williams, and produced by Luke Dick, the track appeared on Dean’s sophomore album On The Back Of My Dreams. It marked the first No. 1 for Williams, who was presented with a custom Taylor 210e DLX guitar to commemorate the moment.

Driver Williams and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, River House Artists’ Lynn Oliver-Cline, Sony Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, Jody Williams Songs’ Jody Williams and Little Louder’s Arturo Buenahora each took the microphone to honor the team behind the song.

Each spoke to the track’s storytelling, thanking the team for creating a song that connects on a deeper level with many fans, reflecting on the different ways they’ve seen that connection manifest, both through audience reactions and in their own experiences. In addition, several underscored Jackson’s rare talent, highlighting his strength as a vocalist, songwriter and artist.

Sponsored by Studio Bank, Kari Barnhart made a special donation presentation on behalf of Dean and collaborators in support of Old Friends Senior Dogs Sanctuary, a Nashville-based organization that finds forever foster homes for senior dogs. The official whiskey sponsor of BMI No. 1 parties, Green River Whiskey, gifted Dean, his co-writers and producer each with a commemorative bottle of single barrel bourbon in honor of their hit.

“When you do great things, write great songs, sing great songs and bring great songs, you make it easy to make great songs in the studio. To see people [on tour] come up to [Jackson] and tell their stories about how much this song means to them from a place of grief and loss–to me that is the real truth, the granular purity of music. To be part of that, I get more grateful everyday,” Dick shared.

Williams shared his gratitude for his teams, friends and family, many of whom were in attendance. He shared that celebrating the moment at BMI felt especially full circle, having grown up around the music business.

“Lastly, I want to thank the songwriting community, and the two streets that grew me up as a music business kid all the way until now,” he shared. “I’ve seen it grow and change for better and worse, but it’s my home. Thank you Music Row–16th and 17th avenue and all the side streets in between. It’s not just the individual people that make up this community. Its quite literally the streets, buildings, sidewalks and parking lots. There’s too many important memories in this little part of town, so thank you Nashville.”

“It’s been an honor to watch the journey of this song and how it has made people feel. It has been a really cool thing to be a part of,” Davis added.

“Thank you for being under this roof for a couple hours with us to celebrate this. It took Driver walking through the door saying ‘Heavens To Betsy boys, what do you think about that?’ and the darkness of Benjy Davis to make it happen,” Dean quipped. “I think we’ve all known since the get that this was going to be a song to speak volumes. Thank you so much to everyone that has made that happen.”

Jason Isbell’s ShoalsFest Returns In October

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Jason Isbell and Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood

Jason Isbell‘s ShoalsFest returns to McFarland Park in Florence, Alabama on Oct. 3-4.

The fifth edition of the festival features a two-day lineup that includes Isbell and the 400 Unit, Jeff Tweedy, S.G. Goodman, Willow Avalon and Steve Trash. Isbell will also perform with the Drive-By Truckers and perform their 2003 album Decoration Day in its entirety. Tickets for ShoalsFest will go on sale this Friday, (May 8) at shoalsfest.net.

This year’s ShoalsFest supports the local effort to bring Nuçi’s Space to the Shoals. Nuçi’s Space is a suicide prevention nonprofit based in Athens, Georgia. With a focus on musicians, Nuçi’s Space advocates for and helps to alleviate the suffering of those living with a brain illness and fights to end the stigma of mental illness. The nonprofit maintains a health and resource center for musicians and offers programs and services including access to low-cost professional counseling, suicide prevention training, and various support groups. Their facility provides affordable rehearsal space, a recording studio, gear rental and sales, and a music venue to showcase local talent and support all musicians.

Muscle Shoals and the surrounding towns of Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Florence (collectively referred to as “The Shoals”) had an immeasurable impact on popular music with what was dubbed the “Muscle Shoals Sound.” Isbell developed his guitar playing and his deep reverence for music history as a teenager working at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals and playing with local musicians and members of the studio’s revered house band, The Swampers.

CMHOFM To Offer Daily Family Programs & Free Admission To Local Youth This Summer

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This summer, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is offering additional daily programs for families and will continue offering free admission for local youth and discounted admission for up to two accompanying adults.

The free and discounted admission applies to those living in counties including Davidson, Cheatham, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson.

Between Memorial Day and Aug. 10, increased daily programming and workshops for families will include a musical instrument petting zoo, dance workshops, friendship bracelets, art making, creative crafts, and String City: Nashville’s Tradition of Music and Puppetry.

Museum tickets and additional programming can be found here.