MŌRIAH. Photo: Raul Esparza
Singer, songwriter and actress MŌRIAH has had her boots on the ground in Music City since she was 17 years old. She recently stopped by MusicRow to share some new tunes and give a glimpse into what’s coming next in her career.
When MŌRIAH moved to Nashville, she came with no family, no friends and no plan. She had a scholarship secured to attend a university in California after high school, but the haunting vision of a future without music or creativity compelled her to take a bold leap—moving across the country before her 18th birthday.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s Liza Anderson & LB Cantrell, MŌRIAH, MusicRow’s Madison Hahnen, Sherod Robertson & John Nix Arledge.
“The Nashville community has been so generous,” MŌRIAH says. “People have taught me how to produce music, sent me tutorial videos, taught me how to edit music videos and spent time writing songs with me. I feel like I’m a bit of a sponge, [soaking bits up] from all of the talented people in this town.”
Over the past 10 years, MŌRIAH has honed her sound and refined her artistry, ultimately discovering what feels most natural and authentic to her. For the first time, she is releasing music that is more vulnerable than ever, because it has to do with her family and where she comes from. She started off the afternoon of singing with the dreamy “Hasta Mañana,” showing off her developed sound.
The singer-songwriter has recently been creatively moved by her great grandmother’s ranch in El Paso, Texas. The one acre of dirt is equipped with a double wide trailer with no electricity or running water, but that has not stopped her family from spending time there. The ranch inspired the next tune she played, “Nice Life,” which was accompanied by her great grandmother’s own accordion.
“I’ve been an artist for so long but I did it in a really backwards way,” she explains. “I went on my first tour when I was 17; I was opening arena shows with a ukulele. I didn’t earn those rooms, therefore I didn’t catch the magic of live performance until much later.
Pictured (L-R): Fletcher Foster, MŌRIAH and MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson.
“The magic of music has really been healed in rooms like this,” she continues. “There’s just something about being this close with each of you.” MŌRIAH then went into the first song she wrote for her upcoming project, “Whiskey Is His Wife.”
MŌRIAH released her latest EP, Curtain Call, in 2022 and is currently collaborating with producer Paul Mabury on her upcoming album. The project, two years in the making, showcases her love for country music while incorporating Spanish lyrics—a heartfelt nod to her family and heritage. When she started playing it for people this summer, she found her team forming and listeners perking up, especially for the tune “Sombrero,” which she ended the afternoon with.
On the big screen, MŌRIAH has held the lead role in Because of Gracia and currently plays a role in the series Bathsheba. She also acted alongside Dennis Quaid in the Ronald Reagan biopic Reagan. She also has hosted the BECOMING:us podcast with her husband Joel Smallbone. The two also co-produced the 2024 film Unsung Hero.
Lineup Announced For Jackalope Jamboree 2025
/by Liza AndersonThe lineup has been announced for Jackalope Jamboree 2025, taking place June 26–28 at Happy Canyon Arena in Pendleton, Oregon.
The festival will feature over 30 performances by Americana and country music acts like Midland, Paul Cauthen and 49 Winchester as well as Christian Hayes, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, Vandoliers, Taylor Hunnicutt and more across three stages.
In addition to performances on the festival grounds, each day will kick off and conclude with free-to-the-public pre-party and after-party shows downtown at Great Pacific and on Main Street outside of the Rainbow Café.
Gates for Jackalope Jamboree will open at different times depending on the stage and area. The gates for the Queens Barn Stage, presented by George Dickel, and the food court will open at 1 p.m. The gates for the Hodgen Stage and the Blue Mountain Stage will open later at 4 p.m.
Vendors will be onsite with vegetarian options, and Oregon-based craft beer sponsor pFriem Family Brewers will have beverages available for purchase. Domestic beer and local wine will also be available. Additionally, attendees can shop local merchant booths for clothing, jewelry, art and more.
Presale tickets will go on sale this Monday (Dec. 2) at 11 a.m. CT, with general sales following on Tuesday (Dec. 3) at the same time. For more information, click here.
Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Bailey Zimmerman To Headline Alberta’s Big Valley Jamboree
/by Lorie HollabaughBlake Shelton, Jason Aldean and Bailey Zimmerman are set to headline Northern Alberta’s Big Valley Jamboree on July 31-Aug. 3.
The Big Valley lineup will also include Tyler Hubbard, Ashley McBryde, Nate Smith, Clint Black and Drew Baldridge, along with Canadian country artists Tyler Joe Miller, Tim Hicks, James Barker Band, Tommy Charles, Owen Riegling, Lindsay Ell, Nice Horse, Savannah Jade and Teigen Gayse. Fans can purchase tickets at bigvalleyjamboree.com
“As we head into the 32nd year of the festival, we’re proud to be bringing globally-recognized talent to our loyal fans in Camrose,” says Country Thunder CEO Troy Vollhoffer. “BVJ is one of Canada’s most historic music festivals and we are honoured to bring it to life each year. Country music fans deserve the best and we truly feel that we have delivered just that for this year’s festival.”
Downtown Artist & Label Services Promotes Jeanette Porcello [Exclusive]
/by Liza AndersonJeanette Porcello
Downtown Artist & Label Services has promoted Jeanette Porcello to Director, A&R.
In her new position, Porcello will continue to report directly to Global Vice President of A&R Bryan Mooney, and oversee Downtown’s growth in Nashville while providing creative support across the company’s roster. The announcement follows her recent signings of Drew Holcomb, Tiera Kennedy, Mat Kearney, Roar and The Crane Wives.
Porcello previously served as the company’s Senior Manager, A&R, guiding the creative direction and project vision for artists like Abbey Cone, Fancy Hagood, MC4D and REI AMI. She also oversaw the release of marquee projects, including Judah & the Lion’s The Process, Kearney’s self-titled album and Kennedy’s debut album, Rooted.
“Jeanette has been an invaluable member of our team both within Nashville and across our global roster, and we’re excited to see her step into this role with the same creativity and dedication that has earned her the trust of artists and industry colleagues,” says Mooney.
Prior to joining Downtown Artist & Label Services last year, Porcello held the role of A&R at Atlantic Records, where her first major signing, Sara Kays, went on to become a Platinum- certified artist. In addition to participating in the CMA Women’s Leadership Academy, she continues to serve on the leadership team for The Other Nashville Society.
“I’m thrilled to continue growing within the company and building the distribution roster for the Downtown Artist & Label Services team,” shares Porcello. “I love championing independent artists, something Downtown takes great pride in, and I look forward to further expanding our roster’s reach and impact.”
Dates Set For 25th Annual Nashville Unlimited Christmas Concert
/by Lorie HollabaughNashville Unlimited Christmas
The Nashville Unlimited Christmas Concert is celebrating its 25th year this year at Christ Church Cathedral on Dec. 9-10.
The lineup includes Emmylou Harris, Charlie McCoy, Riders in the Sky, The McCrary Sisters, Rob Ickes, Jeff Coffin and the Nashville Jazz Orchestra, with more artists to come. The concert is hosted by Dave Pomeroy with Don Henry.
The concert event raises funds for Nashville’s Room in the Inn homeless program, and tickets are free with a suggested minimum donation of $20. Since 1992, Pomeroy’s holiday concerts have raised more than $520,000 in donations for Room In The Inn, an organization founded by the late Charles Strobel and Mary Catherine Strobel that has transformed the lives of Nashville’s homeless.
“Nashville Unlimited Christmas celebrates the season with great holiday music while raising much-needed funds and increasing awareness of the great acts of love, kindness and understanding done for our community by Room in the Inn over the years,” says Pomeroy. “We urge all Nashvillians to come share in the true spirit of Christmas.”
Whiskey Jam Celebrates 1,000th Show
/by Madison HahnenDierks Bentley onstage at Whiskey Row for the 1,000th Whiskey Jam celebration. Photo: Ryan Kinder
Independent original live music series Whiskey Jam hit 1,000 shows on Monday night (Nov. 25) at Whiskey Row in downtown Nashville.
Fans, industry leaders and artists gathered at the milestone celebration, featuring a secret lineup of Dierks Bentley, Zach Top, Ella Langley, Dasha, Dylan Marlowe, Alana Springsteen, Graham Barham, Zach John King and Jojo DiSilva.
“The first time I played Whiskey Jam …I got a record deal out of it,” Top shared on stage. “Thank you to Ward [Guenther] and everybody that helped put this thing on for giving artists like me—and everybody who’s been on this stage tonight – a chance to come out and play a show. It’s been a success story for a lot of artists and the folks here tonight are a representation of that.”
Whiskey Jam Founder Ward Guenther and Dierks Bentley at the 1,000th Whiskey Jam celebration. Photo: Ryan Kinder
“I played Whiskey Jam for the first time earlier this year when my album dropped, and I was so excited to get the call from Ward to join the 1,000th show,” Dasha added. “Whiskey Jam is iconic in this town. All your favorite country artists have played that stage and I’m so honored I got to be a part of such a special night.”
Founded in January 2011, Whiskey Jam has spent 13 years showcasing rising artists who have gone on to achieve industry success. Collectively, past and current Whiskey Jam artsits have charted 450 No. 1 songs, notched 129 ACM Awards, 92 CMA Awards, 36 Grammys and 10 have been inducted as Grand Ole Opry members.
“When Whiskey Jam started, it was all about getting together with friends to share our music in an exceptionally fun environment,” said Guenther, Whiskey Jam Founder. “It’s grown in ways we never could have imagined and that’s really a testament to our incredible and supportive creative community.”
Industry Ink: Gavin Adcock, Due West, Harper Grace, Tori Martin
/by Lorie HollabaughGavin Adcock’s ‘A Cigarette’ Glitters Gold
Pictured (L–R): Warner Music Nashville’s Gregg Nadel, Cris Lacy, Gavin Adcock, Warner Records’ Aaron Bay-Schuck and Tom Corson. Photo: Andrea Schollnick
Gavin Adcock’s song “A Cigarette” was recently certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His Warner Music family surprised him with a plaque during CMA Award Week.
Additionally, the song has racked up 112,242,048 U.S. on-demand streams and 803,293 track equivalents.
Due West Returns To Their GrassRoots
Pictured (L–R, bottom row): Brad Hull (Due West), Dean Dillon, Tim Gates (Due West), Matthew Lopez (Due West); (L–R, front row): John Griffin, Chris Allums, GrassRoots Promotion Co-Owner and Managing Partner Teresa Johnston-Chance, GrassRoots Promotion Co-Owner and Managing Partner, Nancy Tunick, Hunter Jergens (Twin Flame Creative Agency), NJ, Shannon Hall and Dan Hagar
Due West has signed with GrassRoots Promotion to manage, promote and market the Due West Unwound Records album project Unbroken, co-written and produced by Dean Dillon.
The trio’s newest single, “Only Heart I’m Breaking,” was released to radio on Nov. 18 and landed No.1 at Play MPE Top Streams and No. 2 Play MPE Top Downloads. The official add date for the new single is Jan. 20.
Harper Grace Pops Up At Twelve Thirty Club Phoenix Show
Pictured (L–R): John Clore, Geoff Gray, Harper Grace, Sam Fox and Yvonne Mann. Photo: Vince Dwyer
Curb recording artist Harper Grace recently played The Twelve Thirty Club Pop-Up at the Global Ambassador Hotel in Phoenix on Nov. 15-16.
Tori Martin Celebrates Texas Chart-Topper
Pictured (L–R): LuckySky Music’s Bill Warner, Kirsti Manna, Tori Martin and LuckySky Music’s Jason Engelman
Nashville-based LuckySky Music celebrated their first No. 1 with artist/songwriter Tori Martin backstage in Detroit at District 142. Martin’s “Lost In The Country,” produced by Bill Warner and penned by Bill Diluigi, Kirsti Manna and Martin, topped the Texas TRRR Charts.
Martin has been on tour with Drew Baldridge, with the final two shows coming up in Minneapolis and Des Moines on Dec. 5-6.
Thomas Rhett Racks Up 23rd No. 1 With ‘Beautiful As You’
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto: Courtesy of The Valory Music Co.
Thomas Rhett has scored his 23rd career No. 1 with “Beautiful As You,” which holds the top spot this week on the Mediabase chart.
The single was recently certified Gold, and is featured on Rhett’s seventh studio album, About A Woman. Co-written by Rhett and Julian Bunetta alongside Alexander Izquierdo, Joshua Emanuel Coleman and Zaire Kelsey, the song has quickly become a fan favorite.
Additionally, Rhett and Teddy Swims teamed up to perform a medley of Rhett’s “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Woman” and Swims’ Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “Lose Control” during the 58th annual CMA Awards. He is also currently gearing up for a four-night residency in December at the BleauLive Theater inside Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
BMI Hosts Creative Community Mixer With Tay Keith
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): BMI’s Shannon Sanders, Tay Keith, BMI’s Christopher Scott-Wallace and BMI’s Clay Bradley attend BMI’s Creative Community Mixer at PROOF in Nashville. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI
BMI recently hosted a Creative Community Mixer event at PROOF in downtown Nashville, bringing together members of Music City’s hip-hop and country communities.
Pictured (L-R): Gentle King Group’s Craig King, The BoykinZ, Drumatized executives Cambrian Strong and more, BMI’s Josh Tomlinson, Christopher Scott-Wallace, Shannon Sanders and Clay Bradley, and guests attend BMI’s Creative Community Mixer at PROOF in Nashville. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI
The invitation-only event was done in partnership between BMI and celebrated producer and Tennessee native Tay Keith, a three-time winner of BMI’s Producer of the Year award who is behind hits like “Sicko Mode” by Travis Scott, “Not Alike” by Eminem and his own “Pound Town” featuring Sexxy Red.
The event brought together BMI affiliates and industry executives across genres for a relaxed evening of networking. Attendees included The BoykinZ, DJ Meech, LuhRon, Dizzy, Gentle King Group’s Craig King, Electric Feel Entertainment’s John Bradley, Cambrian Strong, executives from Drumatized Records and others.
Atwell Songs Launches In Nashville
/by Lorie HollabaughJesse Atwell and Paige Reese
Jesse Atwell and Paige Reese have launched Atwell Songs, a new publishing administration company based in Nashville.
The company is a joint venture between Atwell of Atwell Music Group, and Reese of Leven Works, with both executives acting as Co-Founders of the new venture and Reese leading the company. Atwell Songs offers complete publishing administration services for songwriters while maintaining a hands-on approach to client service and allowing writers to retain complete ownership and copyright of their music.
“Atwell Songs is a natural extension of Atwell Music Group. We’re excited to provide a comprehensive suite of publishing administration services to songwriters and artists,” says Atwell. “With Paige’s expertise and passion for music, we’re confident that Atwell Songs will be a valuable asset to the music community.”
“We’re committed to providing our clients with the highest level of service and support,” adds Reese. “And we’re here to empower songwriters and help them achieve their full potential, by making sure they’re getting paid what they’re due.”
On The Row: MŌRIAH Infuses Her Roots Into Music City
/by Madison HahnenMŌRIAH. Photo: Raul Esparza
Singer, songwriter and actress MŌRIAH has had her boots on the ground in Music City since she was 17 years old. She recently stopped by MusicRow to share some new tunes and give a glimpse into what’s coming next in her career.
When MŌRIAH moved to Nashville, she came with no family, no friends and no plan. She had a scholarship secured to attend a university in California after high school, but the haunting vision of a future without music or creativity compelled her to take a bold leap—moving across the country before her 18th birthday.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s Liza Anderson & LB Cantrell, MŌRIAH, MusicRow’s Madison Hahnen, Sherod Robertson & John Nix Arledge.
“The Nashville community has been so generous,” MŌRIAH says. “People have taught me how to produce music, sent me tutorial videos, taught me how to edit music videos and spent time writing songs with me. I feel like I’m a bit of a sponge, [soaking bits up] from all of the talented people in this town.”
Over the past 10 years, MŌRIAH has honed her sound and refined her artistry, ultimately discovering what feels most natural and authentic to her. For the first time, she is releasing music that is more vulnerable than ever, because it has to do with her family and where she comes from. She started off the afternoon of singing with the dreamy “Hasta Mañana,” showing off her developed sound.
The singer-songwriter has recently been creatively moved by her great grandmother’s ranch in El Paso, Texas. The one acre of dirt is equipped with a double wide trailer with no electricity or running water, but that has not stopped her family from spending time there. The ranch inspired the next tune she played, “Nice Life,” which was accompanied by her great grandmother’s own accordion.
“I’ve been an artist for so long but I did it in a really backwards way,” she explains. “I went on my first tour when I was 17; I was opening arena shows with a ukulele. I didn’t earn those rooms, therefore I didn’t catch the magic of live performance until much later.
Pictured (L-R): Fletcher Foster, MŌRIAH and MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson.
“The magic of music has really been healed in rooms like this,” she continues. “There’s just something about being this close with each of you.” MŌRIAH then went into the first song she wrote for her upcoming project, “Whiskey Is His Wife.”
MŌRIAH released her latest EP, Curtain Call, in 2022 and is currently collaborating with producer Paul Mabury on her upcoming album. The project, two years in the making, showcases her love for country music while incorporating Spanish lyrics—a heartfelt nod to her family and heritage. When she started playing it for people this summer, she found her team forming and listeners perking up, especially for the tune “Sombrero,” which she ended the afternoon with.
On the big screen, MŌRIAH has held the lead role in Because of Gracia and currently plays a role in the series Bathsheba. She also acted alongside Dennis Quaid in the Ronald Reagan biopic Reagan. She also has hosted the BECOMING:us podcast with her husband Joel Smallbone. The two also co-produced the 2024 film Unsung Hero.