Eric Church. Photo: Robby Klein

Eric Church has announced his plans to sign over all of his publishing royalties for new song “Darkest Hour” to the people of North Carolina to support relief following the devastation of Hurricane Helene and provide ongoing funds to build a more resilient future for his home state. Available everywhere now, “Darkest Hour” marks his first solo release in over three years.

“From Western North Carolina, East Tennessee, Upstate South Carolina, parts of Georgia and even Florida which took a direct hit, there are so many places that were impacted. Specifically in the area that I’m from, the mountains of Western North Carolina were devastated. There are places that are just biblically gone. These are our family members, they’re our friends, they’re our neighbors—and they’re in dire need of help,” reflects Church. “And I’ve been in the studio for a while, trying some different things and exploring creativity. I had this song that I’d written, and the line that struck me in light of the recent devastation was ‘I’ll come running,’ because there are a lot of people out there right now who are in their darkest hour and they need people to come running. We were going to wait to release music until next year, but it just didn’t feel right to wait with this song. Sometimes you give songs their moment and sometimes they find their own moment.

This song, ‘Darkest Hour,’ was the best way I could think to try to help. We’ve been helping with boots-on-the-ground efforts, but this is something that will live beyond just the immediate recovery. This is not a quick thing to fix, so hopefully ‘Darkest Hour’ will be able to contribute to that for a long time to come. This song goes to my home, North Carolina, now and forever.”

He continues, “‘Darkest Hour’ is a song dedicated to the unsung heroes, the people who show up when the world’s falling apart. This is for the folks who show up in the hardest times, offering a hand when it’s most needed, and standing tall when others can’t. Even in your darkest hour, they come running. When the night’s at its blackest, this is for those who are holding the light, guiding the lost and pulling us through. The message of the song specifically in this time is about Hurricane Helene and the people that need help, but in a broader view, it’s about any challenging times that we have in our life, which we’ll all have. And it’s always important to know that in your darkest hour, there are people that will come running, there are people that will help. And I think it’s also important to be one of the people that go running when other people need help.”

Additionally, Church’s Chief Cares Fund will not only be assisting in North Carolina, but in all states and communities affected from Appalachia to the Gulf. For more information, click here.

Pictured (L-R, front row): Denise Jonas, Emily Peacock (Sr. Creative Dir., JGP) and Leslie T. DiPiero (Pres., JGP); (L-R, back row): Kevin Jonas Sr. (Founder/Chairman Jonas Group Entertainment) and Terri Jo Box. Photo: Cole Barnhill

Texas-born songwriter Terri Jo Box has re-signed her deal with Jonas Group Publishing.

Box was the first writer signed to JGP in 2020, and has had cuts with Cody Johnson on “God Bless The Boy (Cori’s Song)” and Lainey Wilson with “Those Boots (Deddy’s Song)” and “Hillbilly Hippie,” which both appeared on Wilson’s Grammy-winning Bell Bottom Country album.

In addition to her JGP cuts, she’s enjoyed success with Ashley McBryde’s “American Scandal” and “Bible and a .44,” which has also been recorded by Eric Church, Trisha Yearwood and others. Her song, “Dear Old Sun,” written with Miranda Lambert and Gwen Sebastian, was featured on Lambert’s Weight Of These Wings album, which won the 2017 ACM Album of the Year award. Named to the 2023 Class of Up-and-Coming Songwriters by the Association of Independent Music Publishers, Box has also had songs recorded by Patty Loveless, Joe Nichols, Gary LeVox, Wade Hayes, Bryan Martin, Annie Bosko and more.

“I heard something so unique in Terri Jo, that I signed her to a publishing deal even before JGP was established,” says JGE Founder and Chairman Kevin Jonas Sr. “She writes from a different viewpoint from most of us, but she speaks to all of us, and that’s a special gift.”

“Terri Jo has a deep understanding of what makes country music country,” says JGP President Leslie T. DiPiero. “She is a visible thread between new and established artists and writers. Her approach to songwriting and encouragement of all songwriters enriches our creative community.”

“Having Leslie DiPiero on my side is such a gift,” says Box. “Leslie is a songwriter’s best friend; she will fight, crawl, scrap, cheer, celebrate, and work tirelessly to get her writers across the line to win. She, Emily Peacock and the entire team are Music Row royalty, and I am so grateful to call them ‘my team.’ And working with Kevin Jonas Sr. has been an honor and growing experience for me. To have the wisdom AND kindness of somebody who has been so immersed in all aspects of the industry has been invaluable. He is such a lover of songs. Kevin, Denise Jonas, and all ‘the boys’ are such a beautiful, epic, family love story.”

Mike Curb Foundation Establishes Music Program At Occidental College

Mike Curb

The Mike Curb Foundation has gifted Occidental College’s new John Branca Institute for Music $500,000 to establish the Mike Curb Endowed Program in Popular Music History, which seeks to enhance the institute’s curricular offerings by providing a variety of guest speakers and career development events to students and alumni. The program will also name recognized music professionals to the Linda and Mike Curb Fellowship. In celebration of its establishment, an on-campus concert starring members of the school’s music community will be held on Oct. 18.

“We are thrilled that the Mike Curb Foundation is joining forces with the Branca Institute in its inaugural year,” says David Kasunic, John Branca Institute Director & Associate Professor of Music. “This gift rightly emphasizes the study of the history of popular music as a prerequisite to creating and understanding popular music today, and that the people who know this history best are the experienced music professionals who have been part of this history.”

ASCAP Supports Members At All Things Go Music Festival

Pictured (L–R): ASCAP’s Jason Silberman, Nicholas Carpenter (Medium Build), ASCAP’s Jody Klein and Kaitlyn Sugarman

ASCAP team members were on hand to support members during the All Things Go Music Festival in Washington, D.C. and New York City this past weekend (Sept. 28–29).

They met up with Nicholas Carpenter, also known as Medium Build, backstage at the Merriweather Post Pavilion on Sunday (Sept. 29).

Recording Academy Hosts 10th Annual Music Advocacy Day

Michael Trotter Jr., Maggie Rose, Recording Academy’s Harvey Mason Jr. and Todd Dupler, and Recording Academy Nashville Chapter members with Tennessee Representative Mark Green. Photo: Courtesy of the Recording Academy/Tibrina Hobson for Getty Images

A record 2,100 Recording Academy members gathered across the country for the organization’s 10th annual Music Advocacy Day on Tuesday (Oct. 1), a grassroots advocacy movement that aims to connect members with their congressional representatives to discuss issues affecting the music industry.

Participants included multi-Grammy winner and this year’s Music Advocacy Day Artist Ambassador Mark Ronson, double-Grammy nominee Michael Trotter Jr. of The War And Treaty and artist Maggie Rose, who met with the office of New York Representative Daniel Goldman and Tennessee Representative Mark Green to advocate for the Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act, which creates a federal property right to protect artists and other individuals from having their image, voice or likeness misused by generative artificial intelligence (AI) to develop deepfakes and clones, as well as the Fans First Act, American Music Tourism Act, Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act and American Music Fairness Act.

Gotee Records Signs Lydi Lynn

Pictured (L–R, back row): Tyrus Morgan, Keelin Crew, Joey Elwood, Xander Morrison and Brad Moist; (L–R, front row): TobyMac and Lydi Lynn

Gotee Records has signed pop singer-songwriter Lydi Lynn. The Portland native first shared her sound and style through lead single “Keep Breathing,” and now resides in Nashville. She is currently supporting Jervis Campbell on his “Magnolia Tour,” and plans to release her debut EP, Desert Dream, next Friday (Oct. 11).

“I’m honored to be a part of such a phenomenal team and family at Gotee,” says Lynn. “Working on my first EP has been an incredibly special process, and I can’t wait for these songs to be heard. I’m praying they can be a part of someone’s story the way they have been for mine.”

Annual Dogtober Writer’s Round Supports Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts

Pictured (L–R): Jake Rose, Grant Vogel, Jillian Cardarelli and Marcus Hummon. Photo: Nick Tavares/NPT Photography

The PEDIGREE Foundation hosted its annual Dogtober Writer’s Round at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsey on Tuesday (Oct. 1) and raised over $15,300 to support relief efforts for animal shelters and rescues affected by Hurricane Helene.

During the event, songwriters Marcus Hummon, Jillian Cardarelli, Jake Rose and Grant Vogel took the stage to share the stories behind their tunes. Additionally, donations can still be made on the PEDIGREE Foundation’s website.

Blake Shelton has been added as the fourth and final headliner for next year’s Gulf Coast Jam, presented by Jim Beam, in Panama City Beach.

He joins Sam Hunt, Lainey Wilson and Tyler Childers, who are set to headline May 29–31, respectively. Shelton will headline on June 1.

“After a long run with The Voice, he’s back to touring and singing music and doing what he does best,” says Gulf Coast Jam Executive Producer Rendy Lovelady. “We’re excited to have him back!”

All passes for 2025 are available now. For information, click here.