Keith Urban

Keith Urban thrilled fans in Athens, Alabama with a surprise pop-up concert in a parking lot adjacent to a Buc-ee’s convenience store and gas station, where he played for an estimated crowd of 6,000.

The concert came off with same day notice and quick construction of a stage, and Urban performed songs from his forthcoming album High, as well as many of his No. 1 hits for the crowd. Buc-ee’s put him to work behind the food counter inside as well, where he poured sauce on their famous brisket and chopped up some meat.

“I came down to this Buc-ee’s about a month ago and when I left, I went ‘it’d be kinda fun to do a show there,'” said Urban. There’s no word on whether there will be any more random pop-ups in the works.

Rising artist Paul Cauthen is set to release his new album, Black on Black, on Oct. 25 via Anemoia Records/Atlantic Records.

Today (Aug. 19), to tease the new record, Cauthen released the track “Sweetheart from the Trailer Park” from the project, and announced headline shows in Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle and more for the fall.

“Sweetheart from the Trailer Park” comes one the heels of the recently released “Hot Damn” and forthcoming title track “Black on Black.” These new songs mark a pivotal time for the Cauthen, who brought out Lana Del Rey to duet “Unchained Melody” during his Stagecoach performance and scored a feature on Shaboozey’s track “Last of my Kind” from his recent album Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going.

Black on Black was largely recorded at Rosewood Studios in Cauthen’s hometown of Tyler, Texas with collaborator Jason Burt and crafted during the artist’s tour across North America on his motorcycle and tour bus.

Cauthen, affectionately known as “Big Velvet” for his smooth baritone voice, grew up singing in the church choir. He steadily made himself known throughout the country and Americana genres as a part of the duo Sons of Fathers before taking his career solo with debut album, My Gospel. Since then, he has released two more albums Room 41 and Country Coming Down and toured across the world sharing stages with Margo Price, Orville Peck, Elle King, Midland, Cody Jinks and more.

Paul Cauthen’s Black On Black Track List:
1. “Black on Black”
2. “Ridin’ the Line”
3. “Angels & Heathens”
4. “Hot Damn”
5. “Speaking in Cursive”
6. “Everybody Get in Line”
7. “Bet on Me”
8. “Lavender Jones”
9. “Innocent”
10. “Black Roses”
11. “Sweetheart From the Trailer Park”
12. “To Whom Do You Belong”

Pictured (L-R): Jonathan Craig (Left Right), Peter Strickland (BMG), Katie Kerkhover (BMG), Lanie Gardner, Jon Loba (BMG) and Quinn Bauducco (BMG). Photo: Kevin Grace

Lanie Gardner has signed a record deal with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville.

The breakout act first captured national attention with her viral rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” which claimed a spot at No. 25 on the Billboard Rock charts. Gardner has raked in millions of views across her socials and streaming platforms since the with her country-rock sound. Recently, she was featured on the Twisters soundtrack in addition to landing a collaboration with David Guetta, signing a publishing deal with Big Machine Music and hitting the road with Jelly Roll and ZZ Ward.

“Lanie is exactly the kind of artist we look for when adding to our incredible roster—unique, exciting, an insatiable work ethic, and a heart that matches her art. We are so excited to help execute her vision,” says JoJamie Hahr, EVP, Recorded Music at BMG Nashville.

Pictured (L-R): Jessie Scott, Val Hoeppner, Brianna Healy, Beverly Keel and Mark Brynes. Photo: Kristen Drum

WMOT, MTSU’s flagship public radio station, has opened a satellite studio in Music City at Riverside Revival, a nonprofit music and events venue on the Boedecker Campus in east Nashville.

Last week, leaders from the station, MTSU and Riverside Revival helped formally open the 800-square foot space at 1610 Porter Rd., which will be home for on-air shifts, live in-studio performances and production of WMOT specialty shows.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was carried out live over WMOT radio and the web by way of a video livestream, produced and directed by the crew that helped build out the space and that will facilitate audio and video content from the new room. The ceremony was followed by a live broadcast of WMOT’s series Words & Music featuring a performance and interview with country artist Sunny Sweeney and Program Director Jessie Scott.

“Being in Nashville is crucial for the future success of WMOT as the largest Americana radio station in the United States,” says Executive Director Val Hoeppner. “The satellite broadcast and production studio will allow us to better serve our music community by providing a Nashville base for in-studio performances…it will allow us to be where the artists are.”

The studio was made possible in part through a partnership with Nashville’s Boedecker Foundation and its collaborative campus. Opened in 2020, the campus serves as a modern, affordable space to allow nonprofit organizations to connect and build community. As a NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) music venue, it has played host to Brittany Howard, Margo Price and Emmylou Harris, among others.

“The Boedecker Foundation is endlessly grateful to partner with WMOT. Our shared commitment to advancing community well-being through music and education contributed to a seamless, albeit a bit long, alignment,” says BOE Foundation’s Executive Vice President Brianna Healy. “Establishing a studio for WMOT on our campus is a shared dream, years in the making. We are eager to collaborate further.”

“This marks a new chapter for WMOT,” says MTSU College of Media and Entertainment Dean Beverly Keel. “This satellite studio will allow artists who are touring through Nashville to stop in our studio and have important conversations about their music. I am so proud of all that WMOT has accomplished. It is a national success story in the world of public radio stations, and this new studio will allow that good work to continue.”