Rising country artist Tucker Wetmore recently came by the MusicRow office to share his story and a few tunes.

The Kalama, Washington native grew up playing sports and teaching himself various instruments including piano, guitar, percussion and even trumpet. After breaking his leg while playing college football in Montana, Wetmore moved back home, where his mother urged him to pursue what made him happy: music. In 2020, he came to Nashville to chase a musical career, and Back Block Music’s Rakiyah Marshall quickly scouted him out.

Since then, Wetmore has released two songs, “Wine Into Whiskey” and “Wind Up Missin’ You,” with both tracks hitting the Billboard Hot 100 back to back. The rising star has already seen major success, crossing the 100 million stream threshold, garnering over 100,000 streams a week and signing a global representation deal with WME’s Carrie Murphy and Braeden Rountree.

“When I first moved to town, I didn’t know anyone at all. I thought my best bet was to put my boots on the ground and hit the bars! I was very blessed to meet some of the best people I have ever met in my life,” said Wetmore. “Rakiyah messaged me on Instagram after finding me on TikTok, and up until that point I was posting covers and only had a handful of songs. I am super blessed—God has put me in the right place at the right time and I owe it all to him, truly.”

After teasing his upcoming track “What Would You Do,” Wetmore treated the MusicRow office with his viral hit “Wine Into Whiskey,” which he co-wrote with Jacob Hackworth and Justin Ebach. With over 34 million streams on Spotify, Wetmore gave some insight into his breakout tune.

“This one is about the flip-side of a relationship where everyone is blaming each other. It’s the guy doing a bit of self reflection,” explained Wetmore. “I grew up with four sisters and seeing what they went through in relationships growing up… I thought it would be cool to flip it and write from the perspective of someone that’s thinking, ‘Maybe I am the bad guy.’”

Before performing his final track, “Wind Up Missin’ You,” Wetmore reminisced about his first outing in Nashville, a packed out show at Live Oak, where his burgeoning fan base knew all the words to the infectious tunes they’d heard on TikTok.

Wetmore is currently on the road with shows alongside various artists including Kameron Marlowe, Riley Green, Billy Currington, Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, Chris Young, Dustin Lynch, Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell and more. He will round out the summer with a performance in Smithton, Pennsylvania on Sept. 28.

Range Publishing & Big Machine Celebrate No. 1 Hit “Back Then Right Now”

Range Publishing and Big Machine recently honored Geoff Warburton and his No. 1 hit with Tyler Hubbard, “Back Then Right Now.” The track, written by Warburton, Jessie Jo Dillon, Hubbard, David Garcia and produced by Jordan Smith, marks Range Publishing’s inaugural No. 1 hit on country radio.

 

 

Flat River Band Signs With ASCAP & Moves Catalog

The Flat River Band has signed with ASCAP and moved their catalog. The news comes as the group gears up for their performance at this year’s CMA Fest at the Hard Rock Stage on Sunday, June 9, shortly before they release their new vinyl record, God Bless the Radio, on June 28.

 

 

Anna-Sophie Mertens Honored With CMA Rob Potts International Live Music Advancement Award

The Country Music Association awarded Anna-Sophie Mertens with the Rob Potts International Live Music Advancement Award during the Highways Festival in London on Saturday, May 18.

The award, presented Brett Young during the CMA Reception at Highways Festival, honors outstanding achievements made by an individual who has made important contributions to the live music industry by building live audiences for Country Music outside of the United States.

Mertens is the Vice President of Touring for Live Nation U.K. and has worked to bring talent to the forefront of the U.K. live music industry. Mertens established the first ever Country & Americana Festival at the Royal Albert Hall in London, was named “Tomorrow’s New Boss” at ILMC’s 2019 Arthur Awards, was featured on Billboard’s 2019 International Power Players List and was nominated for International Promoter of the Year in 2023’s Pollstar Awards. In 2020, Mertens joined the CMA Board of Directors and has served on their U.K. Task Force since 2018.

 

 

PLA Media Adds Abby Turner As Publicity & Social Media Coordinator

PLA Media has hired Abby Turner as Publicity and Social Media Coordinator. Turner joins the team with valuable industry experience at Arcade Management, Average Joe’s Entertainment and Neon Coast.

“Abby possesses a work ethic and integrity too rarely seen these days. I would venture to say that she is an old soul,” remarks PLA Media President Pam Lewis.

“The opportunity to join PLA Media was something I was thrilled to jump at,” explains Turner. “To gain experience at a company with an extensive history in the music industry is the perfect place to grow my career.”

 

 

Ashleigh Graham Signs With Pinecastle Records

Bluegrass artist Ashleigh Graham has signed with Pinecastle Records and released her debut single, “Bless Your Little Heart,” to commemorate the announcement. The track, produced by Stephen Burwell, features musicians such as Eli Johnston, John Meador and Kameron Keller.

“‘Bless Your Little Heart’ was just an idea on a blank page in my song book. It had been there at least a couple of years without any lyrics. I had heard that saying so many times from people who loved to gossip,” explains Graham. “In 2020, I wanted to write a fun song that would make me and my audience laugh, so I leafed through my book and found the empty page. In 2021, I finally finished it by developing the melody and adding the chorus. There are about 5 extra verses of fun that can be enjoyed during live performances.”

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is offering free admission for local kids and discounted admission for up to two accompanying adults, as well as increased daily programs for families this summer.

Museum visitors can explore, discover and create all summer at family-friendly programs and activities. Young explorer and sensory kits, scavenger hunts, coloring pages and gallery interactives are always available, and the museum will also offer drop-in programming and workshops for diverse family audiences throughout the week.

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, increased daily programming and workshops for families will include:

• Mondays and Tuesdays, all day – Take-home kits are available to inspire visitors to make instruments out of repurposed materials such as spoons, rubber bands, plastic eggs and more.
• Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to Noon – The Musical Instrument Petting Zoo will offer budding musicians a chance to try new and familiar instruments in a drop-in setting.
• Thursdays through Sundays, 10 to Noon – Attendees will explore, discover and create arts and crafts related to museum artifacts and exhibitions in a drop-in setting.
• Saturdays, 1 to 2 p.m. – Visitors can express themselves through music, dance or art in drop-in and workshop-based programs. Attendees can explore line dancing, create a friendship bracelet, learn to play ukulele and more.
• June 24 – 29, at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. – Marionettes, rod puppetry, shadow animation and an ever-changing set tell the story of country music as it relates to Nashville’s transformation into Music City during String City: Nashville’s Tradition of Music and Puppetry. Visitors will experience this exciting true story through nearly 100 puppets, ranging from the Staple Singers to Johnny Cash to Taylor Swift.

The free and discounted admission for Tennessee children ages 18 and under will apply to those living in Davidson and its bordering counties – Cheatham, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson. Proof of residency is required, and visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance on the museum’s website. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Timed tickets are available for museum entry between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., with a limited number of museum admission tickets available each day.

Craig Campbell has added players to his 10th Annual Celebrity Cornhole Challenge, taking place on June 4 at 6th & Peabody in downtown Nashville. All proceeds will benefit The Kenny Campbell Foundation.

Colbie Caillat and returning player Jerrod Niemann will join one of 16 teams to challenge the event founder and 2023 winner. Hosted by Holly Stocks and Bigg Vinny, the free and open-to-the-public event will start at 11 a.m. and run through 4 p.m., concluding with a concert starring Craig.

Fans can place bids to compete on one of the teams alongside other competitors Jay Allen, Lewis Brice, Mindy Campbell, Julia Cole, Travis Collins, Katie Dempsey, Tayler Holder, “Singing Barber” Noah Peters, Colton and Zach Swon of The Swon Brothers, Bryan White, Kinni Campbell and Preslee Campbell. Additionally, a limited number of VIP Ticket Packages are still available. The package includes a group meet-and-greet photo with all of the celebrity participants, two drink tickets, an event swag bag and premium view of the tournament.

For more information, click here.