Pictured (L-R, back row): Chapel Hart, Clare Dunn, Roberta Lea, Twinnie. (L-R, back row): Kylie Frey, Stephanie Quayle, HunterGirl, Priscilla Block, Leslie Fram, Abbey Cone. Photo: Gina Di Maio
CMT held their latest Next Women of Country showcase Wednesday night (April 24) at City Winery Nashville. Co-hosted by CMT’s Leslie Fram and UMG Nashville artist Priscilla Block, the evening featured performances from Abbey Cone, Chapel Hart, Clare Dunn, HunterGirl, Kylie Frey, Mackenzie Carpenter, Reyna Roberts, Roberta Lea, Stephanie Quayle and Twinnie. Block, along with Grammy-winning artist and CMT Next Women of Country mentor Colbie Caillat, also treated the crowd to a special performance.
Roberta Lea. Photo: Gina Di Maio
When welcoming the crowd, Fram shared, “We’ve been doing these Next Women of Country shows here at City Winery [for a while now] and they’ve been amazing to us. Everyone here is supporting women and female artists. That’s why we keep getting bigger and bigger.”
Block, an alumni of the CMT Next Women of Country program, shared some words about her journey in Music City. “I’ve been in Nashville for 11 years now,” she said. “You hope one day you can come here, be recognized by the industry [and selected as a] CMT Next Women of Country. It’s taken some time to get here, but I’m so thankful for the journey.”
Fram and Block then welcomed the first round of performers on stage, consisting of Carpenter, Roberts, Twinnie, Lea and Dunn. Each singer performed two songs each, and shared a little bit about their journey with the audience.
Up first was Carpenter, who has found great success as a songwriter in Nashville with cuts by Megan Moroney, Lily Rose and more. She reflected on her journey and told the story of getting her record deal with The Valory Music Co.
Carpenter’s first song, “Huntin’ Season,” got the crowd warmed up for the night. She also performed a love ballad dedicated to her husband called “Only Girl.” Carpenter shared she has new music on the way, and is performing at Stagecoach, opening for Cole Swindell and has some upcoming headlining dates in her home state of Georgia.
Before performing, Roberts was asked about how she landed on Beyoncé‘s “Blackbiird.” Roberts shared how she always believed it would happen. “In November of last year, I said, ‘God, can you please put me on a song with Beyoncé next year?’ I know that sounds pretty wild,” she admitted. “Here we are six months later and thankfully my prayers have been answered.” Roberts played the title track of debut album Bad Girl Bible, and an up-beat, catchy breakup anthem “Another Round.”
Twinnie. Photo: Gina Di Maio
Originally from the U.K., Twinnie now resides in Nashville full-time. While reflecting on her path to Music City, she recognized fellow performer Lea for her help in the journey.
“I was coming back and forth for seven years, as I was with a label here at the time. I actually have to thank Ms. Roberta,” she said, addressing her. “I came to your release party and met Jamey Johnson. I sent him music and he made it happen. It’s just a true testament to how people have really shown up for me.” Twinnie’s first song was the sassy ballad “Girl In Your Songs.” She closed with a show of her powerful vocals on “Last Song.”
Up next was Lea, who has seen support from big artists such as Brandi Carlile and Allison Russell. When Fram asked about her sound, Lea shared, “Someone once told me [I sound like] ‘country neo-pop with a delicious folky flair,'” she said. “Music is an art. Art has multiple colors and multiple expressions, and that’s the way music should be.”
Lea released her debut album Too Much of a Woman in 2023, and her first song of the night was the album’s girl power anthem”Girls Trip.” She then finished her set off with another track from the record, “Dinner, Sunset, Nina Simone.”
Dunn was the final performer in the round. “I’ve been fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and fall into some cool stuff,” she shared with the crowd, adding that she got to tour with Bob Seger. She opened up her performance slot with sentimental track “Out of the Blue,” and closed round one with “Wasn’t Looking.”
Before the next round of performers from the CMT Next Women of Country Class of 2024, co-host Block returned to the stage to bring out Caillat, this year’s Next Women of Country mentor.
Priscilla Block and Colbie Calliat. Photo: Gina Di Maio
Caillat sang her hit song “Bubbly,” before turning it back over to Block for her current radio single “Good On You.” The crowd roared in admiration of the women.
The second round of performers included Next Women class-members Frey, Chapel Hart, Quayle, HunterGirl and Cone. First up was Frey, who has had 10 No. 1 hits on Texas radio.
Frey kicked off the round with her dynamic track “So You Think You Want A Cowboy?” and then shared emotional ballad “Woman Outta Love,” which dropped today (April 26). She spoke about growing up near Texas, which aided her in her journey to radio success in the Lone Star state.
Trio Chapel Hart received a big look in 2022 on America’s Got Talent, and have been building their momentum ever since. The three reflected on when they first showed up to the AGT set, “We were not ready for TV, but the minute that we started singing, every person that was there was [excited]. It was a moment of validation for us.” Chapel Hart shared their upcoming single “Perfect For Me” before going into fan-favorite “This Girl Likes Fords,” which they first debuted on AGT.
Quayle was up next. She got to share the exciting news that she is now a published author, with her book Why Do We Stay?: How My Toxic Relationship Can Help You Find Freedom due out on April 30. Quayle opened up her performance with “Charmed,” before sharing the powerful song she wrote to encapsulate her book, “Why Do We Stay?”
American Idol alum HunterGirl was next up. “It’s scary sometimes just putting it all out there,” she shared about songwriting. “But with releasing my song, ‘Ain’t About You,’ I found that being as honest as possible—saying all the scary things about yourself—resonates more than the picture-perfect life.” She sang two unreleased tunes, “Clockwork” and “Bad Boy.”
Chapel Hart. Photo: Gina Di Maio
Closing out the night was Cone, who marked 10 years in Nashville this year. “I moved here when I was 16. I was lucky enough to get a publishing deal that young. I signed my first record deal a month before the pandemic,” she shared. “I ended up leaving the record label at the beginning of last year and have been a fully independent artist since then. It has been better for my creativity and also for my career. I had the biggest song I’ve ever had as an independent artist.”
Cone then shared her vulnerable track “Talk of the Town,” before closing the night with “If You Were a Song,” which currently has 16 million Spotify streams.
Jo Dee Messina Shares Retrospective On Her Life At Special Ryman Show
/by Lorie HollabaughJo Dee Messina performs at the Ryman Auditorium. Photo: Louie Waddle
Jo Dee Messina took fans on her journey to country stardom Saturday night (April 27) in front of a sold-out audience at the Ryman Auditorium.
She also celebrated some success backstage before the special show in a private reception, where she was presented with plaques commemorating five new RIAA certifications, including double Platinum status for her hit singles “I’m Alright” and “Bye Bye;” Gold and Platinum status for ’90s country anthem “Heads Carolina, Tails California” and Gold status for “Bring on the Rain” and “Lesson In Leavin.’”
Pictured (L-R): Wasserman Music’s Nate Ritches, Vanderbilt’s Stuart Dill, Red Light Management’s Bryan Frasher, Jo Dee Messina, Curb Records’ Benson Curb, Jen Swirsky, 117 Entertainment’s Zach Farnum. Photo: Louie Waddle
Messina’s Ryman debut offered a chance for her to spotlight her “Road to the Ryman” retrospective on her life. From songs she was raised on to music that encouraged her to move to Nashville from Massachusetts, fans heard snippets of “Baby, I Lied,” “Break It To Me Gently,” “Whoever’s In New England,” “Rumor Has It,” “Girl’s Night Out” and more. She credited her early success to her producers Tim McGraw and Byron Gallimore, while sharing massive hits like “Bye, Bye” and “Lesson In Leavin.’”
Some poignant and impactful moments of the night came when Messina shared her testimony and journey with God. She welcomed a Gospel choir from Three Oaks Church in Gallatin, Tennessee to join her on a medley of tunes including “My Jesus,” “Bigger Than This,” “Child of Love” and “Reckless Love.” She also shared a few new songs she’s written during the evening.
“I was blown away by the crowd and its enthusiasm. Industry, family, friends, fans—the room was filled with that mixture. It was a one-of-a-kind experience,” reminisced Messina.
Messina’s “Heads Carolina, Tails California (HCTC2) Tour” will run through the year around the country. The New England native will give a special performance of the National Anthem at the iconic Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox game before heading to her show at the House of Blues on June 2.
Lipscomb University Launches New Artists & Entertainment Professionals Graduate Program
/by Madison Hahnen“As the entertainment and arts professions continue to evolve, there is a growing need to offer educational programs that meet the needs of today’s artists and prepare them for the opportunities of tomorrow,” says Lipscomb President Candice McQueen. “This program was created by artists for artists as we seek to innovate, inspire and elevate the next generation of creative minds. Lipscomb’s program provides flexibility and a pathway to expertise in focused components without requiring a full master’s degree.”
The program will offer and array of specialized classes that will help build artistic repertoire and cultivate an industry network. Students can choose from certificates in screenwriting, television writing, animation foundations and 2D advanced animation. Certificate participants will also be offered opportunities to attend guest lectures and workshops led by industry leaders, travel study opportunities and networking events. Courses will be offered online, available worldwide, and can be completed in as little as nine months. The courses will be flexible, being offered in a combination of video content and assignments with a once-a-week meeting for three hours, where students will be able to gain feedback from professors.
“The program’s online format, coupled with travel courses, ensures that students can benefit from a flexible learning environment while still having opportunities for collaboration and networking with professionals in the industry,” says Melissa Forte, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Cinematic Arts. “This approach fosters a supportive and dynamic learning community, preparing students to make meaningful contributions to the arts and entertainment sector.”
“As we look at the future of higher education and the future of work we are seeing a need for just-in-time, flexible and short-term upskilling. We are also seeing the industry return to the utilization of renaissance people who have several different skill sets and talents,” shares CEA Dean Mike Fernandez. “We are also helping artists expand their horizons by training them how to deploy their artistic intelligence in more than just the entertainment and arts industries.”
Students can complete one certificate at a time in a specific area of interest and then combine certificates for an MFA in entertainment, design and creative enterprise. An online information session will take place May 2 at 5 p.m. CST. Classes will be offered beginning this August.
Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson, More To Perform At Upcoming ACM Awards
/by Lorie HollabaughThe first round of artists who are set to perform at the upcoming 59th Academy of Country Music Awards have been announced. The show will air live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on May 16.
Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson and Kane Brown will all take the stage during the star-studded show, which will be hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winner Reba McEntire, who will also share a special performance featuring brand new music.
The awards will be free to stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video. Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can also tune into the official ACM Red Carpet on Prime Video, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch and Amazon Live, starting at 6 p.m. CT. The full rebroadcast will be available directly following the stream on Prime Video and available the next day for free on Amazon Freevee and the Amazon Music app. Presenters and ACM Awards ancillary events will also be announced in the coming weeks.
Fans can also stream the official ACM Awards playlist, available now on Amazon Music in celebration of this year’s nominees.
Diana Garcia Joins Brown Sellers Brown As Director Of Streaming Relations & Marketing
/by John Nix ArledgeDiana Garcia
Brown Sellers Brown has hired Diana Garcia as Director of Streaming Relations and Director of Marketing. In her new role, Garcia will manage marketing campaigns and DSP relations for all artists on Brown Sellers Brown’s two label imprints, Quartz Hill Records and Stone Country Records, including Joe Nichols, Easton Corbin, Runaway June, Thompson Square, Nate Barnes, Ben Gallaher, Annie Bosko and Dusty Black.
With over two decades of experience building and executing marketing strategies for artists and brands, Garcia has worked with a wide array of clients, including Rascal Flatts, Madonna, Red Hot Chili Peppers, My Chemical Romance, Muse, Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Brooks & Dunn, Dolly Parton, Eric Church, Conagra Foods, Ram Trucks, Dodge Dart and Wrangler. Recently, Garcia has managed and launched viral acts with major DSP support, such as CNCO, Static & Benel, Payton Smith, Kat & Alex and Chase Matthew.
“It is an honor to welcome Diana Garcia to the Brown Sellers Brown family,” says firm partner Benny Brown. “In addition to her vast entertainment experience and her strong professional and personal relationships, Diana is bringing a very high level of passion, enthusiasm, and knowhow to our team. I expect that Diana will add a much-needed boost for each of our managed artists.”
“I’m thrilled and excited to be joining such an incredible team and diverse roster of artists,” explains Garcia. “It’s an exciting season to be not only in country music but to be a part of a team that embraces development, innovation and community.”
Garcia can be reached at diana@brownsellersbrown.com.
Tyler Hubbard To Hit The Road On ‘Strong World Tour’ This Fall
/by Lorie HollabaughTyler Hubbard. Photo: Jimmy Fontaine
Tyler Hubbard will launch his headlining “Strong World Tour” on Sept. 6 in Indianapolis, with Alana Springsteen serving as direct support.
The tour will stop in Houston, Boston, Birmingham, Philadelphia, Tallahassee and more before wrapping with a hometown show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Nov. 21. Tickets go on sale this Friday (May 3). For more information, click here.
On the dates, fans can expect to hear songs from Hubbard’s new album, Strong, including his current top five radio single “Back Then Right Now” as well as “5 Foot 9” and “Dancin’ In The Country,” which have been certified double-Platinum and Platinum, respectively. Additionally, the artist is currently supporting Kane Brown on his “In The Air Tour,” and is slated to make various festival and fair appearances.
CMHOFM Opens ‘Night Train To Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues Revisited’ Exhibit
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Museum Board Chair Mary Ann McCready, Jimmy Church, Misti Bragg, Frank Howard and Vice President of Museum Services Michael Gray. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum celebrated the opening of its latest exhibit, “Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues Revisited,” last night (April 25).
The exhibit explores the significance of Nashville’s pioneering R&B scene and its important role in the city becoming a world-renowned music center. “Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues Revisited” is a 20th anniversary edition of the museum’s award-winning original exhibit, which was featured in its galleries from 2004–2005. It includes many of the same items and themes, along with additional/newly-discovered artifacts and photographs. The exhibit is included with museum admission and runs through September 2025.
It is supported by a free-to-access “Night Train to Nashville” online exhibit, which launched last year, and was made possible by a major grant awarded from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). A newly-published exhibit companion book is also available now and includes more than 100 photographs and descriptions of classic R&B records cut in Nashville.
To mark the opening of the exhibit, the museum will host a panel discussion tomorrow (April 27), about Nashville’s television series Night Train. Participants will include performers Jimmy Church and Frank Howard, who appeared regularly on the show along with Katie Blackwell, wife of late Night Train creator and host Noble Blackwell, and Tracye Blackwell, Katie and Noble Blackwell’s daughter. The discussion will be illustrated with video clips from the show. The program will take place at 2:30 p.m. in the museum’s Ford Theater and is included with museum admission.
On The Row: Honky-Tonker Randall King Makes Waves On Music Row
/by LB CantrellRandall King. Photo: Yve Assad
Warner Music Nashville artist Randall King recently came by the MusicRow offices to share some tunes.
A native of West Texas, King has garnered his fan-base with his country crooning that is decidedly traditional in sound. He has earned acclaim with projects such as his 2020 EP Leanna, his 2022 major label album debut Shot Glass and his 18-track sophomore album Into The Neon, which released in January of this year.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s Madison Hahnen and LB Cantrell; Randall King; MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, John Nix Arledge and Liza Anderson
King has amassed over 300 million streams with singles like “You In A Honky Tonk,” “Hey Cowgirl,” “Mirror, Mirror,” “Burns Like Her” and “When My Baby’s in Boots,” and has continued to burn up the road, playing over 150 honky tonks a year.
King grew up in Hereford, a little cattle town in Texas. He went to college at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, where musical icons like Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Mac Davis and more spent time, in addition to modern Texas music mavericks Pat Green, Josh Abbott, Wade Bowen and others. “I learned songwriting from that culture,” King said. “It’s really what got me into the music industry.”
As he began to play in the bars in the Lubbock scene, King started managing and booking himself. He even got a sound technician degree at Texas Tech so he could produce his own records. In 2014, King met industry veteran Scott Gunter, and the two have been working together ever since.
King stated coming to Nashville in 2016 to write songs. He signed a record deal with Warner Music Nashville in 2019.
After years spent focused on building his show on the road, King has country radio on the horizon. He has lots of good material to choose from for his debut single, including the moody “Burns Like Her” and romantic “I Could Be That Rain,” both of which have garnered millions of listens on Spotify.
“My dream has always been to be on stage,” King said. “I’ve never really doubted that I could be, if I work my ass off.”
King is currently headlining shows across the U.S. and has tour dates slated across Europe later in 2024. He is managed by Durango Artist Management, booked by CAA and recently signed a publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing.
CMT Showcases Rising Female Star-Power At City Winery
/by Madison HahnenPictured (L-R, back row): Chapel Hart, Clare Dunn, Roberta Lea, Twinnie. (L-R, back row): Kylie Frey, Stephanie Quayle, HunterGirl, Priscilla Block, Leslie Fram, Abbey Cone. Photo: Gina Di Maio
CMT held their latest Next Women of Country showcase Wednesday night (April 24) at City Winery Nashville. Co-hosted by CMT’s Leslie Fram and UMG Nashville artist Priscilla Block, the evening featured performances from Abbey Cone, Chapel Hart, Clare Dunn, HunterGirl, Kylie Frey, Mackenzie Carpenter, Reyna Roberts, Roberta Lea, Stephanie Quayle and Twinnie. Block, along with Grammy-winning artist and CMT Next Women of Country mentor Colbie Caillat, also treated the crowd to a special performance.
Roberta Lea. Photo: Gina Di Maio
When welcoming the crowd, Fram shared, “We’ve been doing these Next Women of Country shows here at City Winery [for a while now] and they’ve been amazing to us. Everyone here is supporting women and female artists. That’s why we keep getting bigger and bigger.”
Block, an alumni of the CMT Next Women of Country program, shared some words about her journey in Music City. “I’ve been in Nashville for 11 years now,” she said. “You hope one day you can come here, be recognized by the industry [and selected as a] CMT Next Women of Country. It’s taken some time to get here, but I’m so thankful for the journey.”
Fram and Block then welcomed the first round of performers on stage, consisting of Carpenter, Roberts, Twinnie, Lea and Dunn. Each singer performed two songs each, and shared a little bit about their journey with the audience.
Up first was Carpenter, who has found great success as a songwriter in Nashville with cuts by Megan Moroney, Lily Rose and more. She reflected on her journey and told the story of getting her record deal with The Valory Music Co.
Carpenter’s first song, “Huntin’ Season,” got the crowd warmed up for the night. She also performed a love ballad dedicated to her husband called “Only Girl.” Carpenter shared she has new music on the way, and is performing at Stagecoach, opening for Cole Swindell and has some upcoming headlining dates in her home state of Georgia.
Before performing, Roberts was asked about how she landed on Beyoncé‘s “Blackbiird.” Roberts shared how she always believed it would happen. “In November of last year, I said, ‘God, can you please put me on a song with Beyoncé next year?’ I know that sounds pretty wild,” she admitted. “Here we are six months later and thankfully my prayers have been answered.” Roberts played the title track of debut album Bad Girl Bible, and an up-beat, catchy breakup anthem “Another Round.”
Twinnie. Photo: Gina Di Maio
Originally from the U.K., Twinnie now resides in Nashville full-time. While reflecting on her path to Music City, she recognized fellow performer Lea for her help in the journey.
“I was coming back and forth for seven years, as I was with a label here at the time. I actually have to thank Ms. Roberta,” she said, addressing her. “I came to your release party and met Jamey Johnson. I sent him music and he made it happen. It’s just a true testament to how people have really shown up for me.” Twinnie’s first song was the sassy ballad “Girl In Your Songs.” She closed with a show of her powerful vocals on “Last Song.”
Up next was Lea, who has seen support from big artists such as Brandi Carlile and Allison Russell. When Fram asked about her sound, Lea shared, “Someone once told me [I sound like] ‘country neo-pop with a delicious folky flair,'” she said. “Music is an art. Art has multiple colors and multiple expressions, and that’s the way music should be.”
Lea released her debut album Too Much of a Woman in 2023, and her first song of the night was the album’s girl power anthem”Girls Trip.” She then finished her set off with another track from the record, “Dinner, Sunset, Nina Simone.”
Dunn was the final performer in the round. “I’ve been fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and fall into some cool stuff,” she shared with the crowd, adding that she got to tour with Bob Seger. She opened up her performance slot with sentimental track “Out of the Blue,” and closed round one with “Wasn’t Looking.”
Before the next round of performers from the CMT Next Women of Country Class of 2024, co-host Block returned to the stage to bring out Caillat, this year’s Next Women of Country mentor.
Priscilla Block and Colbie Calliat. Photo: Gina Di Maio
Caillat sang her hit song “Bubbly,” before turning it back over to Block for her current radio single “Good On You.” The crowd roared in admiration of the women.
The second round of performers included Next Women class-members Frey, Chapel Hart, Quayle, HunterGirl and Cone. First up was Frey, who has had 10 No. 1 hits on Texas radio.
Frey kicked off the round with her dynamic track “So You Think You Want A Cowboy?” and then shared emotional ballad “Woman Outta Love,” which dropped today (April 26). She spoke about growing up near Texas, which aided her in her journey to radio success in the Lone Star state.
Trio Chapel Hart received a big look in 2022 on America’s Got Talent, and have been building their momentum ever since. The three reflected on when they first showed up to the AGT set, “We were not ready for TV, but the minute that we started singing, every person that was there was [excited]. It was a moment of validation for us.” Chapel Hart shared their upcoming single “Perfect For Me” before going into fan-favorite “This Girl Likes Fords,” which they first debuted on AGT.
Quayle was up next. She got to share the exciting news that she is now a published author, with her book Why Do We Stay?: How My Toxic Relationship Can Help You Find Freedom due out on April 30. Quayle opened up her performance with “Charmed,” before sharing the powerful song she wrote to encapsulate her book, “Why Do We Stay?”
American Idol alum HunterGirl was next up. “It’s scary sometimes just putting it all out there,” she shared about songwriting. “But with releasing my song, ‘Ain’t About You,’ I found that being as honest as possible—saying all the scary things about yourself—resonates more than the picture-perfect life.” She sang two unreleased tunes, “Clockwork” and “Bad Boy.”
Chapel Hart. Photo: Gina Di Maio
Closing out the night was Cone, who marked 10 years in Nashville this year. “I moved here when I was 16. I was lucky enough to get a publishing deal that young. I signed my first record deal a month before the pandemic,” she shared. “I ended up leaving the record label at the beginning of last year and have been a fully independent artist since then. It has been better for my creativity and also for my career. I had the biggest song I’ve ever had as an independent artist.”
Cone then shared her vulnerable track “Talk of the Town,” before closing the night with “If You Were a Song,” which currently has 16 million Spotify streams.
Industry Ink: Clay Walker, Justin Moore, UMG Nashville, Mike Gossin, Julia Minichiello
/by John Nix ArledgeClay Walker Joins The Pandora Billionaire Club
Clay Walker
Country star Clay Walker was honored as a Pandora Billionaire earlier this week, recognizing his career achievements with 11 No. 1 hits, 40 charted singles and six Platinum or Gold records.
During a SiriusXM Prime Country music event at the new Nashville studios, Walker was presented with a plaque from SiriusXM Pandora’s Associate Director of Talent & Industry Relations Bekah Digby. The plaque commemorates Walker’s music having been streamed over one billion times on Pandora.
Walker recently released his new song, “I Know She Hung The Moon,” which was written by his close friends, the late Toby Keith, and Scotty Emerick. He recorded the ballad in December and hopes to honor Keith’s legacy by bringing the song to life.
Justin Moore’s Golf Classic Raises Over $500,000 for St. Jude
Pictured (L-R): Cody Villalobos, Todd Conklin, Justin Moore, Peter Hartung, Win Rockefeller Jr. Photo: Nelson Chenault
Justin Moore hosted his fourth annual “Justin Moore St. Jude Golf Classic” presented by Winrock Automotive at Chenal Country Club in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The tournament raised $534,294 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, contributing to the organization’s mission. Joining Moore were fellow country artists and guests including Emerson Drive, Collin Raye, Austin Michael and Tyler Kinch. The event was complete with a pre-party for donors and players, which included a private dinner and an intimate acoustic performance from Moore.
Carnival Music, Little Louder Music & Porch Light Music Host UMG Nashville A&R For Guitar Pull
Pictured (L-R): Jefferson Brown, Tim Medlin, Jake Gear, Dustin Christensen, Emily McMannis, Dale Dodson, Kylie Frey, Tim James, Marla Cannon-Goodman, Clint Daniels, Frank Liddell, Ronnie Bowman, Jaida Dreyer, Mando Saenz, Brandon Bostic, Adam Wright, Chelsea Blythe, Belle Frantz, Renee Bell, Jenny Hall, Arturo Buenahora Photo: Austyn Jablonski
Carnival Music, Little Louder Music and Porch Light Music hosted a guitar pull featuring UMG Nashville’s Chelsea Blythe and Jake Gear. Blythe, Gear and the entire A&R team at the label group are committed to supporting Nashville’s publishing community and are actively seeking material for UMG Nashville’s rising stars and superstars alike.
Mike Gossin Performs For Patients With Musicians On Call
Mike Gossin
Singer-songwriter Mike Gossin took part in Musicians On Call’s live music program at TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville on Wednesday (April 24).
Gossin, formerly of hit group Gloriana, performed an acoustic set of original songs from his debut solo album Coming Home in the hospital’s Garden Court before going room-to-room to perform at the bedside of patients. Musicians on Call is a nonprofit that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients, families and caregivers in healthcare environments.
Julia Minichiello Signs With Odyssey Entertainment
Julia Minichiello
Artist Julia Minichiello has signed with Nashville-based Odyssey Entertainment Group for management representation.
Nicole Kasper, Co-Founder of Odyssey Entertainment Group, says, “There’s a soul-stirring quality and an undeniable grit to her vocals that is simply captivating. Julia brings something special to the music scene—a blend of raw emotion and powerful storytelling through song. We are proud to represent her at Odyssey and see no limits to what she can accomplish.”
“I felt the passion from everybody on the team from the first time I spoke with them,” says Minichiello. “A genuine energy is really important to me, and they have been nothing short of that since I met them.”
Black Music Action Coalition Hosts Act II Of ‘Three Chords & The Actual Truth’
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Shawn Gee, Mickey Guyton, Caron Veazey and Willie “Prophet” Stiggers. Photo: Getty Images for Black Music Action Coalition
The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) and Billboard partnered to kick off Stagecoach weekend with “Act II: A Conversation Around Three Chords & The Actual Truth” at Live Nation in Los Angeles.
Mickey Guyton, Ink, Shawn Holiday, Damien Smith, Caron Veazey, Shawn Gee, David Zedeck, BMAC CEO & President Willie “Prophet” Stiggers and more came together for a discussion about Black origins in country music and the exclusion of Black artists in the genre.
The event featured a one-on-one conversation between Guyton and Stiggers, followed by an all-female panel discussion featuring Ink, Grammy-winning artist and songwriter, and Dr. Jada Watson, Director of Musicology at the University of Ottawa, co-moderated by Billboard‘s Gail Mitchell and Melinda Newman.
Highlights from the event included Ink speaking on her transformative experience working as a songwriter on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, OnRamp Program Awardee Carmen Dianne performing Guyton’s “Black Like Me” and her original song “Sober,” BMAC Co-Founder Caron Veazey shedding light on BMAC’s mission and their call to action for the music industry and more.
BMAC’s Act II builds on Act I, which took place in New York City in March and was BMAC’s first iteration of this truthful conversation. BMAC will host its upcoming conversation around “Three Chords and the Actual Truth” with Act III, taking place in Nashville in May.