After three years of anticipation, Eric Church and AJ Capital Partners’ Founder and CEO Ben Weprin have opened their six-story bar, music venue and restaurant, Chief’s.

The historic building at 200 Broadway is an incredibly-detailed and thoughtfully-decorated homage to Church and his music. In addition to tons of memorabilia from the Chief himself’s career—like an entire floor plastered in concert posters and plenty of photos highlighting his history—there is so much evidence of the people, places and things that inspire the country icon. The stairwell is painted in Tar Heel blue in honor of his home team. The windows are adorned in stained glass art depicting his musical heroes. There are song lyrics, inside jokes and love letters to his fans—the Church Choir—everywhere.

Each floor has its own soul. The first floor, with its more than 4,000 concert posters covering every surface, includes a stage and DJ booth and is called Chief’s Tavern. Floor two, the Friendly Shadows Dueling Piano Bar, maintains a swankier vibe.

The venue taps into Church’s Carolina roots in partnership with Rodney Scott, whose Whole Hog BBQ—part of the Pihakis Restaurant Group—occupies the fifth and sixth floors, overlooking downtown with its “Hell of a Q” rooftop location.

The heart of the building, floors three and four, make up the 400-capacity Neon Steeple performance space, where you’re able to watch a performance from floor three’s dance floor or floor four’s dark, wooden church pews. This is the main space that Church intends to showcase artists and music he believes in.

“When I came to Nashville in search of a place to play my songs, nowhere on this strip would have me. I went to Fiddle & Steel in Printers Alley and found my tribe,” Church shared about the original neon sign that illuminates the theater balcony. “So, when we started building this, it was designed to be a place to bring original music back to the heart of historic Broadway.”

On opening weekend of Chief’s, Church gave his first of 19 residency shows. In a journey chronicling his life and career, Church Choir members were treated to a nearly two-hour set just for them.

“I wanted a place I play songs that didn’t make albums—and this is the only place I’ll do a lot of these songs and share a lot of these stories. It’s a conversation in a place only for the people there,” he says.

Chief’s also houses a studio for broadcasting, inclusive of Eric Church Outsiders Radio on SiriusXM, with the capability of hosting broadcasts by various media partners. With street-level windows, the studio provides fans from around the world with a behind-the-scenes experience with a front-row view of broadcasting in action.

Ultimately, it’s clear that every detail behind the design, execution, venue management, food and drink options and musical capabilities has been thought of. The establishment stands out on lower Broadway as an entertainment destination that will stand the test of time.

“This building is a lot like the songs I write … they’re mine until I release them, and then they’re not mine anymore, they’re yours,” shares Church.

Lauren Daigle Celebrates New RIAA Certifications

Grammy-winning artist Lauren Daigle celebrated two new RIAA certifications before her show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena last weekend. Her 2018 album Look Up Child was certified double Platinum. She also received a Gold certification for her track “Thank God I Do,” released in 2023.

 

Jackie DeShannon Featured In CMHOFM ‘Poets And Prophets’ Program

Last weekend, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (CMHOFM) featured singer-songwriter Jackie DeShannon for their “Poets and Prophets” series. The series highlights songwriters who made significant contributions to country music. Moderated by CMHOFM’s Vice President of Museum Services Michael Gray, the program featured DeShannon discussing her journey as well as video clips of DeShannon performing with Country Music Hall of Fame members including Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Willie Nelson and more.

This program was filmed and will premiere at a later date as part of the museum’s “Live at the Hall” digital programs series, available to stream on the museum’s website.

 

Sixth Annual ‘Daryle Singletary Keepin’ It Country Jam’ Raises $88,000

The sixth annual “Daryle Singletary Keepin’ It Country Jam” took place in February and raised $88,597.06. The event featured performances from Neal McCoy, Tyler Farr, Lee Greenwood, The Malpass Brothers, Andy Griggs, Craig Campbell, Jenna LaMaster, John Morgan, Duke Henry and Robert Bacon, along surprise performances from Richard Sterban of The Oak Ridge Boys and Collin Raye. All proceeds from the event went to the Daryle Singletary Memorial Trust.

“I can’t thank all the artists, managers, sponsors, and fans that came out to support what Daryle loved so much – traditional country music,” says Holly Singletary. “Each year, it seems that more and more people learn about what we are doing in Daryle’s honor and want to help. This can only continue with everyone’s support. Next year, we have already set the date for February 11th at the Nashville Palace, so I hope everyone plans to come out!”

 

Concord Music Publishing & Stax Records Hosts Stax Music Academy Songwriting Workshop

Concord Music Publishing and Stax Records hosted their fourth annual Stax Music Academy Songwriting workshop last week. The workshop hosted eight students from Stax Music Academy to Concord’s office in Nashville. The students got a tour of the office the went into a workshop hosted by Grammy-winning artist, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Cory Henry, Concord Music Publishing’s Brad Kennard (SVP A&R Nashville), Jeremy Yohai (SVP A&R NYC) and Matt Megan (Director, A&R Research).

The attendees in the workshop wrote a new song based off a brief presented by the team. The workshop concluded with a presentation of the songs and feedback from Henry and the Concord team.

 

Carter Vintage Guitars Celebrates Opening Of New Location In Nashville

Carter Vintage Guitars celebrated the grand opening of their new Nashville location last Thursday (April 4). The new location is located at the Antiques building at Somera Road’s Paseo South Gulch. The event featured performances by Marcus King, DJ Barricade Babes and Daves Highway. 

“Our customers are the reason the Carter brand has grown to what it is today, and we wanted to show our gratitude for their support and loyalty by focusing on every detail of the customer experience with the grand opening celebration,” says Ben Montague, Co-founder and CEO of The North American Guitar, which merged with Carter Vintage Guitars in 2022. “We celebrated the foundation Walter and Christie built for Carter Vintage Guitars and the exciting future the business has in the new showroom. We’re honored that the Carters have passed the baton to our team to carry on the store’s legacy in this new location.”

Thomas Rhett is set to host the 2024 CCMA Awards presented by TD in Edmonton, AB on Sept. 14.

Rhett, who has 16 No.1 hits at Canadian country radio, will be joined by two-time CCMA Award winner and chart-topping Canadian country star and actor, MacKenzie Porter, to celebrate Canada’s biggest night in country music. Returning to Edmonton for the first time in 10 years and marking their eighth time in the city, the 2024 CCMA Awards presented by TD will broadcast live from Rogers Place in the heart of downtown Edmonton.

“We’re so excited to have Thomas Rhett, and MacKenzie Porter come together to host Canada’s biggest night in country music,” says Amy Jeninga, President, CCMA. “The indelible marks these two individuals have made on the country music landscape, not just in Canada but globally, showcase the universal appeal and talent within our community. Their collective presence on stage at Rogers Place will undoubtedly create a captivating experience for fans in Edmonton and those watching across the country, and we can’t wait to see the magic they bring.”

The show will air on Saturday Sept. 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET on CTV, CTV.ca and the CTV app. Canada’s Country Music Week 2024 kicks off in Edmonton on Sept. 11, culminating with the 2024 CCMA Awards. With CTV as the exclusive broadcast partner for the 42nd annual CCMA Awards presented by TD, Bell Media will deliver extensive multi-platform coverage and content across broadcast, radio, digital, and social media properties, including iHeartRadio Canada’s Pure Country.

Amazon Music is returning as the exclusive streaming destination for this year’s sold-out Stagecoach Festival, set for April 26-28 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

Fans from around the world will be able to enjoy sets from country’s biggest artists from the T-Mobile Mane Stage in the comfort of their own homes including sets from artists like Eric Church, Jelly Roll, Elle King, Post Malone, Willie Nelson & Family, Hardy and Bailey Zimmerman.

The Stagecoach livestream from Amazon Music will also include live interviews with Country Heat Weekly hosts Kelly Sutton and Amber Anderson, as well as country music personality Graham Bunn. The hosts will chat with some of the festival’s hottest artists from the exclusive Amazon Music backstage set to preview the performances fans can expect to see throughout the weekend. Fans can also purchase merchandise from a wide selection of artists performing at Stagecoach and listen to the Official Stagecoach playlist at Amazon.com/stagecoach.

Sponsored by American Express, e.l.f. SKIN, T-Mobile and Universal Pictures’ The Fall Guy, from 87North, the livestream will be available on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch and Prime Video, slated for a 4 p.m. PT start each day.