Ernest Hosts First Annual ERNvitational

On Monday (March 25), Ernest hosted the first annual ERNvitational golf tournament. Sponsored by Big Loud, Logan’s Roadhouse, Outlaw Beer, Ozark Music Group and The Neal Agency, all proceeds from the event went to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

 

Texas Regional Radio Music And Radio Awards Celebrates Winners

The 14th annual T3R Texas Music & Radio Awards took place Monday night (March 25) at Texas Live in Arlington, Texas. The awards celebrated artists and radio stations based on radio and chart achievement, touring success and fan input. Winners included Aaron Watson, Wade Bowen, Bri Bagwell, Jenna Paulette, Randy Rogers Band, Ryder Grimes, Amanda Kate Ferris, Lukas Nelson + POTR and more.

For a full list of winners, click here.

 

SongwritingWith:Soldiers Appoints Three New Board Members

SongwritingWith: Soldiers has appointed three new board members, Collin McMillan, Pepper Evans and Suzanne Hogan. McMillan is the Owner/CEO of Grey Area Entertainment, which consists of a record label, an artist management arm and a publishing company. Evans is a senior marketing executive with experience leading teams and launching new products for American Express, Capital One and UnitedHealth Group. Hogan the President of Big Red Ideas.

“Pepper, Suzanne and Collin each bring important expertise to our board of directors,” says Executive Director Kristin Starling. “Their unique perspectives, skills and contributions will positively impact and advance our mission at SongwritingWith:Soldiers.”

 

Todd Stepp Joins Transparent Productions As SVP Of Global Marketing

Transparent Productions has added Todd Stepp to their team as Senior Vice President of Global Marketing. Stepp brings nearly 20 years of  music industry experience to the new role, most recently serving as Vice President of Marketing at Sony Music’s Provident Entertainment. While at Provident, he worked with Brandon Lake, Cain, Casting Crowns, Kirk Franklin, Zach Williams and more.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have a veteran like Todd join our executive leadership team,” shares Jared Gibo, President of Transparent Productions. “Todd has an incredible reputation in our industry and we’re proud to have him represent our company!”

Kacey Musgraves‘ Deeper Well scores the top debut on the country albums chart this week, landing at No. 1—and No. 2 on the all-genre chart—with 97K in total consumption (66K album only/38 million song streams) according to Luminate data.

Morgan Wallen‘s One Thing At A Time descends to No. 2 on the country albums chart with 70K (1.6K album only/88 million song streams), while Zach Bryan‘s self-titled collection shifts down to No. 3 with 40K (3.4K album only/48 million song streams). Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album moves to No. 4 with 38K (337 album only/49 million song streams), and Bryan’s American Heartbreak transitions to No. 5 with 30K (770 album only/38 million song streams).

The top five country streaming songs stay the same again this week.

Bryan and Musgraves’ “I Remember Everything” maintains its No. 1 status with 18 million new streams, adding to 599 million ATD. Beyoncé‘s “Texas Hold ‘Em” holds No. 2 with 13 million streams, adding to 124 million ATD, as Wallen’s “Last Night” takes No. 3 with 12.4 million new streams, adding to 1.28 billion ATD. Bryan’s “Something In The Orange” sits at No. 4 with 12.3 million streams, adding to 1.29 billion ATD, and Wallen’s “Thinkin’ Bout Me” rests at No. 5 with 11 million new streams, adding to 674 million ATD.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has released its 2023 recorded music revenue figures. This year saw an 8% growth for a total of $17.1 billion, the highest figure in the reports history and the eighth consecutive year of growth.

Streaming made up 84% of the total revenue, totaling $14.4 billion. This year also saw an all time high of on-demand service paid subscriptions, totaling 96.8 million.

“Recorded music keeps reaching new heights as labels’ ‘all of the above’ commitment to meet fans everywhere they want to be continued to pay off for the entire music community. Licensing of social networks, fitness apps, and short form video are adding new value […] and physical sales once again boomed, with vinyl records delivering yet another double-digit increase,” says RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier.

He continues, “For artists, songwriters, and fans, this strong and sustained growth signals a time of incredible opportunity—with new formats, styles, and sounds rising up across innovative platforms and emerging ways to listen. As new services continue to get fully licensed at rates reflecting music’s incredible value, revenue for artists and songwriters will only continue to grow.”

The revenue from paid subscriptions in 2023 increased to $11.2 billion, making up 78% of streaming revenues and almost two-thirds of total revenues.

Physical formats are continuing to trend upwards, marking an 11% growth totaling $1.9 billion. Vinyl outsold CDs (43 million vs 37 million) for the year and grew 10%. This is the second time since 1987 vinyls outsold CDs.

“As music continues to soar and bring Americans together in new ways, new challenges continue to emerge—led by the mushrooming threat of generative artificial intelligence that, absent thoughtful and effective guardrails, put this dynamic growth and cultural reach at risk. No one has moved more quickly than the music industry to embrace responsible uses of this technology to create new possibilities and push human artistry forward,” says Glazier.

“Used responsibly, generative AI tools can take human creativity to new places. But irresponsibly, it could stifle a generation of artists across all mediums. RIAA and our members are committed to staying on the field every day, fighting with the music community for a pro-human, pro-creator future. Artists, songwriters, and their fans deserve nothing less.”

For RIAA’s full 2023 report, click here.

The 10th annual “Country For A Cause” benefit show at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley is set for June 5 and will benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Presented by Gus Arrendale and Springer Mountain Farms, the show will include performances by Moe Bandy, John Berry, Chad Brock, T. Graham Brown Chapel Hart, Lacy J. Dalton, Mike Farris, Crystal Gayle, Terri Gibbs, Lee Greenwood, The Kody Norris Show, John McEuen, Makenzie Phipps, Stephanie Gayle, Sister Sadie, Leona Williams and more. The benefit will be hosted by T.G. Sheppard and Kelly Lang, along with Devon O’Day. Tickets are on sale now and are $50 for general admission.

“To say that Kelly and I are honored to host ‘Country For A Cause’ again is an understatement,” shares Sheppard. “It truly amazes us that this year’s group of artists is the most diversified we have ever had the pleasure of hosting. We have everything from country, bluegrass, Americana, and much more in between. There will be legends and newcomers… and maybe a couple of surprises along the way. This is going to be an incredible show.”

“Country for a Cause is one of my favorite annual events,” says Meredith “Mamie” Shepherd, Senior Program Manager for Seacrest Studios at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. “We are so fortunate to have T.G. Sheppard and Kelly Lang as wonderful hosts and supporters of our patients and families. Huge thanks to the entire team that puts on such a wonderful night of music to make a difference for the children who rely on us for care.”

The Nashville chapter of AIMP (Association of Independent Music Publishers) has added six new members to its Young Professionals Committee for 2024.

Courtney Kruckeberg (Endurance Music Group), Autumn Ledgin (Back Blocks Music), Jacee Badeaux (Big Yellow Dog Music), JD Groover (Sea Gayle Music), Sam Sarno (SMACKsongs) and Sam Shelton (Goat Island Sound) have all joined the Young Professionals Committee.

The Committee has also announced several events planned for 2024, including a fall panel at Belmont University where YPC members and industry veterans will share insights with students, and a “Back Then Breakfast” event in which music publishing executives will share their journey through the industry. The YPC will also launch its Independent Songwriter Series this year, which will expand the annual AIMP Nashville Songwriter Series to unsigned Nashville-based songwriters. The 2024 edition of the Independent Songwriter Series will mark the chapter’s 10th installment.

The AIMP Nashville YPC’s goal is to educate and inform music publishers about the most current industry trends and practices by providing a forum for the discussion of issues and problems confronting the publishing industry and activating the next generation of music publishers, involving more students and driving student membership.