Photo of a 78-rpm record by Big Bill Campbell and His Rocky Mountain Rhythm, released in 1947 and included in the British Archive of Country Music collection. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has expanded its collection with the addition of the British Archive of Country Music, comprising over 50,000 recordings alongside books, periodicals, videotapes, photographs and more.

The collection, established in 1987, was assembled over a span of seven decades by late British collector Dave Barnes. This treasure-trove of country music history contains extensive recordings and files regarding artists from the UK, Europe, Australia, Canada and the US. After Barnes’ death in 2020, his family began working with the museum to facilitate the acquisition and transport of the collection from Dover, England with support from the Tyson Family Foundation.

“My father Don Tyson was a huge, lifelong fan of country music,” says John H. Tyson, Chairman of the Board of Tyson Foods, Inc. “He passed that love of music on to his children and grandchildren as well. When we learned of the British Archive of Country Music, we immediately knew it was a treasure that should be located in posterity at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. We are pleased to have been able to work with Mr. Barnes’ son, Alan, and the team at the museum to make this a reality. My son, John Randal and daughter Olivia and I are delighted to have made this collection available so that future generations of country music fans can continue to enjoy this music as Mr. Barnes did years ago as he was putting the archive together.”

With the addition of the BACM collection, the museum now ranks among the world’s largest collections of country music recordings, boasting over 250,000 sound recordings ranging from phonograph cylinders to digital files.

CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Kyle Young, expresses his gratitude to the Barnes family and the Tyson Family Foundation for their pivotal role in bringing the BACM collection to the museum. “The British Archive of Country Music speaks to the international influence of country music. We’re honored to preserve the collection and continue BACM’s legacy of making this music available to researchers and scholars across the world,” he says.

Pictured (L-R, back row): Josh Joseph and Tara Joseph. (L-R, front row): Carys Selvey and Julia Keefe

London-based songwriter Carys Selvey has signed a global publishing deal with Edgehill Music Publishing.

Selvey first signed with Sony/ATV London at 14 years old and has since made her own distinctive voice in songwriting. Her partnership with Edgehill is in collaboration with her management team, Joel Reyes at Moko Management and Declan McAlister at 31 Management.

“When I first heard Carys’ work, I was immediately drawn to the rawness of her writing,” shares Julia Keefe, Head of A&R, Edgehill. “In addition to her writing, the energy she brings into every room paired with her ability to connect with creatives on a deeper level, truly sets her apart. We are so excited to have Carys apart of the Edgehill family.”

“I am unbelievably excited to be part of the Edgehill family!” Selvey shares. “Josh [Joseph], Tara [Joseph] and Julia have created an environment unlike any music company I have known beforeand I feel so honoured to be a part of it and get to work with all of their incredibly talented writers and producers.”

Abbey Cone at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Photo: Erika Rock

Singer-songwriter Abbey Cone has signed with Downtown Artist & Label Services for distribution.

She has also released her first song with the company, a cover of Leonard Cohen‘s “Hallelujah,” which was recorded live when Cone opened for LeAnn Rimes Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

“My first year as an independent artist was surprising in so many ways,” she says. “One of the biggest surprises was being asked to open up for LeAnn Rimes at the Ryman in December. I’ve always loved this song because of how powerful it is, and how much it moves people. It’s representative of the kind of music I want to create and the way I want to move people with my music, too.”

Cone is contining to build an independent team, which currently includes Amanda Quinton of Quinton Digital for management services, Wasserman Group for booking and Warner Chappell Music/T.R.U.T.H. for publishing.

“One of the many lessons I’ve learned in my almost 10 years in the music industry is how important it is to have a team of people that will actually get in the trenches with you and figure out how to build a sustainable and authentic career,” she shares. “Small wins feel bigger when you’re an independent artist. It’s an accumulation of small victories that feel really rewarding when you’re doing it for yourself instead of to impress a label or a gatekeeper. For the first time, I’ve actually been able to make money from my music because I own my masters. It’s empowering to be able to choose how to reinvest that money and also be able to choose who I work with. I feel free. I feel like I finally work for myself instead of working to impress someone else that ‘holds the keys’ to my success.”

Ernest will release his sophomore album, titled Nashville, Tennessee, on April 12.

As part of the album’s pre-order launch, Ernest released the video and song for “I Went To College / I Went To Jail,” featuring fellow Nashville native Jelly Roll, as well as tracks “Ain’t As Easy,” “How’d We Get Here,” “Ain’t Too Late” and “Why Dallas (feat. Lukas Nelson),” which join already available songs “Kiss Of Death” and “Slow Dancing In A Burning Room” on the project.

In addition to the previously-released tracks and five new songs, the 26-track album will include additional musical collaborations with Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, Hardy and Ernest’s two-year-old son, Ryman. Writers contributing to the album include Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Bryan, Grady Block, Chandler Paul Walters and many more.

Nashville, Tennessee is the follow up to Ernest’s 2021 debut album, Flower Shops (The Album), which featured the double Platinum title-track “Flower Shops (feat. Morgan Wallen).” He has over a billion streams as a solo artist to date, and has also earned nine No. 1s as a writer, including Jelly Roll’s double Platinum “Son of a Sinner,” Kane Brown‘s Platinum “One Mississippi,” Sam Hunt‘s Platinum “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s,” Chris Lane‘s double Platinum “Big, Big Plans” and Morgan Wallen hits including seven-times Platinum “Wasted On You,” four-times Platinum “You Proof,” five-times Platinum “More Than My Hometown” and Platinum “Everything I Love.”

Nashville, Tennessee Tracklist:
1. “I Went To College / I Went To Jail (feat. Jelly Roll)” (Ernest Keith Smith, Chandler Paul Walters, Rivers Rutherford, Luke Bryan)
2. “Ain’t As Easy” (Ernest Keith Smith, Dean Dillon, Jessie Jo Dillon, Chandler Paul Walters)
3. “Why Dallas (feat. Lukas Nelson)” (Ernest Keith Smith, Chandler Paul Walters, Grady Block, Jordan Merrigan, Lukas Nelson)
4. “One More Heartache” (Ernest Keith Smith, Chandler Paul Walters, Jessie Jo Dillon, Dean Dillon)
5. “Hangin’ On (feat. Morgan Wallen)” (Ernest Keith Smith, Grady Block, Rhys Rutherford, Jacob Durrett, Rafe Tenpenny)
6. “Did It For The Story” (Ernest Keith Smith, John Byron, Ryan Vojtesak, Blake Pendergrass)
7. “How’d We Get Here” (Ernest Keith Smith)
8. “Never Said I Love You” (Ernest Keith Smith, Chandler Paul Walters)
9. “Would If I Could (feat. Lainey Wilson)” (Dean Dillon, Donald Ewing II)
10. “Honkytonk Fairytale” (Ernest Keith Smith, Rafe Tenpenny, Dallas Wilson, Brad Clawson)
11. “Smokin’ Gun” (Ernest Keith Smith, Rhys Rutherford, Grady Block, Ryan Vojtesak, Blake Pendergrass)
12. “Twinkle Twinkle (Live At Fenway Park) [feat. Ryman Saint]” (Jane Taylor)
13. “Life Goes On” (Ernest Keith Smith, Ashley Gorley, Ryan Vojtesak)
14. “If You Don’t Know By Now” (Clint Daniels, Dale Dodson)
15. “You Don’t Have To Die” (Clint Ingersoll, Chris Stapleton)
16. “Redneck Sh*ttt” (Ernest Keith Smith, Mark Holman, Nicolle Galyon)
17. “Small Town Goes” (Ernest Keith Smith, Grady Block, Cody Lohden, Ryan Vojtesak, Chandler Paul Walters)
18. “Kiss Of Death” (Ernest Keith Smith, Andy Albert, Ryan Vojtesak)
19. “Slow Dancing In A Burning Room” (John Clayton Mayer)
20. “Ain’t Too Late” (Ernest Keith Smith, Grady Block, Chandler Paul Walters, Jordan Merrigan, Cody Lohden)
21. “Sayin’ You Love Me” (Ernest Keith Smith, Mark Holman, James McNair)
22. “Summertime Flies” (Ernest Keith Smith, Rafe Tenpenny, Grady Block, Jacob Durrett, Ross Portaro)
23. “Ain’t Right Ain’t Wrong” (Ernest Keith Smith, Rhys Rutherford, Ryan Vojtesak)
24. “Creep (feat. Hardy)” (Colin Greenwood, Jonathan Greenwood, Albert Hammond, Michael Hazlewood, Edward O’Brien, Philip Selway, Thomas Yorke)
25. “Bars On My Heart” (Ernest Keith Smith, Mark Holman, Nicolle Galyon)
26. “Dollar To Cash” (Ernest Keith Smith, Grady Block, Rafe Tenpenny, Brett Tyler)

Dolly Parton is launching her first collection of home, kitchen and tableware products in collaboration with partners Lodge Cast Iron, Lifetime Brands and Mainstream International.

From a Guitar-shaped mini skillet to a custom Toile print depicting Parton’s childhood home, each item is a nod to her legacy and journey from humble beginnings to worldwide stardom. The collection will first launch with a range of seasoned cast iron skillets with unique designs, available at Cracker Barrel, Walmart.com and Lodge Cast Iron’s website and factory stores this month.

The collection also includes home decor and kitchen tools as well as table linens and soft kitchen textiles, which will launch online and in retail in March of next year.

“Home is as much a state of mind as it is a place for me,” states Parton. “I am excited to share these new kitchenware collections inspired by my childhood memories. While we didn’t have much that money could buy growing up, spending time with family over a meal created priceless moments that have lasted me a lifetime. It is my hope that these products be a part of wonderful memories for you.”