Kacey Musgraves Joins Forces With Jack Daniel’s For Sweepstakes

Kacey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves has partnered with Jack Daniel’s to give fans a chance to win a unique concert experience and a meet-and-greet at one of her shows.

The sweepstakes runs now until March 8. Participation is limited to those who are at least 21 years old at the date of entry. No purchase is necessary to enter or win and no deposit, entry fee, payment or proof of purchase is necessary to participate. For more information, click here.

“I’m thrilled to partner with Jack Daniel’s and am looking forward to meeting and spending time with the lucky winner,” says Musgraves.

“At Jack Daniel’s, we’re all about authenticity, integrity and living life in the moment,” shares Mary Beth O’Mara, Jack Daniel’s Brand Director. “Music has always been such an integral part of our brand, and friends like Kacey have given their fans so many magical moments through the power of song. We couldn’t be more excited to help create an unforgettable experience for a lucky winner.”

Industry Ink: Ashley House, Flatland Cavalry, Nathan James

Hardy, Ernest, Cooper Alan Perform At Ashley House During Super Bowl Week

Hardy performs at Ashley House. Photo: Laurent Velasquez

Hardy, Ernest and Cooper Alan performed nightly during Super Bowl week (Feb. 7-11) at the Ashley House, a free and open-to-the-public music and brand experience in Las Vegas. Ashley Furniture took over DawgHouse Saloon’s bar, restaurant and Sportsbook area inside Resorts World offering fans a destination for live music and comfort. In addition to the music, guests could test and live shop Ashley products via QR codes.

Following Big Game Weekend, Ashley donated all furniture from Ashley House to local Las Vegas first responders, refreshing their shared living facilities at their respective stations as a thank-you for sacrificing their Super Bowl Sunday to keep fans safe.

 

Flatland Cavalry Goes Gold With “A Life Where We Work Out” Feat. Kaitlin Butts

Flatland Cavalry and Kaitlin Butts celebrate Gold certification at the Ryman Auditorium. Photo: Fernando Garcia

Flatland Cavalry’s fan-favorite song, “A Life Where We Work Out” featuring Kaitlin Butts, has been certified Gold, marking their first RIAA certification.

In celebration of the milestone, the band was surprised with a plaque during their sold-out headline debut at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium last Saturday (Feb. 10). The certification adds to a landmark year for the band, who released their acclaimed new album Wandering Star this past fall via Interscope Records—their first release in partnership with the label.

 

Nathan James Promoted To Operations Manager At DBC Radio

Nathan James

Nathan James has been promoted to Operations Manager for DBC Radio’s six-station cluster in the Savannah/Hilton Head market, effective immediately. James will oversee all programming strategy as well as retain his Program Director/Afternoon Drive on-air duties for Country WUBB-FM (Bob 106.9) and add Program Director duties for CHR/Mainstream WGCO-FM (Hot 98.3), which he has been handling on an interim basis since June 2023.

“Since Nathan joined our team in 2022, he has proven himself to be strategic, innovative and creative earning him this promotion,” says Jason Goodman, Vice President of Programming, DBC Radio. “He is committed to keeping our brands local and community focused, while implementing his experience in programming, promotions, marketing and digital. Under his leadership, we will have the opportunity to grow our footprint in the South Carolina Lowcountry and Southeast Georgia Region.”

“We have a passionate and dedicated team here at DBC Savannah,” says James. “Thank you to Jason Goodman and Aaron Wilborn for allowing us to showcase creativity, encourage professional growth and providing leadership that has afforded me this opportunity.”

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss To Reunite For ‘Can’t Let Go Tour 2024’

Alison Krauss & Robert Plant. Photo: Alysse Gafkjen

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Robert Plant and 27-time Grammy winner Alison Krauss will reunite for their new “Can’t Let Go Tour 2024” this summer.

Kicking off June 2 with a centennial celebration for Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, the 28-date tour will visit amphitheaters, pavilions, opera houses and other historic venues in Seattle, Santa Fe, Des Moines, Colorado Springs and more through Sept. 1. JD McPherson, who plays lead guitar for Plant and Krauss, will serve as support.

The artists plan to bring a blend of early blues, country, folk-rock and lost soul music written by Merle Haggard, Allen Toussaint, The Everly Brothers, Anne Briggs, Geeshie Wiley, Bert Jansch, Ola Belle Reed, Brenda Burns and more as well as reimagined renditions of Led Zeppelin cuts “The Battle of Evermore,” “Rock and Roll” and “When the Levee Breaks,” among others.

Tickets go on sale this Friday (Feb. 16), following a series of presales beginning today (Feb. 14). For more information, click here.

UMPG Signs Grammy Winner Dan Wilson

Jennifer Knoepfle & Dan Wilson. Photo: Yazz Alali

UMPG has signed esteemed singer/songwriter/producer Dan Wilson to an exclusive, global publishing agreement. Under the new agreement, UMPG will represent Wilson’s future works, effective immediately.

A highly accomplished musician and lead member of famed band Semisonic, Wilson is a three-time Grammy winner. He recently took home the Grammy alongside Chris Stapleton for Best Country Song with Stapleton’s “White Horse.” He has also been awarded Song of the Year for co-writing The Chicks‘ “Not Ready to Make Nice” and Album of the Year for Adele‘s 21, which featured three of his co-writes including “Someone Like You.”

“I consider it a true gift to work alongside a person who is so storied and accomplished, and yet so open to new experiences and collaborations. Dan trusted UMPG in this vital chapter of his career and we could not be more excited,” shares Jennifer Knoepfle, UMPG Executive Vice President and Co-Head of A&R.

Wilson says, “This publishing relationship with UMPG begins a whole new chapter in my musical life. Jenn and the UMPG team are brilliant and inspire confidence. We’ve hit the ground running, to say the least. I’m very excited to be working with them.”

Wilson’s writing credits are diverse, ranging across genres. Among his collaborators are Carole King, Celine Dion, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Florence + The Machine, Tenille Townes, Noah Cyrus, Alec Benjamin, Mitski, Claud, My Morning Jacket, Phantogram, Leon Bridges, Tom Morello, Joy Oladokun, P!nk, Halsey, Weezer, Panic! at the Disco, Dierks Bentley, John Legend, Laufey, Vance Joy, Jason Mraz and many more.

He has earned Grammy nominations for Song of the Year with Jon Batiste’s “Butterfly,” Best Rock Song for Semisonic’s “Closing Time” as well as Album of the Year for Taylor Swift’s Red, on which he co-wrote the track “Treacherous” in 2012. He also worked with Swift on re-producing co-writes for Red (Taylor’s Version), and received his first ever Oscar nomination for co-writing and producing Batiste’s “It Never Went Away.”

Tracy Lawrence’s Mission:Possible Donates $345K To Local Charities

Tracy Lawrence’s Mission:Possible presents checks to eight local organizations. Photo: Christian Williams

Tracy Lawrence‘s Mission:Possible presented $345,000 to local charities helping the homeless and hungry across Middle Tennessee today (Feb. 14).

Eight organizations received a total of $80,000 in donations, including Journey Home, Project Return, Musically Fed, Dream Streets, Jesus Provisions Ministries, Laundry Stop, Monroe Harding and Shower Up, each with missions dedicated to ending homelessness across Middle Tennessee. In addition, Mission:Possible presented a $15,000 check for tornado relief funds as well as its $250,000 contribution raised for the Nashville Rescue Mission, who was in attendance to receive their official check from the 18th annual “Mission:Possible Turkey Fry and Benefit Concert.”

The benefit brought together more than 250 volunteers to help fry over 1,200 turkeys distributed throughout Middle Tennessee, providing over 10,000 meals to those in need during the Thanksgiving holiday. This year’s event included Lee Brice, Priscilla Block and Halfway to Hazard. The yearly event has now provided more than 86,000 meals to the homeless across Middle Tennessee and raised over one million dollars for Nashville Rescue Mission. Lawrence has now donated over $2.8 million since Mission:Possible’s start.

“We have been blown away witnessing the incredible work of so many organizations in our community that fill the immediate needs of those in need,” shares Lawrence. “As Mission:Possible continues to grow, we’re doubling down on our commitment to support and team up with these amazing groups. From providing hot showers and a place to wash clothes, to offering shelter to the unhoused and helping transition those off the streets back into society, we’re blessed to be a part of this movement toward a brighter future for those in Middle Tennessee.”

Kip Moore & Zac Brown Band To Headline Inaugural Cape Town Country Festival

Kip Moore and Zac Brown Band are set to headline the inaugural Cape Town Country Festival (CTC) Oct. 26-27 at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.

The lineup also includes Darius Rucker, Brothers Osborne, Cam, James Johnston, Morgan Wade and Craig Morgan as well as South African artists Ricus Nel, Riaan Benade, Demi-Lee Moore, Juan Boucher, Appel, Ruhan du Toit, Brendan Peyper, Ivan Roux, West & Cheree and Roan Ash, who will return to his hometown after moving to Nashville in 2022 and share his new music at the event.

“When we went to SA for the first time last year, the surprising part was it felt like a grass roots fan base that had been with us all along. There was a spark in that audience that I’ve been itching to light again. We are more than excited to see the South African fan base again,” shares Kip.

“I absolutely love Africa and try to visit every year,” adds Zac Brown. “We’re so excited that we get to perform at South Africa’s first-ever country music festival in October.”

DHL Stadium will be transformed into a 60,000 capacity, Nashville honky-tonk with American food, drinks, boots and hats. Heroes Events and Bok Radio’s Wimpie van der Sandt, who brought Kip to South Africa last year, will produce the festival with Red Light Management’s Gaines Sturdivant serving as Executive Consultant.

“The success we had last year with Kip Moore in South Africa proved there’s a vibrant and healthy country music scene over here. People in the music industry were skeptical when we explored the market, but we proved the concept and that gave us confidence to build the biggest country festival in the world outside the U.S.,” van der Sandt states.

“Wimpie and I dreamt up this idea together on a napkin after watching Kip’s jaw-dropping success in South Africa last year. I am incredibly proud of the new ground Kip has plowed for country music and music in general. We all took a chance on each other, Kip delivered colossal performances, and the fans poured in. CTC ’24 is the next iteration, and the door is now wide open for the entire country music genre,” notes Sturdivant.

Ticket go on sale this Friday (Feb. 16). Special payment plans that allow fans to pay over the course of three, six or eight months are available. For more information, click here.

Ashley McBryde & Cody Johnson Among Warner Music Nashville CRS Luncheon Lineup

The talent lineup has been announced for Warner Music Nashville’s annual Country Radio Seminar (CRS) Luncheon, which is set for 12 p.m. on Feb. 28 in the Omni Nashville Hotel’s Broadway Ballroom.

Ashley McBryde, Bailey Zimmerman, Cody Johnson, Chase Matthew, Austin Snell and Warren Zeiders, along with a few special guests, will all take the stage during the luncheon in a blend of full-band and acoustic performances.

We strive to bring you the best entertainment of the week, and this year is no exception! Join us for performances by country’s newest superstar Cody Johnson, the award-winning Ashley McBryde and breakout newcomer Bailey Zimmerman, plus the hottest new artists in the format,” says Warner Music Nashville’s Kristen Williams. And you never know who might drop in for a surprise! Let’s get ready to party!”

CRS 2024 will take place Feb. 28-March 1. Online registration is now closed, and will reopen on-site at the Omni Nashville Hotel. For more information, click here.

Beyoncé’s ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ Headed To Country Radio

Beyoncé

Global superstar Beyoncé will ship her new song “Texas Hold ‘Em” to country radio, with Columbia Nashville promoting the track. The song goes to radio Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Beyoncé announced during Sunday’s Super Bowl that her next album, Act II—the second installment of her Renaissance project—will be country. She teased the new music with the release of two singles, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.”

 

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This isn’t the first time Beyoncé has dipped her toes into country music. The Texas native and 32-time Grammy winner collaborated with The Chicks in 2016 on a version of her song “Daddy Lessons.” The four even performed it at the 50th annual CMA Awards that year. “Daddy Lessons” was not actively worked at country radio, but peaked at No. 41 on the Hot 100.

Beyoncé’s country Act II is slated to release on March 29 via Columbia and her own Parkwood Entertainment.

Raj Kapoor To Executive Produce 2024 ACM Awards Alongside Co-Executive Producer Patrick Menton

Raj Kapoor and Patrick Menton

Raj Kapoor will return as Executive Producer and Showrunner for the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards this May. Patrick Menton will serve as Co-Executive Producer, bringing the two together again after their success working on this year’s Grammy Awards.

The ACM Awards are set for May 2024 from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Prime Video. Additional details including hosts, nominees, performers and ticket details will be announced in the coming months.

“We have a true love for country music and its continued expansion and recognition around the world,” Kapoor and Menton share. “It’s an absolute privilege to create a show that celebrates the astounding talents that bring our country music family together to honor their remarkable achievements.”

“We’re thrilled to have Raj back at the helm of May’s 59th Academy of Country Music Awards, following his stellar work on last year’s show, the No. 1 most watched country music awards show of 2023,” ACM CEO Damon Whiteside says. “With his creative vision and passion for innovating the ACM Awards, along with support from Patrick’s talent and production expertise, we produced a show unlike any other, packed with monumental performances and unforgettable moments, bringing a global audience closer than ever before to the biggest stars in country music. We can’t wait to see all that Raj and Patrick have in mind for 2024, and I am sure it will continue to raise the bar!”

Kapoor is a six-time Emmy nominee and the winner of Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) for executive producing Adele: One Night Only. His credits include showrunner and executive producer for The 66th Academy Awards and the past three Grammy Awards. His distinguished work also includes the Latin Grammy Awards, Emmy Awards, Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration, Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter and The Disney Family Singalong specials.

Menton is an Emmy-nominated producer whose career is marked by some of music’s most celebrated award ceremonies, including the Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards and other distinguished music series and specials. Among these, notable projects include Christmas at Graceland, Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas, The X Factor, Miley Cyrus Presents Stand By You, We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert Live from Central Park and TikTok’s In The Mix.

The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions with Barry Adelman serving as Executive Producer for DCP, and Whiteside serving as Executive Producer for the Academy of Country Music. John Saade will also continue to serve as Consulting Producer for Amazon MGM Studios.

CMA Touring Awards Honors Giants In Live Music

Members of Chris Stapleton’s “All-American Road Show Tour” Crew takes home the inaugural Crew of the Year award, the night’s highest honor, at the CMA Touring Awards. Photo: John Russell/CMA

The Country Music Association held its annual CMA Touring Awards on Monday night (Feb. 12) at Marathon Music Works in Nashville. Hosted by Keith Urban, the evening celebrated the top touring professionals in country music.

Awards in 20 categories were handed out as the room full of industry members looked on. CMA executives shared that the touring sector is the largest category of CMA membership, so there were a lot of celebrations to be had.

Keith Urban hosts the CMA Touring Awards. Photo: John Russell/CMA

Artists such Chris Stapleton, Thomas Rhett, Lainey Wilson and members of Old Dominion all came out to support their nominated crews. Stapleton’s crew showed up and showed out, with five members of his camp receiving awards.

Stapleton’s “All-American Road Show Tour” also took home the night’s highest honor, Crew of the Year. The brand new award recognizes the crew that has exemplified outstanding professionalism, skills, teamwork, hospitality, innovation and excellence in all aspects of their work while demonstrating the most heart and spirit on the road and making the biggest overall contribution to elevating country music.

After humbly cheering his crew on from the audience, Stapleton shared a few words of thanks to them when they were given the honor.

“I don’t particularly love crowds, if you can believe that or not,” Stapleton shared. “I like them to come to the show, but I like to play music. That’s what I like to do. Everybody up here helps me do that every night in ways that would not be possible in any way, shape or form if everybody wasn’t at the top of their game.

“I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for letting me play music, which is what I love to do.”

The late Ron Baird honored with the 2023 CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award. CAA’s Marc Dennis accepts on his behalf. Photo: John Russell/CMA

Later in the night, the late Ron Baird, former Agent and Head of CAA’s Nashville office, was posthumously honored with the CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award. Agent and Co-Head of CAA’s Nashville office Marc Dennis, who is also Baird’s stepson, accepted the honor on his behalf.

The award is given to an individual who has positively impacted and contributed to the growth of touring throughout the years. It honors an individual that has proven to have an unprecedented historical impact on country music fans and the industry alike, and whose presence will have a long-term positive impact on the genre and CMA for generations to come. Baird is one of only six people to have ever received this award.

To honor Baird, a video was played to share a bit about his impact on the music industry, with cameos from Clint Black, Rob Light, John Huie, Rod Essig, Ed Benson, Keith Miller, Martina McBride and Shania Twain.

When Dennis spoke, he mentioned the people that Baird would have thanked, and talked about the wisdom he was known for sharing.

“I think his lasting legacy will be the people he encouraged to get into our business,” Dennis said. “It was hard to figure out how to break into our business [back then.] Ron was incredibly generous with his time.”

Additionally, during the ceremony, CMA unveiled its new Touring Mentorship Program. The program, intended for early-career touring professionals, was designed by industry veterans who recognize the importance of equipping and supporting the next generation. The Touring Mentorship Program will cover seven key roles in the touring industry: Tour Manager, Band Leader/Musician, Production Manager, Production Assistant, Front of House Engineer, Monitor Engineer and Lighting Director/Designer. As part of the six-month program, participants will engage in monthly mentor and mentee meetings and gain access to opportunities for shadowing and projects in the field.

The crowned winners at the CMA Touring Awards were determined by current professional voting members of CMA in the Affiliated, Artist, Composer, Entertainment Services, Musician, Personal Manager, Record Company, Talent Agent, Advertising/Marketing/Communications, Venue, Talent Buyer/Promoter and Touring Personnel categories. Nominees were based on shows originating between Oct. 1, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2023.

2023 CMA Touring Awards Winners:

CATEGORY 1 – CREW OF THE YEAR
“All-American Road Show Tour” Crew – Chris Stapleton

CATEGORY 2 – BACKLINE TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR
Joel “Tico” Jimenez – Thomas Rhett

CATEGORY 3 – BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Duane Clark – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy

CATEGORY 4 – COACH/TRUCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR
Erin Siegfried – Lainey Wilson

CATEGORY 5 – FOH (FRONT OF HOUSE) ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Arpad Sayko – Chris Stapleton

CATEGORY 6 – LIGHTING DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Mac Mosier – Chris Stapleton

CATEGORY 7 – MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Mandelyn Monchick – Red Light Management

CATEGORY 8 – MONITOR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Bryan “Opie” Baxley – Kenny Chesney

CATEGORY 9 – PRODUCTION MANAGER OF THE YEAR
John Garriott – Chris Stapleton

CATEGORY 10 – PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR
Tyne Parrish – The GreenRoom PR

CATEGORY 11 – STAGE MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Todd Green – Chris Stapleton

CATEGORY 12 – SUPPORT SERVICES COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Clair Global – Nashville, TN

CATEGORY 13 – TALENT AGENT OF THE YEAR
Jay Williams – WME

CATEGORY 14 – TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Louis Messina – The Messina Group

CATEGORY 15 – TOUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Meg Miller – Lainey Wilson

CATEGORY 16 – TOURING MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Paul Franklin – Chris Stapleton/Vince Gill – Steel Guitar

CATEGORY 17 – TOUR VIDEOGRAPHER/PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
CeCe Dawson – Lainey Wilson

CATEGORY 18 – TOUR VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Chris Jones – Jelly Roll

CATEGORY 19 – VENUE OF THE YEAR
Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO

CATEGORY 20 – UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR
Kelsey Maynard – Old Dominion – Assistant Tour Manager