Jake Basden. Photo: Allister Ann
HYBE AMERICA’s Nashville-based country, Americana and roots rock division will rebrand as Blue Highway Records, previously BMLG, effective immediately. Industry veteran Jake Basden has been appointed as Blue Highway Records’ Chief Executive Officer.
Blue Highway Records is home to Thomas Rhett, Brett Young, Midland, Justin Moore, Carly Pearce, Preston Cooper, Jackson Dean and Mae Estes, as well as distribution for Riley Green, Shaylen, The Band Perry and Greylan James under Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. The Valory Music Co. will be folded into Blue Highway Records. The publishing company Big Machine Music will remain under HYBE AMERICA.
Basden joins the company with deep relationships across music, film, television and live entertainment. He most recently served as President of Sandbox Management, where he oversaw all aspects of the talent division’s representation and business development. This new appointment marks a return to the company for Basden, who previously served as Senior Vice President of Communications for Big Machine Label Group.
“As we were searching for a leader for our new Nashville record label, it was important to choose someone that thought of artists first. We found someone that would not only connect with our team and build our company culture, but has profound ties to this community,” shares Isaac Lee, Chairman and CEO of HYBE AMERICA. “Jake’s long history of devoted service to artists, his time with our company and his deep roots in Nashville, along with his fresh and modern take on what will make the label successful in the digital age made him the ideal candidate for this role. We’re excited for what’s ahead for Blue Highway Records and for all that Jake will do to further expand our company’s footprint in Music City.”
“Country and American roots music is at such a dynamic place,” says Basden, “and I can think of no better place to define what the future of these sounds can be than Blue Highway. With the power and global synergy of HYBE, there are no limits to what we can create—and I look forward to working with the current roster and future signings to deliver artists, songs and projects that speak to the heart of who we are as people.
“We are starting with a diverse roster of passionate creators. Each is singular in who they are, but also how they write and realize their sound,” Basden adds. “From Thomas Rhett, a superstar who’s still filled with unmet potential to Jackson Dean, a songwriter with raw charisma and a gritty sound, Blue Highway is a place where being yourself invites originality and inspires listeners to find their own path. For CMA and ACM Female Vocalist of the Year Carly Pearce, Western-leaning progressives Midland and staunch American Justin Moore, country music is the bedrock for labelmates who have defined their own lane. When you factor in Preston Cooper, Brett Young and Mae Estes, the tradition of being your own kind of country remains in strong hands. Blue Highway is going to deliver the sound for country for the coming years.”
This announcement follows the news that BMLG founder Scott Borchetta was exiting HYBE, and reacquiring the Big Machine Records brand.
Hank Williams Jr. Adds Dates To 2026 Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughHank Williams Jr. has added seven new dates to his 2026 tour. He’ll be joined on the shows by special guests Joe Nichols, Sammy Kershaw and The Marshall Tucker Band.
The newly added dates kick off on June 5 in Tampa and will include stops in West Palm Beach, Birmingham, Grand Rapids and more before wrapping up in Bangor, Maine on Aug. 1. General ticket sales begin Friday (Feb. 20). Additional dates will be announced soon.
Throughout his decades-long career Williams has sold 70 million albums worldwide, achieved six Platinum albums and 20 Gold albums, with 14 topping the charts, and racked up 10 No. 1 singles. His latest album, Rich White Honky Blues, a collaboration between Williams and producer and Grammy-winner Dan Auerbach, debuted at No. 1 on the Current Country, Americana/Folk and Blues Albums charts.
Hank Williams Jr. 2026 Tour Dates:
Fri Jun 5 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheater
Sat Jun 6 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheater
Fri Jun 19 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
Fri Jun 26 – Birmingham, AL – Coca-Cola Amphitheater
Fri Jul 17 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Sat Jul 18 – Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater
Sat Aug 1 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater
Billy Strings’ First-Ever ‘Ionia Freak Fair’ In Michigan Set For August
/by Lorie HollabaughBilly Strings. Photo: Alysse Gafkjen
Billy Strings has announced the first-ever “Ionia Freak Fair” in Michigan this summer on Aug. 28-29.
Hosted by Mark Lavengood, the two-day event will feature performances from Strings, Greensky Bluegrass, Sierra Hull, Leftover Salmon, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Lindsay Lou and Full Cord, in addition to a Pyramid Scheme Pinball & Metal Tent. Tickets for the “Ionia Freak Fair” are on sale now, with limited RV parking passes available as an add-on when purchased with the event ticket on Ticketmaster at ioniafreakfair.com.
Strings is currently in the midst of an extensive headline tour which includes upcoming stops in Nashville for two sold-out nights at Bridgestone Arena, a Ryman Auditorium show, and a show at the Opry House on Feb. 28. His most recent full-length album, Highway Prayers, won Best Bluegrass Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards earlier this month, which was his second consecutive win in the category.
Luke Combs & Opry Entertainment Group Plan Third Category 10 Location In Orlando
/by Lorie HollabaughConceptual Rendering, Courtesy of Opry Entertainment Group
Luke Combs and Opry Entertainment Group are teaming up to open a Category 10 location at CityWalk at the Universal Orlando Resort.
OEG is set to break ground on the new Category 10 in Orlando this summer with a target opening in late 2027. The Category 10 brand pays tribute to Combs’ eight-times Platinum debut No. 1 “Hurricane,” and the approximately 33,000 square-foot, three-story Orlando location will include areas influenced by both Combs’ music and his passions. The Orlando venue is the third location for the Category 10 brand, joining the flagship venue in Nashville which opened in 2024, and a recently announced Las Vegas location which will debut this fall.
“I have a line in my song ‘1, 2 Many,’ ‘there’s no stopping me once I get goin’. Well, I guess you can say the same about Cat 10 now,” says Combs. “I know Orlando is a worldwide destination spot, so I’m super pumped and humbled that we’re getting to open a location there. My wife is from Florida, so we’re both super excited about this. I am glad to be bringing our brand of first-class service and awesome tunes to the Sunshine State.”
“Country music is reaching more people nationally and internationally than ever before, driven in large part by superstars like Luke Combs,” says Colin Reed, Executive Chairman of OEG parent company Ryman Hospitality Properties. “With Orlando welcoming millions of visitors from around the globe each year, expanding the Category 10 footprint into this world-class entertainment destination allows us to introduce visitors to an authentic country music experience inspired by Luke’s Carolina roots.”
Combs is also gearing up for the release of his new album, The Way I Am on March 20, and will kick off his massive “My Kinda Saturday Night Tour” this spring.
Sony Music Publishing & Kane Brown’s Verse 2 Music Sign Jonny Capeci
/by LB CantrellPictured (back row): Rusty Gaston, (CEO Sony Music Publishing Nashville); (middle row, L-R): Kent Earls (Partner Verse 2 Music), Nikki Boon (Manager, Neon Coast); (front row, L-R): Kane Brown and Jonny Capeci. Photo: Riley Mays
Sony Music Publishing Nashville, in partnership with Kane Brown and industry veteran Kent Earls’ Verse 2 Music, have signed singer-songwriter Jonny Capeci to a global publishing agreement.
Lead singer of the Nashville-based alternative-pop band Nightly, Capeci’s vocals and introspective, experience-driven lyrics have defined Nightly’s unique sound, with the band amassing over 400 million streams worldwide and performing with artists like Brown, NF, The Midnight, Andy Grammer and Imagine Dragons.
As a songwriter, Capeci has worked alongside artists including Kane Brown, 24kGoldn, G Herbo, Carin León, Jake Miller, Ayokay and Valley. His recent songwriting credits include “Body Talk” by Kane and Katelyn Brown, which broke into Mediabase’s US Hot AC Radio charts, and Carin León’s “The One (Pero No Como Yo),” which was featured on the Grammy award-winning album Boca Chueca, Vol. 1.
His work has also landed prominent sync placements including Brown’s “Country Classic” from the Grammy-nominated Twisters soundtrack, as well as “My City” by 24kGoldn and Brown featuring G Herbo, which appeared on the Fast X soundtrack.
“I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of the Verse 2, Sony family. Kane, Kent, Rusty and the rest of the team are the best of the best and I’m grateful for their support in my music,” Capeci says.
“At Verse 2 we’ve built an incredible company of songwriters who consistently push musical boundaries while achieving remarkable commercial success,” shares Earls, Partner, Verse 2 Music. “Jonny has such a broad talent and can seamlessly move between genres and musical styles. We are so honored to add him to the Verse 2 roster and look forward to the success that we will build together.”
Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston says, “Songwriters like Jonny are what make Nashville the special and thriving creative community it is. He’s an electric artist himself, while at the same time he’s a compelling and trusted songwriter for other artists. Jonny is built for a supportive and encouraging environment like Verse 2 and we couldn’t be prouder to be both of their partners.”
Kevin Griffin Launches AI Music Platform SoundBreak
/by Lauryn SinkKevin Griffin. Photo: Robby Klein
Better Than Ezra frontman and Grammy Award-nominated songwriter Kevin Griffin has launched SoundBreak, an AI music creation platform.
Developed in partnership with Soundverse, the platform allows users to co-write songs using officially licensed AI songwriting models of their favorite artists while providing the artist with rights and compensation. Artists also earn additional compensation through subscription revenue based on fan engagement with their AI model. All royalties are transparently split among artists, users, and SoundBreak.
At launch, SoundBreak features official AI songwriting models created in collaboration with Jaren Johnston of the Cadillac Three, Michael Fitzpatrick of Fitz and the Tantrums, Griffin, David Ryan Harris, Sam Hollander and Max Frost, among others. Each artist worked directly with SoundBreak’s engineering team to develop a custom AI model that reflects their songwriting style, not a sound-alike AI voice.
“SoundBreak is the AI in ARTIST,” shares Griffin. “In an exploding industry where songwriters and artists are being left out of the AI conversation, we’re setting a new standard – one where technology amplifies creativity and artists get paid for their unique intellectual property. This is AI made by artists, for artists.”
Rodney Atkins Slates First New Project In Seven Years, ‘True South,’ For May
/by Lorie HollabaughRodney Atkins is heading into spring with his first new album in seven years, True South, slated for release May 29.
Atkins offers fans an advance taste of some of the homespun wisdom on True South with the release of “The Years Are Short,” a sentimental reflection on fatherhood, out now. With “The Years Are Short” the multi-Platinum artist details the often long days of raising young kids only to look up and find 18 years have passed in the blink of an eye. In the tune he advises listeners to savor moments with their children, especially while they’re little, and speaks from experience as he watches his own three boys grow up far too fast.
The East Tennessee native leans into love, family and memory on True South, his long-awaited follow-up to 2019’s Caught Up In The Country. Cementing his status as a devoted family man, Atkins serves up relatable odes to marriage and parenting as he details small town life with wife Rose Falcon and his three sons. Previous songs released from the project include “True South,” “Marry Me Again (MMA),” “Watching You 2.0 (with Elijah Atkins)” and “Helluvit.”
Throughout his career Atkins has racked up six No. 1s and has over 5 billion global streams under his belt, and his Platinum No. 1 “Watching You” earned a BMI Million-Air award and the top spot on Country Aircheck’s top-played songs of the decade list.
True South Track List:
1. “True South” (Rodney Atkins, Rose Falcon, Blake Redferrin, Jake Saghi)
2. “Helluvit” (Rodney Atkins, Rose Falcon, Daniel Ethridge, Seth Mosley)
3. “Hole In One” (Jordan Schmidt, Devin Dawson, Zach Kale)
4. “Toys In The Dirt” (Thomas Archer, Lalo Guzman, Michael Tyler)
5. “Watching You 2.0 (with Elijah Atkins)” (Rodney Atkins, Steven Dean, Brain White)
6. “The Years Are Short” (Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell)
7. “All Y’all” (Rodney Atkins, Rose Falcon, Seth Mosley, Smith Ahnquist)
8. “Small Town After All” (Richard Sherman, Robert Sherman, Ben Hayslip, Chase McGill, Ben Burgess)
9. “Silver Bullets” (Jake Owen, Bobby Pinson, Josh Thompson, Jimmy Robbins)
10. “The Real Thing” (Rodney Atkins, Nicole Witt)
11. “Believe Me (with Rose Falcon)” (Rose Falcon, Gabe Dixon, Michael Whitworth)
12. “Marry Me Again (MMA)” (Rodney Atkins, Russell Sutton, Jaxson Free, Jim McCormick, Adam Craig)
BREAKING: HYBE AMERICA Nashville Launches Blue Highway Records, Taps Jake Basden As CEO
/by LB CantrellJake Basden. Photo: Allister Ann
HYBE AMERICA’s Nashville-based country, Americana and roots rock division will rebrand as Blue Highway Records, previously BMLG, effective immediately. Industry veteran Jake Basden has been appointed as Blue Highway Records’ Chief Executive Officer.
Blue Highway Records is home to Thomas Rhett, Brett Young, Midland, Justin Moore, Carly Pearce, Preston Cooper, Jackson Dean and Mae Estes, as well as distribution for Riley Green, Shaylen, The Band Perry and Greylan James under Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. The Valory Music Co. will be folded into Blue Highway Records. The publishing company Big Machine Music will remain under HYBE AMERICA.
Basden joins the company with deep relationships across music, film, television and live entertainment. He most recently served as President of Sandbox Management, where he oversaw all aspects of the talent division’s representation and business development. This new appointment marks a return to the company for Basden, who previously served as Senior Vice President of Communications for Big Machine Label Group.
“As we were searching for a leader for our new Nashville record label, it was important to choose someone that thought of artists first. We found someone that would not only connect with our team and build our company culture, but has profound ties to this community,” shares Isaac Lee, Chairman and CEO of HYBE AMERICA. “Jake’s long history of devoted service to artists, his time with our company and his deep roots in Nashville, along with his fresh and modern take on what will make the label successful in the digital age made him the ideal candidate for this role. We’re excited for what’s ahead for Blue Highway Records and for all that Jake will do to further expand our company’s footprint in Music City.”
“Country and American roots music is at such a dynamic place,” says Basden, “and I can think of no better place to define what the future of these sounds can be than Blue Highway. With the power and global synergy of HYBE, there are no limits to what we can create—and I look forward to working with the current roster and future signings to deliver artists, songs and projects that speak to the heart of who we are as people.
“We are starting with a diverse roster of passionate creators. Each is singular in who they are, but also how they write and realize their sound,” Basden adds. “From Thomas Rhett, a superstar who’s still filled with unmet potential to Jackson Dean, a songwriter with raw charisma and a gritty sound, Blue Highway is a place where being yourself invites originality and inspires listeners to find their own path. For CMA and ACM Female Vocalist of the Year Carly Pearce, Western-leaning progressives Midland and staunch American Justin Moore, country music is the bedrock for labelmates who have defined their own lane. When you factor in Preston Cooper, Brett Young and Mae Estes, the tradition of being your own kind of country remains in strong hands. Blue Highway is going to deliver the sound for country for the coming years.”
This announcement follows the news that BMLG founder Scott Borchetta was exiting HYBE, and reacquiring the Big Machine Records brand.
Megan Moroney To Celebrate New Album Release With ‘9 Cities. 9 Days’
/by Lorie HollabaughMegan Moroney. Photo: Amber Asaly
Megan Moroney will kick off the release of her upcoming new album Cloud 9 with “9 Cities. 9 Days,” a fan-focused celebration featuring exclusive appearances in nine cities across the country this month.
The shows will kick off in New York City on Cloud 9 ’s drop date (Feb. 20), and wrap on Feb. 28 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Moroney will perform a handful of songs at select stops. The run will include a include a surprise event at Akins Ford Arena in Athens, Georgia.
With the exception of her Scottsdale stop, all “9 Cities. 9 Days.” events will be ticketed at a cost of $9. Tickets will be available at the venue box office beginning at 9 a.m. local time on the morning of each event, with a limit of two tickets per person. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards The Megan Moroney Foundation, which aims to address bullying and raise awareness for mental health by promoting kindness.
“When I thought about the release of Cloud 9, I knew I wanted to spend it with my fans,” shares Moroney. “They’re the reason I get to do this, and I’m so excited to celebrate this album with them!”
Moroney previewed the album with the release of the title track earlier this month. Featuring collaborations with Ed Sheeran and Kacey Musgraves, Cloud 9 will also include her Gold-certified, No. 1 single “6 Months Later,” “Beautiful Things” and the recently released “Wish I Didn’t.”
Moroney is also gearing up for “The Cloud 9 Tour,” a 49-date international headline run launching May 29 in Columbus, Ohio, with stops at major arenas throughout North America, Europe and the UK.
“9 Cities. 9 Days.” Dates:
2/20 | New York, NY – Rough Trade
2/21 | Richmond, VA – The National 🩷
2/22 | Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle 🩷
2/23 | Athens, GA – Akins Ford Arena 🎶
2/24 | Newport, KY – MegaCorp Pavilion 🩷
2/25 | Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre 🩷
2/26 | Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom 🩷
2/27 | Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex 🩷
2/28 | Scottsdale, AZ – Venue TBA ☁️
☁️ free
🩷 intimate acoustic performance of three songs
🎶 surprise event
Alex Miller Builds On Traditional Foundation With New Project ‘More Country Than You’
/by Lorie HollabaughAlex Miller is expanding on his traditional country roots with his latest album, More Country Than You, set for release on April 10.
The 10-song collection opens with Miller’s interpretation of “Too Much Fun,” the 1995 top 5 hit by the late Daryle Singletary. Rising star Emily Ann Roberts and Miller embrace a classic country male/female back and forth on the title track, and “As Far As His Mem’ry Lets Her Go” is a decades-old, never-before-recorded tear-jerker about how pain from the past can limit hope for new love.
“Just A Mom” is a mid-tempo tribute to women who rock the cradle and rule the world, dedicated to Miller’s mom. “The Byrd” features buddy Tracy Byrd in a fast-moving track that brings back the energy of the great “Moe & Joe” duets of the past, and rolling ballad “Why Does My Heart Ache” asks, If time heals, tears dry, why does my heart ache? “Money Well Wasted” ups the tempo with a humorous take on one man’s version of retail therapy, and “Secondhand Smoke,” his current radio single, is a twangy tale of heartbreak on the horizon. “Memories And Gin” sparks with tasty guitar licks, and lilting fiddle and steel, cementing Miller’s
A former competitor on American Idol, Miller moved to Nashville in May 2024 and made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry the following month. In early 2025, he released “The Byrd,” which spent two weeks at No. 1 on the CDX True Indie Chart and hit the Top 50 on the Mediabase Activator Chart. Last year summer he was also chosen as a brand ambassador with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’sKentucky Proud program.
More Country Than You Track List:
1. “Too Much Fun” (Jeff Knight, Curtis Wright)
2. “More Country Than You” (Alex Miller, Emily Ann Roberts, Bill Whyte)
3. “As Far As His Mem’ry Lets Her Go” (Doodle Owens, Jerry Salley)
4. “Just A Mom” (Wood Newton, Steve Williams)
5. “The Byrd” (Alex Miller, Jerry Salley)
6. “Why Does My Heart Ache” (Alex Miller, Jerry Salley)
7. “Money Well Wasted” (Robert Arthur, Alex Miller, Conner Sweet)
8. “Secondhand Smoke” (Alan Jackson, Jim McBride)
9. “Memories And Gin” (Alex Miller, Bill Whyte)
10. “The Ones That Take Me Home” (Mark BonDurant, Alex Miller, Jerry Salley)
Max Martin Inks With Big Loud Publishing
/by Lauryn SinkPictured (L-R): Sydney Burdette (Creative Manager, Big Loud Publishing), Kimberly Gleason (SVP, Big Loud Publishing), Katie Flynn (Creative Director, Big Loud Publishing), Max Martin, Sara Knabe (SVP of A&R, Big Loud Records), Mike Giangreco (VP of A&R, Big Loud Publishing).
Max Martin has signed with Big Loud Publishing.
“I’m super excited to be signing with the incredible team at Big Loud,” Martin shares. “I have always been a fan of the work they have done and cannot wait to see what the future holds.”
“From the moment Max began collaborating with our writers, his great ideas, work ethic and positivity stood out and showed he was the perfect addition to the Big Loud team,” adds Katie Flynn, Creative Director, Big Loud Publishing.
Hailing from Atlanta, Martin draws inspiration from the sounds of The Foo Fighters, Darius Rucker and more. He initially moved to Nashville in 2021 to attend Lipscomb University.