Lane Wilson
The “My Music Row Story” weekly column features notable members of the Nashville music industry selected by the MusicRow editorial team. These individuals serve in key roles that help advance and promote the success of our industry. This column spotlights the invaluable people that keep the wheels rolling and the music playing.
Lane Wilson is a 30-year veteran Agent and Partner at WME. Working in the Music Division in their Nashville office, he is responsible for negotiating deals for amphitheater, stadium and arena-level touring artists. Wilson is also the responsible agent for several clients in Nashville and handles day-to-day affairs for Vince Gill, Gary Allan, Justin Moore, Tracy Lawrence, Joe Nichols and Rodney Atkins, just to name a few.
Outside of his role as Agent, Wilson is on the Board of Directors for Mission:Possible, an organization founded by Lawrence benefitting the homeless of Nashville. He is also serves on the Board/Advisory Council for Habitat for Humanity of Nashville and the Board of Directors for Leadership Music. Wilson is an active member of the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association as well as the Adjunct Faculty Program for Belmont University.
MusicRow: Where did you grow up?
I grew up right here in Nashville. Fun fact, I can see the sixth floor of the hospital I was born in from my desk.
Pictured (L-R): Lane Wilson, Mark Roeder, Taylor Swift, Kristin Pridgen and Dana Burwell on the “Fearless Tour.” Photo: Courtesy of Lane Wilson
What were you into as a kid?
My mom and dad owned a business in town that was in the construction-related industry. I was always at their office and they happened to be located really close to a record store. I now realize I was on the leading edge of the streaming era before that was a thing because I was creating mixtapes and spreading them around my high school from stuff I would find in the record store. The radio scene in Nashville back then was pretty narrow. It was a couple of country stations and a classic rock station—that was really about it. So from hanging out at the record store, I could tell there was a whole world of other things out there. I remember ordering albums from Europe, waiting 13 to 16 weeks for delivery and then putting them on cassette tape and spreading them around my high school. I always loved the idea of turning somebody onto something that nobody else had heard yet.
I remember going on a field trip to the science museum and one of my mixtapes became a viral sensation on that field trip. [Laughs] We played it on the bus. I just had this sense of pride. I couldn’t believe I turned a whole group of people onto something that I initially discovered. That was the very beginning of diving into music discovery and having a passion for it.
How did you start pursuing that passion?
I went to school at MTSU. At that time Bridgestone Arena didn’t exist. There were no amphitheaters. Starwood hadn’t been built yet. Municipal Auditorium was all that Nashville had to offer. The tours that were out at the time had grown to a point where they didn’t fit Municipal anymore, so Murphy Center, the arena at MTSU, was the hot place for all the major concerts.
Pictured (L-R): Lane Wilson, Ashley McBryde and Brian Jones at CMA Fest 2017. Photo: Courtesy of Lane Wilson
As a byproduct of being into music and being around the music scene that was in full force at MTSU, I got into the special events committee which was charged with presenting concerts at MTSU. The years that I was there, the committee brought in U2, R.E.M., Def Leppard, Tina Turner, Chicago—the list was just amazing.
I really started to cultivate more of a passion for the live side of things there. While I was at MTSU, I traveled with a band that was touring around the Southeast. I was sensible enough to realize early on that I wasn’t talented enough to be a drummer for those guys, so I became the production guy for the band. We toured around the Southeast—we would leave on Thursday night and come back on Sundays at least 20 weekends a year.
What did you do after graduation?
I went to work in the business sector at Prudential, selling stocks and bonds right out of school. I spent maybe a year and a half there. I remember telling my roommate at the time, “I’ve got to get out of this suit and tie kind of deal.” He was like, “You can put an application in at our place, but there’s some weird stuff going on there.” At that time, he was working at a company called Triad. The weird stuff that was going on was all the closed-door meetings associated with a merger that they were about to go through with William Morris Agency.
I did three interviews there. By the third interview, I was like, “Listen, I’m going to lose the job I have by doing all these interviews. Are you guys hiring or not?” The lady said, “Just bear with us. We’re about to go through some major changes and we’ll be hiring when those are over with.” I think I might have been hire number one after the merger. That was 30 years ago. We’ve been through another merger since then with the Endeavor side of things, which has been a real game changer.
[Although it felt like it at the time,] finding my way into the music business wasn’t as accidental as I thought it was. The groundwork [for a career in music] was laid out. It was the music circles I was running in that kind of led me to where I am today.
Lane Wilson and Tracy Lawrence presenting a check to Cheryl Noe and Billy Eldridge at Nashville Rescue Mission in 2018. Photo: Courtesy of Lane Wilson
When you got to William Morris, did you start in the mailroom or as an assistant?
I got lucky because there was such a need to get bodies in place that I was able to skip that mailroom step and went straight to a desk. I trained there for a few years under some great people—some are still here and a lot have retired. I never would’ve thought that I would’ve been at one company for 30 years, and it’s a real testament to the evolution of the company and the co-heads of the office we have in place right now. I still look forward to coming into work every day. If you can say that 30 years later, something is going right.
Tell me about some big moments that affirmed you were in the right place.
There have been several moments where I have found myself in situations where you get to see the behind-the-scenes kind of stuff that most people don’t have the benefit of. That’s happened over and over and over again. We had a stint in Taylor Swift‘s career in the very beginning. Greg Oswald was the guy who was taking the point here in Nashville, and then there was a team of people out in Los Angeles that were involved as well. I was on the team with Greg, and I remember he and I flew to Fayetteville, Arkansas to see her perform. It was in a metal building set up for 7,000 people and the screams were absolutely deafening. My ears were ringing for three days. When we walked away from there, I remember thinking to myself, “That’s something that’ll probably change the music business forever.” And sure enough, it did. It was a bellwether moment in the music business that was happening. I’ve seen several of those over the course of 30 years since—we’re dealing with one in our office right now with Zach Bryan. He’s a guy that’s three to four years into his career and is adding second nights at stadiums—that’s unbelievable in such a short time.
Another moment [that comes to mind] is being in a signing meeting with Ashley McBryde years ago. She just started playing one hit song after another. This came at a time when we were shifting from the typical 50-week life cycle of a single to plowing through songs like crazy because things were shifting to a streaming format. I remember realizing in that meeting how important a body of work can be in this new era. You may have a song that’s a hit, but it may not be the one that connects. You’ve got to have something to back it up and then something to back that up. I remember hearing her body of work and being excited about that. She’d been touring around for many years before she wound up in our office, but it was one of those moments where we were like, “We gotta shut the door and not let her out on this office until she is a client.”
Pictured (L-R): Peter Hartung, Dustin Lynch, Barrett Sellers and Lane Wilson at IEBA in 2012. Photo: Courtesy of Lane Wilson
What is some of the best advice you got as you were coming up?
A reputation is something that you work on every single day, but you can ruin it in one day. You don’t get a lot of credit for building it over a 30 year period, but you can screw one up in one day. If you have a good one and a mistake happens, you can always lean on your good reputation and get a pass because people know it was an isolated mistake and not a pattern. So I try to work on that every single day I’m in the office.
What is something people may not know about you?
I have been married for 25 years and have two sons who are both in the business. I’ve moved into a whole other chapter of life now by having sons enter into the same circles that I’ve been running in, which can be scary but it’s a testament to my comfort level with how my experience has been.
I know philanthropy is really important to you. Tell me about your work with Tracy Lawrence’s Mission:Possible foundation.
Several years ago, Tracy Lawrence asked me and his managers if we would help set up a 501C3 for something that he started years ago called Mission:Possible. It was completely out of my realm of knowledge. My mom and dad were always civic-minded and were involved in the community, so I had a little bit of that underpinning already, but I was already thinking about [how I could give back.] About that same time, he asked me if I would get involved, so I was in the right place at the right time. It’s really taken off since then thanks to the incredible work by a hard-working Board of Directors. It’s all about supporting the homeless community in Nashville. We’ve raised over two million dollars. We fry 1,200 turkeys every Tuesday before Thanksgiving, which creates 9,600 meals that feed the homeless in Davidson and surrounding counties for the holiday. To see the growth of this thing over the last few years has just been incredible.
Lane Wilson with WME staff and other volunteers at Tracy Lawrence’s 2022 Mission:Possible Turkey Fry. Photo: Courtesy of Lane Wilson
What I’m starting to realize is when you have a charity that has a celebrity attached to it, fundraising can be easier than just running a charity without the celebrity component. So we’ve tried to help some of those other charities in Nashville that are associated with homelessness, and become a pass-through for money to flow to those organizations so they can keep doing their good work. I’ve now had the opportunity to meet a lot of people who do this work all day every day—and it is tough. We are in a fun business in entertainment, but these people are out there slugging it out every day just trying to prop up humanity. So we try to help support not only their message, but also support them financially so they can continue their good work.
Tracy’s 18th annual Turkey Fry is tomorrow at the Nashville Fairgrounds, with his benefit concert taking place at Wildhorse Saloon in the evening. What are you most looking forward to during this year’s event?
When the Turkey Fry is over, and the food has been distributed, and the fundraising concert later has concluded and I am walking out of the venue completely exhausted along with my friends and team members of Mission:Possible… who are also exhausted, I get that same feeling when the last truck was loaded backstage at MTSU years ago. The satisfaction of playing a small role in creating something that has a large impact on people is the most satisfying feeling in the world.
My Music Row Story: WME’s Lane Wilson
/by LB CantrellLane Wilson
Lane Wilson is a 30-year veteran Agent and Partner at WME. Working in the Music Division in their Nashville office, he is responsible for negotiating deals for amphitheater, stadium and arena-level touring artists. Wilson is also the responsible agent for several clients in Nashville and handles day-to-day affairs for Vince Gill, Gary Allan, Justin Moore, Tracy Lawrence, Joe Nichols and Rodney Atkins, just to name a few.
Outside of his role as Agent, Wilson is on the Board of Directors for Mission:Possible, an organization founded by Lawrence benefitting the homeless of Nashville. He is also serves on the Board/Advisory Council for Habitat for Humanity of Nashville and the Board of Directors for Leadership Music. Wilson is an active member of the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association as well as the Adjunct Faculty Program for Belmont University.
MusicRow: Where did you grow up?
I grew up right here in Nashville. Fun fact, I can see the sixth floor of the hospital I was born in from my desk.
Pictured (L-R): Lane Wilson, Mark Roeder, Taylor Swift, Kristin Pridgen and Dana Burwell on the “Fearless Tour.” Photo: Courtesy of Lane Wilson
What were you into as a kid?
My mom and dad owned a business in town that was in the construction-related industry. I was always at their office and they happened to be located really close to a record store. I now realize I was on the leading edge of the streaming era before that was a thing because I was creating mixtapes and spreading them around my high school from stuff I would find in the record store. The radio scene in Nashville back then was pretty narrow. It was a couple of country stations and a classic rock station—that was really about it. So from hanging out at the record store, I could tell there was a whole world of other things out there. I remember ordering albums from Europe, waiting 13 to 16 weeks for delivery and then putting them on cassette tape and spreading them around my high school. I always loved the idea of turning somebody onto something that nobody else had heard yet.
I remember going on a field trip to the science museum and one of my mixtapes became a viral sensation on that field trip. [Laughs] We played it on the bus. I just had this sense of pride. I couldn’t believe I turned a whole group of people onto something that I initially discovered. That was the very beginning of diving into music discovery and having a passion for it.
How did you start pursuing that passion?
I went to school at MTSU. At that time Bridgestone Arena didn’t exist. There were no amphitheaters. Starwood hadn’t been built yet. Municipal Auditorium was all that Nashville had to offer. The tours that were out at the time had grown to a point where they didn’t fit Municipal anymore, so Murphy Center, the arena at MTSU, was the hot place for all the major concerts.
Pictured (L-R): Lane Wilson, Ashley McBryde and Brian Jones at CMA Fest 2017. Photo: Courtesy of Lane Wilson
As a byproduct of being into music and being around the music scene that was in full force at MTSU, I got into the special events committee which was charged with presenting concerts at MTSU. The years that I was there, the committee brought in U2, R.E.M., Def Leppard, Tina Turner, Chicago—the list was just amazing.
I really started to cultivate more of a passion for the live side of things there. While I was at MTSU, I traveled with a band that was touring around the Southeast. I was sensible enough to realize early on that I wasn’t talented enough to be a drummer for those guys, so I became the production guy for the band. We toured around the Southeast—we would leave on Thursday night and come back on Sundays at least 20 weekends a year.
What did you do after graduation?
I went to work in the business sector at Prudential, selling stocks and bonds right out of school. I spent maybe a year and a half there. I remember telling my roommate at the time, “I’ve got to get out of this suit and tie kind of deal.” He was like, “You can put an application in at our place, but there’s some weird stuff going on there.” At that time, he was working at a company called Triad. The weird stuff that was going on was all the closed-door meetings associated with a merger that they were about to go through with William Morris Agency.
I did three interviews there. By the third interview, I was like, “Listen, I’m going to lose the job I have by doing all these interviews. Are you guys hiring or not?” The lady said, “Just bear with us. We’re about to go through some major changes and we’ll be hiring when those are over with.” I think I might have been hire number one after the merger. That was 30 years ago. We’ve been through another merger since then with the Endeavor side of things, which has been a real game changer.
[Although it felt like it at the time,] finding my way into the music business wasn’t as accidental as I thought it was. The groundwork [for a career in music] was laid out. It was the music circles I was running in that kind of led me to where I am today.
Lane Wilson and Tracy Lawrence presenting a check to Cheryl Noe and Billy Eldridge at Nashville Rescue Mission in 2018. Photo: Courtesy of Lane Wilson
When you got to William Morris, did you start in the mailroom or as an assistant?
I got lucky because there was such a need to get bodies in place that I was able to skip that mailroom step and went straight to a desk. I trained there for a few years under some great people—some are still here and a lot have retired. I never would’ve thought that I would’ve been at one company for 30 years, and it’s a real testament to the evolution of the company and the co-heads of the office we have in place right now. I still look forward to coming into work every day. If you can say that 30 years later, something is going right.
Tell me about some big moments that affirmed you were in the right place.
There have been several moments where I have found myself in situations where you get to see the behind-the-scenes kind of stuff that most people don’t have the benefit of. That’s happened over and over and over again. We had a stint in Taylor Swift‘s career in the very beginning. Greg Oswald was the guy who was taking the point here in Nashville, and then there was a team of people out in Los Angeles that were involved as well. I was on the team with Greg, and I remember he and I flew to Fayetteville, Arkansas to see her perform. It was in a metal building set up for 7,000 people and the screams were absolutely deafening. My ears were ringing for three days. When we walked away from there, I remember thinking to myself, “That’s something that’ll probably change the music business forever.” And sure enough, it did. It was a bellwether moment in the music business that was happening. I’ve seen several of those over the course of 30 years since—we’re dealing with one in our office right now with Zach Bryan. He’s a guy that’s three to four years into his career and is adding second nights at stadiums—that’s unbelievable in such a short time.
Another moment [that comes to mind] is being in a signing meeting with Ashley McBryde years ago. She just started playing one hit song after another. This came at a time when we were shifting from the typical 50-week life cycle of a single to plowing through songs like crazy because things were shifting to a streaming format. I remember realizing in that meeting how important a body of work can be in this new era. You may have a song that’s a hit, but it may not be the one that connects. You’ve got to have something to back it up and then something to back that up. I remember hearing her body of work and being excited about that. She’d been touring around for many years before she wound up in our office, but it was one of those moments where we were like, “We gotta shut the door and not let her out on this office until she is a client.”
Pictured (L-R): Peter Hartung, Dustin Lynch, Barrett Sellers and Lane Wilson at IEBA in 2012. Photo: Courtesy of Lane Wilson
What is some of the best advice you got as you were coming up?
A reputation is something that you work on every single day, but you can ruin it in one day. You don’t get a lot of credit for building it over a 30 year period, but you can screw one up in one day. If you have a good one and a mistake happens, you can always lean on your good reputation and get a pass because people know it was an isolated mistake and not a pattern. So I try to work on that every single day I’m in the office.
What is something people may not know about you?
I have been married for 25 years and have two sons who are both in the business. I’ve moved into a whole other chapter of life now by having sons enter into the same circles that I’ve been running in, which can be scary but it’s a testament to my comfort level with how my experience has been.
I know philanthropy is really important to you. Tell me about your work with Tracy Lawrence’s Mission:Possible foundation.
Several years ago, Tracy Lawrence asked me and his managers if we would help set up a 501C3 for something that he started years ago called Mission:Possible. It was completely out of my realm of knowledge. My mom and dad were always civic-minded and were involved in the community, so I had a little bit of that underpinning already, but I was already thinking about [how I could give back.] About that same time, he asked me if I would get involved, so I was in the right place at the right time. It’s really taken off since then thanks to the incredible work by a hard-working Board of Directors. It’s all about supporting the homeless community in Nashville. We’ve raised over two million dollars. We fry 1,200 turkeys every Tuesday before Thanksgiving, which creates 9,600 meals that feed the homeless in Davidson and surrounding counties for the holiday. To see the growth of this thing over the last few years has just been incredible.
Lane Wilson with WME staff and other volunteers at Tracy Lawrence’s 2022 Mission:Possible Turkey Fry. Photo: Courtesy of Lane Wilson
What I’m starting to realize is when you have a charity that has a celebrity attached to it, fundraising can be easier than just running a charity without the celebrity component. So we’ve tried to help some of those other charities in Nashville that are associated with homelessness, and become a pass-through for money to flow to those organizations so they can keep doing their good work. I’ve now had the opportunity to meet a lot of people who do this work all day every day—and it is tough. We are in a fun business in entertainment, but these people are out there slugging it out every day just trying to prop up humanity. So we try to help support not only their message, but also support them financially so they can continue their good work.
Tracy’s 18th annual Turkey Fry is tomorrow at the Nashville Fairgrounds, with his benefit concert taking place at Wildhorse Saloon in the evening. What are you most looking forward to during this year’s event?
When the Turkey Fry is over, and the food has been distributed, and the fundraising concert later has concluded and I am walking out of the venue completely exhausted along with my friends and team members of Mission:Possible… who are also exhausted, I get that same feeling when the last truck was loaded backstage at MTSU years ago. The satisfaction of playing a small role in creating something that has a large impact on people is the most satisfying feeling in the world.
Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift, More Win Big At 2023 BBMAs
/by Liza AndersonMorgan Wallen at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia
Last night (Nov. 19), Billboard hosted their annual Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs).
Morgan Wallen took home the most trophies with 11 wins including Top Male Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album and Top Hot 100 Song, among others, and Big Loud’s Joey Moi earned the title of Top Hot 100 Producer.
Wallen also performed “’98 Braves” at the Atlanta Braves’ current MLB home field, Truist Park. The energy in the audience seemed electric as former Braves players were in attendance alongside many of Wallen’s biggest fans to watch the performance of the bittersweet ode. Wallen was presented his 11 BBMA trophies by former ’98 Braves pitchers Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.
In his speech, Wallen shared, “Like the song says, ‘You win some you lose some.’ The last award show I went to, we came home empty-handed and this one—I don’t have enough hands for ‘em all.” He ended with, “You took a boy from East Tennessee driving a two-door Toyota Tacoma and turned me into one of Billboard’s top artists so God Bless y’all.”
Taylor Swift took home the coveted Top Artist award and a total of 10 trophies—bringing her career total to 39 wins. She now ties Drake as the most decorated BBMA winner of all time.
“The fact that you guys have given me 10 Billboard Awards… I’m talking to the fans specifically, none of this happens without you. Billboard bases everything off of what you are listening to and what you are passionate about, and I am so honored that this year you made ‘The Eras Tour’ so magical. You went and saw the movie, you cared about my re-recordings…I love you so much, I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have you in my corner and caring about the music that I make, so thank you, thank you, thank you, 10 million times,” said Swift during her acceptance speech.
Zac Brown Band was honored as Top Country Duo/Group, and Zach Bryan ended the night with four wins: Top New Artist, Top Rock Artist, Top Rock Album (American Heartbreak) and Top Rock Song (“Something In The Orange”).
For a full list of this year’s winners, visit billboard.com.
Select BBMA Winners:
Top Artist
Taylor Swift
Top New Artist
Zach Bryan
Top Male Artist
Morgan Wallen
Top Female Artist
Taylor Swift
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist
Morgan Wallen
Top Hot 100 Songwriter
Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Producer
Joey Moi
Top Streaming Songs Artist
Morgan Wallen
Top Radio Songs Artist
Taylor Swift
Top Song Sales Artist
Taylor Swift
Top Billboard Global 200 Artist
Taylor Swift
Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist
Taylor Swift
Top Country Artist
Morgan Wallen
Top Country Male Artist
Morgan Wallen
Top Country Female Artist
Taylor Swift
Top Country Duo/Group
Zac Brown Band
Top Country Touring Artist
Morgan Wallen
Top Billboard 200 Album
Morgan Wallen – One Thing At A Time
Top Country Song
Morgan Wallen – “Last Night”
Top Rock Artist
Zach Bryan
Top Christian Artist
Lauren Daigle
Top Christian Album
Anne Wilson – My Jesus
Top Christian Song
Brandon Lake – “Gratitude”
Top Gospel Song
CeCe Winans – “Goodness of God”
Veeps To Stream Hardy’s Sold-Out Homestate Throwdown Live
/by Lorie HollabaughHardy. Photo: Ryan Smith
Premier streaming platform Veeps will stream Hardy‘s final show of “The Mockingbird & The Crow Tour” and the year at Mississippi Coast Coliseum on Dec. 9, so fans unable to be there in person will be able to catch all the fun.
Veeps will air the show, including Lainey Wilson’s opening performance, live worldwide. Veeps All Access subscribers can access the show for free, and fans can purchase tickets to the livestream on sale now for $19.99. The show will air live on Veeps at approximately 8:10 p.m. CT. The stream will be available for five months after the air date, with a 48-hour rewatch period for individual ticket purchasers. For more information, click here.
Grand Ole Opry To Celebrate Dolly Parton With Second Annual Birthday Show
/by Lorie HollabaughThe one-of-a-kind Opry show will be held at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, and will mark the second show honoring the icon’s birthday. Parton will not appear in-person at the event, however the Opry will feature special guest artists performing their favorite Parton hits, Parton-themed events, photo ops and more. Among those scheduled for the tribute show are Parton fans Ashley Monroe and Tigirlily Gold, with more to be announced soon.
Other celebration plans in honor of the country star’s birthday include treats baked using her Duncan Hines mixes given to Opry House and Ryman tour guests on Jan. 19 (while supplies last); a giant birthday card for fans to sign at the Ryman Auditorium and Opry House; a Parton impersonator on Ryman Plaza for photos during the show, and signature drinks at all Ryman bars.
Beginning today (Nov. 20), five dollars from every ticket sold to the show will be donated to the Opry Trust Fund in Parton’s honor. For more than 50 years, the fund has assisted members of the country music community in need.
Parton’s Rockstar album is available now, and in celebration of the release, The Opry Shop will feature a Rockstar pop-up shop that will run through Jan. 19 featuring Dolly music and merchandise including Rockstar vinyl and CDs, Rockstar themed t-shirts, sweatshirts and more.
Fans can also enter for a chance to “Parton Like A Rockstar” at the Jan. 19 show by visiting Opry.com to complete the sweepstakes registration. In addition to the opportunity to take the Ryman stage during “Opry Goes Dolly” to help lead the audience in singing “Happy Birthday,” the prize includes travel expenses to and from Nashville for two; a two-night hotel stay for two at Noelle Nashville; two tickets to the Jan. 19 show at the Ryman; an exclusive Rockstar album merch pack; and more.
n o t e by Mint House: Nashville’s New High-End Boutique Hospitality
/by Sherod RobertsonThe official Nashville Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony of n o t e by Mint House, officiated by Nashville Mayor, Freddie O’Connell on Nov. 8, 2023 in downtown Nashville. Photo: Mint House
After more than three years of thoughtful restoration and renovation, the 122 year-old building located at 421 Union Street in Nashville, Tennessee has been transformed into a modernist, luxury, loft-suite boutique hotel and now she’s ready for her closeup.
Branded as “n o t e” by Mint House, the rental property was featured in a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 8 with Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Metro Council Members among other city officials followed by a Grand Opening celebration that evening.
This is the first boutique hospitality property in Nashville announced by the Mint House hospitality brand. The tech-enabled flexible living operator offers spacious, premium apartment-style accommodations across the U.S. and in partnership with Historic Restorations, the hospitality brand will operate the residential-style hotel in the heart of Nashville’s Arts District.
Historic Restorations partners include Sound Healthcare owner RJ Stillwell, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, contractor Andrew Eshelman and Patrick Pocklington.
n o t e by Mint House, a 1901 historic renovation in Nashville, Tennessee, showcases apartment-style hotel lofts with soaring 20-foot ceilings, mezzanines, towering historic windows, and private terraces with outside eating and living spaces. Photo: Zeke Ruelas.
Stillwell is a 35-year music veteran (musician, publisher and producer) who founded his healthcare advocacy and insurance organization to help artists, songwriters, musicians and other creative types navigate the healthcare and insurance systems, and also offers financial planning services. His clients include Grammy, CMA, ACM, IBMA and Americana Music Award winners, among members of the Nashville music industry. In 2017, Stillwell architected the first-ever fully insured True Group Health Insurance plan with Voluntary Benefits for Nashville’s musicians and artists, available exclusively through AFM Local 257. Stillwell is known for his involvement in the Boys and Girls clubs of Middle Tennessee and the Victory Fund, among many others.
“We are all excited to have meticulously restored and transformed 421 Union, and we are incredibly proud to partner with the Mint House team to create this one-of-a-kind property where residents and travelers can seamlessly experience Nashville in such an authentic manner,” says Stillwell.
Mraz is a two-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and Songwriters Hall of Fame honoree, most famously known by his hits “I’m Yours” and “I Won’t Give Up.” His non-profit, the Jason Mraz Foundation, supports programs focused on inclusive arts education and the advancement of equality. Established in 2015, Mraz Family Farms is committed to peace in the world through organic regenerative agriculture, fair trade, and kind words. In June, Mraz released his eighth studio album, Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride. He is currently a contestant on Dancing With The Stars.
“Nashville has always been a favorite city of mine. I’ve had many memorable writing and recording sessions there. It’s a town full of talent and creativity,” says Mraz. “So when my friends asked if I might like to be a part of this team creating inviting living spaces for visitors and artists to stay while working and playing here, I was in. I can’t wait for my next Nashville project so I can experience it for myself.”
This transaction marks the fifth Nashville property, including under-development assets, for Mint House—whose real estate footprint has more than doubled nationally in the past two years—and represents a truly unique, high-end boutique hospitality offering.
n o t e by Mint House, a 1901 historic renovation in Nashville, Tennessee, showcases apartment-style hotel lofts with soaring 20-foot ceilings, mezzanines, towering historic windows, and private terraces with outside eating and living spaces. Photo: Zeke Ruelas.
Built in 1901, the 421 Union Street building offers five spacious, lofted units—most including multi-floor living spaces with soaring 20-foot ceilings, mezzanines, towering historic windows, private outside terraces with outside eating and living spaces. Units can be booked for flexible lengths-of-stay. Each residential-style accommodation will be equipped with a full-service kitchen with seating for dining, multiple bedrooms and an ample lounge and workspace that works equally as a comfortable, sophisticated living space and a place to attend and host business meetings.
As with all Mint House properties, the integration of technology for ease (such as the ability to stock your fridge prior to arrival) are paired with design-forward furnishings to make the space feel more like a home than a hotel.
“n o t e by Mint House will be the perfect compliment to Mint House’s growing portfolio of premium, high-end apartment style hospitality accommodations. The two and four-bedroom units are perfect for leisure or business groups, families, and those seeking larger luxury accommodations in Nashville,” says Elizabeth Herzberg Morris, Mint House’s Sr. VP of Development.
The location is in proximity to Printer’s Alley, Ryman Auditorium, Country Music Hall Of Fame, National Museum of African American Music, Lower Broadway and Bridgestone Arena, as well as the rest of Nashville’s vibrant mixed-use nightlife district and thriving music and restaurant scene.
The 421 Union Street building was the original home of both Liberty Bank & Trust and The National Life and Accident Insurance Company (also known as “The National”), which went on to create WSM Radio and the Grand Ole Opry. As part of the restoration and re-imagination of the building, Historic Restorations worked to create living spaces where historic elements, modernism, updated amenities and technology co-exist.
Beloved Writer Abe Stoklasa Passes
/by LB CantrellAbe Stoklasa. Photo: Courtesy of Spirit Music Group
Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Abe Stoklasa passed away on Friday (Nov. 17) of undetermined causes. He was 38.
Stoklasa is the tunesmith behind hit songs such as Chris Lane’s No. 1 “Fix,” Michael Ray’s top 10 hit “Get To You,” Ben Rector’s Platinum hit “Brand New,” Lady A’s “Ocean” and the Grammy-nominated song “The Driver” from Charles Kelly’s solo album as well as Kelly’s beloved “Leaving Nashville.” Stoklasa has also had songs recorded by Lady A, Blake Shelton, Billy Currington, Tim McGraw, Charlie Worsham and many more.
A native of Princeton, Missouri, Stoklasa grew up playing and singing in local bands from the age of six. When he was 14, he and his family moved to Tennessee, and by the time he graduated high school, he knew he wanted to pursue music as his career.
Stoklasa got his undergraduate degree at Belmont University. After a short stint in grad school studying jazz at the Frost School of Music at UMiami, he changed course to be a touring pedal steel and sax player, going out on the road with David Nail and Billy Currington.
He eventually decided to leave the road and write songs full time in 2013 at the age of 26. By 2014, Stoklasa had landed his first cuts with McGraw, Shelton and Lady A.
Since his passing, many co-writers, artists and members of the music community have poured out tributes to Stoklasa, with many noting how talented, intelligent, authentic and hilarious he was.
Memorial arrangements for Stoklasa have not yet been announced.
The Richlynn Group Expands Digital Marketing Team
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L-R): Lea Walker, Molly Lyon and Tyler Phillips
Nashville-based strategic digital marketing and public relations firm, The Richlynn Group, has expanded their Digital Marketing division with Lea Walker, Senior Manager of Digital; Molly Lyon, Account Manager; and Tyler Phillips, Account Coordinator.
Walker is Belmont University graduate with a degree in music business and professional experience from BMI, Innovo Management, Forge Entertainment and more. She has a genuine passion for music, and her expertise spans across multiple aspects of the digital landscape such as music marketing, social media and digital advertising.
Lyon joined the firm as a publicity intern and later became a full-time publicist after graduating from Belmont University with a degree in music business. She is now an Account Manager, shifting roles from Graphic Designer to Publicist to Social Media Coordinator to accommodate her clients’ various needs.
Phillips recently graduated from Georgia Southern University (GSU) with dual degrees in public relations and communication studies. Driven by her early passion for entertainment media and storytelling, she brings a fresh perspective to the field. As Account Coordinator, Phillips serves multiple clients with with a skill set encompassing digital design, writing and social media expertise.
“Developing and implementing intelligent digital strategies for our artists and brands is at the forefront of our campaigns. As we continue to embrace growth in this dynamic space and are thrilled to welcome these three exceptionally talented women to our team,” says Kate Richardson, Richlynn Group Partner.
Industry Ink: LeAnn Rimes, Dylan Scott, Randy Rogers Band, Mackenzie Carpenter
/by LB CantrellLeAnn Rimes To Play ‘One-Night-Only’ Show At The London O2
Grammy Award-winning and multi-Platinum-selling artist LeAnn Rimes will play a special U.K. show at The London O2 during her first on UK soil in six years next spring. Marking the end of Rimes’ “The Story… So Far Tour,” this will be her biggest U.K. show to date on May 8, 2024.
“Performing at London’s O2 Arena is the stuff of dreams, I’m so excited!! I love the U.K. and can’t wait to make my return and reunite with all my fans,” says Rimes. “Come and join me for one special night!”
For more information, click here.
Dylan Scott Celebrates Platinum Certification For ‘Can’t Have Mine’
Pictured (L-R): Curb’s Jeff Tuerff, Curb’s Bryan Stewart, Ciara Shortridge, Mike Curb, Dylan Scott, KP Entertainment’s Kerri Edwards, RIAA’s Jackie Jones, Curb’s RJ Meacham, Benson Curb and Colt Murski
Curb Records’ Dylan Scott recently celebrated his current radio smash, “Can’t Have Mine,” achieving RIAA Platinum certification, marking eight million RIAA-certified units over seven singles and one album.
This is Scott’s fourth RIAA certification this year, with “Can’t Have Mine” recently certified Gold as well as his No. 1 single “New Truck” certified Gold and first No. 1 single “My Girl” certified triple-Platinum.
Randy Rogers Band Raises Over $300,000 At Annual RRB Golf Jam
Randy Rogers & band member. Photo: Brooke Cooper
Texas music mainstays Randy Rogers Band hosted their 14th RRB Golf Jam this fall, after returning last year from a two-year hiatus. This year, the band raised over $300,000 to support Connections Individual and Family Services, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth, connecting families and building futures one youth and one family at a time.
Held Oct. 29 at River Crossing Golf Club in Spring Branch, Texas, this year’s RRB Golf Jam saw concert performances from Lone Star State natives Rogers, Mike Ryan and William Beckmann, while Wade Bowen and William Clark Green popped up for special guest performances. Sponsored by Tito’s Vodka and presented by Bud Light, the golf tournament also hosted a silent and live auction with all proceeds donated to the nonprofit.
“I am so proud to see the continued support from everyone who came out for the 14th annual RRB Golf Jam this year. Our hope is to make as much of an impact as we can here in New Braunfels. Seeing our community come together in this way and help each other is truly inspiring,” Rogers shares.
Mackenzie Carpenter Unveils New Single With Mural In Nashville’s 12 South
Pictured (L-R): The Valory Music Co.’s Ashley Sidoti, Big Machine Label Group’s Macy Kaiser, The Valory Music Co.’s Athena Puharic, Mackenzie Carpenter, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, The Valory Music Co.’s George Briner, Big Machine Label Group’s Quinn Kaemmer, The Valory Music Co.’s Laura Moxley, Big Machine Label Group’s Darielle Schroeder, Big Machine Label Group’s Allison Jones and The Valory Music Co.’s Chris Palmer
Mackenzie Carpenter unveiled her new mural in Nashville’s beloved 12 South neighborhood, in honor of her latest single “Country Girls (Just Wanna Have Fun).”
Carpenter had friends and family spilling in the streets to celebrate, all excited to support the rising star and her Cyndi Lauper-inspired country remake. Painted by Rachyl LaGrone with Murals By Loba, the mural adds another photo op for locals and tourists alike while supporting local businesses and artists.
Visit the mural at 2803 12th Ave. S., Nashville Tennessee 37212.
Cannery Hall To Reopen In January With New Slate Of Shows
/by Lorie HollabaughCannery Hall will reopen in January following the venue’s renovation, becoming one of Nashville’s largest independent music venue.
“We’re cultivating a sanctuary for diverse musical talent and fans alike,” shared Brent Hyams, General Manager of Cannery Hall. “Our eclectic opening lineup is a testament to the breadth of artists we will support, spanning genres from country to pop, and EDM to folk. There’s a stage for every story and a sound for every soul at Cannery Hall.”
Among the lineup for the new year is SunSquabi, Walker & Royce, Chance Peña, Western Dreamland, Tape B, Lilly Hiatt, Logan Halstead and more.
Cannery Hall now offers easy tour bus parking and a new backstage with world-class green room facilities. The major investments to modernize and upgrade Cannery Hall were done thoughtfully to preserve the unique character of the 140-year-old building and highlight Nashville’s musical history. Cannery Hall will host a Grand Opening event in the spring, after the first wave of shows.
Click here to see the Cannery Hall calendar.
Wyatt Flores Shares ‘Life Lessons’ On Latest Project
/by Lorie HollabaughSinger-songwriter Wyatt Flores has released his new project, Life Lessons.
The Stillwater, Oklahoma native navigates the pressure of perfectionism and the beauty of learning from every misstep on the new EP. Throughout the collection, Flores contemplates the price of following dreams, highlights the struggles and importance of mental health and reassures his fan base with the promise that no one is alone.
“Life Lessons is a series of stopping points in the timeline of my early career,” says Flores. “From carefree to caring so much you wind up feeling alone. From being a nobody to being a somebody who you don’t even know. From never moving to holding on by a thread. This is the story of my pursuit of happiness while looking out the rearview.”
Flores has amassed nearly 180 million streams over the last two years, and continues to trek across the country on his “Times Are Getting Hard Tour,” which will hit Denver, Houston, Atlanta, Dallas and two Ryman Auditorium shows opening for Charles Wesley Godwin in Nashville to end 2023.
2. “Life Lessons” (Wyatt Flores, Ben Wagner, Kaitlyn Kilian)
3. “Wildcat” (Wyatt Flores, David DeVaul)
4. “3/13” (Wyatt Flores, Isaac Gibson)
5. “West of Tulsa” (Wyatt Flores, Chris Gelbuda, Billy Montana)
6. “Holes” (Wyatt Flores, Tyler Woodward)
7. “Astronaut” (Wyatt Flores, David DeVaul, Andrew Sevener)