Shaina Botwin. Photo: Noah Needleman

In the two years since the company was relaunched by industry veteran Joe Fisher, Boom Music Group has rebuilt an impressive presence on Music Row.

With a roster that includes Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins, Jimmy Robbins, Matt McGinn, Erin Kinsey, James Barker, Micah Carpenter, Jacob Hackworth and Billy Dawson, Boom has celebrated multiple chart-toppers and hit singles.

When relaunching the company in 2021, Fisher tapped rising music publisher Shaina Botwin to help lead the charge. Two years in, Botwin has now been promoted to Vice President of the company.

“I knew Shaina was a great song person who had great relationships with songwriters as well as the music community, but her ability to identify talent, develop songwriters and put them in the best position for success is what makes her exceptional,” shares Fisher, Founder of Boom Music Group.

Botwin came to Boom from Creative Nation, where she rose from Creative Coordinator to Creative Manager, and worked hands on with some of Nashville’s most prolific songwriters. Prior to Creative Nation, Botwin spent time at BBR Music Group.

In just two years, the Boom team has secured cuts with Morgan Wallen, Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Dan + Shay, Bailey Zimmerman, Megan Moroney, Maren Morris, Jake Owen, Tyler Hubbard, Dierks Bentley, Dustin Lynch, Cole Swindell, Brett Young and more. In 2023 alone, the company has had over 120 cuts, more than 85 releases and 12 radio singles across country, rock, pop and R&B.

Boom songwriters have celebrated the success of Zimmerman’s “Rock And A Hard Place,” Moroney’s “I’m Not Pretty,” Young’s “Dance With You” and Dan + Shay’s “Save Me The Trouble.” In addition to several No. 1 hits in Canada, Boom notched a 2-week rock No. 1 with Staind‘s “Lowest In Me.”

Botwin says, “I don’t think Joe or I could’ve anticipated how quickly Boom would grow from the jump, but I’m incredibly proud of the roster and team we have built in two short years. We now have nine incredible songwriters and every single one of them is out there getting cuts and activity. We’ve got a great thing going and I’m just proud to be along for the ride.”

When looking towards the future, Fisher and Botwin are enthusiastic about the new class of rising artists and songwriters.

“I always have my ear to the ground for exciting new writers and opportunities, so a few exciting things in the works on the deal front,” Botwin says. “We are lucky to work with some legendary hit writers, but I’m especially proud of our new guys making waves right now. Micah Carpenter has Megan Moroney’s new single ‘I’m Not Pretty’ and Jacob Hackworth just came off the 6 week No. 1 ‘Rock And A Hard Place’ and has a lot of really amazing cuts coming down the pipeline.”

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is celebrating Hank Williams’ 100th birthday with “Hank’s 100th: A Concert in Celebration of Hank Williams,” presented by Spotify on Sept. 21.

The concert in the museum’s CMA Theater will feature interpretations of Williams’ classics in various styles from Suzy Bogguss, Laura Cantrell, Rodney Crowell, Della Mae, S.G. Goodman, Brennen Leigh, Delbert McClinton, Chuck Mead and Wendy Moten, as well as Hank Williams’ grandchildren Hilary Williams, Holly Williams and Sam Williams, and Country Music Hall of Fame members Charlie McCoy and Connie Smith.

Chris Scruggs will lead the house band for the evening, which will include Billy Contreras, Wes L’Anglois, Jared Manzo and Kenny Vaughan. The show will be presented by Spotify in partnership with the Americana Music Association.

The program is included with AmericanaFest conference registration or museum admission and is free to museum members. A Happy 100th birthday Hank Sr. playlist is now available on Spotify.

Country Music Hall of Fame member Hank Williams scored more than 30 hits in his brief career, including “Hey, Good Lookin’,” “Jambalaya” and “Lovesick Blues,” and wrote many songs now considered country standards. Tony Bennett’s 1951 pop cover of “Cold, Cold Heart” showed the crossover potential of Williams’ songwriting, and over the past seven decades, his music has been recorded by artists in nearly every genre.

Matt Signore presenting Al Andrews with the inaugural Founder’s Award during Porter’s Call’s 14th annual “Evening of Stories.” Photo: Courtesy of Jeremy Poland for Scott Parker Creative

Porter’s Call, the nonprofit dedicated to providing counsel, support and encouragement to artists and their families, held their 14th annual “Evening of Stories” last week at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts.

The fundraiser included stories shared by Porter’s Call Founder & Executive Director Al Andrews as well as best-selling author, inspirational speaker, professor and principal tubist Dr. Richard Antoine White. Drew Holcomb, Lucie Silvas, Brandon Heath and Paramore also provided stories in addition to musical performances.

To end the night, the Porter’s Call team surprised Andrews by presenting him with the inaugural Founder’s Award. With words from Porters and Co-Directors Beth Barcus and Chad Karger along with Porter’s Call Board Chair Matt Signore, Andrews was recognized for his tireless work over the past two decades.

By opening the organization’s doors in 2001, he addressed the artist community’s need for something other than the traditional approach to standard counseling practice, offering a confidential environment that is a safe, loving, and free place to be honest, discover truth and simply exhale and find rest. With the inaugural award, the team collectively wanted “…to honor the qualities that embody the DNA of Porter’s Call; to encourage and celebrate the people we see who are guiding artists and those around them in the music industry with our shared heartbeat. We can’t think of a better person to receive the honor of this inaugural award than Porter’s Call’s Founder, Al Andrews.”

Andrews will retire from his role and Barcus and Karger will take over as Co-Executive Directors in May of 2024.