Bobby Bones. Photo: Robby Klein

Award-winning radio personality Bobby Bones, host of the hit national country radio program The Bobby Bones Show, has renewed his relationship with iHeartMedia.

Reaching nearly 10 million people monthly with The Bobby Bones Show and Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones, while collecting over seven million monthly downloads of his morning show podcast, Bones will continue his current role as host of both radio programs as well as his popular BobbyCast podcast.

Bones will also remain Vice President, Creative Director of iHeartCountry, the largest country radio group in America, which reaches more than 100 million country listeners every month. In this role, he will continue working with iHeartMedia on a variety of joint ventures and new creative programming initiatives, participating in iHeartMedia’s marquee live events such as the iHeartRadio Music Festival and the iHeartRadio Music Awards and hosting the iHeartCountry Festival.

Originating from iHeartRadio’s WSIX in Nashville, The Bobby Bones Show is nationally syndicated by Premiere Networks on 200 radio stations across the United States and Canada, in addition to airing on the iHeartRadio app. Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones is heard on nearly 240 stations in North America and the United Kingdom.

“Country music continues to be an enormously popular force in radio for listeners, and we’re thrilled to extend our relationship with one of the top personalities in the genre,” says Bob Pittman, iHeartMedia Chairman & CEO. “Bobby brings a captivating blend of talent, knowledge, humor and relatability that makes him one of the best voices on air, driving incredible results for our advertising and partners. We’re proud to partner with Bobby to create even more unforgettable opportunities for our loyal and growing country music audience.”

“This year marks a career milestone of 10 years of The Bobby Bones Show in Nashville,” says Bones. “I’m proud of what we’ve built over the last decade and I’m looking forward to extending this partnership and having continued success together.”

Autumn Ledgin & Elizabeth Cook. Photos: Anna Schaeffer

Back Blocks Music has added Autumn Ledgin as Sr. Director, A&R and Elizabeth Cook as Creative Coordinator.

The Nashville-based publishing and artist development company, founded and helmed by Rakiyah Marshall, boasts a roster of Ashley Cooke, Blake Pendergrass, Lily Rose and Tucker Wetmore.

Ledgin brings with her significant entertainment industry experience. In her new role, she will oversee all publishing and artist development efforts for Back Blocks Music, working closely with the entire roster and scouting new talent. A former NCAA Division 1 student-athlete and civil engineering major, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduate’s journey began in 2018 at Good Company Entertainment (GCE) as their first employee. During her tenure at GCE, the Boca Raton native played a vital role as day-to-day manager for the company’s roster including Jake Owen and Larry Fleet. Her passion led her to thrive as an internal A&R creative, while serving as a Board member and Planning Coordinator for the Jake Owen Foundation.

Cook joins the company as a senior at Belmont University. The songwriting major has previously spent time at Creative Nation and King Pen as an intern, and will now support the Back Blocks Music team as Creative Coordinator. The Nashville native will be responsible for catalog management, calendars and office management, while acting as an executive assistant to Marshall.

“I’m incredibly proud to expand the team at Back Blocks Music,” Marshall shares. “Autumn and Elizabeth both bring a wide range of valuable skill sets to the table. Their relationships and experience really feel like the missing puzzle pieces to our growing company. I’m thrilled to have their support, passion and drive to continue championing our roster of artists and songwriters.”

Ledgin can be reach at autumn@backblocksmusic.com, and Cook can be reached at elizabeth@backblocksmusic.com.

Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) has announced their 2023-2024 Board of Directors, which consists of prominent industry professionals who are equipped to drive the success of Country Radio Seminar (CRS).

Kurt Johnson (Townsquare Media) will return as President alongside John Shomby (Backstage Country/Country’s Radio Coach), who will return as Vice President, and Beverlee Brannigan (“A Coach For Creators”), who is set to return as Secretary.

The upcoming Board of Directors is made up of both elected and appointed members. Those serving include Kurt Johnson, Shomby, Brannigan, Chuck Aly (Country Aircheck), Justin Chase (Beasley Media Group), Gator Harrison (iHeartMedia), Mike Harris (UMG Nashville), Debra Herman (Apple Music), Clay Hunnicutt (BMLG), Kenny Jay (Albright & O’Malley & Brenner), Jennifer Johnson (Riser House), Jon Loba (BMG Nashville), Rod Phillips (iHeartMedia), Kelly Rich (Red Street Records) and Tim Roberts (Audacy).

Among those continuing their terms this year are Becky Brenner (Albright & O’Malley & Brenner), Johnny Chiang (SiriusXM/Pandora), George Couri (Triple 8 Management/Triple Tigers), Steve Hodges (Sony Music Nashville), Michelle Kammerer (Amazon Music), Mike McVay (McVay Media), RJ Meacham (Curb Records), Brent Michaels (KUZZ), Charlie Morgan (Apple Music), Joel Raab (Joel Raab Country Radio & Media), Bob Richards (TuneIn/Sevens Radio Network), Royce Risser, Lesly Simon, Matt Sunshine (The Center for Sales Strategy) and Kristen Williams (Warner Music Nashville).

“As we embark on this new Board term, I’m honored to lead a dedicated group of professionals who are committed to advancing the country music landscape. Together, we will continue to strengthen the bond between country radio and the music industry,” states Kurt Johnson.

CRS 2024 will take place Feb. 28–March 1.

AmericanaFest has revealed the full 2023 schedule online and on their mobile app, including numerous new showcases, panels and special events available Sept. 19-23. Presented by the Americana Music Association, AmericanaFest will take place in 48 venues across Nashville, with more than 2,020 artists and bands set to perform at the nearly 300 events for attendees.

This year’s event schedule includes the Business Conference with over 70 panels, such as “Songwriters Round: Three Voices, Three Instruments,” “Americana Proud: A Voice for All,” “Want Symphonic: Rufus Wainwright with the Nashville Symphony,” “The Pitch Meeting,” “NMAAM Songwriters Rounds,” “AmericanaFest at The Bluebird Café,” “Musicians Corner,” “Relix & Dayglo Present AmericanaFest at Brooklyn Bowl” and “Muscle Shoals in the 21st Century: Ten Years of Single Lock Records.”

2023 Americana Festival Passes are now on sale to the public at $149. Festival Passes allow admission into all evening showcase venues and select sanctioned special events. Conference+Festival Passes are currently on sale at the rate of $499 ($399 for Americana Music Association Members). Conference+Festival Pass rates increase to $549 for all attendees on Sept. 1.

Pictured (L-R): Austen Adams (COO, Big Loud), ERNEST, Rhys Rutherford, Michael Giangreco (VP of A&R, Big Loud Publishing), Kimberly Gleason (SVP, Big Loud Publishing)

Hit singer-songwriter Ernest has signed rising tunesmith Rhys Rutherford to his publishing venture, ERN’s Cadillac Music and Big Loud.

Rhys was raised on the music of Tim McGraw, John Prine and Kris Kristofferson, as well as a mix of ’60s and ’70s rock. His father is Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Rivers Rutherford. When Rhys decided to pursue music himself, he began to write songs and started a cover band with his friends.

After two semesters of college at Ole Miss, he moved back home to Nashville to dive head first into writing full time. After Rhys posted a cover of Ernest’s song “Feet Wanna Run” on social media, the breakout country star took notice of the talent, which led to his publishing deal. Since signing in March, Rhys has earned his first major label cut with Bailey Zimmerman’s “Is This Really Over?” from his record-breaking album Religiously. The Album.