Pictured (L-R): Lance Roberts, Chandler Thurston (Anthem Creative Director), Noah Dewey (Anthem VP of Creative), Kelly Janson, Chris Janson, Courtney Crist (Anthem Sr. Creative Director), Maddie Sanderson, Gracie Glass (Anthem Creative Coordinator) and Tom Lord

Anthem Entertainment has extended its publishing deal with multi-Platinum artist and songwriter Chris Janson, continuing the relationship the two started in 2016.

Janson just released his first album since signing with Big Machine Label Group, The Outlaw Side of Me. The project includes current single “All I Need Is You,” which is nearing the top 20 on the charts, and focus track “21 Forever,” which features Dolly Parton and Slash.

Janson’s first hit came in 2015, with the extremely popular track “Buy Me a Boat,” which peaked at No. 3 on the Country Airplay Chart and No. 1 on Mediabase, and has gone four-time Platinum since its release. Other songs that have recently earned Platinum certifications include “Good Vibes,” “Drunk Girl” and “Fix a Drink.” Janson has also celebrated two more No. 1 hits with “Good Vibes” and other 2019 single “Done,” with both songs also achieving RIAA Gold status.

“We are excited to continue and expand our co-publishing venture with Chris Janson,” says Gilles Godard, President of Anthem Music Publishing Nashville. “He is truly an amazing and innovative writer, who knows how to reach his audience by keeping it real and telling the truth with every lyric and every melody. We look forward to celebrating many more hits together!”

“Chris Janson is the real deal, period,” adds Noah Dewey, VP of Creative for Anthem Music Publishing Nashville. “He’s the quintessential country artist and one of the best entertainers in the business. It’s a privilege to work with him and his wife Kelly, on our continuing partnership at Anthem Entertainment.”

WMBA Host ‘Mindset Matters’ Mental Health Workshop & Panel

Pictured (L-R): WMBA’s Mackenzie Adkins, Taylor Baird and Aura Guadagno; Founder and CEO Of The Music Health Alliance Tatum Allsep; Co-Founders Of The Mental Health Initiative Jessie Louverture and Lauren Conklin; Founder Of Tina Marie Manifestation Tina Marie Sanders; WMBA’s Katharine Poole, Virginia P. Brick and Alyssa Hoffman

The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) held a public event for the Nashville community focused on empowering mental wellness last month at the Hilton Green Hills.

Katharine Poole from MRow Network moderated the “Mindset Matters” mental health workshop and panel that featured Tatum Allsep, Founder and CEO of Music Health Alliance; Lauren Conklin and Jessie Louverture, co-founders of the Mental Health Initiative; and Tina Marie Sanders, founder of Tina Marie Manifestation. These wellness ambassadors shared personal stories with their medical and mental health experiences, which led to creating organizations that provide awareness, access to financial resources, tools to manage mental health and communities that support that journey.

“Mental Wellness is extremely important for me as I have been on my own mental health journey for decades. It’s my responsibility as a leader to create safe spaces like this so that conversations can happen,” shares WMBA’s President Virginia P. Brick. “For me, I got to witness people just showing up for themselves. But hearing them express the event made them feel seen and heard while leaving with tangible resources of hope. That’s impact. It was an incredible event.”

Expanding on WMBA’s wellness vision, the “Mindset Matters” mental health panel will be featured on MRow Network Salutary Row podcast. This special edition episode will be available July 1, 2023, and highlights Salutary Row Host KW Poole’s interviews with empowering women of mental health advocacy at the inaugural event.

Major Bob Celebrates Ben Williams As ‘Tennessee Orange’ Hits No. 1

Pictured (L-R): Graham Kothman (Creative Director), Ben Williams, Andy Friday (Head of Creative), Bob Doyle (Owner/President)

Major Bob Music is celebrating songwriter Ben Williams as the fan-favorite “Tennessee Orange” tops the charts. Williams co-wrote the track with Megan Moroney, Paul Jenkins and David Fanning.

Bob Doyle, Owner and President of Major Bob Music, presented Williams with a plaque commemorating the success with Graham Kothman and Andy Friday, Major Bob’s Creative Director and Head of Creative, respectively.

CMHOF & Nashville Public Library Honor 10 Years of ‘String City’

Pictured (L-R): Terri Luke, NPL’s Interim Dir., Asst. Dir. for Branch Services; Linda Harrison, NPL’s Asst. Dir. for Education and Literacy; Lisa Purcell, the museum’s EVP of External Affairs; Steve Turner, the museum’s Chairman Emeritus; Donna Nicely, former Dir. of NPL and former Chair of the Education Council at the museum; Jay Turner, Board Member at the museum; and Bret Wilson, Wishing Chair Productions Program Manager

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Nashville Public Library (NPL) celebrated the 10th anniversary of String City: Nashville’s Tradition of Music and Puppetry with the debut of several new additions to the performance.

String City is an exciting story of country music’s evolving history told through nearly 100 puppets ranging from DeFord Bailey to Johnny Cash to Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift. Marionettes, rod puppetry, animation and an ever-changing set tell the story of the genre as it relates to Nashville’s transformation into Music City.

New additions to the family friendly program include representations Kane Brown, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker and Chris Stapleton. The museum’s Executive Vice President of External Affairs Lisa Purcell and the library’s Assistant Director for Education and Literacy Linda Harrison spoke at the performance in the museum’s Ford Theater, unveiling the new additions and acknowledging the anniversary of the long-running show and collaboration.

String City: Nashville’s Tradition of Music and Puppetry is created and presented by the Library’s Wishing Chair Productions in collaboration with the museum. The production was made possible in part by a special gift from Steve Turner, the museum’s Chairman Emeritus, and his wife Judy to the Nashville Public Library Foundation.

Gary Sinise Accepts Charlie Daniels Patriot Award

Pictured (L-R): David Corlew, Gary Sinise, Joel Pruitt. Photo Credit: Erick Anderson / eafoto

Famed actor Gary Sinise, best known for his acclaimed role as Lt. Dan alongside Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump, has formally accepted the Charlie Daniels Patriot Award. Longtime manager of the late Daniels, David Corlew, co-founded The Charlie Daniels Journey Hone Project (TCDJHP) and presented Sinise the award with Joel Pruitt, a Green Beret combat veteran and recipient of last year’s honor.

“I am honored to receive this award from Charlie Daniels, in his name,” says Sinise. “To receive an award in his name is a blessing, a privilege, an honor. Why did I get so lucky?”

“Gary Sinise has set the ‘high water mark’ in support for our vets,” explains Corlew. “Foundations and support groups can learn so much from this guy. Besides creating an incredible bed of work in the film and entertainment industry, he has utilized it to broaden the reach for all of us, a wonderful example of selfless service. Simply put, he cares, and so do we. Charlie would be very proud that we made this happen.”

In 2022, TCDJHP raised over one million dollars for our nation’s veterans, marking the organization’s most successful year to date. Today the non-profit continues Daniels’ patriotic mission with multiple yearly events, including the Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards, TCDJHP’s biggest fundraiser. This fall, the special dinner event will enter its fifth year with formal details to be announced in the coming weeks.

Touring Career Workshop Brought Free Counseling To Bonnaroo

TCW’s registration tent in Bonnaroo’s Artist Village. Counseling sessions were held in the trailer on the right.

Touring Career Workshop (TCW), a Nashville-based nonprofit designed to serve the touring music industry, provided confidential mental health counseling sessions free of charge to all artists, bands, crews and staffs at this year’s Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.

As part of their All Access program, counselors were available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for each of the festival’s four show days, allowing folks to check in on topics including work, relationships and family issues.

“Festival sites can be busy, chaotic places and we wanted to have a resource like this available for anyone in need,” says Chris Lisle, TCW Co-Founder. “We are grateful to C3 Presents and, especially, Brandon Sossamon, their Director of Production—and a TCW board member—for his support in pulling this all together.”

Since its inception, TCW’s All Access program has paid for over 250 counseling sessions for those in need, offering four sessions with one of several pre-approved therapists and life coaches that are handled in total confidentiality.

MTSU Students Help Produce 30 Bonnaroo Concerts For Hulu

About 50 students and faculty from MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment worked this year’s Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Photo: James Cessna.

At this year’s Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, about 50 students and faculty from Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Media and Entertainment worked in live television production and content creation for 30 performances that will be featured on Hulu.

MTSU’s long-time partnership with the iconic four-day music event began in 2014. The partnership allowed students to capture images and sound from more than 35% of the concerts at this year’s Bonnaroo. Over the first two days of the festival, Hulu streamed 30 stage performances that MTSU produced, 27 of which were student-directed.

“Our production efforts at Bonnaroo are as ‘real world’ as it can get,” says Bob Gordon, an Associate Professor of Media Arts and the college’s Live Production Degree Coordinator.

Students from MTSU’s School of Journalism and Strategic Media filed daily stories and photos for Sidelines, the university’s student news operation; Seigenthaler News Service; and the MTSU Student Voice. Also, photography students roamed the festival grounds for visual stories.

“We are doing more with Bonnaroo this year than ever,” says Beverly Keel, Dean of MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment. “The work they create will be the highlight of their collegiate portfolios and the memories they create will last a lifetime.”

Toby with OK Kids Korral alumni parent Travis at 19th Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic

The 19th annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic in Oklahoma June 2 and 3 raised a record $1.8 million for Keith’s OK Kids Korral.

Toby Keith with $10,000 shootout winner Pete Penner

This year’s successful event brings its all-in total to almost $18 million in support of the OK Kids Korral, the cost-free home for families of children battling cancer.

The Saturday golf tournament (June 3) featured 55 teams and celebrated the morning winners Isa Camall, Joe Lemeux, Lane Wallace, Mark Moore and Ben Hayes. Afternoon tournament winners were Ryan Sparkman, Harvey Sparkman, Drew Goodman, Carson Sparkman and Evan Sparkman. The $10,000 shootout winner was Pete Penner.

The event’s high-water mark was driven by record-setting auction items from the Sawyer Brown-headlined, denim and diamonds-themed dinner Friday (June 2) that was attended by more than 750 people.

Among the top bids were:

– Guitar signed by Taylor Swift: $120,000
– Fishing trip with Toby Keith and Jimmy Houston: $80,000
– Dinner with Toby Keith: $70,000
– Game of Thrones trip to Croatia & Spain: $20,000 (11 were sold)
– Guitar donated by Country Countdown USA’s Lon Helton: $44,000
– Signatures from Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Kane Brown, Parker McCollum, Cole Swindell, Jordan Davis, Brantley Gilbert, Russell Dickerson, Brett Young, Ingrid Andress, Maren Morris, Luke Bryan and Jelly Roll.