The CMA Foundation has announced the return of its Mentor M.E. program, kicking off Tuesday, March 7 at 6 p.m. CT.
The six-part webinar series aims to equip music educators early in their careers with professional development resources, tools and tips. Each hour-long webinar will feature 20 minutes of content from a guest presenter followed by 20 minutes of dialogue with moderator Franklin Willis, CMA Foundation Director, Community Impact, and 20 minutes of questions from participants.
“Time and time again, as we connect with music teachers across our state, we hear about the need for support and tangible tools needed to help music educators, especially those new to the field, carry out their jobs effectively,” says Tiffany Kerns, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “Mentor M.E. was created to combat that. Our hope is that teachers will not only walk out of this program feeling equipped professionally, but also feeling supported personally by both the CMA Foundation and by their peers. I am thrilled for the program to be returning this year, and I am eager to learn from the incredible speakers we have on board throughout the next several months.”
Webinar Series Subjects:
Fostering Creative Musicians by Building Strong Student/Teacher Relationships
Tuesday, March 7 at 6 p.m. CT
Presented by Lisa Odom, a curriculum specialist and music educator with 33 years of experience creating professional development resources, this webinar will encourage participants to explore strategies that foster strong student-to-teacher relationships and will encourage students to think creatively, build community and hone their musical skills. To register, click here.
What Future Music Educators Need to Be Successful
Tuesday, April 11 at 6 p.m. CT
Hosted by Jesse Cannon, Houston Independent School District Director of Vocal and Elementary Music, former music educator and 2022 CMA Music Teacher of Excellence, session two will explore the resources, support and tactics necessary for music educators to be successful in their classrooms. To register, click here.
Building Identity, Belonging, and Agency Through SEL in Music Education
Tuesday, May 9 at 6 p.m. CT
Presented by Dr. Scott Edgar, a leading researcher, best-selling author and clinician on the subject of Social Emotional Learning (SEL), session three is aimed at making SEL relevant for music teachers and learners at all levels. Building on an understanding of SEL, participants will learn strategies to intentionally embed SEL into all areas of practice, from identity development, to fostering a sense of belonging, to prioritizing student empowerment. To register, click here.
What I Wish I Would Have Known: Reflections of a Music Educator
Tuesday, Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. CT
Hosted by Dr. Loneka Battiste, Assistant Professor of Music Education at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, participants in this session will explore a variety of lessons learned through the years of music education. Drawing on 12 years of experience teaching children in school and community settings, Batiste will guide participants through a collaborative conversation around learning to trust oneself as an educator, embracing the power of one’s background and the power of connecting with students. To register, click here.
Keep on Going: Enjoy Teaching No Matter What
Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. CT
International speaker, saxophonist, author, master development coach for elementary and middle school band directors and self-management-strategist for educators, Mickey Smith Jr. hosts a webinar focused on the power of enjoying teaching. Throughout this session, participants will be encouraged and equipped with the tools to discover their “sound of significance” and “keep on going” with resilience. To register, click here.
How Do I Meet All Their Needs?: Teaching Students with Disabilities in the 21st Century
Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. CT
Classrooms are increasingly diverse, and often have many students with disabilities. While that move toward inclusion is positive, it sometimes leaves teachers wondering how to create meaningful and achievable goals for every student in every class. Hosted by Dr. Alice Hammel, music educator, author and clinician, this session is designed to offer practical tools as teachers seek to meet the needs of each student in classes and ensembles. To register, click here.
Lineup Revealed, Passes On Sale For Tin Pan South 2023
/by LB CantrellThe Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), in partnership with Regions Bank, has announced the lineup and released passes for Tin Pan South, taking place Tuesday, March 28, through Saturday, April 1, 2023.
Now in its 31st year, Tin Pan South will take place over ten stages across Music City, including 3rd & Lindsley, Analog at Hutton Hotel (stage presented by Musicnotes), The Bluebird Cafe (stage presented by Amazon Music), Commodore Grille, Cross-Eyed Critters Watering Hole (stage presented by Tennessee Entertainment Commission), Hard Rock Café Nashville, The Lounge at City Winery (stage presented by Recording Academy Songwriters & Composers Wing), The Listening Room (stage presented by Visit Music City), Live Oak and The Vinyl Lounge (stage presented by Nashville Scene).
The lineup is live on tinpansouth.com. Featuring everyone from Hall of Fame hitmakers to up-and-comers, over 400 songwriters are scheduled to perform.
Passes are $145 for NSAI members and $175 for the general public. There will be a cash line at every show for those looking to attend on an individual basis. Availability will be based on venue capacity and admission is not guaranteed.
ASCAP, BMI and SESAC will all be showcasing their writers on Tuesday night of the festival, and The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum returns with a show of legends on The Amazon Music Stage at The Bluebird Cafe. As previously announced, Austin’s award-winning listening room, The Saxon Pub, is participating in the festival this year as part of an exchange with The Bluebird Cafe and NSAI, and fans surely won’t want to miss the benefit show for The Store at 3rd and Lindsley on Friday.
Additionally, Tin Pan South has started a new partnership with Amazon Music, who has curated the shows at The Bluebird Cafe on March 29. The evening will feature Warner Music Nashville and Amazon Music Breakthrough Artist to Watch, Madeline Edwards, performing with Grammy-nominated songwriter Laura Veltz and other special guest collaborators.
“We’re delighted to work with NSAI to present an incredible evening of music this year, and to be able to curate a lineup of talented songwriters and artists for the iconic Bluebird Cafe stage,” says James Duffett-Smith, Director, Content Acquisition and Global Head of Music Publishing, Amazon Music.
NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison adds, “NSAI is excited to work with Amazon Music for Tin Pan South and is pleased to explore possibilities such as this to benefit the songwriters we serve.”
Passes for Tin Pan South 2023 are available for purchase here.
Megan Moroney Gives A Glimpse Of New Album ‘Lucky’ With Title Track
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto: David McClister
Megan Moroney is set to release her Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records debut album, Lucky, on May 5. The fortune-filled title track is the next taste of the new project, set to debut on March 10.
Co-written by Moroney with Casey Smith, Ben Williams, and David “Messy” Mescon, the Kristian Bush-produced “Lucky” follows her latest hit “I’m Not Pretty.” The top 25-and-climbing at country radio track was recently the No. 1 weekly streamed song by a solo female country artist and has amassed nearly 140 million total global on-demand streams to date.
“After we wrote the title track ‘Lucky,’ I knew I wanted it to be the name of my debut album,” shares Moroney. “If you know anything about me and my story, a lot of things (both good and bad) happened to get me to where I am today, and I just feel very lucky. I couldn’t live out this dream without the support of my fans, family and team. I can’t wait to bring these songs on the road with me this year and I hope everyone loves them as much as I do!”
Kicking off her first headlining “Pistol Made Of Roses Tour” next month, Moroney is also slated to support Brooks & Dunn on their tour this summer.
Alex Kline Signs With Curb | Word Music Publishing
/by Lorie HollabaughAlex Kline. Photo: Sam Frawley
Songwriter and producer Alex Kline has signed with Curb | Word Music Publishing.
Kline smashed the glass ceiling in 2021 when she became the first solo female producer to achieve a No. 1 at country radio as Tenille Arts’ “Somebody Like That” topped the charts. The song, co-penned by Kline, also made country history by becoming the first No. 1 written, produced, and performed by an all-female team.
In addition to Arts, Kline’s credits include songs recorded by Reba, Mitchell Tenpenny, Ronnie Dunn, and Gary Allan, among others, and she also produced and co-wrote upcoming releases with Tigirlily Gold and Tenille Arts featuring Maddie & Tae.
“We are thrilled to welcome Alex to Curb | Word Music Publishing,” shares Curb | Word Music Publishing chairman Mike Curb. “She is a wonderful addition to our accomplished roster, and we look forward to her bright future.”
Kline was a student at Berklee College of Music, and upon graduation in 2008, relocated to Nashville, where she played in several country bands, including The Fireman’s Daughter and The Lunabelles, (with whom she secured a label deal with Sony.) She plays lead guitar, banjo, dobro, mandolin, bass, lap steel, and piano, but soon found that she was more at home in the studio than she was on the road. When The Lunabelles disbanded, she shifted her focus to songwriting and began producing to cut down on rising demo costs. In addition to helming projects for Arts, the California native has also produced music for Adam Brand, Terri Clark, Erin Enderlin, John King, Jordan Rager, Maggie Rose, Tara Thompson and Stephanie Quayle, among others.
In 2021, Kline was nominated for songwriting awards including MusicRow’s Female Songwriter of the Year, and the AIMP Nashville Awards Rising Songwriter of the Year. In 2022, Kline was nominated for the AIMP Nashville Awards Publisher’s Pick for “Over You Is You” recorded by Arts and Matt Stell. Kline currently serves as the Chapter Governor for the Nashville chapter of the Recording Academy.
Kline said, “I’m thrilled to be working with Sarah Schumacher and Ciara Shortridge, who are so incredibly passionate about my music. They have already been instrumental in securing some amazing career wins for me. I am very excited to be starting this next chapter with them and the rest of the Curb | Word team!”
CRS Reveals ‘Team UMG At The Ryman’ Lineup
/by Caela GriffinCountry Radio Seminar (CRS) has announced the lineup for the “Team UMG at the Ryman” luncheon at the historic Ryman Auditorium during CRS 2023.
Taking place on Tuesday, March 14, his year’s lineup includes Kassi Ashton, Boy Named Banjo, Dalton Dover, Caylee Hammack, Tyler Hubbard, Sam Hunt, Vince Gill, Parker McCollum, Kylie Morgan, Catie Offerman, Brothers Osborne, Brad Paisley, Josh Ross, and Darius Rucker.
CRS Executive Director RJ Curtis comments, “UMG Nashville has once again stepped up with a stellar lineup to showcase its artist roster during CRS at one of the greatest music venues, the historic Ryman. This is always a CRS highlight and will be again in 2023.”
Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., with the show kicking off at noon. Attendees can walk or take shuttles provided by UMG Nashville between the Omni Nashville Hotel and the Ryman Auditorium from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lunch will be served in boxed form upon entry at the Ryman before the commencement of performances.
Entry for the luncheon is only available to registered CRS attendees. Registration for CRS 2023 is open and available for purchase here.
Dierks Bentley Slates Plans For ‘Gravel & Gold’ Summer Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughBentley has tapped Jordan Davis as direct support on the dates, with special guests joining throughout, including Elle King, Tracy Lawrence, Tyler Braden, Caylee Hammack, Hot Country Knights, Kameron Marlowe, The Cadillac Three, The Red Clay Strays, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Shane Smith & the Saints, Caitlyn Smith and Hailey Whitters.
The tour will visit Detroit, Charlotte, Chicago, Lake Tahoe, Albuquerque, Tampa and more through Aug. 26, and tickets will be available beginning with fan club pre-sales Tuesday, March 7. Tickets will available to the public starting next Friday, March 10 at Dierks.com.
“I’ve been waiting as patiently as possible for the time when we could tell our fans about this tour and I’m happy the moment has arrived,” says Bentley. “With new music, a whole new set and vibe along with incredible musicians and singers to share the stage with.…I can honestly say I think this will be our best tour ever. Jordan Davis and I have been talking about touring for a long time and he’s just killing. Not to mention the list of artists that we will be touring with is so exciting for me as a fan of all their music. I will be side stage every night taking it all in alongside the fans on this ‘Gravel & Gold Tour.'”
“Gravel & Gold Tour” Dates:
6/01 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
6/02 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
6/03 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
6/04 – Madison, IL – NASCAR Cup Series Race
6/16 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
6/17 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
6/22 – Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion
6/24 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
7/08 – Chicago, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7/09 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center
7/13 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
7/14 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
7/15 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
7/21 – Camdenton, MO – Ozarks Amphitheater
7/27 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
7/28 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
7/29 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
8/03 – Corning, CA – Rolling Hills Casino
8/04 – Lake Tahoe, NV – Harveys Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena
8/10 – Boise, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
8/11 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
8/12 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
8/17 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
8/18 – San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
8/19 – Palm Springs, CA – Acrisure Arena
8/24 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
8/25 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
8/26 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
CMA Foundation’s Mentor M.E. Program Returns With Six-Part Webinar Series
/by Lorie HollabaughThe six-part webinar series aims to equip music educators early in their careers with professional development resources, tools and tips. Each hour-long webinar will feature 20 minutes of content from a guest presenter followed by 20 minutes of dialogue with moderator Franklin Willis, CMA Foundation Director, Community Impact, and 20 minutes of questions from participants.
“Time and time again, as we connect with music teachers across our state, we hear about the need for support and tangible tools needed to help music educators, especially those new to the field, carry out their jobs effectively,” says Tiffany Kerns, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “Mentor M.E. was created to combat that. Our hope is that teachers will not only walk out of this program feeling equipped professionally, but also feeling supported personally by both the CMA Foundation and by their peers. I am thrilled for the program to be returning this year, and I am eager to learn from the incredible speakers we have on board throughout the next several months.”
Webinar Series Subjects:
Fostering Creative Musicians by Building Strong Student/Teacher Relationships
Tuesday, March 7 at 6 p.m. CT
Presented by Lisa Odom, a curriculum specialist and music educator with 33 years of experience creating professional development resources, this webinar will encourage participants to explore strategies that foster strong student-to-teacher relationships and will encourage students to think creatively, build community and hone their musical skills. To register, click here.
What Future Music Educators Need to Be Successful
Tuesday, April 11 at 6 p.m. CT
Hosted by Jesse Cannon, Houston Independent School District Director of Vocal and Elementary Music, former music educator and 2022 CMA Music Teacher of Excellence, session two will explore the resources, support and tactics necessary for music educators to be successful in their classrooms. To register, click here.
Building Identity, Belonging, and Agency Through SEL in Music Education
Tuesday, May 9 at 6 p.m. CT
Presented by Dr. Scott Edgar, a leading researcher, best-selling author and clinician on the subject of Social Emotional Learning (SEL), session three is aimed at making SEL relevant for music teachers and learners at all levels. Building on an understanding of SEL, participants will learn strategies to intentionally embed SEL into all areas of practice, from identity development, to fostering a sense of belonging, to prioritizing student empowerment. To register, click here.
What I Wish I Would Have Known: Reflections of a Music Educator
Tuesday, Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. CT
Hosted by Dr. Loneka Battiste, Assistant Professor of Music Education at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, participants in this session will explore a variety of lessons learned through the years of music education. Drawing on 12 years of experience teaching children in school and community settings, Batiste will guide participants through a collaborative conversation around learning to trust oneself as an educator, embracing the power of one’s background and the power of connecting with students. To register, click here.
Keep on Going: Enjoy Teaching No Matter What
Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. CT
International speaker, saxophonist, author, master development coach for elementary and middle school band directors and self-management-strategist for educators, Mickey Smith Jr. hosts a webinar focused on the power of enjoying teaching. Throughout this session, participants will be encouraged and equipped with the tools to discover their “sound of significance” and “keep on going” with resilience. To register, click here.
How Do I Meet All Their Needs?: Teaching Students with Disabilities in the 21st Century
Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. CT
Classrooms are increasingly diverse, and often have many students with disabilities. While that move toward inclusion is positive, it sometimes leaves teachers wondering how to create meaningful and achievable goals for every student in every class. Hosted by Dr. Alice Hammel, music educator, author and clinician, this session is designed to offer practical tools as teachers seek to meet the needs of each student in classes and ensembles. To register, click here.
Morgan Wallen Returns To Hometown High School For Surprise Spotify Show
/by Lorie HollabaughMorgan Wallen with the Spotify Nashville and Big Loud teams
Morgan Wallen returned to his alma mater in Sneedville, Tennessee on Thursday (March 2) to perform a surprise show for the Gibbs High School 2023 senior class, faculty, the baseball team and other locals.
Brought to students by Spotify, Wallen performed an hour+ set including eight new songs from his new mega-album One Thing At A Time, out now. Guests could create their own Gibbs High School baseball card to commemorate the evening, write letters on album-themed postcards and participate in other games and activities all housed on the field so much of Wallen’s teamsmanship stems from.
The event also included a surprise presentation of a 2021 championship ring by baseball coach Geff Davis, and Wallen had his parents, son and both grandmothers in the crowd, making the evening that much more special.
“This is so cool. There are a lot of special people here,” said Wallen. “Having graduated in 2011, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel coming back—but this place will always hold a special place in my heart.”
“The impact that Morgan has had on both the country genre and Spotify is undeniable. He is one of the most streamed artists on our platform, and we are thrilled to celebrate his new album with a deeply personal event in his hometown,” shared Brittany Schaffer, Spotify Head of Nashville Label Partnerships, Music Strategy. “We cannot wait to watch fans connect with his new music in person and on our platform once the record comes out this week.”
In a night filled with surprises, Wallen topped them all, presenting a $35,000 check on behalf of the Morgan Wallen Foundation to provide instruments for the school’s students.
Morgan Wallen. Photo: Happy Monday
“I started the Morgan Wallen Foundation about a year ago—It combines my love of sports and music. Without those two things I don’t know where I’d be, I don’t know what my life would look like. I know it would look a lot different, so that’s what I’m going to try to do—give back to those two areas, as well as communities in need. That’s our focus,” Wallen shared. “We wanted to say thank you tonight and help you out with a couple things, so we wrote a $35,000 check. It’s going to go towards instruments for the choral department, instruments for the band department and then for baseball—a new field cart—so we can help get this field back in shape after y’all trampled on it tonight.”
The Morgan Wallen Foundation provides opportunities for children to thrive by creating access to music and sports. MWF supports programs that share its core belief that Every Child Deserves A Chance to thrive, play and create and is also dedicated to being there for communities in times of need, whether offering a helping hand during natural disasters with urgently needed supplies or turning concert parking lots into food distribution centers providing bags of groceries to food insecure families.
Wallen has remained true to his roots throughout his career, and his pride in his hometown has played an integral role in songs like “More Than My Hometown” and “Tennessee Fan.” He will host another free-to-fans show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena tonight (March 3). The at-capacity celebration distributed every ticket available in just 3 hours and 5 minutes, with fans lining up for blocks around the downtown arena yesterday upon hearing the announcement.
Bailey Zimmerman Earns Second No. 1 On MusicRow Radio Chart
/by LB CantrellBailey Zimmerman. Photo: Spidey Smith
Bailey Zimmerman tops the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart for the second time with “Rock and A Hard Place.”
The tune was written by Heath Warren, Jacob Hackworth and Jet Harvey, and appears on Zimmerman’s first full-length release, Leave The Light On. The project became the most-streamed all-genre debut of 2022 upon release as well as the biggest streaming country debut of all time.
Having earned more than 1.4 billion career streams to date, Zimmerman ranked as Billboard’s 2022 No. 2 Top New Country Artist and No. 4 Top New Artist across all genres. He was the only country artist in 2022 to receive two Platinum certifications from the RIAA, beginning with his No. 1 debut single “Fall In Love,” the fastest debut single to reach No. 1 at country radio since 2015.
Click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
Country Radio Seminar Announces BMLG Luncheon Lineup for 2023
/by Caela GriffinCountry Radio Seminar (CRS) has announced the lineup for the Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) luncheon, scheduled for March 15, during CRS 2023.
Eight of BMLG’s artists will take the stage in the Broadway Ballroom at Omni Nashville. This year’s lineup includes Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore, Chris Janson, Riley Green, Danielle Bradbery, Conner Smith, Shane Profitt and Mackenzie Carpenter.
“The goal has always been to create a CRS ‘must-see’ event and, over the years, our artists have made it just that,” says Scott Borchetta, BMLG Chairman & CEO. “There have been so many unforgettable memories on the BMLG CRS stage and this year will be no exception—it is certainly one you won’t want to miss!”
Entry for the luncheon is only available to registered CRS attendees. Registration for CRS 2023 is open and available for purchase here.
UMG Nashville & Universal Music Canada Join Forces To Sign Josh Ross
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L-R): The Core’s Chief Zaruk, Mackenzie Woodson and Tracy Martin, Universal Music Canada’s Jeffrey Remedios, UMG Nashville’s Cindy Mabe, Josh Ross, The Core’s Simon Tikhman and Universal Music Canada’s Amanda Kingsland.
Universal Music Group Nashville has joined forces with Universal Music Canada to sign country artist Josh Ross. The Waterdown, Ontario native is already an established hitmaker in his home country with back-to-back top 5 singles at Canadian country radio.
Ross was recently named one of Spotify’s Hot Country Artists To Watch and kicked off the year by releasing of his track “Trouble,” which was featured in an episode of the television series Welcome To Flatch, airing on both Fox and Hulu.
He celebrated “Trouble” debut by joining Bailey Zimmerman for three sold-out shows Jan. 5 – 7. Ross will continue to hit the road in the coming months, joining Lee Brice and Tenille Arts on the “Beer Drinking Opportunity Tour” in April as well as Brantley Gilbert and Nickelback on the “2023 Get Rollin’ Tour,” starting this summer. He is managed by The Core Entertainment and booked by The Neal Agency.
“Josh is such a gifted songwriter with so much depth,” shares Cindy Mabe, President, UMG Nashville. “He’s made Nashville his home so he could hone his songwriting skills and has elevated his art and his fan base in a short period of time. Josh found country music through Steve Earle, and songwriting has followed him throughout his life. We are honored to get to work with Josh Ross, The Core and Universal Music Canada to take Josh’s music around the world.”
“For a long time, we’ve wanted to partner with Cindy and the world class team at UMG Nashville – but it needed to be with the right artist. That artist is Josh Ross—one of the most promising voices in country music today,” says Jeffrey Remedios, Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Canada. “Josh is at once a phenomenal songwriter and magnetic performer who captures the hearts of fans with every song and every performance.”