The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the historic Ryman Auditorium are gearing up for the inaugural “Rock The Ryman” concert happening March 1. The two recently announced that performers Little Big Town, Caitlyn Smith, and The Cadillac Three have joined the lineup that already includes The War and Treaty, Gavin DeGraw, Maddie & Tae, and Charlie Worsham. Worsham will also host the evening.

Little Big Town are on an arena tour bringing their tight harmonies to audiences across the country. The hitmakers are excited to pay homage to their icons and inspirations on stage at the Ryman.

“The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Ryman hold so much music and so much history, it’s exciting to be part of bringing these places together for one special night. So many of the Rock Hall members are the soundtrack of everyone’s life,” shares LBT’s Karen Fairchild.

Smith is a genre-defying artist in her own rite, having written for Miley Cyrus, Aviici, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, as well as the No. 1 “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” for Meghan Trainor and John Legend

“Being part of such a special evening, honoring so many of the Rock Hall members’ influences on all of us is just such an incredible honor,” says Smith. “And to do it at the historic Ryman Auditorium adds a whole other level of highlighting what makes Nashville’s music community so special.”

The Cadillac Three has always produced rock-driven country hits with Jaren Johnston, Kelby Ray, and Neil Mason forming the powerful trio.

Together, they will all take the stage to celebrate the intersection of rock & roll and country music. For this one-night concert experience, each artist will perform songs Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees who have performed at the Ryman to honor their legacies.

“More than 100 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees have performed on the Ryman’s hallowed stage throughout its 130-year history,” says Greg Harris, President & CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. “We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with the Ryman by bringing together artists and fans for one incredible night to experience the power of rock & roll through some of Nashville’s great talent.”

The Ryman joined 11 other rock & roll institutions across the country as an official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark in May of 2022. In November, the legendary auditorium opened an interactive exhibit, Rock Hall at the Ryman, to celebrate the venue’s influence on rock & roll history.

Tickets for “Rock The Ryman” are on sale now at ryman.com and the proceeds will go to the further preservation and celebration of the rich history of rock & roll.

Ben Hall, Vice President Of Development at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has promoted seven staffers to leadership positions within the museum’s creative, development, education, museum services and facilities, operations and sustainability teams.

Ben Hall has been promoted to Vice President, Development, and joining the museum’s senior staff team are Paul Kingsbury as Senior Director of Editorial and Interpretation, Luke Wiget as Senior Director of Creative, and Leigh Anne Wise as Senior Director of Facilities, Operations and Sustainability.

A 14-year museum veteran, Hall most recently served as Senior Director of Development. He oversees diverse fundraising initiatives consisting of the museum’s annual fund, major gifts program, planned giving, corporate philanthropy and sponsorships, government contributions, membership and special campaigns. He also manages Country Music Hall of Fame member relations. Hall received a bachelor’s degree from Belmont University and holds a Juris Doctor degree from Nashville School of Law.

In his new role, Kingsbury will manage editorial staff and the development of written content for the museum’s website, exhibits, public programs, publications, educational materials and online offerings. He has written extensively about country music, writing or co-authoring Woodstock: Three Days That Rocked the World, The Grand Ole Opry History of Country Music and Hatch Show Print: The History of a Great American Poster Shop. He also served as the Editor-In-Chief for the museum’s Encyclopedia of Country Music, and Co-Editor for the museum’s pictorial history Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music in America. Before his promotion, Kingsbury served as Managing Editor for the museum. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Vanderbilt University.

In Wiget’s new role, he will guide the museum’s creative and project management teams responsible for producing exhibits, books, videos, education materials, marketing collateral and social media content. He joined the museum in 2016 and, prior to his promotion, served as Director of Creative Content. Wiget holds a bachelor’s degree in English from San Jose State University and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from The New School.

In her new role, Wise will oversee facilities maintenance, building projects, building operations including security, housekeeping and event set up, as well as sustainability initiatives. A 38-year museum veteran, Wise first joined the museum as a tour guide, moving to accounting and then operations. Her most recent position was Executive Director of Operations and Sustainability. A native of Middle Tennessee, Wise attended Middle Tennessee State University and Aquinas College.

In other changes at the museum, Sam Farahmand has also been promoted to Associate Director of Creative Content, Sydney Gilbert has been named Director of Creative Project Management, and Aaron Helvig has been named Associate Director of Music Programs.

Willie Jones and RVSHVD are teaming up for a co-headlining “Sticks And Swamps Tour,” kicking off March 30 in Macon, Georgia. Renee Blair will open on all dates.

The six-date tour will run throughout the southeast, wrapping in Nashville at the Exit/In on April 21. Tickets are on sale Friday (Feb. 17).

Jones most recently released “Them Girls Do,” and is currently writing and recording the follow up to his debut album Right Now, which featured his single “American Dream.” Named one of the 12 Black Artists Shaping Country Music’s Future by USA Today, the rising artist serves as an ambassador for Ford Motor Company and has performed at festivals Stagecoach, CMA Fest, Lollapalooza, and more.

RVSHVD (pronounced Ra-Shad) started making music ten years ago. While listening to rap beats as a young teen, the self-taught R&B singer realized a new talent for songwriting and jumped genres after hearing “Sweet Thing” by Keith Urban. He signed with Penthouse South/Sumerian Records, and has built a following of 1.3 million fans on TikTok and is approaching a million monthly listeners on Spotify. Currently, he has over 100 million streams across all platforms which includes his most recent release “Hit Different.”

Sticks And Swamps Tour:
3/30/23 – Macon, GA – Hargray Capitol Theatre
3/31/23 – Birmingham, AL – Zydeco
4/1/23 – Tifton, GA – Terminal South
4/6/23 – Atlanta, GA – Vinyl at Center Stage
4/7/23 – Rome, GA – Peaches
4/21/23 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In

Jo Dee Messina is hitting the road tomorrow (Feb. 17) on her new “Heads Carolina, Tails California Tour.”

The nationwide tour kicks off in Greensboro, North Carolina and will visit 45+ markets through November with stops in Green Bay, Raleigh, Chicago, Atlantic City, Charlotte, and more. The cross-country trek is an ode to Messina’s debut 1996 platinum smash, “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” and in tribute to the nostalgic theme, she is using retro artwork from her original photo shoot for tour ads and limited-edition merchandise.

“It seems crazy that we’ve never toured under the ‘Heads Carolina, Tails California’ banner before. We are so excited to bring people songs that they know, stories we will share and, yes, new music!” shares Messina.

Messina also recently announced that her new album, Heads Carolina, Tails California: The Best of Jo Dee Messina, will be released March 10 on Curb Records. The album features 11 of her timeless hits, including “Bye, Bye,” “I’m Alright,” “Lesson In Leavin,’” ”Heads Carolina, Tails California,” and more, and marks Messina’s first-ever vinyl release.

“Heads Carolina, Tails California Tour” Dates:
Feb. 17 – Greensboro, N.C.
Feb. 18 – North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Feb. 23 – Grand Rapids, Mich.
Feb. 24 – Green Bay, Wis.
March 25 – Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
April 14 – Fort Worth, Texas
April 15 – Georgetown, Texas
April 28 – Wichita, Kan.
April 29 – Fort Smith, Ark.
May 13 – Kansas City, Kan.
May 19 – Doswell, Va.
May 20 – Roanoke, Va.
June 9 – Clinton, Iowa
June 10 – Decatur, Ill.
June 16 – Ashland, Neb.
June 17 – Winsted, Minn.
June 23 – Raleigh – N.C.
June 24 – Virginia Beach, Va.
June 29 – Shipshewana, Ind.
June 30 – Central City, Iowa
July 13 – West Salem, Wis.
July 14 – Chicago, Ill.
July 15 – Pierz, Minn.
July 21 – LaGrange, Ga.
July 22 – Cullman, Ala.
July 28 – Kearney, Neb.
July 29 – Mendon, Ill.
Aug. 3 – Wausau, Wis.
Aug. 4 – Detroit Lakes, Minn.
Aug. 11 – Atlantic City, N.J.
Aug. 12 – West Chester, Ohio
Aug. 19 – Calgary, Alberta
Sept. 7 – Carterville, Ill.
Sept. 9 – Savannah, Tenn.
Sept. 14 – Spencer, Iowa
Sept. 22 – Frederick, Md.
Sept. 23 – Mount Vernon, Ky.
Oct. 7 – Hiawassee, Ga.
Oct. 19 – Greenville, S.C.
Oct. 20 – Kissimmee, Fla.
Oct. 21 – Charlotte, N.C.
Nov. 3 – Lubbock, Texas
Nov. 4 – Waco, Texas
Nov. 10 – Phoenix, Ariz.
Nov. 11 – Indio, Calif.

Pictured (L-R, top row): Virginia P. Brick, Aura Guadagno, Taylor Baird, Alyssa Hoffman; (L-R, bottom row): Libby Gardner, Megan Clemens, Mackenzie Adkins, Aya Robinson

The Women’s Music Business Association has announced its 2023 Board of Officers, Organizational Chairs and Board of Directors.

Serving on the 2023 board are President Virginia P. Brick (SESAC), Vice President Aura Guadagno (Varnell Enterprises), Treasurer Taylor Baird (Wiles + Taylor & Co.), Secretary Alyssa Hoffman (Manager of Wayland), Events & Education Co-Chairs Libby Gardner (Academy of Country Music) and Megan Clemons (CSM Management), and Marketing & Membership Co-Chairs Mackenzie Adkins (Rhonda & Company) and Aya Robinson (Opry Entertainment Group).

The WMBA Board of Directors will be led by newly-elected Chairwoman Amery Fridenstine (Above Board Consulting) alongside brand new board members Sheree Spoltore (Global Songwriters Connection), Jensen Sussman (Sweet Talk Publicity), and Christy Walker-Watkins (The AristoMedia Group/AristoPR). Brandi Simms (MooTV, Moo Creative & The Steel Mill) will continue in an advisory role as Board of Directors Emeritus, and Lauren Spahn (Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley, & Norton LLP) will act as Legal Counsel.

WMBA held its first 2023 meeting to kick off the year on Jan. 24 at SESAC in Nashville. Simms was the featured speaker of the evening and shared her career story, the history of WMBA, and what she sees as the organization’s future.

“It is a privilege to follow in the footprints of those who served before me, and I admire the opportunity to lead this organization with a good balance of head and heart in 2023,” shares WMBA President Virginia Brick. “WMBA has built a culture of empowered women who choose to be bold and brilliant innovative leaders paving their own way in the music industry. My vision this year is to create safe spaces for our women to start conversations, migrate ideas, problem solve, impact through service projects, foster creative collaborations within our community of members and alumni while forging partnerships with other organizations and local businesses that align with WMBA’s mission. It’s going to be a fantastic year.”