Artist & Industry News

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will offer perspective on country music’s latest chapter with the opening of American Currents: State of the Music on Wednesday, March 18. The exhibit, which is included with museum admission, runs through January 2027 in the museum’s ACM Gallery. Presented annually, American Currents takes a broad view of the genre over the...

Jake Worthington has announced his headlining Intent To Tonk Tour hitting markets throughout the U.S. this spring, kicking off in Wilmington, N.C. before heading to Chicago, Nashville, Boston and more, wrapping in New York City. Julia Rankin, a new addition to Big Loud Texas' roster, will be opening for Worthington at each stop. The headlining run adds to a heavyweight...

The CMA Touring Mentorship Program gives early-career touring professionals access to experienced professionals in their desired fields. Throughout the program, mentees meet with their mentors monthly over 6 months and discuss best practices in their role, trends in the industry, and receive real-world experience through shadowing and projects. The program begins with a kick-off for mentees and mentors to meet...

Sony Music Publishing Nashville, in partnership with Kane Brown and industry veteran Kent Earls’ Verse 2 Music, today announced the signing of singer, songwriter and artist Jonny Capeci to a global publishing agreement. An accomplished songwriter and lead singer of the Nashville-based alternative-pop band Nightly, Jonny Capeci has distinguished himself both as an artist and as a trusted collaborator. As...

Today rising songwriter Max Martin announces the signing of his first publishing deal with independent music publisher Big Loud Publishing. “I'm super excited to be signing with the incredible team at Big Loud,” Martin shares. “I have always been a fan of the work they have done and cannot wait to see what the future holds.” “From the moment Max...

Young Guns Publishing has signed a publishing deal with 2024 SESAC Songwriter of the Year Jaron Boyer. “For the past few years, I’ve watched Young Guns become a powerful publishing company in Nashville under the leadership of CEO Will Hamrick and Head of Creative Laura Alexander,” shares Boyer. “When considering where I wanted to spend the next portion of my...

The Country Music Association (CMA), in partnership with independent executive search firm Buffkin Baker, has opened applications in search for CMA’s next Chief Executive Officer. In January, it was announced that current CEO Sarah Trahern would retire at the end of 2026, marking the conclusion of an extraordinary tenure leading one of the most influential organizations in the Country Music industry. Under the leadership of a...

BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville has announced the signing of singer-songwriter Mary Kutter, who released a new single, “Bed of Roses," today. Before stepping fully into her own voice as an artist, Kutter steadily focused on songwriting, with her work appearing on major-label releases and charting records by Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith and Zach John King. The Kentucky raised and Nashville based artist...

Yesterday, February 10, Corey Kent celebrated the success of his second No. 1 single, “This Heart.” Hosted by BMI and SESAC and emceed by BMI’s Mason Hunter, the celebration reunited Kent with his collaborators, including songwriters Thomas Archer, Jacob Hackworth, Blake Bollinger, Michael Tyler and producer Chris Farren. Producer Chris Farren said of his work with Kent, “There’s like a...

The annual Key West Songwriters Festival presented by BMI announced the first details behind its landmark 30th anniversary, scheduled for April 29 through May 3, 2026. The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and Rams Head Presents will welcome more than 200 BMI multi-genre creatives to the island, where Nashville charisma meets Key West charm. Multi-day offerings for free shows as well as ticketed shows at...

Back Blocks Music, a Nashville-based artist development, management and publishing company, has announced the addition of Kirby Mathews as VP of Publishing. The company has earned a reputation for championing creatives and building long-lasting careers from the ground up and Mathews appointment furthers their recent organizational growth initiatives and reaffirms their commitment to creativity and innovation for its talented roster...

Warner Chappell Music (WCM) Nashville has renewed its global publishing deal with GRAMMY award-winning trailblazer Liz Rose. A masterful hitmaker, Rose made history in 2019 as one of the first two songwriters appointed to the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) Board of Directors and was later inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023. She has penned hits for...

Generous patrons on last week’s sold-out Country Music Cruise 2026 raised almost $58,000 for the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s nonprofit mission of preserving the history of country music and making it broadly accessible to a global audience. Two acoustic guitars were autographed by artists performing on this year’s cruise and sold during a live auction prior to Josh...

Music Health Alliance (MHA), the nonprofit dedicated to providing advocacy and access to healthcare and mental health for the music industry, has appointed Lindsay Hayes as Vice President of Development and announced several staff promotions across its advocacy and healthcare navigation team. In this role, Hayes will lead the growth of MHA’s fundraising and strategic partnerships to ensure long-term financial...

Today ERN's Cadillac Music has announced three new hires – Dane Schmidt, Senior Director of A&R; Jordan Marcus, Creative Coordinator/Executive Assistant; and Jude Warren, A&R/Executive Assistant. ERN's Cadillac Music was founded by triple threat talent ERNEST in partnership with Big Loud Publishing in 2023. “Everybody on the team at Cadillac feels like family,” shares founder ERNEST. “I have known Dane for...

Kentucky singer-songwriter Tyler Booth has signed with Jamey Johnson’s Big Gassed Records in a joint venture with Average Joes Entertainment and has finalized a management agreement with The Erv Woolsey Company. Booth, known for his baritone voice and traditional country sound with a modern twist, will release new music very soon. “I feel like I embody all the Appalachia,” says...

Today, breakout artist Kenny Whitmire has released his highly anticipated track, “I Gave Her The Moon.” Whitmire initially teased the ballad on TikTok last November, catching the attention of country powerhouses Luke Combs, Tracy Lawrence, and Ella Langley with its unforgettable melody and plain-spoken lyricism. Buzz around the song eventually reached GRAMMY-nominated superstar Charlie Puth, who, of his own volition,...

Neon Coast, the artist development company founded by music veteran Martha Earls and management home to Kane Brown, announced today that artist Randall King and his longtime day-to-day manager Clayton Toney have joined the company’s management roster. The announcement comes on the heels of new music in the pipeline, as well as 2026 shows throughout the U.S., U.K., and Europe. A West Texas native and touring...

Last night, GRAMMY® Artist to Watch Kashus Culpepper made his late-night television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! performing fan-favorite “Man Of His Word.” The appearance celebrates the release of his critically acclaimed debut album Act I. This week Culpepper will headline back-to-back sold-out shows at New York City's Mercury Lounge before heading to Australia with Wyatt Flores. He'll continue to headline and...

Eclipse Music Publishing, a division of Eclipse Music Group, has signed Nashville native songwriter, producer, and musician Cole Phillips to a worldwide publishing deal, further strengthening the company’s diverse roster of creators. As a guitarist, Phillips has toured internationally as a sideman for major artists including Gretchen Wilson, Colt Ford, and Canaan Smith, experiences that continue to inform his work...

On Saturday, January 31 at Billy Bob's Texas, the world’s largest honky tonk, Turnpike Troubadours were presented with a Pandora Billionaire plaque, celebrating more than one billion streams on the platform.

The Jonas Group has announced the appointment of Abby Lin as Global Head of Sync, further strengthening the company’s global music licensing and creative strategy. In her new role at The Jonas Group, Lin will oversee global sync initiatives while working closely with the company’s songwriters, artists and creative partners to expand placement opportunities worldwide. She will also focus on...

Sony Music Publishing Nashville today announced the acquisition of legendary independent publishing and artist development company Big Yellow Dog Music (BYD), effective immediately. With the agreement, the company now owns and administers Big Yellow Dog’s renowned catalog of songs and serves as full-service publisher for its roster of songwriters. Founded in 1998 by Kerry O’Neil and Carla Wallace and based in...

Today, Backline launches B-LINE, a 24/7 mental health and crisis support line created exclusively for the music industry. B-LINE connects music professionals and their families with trained counselors who understand the unique pressures of working in and around music—anytime, day or night. Support is available by calling 1-855-BLINE99 or texting 254-639. This first-of-its-kind service fulfills a vision Backline has held...