Artist & Industry News

Avery Anna has been named the 2026 New Female Artist of the Year Winner by the Academy of Country Music, joining the ranks of recent winners Ella Langley, Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson. The first-time nominee was presented with the trophy by fellow country breakout and frequent collaborator Sam Barber on Sunday, April 26, following her performance at the Lone...

Rolling Stone has promoted Joseph Hudak to Deputy Editor and Head of Country. In his new role, he will oversee the magazine’s country music coverage across various platforms, as well as expand Rolling Stone‘s presence in Nashville. Hudak has been at Rolling Stone for over a decade and also hosts their Nashville Now podcast, amongst performing various other tasks. “For more than a...

Today, April 24, Ella Langley and Morgan Wallen dropped “I Can’t Love You Anymore”, a new single that Langley co-wrote alongside Austin Goodloe and Joybeth Taylor. Fans were surprised with the news of the collaboration this past weekend, during a stop on Wallen’s ‘Still The Problem Tour,’ when Langley surprised the crowd in her home state of Alabama with a...

As country music continues to evolve, so does its creators. Among them, Blake Pendergrass stands out - his steady rise and undeniable success have quickly made him one of the genre’s most talked-about songwriters. Since becoming Back Blocks Music flagship songwriter in 2021, the North Carolina native has notched 5 No. 1 songs, celebrated his first CMA Triple Play Award,...

Miranda Lambert has announced she will release future music with MCA, marking a new chapter in her decorated recording career. One of the most influential and enduring voices in country music, Lambert’s decision to align her next phase with a Nashville-based label reflects a continued commitment to the creative community and roots that have long shaped her artistry. With MCA,...

Jessi Alexander has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music Nashville and Perfect Game Creative. This deal marks Alexander as the flagship signing for Perfect Game Creative, Jessi Vaughn Stevenson's newly formed company. Alexander has penned 10 No. 1 hits throughout her career, including Luke Combs’ “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma” and Morgan Wallen’s “Don’t Think Jesus.” “So...

Today, Corey Kent dropped his latest release, “Wannabe,” a stripped-down, deeply personal track that signals the sonic direction of his next chapter. Listen to the song here. “‘Wannabe' was the first song we wrote for the new record, and as soon as we finished it, we knew it represented the sound we were chasing for this project," shares Kent. "It’s...

On the heels of being nominated for ACM New Male Artist of the Year at this year's ACM Awards, singer-songwriter Vincent Mason dropped a new single, “Don't Ask Me," today, April 17. After a standout set at CMC Rocks in Australia and international dates supporting Jordan Davis, he's now stepping back into his own spotlight with a run of headlining...

Today, April 17, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ethan Burdick released his eagerly awaited debut single, “I Get The Picture,” available now via Back Blocks Music. Burdick co-wrote the track alongside Ricky Manning and Nick Bailey. "Once we had the title, we decided to go all in on the metaphor and tried to write in as many details as we could think...

Jody Williams Songs has promoted Tenasie Courtright to Director, Creative & A&R. Formerly Creative Director at the company, Courtright took on added duties by performing hands-on A&R for JWS writer-artists Emily Ann Roberts, Ashley McBryde, Harper O’Neill and Peytan Porter. Additionally, Jonah Gordon has joined as Manager, Sync & A&R. Gordon comes to JWS from the sync department of Big Yellow Dog...

Russell Dickerson brought the music industry together at BMI's Nashville lobby yesterday, April 15, to celebrate his sixth career and multi-week chart topper, "Happen to Me." The Triple Tigers artist was reunited with his cowriters Chase McGill, Chris LaCorte and producer Josh Kerr and nods were given to Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” writer Robert Hazard and...

The Association for Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) celebrated the 2026 AIMP Nashville Country Awards Tuesday evening at the Analog at the Hutton Hotel. Hosted by radio veteran Storme Warren, the intimate, nominee-only gathering honored the past year's biggest hits written and promoted solely by Nashville's independent publishing companies and their songwriters. “Congratulations to all of this year’s AIMP award winners....

Sony Music Publishing Nashville, in partnership with Ace High Music, have announced the signing of Jake Saghi to a global publishing agreement. Colorado native Jake Saghi is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer who is quickly becoming a sought-after collaborator in Nashville’s country music scene. He has worked with a wide range of talent including Kidd G, Redferrin, Dom Ellis, Cassadee Pope, Abby Anderson, Rodney Atkins, Lakeview, Sacha and more. Saghi’s credits include Redferrin’s “Jack and Diet Coke,”  and “Hey Mom I Made It”...

Fresh off the day-of announce sell out of his Stars for Second Harvest benefit concert this June, ERNEST doubled down on his commitment to the community, raising over $207,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank at the third annual ERNvitational Golf Tournament yesterday, April 13. Attended by Zach Top, Vince Gill, Tracy Lawrence, HARDY, Glenny Balls, and more, local organizations and...

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will feature celebrated songwriter Ashley Gorley in an upcoming program for its in-depth interview series Poets and Prophets, which features songwriters who have made significant contributions to country music. Gorley is one of three 2026 honorees chosen by the museum and the program will take place Saturday, May 30, at 2:30 pm...

Today, April 14, music industry trailblazer Cindy Mabe has announced the launch of Joan of Arc Music, a comprehensive entertainment company dedicated to preserving the legacy of country music while championing its future through artist development, label services, publishing, management, TV/film production, next generation technologies and philanthropic impact. Joan of Arc Music protects artistry, cultivates innovation and builds long-lasting careers...

Chris Blair, Owner and Founder of The Listening Room, has announced that Chase Armstrong will be returning to the venue as Director of Sales & Marketing. As part of the leadership team, he will oversee sales and marketing efforts to protect and elevate one of Nashville’s most respected live music brands. “I’m excited to return to The Listening Room and...

Diamond-certified artist Thomas Rhett celebrates his 25th career No. 1 with “Ain’t A Bad Life” ft. Jordan Davis. Rhett co-wrote the track with Ashley Gorley, Blake Pendergrass, John Byron and Mark Trussell. This achievement stands out not only for its sheer volume, but for the remarkable speed and consistency with which he’s dominated the charts in the 14 years since...

On the heels of launching his self-curated SiriusXM Channel, Morgan Wallen Radio, with an intimate show at The Pinnacle in Nashville, Tennessee last week, Morgan Wallen officially returned to the road last night, April 10, performing at U.S. Bank Stadium to a sold-out crowd on night one of his 2026 'Still The Problem Tour.' The RIAA’s highest-certified country artist of all time made...

McCoy Moore will make his Grand Ole Opry debut May 26, just days after the release of his debut album Sunshine State. “All I really know to say is thank you. Thank you to everyone who makes playing country music for a living possible for me every day,” Moore shared. “It will never be lost on me how blessed I am....

Independent publisher Big Loud Publishing has announced the promotion of song champion Michael Giangreco to President of A&R, effective immediately. “I am grateful to the partners (Seth, Craig and Joey) for their support and guidance. It's an honor to continue building the legacy of Big Loud Publishing,” Giangreco shares. “When I interned over 10 years ago, I was inspired to...

TMWRK has signed Dylan Gossett for management. Gossett’s team now includes Andrew McInnes, Paddy Scace and Sydney Clarke at TMWRK. “We could not be happier to be working with Dylan,” says Andrew McInnes, CEO and founder of TMWRK. “We have been fans go a few years now and are very excited for his very bright future.”

Dylan Marlowe has formed a new group, 80 Acres, with his band members Christian Strahley, Ethan Leak, David Medlin and John Frisch. While touring Marlowe’s country set, they found themselves slipping in covers of bands like Fall Out Boy and Blink-182 - music that influenced them since their earliest days. Later on, Marlowe, adopting a free-flowing creative approach, penned track, “Least...

A first-of-its-kind country music getaway is coming to the beaches of Cabo San Lucas this Labor Day Weekend. Country Splash, the first multi-day country music festival ever held directly on the beach in Cabo, will debut September 4–6 with headlining performances from Riley Green, Jon Pardi, Tucker Wetmore and Diplo. The lineup also features Cameron Whitcomb, Dasha, LOCASH, Zach John...