Ten-time Grammy nominee Jamey Johnson has inked with Warner Music Nashville through his record label, Big Gassed Records.
The signing comes ahead of the 10/4 arrival of his new single, “Someday When I’m Old,” which follows recent tracks like “21 Guns,” “What a View” and “Trudy” and “Sober.”
“For 14 years, those of us in the industry, and fans outside of it, have been begging Jamey Johnson to release another solo studio album,” said WMN co-chair/co-president, Cris Lacy. “Warner Music Nashville has the great honor of reintroducing this incomparable artist to a worldwide audience...on his terms...proof that great things are worth waiting for!”
“The reason I signed with Warner Music Nashville is Cris Lacy,” addedJohnson. “She is one of my longest-term friends I’ve had in the music business. We started our careers around the same time. She has been a friend to me and has only ever tried to help.”
Having penned songs recorded by the likes of George Strait, Trace Adkins, Willie Nelson, James Otto, Joe Nicholsand more, the Grand Ole Opry member is also one of only two people in the history of country music—along with Kris Kristofferson—to win two Song of the Year awards in the same year, for “Give It Away” and “In Color” from the ACMsand the CMAs.
Pictured above are (l-) Lacy and Johnson.
Photo: David Bradley
UMG Nashville and Timbaland’s Mosley Music have launched their previously announced partnership with the signing of Kentucky-based singer-songwriter Colt Graves.
Graves, the grandson of Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Josh Graves, will release a new single, “Burning House," on 10/18.
The gritty, genre-jumping Graves did plenty of grassroots work on his own before aligning with Timbaland Management, where he’s handled by Gary Marella. His PorchFest performance of “Dirt on Me” surpassed 200K streams on Spotify and earned a plaque from Amazon Music for hitting #2 on the country new release chart." His song Lonesome Roads” passed 100K streams on Spotify as well.
UMGN Chair/CEO, Cindy Mabe said, “Colt is a gifted storyteller who mixes the backdrop and musical influences of his Owensboro, Kentucky lifestyle with a gritty fusion of country, hip-hop, rock and folk. He’s really a special artist.”
Added Graves, “It’s been a hell of a journey to get to this point and I’m so grateful to Timbaland, my team and the UMG Nashville team for believing in me and being part of this journey."
Smiling politely rather than getting their freak on are (l-r, front) Mabe, Timbaland, Graves and UMGN’s Charlene Bryant, and (l-r, back) Marella, UMGN’s Lori Christian, Bluestone Publishing’s Eric Spence and UMGN’s Rob Femia and Chelsea Blythe.
The Valory Music Co.’s Conner Smith has plenty to celebrate as the singer-songwriter has earned an RIAA gold certification for his multi-week chart-topper “Creek Will Rise.” The track is featured on his 12-song album, Smokey Mountains, which dropped earlier this year. Next up, he’s gearing up to release The Storyteller on 10/4, which marks his third project this year, before he hits the road for his tour of the same name on 10/8. Seen hoping this photo wouldn't land in our inbox are (l-r) The Valory Music Co.’s George Briner, Pioneer Artists’ Jake Kinney, BMLG’s Allison Jones, Smith, BMLG’s Scott Borchetta and Make Wake Artists’ Chris Kappy.
Photo: Eden Gerlock for The Valory Music Co.
The Academy of Country Music has opened its 2025 membership window. New applications and renewals must be submitted by 11/15 at 10am CT to ensure eligibility for voting in the 60th ACM Awards next year.
Accepted and active members get exclusive perks, including voting rights, early access to ACM event tickets, industry discounts, data insights, networking events and more.
“The upcoming year for the Academy of Country Music is sure to be one of the most exciting and important in the Academy’s history with the landmark 60th ACM Awards and celebrations surrounding and celebrating the 60th all year long. This will also mark sixty years of our members influencing, impacting, and steering the future of Country Music,” said Annie Ortmeier, Chair of the ACM Membership Committee. “On behalf of the ACM Membership Committee, I can’t wait to see what the next year brings, and I hope this membership class will be the most engaged, excited, and diverse membership class yet.”
This year’s membership drive is supported by the multi-platform campaign "The Academy is Me," highlighting the diverse community within the ACM. Peep it below.
To apply for or renew your membership, click here.
Amazon Music will go more than a little bit country with special programming for Country Music Month.
Much of the action will center around the streamer’s flagship “bonfire” playlist, including new livestreams, Amazon Music Originals and videos from the artists who drive the content.
The programming includes such Amazon Music Originals as Dylan Gossett’s cover of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” which drops on 10/4, and "Love and Learn," an Amazon Music exclusive by Lainey Wilson that will land 10/25.
On 10/11, Amazon Music will release on-demand video of of seven-time Grammy winner Kacey Musgraves’ recent Climate Pledge Arena concert in Seattle, a Prime Video exclusive. Jelly Roll will then kick off a third season of Amazon Music Live on 10/17 in support of his upcoming Beautifully Broken (Stoney Creek/BBR/Republic). The show will stream on Prime Video and Amazon Music's Twitch channel.
Fans can also expect Country Heat Weekly podcast episodes co-hosted by Amber Anderson and Kelly Sutton featuring interviews with Gossett, Joy Oladokun, Wyatt Flores and Kelsea Ballerini.
“Leaning into our strength in country music, ‘bonfire’ allows us to speak to a wider, more diverse music customer with a unique, mood-based, genre-blending playlist," said Emily Cohen Belote, lead music curator at Amazon Music. "Sitting at the intersection of country, indie, and alternative, bonfire was created because these genres have more in common than not and belong together in one home.”
The Country Music Association has decided that three heads are better than one by choosing Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan and NFL great Peyton Manning to host this year’s CMA Awards.
The 58th annual event will air live on ABC on 11/20 and stream the next day on Hulu, with Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena once again serving as host venue. Robert Deaton will exec-produce the broadcast, Alan Carter will direct and Jon Macks will serve as head writer.
“Hosting the CMA Awards is such an honor and it’s crazy when I realize this is my 4th year back," said Bryan. "Peyton and I have really worked to build off each other and now adding Lainey to the mix will just bring another fun element to the night. Celebrating country music never gets old to me.”
Morgan Wallen leads the field with seven nominations, including Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. Cody Johnson and 21-time CMA winner Chris Stapleton are each up for five awards, followed closely by Nashville newbie Post Malone and reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Wilson with four apiece.
On 9/25, BMI opened its Nashville doors to celebrate Parker McCollum scoring his fourth consecutive chart topper with “Burn It Down.” McCollum is the first MCA Nashville artist to see all of his singles reach #1 on the charts.
The platinum-certified track, also nominated for CMA Song of the Year, reunites McCollum with his co-writers, The Love Junkies, which includes 2024 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame nominee Liz Rose (BMI), 3X Grammy-winning songwriter Lori McKenna (BMI) and 2024 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Hillary Lindsey (ASCAP).
The event, hosted by BMI and ASCAP, also saw Studio Bank’s Ron Cox present a donation to Folds of Honor, an org supporting the families of fallen military personnel and first responders. BMI’s Mason Hunter emceed the celebration and surprised McCollum with three BMI Million-Air Awards for “Handle on You,” “Pretty Heart” and “To Be Loved by You,” each surpassing 2m broadcast performances.
Pictured celebrating our lack of attendance are (l-r) back row: Concord’s Brad Kennard, Liz Rose Music’s Dave Pacula, Hunter, MCA Nashville’s Miranda McDonald, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Warner Chappell’s Jessi Stevenson, Creative Nation’s Emily Furman; front row: McKenna, Rose, McCollum, Lindsey and Cox.
Photo: Aubrey Wise for BMI
SoundExchange has tabbed Randy Travis as the recipient of the organization’s Music Fairness Award, which honors his tireless efforts to protect creators by pressing to modernize copyright law through passage of American Music Fairness Act.
Travis, who suffers from aphasia, still managed to appear before Congress earlier this year alongside his wife Mary and SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe to push for passage of the act. AMFA would require terrestrial broadcasters in the United States to pay artists royalties when their songs are played on the air.
Huppe said “Randy Travis is a music icon and a courageous leader, willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that everyone – from music fans to lawmakers – is aware of the inequities suffered by creators for more than a century. We are honored to present Randy with the Music Fairness Award.”
Speaking on behalf of her husband, Mary Travis said “Thank you to SoundExchange for recognizing Randy for his advocacy. He loves country radio and everyone in it, he also loves his fellow creators. What he is advocating for here is an equitable solution to better align artists, labels, and radio going forward under the changing environment of the music industry.”
Pictured at the award presentation are (L to R) SoundExchange Associate Director of Artist & Industry Relations Marc Rucker, SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe, Randy Travis, and Mary Travis.
