RCA's The Red Clay Strays added to growing Grammy buzz across multiple genres by taking home Emerging Act of the Year last night (9/18) at the 2024 Americana Honors & Awards in Nashville.

The Mobile, Alabama-reared group is pricking up ears with its latest album, Made by These Moments, and recently sold out three nights at Ryman Auditorium. Its soul-tinged rock sound can be experienced on a fall U.S. tour of clubs and theaters, as well as high-profile festival appearances at Bourbon and Beyond this weekend in Louisville, Kentucky, and Austin City Limits in October.

Red Clay Strays could be contenders for the Best New Artist Grammy, and if so, they'd likely be the only Americana band in the mix. Frontman Brandon Coleman’s terrific voice and smoldering presence have galvanized crowds on the road, and the troupe’s songs are deep and strong.

Elsewhere at the Americana Honors, Sierra Ferrell won artist of the year and album of the year for Trail of Flowers. Brandy Clark and Michael Pollack took home song of the year for "Dear Insecurity," a duet with Brandi Carlile.

Jelly Roll and Kane Brown will headline New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash airing 12/31 on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

The annual event returns to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, where the famed Music Note will drop at midnight. Brown and Jelly Roll are among the many country superstars who will perform during the five-hour broadcast. Additional performers are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

New Year's Eve Live is executive produced by Robert Deaton and Mary Hilliard Harrington in partnership with Music City Inc., the foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. The special will be directed by Sandra Restrepo.

Both Brown and Jelly Roll are having a banner year, while we're just having...a year.

On 9/17, BMI hosted the final installment of this year’s Rooftop on the Row series, presented by George Dickel, with nearly 800 attendees. The event—emceed by BMI’s Mason Hunter—served as the official kickoff to the 25th annual AMERICANAFEST.

Featuring performances by The Hanseroth Twins, Kade Hoffman and Emily Nenni, the evening was headlined by Island’s Wyatt Flores, who opened with “Orange Bottles” and “Running Out of Time,” before playing fan favorites like “Please Don’t Go” and “Milwaukee.” He also performed “Don’t Wanna Say Goodnight,” “Oh Susannah” and his unreleased track “Welcome to the Plains” from his upcoming album.

Throughout season six, performers included Colbie Caillat, Jackson Dean, Mae Estes, Ella Langley, Ryan Larkins, Redferrin, Josh Ross and Lauren Watkins. Past years have also seen the likes of Morgan Wallen, Billy Strings, The War and Treaty, HARDY, K. Michelle, Riley Green, Maddie & Tae, Mackenzie Carpenter and Dylan Marlowe.

Seen just before platters of hot chicken were served are (l-r) BMI’s Josh Tomlinson, Claire Dodelin, Clay Bradley, Nina Carter; Flores; BMI’s Mason Hunter, MaryAnn Keen, Kelsey O’Neill and Shannon Sanders.

Photo credit: Erika Goldring for BMI

Luminaries from across the music world joined forces Tuesday (9/17) to honor Big Loud CEO Seth England with the T.J. Martell Foundation's Lifetime Music Industry Award. The organization raised $2.6m with the gala, which is being touted as its most successful in more than two decades. Big Loud artists Morgan Wallen, HARDY and ERNEST took the stage to celebrate England at Cipriani 42nd Street, with the former playing the unreleased new song "Love Somebody" for the first time in the U.S.

Randy Goodman has announced that he will retire as Chairman/CEO of Sony Music Nashville at year’s end.

Goodman, whose biz career spans 35 years, was appointed to the top spot at SMN in 2015. During his impressive tenure he and his team have seen huge success with such acts as Luke Combs, Kane Brown, Maren Morris, Megan Moroney and Nate Smith; recent breaking artists have included Mitchell Tenpenny, Kameron Marlowe, Corey Kent and Morgan Wade, to name a few.

He has also had oversight of Sony Music’s Christian music operation, Provident Entertainment.

“Thank you to Randy for leading our Nashville company through the last nine years and providing some of the biggest new superstars in the genre of country music,” reads a statement issued by Sony Music boss Rob Stringer. “These artists are part of his legacy, and he should be proud of that. We look forward to building on the strong base he and his team have set up for the future.”

“Thank you to Rob for his leadership and support throughout my entire time at the company,” reads Goodman’s quote. “The Sony Music Nashville and Provident Entertainment teams are some of the finest executives I’ve had the privilege of working with over my many years in this business.

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On the heels of selling out three consecutive headlining shows with more than 7,200 fans in attendance at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, RCA’s The Red Clay Strays celebrated their success with another high note as the CMA Vocal Group of the Year nominees were presented with platinum RIAA plaques for their single “Wondering Why.” Seen wondering how we got our hands on this team photo are (l-) WME’s Alex Collignon and Kanan Vitolo, and Conway Entertainment’s Cody Payne.

Thomas Rhett will kick up his heels next year on the Live Nation-produced Better in Boots Tour, which will kick off on 6/5/25 at the Wal-Mart Amphitheater in Rogers, Arkansas.

The tour, which features UMG Nashville's Tucker Wetmore as direct support on all dates and the Castellows (Warner Nashville) or Dasha (Warner Records) at select shows, runs through 9/26 in Ridgefield, Washington. Tickets go on sale 9/20.

Prior to the 30-date run, the Big Machine artist will launch a mini-residency at the BleauLive Theater inside Fontainebleau Las Vegas on 12/6, with additional shows on 12/7 and 12/13-14.

Rhett’s most recent album, About a Woman, debuted at #10 upon its 8/23 release.

CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Mitchell Tenpenny will launch his third studio album, The 3rd, on 9/20. Produced by Jordan Schmidt, the 20-track effort is currently available for pre-order here.

Ahead of its release, Mitchell has released the single “Started Stoppin,’” written by Mitchell, Ashley Gorley, Chase McGill and Schmidt.

"We wrote this song altogether at Ashley’s beach house,” Mitchell said. “Someone said the phrase ‘started stoppin’ and it became our hook. It almost wrote itself. I love how the song grooves with the bass and drums. It all came together lyrically and sonically. It’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever done.”

Mitchell kicked off his Woke Up In A Dream Tour in Las Vegas on 9/12 at the Theater at Virgin Hotels. The tour runs through mid-November with support from The Castellows and Dylan Schneider on select dates.

Mitchell will perform his current radio single, “Not Today,” on the Today Show on Wednesday (9/18), just two days ahead of his Terminal 5 concert in New York City.

Pictured making a joke about how HITS is terminally hated are (l-r) Red Light Management and 10/11 Management's Allie Vidunas, tour manager Lee Gomila, Tenpenny and RLM and 10/11's Kristen Ashley.