Music News (3/22/23)

The Franklin Theatre & Given Entertainment To Launch Songwriter Series

Pictured (L-R): Given Entertainment’s Traci Sterling Bishir, Tim Nichols, Autumn McEntire, Matt Wynn, Given Entertainment’s Cindy Owen, Jimmy Yeary and Franklin Theatre’s Julie Jackson. Photo: Red Studio by Angela

The Franklin Theatre has partnered with independent artist management and publishing company Given Entertainment to launch a new songwriter series at the historic venue, starting Friday, April 27. The inaugural writers round will include Tim Nichols, Jimmy Yeary, Matt Wynn and Autumn McEntire.

The Franklin Theatre was established in 1937. After a complete restoration by the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County in 2011, it re-opened its doors as a state-of-the-art live music venue featuring performances by world-renowned artists.

“We’re excited to launch this new Songwriters Series at The Franklin Theatre with Given Entertainment,” says Franklin Theatre Managing Director Eric Dilts. “Since our reopening in 2011, The Franklin Theatre has played host to up-and-coming artists and music legends alike. Our Songwriter Series is an opportunity to showcase the storytellers behind your favorite songs in our iconic venue.”

Given Entertainment Founding Partner Cindy Owen adds, “We are honored to be asked to partner with The Franklin Theatre to create this new series. It’s the first of its kind for this beautiful historic landmark. We love any opportunity to shine a light on the songwriters and especially offering them another stage to share their music here in the heart of Franklin.”

Morgan Wallen & Co-Writers Swarm MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

Pictured (L-R): Ryan Vojtesak, Morgan Wallen and Ashley Gorley.

As his new album, One Thing At A Time, impacts the country charts, Morgan Wallen and his co-writers swarm the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Wallen remains at No. 1 this week as a co-writer on 16 currently charting songs. In addition to 14 from his new album, he is also a co-writer on Keith Urban‘s “Brown Eyes Baby” and Corey Kent‘s “Wild As Her.”

Ashley Gorley, who has credit on 12 of Wallen’s charting songs, remains at No. 2. Ryan Vojtesak moves to No. 3 with 15 Wallen songs, John Byron leaps to No. 4 with 9 and Ernest rounds out the top five with 11.

Other One Thing At A Time contributors on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart include Blake Pendergrass (No. 6), Hardy (No. 7), Jared Mullins (No. 9), Josh Thompson (No. 10), Miranda Lambert (No. 11), Nicolle Galyon (No. 12), Brett Tyler (No. 16), Travis Wood (No. 20), Josh Miller (No. 22), Ben Johnson (No. 26), Rodney Clawson (No. 27), Rocky Block (No. 31), Ben Stennis (No. 33), Jacob Kasher (No. 38), Chase McGill (No. 41), John Pierce (No. 49), Cameron Montgomery (No. 50), Hillary Lindsey (No. 52), Taylor Phillips (No. 54), Travis Denning (No. 55) and Zach Abend (No. 59).

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Miranda Lambert Leaving Sony Music Nashville

Miranda Lambert. Photo: Robert Ascroft for foureleven agency

In a social media post, Miranda Lambert announced that she is leaving Sony Music Nashville after 20 years together. She did not disclose where she is headed next.

Lambert signed with Sony at the age of 19 and released her debut studio album Kerosene in 2005 via the imprint Epic Nashville. Since then, she has gone on to release seven more studio albums, notch 10 No. 1 hit radio singles and win more than 70 prestigious awards. The reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year is the most decorated artist in the history of the Academy of Country Music.

Her award-winning discography includes Palomino (2022), Wildcard (2019), The Weight of These Wings (2016), Platinum (2014), Four The Record (2011), Revolution (2009), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2007) and Kerosene (2005). Lambert has also released three albums with her trio, the Pistol Annies, as well as 2021’s Grammy-nominated The Marfa Tapes, a raw and intimate recording with collaborators Jack Ingram and Jon Randall.

In her social media post, Lambert writes, “Over the last 20 years together we have released albums that allowed me to share my story with the world, and we’ve reached heights I’d never even dreamed were possible. I’m so thankful for our time together and everything they made possible for me, yet I wouldn’t be true to myself if I wasn’t constantly looking for the next challenge and a new way to stretch my creativity. With that in mind, I’ve decided to say goodbye to my Sony family. I can’t wait to see what the next adventure holds.”