Music News (2/5/25)

MusicRow Reveals 2025 Rising Women On The Row Honorees

MusicRow is proud to reveal the honorees for the Rising Women on the Row Class of 2025. These six female executives are making a significant impact on Nashville’s country music industry, including: Lydia Schultz Cahill, Rakiyah Marshall, Michelle Tigard Kammerer, Katie Kerkhover, Jessi Vaughn Stevenson and Julie Sturdivant.

City National Bank is Presenting Sponsor for the 2025 Rising Women on the Row, which will take place at the Omni Nashville Hotel on the morning of March 20.

Now in its 12th year, MusicRow‘s annual Rising Women on the Row event has honored over 50 women in the Nashville music industry.

Sponsorship Tables and Individual Tickets are on sale now HERE. Sponsorship Tables of 10 include premium seating and recognition in event materials (see below). Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Read more about the honorees here.

NMPA Takes Action Against Spotify For Unlicensed Music In Podcasts

The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) has launched a takedown campaign against Spotify for allegedly hosting unlicensed music in podcasts. Over 2,500 instances of infringement have been identified, with more to follow, according to the organization.

This move follows a May 2023 cease-and-desist letter NMPA sent to Spotify regarding the issue.

NMPA President & CEO David Israelite says, “Spotify has thousands of unlicensed songs in its podcasts, which it has done nothing to remedy. This takedown action comes as no surprise, we have warned of this issue for some time.

“Podcasts are a growing source of revenue for songwriters and publishers, and it is essential that podcasts provide lawfully produced entertainment. This is not hard to do, and Spotify knows, and has known, how to fix this problem for their users. We hope podcast hosts will stand up for their fellow creators and demand that Spotify do better.

“Spotify will stop at nothing to undervalue songwriters on behalf of its bottom line. Look no further than its recent bundling scheme and its ill-conceived appeal of songwriters’ rate increase in CRB III. We will not stop until the platform fixes its podcast problem, and all other areas where songwriters are not earning what they deserve.”

“The Nashville Songwriter Association International (NSAI) applauds The National Music Publisher Association’s (NMPA) take down action against Spotify for unlicensed music contained in podcasts on their platform,” shares Bart Herbison, NSAI Executive Director. “The giant streaming service’s continuing disregard to properly compensate songwriters and composers is again evident in their failure to license these songs. Spotify was warned of this situation nearly a year ago, yet failed to remedy it. To suggest that this action is in response to the recent decision in the MLC lawsuit dismisses the fact that they are illegally using music copyrights.”

The takedown program includes 19 NMPA member publishers including ABKCO, Anthem Entertainment, Big Machine Music, BMG, Concord Music Publishing, Downtown Music Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Kobalt, Mayimba Music, peermusic, Primary Wave Music, Reservoir, The Royalty Network, Inc., Sony Music Publishing, Spirit Music Group, Ultra Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music and Wixen Music Publishing.

A Spotify Spokesperson shared the following statement with MusicRow, “This is a weak reaction to the judge dismissing the MLC’s lawsuit. Last summer, the NMPA claimed that there were unlicensed works in podcasts on Spotify. The fact that the NMPA waited months, despite multiple written requests by Spotify for details, which they never bothered to answer, to report these episodes only further emphasizes that this is a press stunt. Platforms like Spotify, which are home to millions of pieces of UGC content, regularly receive takedown requests, and, as always, we will act promptly and, where appropriate, remove the episodes in question.”

Spotify confirmed it had since received the list of URLs from the NMPA and is investigating the takedown requests; the initial hundred or so include shows from The New York Times, Slate and iHeart.

Jason Scott Signs With Big Yellow Dog Music

Pictured: (L-R, front row): Carla Wallace, Jason Scott and Brannen Carter. (L-R, middle row): Jacee Badeaux, Alex Stefano and Alana Morgan. (L-R, back row): Kerry O’Neil and Mark Noel

Jason Scott has signed a publishing deal with Big Yellow Dog Music.

Scott, a native of Oklahoma City, is the lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for Leo33 band Jason Scott & The High Heat. Their 2022 debut album Castle Rock received acclaim from NPR, BBC Radio and others. Scott’s music connects deeply with listeners through his storytelling and his mix of heartland rock and southern soul. The band’s live shows at festivals such as Stagecoach and Born & Raised Festival have further cemented their reputation.

“We’re so excited to work with Jason Scott,” shares Carla Wallace, Co-Owner and CEO of Big Yellow Dog Music. “His music is a perfect fit for our brand, and we love his musical authenticity.”

“From the moment I met the Big Yellow Dog team, I knew they were passionate about the music I was making,” recalls Scott. “I’m so proud to partner with such an elite team to help further the creative vision of my music and songs.”

The band dropped their High Country Heat EP late last year, with the single “If We Make It To The Mornin’” now rising on the Americana charts. They’re currently on tour with Blackberry Smoke and will also be performing at festivals like Extra Innings, Jackalope Jamboree and more throughout the year.

Jason Scott & The High Heat are represented by Mark Noel at Triple 8 Management, with booking handled by Jonathan Levine, Lenore Kinder and Tommy Alexander at Wasserman Music.