Music News (8/13/25)

Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Announces 2025 Inductees

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (NaSHOF) revealed its Class of 2025 inductees this morning (Aug. 6) at press conference on Music Row. It was announced that Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley, Jim Lauderdale, Don Cook, Steve Bogard and Tony Martin will become members of the esteemed Hall in October.

The six will join the 247 previously-inducted members when they are formally inducted during the 55th Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala on Monday, Oct. 6, at the Music City Center.

The news was shared by Rich Hallworth, Chair of the organization’s board of directors, and Mark Ford, its Executive Director, at Nashville’s historic Columbia Studio A – part of Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.

“Gathering as we do each year – to reveal and welcome the members of our incoming class – is truly one of the highlights of our calendar,” said Hallworth. “To these outstanding songwriters, we say – thank you for sharing your songs and your artistry with us. We are proud to honor you this fall, when you will officially join your legendary peers in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.”

Ford introduced each member of the new class at the press conference event. Bogard and Martin were elected in the contemporary songwriter category; Lauderdale in the contemporary songwriter/artist category; Cook as the veteran songwriter, Harris as the veteran songwriter/artist, and Paisley, who was elected in 2024 but deferred at his request to 2025, as the contemporary songwriter/artist.

Click here to read more about the inductees. 

Benny Brown Acquires Wide Open Music Publishing, Forms North Chapel Music

Pictured (L-R, back row): North Chapel Music’s Jason Sellers and Wendy Buckner. (L-R, front row): North Chapel Music’s Benny Brown and Paul Compton. Photo: Courtesy of North Chapel Music

Music industry veteran Benny Brown has acquired Wide Open Music Publishing and launched a new publishing venture, North Chapel Music.

North Chapel Music is now home to Wide Open Music’s entire song catalog, including Billboard No. 1 hits such as Brett Young’s RIAA Diamond-certified “In Case You Didn’t Know,” Matt Stell’s double-Platinum “Prayed For You,” and George Birge’s recent chart-topper, “Cowboy Songs,” as well as Birge’s Mediabase country No. 1 “Mind On You.”

Brown has signed five new writers to publishing deals with North Chapel Music: genre-blending country artist Matt Cooper, modern country traditionalist Spencer Hatcher, Hatcher’s brother and bandmate Connor Hatcher, hit country songwriter Jason Sellers, and Runaway June founding member Jennifer Wayne.

Former Wide Open Music executive Paul Compton has been tapped to serve as Executive Vice President for North Chapel Music. In his new role, Compton will be responsible for all day-to-day creative and administrative management duties. With more than 30 years of publishing experience, Compton founded the companies Music Highway Writer Services and The Songwriter Agency.

“I’m grateful to Benny for entrusting me to lead his vision of the newly formed North Chapel Music,” says Compton. “With our growing roster of established writers and developing artist writers, North Chapel will serve as a direct source of music and artistry for Benny’s QHMG record labels, as well as servicing career-elevating music and talent for the global music market.”

In addition to signing Jason Sellers as a songwriter, Brown has appointed him as North Chapel Music’s Senior Creative Director. Sellers has been in music his entire life, working as a musician, vocalist and producer since he was 18. As a songwriter, he has numerous awards and No. 1s to his credit. Sellers will continue in his role as a Partner at sister company Quartz Hill Music Group.

“Since the day we launched Brown Sellers Brown, now QHMG, I suspected Benny would wanna get back deeper into publishing,” says Sellers. “He loves our artists, he loves our teams, but he LOVES great songs. And I do too. So, whether it’s writing, or broader strategy, I’m very excited to support him in this new venture.”

Brown has also appointed Wendy Buckner as Creative Director for North Chapel Music, reporting to Compton. She brings more than 20 years of experience in publishing, music and TV production, and artist management. Her most recent role has been at BSB Management, as Day-to-Day Manager for multiple artists.

North Chapel Music is now also home to Wide Open Music’s roster of writers, including Jaron Boyer, Neal Coty, Matt Gorman, Joe Hanson, Joe Haydel, Lakelin Lemmings, Tim Owens, Chris Ray, Aaron Scherz, John Stephens and Nathan Woodard.

Wide Open Music was founded in 2013 by music industry executives Steve Williams and Ash Bowers. The launch of North Chapel Music does not affect Bowers’ role as Executive Vice President at sister company QHMG.

Industry veteran Brown’s legacy includes founding BBR Music Group (including Magic Mustang Music), which is now part of BMG, and current venture Quartz Hill Music Group, which includes Quartz Hill Records, Stone Country Records and BSB Management. North Chapel Music is not part of QHMG, but rather a sister company.

Ben Goldsmith Extends Publishing Deal With Kobalt Music

Pictured (L to R): Stephanie Cox (Kobalt), Ben Goldsmith, Kevin Lane (Kobalt)

Songwriter Ben Goldsmith has extended his publishing deal with Kobalt Music.

Goldsmith originally signed with Kobalt in 2022, and has had songs recorded by Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith, Braxton Keith, Kat Luna, Braedon Barnhill, Tigirlily Gold, Dillon James and others.

“No one works harder than Ben,” says Senior Director, Creative Kevin Lane. “He’s put in countless hours to get to this point and I’m so glad we are seeing that hard work begin to pay off.”

“I am very excited and grateful to continue working with Kevin, Stephanie and all of Kobalt. Since my early days in Nashville, Kevin has been a champion of me, and I am lucky to have him as my publisher. Kobalt feels like a family and I’m looking forward to the next chapter with them,” says Goldsmith.

 

Jake Mitchell Signs With Riser House

Pictured (L-R, back row): Allison Pilotti (Riser House), Aaron Steinberg (Counsel, Riser House), Lauren Spahn (Counsel, Riser House), Matt Cottingham (Counsel, Jake Mitchell). (L-R, front row): Brandon Perdue (Riser House), Teddy, Jake Mitchell and Kirby Mathews (Riser House)

Writer-producer Jake Mitchell has signed an exclusive songwriting deal with Riser House.

Mitchell is known for his work on songs “One Beer” (HARDY, Lauren Alaina, Devin Dawson), “Some Girls” (Jameson Rodgers), “Unapologetically Country As Hell” (HARDY) and “Beer Don’t” (Morgan Wallen), along with additional releases from artists like Jordan Davis, Ashley McBryde, Kane Brown and Luke Bryan. Mitchell’s catalog of releases currently tops 2.5 billion on-demand streams. Additionally, he recently partnered with Riser House to sign Aaron Armstrong to a publishing agreement.

“I’ve known Jake for a long time, and have loved his writing for just as long,” says SVP of A&R + Publishing at Riser House, Brandon Perdue. “When I found out he was starting to look for his next publishing home, I immediately threw our name in the ring. To have the chance to work with such an incredible talent, who also happens to be an incredible human, is a publisher’s dream. It’s been so incredible to see that the rest of the community loves Jake just as much as we do. My entire team is ready to win, and win big, with Jake.”

“I couldn’t feel more blessed and thankful to have a team that understands me creatively and is aligned with my goals so quickly,” says Mitchell. “I’m ready to show up in this next season with a passion that inspires everyone I’m working with. I’m so excited to be with Brandon and the rest of the team at Riser House!”

 

30A Songwriters Festival Reveals 2026 Headliners

Mavis Staples, Toad the Wet Sprocket and 10,000 Maniacs are among the headliners for the 17th Annual 30a Songwriters Festival set for January 16-19, 2026.

Additional headliners include I’m With Her, Nikki Lane and Paul McDonald & the Mourning Doves. The 30A Songwriters Festival has attracted thousands of live music fans from around the world for the past 17 years to hear songwriters from multiple genres perform their original songs. The beach resort towns along Scenic Highway 30A on the Gulf Coast feature 30 venues that host over 125 songwriters and 300+ solo, band, and in-the-round performances during the annual festival.

“For the headline stage on Saturday and Sunday afternoons of the MLK holiday weekend we have always booked heritage artists, legends from different favorite decades and emerging artists gaining national star status in front of our eyes,” explains Russell Carter, President of Russell Carter Artist Management and Festival Co-Producer. “2026 is no exception. Mavis Staples brings her 70 years of performing brilliance back to 30A, Toad the Wet Sprocket and 10,000 Maniacs are seminal alternative rock bands that emerged from the 90s and rose to the top of the charts with multiple hits. Nikki Lane and Paul McDonald have both developed critically acclaimed careers as they have built regional followings. Both have new breakthrough albums that are now propelling their careers to new heights. It all adds up to two afternoons of very exciting live music.”

Festival Weekend Passes are currently available at 30asongwritersfestival.com. VIP tickets that include premium seating, food and drinks in the VIP tent on Saturday and Sunday afternoons are also available.

The full festival lineup will be announced over the next few weeks.