Music News (6/10/26)
WSM’s Bill Cody Passes
Bill Cody. Photo: Grand Ole Opry, by Chris Hollo
WSM announcer Bill Cody passed away on June 9. He was 67.
Cody’s distinctive voice has resonated across international airwaves for more than five decades. For over 30 years, he served as host of WSM Radio’s flagship morning program, Coffee, Country & Cody, and became especially renowned for his longtime role as announcer and host of the Grand Ole Opry.
Inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 2008, Cody has earned multiple nominations from the CMA, ACM and Billboard. In 2024, he was honored with a star on the Music City Walk of Fame Park. He will also be posthumously inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame later this year.
In the days ahead, WSM will honor Cody with a special marathon of moments from Coffee, Country & Cody. Saturday’s (June 13) Grand Ole Opry will be dedicated to Cody. Services have yet to be announced.
Click here to read his full obituary.
Christian Stalnecker Inks With Curb | Word Music Publishing
Pictured (L-R, top row): Curb’s Trevor Mathiesen; Jonathan Mason; Joseph Prielozny; Bryan Stewart; AIMWIDE’s Damien Wong-Ken and Curb’s Benson Curb. (L-R, bottom row): Frascogna Law Group’s Maggie Mabury; Christian Stalnecker and Curb’s John Nemoy
GRAMMY nominated songwriter and producer Christian Stalnecker has signed with Curb | Word Music Publishing.
Stalnecker began his music career performing Southern Gospel and Christian music with his family’s revival band, traveling and playing shows across the country. As a teenager, he launched a pop career under the name Christian Davis, opening for major acts including Destiny’s Child, Christina Aguilera and the Backstreet Boys.
After moving to Los Angeles, he signed a publishing deal with Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins and Sony/ATV, writing and producing for artists such as El DeBarge, Lil Wayne, Dreezy and Day26. He has also worked with Boyz II Men, Warren G and others.
Later relocating to Nashville, Stalnecker became a successful country songwriter, co-writing several No. 1 hits, including “Different Man” (Kane Brown featuring Blake Shelton), “Rescue Me” (Chris Young), and the multi-platinum hit “Thank God” (Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown). The song topped the Country Airplay chart, crossed into multiple mainstream formats, and was named SESAC Nashville Song of the Year.
Known for his cross-genre songwriting and production, Stalnecker’s credits also include work with NKOTB, T-Pain, Rick Ross, Wale, Ludacris, 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg.
“Christian’s melody-first approach and ability to write hits that transcend genres make him a perfect fit for Curb | Word Music Publishing,” shares VP A&R and Publishing, Jonathan Mason. “We’re excited to support his next chapter as both a songwriter and artist.”
“After all my years, the most important thing in my career is to be around people who truly believe in me and really want to work hard alongside me,” adds Stalnecker. “I take my music career very personally, and Curb feels like a family.”
U.S. Register Of Copyrights Continues Designation Of The MLC As Statutory Mechanical Licensing Collective
The Register of Copyrights has published a rule continuing the Mechanical Licensing Collective’s designation as the statutory collective responsible for administering the blanket compulsory mechanical license for eligible streaming and download services in the U.S.
The Register originally designated The MLC in 2019, and since beginning operations in 2021, The MLC has enrolled nearly 90,000 members, built one of the world’s most comprehensive public databases of song ownership information containing data for more than 54 million songs, and reached total royalties distributed of nearly $4 billion to songwriters and music publishers.
The periodic review process was initiated by The Register in January 2024 through a public notice published in the Federal Register. In April 2024, The MLC submitted a comprehensive filing detailing its operations, governance, and performance under the MMA, followed by a public comment and reply period. The MLC filed a final submission in July 2024.
“We are honored that the Register of Copyrights has continued The MLC’s designation and appreciate the Register’s thoughtful and thorough review,” says Kris Ahrend, CEO of The MLC. “This continued designation validates our success in carrying out our statutory responsibilities, and it reflects the overwhelming support we have received from songwriters, publishers, and the broader music community over the past six and a half years. We are humbled to be able to continue serving this community, and we remain committed to ensuring that every rightsholder receives the mechanical royalties they have earned.”
“On behalf of the Board, I am proud of the organization’s progress and grateful to the songwriters and publishers whose engagement and feedback help ensure The MLC remains effective, efficient, and focused on serving the music community,” said Alisa Coleman, Board Chair of The MLC. “The Register’s decision affirms that The MLC’s governance, operations, and performance continue to meet the standards established by Congress.”
Centricity Music Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Centricity Music staff during the record label’s 20-year celebration. Photo: Courtesy of Centricity Music
Centricity Music recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Formed in 2005 and establishing its headquarters in the Nashville area in 2006, Centricity Music and Centricity Publishing are now home to Andrew Peterson, Band Reeves, Bay Turner, Brandon Heath, Bryan McCleery, Centricity Worship, Chris Renzema, Gary Rea, Jason Gray, Jaye King, John Allan, Jordan Feliz, Katy Nichole, Kyle Williams, Mack Brock, Natalie Layne, Paul Duncan, Rachel Morley, Rachel Purcell, The Choir Room and Unspoken.
“Reaching this 20-year milestone is a testament to the hard work of our team, the trust of our artists and writers, and our commitment to continuous innovation that is grounded in our core values,” says Centricity Music CEO Caren Seidle. “While we are incredibly proud of what we have built over the last two decades, we are even more excited about the future. We remain dedicated to pushing boundaries and delivering exceptional music to inspire every listener.”
Luke Stevens Inks With Warner Chappell Music & Cornman Music
Pictured (L-R): Scott Safford (Safford Motley PLC), Austen Adams (WCM), Nate Lowery (Cornman Music), Luke Stevens, Chris Owen (Cornman Music), and Christina Wiltshire (WCM). Photo: Courtesy of WCM
Singer-songwriter Luke Stevens has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music (WCM) Nashville and Cornman Music.
Stevens got his start performing in the Stillwater, Oklahoma music scene. After moving to Nashville in 2021, he worked at The Listening Room while building his songwriting career and performing at respected venues like the Bluebird Cafe. Since then, he has dedicated himself fully to music. Along the way, he has collaborated with acclaimed Nashville songwriters including Mark Irwin, Adam James and Lee Thomas Miller.
“I couldn’t be more excited to have such a great team with true champions of songwriters around me at Cornman and Warner Chappell,” says Stevens. “Cornman felt like home and Chris and Nate felt like family the minute I met them. Let’s get to work!”
“Luke is a special talent,” shares Christina Wiltshire, VP, A&R, WCM Nashville. “He’s a wise, hard working, genuine, and passionate student of country music. I feel grateful to be a part of his first publishing deal because I just know he’s going to do big things in our community.”
“When I first heard Luke’s songs, I immediately took notice,” adds Chris Owen, Creative Director, Cornman Music. “His concepts and melodies are incredibly special and he’s such a student of the game. Nate Lowery and I are thrilled to work with him!”
AIMP Nashville Unveils 2026 Unsigned Songwriter Series Winners
The Association of Independent Music Publishers Nashville Young Professionals Committee has chosen six up-and-coming songwriters for its 2026 Unsigned Songwriter Series.
This year’s winners are Maddie Lenhart, Timothy Baker, Parker Graye, Gloria Anderson, JD Wise and Carly Zimmerman.
The winners will perform at a special industry showcase on June 23 at The Listening Room Cafe. Hosted by Jon Decious and Troy Cartwright, the event gives the songwriters a chance to perform their original music for Nashville music industry professionals, including publishers, managers and fellow songwriters.
“We were incredibly impressed by the quality of submissions this year,” says MaryAnn Keen of AIMP. “These six songwriters represent a diverse range of voices and perspectives, and we’re excited to showcase their talent through this year’s Unsigned Songwriter Series.”
The AIMP Nashville Unsigned Songwriter Series highlights emerging songwriting talent and helps connect writers with industry professionals. Organized each year by the AIMP Nashville Young Professionals Committee, the program provides valuable exposure and supports the growth of the next generation of music creators.
Dolly Parton Songwriters Award Presented To Kaden Trev
BMI’s Clay Bradley and 2026 BMI Foundation Dolly Parton Songwriters Award Winner Kaden Trev. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI
Singer-songwriter Kaden Trev received the 2026 Dolly Parton Songwriters Award from the BMI Foundation at the Ryman & BMI Block Party in Nashville on June 4.
Kaden’s winning song “Write My Wrongs” was selected from a record-breaking 600 applicants by a panel of music industry experts. The award was presented by BMI Foundation Trustee and BMI Vice President, Creative Clay Bradley following performances by Kat Luna, Robyn Ottolini, Tyce Delk, and TRIPPP.
In 2025, Trev advanced to Hollywood Week on American Idol, expanding his audience and music industry experience. This fall, he is set to attend Middle Tennessee State University to continue studying the music business while pursuing his dream of becoming a successful country artist.
“One of my favorite things is being able to put music to emotions and experiences into words,” shares Trev. “I’m super grateful for this award. It’s been really encouraging me to keep pursuing this dream that I have, and this passion that I love so much.”
The Dolly Parton Songwriters Award is an annual, national competition open to aspiring songwriters with a prize of $10,000 for the best original song entry in the genres of Americana, blues, bluegrass, contemporary Christian, country, folk, and roots. Originally established in 2015 as the Nashville Songwriting Scholarship, the award was created to celebrate BMI’s 75th anniversary and pay homage to the musical epicenter and “Songwriting Capital of the World,” Nashville. In 2022, the program was revised to honor the creativity and generosity of the legendary artist Dolly Parton with an endowment from Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston as well as a contribution from country superstar Luke Combs.
Category: Music News
