Country Music Hall of Famer Don Schlitz passed away yesterday (4/16) at a Nashville hospital following a sudden illness. He was 73. Schlitz's first hit as a songwriter came when Kenny Rogers recorded “The Gambler,” which became a hit in both country and pop upon its 1978 release. Among the singles Schlitz has written or co-written are Alabama’s “40 Hour Week (For A Livin’),” Mark Chesnutt’s “Almost Goodbye,” Paul Overstreet’s “Daddy’s Come Around,” Lorrie Morgan’s “Good As I Was To You,” Rogers’ “The Greatest,” Mary Chapin Carpenter’s “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” The Judds’ “Turn It Loose,” Collin Raye’s “I Think About You;” Garth Brooks’ “Learning To Live Again,” Tanya Tucker’s “My Arms Stay Open All Night,” Keith Whitley’s “When You Say Nothing At All,” and Randy Travis’ “Deeper Than The Holler,” “Forever And Ever, Amen” and “On The Other Hand.” 

Schlitz is recognized as a co-creator of the “in-the-round” format of songwriter performances, along with his collaborators Fred Knobloch, Paul Overstreet and Thom Schuyler. He was awarded a CMA and a Grammy for “The Gambler” in 1979 (Song Of The Year and Country Song Of The Year, respectively); a CMA, ACM and NSAI Award for “On The Other Hand” as Song Of The Year in 1986; the CMA for Song Of The Year in 1987 and Grammy Award for Country Song Of The Year in 1988 for “Forever And Ever, Amen;” and was named ASCAP Country Songwriter Of The Year from 1988 through 1991. Schlitz was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010, the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017 and became the first songwriter invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in 2022. Read his complete bio via the CMHoF here; services are pending. Saturday night's Opry performance will be dedicated in his honor.

Industry veteran Louie Newman has launched record label and promotion company Saddle Up Records, where he will serve as Founder/President. The staff includes SVP/National Promotion & Marketing Chele Fassig and VP/National Promotion & Streaming Matt Galvin, with enRG Promotions' RG Jones joining on special projects. 

“Radio remains a primary driver in country music, and we understand how critical airplay is to breaking and furthering an artist’s career,” says Newman. “We’ve built a team with a long track record of credibility at Country radio, while also working closely with digital and streaming partners to build momentum across all platforms. We’re excited about what’s ahead.”

Newman spent more than 25 years with MCA Nashville before briefly retiring in 2019 (CAT 7/1/19). Most recently, he has been working alongside Fassig and Jones at Lyric Ridge Records, a role for which he was named 2026 CRS/Country Aircheck Independent Promotion Executive of the Year in March (CAT 3/20). Prior to Lyric Ridge, Fassig was Mgr./Promotions at Records Nashville after 25 years with Beasley/Charlotte. Galvin previously was Dir./ National Digital Strategy & Promotion at Quartz Hill/Stone Country Records, spent nearly 25 years at RCA and, most recently, worked music for Grindstone Recordings. Jones spent 22 years at Sony/Nashville, rising to Dir./Promotion Strategy & Analysis.

Saddle Up's first artists will be announced in the coming weeks; the company will collaborate on select projects with Lyric Ridge. Reach Newman here, Fassig here, Galvin here and Jones here.

'DRM-pressive: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for February 2026 (three-month rolling average, 12/10/25-3/4/26) compared with December and January. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Rocky Mountain Glow: Here are select Nielsen Audio Continuous Diary Measurement (CDM) ratings for February 2026 (three-month rolling average, 12/10/25-3/4/26) compared with December and January. Ranks (in parentheses) are among subscribers. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are Persons 12+, Monday-Sunday, 6am-midnight.

Former UMG/Nashville (now MCA) Chair & CEO Cindy Mabe has launched and staffed Joan of Arc Music, described as a "360 entertainment ecosystem focusing on artist development and media innovation." The company bows with a "strategic distribution partnership" with Warner Records Nashville (WRN). Joining the Nashville-based company's all-female leadership team in unspecified roles are former UMGN EVP/Marketing Lori Christian, former UMGN SVP/Digital Business & Creative Development Dawn Gates (most recently operator of consulting/management firm Seven Note Enterprises (CAT 4/24/25)), former Grae Area Records/ONErpm artist/songwriter Harper Grae, former UMGN Mgr./Marketing & Artist Development Leigh Morrison and i3 CEO/founder Allison Winkler, who has held COO roles with Ricky Martin Enterprises/the Ricky Martin Foundation and The Avril Lavigne Foundation.

The company's four divisions include Joan of Arc Entertainment (artist management, recorded music/label services, project development and marketing, and publishing services), Joan of Arc Studio Works (content creation including audio and TV/film production), Joan of Arc Ventures (strategic investments in partnerships and equity-backed ventures) and philanthropic arm the Joan of Arc Music Preservation Foundation. In addition to the WRN deal, the company's inaugural partnerships include the CMA Foundation, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and mental health & wellness nonprofit Porter's Call.

Mabe left UMG in 2025 after nearly 18 years with the label group and two at the helm (CAT 2/6/25). Reach Mabe here, Christian here, Gates here, Grae here, Morrison here and Winkler here.