Alison Krauss & Union Station, Billy Strings and the Alison Brown/Steve Martin/Tim O’Brien collaboration “5 Days Out, 2 Days Back” lead the slate of nominees for the 2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, presented by Get It Played.

The 2025 IBMA Awards will be held Sept. 18 at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tenn., during the annual IBMA World of Bluegrass, which runs Sept. 16-20. This marks the awards ceremony’s first to be held at the venue in Chattanooga, following a long stint in Raleigh, N.C. The nominees and honorees announcement was made during a live event held at the SiriusXM Studios in Nashville.

Alison Krauss & Union Station, Strings, Appalachian Road Show, East Nash Grass and The Del McCoury Band are competing for the entertainer of the year honor. Alison Krauss & Union Station, who released their first project in over a decade earlier this year, were previously named entertainer of the year in 1991 and 1995. Strings took home the entertainer of the year honors in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Del McCoury Band’s 2024 win in the category marked their 10th overall entertainer of the year win. Meanwhile, the Appalachian Road Show celebrate their second nomination in the category, while East Nash Grass earn their first nomination in the category. (They earned the IBMA’s new artist of the year accolade last year.)

Also announced were this year’s Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees, which are pioneering Black guitarist Arnold Schultz, who influenced musicians including Bill Monroe; bluegrass band Hot Rize (which included musicians such as Tim O’Brien, Pete Wernick, Nick Forster, Charles Sawtelle and Bryan Sutton over the years) and group The Bluegrass Cardinals, who toured from 1974 to 1997.

“IBMA is excited to bring the biggest night in bluegrass to our new host city, Chattanooga,”
Ken White, executive director of IBMA, said in a statement. “Our mission is to inspire innovation by recognizing the great work done by artists this past year and to honor tradition by inducting new members into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. The early influence of Arnold Shultz on Bill Monroe continues to shine through in the playing of even the youngest member of Kids on Bluegrass. You will undoubtedly see once in a lifetime performances. Don’t miss it.”

This year’s IBMA distinguished achievement award goes to five recipients: Alan Arthur Knoth, Penny Parsons, Ron Thomason, Sidley Austin LLP and Missy Raines.

Knoth, also known as “Cuzin’ Al,” a pioneering bluegrass radio host who influenced the bluegrass music community in Northern California. His career launched at KTAO in Los Gatos, Calif., in 1970 and continued at KFAT in Gilroy and at KPIG in Freedom. His show, “Cuzin Al’s Bluegrass Show,” highlighted traditional bluegrass music along with Hawaiian songs and comedic recordings. He also helped inspired the creation of the Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society and served on the California Bluegrass Association board.

Parsons spent more than 45 years advocating for bluegrass music as a writer, publicist, producer, manager and booking agent, launching her career in 1979. Her work has included time at Sugar Hill Records, Record Depot Distribution and MerleFest, as well as leading her publicity and promotions firm the Penny Parsons Company. Parsons has contributed to Bluegrass Unlimited since 1981 and worked with bluegrass artist Curly Seckler, working as his manager, producer and biographer from 2004 to 2017. Her accolades include the 2016 IBMA print media person of the year award and her biography, Foggy Mountain Troubadour earning the Association of Recorded Sound Collections certificate of merit.

Thomason, leader of the Dry Branch Fire Squad, began hosting the Grey Fox Festival in 1984. He started with Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys in 1969, then joined the Dry Branch Fire Squad and promoting traditional bluegrass music.

The law firm Sidley Austin LLP has contributed to the IBMA through pro bono legal services since 2015, when Sidley Austin partner and co-head of the company’s global corporate governance practice Holly Gregory initiated the partnership. The firm provided support in transitioning the IBMA to 501c3 nonprofit status, protecting the IBMA’s intellectual property and assisting with travel visa processes for international bands, among other support.

Trailblazing bassist Raines has won the IBMA’s bass player of the year honor 10 times and is the first woman to achieve the honor. She is known for work as a duo with Jim Hurst, but also for leading Missy Raines & the New Hip, co-founding the Helen Highwater Stringband and issuing the Grammy-nominated project Royal Traveller.

More nominations are set to be revealed, including nominees for the 2025 IBMA Momentum Awards, which highlight artist and industry professionals in the early stages of their bluegrass music careers, as well as the 2025 IBMA Industry Awards. The nominations will be announced the week of July 20.

See the full list of this year’s nominees below:

Entertainer of the year:

Alison Krauss & Union Station
Appalachian Road Show
Billy Strings
East Nash Grass
The Del McCoury Band

Song of the year:

“5 Days Out, 2 Days Back” – Alison Brown, Steve Martin, Featuring Tim O’Brien
Songwriters: Steve Martin/Alison Brown
Producers: Alison Brown/Garry West
Label: Compass Records

“Big Wheels” – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriter: Jerry Cole
Producer: Authentic Unlimited
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Coal Dust Kisses” – The Grascals
Songwriters: Susanne Mumpower/Jerry Salley
Producer: The Grascals
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

“My Favorite Picture of You” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Songwriters: Darin Aldridge/Brooke Aldridge/Dennis Duff
Producers: Darin Aldridge/Mark Fain
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Outrun the Rain” – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland
Songwriters: Terry Herd/Jimmy Yeary
Producers: Jason Carter/Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records

Album of the year:

Arcadia – Alison Krauss & Union Station
Producer: Alison Krauss & Union Station
Label: Down the Road Records
Carter & Cleveland – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland
Producers: Jason Carter/Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records

Earl Jam – Tony Trischka
Producers: Tony Trischka/Lawson White
Label: Down the Road Records
Highway Prayers – Billy Strings
Producers: Billy Strings/Jon Brion
Label: Reprise Records

I Built a World – Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Producers: Brent Truitt/Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Label: Sugar Petunia Records

Vocal group of the year:

Alison Krauss & Union Station
Authentic Unlimited
Blue Highway
Sister Sadie
The Del McCoury Band

Instrumental Group of the year:

Billy Strings
East Nash Grass
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
The Travelin’ McCourys

Gospel recording of the year:

“Blue Collar Gospel” – Jerry Salley Featuring The Oak Ridge Boys
Songwriters: Rick Lang/Bill Whyte/Jerry Salley
Producer: Jerry Salley
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Dear Lord” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Songwriter: Daniel Davis
Producers: Darin Aldridge/Mark Fain
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Even Better When You Listen” – Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
Songwriters: Rick Lang/Mark BonDurant
Producer: Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
Label: Billy Blue Records

“He’s Gone” – Jaelee Roberts
Songwriter: Kelsi Harrigill
Producer: Byron House
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

“Wings of Love” – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriters: Jesse Brock/Stephen Burwell/Jerry Cole/Eli Johnston/John Meador
Producer: Authentic Unlimited
Label: Billy Blue Records

Instrumental recording of the year:

“Bluegrass in the Backwoods” – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland
Songwriter: Kenny Baker
Producers: Jason Carter/Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records

“The Drifter” – Danny Roberts
Songwriter: Danny Roberts
Producers: Danny Roberts/Andrea Roberts
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

“A Drive at Dusk” – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriter: Jesse Brock
Producer: Authentic Unlimited
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Kern County Breakdown” – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland
Songwriter: Buck Owens/Don Rich
Producers: Jason Carter/Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records

“Ralph’s Banjo Special” – Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt & Alison Brown
Songwriter: Ralph Stanley
Producer: Alison Brown
Label: Compass Records

New artist of the year:

AJ Lee & Blue Summit
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Jason Carter
Red Camel Collective
Wyatt Ellis

Collaborative recording of the year:

“5 Days Out, 2 Days Back” – Alison Brown & Steve Martin Featuring Tim O’Brien
Songwriters: Steve Martin/Alison Brown
Producer: Alison Brown/Garry West
Label: Compass Records

“A Million Memories (A Song for Byron)” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge Featuring Vince Gill
Songwriter: Vince Gill
Producers: Darin Aldridge/Mark Fain
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Cora Is Gone” – Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski Featuring Rob McCoury & Billy Strings
Songwriter: Mac Odell
Producer: C.J. Lewandowski
Label: Turnberry Records

“Outrun the Rain” – Jason Carter, Michael Cleveland, Jaelee Roberts & Vince Gill
Songwriters: Terry Herd/Jimmy Yeary
Producers: Jason Carter/Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records

“Ralph’s Banjo Special” – Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt & Alison Brown
Songwriter: Ralph Stanley
Producer: Alison Brown
Label: Compass Records

Male vocalist of the year:

Billy Strings
Dan Tyminski
Del McCoury
Greg Blake
Russell Moore

Female vocalist of the year:

AJ Lee
Alison Krauss
Brooke Aldridge
Jaelee Roberts
Sierra Hull

Banjo player of the year:

Alison Brown
Gena Britt
Kristin Scott Benson
Ron Block
Tony Trischka

Bass player of the year:

Barry Bales
Mike Bub
Missy Raines
Todd Phillips
Vickie Vaughn

Fiddle player of the year:

Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Jason Carter
Maddie Denton
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan

Resophonic guitar player of the year:

Andy Hall
Jerry Douglas
Justin Moses
Matt Leadbetter
Rob Ickes

Guitar player of the year:

Billy Strings
Bryan Sutton
Cody Kilby
Molly Tuttle
Trey Hensley

Mandolin player of the year:

Alan Bibey
Jesse Brock
Ronnie McCoury
Sam Bush
Sierra Hull

Music video of the year:

“5 Days Out, 2 Days Back” – Alison Brown & Steve Martin Featuring Tim O’Brien
Songwriters: Steve Martin/Alison Brown
Producer: Alison Brown/Garry West
Videographer: Joseph Spence
Label: Compass Records

“A Million Memories (A Song for Byron)” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge Featuring Vince Gill
Songwriter: Vince Gill
Producer: Jenny Gill
Videographer: Travis Flynn
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Big Wheels” – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriter: Jerry Cole
Producers: Bryce Free/Kyle Johnson
Videographer: Bryce Free
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Gallows Pole” – Appalachian Road Show
Songwriter: Traditional arr. Barry Abernathy/Jim VanCleve/Darrell Webb
Producer: Steve Kinney
Videographer: Steve Kinney
Label: Billy Blue Records

“Tennessee Hound Dog” – The Grascals
Songwriter: Felice Bryant/Boudleaux Bryant
Producer: Ty Gilpin
Videographer: Nate Shuppert
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

“The Auctioneer” – The Kody Norris Show
Songwriters: Leroy Van Dyke/Buddy Black
Producer: James Gilley
Videographer: Nate Wiles
Label: Rebel Records

As Leon Thomas entranced the crowd with his spellbinding performance at Wireless Festival 2025, his mentor and EZMNY labelhead, Ty Dolla $ign, came onstage and made a bold proclamation: Leon Thomas is the new King of R&B.

“We started our record company EZMNY — me and Shawn Barron — and signed Leon Thomas, who is now the new king of this s–t. He’s the easiest artist I’ve worked with — ever in life,” Dolla $ign told Billboard after Thomas’ Wireless performance. “He’s the new example of what an artist should be, in my eyes.”

For Ty to bestow such an honor on Thomas — who is enjoying a breakout year with the success of his top 15 Hot 100 hit “Mutt” — is a gratifying experience, after watching the singer/songwriter build his acclaimed album from the ground up. According to Dolla $ign, Thomas’ calculated approach and insatiable appetite for greatness shone during a label meeting with Motown and Capitol, where the singer presented his album rollout via a PowerPoint presentation.

“We were in a label meeting. EZMNY, Motown and Capitol. When we go into this meeting, this man pulls out his laptop and asks for it to be hooked up to the TV so we can talk about what’s going to happen with this new album. He pulls up a f–king PowerPoint display,” chuckled Dolla $ign. “These are the colors I want to use. This is the stage. These are videos, and the people I want to work with for the videos. And these are the people who I want to style me. And this is the work.”

He added, “A lot of people need to give them ideas. You have to make it for them, and he showed me there’s people who know the whole thing. You go years and years of f–king with different artists and them blaming you for the way their success went when it’s really on you, just like how it was all on me.” 

Since Mutt’s September 2024 release, the album has garnered excellent reviews and ultimately topped Billboard’s staff year-end list for best R&B albums. As Thomas continues to accelerate towards musical excellence, Dolla $ign isn’t done forging a legacy of his own. After netting a No. 1 single and album last year alongside Ye, the Beach House singer-songwriter is back riding solo, prepping the release of his forthcoming project, Tycoon. According to Dolla $ign, Thomas and Chloe Bailey will feature on the set.

“Tycoon, I put my all into this,” expressed Dolla $ign. “It’s a crazy body of work. I’m at the top of my game. I’m going to that next level. You’ll see the growth, the musicality, and it’s going to be better than anything that’s coming out.”

Last month, Dolla $ign previewed his upcoming documentary, Still Free TC, at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival. The doc, which commemorates the 10th anniversary of his 2015 album, Free TC, highlighted Dolla $ign’s creative process and evolution as a premier singer/songwriter.

“My documentary is about to drop. I’ve been working on that for the last two years,” explained Dolla $ign. “You’re going to see what’s been going on over the last two years and get a glimpse of my whole life. It’s called Still Free TC. You’ll get some appearances from [my brother] TC, of course, if you’re a fan of Free TC.”

Longtime industry executive James Mack has joined management firm The Shalizi Group.

Mack is bringing his management clients, British electronic duo Snakehips and Los Angles based DJ/producer Omnom, to the company’s roster. He’ll also be part of The Shalizi Group’s management team for Dutch star dance producer Afrojack alongside company founder Moe Shalizi and TSG’s Adam Chaves and work with the company’s wider roster.

“I’m extremely excited to be joining forces with Moe and The Shalizi Group,” says Mack. “Moe’s vision for talent, his creativity and hustle is very inspiring. He has built an amazing team at The Shalizi Group, offering the roster a unique level of services. I’m looking forward to the incredible work we’ll do together and what the future holds!”

Shalizi adds that “I’ve worked with James since the beginning of my career and to have him on board officially as a part of the team and culture we are building at TSG, it’s very exciting. His vision, work ethic, and determination are what have always set him apart and I couldn’t be more grateful to have him on our team.”

Mack joins The Shalizi Group after 14 years with Listen Up, the dance/electronic music-focused PR firm that he co-founded. At Listen Up, Mack orchestrated global campaigns for clients including Avicii, David Guetta, Fisher, Dom Dolla, Jamie Jones and Black Coffee, the latter of whom won the 2022 Grammy for best dance/electronic album following a campaign lead by Mack. Mack was also instrumental in spearheading Listen Up’s expansion to the U.S. and Asia.

The current Shalizi Group roster also includes Marshmello, Alesso, Southside, Svdden Death, Jauz and more.

The Jonas Brothers dropped the latest preview of their upcoming seventh studio album, Greetings From Your Hometown, on Wednesday morning (July 16). The bouncy, ready for hot fun in the summertime single “I Can’t Lose” is an homage to a love that makes everything feel right, even when things are going wrong.

“I woke up late, missed the alarm, can’t find the keys to my car/ What do you know? Power went out, I’m getting dressed in the dark/ Finally got out the door, but on the way, they cancelled my flight/ Nothing’s working anymore, feels like I’m losing my mind,” Joe Jonas sings on the first verse of the bubbling tune that features Joe teaming with Nick on the keening chorus of the track that will be featured on the LP due out on Aug. 8.

“I can’t lose when I’m with you/ Oh-oh, you give me everything, everything that I need, everything that I need to keep smiling through-ooh-ooh/ I can’t lose when I’m with you/ Oh-oh, made out of magic and I gotta have it, I made it a habit to keep smiling through-ooh-ooh,” they sing on the soaring refrain.

The positive energy carries over into the performance video for the single, which mixes footage of the Brothers singing on a New York rooftop for a group of select fans with images of cancer survivors celebrating the end of treatment and receiving loving support from their families. The song was first featured as the official anthem of ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball coverage and the uplifting video debuted in partnership with Mastercard in support of Stand Up To Cancer during Tuesday night’s (July 15) 2025 MLB All-Star game.

“We debuted ‘I Can’t Lose’ – a song about love, strength, and showing up for the people you love. Dedicated to all of those who Stand Up To Cancer,” the band said in a statement. “Teaming up with Mastercard to uplift fans who’ve found hope and healing in our music means so much to us. ‘I Can’t Lose’ is a song we hope can carry different meanings for everyone who hears it and, for those who need it, a reminder of their own strength.”

“I Can’t Lose” follows the trio’s most recent single, the Bee Gees-interpolating disco pop single “No Time To Talk.” So far, they’ve also previewed the album with the songs “Love Me to Heaven” and the Marshmello collab “Slow Motion.”

The JoBros will kick off their 2025 JONAS20: Greetings From Your Hometown tour on Aug. 10 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Check out the “I Can’t Lose” video below.

SiriusXM launched a low-cost subscription service this week as the audio giant seeks solutions to reverse a persistently declining subscriber-base and increase its earnings from advertisers.

The new, ad-supported service, called SiriusXM Play, will cost less than $7 a month –less than SiriusXM’s $25 all access plan or its $9.99 app subsciption–and will become available by the end of this year. Play listeners will have access to the satellite radio company’s 130 stations in the car, including popular music, news and sports channels, as well as the app’s offering.

While price and availability are still being rolled out, investors were lukewarm to the idea. SiriusXM’s stock falling by more than 3% on Wednesday to $23.07, one day after the company announced the news.

SiriusXM lost 303,000 subscribers in the first quarter this year, bringing its total number of subscribers to roughly 33 million. While still a healthy subscriber number, the deline drove a 5% reduction in the business division’s subscriber revenue. Last year, the company said it expected 2025 revenue to come in below 2024’s figures, forecasting revenue this year of $8.5 billion compared to 2024’s revenue of $8.675 billion.

As the dominant premium audio provider for listeners in their vehicles, Sirius’s fortunes are closely connected to the automobile industry. U.S. auto sales rose between March and July, as people rushed to buy cars befure prices rose due to new tariffs on U.S. imports. While that could be a good thing for new car starts, a category of SiriusXM subscriptions the company is expected to share details about when it reports second quarter earnings on July 31, car sales are cooling as tariffs are expected to drive vehicle prices higher.

SiriusXM executives have been teasing the launch of a lower-tier product for in-car subscribers and expanded and more tailored marketing opportunities for advertisers for several quarters. On Tuesday, the company said Play presents an opportunity to boost not just subscribers but also ad dollars.

“Play is an exciting new opportunity for marketers,” said Scott Walker, chief advertising revenue officer. “The car is the final frontier for digital ad-supported media. We are opening up new inventory.”