Rising Star and Columbia, TN Native Amplifies Music Appreciation with Performance of Top 15 Single “How It Oughta Be”
Music Has Value Donates New Instruments to Music Education Program
NASHVILLE, TN (May 11, 2023) – BMLG Records’ recording artist Shane Profitt partnered with Music Has Value and the CMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association, yesterday (5/10) to connect with music students and teachers in his hometown of Columbia, TN. During the visit to Joseph Brown Elementary School, the singer-songwriter joined the CMA Foundation to shine a light on music education through a student Q&A, interactive rhythm game, and acoustic performance of his recent Top 15-and-rising debut single, “How It Oughta Be.” During the visit, Scott and Sandi Borchetta’s Music Has Value fund, which supports those who make music, aspire to make music, and access and appreciate music, also gifted the school new instruments as part of a $120,000 pledge to benefit music education programs in middle Tennessee public school districts in partnership with the CMA Foundation.
Profitt still resides in Columbia, when he’s not traveling the country touring, recording new music, or receiving standing ovations at the Grand Ole Opry. It was just a year ago that the rising star was still punching the clock, busting his back mowing grass for the same city. Then, after running into Chris Janson at a Sushi restaurant in Franklin Tennessee, Profitt signed his first record deal in a matter of weeks, proving small-town dreams can come true. Now, fast forward to 2023, the signed musician’s debut single is climbing the Country radio charts, making him even more eager to give back to the community that encouraged him along the way.
“A year ago, I never thought I’d be getting invited to perform and teach my debut single to the community that raised me,” shares Profitt. “Since becoming a signed artist, I have been determined to proudly represent my hometown that means so much to me. I’m humbled to have shared this experience with these incredible students and hope this encourages them that there is no dream too big.”
Initially developed in 2018, the CMA Foundation’s Tennessee: State of the Arts initiative is a first-of-its-kind statewide arts education landscape analysis. Through a public-private partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education and Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, the CMA Foundation provides no-cost needs assessments to all Tennessee public school district’s arts program. The CMA Foundation’s goal with Tennessee: State of the Arts is to develop an understanding of the criteria necessary for establishing high-quality arts education programs and to discover barriers affecting the quality of arts education programming. As of today, 40 district assessments have been completed, offering the CMA Foundation insight into challenges that exist in the classroom, which includes scheduling, equipment needs, limited classroom space, teacher shortages and more.
