Thomas Rhett and Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta Surprise MusiCares® with $100,000 Donation

NASHVILLE, TN – MULTI-PLATINUM entertainer Thomas Rhett released his hit song “Be A Light” featuring friends Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin and Keith Urban in March accompanied by an announcement that he and the song’s collaborators would donate all proceeds from single to the ongoing MusiCares® COVID-19 Relief efforts. Today, Thomas Rhett and Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta surprised Recording Academy® Chair and Interim President/CEO Harvey Mason Jr. and MusiCares Executive Director  Laura Segura  via a video conference with an additional $100,000 for the relief fund. The news comes as “Be A Light” nears the top of the Country Radio charts and fans all over the world share messages of hope with the #BeALight campaign. The song’s accompanying music video features fan-submitted footage of spreading love and kindness with the message of “Be A Light.” Thomas Rhett co-wrote the timeless message alongside Josh Miller, Josh Thompson and Matt Dragstrem.

In partnership with the Recording Academy, MusiCares established the initial COVID-19 Relief Fund to help people in the music industry affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak and subsequent cancellation of multiple music events. From hotel and bar gigs to major music festivals, COVID-19 is deeply impacting live music events, and the creative community behind it all. MusiCares helps across the spectrum of need – from physical or mental health emergency, addiction recovery, threat of eviction and preventative services – and its COVID-19 Relief efforts directly support those in the music community with the greatest need as the urgency remains high.

“Thank y’all so much for everything y’all are doing. The fact that y’all are helping people pay mortgages and hospital bills, I commend y’all so highly for that, says Thomas Rhett in the video. “Hopefully we can get a lot more on board this train to continue to give and continue to help out our people.”

“On behalf of the Big Machine Label Group, we are going to donate $50,000 today to the MusiCares COVID Fund to keep moving this forward in an aggressive way and try to be more aggressive that this terrible disease that we are dealing with,” states Borchetta before Thomas Rhett says he has agreed to match the monetary amount.

“That’s incredible you guys, that’s so generous,” says Mason in the video. ‘’That is really big and so important, so thank you so much.”

For more information, visit www.musicares.org, “like” MusiCares^® on Facebook, and follow @MusiCares on Twitter and Instagram.