On 6/12, two-time JUNO Award-winner and three-time CCMA Entertainer of the Year Dallas Smith made his Grand Ole Opry debut to a sold-out crowd. The rising country star performed songs from his 2023 self-titled album, which has garnered 520m+ global streams and more than 2m album equivalents.
Seen having a grand ole time are (l-r) front row: Big Loud Management’s Jessica Hood; Big Loud Records’ Lucy Bartozzi, Cayleigh Shepherd and Liam O'Brien; back row: Big Loud Management’s Lloyd Aur Norman; Travis Switzer (bass), Chad Murphy (guitar); Smith; Kristen Smith; UTA’s Nick Meinema; Big Loud Records’ Brianne Deslippe; tour manager Christopher Montgomery; and Big Loud Records’ Justin Clark.
Photo credit: Jessica Hood
Big Loud/Mercury/Republic’s Morgan Wallen has donated $100,000 through his Morgan Wallen Foundation to the community of Jefferson City to revitalize two local baseball fields.
With $80,000 going toward Roy Harmon Field via the City Parks Department and $20,000 toward New Market Field via Jefferson City Little League, the renovations include new infields, bases, dug outs, press boxes, backstop padding, fencing and more.
The donation reflects the impact Jefferson City left on Wallen, who grew up near the city he references in his 4x platinum, #1 hit “Thought You Should Know.”
"Local little league is a pillar of the community - it creates a foundation for families to come together and enjoy an American pastime while teaching our youth skills that go beyond baseball,” said Robbie Britt, Jefferson City Little League President. “We'd like to thank Morgan Wallen Foundation for all of their support.”
“Investing in people is one of the greatest priorities of City government, and this partnership with the Morgan Wallen Foundation has provided Jefferson City with a very bright future. On behalf of the citizens of Jefferson City, we thank the Morgan Wallen Foundation for partnering with us. Their investment in our community and in our kids is making a positive difference,” added Mitch Cain, Mayor of Jefferson City.
Wallen is currently on his One Night at a Time World Tour. Having sold more than 2.4m tickets, the country star also donates a portion of every ticket sold to MWF.
Photo Courtesy of Jefferson City Little League
Big Machine Music, a subsidiary of HYBE America, has inked Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer Jon Hume to an exclusive co-publishing agreement.
Hailing from Australia, the now Nashville-based Hume has co-written and produced Dean Lewis’ “Be Alright,” “Half a Man” and the 2024 ASCAP Pop award-winning song single “How Do I Say Goodbye,” as well as penned for Sofi Tukker, Bebe Rexha, JP Cooper, NEEDTOBREATHE, Calum Scott and forthcoming songs with David Kushner and Bishop Briggs.
Hume’s also snagged syncs such as the theme song “Don’t Forget” for Welcome to Wrexham and The Croods, plus placements with Apple, BMW and Smartwater. Most recently, he served as a producer for ABC’s American Idol, including the latest Season 22 winner, Abi Carter.
“With over 8 billion streams worldwide as a songwriter, Jon is a global presence who can seamlessly cross genres and deliver syncs for some of the biggest programs and brands,” said BMM’s President, Mike Molinar. “We are honored and privileged to welcome him to the Big Machine Music family!”
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to join Big Machine Music,” added Hume. “Mike Molinar, Alex Heddle, Hannah Babitt and the team have unbridled energy and creativity and the roster they have assembled speaks for itself.”
Seen above wondering how many machines it would take to make us obsolete are (l-r) Molinar, BABZ Founder/CEO & BMM consultant Babitt, Hume, New Tribe Management’s Kit Hume and BMM’s SVP of publishing Heddle.
The CMA Fest kicked off Thursday (6/6) in Nashville, where WMN braved the scorching Tennessee temps for its Heatwave House event at Barstool Nashville.
Attendees were treated to performances by William Beckahm, Matt Schuster, The Castellows, Braxton Keith, Chase Matthew, Dasha, Cole Swindell, Tyler Braden and Drew Parker.
No party would be complete without the team who made it happen. WMN Co-President/Co-Chair Cris Lacy and Warner Records VP, A&R Kelly Bolton were among the many on deck to celebrate day one of the annual music extravaganza. While we, of course, were barred from the premises, we did get our grimy little hands on a photo or two.
Pictured above, standing, are (l-r) Dasha Management’s Alex Lund, WMN SVP Strategic Marketing & Analytics Victoria Mason, WMN VP Artist Development Jamie Younger, WMN VP Radio Anna Cage, Bolton, WMN SVP Radio & Commercial Partnerships Kristen Williams, WMN Director of Radio Accounts James Marsh, WMN VP Radio Accounts Tom Martens, Warner SVP Streaming Strategy Axel Hyge and Warner’s Director Media & Strategic Development Connor Hunt.
Kneeling: Lacy, Warner’s VP Adult Formats & Analytic Jeremy Rubin, Dasha, Warner’s VP Streaming & Revenue Ben Farber and Dasha Management’s Katy Cooper.
Whew, now we need a cold drink.
The UMG Nashville Takeover at Skydeck on Broadway has added Carter Faith and Tucker Wetmore to its star-studded lineup.
The newly signed UMGN acts will join previously announced artists like Anne Wilson, Caylee Hammack, Dalton Dover, Josh Ross, Josh Turner, Kassi Ashton, Kylie Morgan, Maddie & Tae, Mickey Guyton, The War and Treaty, Tyler Hubbard, Vincent Mason and more from 6/6-9 for the label’s second annual takeover during CMA Fest week.
Additionally, two exclusive listening events have also been added to the week’s program, allowing fans to enjoy a preview of the full forthcoming album from George Strait, Cowboys and Dreamers, as well as an advance listening of six songs from Johnny Cash’s new album, Songwriter.
Rising acts Dillon James, Timothy Wayne, Belle Frantz, Owen Riegling and Colt Graves are also set to perform as part of a new artist showcase, presented by Whiskey Jam.
The UMG Nashville Takeover is free to the public, open to all ages and is ADA accessible. Fans can RSVP and peep the full schedule here. And for those who can’t join the festivities, a livestream will be available Thursday through Saturday via Twitch.
On 6/4, BMI-repped Kane Brown celebrated his 11th #1 at Country radio with “I Can Feel It.”
Hosted by BMI and ASCAP and emceed by BMI’s Mason Hunter, the shindig saw the Sony Music Nashville/RCA Nashville star joined onstage at BMI’s Nashville office by his co-writers Jaxson Free (BMI) and Gabe Foust (ASCAP) to commemorate the milestone.
The song serves as the first #1 for Foust and second for Free, as well as the fourth #1 for Brown’s pubco Verse 2—which Foust is inked to—since the company launched four years ago. Incorporating Phill Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” the track also marks Collins’ first career #1 at Country radio.
Additionally, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart made a special donation presentation during the celebration on behalf of Brown and the songwriters in support of the Boys and Girls Club of America.
Seen feeling extra grateful HITS was not in attendance are (back row, l-r) Concord’s Brad Kennard, SMP’s Rusty Gaston, Verse 2’s Kent Earls, BMI’s Hunter, Goat Island Sound’s Sam Shelton, SMP’s Steve Hodges, Goat Island Sound’s Kos Weaver; (front row, l-r) Foust, Brown, Free, Studio Bank’s Ron Cox and ASCAP’s Kele Currier.
Photo Credit: Larry McCormack for BMI
Big Loud Records has upped Patch Culbertson to EVP/GM. Effective immediately, he becomes the company's first-ever EVP and will empower a new class of leaders who will report directly to Big Loud partners Seth England, Joey Moi and Craig Wiseman.
Culbertson first joined Big Loud Records as VP of A&R in 2017, rising to SVP/GM in 2021. In his new role, he continues to oversee day-to-day operations, strategizing on commercial tactics and helping to expand the creative development of the roster.
“Patch has been a critical part of Big Loud's success for over seven years now,” said England. “He's a brilliant strategist with an unmatched ability to process information and make sound decisions.”
“I am immensely proud of the accomplishments of our roster and staff these past seven years,” added Culbertson. “A special thank you to Seth, Joey, Craig, and [Big Loud COO] Austen [Adams] for their support and leadership.”
“What sets Patch apart as a GM is that he – like all of us at Big Loud – continues to keep songs first,” Moi says. “We're grateful for his continued leadership.”
Previously, Culbertson spent eight years at Republic, rising to Director of A&R. He played a key role in signing and developing acts like Aminé, Florida Georgia Line, SoMo and The Naked and Famous. He also spearheaded releases from Colbie Caillatand Florence + the Machine, along with soundtracks from Ted, Safe Haven, Snow White and the Huntsman and more.
Photo credit: Brayln Kelly Smith
Old Crow Medicine Show frontman Ketch Secor has teamed with Sony Music Publishing Nashville for a new global administration deal, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the group's song "Wagon Wheel." That Secor co-write later became a smash hit in the hands of Darius Rucker and has been certified for 16m U.S. sales by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Secor has also written songs from Molly Tuttle's last two albums as well as co-writing the musical Hooten Holler, which premiered in 2022.
Meanwhile, Old Crow Medicine Show is celebrating its own 25th anniversary this year and is touring heavily in support of their latest LP, Jubilee, which won the GRAMMY for Best Folk Album. The group will also continue its annual New Year's Eve run at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.
"Ketch Secor is more than a ‘fiddler in an old-time string band'—he’s a brilliant storyteller," said SMP Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston. "He writes songs that tell the tales of the rural American spirit."
Added Secor, "I’m mighty proud to be joining Rusty Gaston and the hardworking, fun-loving Sony Music Publishing family. Since its earliest days on Music Row as historic Acuff-Rose, Sony Music Publishing has become the steward of Country’s most iconic catalog. What an honor to bring my collection of songs past, present and future to these esteemed ranks."
