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TIKTOK'S OLE OBERMANN: THE HITS INTERVIEW
He makes TikTok tick. (11/26a)
THE 2024 HITS LIST TURKEY TROT
...with all the trimmings (11/26a)
NEAR TRUTHS: WITCHING HOUR
Casting a spell (11/21a)
KENDRICK’S GNX: SONG BY SONG
Looking under the hood of surprise album (11/25a)
NEAR TRUTHS: EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
One name keeps popping up amid the Roan-related speculation. (11/26a)
NOW WHAT?
We have no fucking idea.
COUNTRY'S NEWEST DISRUPTOR
Three chords and some truth you may not be ready for.
AI IS ALREADY EATING YOUR LUNCH
The kids can tell the difference... for now.
WHO'S BUYING THE DRINKS?
That's what we'd like to know.
Music City
THE CORE RECORDS WELCOMES JAMIE YOUNGER
9/13/24

The Core Records has tapped Jamie Younger as its new VP of artist development. Effective immediately, she will operate out of the company’s Nashville headquarters.

Younger joins The Core following a 12-year run at Warner Music Nashville, where she played an instrumental role in launching and developing the careers of the Zac Brown Band, Bailey Zimmerman, Ashley McBryde, Gabby Barrett, The Castellows and more.

"We are excited to have such a visionary joining our team. Her expertise will be invaluable as we continue to develop and break new artists on a global scale," said The Core Ent. co-founders/CEOs Chief Zaruk and Simon Tikhman in a shared statement.

“I've had a front-row seat working alongside Chief and Simon as they've continued to grow and build an amazing roster of talent at The Core Entertainment,” added Younger. “The opportunity to be a part of the launch of The Core Records was simply something I couldn’t turn down.”

The former GrammyNEXT member has also significantly contributed to the music community through her work on the Recording Academy Nashville Chapter MusiCares fundraising committee and as a mentor for GrammyU.

JELLY ROLL CROWNS NEW SEASON OF AMAZON MUSIC LIVE
9/12/24

Amazon Music Live will be back for a third season on 10/17 with a performance from Jelly Roll, the streamer announced tonight (9/12) prior to the start of Thursday Night Football.

The seven-episode series is sponsored by the 2025 Nissan Kicks. It will air weekly after Thursday Night Football at 9pm PT via Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.

Jelly Roll will perform material from his new album, Beautifully Broken, which drops on 10/11. “We know Jelly Roll is going to bring the house down with his season premiere, and that’s just the beginning," said Amazon Music Global Head of Content Kirdis Postelle. "We can’t wait to show you what we have in store for the rest of the season.”

Previous Amazon Music Live guests have included Green Day, A$AP Rocky, Ed Sheeran, Peso Pluma, Garth Brooks and Feid.

Meanwhile, previous attempts by HITS to order multi-vitamins from Amazon proper have been unsuccessful.

VIRGIN MUSIC GROUP GETS MOORE
9/12/24

Country singer-songwriter Kip Moore has inked a deal with Virgin Music Group and teased his first new song in almost two years. Titled “Live Here to Work,” the track reunites him with co-producer Jaren Johnston and will arrive Friday (9/20) It's available for pre-save here and can be heard early on TikTok now.

“I see this next chapter of my career as an opportunity to keep building this thing brick by brick," Moore noted. I was making this record independently when I began having the initial conversations with Virgin and other record labels. It was ultimately the tangible passion from Virgin Music Group that made me want to team up and see where we could take this next chapter."

Moore is in the middle of his Nomad World Tour, which resumes in arenas and stadiums later this month with a 14-show run in Australia. It culminates with several U.S. this fall.

“I have been a fan of Kip’s for years now,” Virgin Music Group North American President/EVP of Artist Relations Jacqueline Saturn said. “His music's universal themes transcend genre and appeal to a huge variety of music fans. Along with his music, his commitment to relentless touring has helped him build a powerful global fanbase."

Moore has spent the bulk of 2024 on tour, which included a limited Billy Currington & Kip Moore: Live In Concert run and a stint on HARDY’s QUIT!! Tour.

Pictured wishing we'd quit are (l-r) Red Light Management's Miles Rivera, VMG's John Mayer, VMG's Cindy James, Safford Motley's Scott Safford, Saturn, Moore, RLM's Gaines Sturdivant, RLM's Courtney Johanson, VMG's Jordon Isbell, VMG's Jen Bontusa and Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy's Julie Boos.

TARLETON LANDS AT MORRIS HIGHAM
9/11/24

After exiting Warner Music Nashville as EVP last year, Shane Tarleton has landed at powerhouse management company Morris Higham, HITS can reveal.

There's no word yet on Tarleton's title, but he is expected to be heavily involved on the creative and content side for a roster that boasts Kenny Chesney, Old Dominion, Kris Kristofferson and Barbara Mandrell, among others.

“It’s the Wild West out there and having Shane’s expertise both in management and label services is invaluable," said Morris Higham president Clint Higham. "We’re honored he is joining our team.” Added GM Kyle Quigley of Tarleton, "I have long respected Shane’s creativity and passion for supporting artists’ visions and as an ambassador for our industry."

Tarleton praised Higham's "impeccable reputation for assembling the best team around the talent he represents" and described the new gig as "an incredible gift for this next chapter of my career."

MIRANDA READIES HER TEXAS RETURN
9/11/24

With her Republic debut, Postcards From Texas, nearing release on 9/13, Miranda Lambert is making the promo rounds.

The artist will present a Moonman at tonight's MTV Video Music Awards and will appear tomorrow on NPR's 1A. Podcast appearances are also on tap on The Bright Side and Calm Down, the latter hosted by sports journalists Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson.

Lastly, Lambert will join NBC’s TODAY with Hoda & Jenna during the 10 a.m. hour on release day.

“I have not made a record in Texas since I was 18, my little independent album, so this is full circle—coming back home to the root, to kind of start fresh with a new label and sound and some new band members I haven’t played with,” Lambert said of Postcards From Texas in studio videos she shared earlier this week.

Lambert's home state looms large over the 14-song project, thanks to material like the anthemic "Wranglers" and the presence of her Marfa Tapes collaborators Jack Ingram (who co-wrote two songs) and Jon Randall (who pitched in on four and co-produced the set with Lambert).

TUCKER WETMORE MAKES OPRY DEBUT
9/11/24

Back Blocks/UMG Nashville's Tucker Wetmore made his Grand Ole Opry debut last night (9/10), during which he also received RIAA gold certifications for his singles “Wind Up Missin' You” and “Wine Into Whiskey.”

Speaking from the Opry stage in front of an audience including Back Blocks Music CEO Rakiyah Marshall and UMG Nashville Chair & CEO Cindy Mabe (pictured), Wetmore said, “Before I moved to Nashville, I came here with my mom in 2020. I remember sitting out front and looking at her the very first day I had ever been to Nashville and I said, ‘I’m going to play that one day’ and I’m doing it right now. I’m here to tell you that if you think you can do something, if you have a dream of doing something, you can.”

The Washington State native’s new track, “Silverado Blue,” drops on 9/13, with his debut EP, Waves on a Sunset, to follow on 10/4.

A supporting tour kicks off 10/4 in Statesboro, Georgia. The nearly sold-out run will hit 17 cities and feature direct support from Hannah McFarland, Eli Winders and Ashland Craft.

BROTHERS OSBORNE RALLY 'ROUND HARRIS
9/10/24

Brothers Osborne will perform at Kamala Harris’ campaign rally in Greensboro, North Carolina on Thursday (9/12).

Harris is expected to address the crowd as part of her New Way Forward Tour, which hits battleground states around the U.S. through Sunday (9/15). Harris' running mate, Tim Walz, will be campaigning in Michigan.

Brothers Osborne, the sibling duo of TJ and John Osborne, released their self-titled album via EMI Nashville last year and followed up with the Break Mine EP.

The upcoming rally performance is one of their most high-profile political appearances of their careers. We're still waiting for our careers to start. Pictured looking way better than we ever could are (l-r) John and TJ.

A GRAND DEBUT FOR VINCENT MASON
9/9/24

Interscope/UMG Nashville/Music Soup’s Vincent Mason is celebrating major career milestones this week. On the heels of joining the 2025 Stagecoach lineup, the rising country star made his Grand Ole Opry debut on 9/7, performing his hits “Heart Like This” and “Hell Is a Dance Floor.” Seen feeling extra grateful to not be anywhere near this L.A. heatwave (or us) are (l-r) Interscope’s Brad Krause; Music Soup’s Max Motley; Champ Management/Red Light Management’s Kyle Marsh and Matt Musacchio; Mason; UMG Nashville’s Chair/CEO Cindy Mabe and EVP of A&R Chelsea Blythe; and Music Soup’s Sean Lewow.

Photo Credit: Ethan Dsa