Curb Records artist Lee Brice recently celebrated the RIAA platinum certification of his latest album, Hey World, along with four certified singles from the project. Brice was presented with the plaque at the Curb office by Curb VP, Marketing John Clore and SVP, Commercial Partnerships Benson Curb. Brice was also joined by Red Light Management's Enzo DeVincenzo and Anthony DeVincenzo as well as other members of the Curb executive team.
Pictured just happy knowing HITS didn't get the invite are (l-r) Enzo DeVincenzo, RJ Meacham, Ciara Shortridge, Clore, Brice, Curb, Bryan Stewart, Jeff Tuerff and Anthony DeVincenzo.
After kicking off the summer with his latest single “New to Country,” Warner’s Bailey Zimmerman is back with track’s music video.
Filmed in his hometown of Louisville, IL and directed by Justin Clough, the video sees The CORE-managed country star throw a rager with his lifelong friends, giving fans a glimpse into how he grew up.
“New to Country” follows Zimmerman’s “Holy Smokes,” which continues to build at Country radio and has already earned nearly 1m U.S. track equivalents. “New to Country” follows Zimmerman’s “Holy Smokes,” which continues to build at Country radio and has already earned nearly 1 million U.S. track equivalents.
Previously, he earned his fourth consecutive career-opening #1 with the platinum-selling “Where It Ends,” which held the top spot for two straight weeks. Additionally, Zimmerman is featured on the Twisters soundtrack with “Hell or High Water.”
Having recently concluded his sold-out, 30+-city international headline trek, RELIGIOUSLY. THE TOUR, in support of his platinum debut LP, Religiously. The Album, the Zimmerman has upcoming stadium dates with Morgan Wallen, Luke Bryan and Kane Brown through the fall.
Peep the vid for “New to Country” below and keep your eyes peeled for a cameo from The CORE's Kevin “Chief” Zaruk.
BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville has signed breakout act Lanie Gardner, who has recently raked in millions of views across her socials and streaming platforms. The deal arrives not long after CMT debuted her latest video, "Lord Knows," as part of the network's Next Up Now Artist segment.
“Lanie is exactly the kind of artist we look for when adding to our incredible roster —unique, exciting, an insatiable work ethic, and a heart that matches her art," BMG Nashville EVP Recorded Music JoJamie Hahr said. "We are so excited to help execute her vision."
Gardner first garnered attention with her viral rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” which claimed the #25 spot on the Rock charts. She was then featured on the Twisters soundtrack in addition to landing a collaboration with David Guetta and sharing stages with Jelly Roll and ZZ Ward.
Pictured secretly daydreaming about HITS' demise are (l-r) Left|Right Management's Jonathan Craig, BMG's Peter Strickland and Katie Kerkhover, Gardner, BMG's Jon Loba and Quinn Bauducco.
Warner Music Nashville has welcomed The Band Loula to its roster. Hailing from North Georgia, The Band Loula is comprised of best friends Malachi Mills and Logan Simmons, who are currently in the studio with Brothers Osborne’s John Osborne. They're managed by Mary Hilliard Harrington, Chip Dorsch and Christina Dunkley and represented by Grace Stern and Jay Williams at WME.
“The Band Loula's music is equal parts raw talent, Southern storytelling, heart and soul,” WMN VP of A&R Stephanie Davenport said. “Their incredible songwriting is matched only by their insane vocals."
The duo has spent the last year touring with artists like Brothers Osborne, Ashley McBryde, Paul Cauthen and Brent Cobb and will join Elle King as support through November. Their major label debut, “Don’t Call Me,” is scheduled for a 8/23 release. We hear the title may or may not be in reference to us.
Pictured (l-r) holding their breath hoping nobody from HITS photo bombs them are manager Christina Dunkley, WMN Co-Chair/Co-President Ben Kline, WMN Co-Chair/Co-President Cris Lacy, WMN SVP Legal & Business Affairs Patrick Sabatini, manager Chip Dorsch, Davenport, Mills, Simmons and manager Mary Hilliard Harrington.
Orville Peck, the masked troubadour, conquers his third album (and first for Warner) with the help of a few friends. Stampede debuted at #1 on last week’s Current Country and Americana Folk album charts, as well as opened in the Top 5 on the overall vinyl chart.
Peck was recently nominated for two People’s Choice Country Awards: Cover Song and Crossover Song of 2024. Stampede features collaborations with some of the biggest names in music, including Elton John, Willie Nelson, Beck and Teddy Swims.
HITS talked to Peck about its genesis and how the project embodies his own progression as an artist. Check out the conversation here.
Christian Hayes, who gained attention with his viral single "LILY," has expanded his team.
Discovered by Wildrose Projects' Helena Capps, who serves as his management, Hayes has secured representation with WME for booking, UMPG for publishing and Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy for business management. Additional representation includes Safford Motley PLC’s Scott Safford as attorney and Essential Broadcast Media for publicity. Hayes is also signed to ASCAP.
Having first caught the attention of Capps with an Instagram post of his song “Leaving” in September 2023, Hayes has since gained traction with his viral track, “LILY,” which amassed 2m+ streams, and dropped his latest single, “Cheyenne.”
Influenced by his grandfather’s encouragement to write, the singer-songwriter has honed his craft over the years and boasts an extensive songwriting portfolio with over 900 songs.
“Music has always been a part of my life and now, it always will be,” says Hayes. “Not many people get to live out their passion and purpose and I’m beyond blessed to do so thanks to this amazing team we’ve built. I’m excited to start this journey alongside all of them!”
"Once we heard him perform live, we knew we had something incredibly special on our hands. Christian’s approach to songwriting is unique yet fits right in at a time when genres are blending," adds Cyndi Forman, SVP, A&R, UMPG Nashville.
Jon Folk, partner at WME, shares, “We couldn’t be more excited to be working with Christian Hayes. He is such an incredible singer, songwriter and performer. We can’t wait to see the rest of the world discover such an amazing talent!”
Pictured above are (l-r) back row: UMPG’s Troy Tomlinson, Safford Motley PLC’s Safford, UMPG’s Don Glista; second row: UMPG’s Forman and Roxy King, Wildrose Project’s Capps; front row: Hayes
Photo credit: UMPG
(l-r) back row: WME’s John Showfety, Brian Jones, Jon Folk and Doug Neff; front row: WME’s Lane Wilson; Hayes; Capps; and WME’s Geoff Turner.
Photo credit: WME
Post Malone made his Grand Ole Opry debut in front of a sold-out crowd on Wednesday night (8/14). The concert, billed as "Post Malone & Friends," included special guests Vince Gill, John Michael Montgomery, Brad Paisley, Lainey Wilson and The War And Treaty.
The recording will air as a Opry Live special on 8/24 via the Opry Facebook and YouTube channels. It will also stream free on the Circle Now app. Fans can catch it on the Circle Country digital streaming partners at 9/8 p.m. CT as well.
It's been a busy week for the historic Nashville venue. On Tuesday (8/13), the Grand Ole Opry celebrated Luke Combs’ 5th Opry anniversary. Combs was inducted into the Opry family in June 2019 by Opry members Joe Diffie and Vince Gill. Check out the "Post Malone and Friends" performance below while we're reminded we don't have any.
Good things come in threes for Luke Combs, who earlier this week became the first artist to have that number of country singles certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Sony Music Nashville surprised Combs at Nashville Grand Ole Opry with diamond plaques for “When It Rains It Pours” and “Hurricane," which join his song "Beautiful Crazy" as having achieved 10 million certified units in the U.S.
Combs also received a platinum plaque for his 2022 album Gettin' Old, plus quintuple-platinum plaques for the 2019 single "What You See Is What You Get" and his Grammy-nominated cover of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car."
The artist is winding down his summer roadwork with shows on 8/18 at Country Thunder in Calgary, Alberta, 8/22 in Bangor, Maine, and 8/24 in Dieppe, Nebraska. He can currently be heard on the Post Malone song "Guy for That," which will appear tomorrow on the latter's Mercury Records/REPUBLIC country album F-1 Trillion.
