GONE COUNTRY: HOUSE LIPMAN INVESTS IN WESTERN WEAR

With Miranda Lambert joining Republic in partnership with Seth England’s Big Loud, House Lipman now holds three of the major draws on Stagecoach’s lineup: Morgan Wallen, Lambert and Post Malone. Republic Corps’ presence on the Stagecoach bill also includes HARDY, ERNEST, Charles Wesley Godwin, Hailey Whitters and Ashley Cooke thanks to the recently announced Big Loud/Mercury distribution pact, not to mention Island’s Wyatt Flores performing on Friday.

The nine Republic-affiliated acts at Stagecoach underscore the coastal major’s big play into country music without a traditional Nashville partner. As if that’s not enough, adding to the 500-lb. gorilla that is Big Loud/Mercury/Republic, rumors are swirling that rising star Jelly Roll—also featured prominently on the Stagecoach lineup—is in talks to form a strategic partnership with House Lipman in conjunction with Jon Loba and Broken Bow.

It’s not a coincidence that the country genre and Republic have been scorching hot at the same time. The label’s success with Big Loud and Morgan Wallen has proven to be a very savvy deal—the New York powerhouse and Nashville indie continue to make history with Wallen’s incredible run. Big Loud’s commitment to Republic is testimony to the best-in-the-biz infrastructure the Lipmans have built—they deliver, time and time again.

This year’s Stagecoach lineup also produced historic returns for promoter AEG. With country as hot as ever, there’s no better time to be invested in the genre’s headliners.

The Lipmans have been making deals in Music City since having success with Republic Nashville over a decade ago. A co-signing of Florida Georgia Line in 2012 led to their partnership with Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine—and the rest is history. Fast forward to 2024, Taylor Swift is hitting mind-blowing career highs with Republic. If you happen to catch one of the Lipmans—who’ve adopted the Hank Williams Jr. mantra “If it ain’t country, it ain’t shit”—in the desert this weekend, just remember that this isn’t their first rodeo.