"STAND DIRECTLY ON EITHER SIDE OF ME" AND OTHER FAVORITES

During their whirlwind trip to Nashville for the CMAs (which saw a big Entertainer of the Year win for Big Loud's Morgan Wallen and killer moments for several other acts under their umbrella), Republic bro-bosses Monte and Avery Lipman stopped by Big Loud HQ. One result was this beatific pic with artist Stephen Wilson Jr. His viral cover of "Stand by Me" is making waves, and he's already generating Grammy buzz for 2026. We also want to shout out the gifted young photographer who captured this tableau; he goes by the improbable moniker S.A. England.