Artist & Industry News

Kashus Culpepper has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with Big Loud Publishing / Warner Chappell Music. “We are beyond excited to be working with Kashus,” Warner Chappell Manager, A&R Benji Amaefuleshares. “He is one-of-one, and his stories have an ability to resonate with a wide demographic. His soulful take on country already is connecting with his audience and will continue...

Big Loud Records has added Lisa Smoot to its award-winning promotion staff as Director, Secondary Promotion. “This is a long overdue move as Lisa has been a day one Big Loud partner,” shares EVP, Promotion Stacy Blythe. “Her passion and positive attitude are contagious, and we are thrilled to have her on our team!” Smoot joins Big Loud after nearly...

Round Hill Music has signed Brandon Day to an exclusive publishing deal. The North Carolina native has penned tunes recorded by Brantley Gilbert, Randall King, Granger Smith and Eli Young Band. He has also worked with Gilbert on the production side as well as the Plain White T’s, Austin Burke and Steven Lee Olsen. “I’ve been a fan of Brandon for...

Relative Music Group announces the signing of Greylan James to a global publishing deal in partnership with Sony Music Publishing. “Greylan is talented across-the-board. He's a great guitar player, he's a great singer, and he's a great songwriter,” says Relative Music Group's Michael Hardy. “The first song he turned in as a Relative writer blew me away, and I know...

Morgan Wallen and Austin Neal are launching a new management firm, Sticks Management. Wallen will no longer be on the Big Loud Management roster and will be the sole client at Sticks Management. In addition to managing Wallen, Neal will continue to operate The Neal Agency alongside Adi Sharma.

Dennis Reese has joined Neon Coast, a Nashville-based music entertainment company owned by Martha Earls. Reese’s 30-year career includes time in radio and in the label sector. His most recent position was SVP of Promotion at RCA Nashville. At Neon Coast, Reese will support the firm’s roster of Kane Brown, Restless Road, Nightly, Dylan Schneider and Kat Luna. “I met...

The Country Music Association was joined by Morgan Wallen at American Express presents BST Hyde Park in London to present  Jim King (AEG Chief Executive Officer, European Festival Division) and Anna Sophie-Mertens (Live Nation Vice President, Touring) a token of appreciation on Thursday, July 4 commemorating contemporary Country Music on a mainstream music stage outside of North America. “This is...

Big Loud Records proudly promotes Stacy Blythe to EVP, Promotion, effective immediately. Blythe joins recently announced EVP / GM Patch Culbertson with the upgraded title, elevating and empowering a new class of Big Loud leaders who report directly to partners Seth England, Joey Moi,and Craig Wiseman. “Stacy is a day-one believer in Big Loud,” England shares. “She is not only a...

Cashes Culpepper has signed with CAA. The Alabama native began learning cover songs to perform at barrack bonfires in Rota, Spain during his deployment with the U.S. Navy. Once he returned home, he began playing dive bars along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and making a name for himself. Culpepper recently signed a record deal with Big Loud and released his...

Artist manager Matt Musacchio and his company, Champ Management are thrilled to announce a partnership with Red Light Management. This collaboration brings Vincent Mason, Jessie James Decker, and Dawson Anderson to Red Light's esteemed roster. Additionally, Kyle Marsh joins the team as a day-to-day manager. “I have always looked up to what Coran Capshaw has built, and after getting the...

Kylie Taylor has joined the Black River Entertainment creative department as Graphic Designer. “I am thrilled to have Kylie complete our in-house creative team! She is an impactful visual storyteller who brings a collaborative spirit to this role,” comments Black River’s Vice President, Marketing Tanya Schrage. “I am looking forward with great expectation to all she will bring to Black River...

Relative Music Group announces today the signing of Kyle Clark to a global publishing deal in partnership with Sony Music Publishing. “I've had the chance to write with Kyle a handful of times now and I can honestly say his natural instincts are spot on – right down the gut," says Michael Hardy. "Kyle is a great songwriter and a...

Peachtree Entertainment and its founder Bradley Jordan have joined forces with industry executives Nathan Baugh and Shane Quick. Peachtree Entertainment, originally founded by Jordan in 2013, is now a collaboration with Baugh, Quick and promotion and production company LiveCo. Recognized for helping to launch the touring careers of Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Luke Bryan and more, Peachtree Entertainment promotes artists, properties...

Rafter 3 Music and Warner Chappell Music have signed a global publishing deal with singer-songwriter Austin Michael. Growing up on a ranch in Van Alstyne, Texas, Austin Michael learned at a very early age to rope, ride, hunt, and fish. Rodeo life seemed to be in the stars for the Texas native, however, fate intercepted that dream. He was just...

Country rock duo Lakeview has signed with Gravel Road, a Nashville-based label and management firm launched by industry veteran Anthony Martini and entrepreneur Rich Barnerhas. The duo, Jesse Denaro and Luke Healy, are poised for a breakout year after amassing nearly 30 million streams on their song “Home Team.” “From the moment I stumbled across a Lakeview clip online I knew...

Houston Gaither has joined UMG Nashville as Director of Radio Marketing. In this position, Gaither will oversee all audio and video content for the label’s Promotions department. The Oklahoma native previously served as Music Director and Assistant Program Director for iHeart Media’s KTGX in Tulsa and KTST in Oklahoma City. He later relocated to Nashville in 2021, and joined Sony...

Jenna Johnson has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Liz RoseMusic. The Meridian, Mississippi native has seen cuts with artists such as Nate Smith, David Guetta, Bebe Rexha, The Band Camino, Jared Benjamin and more. “We are thrilled to welcome Jenna into the Liz Rose Music family,” says Kate Shirley, Creative Director at Liz Rose Music. “She is a phenomenal...

Last Friday night breakout country-pop sensation Dasha performed at The American Legion Post 82 in Nashville in partnership with TikTok for a concert benefiting The American Legion and TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors). Following the performance, Dasha presented a $10,000 donation to The American Legion and an additional $10,000 donation to TAPS. “It was such an honor to team...

Porchlight Music is excited to announce the signing of rising songwriter/artist and musician, Sam Banks to their award-winning roster. Banks' love of country music began early when his dad was chauffeuring him to gigs across the Midwest. Heavily influenced by the songwriting of multi-award-winning hit songwriters, Dean Dillon and Tony Lane, the artistry and delivery of the legendary Merle Haggard, and...

Ty Myers has signed a record deal with RECORDS Nashville/Columbia Records. “After a year of being pursued by every major label from Nashville to LA to New York, I am beyond excited to have signed with RECORDS/Columbia,” Myers says. “They felt like family from the very start and they share the vision I have for my music & my future. I...

Kelly Bolton has joined Warner Records as VP of A&R. Working out of Nashville, she will collaborate closely with Co-Chairman & CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck on signing, developing and cultivating country artists for the Los Angeles-based label. Bolton most recently spent five years at Ashley Gorley’s Tape Room Music. Bolton’s prior career stops also include Big Deal Music, where she signed...

Roman Alexander has signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music and Twelve6 Entertainment. A Missouri native, Alexander moved to Nashville to pursue music and in 2020, he released his first EP, Between You And Me, which featured the single “Cocktail Conversations” that amassed over seven million streams. A year later, he was named one of Spotify’s Hot Country...

Sony Music Nashville has promoted Lauren “LT” Thomas to Senior Vice President, Promotion. Thomas previously held the role of Vice President, Columbia Promotion. In this elevated role, Thomas will have day-to-day oversight of both the RCA and Columbia imprints. She will continue to report to Executive Vice President, Promotion, Steve Hodges and work with him across the roster on all...

Country artist Clint Black has signed a global agreement with Sony Music Publishing Nashville. The deal will see the company administering songs across his catalog of compositions, including hits “A Good Run Of Bad Luck,” “Like The Rain,” “Summer’s Comin’,” and “Nothin’ But The Taillights,” amongst others. “Clint Black is without a doubt a country music icon, whose songs carved...