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NEWS

June 9, 2023

COLBY ACUFF’S MAJOR LABEL DEBUT “WESTERN WHITE PINES” OUT TODAY VIA SONY MUSIC NASHVILLE

SET TO MAKE GRAND OLE OPRY DEBUT AUGUST 1

SUMMER TOUR DATES CONFIRMED

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Emerging singer, songwriter and musician Colby Acuff’s anticipated major label debut album, Western White Pines, is out today via Sony Music Nashville. Stream/purchase HERE.  

Produced by Eddie Spear (Zach Bryan, Cody Jinks) and recorded at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studios, Western White Pines establishes Acuff as “one of the most promising artists on the rise” (Whiskey Riff). Across these ten tracks, written mainly by Acuff alone, he demonstrates his rugged spirit with lyrics filled with grit and authenticity.  

Already receiving critical attention, Music Row declares, “His energy and his reedy, heartfelt voice are infectious,” while The Amp praises, “This is the artist and the quintessential country album that we have all been desperately searching for…Western White Pines is pure lightning in a mason jar” and The Nash News proclaims, “the kind of country music that derived from the mountains of its forefathers.” 

In celebration of the new music, Acuff will make his Grand Ole Opry debut on Tuesday, August 1 and continue to tour through this summer including dates supporting Shane Smith & The Saints, as well as a show as part of the Whiskey Jam Tailgate, which takes place ahead of Luke Combs’ sold-out US stadium tour. See below for complete tour itinerary. 

Reflecting on the album, Acuff shares, “Western White Pines is a project full of some of my favorite songs. The record is unique in all aspects of the word. You will never hear the same song twice, but you will know that it’s a Colby Acuff record.”

WESTERN WHITE PINES TRACK LIST

1. Western White Pines

2. One Day At A Time

3. Playing God Again

4. Outlaw in Me

5. Boy And A Bird Dog

6. Better Man

7. Hard Livin’ Life

8. Welcome to Toms

9. All I Got

10. Rolling With The Wind

COLBY ACUFF CONFIRMED TOUR DATES

June 10—Kansas City, MO—Arrowhead Stadium – Luke Combs Bootleggers Tailgate Party

June 17—Weiser, ID—Weiser River Music Festival

June 22—Loma, CO—Country Jam Colorado Music Festival

June 23—Cheyenne, WY—Outlaw Saloon

June 24—Denver, CO—The Black Buzzard at Oskar Blues

July 1—Frontier, WY—Wyoming Sheep and Wool Festival

July 7—Green Gables, PE—Cavendish Beach Music Festival

July 16—Whitefish, MT—Under the Big Sky Festival

July 19—Great Falls, MT—Downtown Summer Jam

July 20—Emigrant, MT—The Old Saloon*

July 24—Waterloo, NE—Buck’s Bar and Grill

July 26—McKinney, TX—Hank’s Texas Grill

July 27—San Angelo, TX—Wild West Fest

July 28—Waco, TX—Backyard Bar, Stage & Grill

July 29—Shreveport, LA—Louisiana Grandstand

August 1—Nashville, TN—Grand Ole Opry

September 1—Colville, WA—FarmJam

October 22—Simpsonville, SC—Greenville Country Music Fest

December 16—Las Vegas, NV—The Theater at Virgin Hotels

*supporting Shane Smith & The Saints

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NEWS

June 9, 2023

KAMERON MARLOWE RELEASES “I CAN LIE (THE TRUTH IS)”

PERFORMING AT CMA FEST TOMORROW (6/10)

DIRECT SUPPORT ON LUKE BRYAN’S FARM TOUR 2023

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Kameron Marlowe takes listeners back to the honky tonks on his new track “I Can Lie (The Truth Is).” Listen HERE.  

“‘I Can Lie’ is a song about a toxic relationship that talks about the battle of loving and hating someone who’s just not good for you,” said Marlowe. “When people hear it, I want them to be taken back in time to the 1970s when western outlaw country was taking over.” 

Anchored by wailing pedal steel, forlorn fiddle, and Marlowe’s barrel-chested vocals, the song is fit for a dancehall waltz. It’s the latest offering from Marlowe, whose debut album We Were Cowboysarrived in August 2022 to critical acclaim, with Taste of Country hailing his “commitment to making sure the stories he tells are powerful, vibrant and true” and the “evocative, cinematic and deeply personal” title track, which MusicRow called “Ferociously good.” Whiskey Riff also lauded the “down-to-earth, relatable” album that makes listeners “feel a kindred spirit with [Marlowe] as a writer, singer and overall grounded human being.” The project features his Platinum- and Gold-certified singles “Giving You Up” and “Burn ‘Em All.”

Marlowe has been named to the CMT Listen Up and Opry NextStage classes of 2023 and will perform on the Chevy Riverfront stage at CMA Fest tomorrow (6/10) at 10:45 a.m. He’ll also appear at Sony Music Live at ACME Feed & Seed at 1:00 p.m. and Spotify House at 5:30 p.m. 

Following his celebrated headline WE WERE COWBOYS TOUR, Marlowe will be on the road this summer and fall with Dierks Bentley, Parker McCollum, and Jordan Davis, and is set to open for Luke Bryan on his fall FARM TOUR 2023.

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NEWS

June 9, 2023

SONY MUSIC NASHVILLE, UTA & UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING GROUP NASHVILLE ALL ANNOUNCE THE SIGNING OF POP, GENRE-BENDING SINGER-SONGWRITER BEN GOLDSMITH

NEW TRACK “FLOWERS IN YOUR HAIR” OUT TODAY, LISTEN HERE

DEBUT ALBUM THE WORLD BETWEEN MY EARS DUE SEPTEMBER 22, Pre-Order/Save Here

OFFERED BONNAROO PERFORMANCE ON JUNE 17 FOLLOWING SOLO SHOWCASE AT LIVE NATION

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, singer-songwriter Ben Goldsmith debuted a new track, “Flowers In Your Hair,” and announced his signing to Sony Music Nashville, UTA and Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville. Goldsmith, then 16 and with no social media following, was offered a deal on the spot after performing for Sony Music Nashville executives. In his agreement with Universal Music Publishing Nashville, Goldsmith was signed to an exclusive, global publishing deal.

Additionally, after a solo showcase at Live Nation in Nashville this year, Goldsmith was offered a slot at Bonnaroo on Saturday, June 17. This performance will take place just 7 days after he graduates from high school.

“Flowers In Your Hair” will be part of Goldsmith’s 15-track, debut album The World Between My Ears releasing September 22. The project is a result of the singer traveling back and forth to Nashville during the covid years to write songs, create his own sound, and woodshed in the studio with Brad Jones (Hayes Carll, Chuck Prophet, Ron Sexsmith), who he co-produced the project with. The result is a broad, melody driven and soulful musical palette. Pre-order/save The World Between My Ears HERE.

In the new track out today, the genre-bending artist and Long Island, NY native refers to Nashville, his new home, as “the skyline of my dreams.” “Flowers In Your Hair” displays the singer’s powerful and emotionally resonant voice and lush, fully realized melodies. In the song, Goldsmith also nods at one of his favorite artists, Maggie Rogers, in the opening line “Sitting in my bedroom / Maggie on repeat.” Like Rogers and so many of Goldsmith’s other favorites (Sam Fender, Olivia Rodrigo, Steve Lacy, Zach Bryan), his multidimensional artistry transcends format and genre.

Goldsmith’s musical journey started at four years old (where his violin teacher discovered he had perfect pitch) and has included jazz guitar studies at The Manhattan School of Music and Mannes College of Music in NY. Ben recorded an EP of original music at 11 years old and played all of the instruments. He developed a commanding onstage presence performing live in School of Rock programs, local community events, fairs and clubs by the time he was 12 years old. At 13 he perfected his guitar skills with Tomo Fujita, whose teaching résumé includes Berklee College of Music and John Mayer.

Earlier this year, Goldsmith debuted several new tracks including “Wolves” and “It’ll All Be Alright.” He is managed by Mike Crowley.

With a natural yet extraordinary gift for singing and songwriting and a passion for performing, Ben is blazing his own Converse-paved trail. For more information on Goldsmith, visit BenGoldsmith.net, and to watch past live performances, visit his YouTube.

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NEWS

June 2, 2023

SONY MUSIC NASHVILLE SIGNS PHENOM DAVID J

Ryan Tedder’s Runner Music Joins In Partnership

New Song “Last Time” Available Now

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Sony Music Nashville has signed 19-year-old multi-instrumentalist David J, the label announced today. As revealed exclusively in Variety, Runner Music and founder Ryan Tedder are joining in partnership with the label as Tedder is an avid supporter of the country-pop phenom. 

“I can’t wait to see what happens in this next chapter with Sony and Runner,” said David. “When I was in my bedroom studio in New York and releasing my own music, I always dreamt of being on a major label and working with Ryan Tedder. I actually got his masterclass for Christmas 2 years ago during Covid. The day I walked into Sony it felt like home and I’m so excited for our future together!”

“David is a true unicorn talent and I’m thrilled that Runner can partner with Sony to help bring his music to the world,” said Tedder. “I’m also pleased to announce that Brandon Silverstein is working with Runner as a strategic and creative partner for this project.”

To celebrate the news, David J has released his latest track “Last Time,” available everywhere now. Listen HERE

“‘Last Time’ is a song about going back to that person who you know isn’t right for you, and you think one more time won’t hurt as badly, but instead it just makes everything worse,” said David J. “I actually wrote this right after I went back to an ex. This song is for anyone who may be going back to a person or situation they know is bad for them in the moment. Life’s too short to stress over it.” 

A native of upstate New York, David J has earned 75 million career on-demand streams on his noteworthy independent releases including “Lost My Heartbreak,” “Before You,” and “Stay.” All appear on his 2022 EP Lost My Heartbreak and helped catapult David J to the frontlines of country music’s cutting edge. Having supported Blake Shelton, Mitchell Tenpenny, Chase Rice, Drake White and more on the road, David J is set for upcoming dates with Lauren Alaina and will appear at CMA Fest on Saturday, June 10 on the Maui Jim Reverb Stage. With nearly 1 million total social followers, he is actively writing and recording new music with new releases coming soon. 

David J is managed by Grey Area Music, operated by Joe Putnam, Sean Pace, and Collin McMillan, and represented by Sabrina Butera at CAA for booking.

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NEWS

June 2, 2023

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SONY MUSIC NASHVILLE EXECUTIVE TEAM FOR MAKING BILLBOARD’S COUNTRY POWER PLAYERS LIST 2023!

RANDY GOODMAN – Chairman/CEO

KEN ROBOLD – COO/Executive VP

STEVE HODGES – Executive VP of Promotion and Artist Development

JENNIFER WAY – Senior VP of Marketing

TAYLOR LINDSEY – Senior VP of A&R

“Superstars like Luke Combs and Kane Brown continued their hot streaks, while developing artists quickly gained traction, says Lindsey. Nate Smith took ‘Whiskey on You’ to No. 1 on Country Airplay, while Kameron Marlowe, Megan Moroney and Corey Kent also scored radio hits. ‘As we continue to sign and release more music from this rising roster, our biggest achievement is true artist development,’ Lindsey says, ‘and it’s exciting to watch the team dive in to help kick off the careers of these new acts.'”

https://www.billboard.com/h/billboard-country-power-players-list-2023-executives/#recipient_hashed=e338949227554489caaa1694ec7e3197cd6660eb2776aaa19281ce87d2b23b58&recipient_salt=13c0dc12df2da851254bd9f9bd08aa2baed94586c44371d3ac4d91ac3e91c23a

NEWS

June 2, 2023

COREY KENT HITS THE PAVEMENT WITH THE RELEASE OF NEW ALBUM “BLACKTOP”

OUT NOW

Features the #1 Platinum Certified Hit “Wild As Her”; Track Surpasses Over 280 Million On-Demand Streams

Sold Out Album Release Show With Special Guest Dylan Marlowe Tonight @ Brooklyn Bowl Nashville

Nashville, TN – Oklahoma native/Texas based Corey Kent releases his major label debut Blacktop today via RCA Nashville/Sony Music Nashville. The 10-track album features writing credits from Kent himself as well as Morgan Wallen, Ryan Hurd, Kelly Archer, Lydia Vaughan and more with production from Jay Joyce and Chris Farren.  Listen to the album here

“I went to work for a pavement company when the world shut down,” says Kent.  “I even recorded a few of the songs on Blacktop while I was still working there. So what better way to pay tribute to that industry and the folks that gave me an opportunity to provide for my family. I also called it Blacktop because that’s where we’ve spent the most time over the last few years pounding the pavement and playing club after club every weekend since Jan 2021.  Blacktop pays tribute to where I’ve been, what we’ve been up to, and through, and where we are headed.”  

Blacktop is an actual representation of various pieces of Kent’s life and the next evolution of his sound. With a better understanding of who he is as an artist, and as a man, the songs suggest more depth and substance than typical mainstream fare, showcasing key tenants of his life, while the production hits true to Kent’s live performance grit. 

The album features Kent’s #1 certified platinum debut single “Wild As Her” (Combustion Music/RCA Nashville). The track continues to stream consistently culminating in over 280 million on demand streams while the music video helped garner Kent the nomination for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year at the 2023 CMT Awards.  The album also features released tracks, “Man of the House,” “How You Know You Made It,” “Hood of that Car” and “Something’s Gonna Kill Me” and the deeply personal track “Once or Twice.” Watch the lyric video for “Once or Twice” here.  

In celebration of the release, Kent will take the stage to a sold out crowd at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville with special guest Dylan Marlowe and end release week with a performance at the 50th Anniversary of CMA Music Festival.  Later this summer, Kent will hit the road on Jason Aldean’s Highway Desperado Tour.  Earlier this year, Kent kicked off 2023 joining Parker McCollum, played Tortuga Music Festival, made his debut at Stagecoach. For more information on the tour please visit: https://www.coreykentofficial.com/#tour

Kent was named as a CMT Listen Up Artist for 2023, a Pandora Artist to Watch The Opry Next Stage Class of 2023, Sirius XM Class of 2022 and was nominated for an AIMP Nashville Country Awards for AIMP Rising Artist-Writer of the Year.

BLACKTOP Track List

1. Wild as Her (Kelly Archer/Brett Tyler/Morgan Wallen)

2. Long Story Short (Corey Kent/Lydia Vaughan) 

3. Something’s Gonna Kill Me (Corey Kent/Austin Goodloe/Joybeth Taylor/Lydia Vaughan)

4. Man of the House (Corey Kent/Austin Goodloe/Joybeth Taylor/Lydia Vaughan)

5. Gone as You (Casey Brown/Matthew McGinn/Travis Wood)

6. BiC Flame (Corey Kent/Jack Hummel/Jon Sherwood)

7. Call It a Night (Aaron Eshuis/Ryan Hurd)

8. How You Know You Made It (Corey Kent/AJ Pruis/Smith Ahnquist)

9. Hood of That Car (Corey Kent/Blake Chaffin/Jack Hummel/Jacob Lutz)

10. Once or Twice (Corey Kent/Lee Miller)

Tracks 1 & 9 Produced by Chris Farren

Tracks 2-8 & 10 Produced by Jay Joyce

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NEWS

May 19, 2023

DYLAN MARLOWE WEDS FIANCÉ TODAY + SURPRISES HER WITH A SONG, “YOU WERE RIGHT (NAT’S SONG),” OUT NOW

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Dylan Marlowe weds longtime girlfriend Natalie Barber in a ceremony in Nashville. As a surprise to Natalie, he released a song dedicated to her today, “You Were Right (Nat’s Song).” Listen here.

“I wrote this song about my girlfriend at the time who I am marrying today,” Dylan said. “It’s funny because a line in the song talks about selling my Jon boat to buy a ring, which luckily I didn’t have to sell my boat! (Thanks to Jon Pardi) haha. I’m super excited for this song because I’m dropping it on our wedding day (today) as a surprise for Nat. She loves this song and I think she thinks I’ll never put it out, so it’ll be a good surprise for her. Also feels good to release a song that’s true and authentic to my life currently. I hope y’all love it!” 

Dylan recently debuted new songs “Grew Up Country” and “Empty Shotgun (Mr. Mechanic).” Earlier this year, he made waves with the release of his track, “Record High,” which Outsider called “arguably his best work yet,” noting that “very few country singers have seen their musical stock rise as quickly as Marlowe’s has in the last few years.” Additionally, MusicRow praised the track, calling it “Moody and haunting. The soundscape ripples with dobro, muted percussion and chimed electronics. His broken-hearted delivery aches with sincerity. Excellent work.” 

Named one of Spotify’s 2023 Hot Country Artists to Watch, Dylan will be heading out on HARDY’s the mockingbird & THE CROW FALL TOUR this fall. For tour dates and tickets, visit DylanMarloweMusic.com.

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NEWS

May 19, 2023

JAMESON RODGERS CELEBRATES LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT ON “MINE FOR THE SUMMER”

CONFIRMED FOR FALL DATES WITH OLD DOMINION AND JORDAN DAVIS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Platinum-selling road warrior Jameson Rodgers releases the perfect ode to the spark of a new romance today with “Mine For The Summer.” Listen HERE.

“’Mine For The Summer,’ ironically, is a song we wrote in the middle of the winter. I wrote this song with Brent Anderson, Smith Ahnquist, and Jake Mitchell. The song came from us talking about wanting to write a song that made us feel the same way ‘Iris’ from The Goo Goo Dolls did. I was heavily influenced by 2000’s rock almost as much as I was country,” said Rodgers. “Brent had this title saved in his phone that he had tried to write before but couldn’t figure it out until we started playing this groove. It was the last song we wrote on the retreat. It’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever been a part of.”

Partially inspired by his own love story with wife Sarah Allison Turner, “Mine For The Summer” is the latest release from the noteworthy singer/songwriter, who has been steadily introducing new music since the release of his debut album Bet You’re From A Small Town. It follows the mournful “Built For Heartbreak,” which Country Central declared “undoubtedly one of the best we’ve heard from the Mississippi native.”  

Following his standout support slot on HARDY’s the mockingbird & THE CROW Tour, Rodgers will join Old Dominion for their NO BAD VIBES Tour and Jordan Davis for his DAMN GOOD TIME TOUR on select dates throughout the fall. Rodgers will also appear at CMA Fest, Coastal Country Jam, and more.

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NEWS

May 18, 2023

ANDREW JANNAKOS REFLECTS ON HOW FATHERHOOD HAS INSPIRED GROWTH IN HIM IN NEW SONG, “CHANGING ME”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Singer-songwriter Andrew Jannakos debuted a new track today, “Changing Me.” The song, written by Jannakos along with Dave Cohen, Ray Fulcher, and Lee Thomas Miller, shines a light on the ways in which being a father has inspired growth in Jannakos. Listen to “Changing Me” HERE.

“‘Changing Me’ isn’t only a song for my son. It’s a song that shows that parents grow just as much as their little ones,” Jannakos said. “We watch them grow every day, week, month. But we never sit back and see the change that they made in our lives as parents and people. They make us better.”

The cover art for the track (above) was a drawing made by his wife’s son, Brenson, who Jannakos adopted two years ago. Jannakos is celebrating the two-year anniversary of Brenson’s adoption with his new song “Changing Me,” which details the incredible bond the father and son have. Read more about his son’s adoption story in a previous interview with E! News HERE.

Earlier this year, Jannakos released his new song “Meet My Maker,” which MusicRow praised as a “wafting, lovely, pastoral ode.” Additionally, his recent release “Gettin’ There” was considered a “New Country Song You Need To Hear Right Now” by Country Now. The Nash News lauded his voice on the track, calling it “as smooth as can be.”

Jannakos has upcoming performances at Tin Roof Detroit and Tin Roof Indianapolis. For additional info, visit AndrewJannakos.com.

About Andrew Jannakos:

Andrew Jannakos’s hit song “Gone Too Soon” in 2020 was not only a massive success, but it also served as the catalyst for massive change to come in the rising star’s life, including a move to Nashville from his hometown in Georgia, signing a record deal with Sony Music Nashville/RCA Nashville, and racking up millions of streams weekly. In the years following, Andrew began plotting his next batch of music. He moved his family to a big piece of land 50 minutes outside of the city, with plenty of space for introspection to prioritize what he wanted to say with these new songs. In the process, he found himself spending majority of his time outdoors. When the singer wasn’t perched in a deer stand, he would take his kayak down to the nearby creek and fish, and sometimes bring his son to the shore to look for crawdads – something he did when he was growing up. In the stillness he was filled creatively and rediscovered what inspires him the most…his family, nature, God, and spending time with all three. Andrew was brought back to his core and began to pen songs that are reflective of that. The result is a new batch of music he’s set to release in 2023 that’s a compilation of stories that make Andrew who he is.
 

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NEWS

May 17, 2023

MORGAN WADE ANNOUNCES ANTICIPATED SOPHOMORE PROJECT “PSYCHOPATH” AVAILABLE AUG. 25

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Most artists don’t top Rolling Stone’s Best Country Albums of the year list with their debut album. But most artists aren’t Morgan Wade, who earned the top spot with her scathingly honest and raw 2021 LP Reckless. While Reckless, and its Top 30 lead single “Wilder Days,” busted down the doors and introduced Wade as a once-in-a-generation songwriter, she now readies her anticipated follow-up project, Psychopath, arriving Aug. 25 via Sony Music Nashville. Pre-save/pre-add/pre-order HERE and listen to the solo-written title track Friday, May 19.

“Regardless of what people say about Psychopath, I’m proud because I feel like it showcases where I’m at with my sophomore album,” said Wade. “I have no choice but to be authentic. And I have to feel what I feel. And right now, I’m really feeling the music.”

An astounding 13-track LP crafted with the help of notable musical talents, from A-list songwriters to studio musicians and Wade’s longtime producer-guru/song whisperer Sadler Vaden, Psychopath most excitingly finds Wade peeling back layers of her psyche like never before. 

A relentless writer, Wade had penned what would become the album’s title track and as far back as the weeks leading up to Reckless’ release. A one-take meditation on “being so engrossed in someone, it’s like “What the hell was I doing before I met you? I don’t even fucking know!” Don’t let the title fool you: “When you look at the title, you don’t assume that’s a love song. But it is,” she said. “I kinda dig that.”

Wade has been no stranger to the road throughout the first quarter of 2023 on her headlining NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN TOUR, which sold out 35 shows for more than 40,000 tickets sold. She was a highlight at last month’s Stagecoach Festival, where the Desert Sun named her one of the “six women who dominated” the weekend. Wade appears on Diplo’s new album Thomas Wesley: Chapter 2 – Swamp Savant, will join Turnpike Troubadours and Eric Church for select dates throughout summer and fall, and is set for appearances at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Railbird, Austin City Limits, and more high-profile festivals before heading back to Europe for a fall headline run. 

A Virginia native, Wade has broken away from the pack to become one of country music’s most compelling new voices. Possessed with a raw and unflinching voice anchored by a perfect tinge of twang; the rare ability to pen honest portraits of some of life’s most precious and painful and unpredictable moments; and an onstage vulnerability that so seamlessly breaks down the wall between fan and artist, Wade has quickly made her mark on the country music scene — and the music world at large – with nominations for ACM New Female Artist of the Year, Americana Music Association Emerging Act of the Year, and CMT Breakthrough Female Video of the Year. 

For more information and tour dates, please visit MorganWade.com.

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