Cold River Records To Close

After nearly 15 years, Cold River Records is set to close. Cold River Records launched in 2006, and added an in-house radio promotion team in 2010, and launched a publishing division in 2016. Among the artists Cold River Records has represented over the years are Drew Baldridge, Dylan Schneider, Uncle Si and the Sicotics, Maggie Baugh, and Katie Armiger.

“It is with bitter-sweet emotions that I must announce a winding down of Cold River Records over the next few months,” said Cold River Records president Pete O’Heeron. “We began this journey almost 15 years ago and have enjoyed every moment of music creation by our artists. To the amazing employees who have called our label home, I thank you for being such dedicated champions for our artists and making personal sacrifices to support their careers.  As some of my dearest friends, I will miss you the most and cherish all of our memories on the road and the phone calls with your travel stories. To the programmers at radio, producers, songwriters and the music industry leaders who became our friends, I thank you for your counsel, guidance and friendship. To our artists who have performed on the Grand Ole Opry, opened for some of the biggest names in country music, toured the world and even recorded at famed Abby Road studios in London, thank you for creating amazing music that I will never forget.

As many of you know, I have a biologics company where we are seeing almost daily breakthroughs in cell therapy. As passionate as I am about music, I am equally passionate about medicine.  We are developing cures for Degenerative Disc Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and CTE (NFL head injuries).  These disease pathways will require ever more increasing attention and time requirements from me. In stepping away from Cold River, I’ll be focusing on our efforts to address these chronic and deadly conditions.”

John Ettinger, Sr. VP, Promotion, commented, “It has been a terrific two years at Cold River, and an honor to work with everyone at the company. Pete O’Heeron is one of the most unique, magnanimous and energetic people I’ve had the chance to partner with in Nashville. Together we created Innovation Music and the Innovation Music Awards, the Tee Roy Williams media executive event, along with a host of initiatives that ideally changed how many view what is a record label. My goal is to imagine and execute a future that looks a lot like our great work together.”

Staffers can be reached below:

John Ettinger, SVP Promotion
615-438-7667
[email protected]

Marie Wapelhorst, Senior Director of Strategy and Artist Relations
402-719-8942
[email protected]

Mary Lynne O’Neal, National Director of Promotion
903-926-0625
[email protected]

Taylor Eschbach, Creative Director
757-374-9705
[email protected]

Bill Heltemes, Regional Radio Promotion
859-653-1345
[email protected]

Kellie Longworth, Regional Radio Promotion
937-232-0574
[email protected]

Jenna Johnson, Regional Radio Promotion
626-484-3382
[email protected]

Meredith McNair, Promotion Coordinator
615-426-6322
[email protected]

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at [email protected].

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