Industry Ink: Kadeem Phillips, Christi Thompson, Palmyra, Steinza
The Kentucky Gentlemen Sign With Kadeem Phillips
Kadeem Phillips
Country duo The Kentucky Gentlemen have signed with Kadeem Phillips at PowerHouse Management. The band played CMA Fest earlier this year and are now on tour with The War and Treaty. Phillips also manages Grammy-nominated producer HitKidd. Phillips was part of the first cohort of the Equal Access Development Program, organized by CMT and mtheory.
Establishing themselves as one of Nashville’s most exciting up-and-coming country acts, The Kentucky Gentlemen were named one of GLAAD’s New Voices in Country Music and an Artist To Watch by the Nashville Scene. Selected as one of just five artists for WXPN’s Black Opry Residency, the pair appeared on the subsequent WXPN’s Artist To Watch podcast and performed on World Cafe. They were also chosen for the inaugural class of the OnRamp program launched by The Black Music Action Coalition and the Academy of Country Music.
Christi Thompson Partners With Arny Granat & Tony Conway For Country Trio, The Heels
Pictured (L-R): Brittni Dominelli, Bobbi Smith, Christi Thompson and Kyla Rawlins
Music manager Christi Thompson has partnered with industry veterans Arny Granat and Tony Conway to manage Canadian country music trio, The Heels.
Hailing from Vancouver, Thompson began her management career, including publishing and writer representation for film and TV, during the Pacific Northwest grunge era, where she served as a publicist to some of the most well-known indie bands of that decade. She later handled a diverse roster on various imprints with A&M Records, Maverick Records, 604 Records, Roadrunner and Universal Music Group. Transitioning from label work to artist management, Thompson has represented chart-topping artists such as Matthew Good Band, Lillix, Xavier Rudd, Wake Owl author Shane Koyczan, and partnered with Matthew McConaughey on artist Mishka.
Palmyra Inks With Oh Boy Records
Palmyra. Photo: Rett Rogers
Virginia-based band Palmyra has signed with Oh Boy Records. Established in the Shenandoah Valley and now based in Richmond, Palmyra captures the collective spirit of three Virginia natives, Teddy Chipouras, Manoa Bell and Sasha Landon.
Their sound, often described as a distant cousin to The Avett Brothers and the Wood Brothers, nods toward appalachian and midwestern Americana, with intricate arrangements that create the illusion of a full, larger-than-three ensemble. Oh Boy is set to release the band’s 2023 six-song EP, Belladonna, on vinyl, with new music slated for release in 2025.
Steinza Signs With Listen To The Kids/Santa Anna Records
Photo: Courtest of Steinza
Nashville-based folk singer-songwriter Steinza has signed with Listen To The Kids/Santa Anna Records. Steinza is preparing to release his major label debut EP, Visions Of You.
“I feel amazing about my decision to partner with Listen To The Kids and Santa Anna. I think the team they’ve built is really special and I know my art is in good hands,” says Steinza of the new partnership.
