Industry Ink: Brooks & Dunn, Zach Top, Wings Music Group, Ryman, More

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Brooks & Dunn Reach New Platinum Milestones With Classic Favorites

Pictured (L-R): Taylor Lindsey (Sony Music Nashville), Jackie Jones (RIAA), Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, Clarence Spalding (Maverick Nashville) and Ken Robold (Sony Music Nashville). Photo: Braden Carney

Brooks & Dunn recently added two new RIAA certifications to their catalog, with “Neon Moon” now certified 8x Platinum and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” reaching 5x Platinum. The songs were originally released on Brand New Man in 1991, and helped launch Brooks & Dunn’s record-setting career and define a generation of country music. The new certifications arrive during a milestone year for Brooks & Dunn, who are celebrating the 35th anniversary of Brand New Man with the album’s first-ever vinyl pressing, arriving Oct. 23. The album produced four consecutive No. 1s, “Brand New Man,” “My Next Broken Heart,” “Neon Moon” and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” and helped define a generation of country music while laying the foundation for one of the most successful careers in the genre’s history.

 

Zach Top Receives Shimmering Surprise With 20 New Gold, Platinum Certs

Pictured (L-R): Leo33’s Katie Dean, Zach Top and Leo33’s Shane Tarleton surrounded by RIAA Platinum and Gold plaques commemorating Top’s latest milestones. Photo: Hunter Hart

Zach Top‘s label, Leo33, surprised him recently with a collection of new RIAA certifications, including 4x Platinum for “I Never Lie” in both the U.S. and Canada and Platinum for Cold Beer & Country Music. The surprise comes as Top continues to bring those songs directly to fans on his “Cold Beer & Country Music Tour,” where 921,820 fans have bought tickets to see him live. The newly certified recordings also include “Bad Luck” (Platinum), “Sounds Like the Radio” (Platinum), “Use Me” (Platinum), “South of Sanity” (Gold), “Cold Beer & Country Music” (Gold), “Lonely for Long” (Gold), and “There’s the Sun” (Gold).

 

London-Based Wings Music Group Signs Joint Venture Deal With Capitol Christian Music Group & Capitol Records

Pictured (L-R): John Janick, Chairman and CEO of Interscope Capitol; Brad Heydon, Co-Founder and COO, Wings Music Group; Chris Lawson Jones, Founder and CEO, Wings Music Group; Brad O’Donnell, President of Capitol Christian Music Group; Tom March, Chairman and CEO of Capitol Music Group. Photo: Aaron Bean

Capitol Christian Music Group and Capitol Records have entered a joint venture deal with rising London-based Christian & Gospel music company, Wings Music Group. Founded in 2020 by former Integrity Music executives Chris Lawson Jones and Brad Heydon, Wings Music Group provides global distribution, publishing administration, management and strategic development to an expanding international roster. Christian & Gospel music is on the rise globally, posting double digit increases last year across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and more. In the U.S., the genre’s streaming numbers grew by more than 18% in 2025 alone.

“Chris and Brad have built in Wings a modern, global music operation with huge ambitions to fuel continued growth in the genre with their exceptional artists,” says Tom March, Chairman and CEO of Capitol Music Group. “They have a real passion for artist development and we are excited to leverage our expertise to provide Wings’ artists with the global platform they need.”

 

Ryman Auditorium Unveils New Residency Wall Of Fame

Pictured (L-R): Trevor Rosen, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Matthew Ramsey, Chrissy Hall, Geoff Sprung, Philip Sweet and Brad Tursi. Photo: Catherine Powell

The Ryman Auditorium has unveiled its Residency Wall of Fame, a permanent wall to celebrate the unique bond between music’s most iconic stage, the artists who hold multi-night residencies there and the fans who experience it all. The installation honors talent who have made the Ryman their multi-night home, and features plaques highlighting the impact of Amy Grant & Vince Gill: Christmas at the Ryman; Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit; Little Big Town; Old Crow Medicine Show; and Old Dominion. The Ryman is one of the few Nashville venues where marquee acts clear their calendars for multiple nights to settle in for creative, extended residencies, and the new Residency Wall of Fame honors these historic runs with the permanent installation.

 

Patrick Davis, Darius Rucker & Edwin McCain Honored As ‘Carolina When I Die’ Becomes Official State Song

Pictured (L-R): Edwin McCain, Darius Rucker and Patrick Davis. Photo: Everett Zuraw

Singer-songwriter and South Carolina Poet Laureate Patrick Davis‘ song “Carolina When I Die,” (feat. Darius Rucker & Edwin McCain) the title track from his most recent album, has been named an official state song of South Carolina. The honor came through a bipartisan effort spearheaded by Kershaw County legislators, and was officially approved by Governor Henry McMaster on Sept. 29, cementing the song’s place in South Carolina history. More than a travelogue, “Carolina When I Die” is a heartfelt celebration of South Carolina and the place that shaped Davis, making its designation as an official state song especially poignant.

 

New Mini-Documentary ‘Midland at Ahuestern’ Out Now

Midland at Ahuestern, a mini-documentary directed by Cooper Gunn Davis, captures country trio Midland’s headlining set at the Ahuestern Country Fest in Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico, where they performed for one of the largest crowds of their Mexico run this year. The film is executive produced by Ryan Hawkins, Mike Bergin and Ronnie Exley of Rabbits Black. Midland at Ahuestern premieres directly on Vimeo, with supporting content rolling out across Rabbits Black’s Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn channels, capturing Midland at a pivotal moment in the trio’s growing international presence.

 

Daniel Doss Inks With WieRok Records

Pictured (L-R): WieRok Entertainment Group Founders Lance & Tammie Wieland; Daniel & Emily Doss; and WieRok’s Head of Publishing, Rights Management and A&R Holly Salazar.

Singer/songwriter, worship leader, and producer Daniel Doss has signed with WieRok Records, the flagship label of Franklin, Tennessee-based WieRok Entertainment Group. One of Christian music’s most sought-after writers for two decades, Doss’ songs have been recorded by Stephen McWhirter, Aaron Shust, Stars Go Dim, Seventh Day Slumber, and Joseph Habedank, and he has co-penned songs for Maverick City Music, Passion City Church, Housefires, and Red Rocks Worship, among other leading collectives. Launching his recording career with the Daniel Doss Band’s 2008 Sparrow Records set, Greater Than Us All, Doss has since released two solo albums, 2017’s Praise the King and 2023’s Revival, and has multiple singles to his credit.

 

Cam Cropper Wins World Series of Golf Playoffs At Music City’s Topgolf

Pictured (L-R): Rhonda and Company Digital Digital Director Mackenzie Adkins, Preston Brust singer/songwriter Jamie O’Neal, XLR8 Pictures Founder/Chairman Nico Albano, the Voice of the Nashville Predators and The Big 98 WSIX afternoon announcer Wayne D (Danielson), Nashville Predators SVP Corporate Partnerships Jack Burk, and Topgolf CEO David McKillips at the World Series of Golf Satellite Series playoff at Nashville’s Topgolf. Photo: Andy Strong/A Strong Photo)

The World Series of Golf National Finals is taking place in Scottsdale. The winner will notch their buy-in to the World Series of Golf Championship presented by Lotto.com. This championship event will feature 100 invitation-only players, among them athletes, celebrities and this weekend’s winner of the satellite series.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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