MCA Nashville newcomer Clare Dunn has announced the first show in a series of annual benefits, highlighting small farming communities like her own. The 2015 inaugural Heartland Tour date will hit The Sand and Sage Rodeo Pavilion in Lamar, Colo. on Sept. 19.

Dunn was raised about an hour south of Lamar, in Two Buttes, a Colorado farming town with a population of approximately 30 where her family still resides.

“I couldn’t be more excited to go back to Colorado and perform for the deserving farm communities near my hometown” says Dunn. “My farming upbringing has been integral in shaping who I am as an artist and I am passionate on giving back to the great, hard-working people that make up these communities.”

Tickets are immediately available for $15 and can be purchased at claredunn.com, with all net proceeds going directly back into the surrounding farming communities.

The Heartland Tour is the first initiative of Dunn’s My Love Gives Back Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and will be produced by Big Hearted Babes. The fund will focus on Dunn’s philanthropic interests including farming families and communities.

Dunn’s debut single “Move On” lands at No. 40 on this week’s MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart and will be featured on her self-titled EP, out Sept. 18. The singer/songwriter is also out this fall as part of Miranda Lambert’s Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars Tour as well as Chris Young’s I’m Comin’ Over Tour.

United Talent Agency has acquired The Agency Group, home to numerous country artists including Dolly Parton, Chris Janson, Marty Stuart and Merle Haggard.

This is a significant move by UTA to boost its music division, to go along with its established film and television roster representing Johnny Depp, John Cusack, Kevin Hart, Sigourney Weaver, Seth Rogen, and Will Ferrell among others.

The Agency Group has more than 95 agents operating from offices in London, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Toronto and Malmo, Sweden. It represents Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Muse, The Black Keys, Paramore, Foster the People, Nickelback, Guns ‘N Roses, David Gilmour, Ringo Starr, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Jeff Bridges, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kevin Costner & Modern West, Hanson, Boy George, Deep Purple, and Rush, among others.

The Agency Group founder and president Neil Warnock will become head of worldwide music for UTA, reporting to the managing directors David Kramer, Jay Sures and Jeremy Zimmer. The Agency Group CEO Gavin O’Reilly will depart the company.

In 2014 The Agency Group beefed up its country roster with the acquisition of The Bobby Roberts Company. Today TAG’s Nashville office is headed by Nick Meinema and works with Janson, Stuart, Haggard, Aaron Tippin, Aubrie Sellers, Austin Webb, Benton Blount, Bill Anderson, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, BJ Thomas, Blackjack Billy, Bobby Bare, Casey Jamerson, Collin Raye, Confederate Railroad, Connie Smith, Cowboy Troy, Dallas Smith, Dean Brody, Deana Carter, High Valley, Jaida Dreyer, James Otto, John Anderson, John Conlee, John Michael Montgomery, Kentucky Headhunters, Kevin Costner & Modern West, Lenny Cooper, The Lacs, Logan Brill, Mel Tillis, Pam Tillis, Pauly Shore, Restless Heart, Sam Lewis, Sammy Kershaw, Sarah Ross, Sundy Best, Taylor Hicks, and Walker McGuire. 

UTA is purchasing TAG with money from a minority investment from Jeffrey Ubben, founder and CEO of ValueAct Capital, which has significant investments in Microsoft, 21st Century Fox, Adobe and CB Richard Ellis. This gives Ubben a minority share of UTA and a non-voting seat on the agency’s Board of Directors, whose members are Peter Benedek, Jim Berkus, Tracey Jacobs, Matt Rice, Kramer, Sures and Zimmer.

UTA’s recent growth also includes hiring 20 new agents and expanding its services. In early 2014, it acquired Bienstock, the leading talent agency in broadcast news and reality programming, and also developed divisions focusing on fine arts, branding strategy and venture funding.

United Talent Agency is in negotiations to acquire The Agency Group, according to Billboard.

UTA has a solid film and television roster, including Johnny Depp, John Cusack, Kevin Hart, Sigourney Weaver, Seth Rogen, and Will Ferrell, but its music division could use a boost, particularly after the exit of a few notable pop/rock clients earlier this year.

In recent years TAG, headed by CEO Gavin O’Reilly, has been on an acquisition spree, which could prime it for purchase.

TAG’s Nashville office, run by Nick Meinema, boosted its roster in 2014 when it purchased The Bobby Roberts Company. Additionally, the company has been building its divisions focused on branding, EDM, Latin, casino, college and corporate events.

Today, the local office represents Aaron Tippin, Aubrie Sellers, Austin Webb, Benton Blount, Bill Anderson, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, BJ Thomas, Blackjack Billy, Bobby Bare, Casey Jamerson, Chris Janson, Collin Raye, Confederate Railroad, Connie Smith, Cowboy Troy, Dallas Smith, Dean Brody, Deana Carter, High Valley, Jaida Dreyer, James Otto, John Anderson, John Conlee, John Michael Montgomery, Kentucky Headhunters, Kevin Costner & Modern West, Lenny Cooper, The Lacs, Logan Brill, Marty Stuart, Mel Tillis, Merle Haggard, Pam Tillis, Pauly Shore, Restless Heart, Sam Lewis, Sammy Kershaw, Sarah Ross, Sundy Best, Taylor Hicks, and Walker McGuire. 

TAG is also home to the Black Keys, Guns N’ Roses, Muse, Paramore, Nickelback and many more.

Photo from The Agency Group’s 2014 acquisition of The Bobby Roberts Company. Pictured (L-R): Travis James, Gavin O’Reilly, Bobby Roberts, Nick Meinema, and Lance Roberts.