Maddie & Tae’s ‘Die From A Broken Heart’ Goes Double Platinum

Award-winning duo Maddie & Tae recently earned RIAA Double Platinum status on their record-breaking No. 1 smash hit “Die From A Broken Heart.” To help celebrate and present the plaques to Maddie Font and Taylor Kerr were their longtime friends and bandmates Colton Thomas, Jeremy Little, Shane Smith, and Dave Lapsley.

“These guys have been on this wild ride with us and they believed in us even when we may have doubted ourselves,” says Kerr. “We are a family!”

When “Die From A Broken Heart” topped the country airplay charts, Maddie & Tae became the first and only female twosome with multiple No. 1’s. The track was also named one of Billboard’s Top 10 Country Songs of 2020 and was a standout track on the pair’s critically acclaimed sophomore album The Way It Feels.

 

 

Big Machine Label Group Receives Great Place To Work Certification

Big Machine Label Group has been certified by global authority on workplace culture Great Place to Work, joining previously certified companies like Hulu, Comcast, AT&T, Cisco, and Bank of America. Leading the industry with the most rigorous, data-based model for quantifying employee experiences, Great Place to Work’s Trust Model is the standard for ensuring every employee is consistently having a positive work experience.

The study revealed that BMLG employees have an overwhelming sense of pride in what the company accomplishes. The report also noted that BMLG has a significantly higher percentage of employees declaring it is a great place to work compared to those at typical U.S.-based companies. Big Machine Label Group has also been named twice in leading business media brand Fast Company’s annual ranking of the Most Innovative Companies.

The coveted Great Place to Work status comes as Big Machine nears the close of its 15-year anniversary. Over the past year, the label group has achieved numerous monumental milestones across its artist roster including Florida Georgia Line becoming the first country act to earn two RIAA Diamond Single Awards, Thomas Rhett earning the ACM Entertainer and Male Artist of the Year trophies, Carly Pearce winning her first CMA and ACM awards, and Lady A earning a Grammy nomination.

 

 

Bob Morelli Celebrates One Year Anniversary Of Cool Is Forever Consulting

Long Island-based Cool is Forever Consulting LLC, owned by former Sony Music RED President, Bob Morelli, celebrated their one year anniversary.

“After a successful 14 years as President of Sony RED, I have happily and smoothly transitioned to the Founder and CEO of my own company, Cool is Forever Consulting LLC,” says Morelli. “It’s pretty exciting and rewarding helping either an artist, a label, or an industry partner move their agenda along and find success. Starting out as an indie record store owner, then paying my dues in sales, then a marketing executive, to finally running both a major and indie distribution company and a label group… I’ve gotten pretty good at a wide variety of things that help my clients.”

Cool is Forever Consulting specializes in big picture strategies, tactical marketing, sales initiatives, negotiating distribution, and label deals. It also offers a full team providing service in digital marketing, online advertising, social media, creative, data analytics, A&R, and influencer marketing.

 

 

Kasey Cleckler Launches Executive Coaching Company Cape + Anchor

Music industry member Kasey Cleckler has launched her executive coaching venture Cape + Anchor.

With over 15 years industry experience in business management and touring, Cleckler brings knowledge of the intricacies of the entertainment industry that is instrumental in the success of coaching in that space. Her career in business management started at Flood Bumstead McCready and McCarthy where she was an Account Manager responsible for the day-to-day management of business for multiple Grammy-award winning artists that toured extensively both nationally and internationally.

“I see a special place for coaching in the music industry,” explains Cleckler. “It’s an important time of personal and professional change and adaptation. For an industry that is known for recreating itself again and again, this is work that will be fruitful in improving the entertainment business along with the lives and relationships of those who work in it. I’m excited to work alongside creative thinkers and leaders in music as they define and create the way forward for themselves and their businesses.”

Through Cape + Anchor, Cleckler aims to provide tools for individuals and organizations to improve communication and teamwork, create a successful business and touring culture, navigate personal and professional change, and improve adaptability.

Jess Soccorsi has signed with Curb | Word Music Publishing.

Soccorsi, a multi-genre singer-songwriter, moved to Nashville in 2015 to pursue a career in music. Originally from West Virginia, she lived in Colorado for years where she wrote primarily worship and pop music. She also spent much of her time leading worship, helping equip other worship leader-writers, and traveling abroad. While studying music for a year in London, Soccorsi expanded her production experience which inspired her indie pop project SÜ.

In 2019, Soccorsi released “Cathedrals” and “Right Here” which blend dream pop ballads with electro-tinged beats. She co-wrote her most recent single, “Til The End of Time,” with fellow artist Silverberg, which debuted in June 2020. She has also had placements in The Hills, Siesta Key, and Ex On The Beach.

 

 

Several artists have come together to pay tribute to the late Charlie Daniels on a new collaborative album, Charlie Daniels & Friends – Duets, which will be released via Blue Hat Records & BFD/Audium Nashville. Walmart is exclusively carrying the project, which will be available on Friday, July 16 at all Walmart locations and at walmart.com. Daniels, a Country Music Hall of Fame member, died last year (July 6, 2020) from a hemorrhagic stroke. He was 83.

The nineteen-track compilation features Daniels singing and picking with a slew of top-notch stars including Dolly Parton, Brooks & Dunn, Darius Rucker, Travis Tritt, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Brenda Lee, Gretchen Wilson, Marty Stuart, and more.

“It goes without saying that it’s been a rough year for my mom and I, our CDB family and dad’s fans,” says Daniels’ son, Charlie Daniels Jr. “But his music will live on forever, and we’re happy that this Duets collection will add to his legacy.”

The album includes several of Daniels’ biggest songs such as “Long Haired Country Boy” with Brooks & Dunn, as well as an additional version with the late Hal Ketchum and John Berry, “The South’s Gonna Do It (Again)” with Keith Urban on guitar, “Drinkin’ My Baby Goodbye” with Montgomery Gentry, and “Waco” with Garth Brooks singing harmony, as well as classic tunes like “Jackson” with Wilson, “Let It Be Me” with Lee, and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” with Gill.

“The process of putting this project together was a wonderful time of reflection and it became an overwhelming reminder of how great these tracks are,” explains Blue Hat Records President and Daniels’ longtime manager David Corlew. “The best of the best joined Charlie in sharing musical styles and great songs. Thanks to all who participated in honoring Charlie.”

Charlie Daniels & Friends – Duets Track Listing:
1. What’d I Say (with Travis Tritt)
2. Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours (with Bonnie Bramlett)
3. Jackson (with Gretchen Wilson)
4. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (with Vince Gill)
5. Maggie’s Farm (with Earl, Gary and Randy Scruggs)
6. Daddy’s Old Fiddle (with Dolly Parton)
7. Like A Rolling Stone (with Darius Rucker)
8. Evangeline (with The Del McCoury Band)
9. Let It Be Me (with Brenda Lee)
10. Long Haired Country Boy (with Brooks & Dunn)
11. God Save Us All From Religion (with Marty Stuart)
12. Drinkin’ My Baby Goodbye (with Montgomery Gentry)
13. Jammin’ For Stevie (with Brad Paisley)
14. Waco (with Garth Brooks singing harmony vocals)
15. The South’s Gonna Do It (Again) (with Keith Urban on guitar)
16. All Night Long (with Montgomery Gentry)
17. Texas (with Ray Benson and Lee Roy Parnell)
18. Southern Boy (with Travis Tritt)
19. Long Haired Country Boy (with Hal Ketchum and John Berry)

Jon Wood has signed an exclusive global publishing deal with Peermusic.

At 21, Wood left his hometown of Wake Forest, North Carolina to chase his dreams in Nashville. After only five months, songwriter and producer Justin Weaver reached out and the duo quickly began writing together in early 2019, recording two EPs before the end of that year. Wood spent 2020 writing, recording, and playing shows and is currently working on putting out new music.

“Jon has really grown as an artist and writer over the past couple of years under the guidance of Justin Weaver,” says SVP of Peermusic Michael Knox. “I’m excited to watch him continue to grow to the next level.”

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with Michael Knox and the entire Peermusic creative team. With the support of Peermusic and Justin Weaver, I know that I have the right team in place and I’m grateful for their belief in me. Looking forward to what’s to come!” shares Wood.