Connor Hicks Signs With Tape Room Music

/by

Pictured (L-R): Caroline Hodson (Tape Room Music), Nick Tressler (Raised Rowdy Management), Ashley Gorley (Tape Room Music), Connor Hicks, Blain Rhodes (Tape Room Music) and Katherine Godwin (Tape Room Music). Photo: Ike Everard

Connor Hicks has inked an exclusive global publishing deal with Tape Room Music.

Hicks’ music has become popular with fans for its themes of small-town life, enduring love and life’s defining moments. His homestate of Kentucky shapes his bluegrass side, combined with his love of country music. Hicks’ influences include Brett Eldredge and the Zac Brown Band.

Hicks recently released his new single “Lonely Season,” which followed his 2024 releases of “The Heart I Used To Have” and “Remembering Somebody.”

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue growing into the artist I’ve always wanted to be,” shares Hicks. “My goal has always been to create music that feels real, and I’m thrilled to do that alongside a team like Tape Room that is truly the best of the best. All glory to the man upstairs.”

“From our first meeting with Connor, we knew we wanted to be a part of his journey as an artist,” adds Tape Room Music President Blain Rhodes. “We are so excited to welcome him to the Tape Room family and help him bring his music to the world.”

Essential Music Publishing Promotes Andie Rankins

/by

Andie Rankins

Provident Entertainment’s publishing division, Essential Music Publishing, has elevated Andie Rankins to Vice President of Essential Publishing Administration.

Rankins joined the company in 2015, when Provident acquired its catalog from Sony Music Publishing, she assumed responsibility for developing, instituting and overseeing the company’s internal publishing administration process. Since then, Rankins has driven significant growth within the division by expanding its client base and strengthening operations. She rises to her current position after holding the title of Senior Director, Essential Publishing Administration.

Under Rankins’ leadership, Essential Publishing Administration has developed into a thriving, integral part of Provident Entertainment. Her strategic vision and commitment to excellence have expanded the division’s reach beyond Provident’s internal creative community to serve a diverse roster of valued industry partners, including Elevation Worship, Fair Trade Services, Hillsong Publishing, Bell Partners, BEC Worship and many more.

“Andie’s unwavering care and commitment for our copyrights and writers, combined with her servant leadership approach, make her the ideal person to lead Essential Publishing Administration as Vice President,” says Holly Zabka, President of Provident Entertainment. “I am thrilled to celebrate this well-deserved promotion.”

Weekly Register: Morgan Wallen Holds Top Spot

/by

Morgan Wallen. Photo: Demian Becerra

Morgan Wallen has held on to his spot atop the streaming charts this week, according to Luminate data. “I Got Better” took the top place on the singles charts with 10 million streams this week, adding to 311 million streams to date. Wallen’s I’m The Problem holds its top position on the albums chart with 77K in total consumption.

On the albums chart, Wallen holds the No. 2 spot with One Thing At A Time gaining 30K in total consumption and the No. 3 spot with Dangerous: The Double Album garnering 24K in total consumption. At No. 4 is Jason Aldean’s 30 Number One Hits with 21K in total consumption. Shaboozey holds the No. 5 spot with Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going earning 15K in total consumption.

On the songs chart, Wallen holds the top three positions. His duet with Tate McRae, “What I Want,” takes the No. 2 spot with 10 million streams this week. “I’m The Problem” comes in at No. 3 with 8.4 million streams this week. At No. 4 this week is Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” with 8.1 million streams. Rounding out the chart at No. 5 is Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” with 6.6 million streams.

Ashley Nite Joins Kobalt

/by

Ashley Nite. Photo: Taylor Lewis

Ashley Nite has joined Kobalt’s Nashville office as Creative Director.

“We are excited to welcome Ashley to the Kobalt family,” says Stephanie Cox, GM & SVP Creative, Nashville. “Her deep creative insight, strong relationships, and proven ability to identify and elevate songwriters make her an invaluable addition to the team.”

Nite is a Nashville native with publishing A&R executive experience. She most recently serves as Head of A&R at Eastside Avenue Publishing where she spearheaded strategy and secured cuts alongside company founder Andrew DeRoberts. With Eastside, she helped writers secure cuts with Justin Timberlake, Tate McRae, Blake Shelton, Alexandra Kay, Hudson Westbrook, The Fray, Kip Moore and more.

Other career stops include Concord Music Publishing and JRM Publishing & Mailbox Money Music. Nite graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a B.S. in Music Business with a Minor in Marketing.

“I’m honored to join the incredible team at Kobalt,” adds Nite. “Kobalt’s forward-thinking approach to publishing and its commitment to empowering songwriters deeply resonate with me, and I’m excited to contribute to the continued success of our creators.”

Hannah McFarland Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut

/by

Hannah McFarland.

Hannah McFarland made her Grand Ole Opry debut on Oct 31, playing her breakout track “Hey Highway” and “If Heaven Had a Hotline.”

“Playing the Grand Ole Opry was #1 on my bucket list as a kid, and I can officially say I’ve crossed it off,” she says. “Stepping into the circle on the greatest stage in country music is something I don’t take lightly, and it will forever be one of the highest accomplishments of my life. Thank you to everyone at the Opry for not just believing in me, but trusting me to honor all those who stepped into the circle before me.”

McFarland recently collaborated with Chase Rice on “Foolin’,” Riley Green on “I Just Need You,” and Brett Young on “In Case You Didn’t Know 2.0.” She released her debut EP, Broken Hearts, earlier this year and has toured with the likes of Tucker Wetmore and Kip Moore. She is set to join Green on the road next spring and take the stage in April at Stagecoach.

Turnpike Troubadours Extend ‘Wild America Tour’ Through Summer

/by

Turnpike Troubadours. Photo: David McClister

The Turnpike Troubadours are extending their “Wild America Tour” through next summer.

Newly confirmed shows include New York’s The Rooftop at Pier 17, two nights at Fort Worth’s Billy Bob’s, Philadelphia’s The Met Philadelphia, Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway, Boise’s Extra Mile Arena, and more. Tickets for the new dates will be available for pre-sale starting this Wednesday (Nov. 12), with general on-sale following Nov. 14 at turnpiketroubadours.com/tour.

In addition to the “Wild America Tour” dates, the band will once again join forces with Cross Canadian Ragweed for two more “The Boys From Oklahoma” co-headline shows next year at Stillwater, Oklahoma’s Boone Pickens Stadium on April 11 and Lincoln, Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium on Aug. 22.

The Troubadours released their surprise new album, The Price of Admission, this past spring via Bossier City Records/Thirty Tigers which was produced by Shooter Jennings and debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes all-genre and country charts, and No. 1 on the Billboard Digital Albums and Current Digital Albums Sales charts. The band has racked up more than 2.2 billion streams globally and over 1.7 million equivalent units sold to date, and was recently inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

Turnpike Troubadours New Tour Dates:
January 30—Fort Worth, TX—Billy Bob’s
January 31—Fort Worth, TX—Billy Bob’s
February 5—Philadelphia, PA—The Met Philadelphia~
February 6—Uncasville, CT—Mohegan Sun Arena~
February 7—Boston, MA—MGM Music Hall at Fenway~
March 27—West Valley City, UT—Maverik Center^
March 28—Boise, ID—Extra Mile Arena^
June 5—New York, NY—The Rooftop at Pier 17†
June 6—Asbury Park, NJ—The Stone Pony Summer Stage†

~with special guest Robert Earl Keen
^with special guests Charles Wesley Godwin and Buffalo Traffic Jam
†with special guest Lucero

Warren Zeiders Slates First-Ever World Tour

/by

Warren Zeiders

Warren Zeiders has unveiled his first-ever world tour, which will kick off on March 26 at The Dome in Virginia Beach. Kolby Cooper and Lakeview will join as support.

The route will take Zeiders to Birmingham, Lexington, Phoenix and more through April. Zeiders will then travel to Australia for shows in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisband and Rockhampton. In October, Zeiders will close out his world tour across Europe and the U.K for shows in Glasgow, Zurich, Munich and more, before wrapping with a final show in Oslo on Nov. 2.

General on-sale will begin this Friday (Nov. 14) at 9 a.m. CST here.

“Warren Zeiders World Tour 2026” Dates:
March 26 – The Dome – Virginia Beach, VA *
March 27 – Parx Casino – Parx Xcite Center – Bensalem, PA *
March 28 – Turning Stone Resort & Casino – Verona, NY *
April 2 – Avondale Brewing Company – Birmingham, AL #
April 3 – Brandon Amphitheater – Brandon, MS #
April 4 – Choctaw Casino & Resort Durant – Durant, OK #
April 9 – Manchester Music Hall Outdoors – Lexington, KY *
April 10 – Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort – Cherokee, NC *
April 11 – Wendell’s Dippin Branch – Anderson, NC *
April 15 – Maverik Center – Salt Lake City, UT +
April 16 – Fillmore Auditorium – Denver, CO #
April 17 – Rio Rancho Events Center – Albuquerque, NM #
April 18 – Arizona Financial Theatre – Phoenix, AZ #
April 22 – The Fruit Yard – Modesto, CA #
April 24 – Grand Sierra Resort and Casino – Reno, NV #
May 13 – Metro City – Perth, AU
May 16 – Festival Hall – Melbourne, AU
May 17 – Hordern Pavilion – Sydney, AU
May 19 – The Fortitude Music Hall – Brisbane, AU
May 22 – Great Western Hotel – Rockhampton, AU
October 11 – 02 Academy Glasgow – Glasgow, UK
October 14 – Manchester Academy – Manchester, UK
October 15 – Bristol Academy – Bristol, UK
October 16 – 02 Academy Birmingham – Birmingham, UK
October 18 – Roundhouse – London, UK
October 21 – TivoliVredenburg – Utrecht, NL
October 23 – X-TRA – Zurich, CH
October 24 – Tonhalle – Munich, DE
October 25 – E-Werk – Cologne, DE
October 27 – Batschkapp – Frankfurt, DE
October 28 – Huxleys Neue Welt – Berlin, DE
October 29 – Georg Elser Halle – Hamburg, DE
October 31 – Fållan – Stockholm, SE
November 2 – Sentrum Scene – Oslo, NO

* denotes show with Kolby Cooper as support
# denotes show with Lakeview as support

JUST IN: MCA Elevates Tatiana Angulo & Taylor Viegut

/by

Taylor Viegut & Tatiana Angulo.

MCA has promoted Tatiana Angulo and Taylor Viegut, both taking on Vice President roles within the label.

Angulo will serve as the Vice President, Streaming. Since joining MCA, she has overseen campaigns for artists such as Chris Stapleton, Parker McCollum, Jordan Davis, Kacey Musgraves, Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Dierks Bentley and Keith Urban by using data-driven strategy to grow engagement and audiences. She has also developed partnerships for artists across the label, including Peloton’s first live in-studio performance featuring Keith Urban and the MCA x Peloton CMA Fest Activation. She is a Belmont University graduate and a Texas native. Angulo has also worked as an adjunct professor at Belmont.

Viegut will serve as the first-ever Vice President, E-commerce & Business Development. In her new role, she will spearhead the label’s e-commerce initiatives. Viegut first joined MCA five years ago, and has since created successful commercial partnership initiatives across streaming. Prior to MCA, Viegut worked at CMA where she led DSP relationships and expanded mobile growth to amplify country music’s digital impact.

Additionally, Vipin Reddy, also serving as Vice President, Streaming, will handle the MCA roster, which includes Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Jordan Davis, Carter Faith, Vince Gill, Sam Hunt, Little Big Town, Parker McCollum, Reba McEntire, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and others.

“I am excited to see both Tatiana and Taylor take on these new, expanded roles,” shares Mike Harris, MCA CEO. “Tatiana’s ability to drive successful streaming strategies and Taylor’s keen focus on the growing importance of e-commerce demonstrate their forward-thinking approach. Their expertise will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and support our artists in the evolving music landscape.”

Angulo can be reached at: Tatiana.Angulo@umusic.com and Viegut can be reached at: Taylor.Viegut@umusic.com.

Niko Moon Announces ‘Good Time Fest’ In Charleston

/by

Niko Moon. Photo: Mika Matinazad

Niko Moon is bringing his “Good Time Charleston” event back to The Refinery in Charleston on May 23-24 and expanding it into a festival, renaming it “Good Times Fest.”

The weekend will feature special guests Uncle Kracker, The Wailers, The 502s, Artikal Sound System and more. The expanded event will take place during Mental Health Awareness Month, designed to celebrate music, community, and well being, reinforcing the importance of mental health through connection, positivity, and giving back. “Good Time Fest” will feature a headlining performance from Moon each night, along with a variety of family-friendly activities, food trucks and more, creating a space where families and fans can come together to celebrate music, community and well-being.

“CHARLESTON  we’re doing it again y’all… TWO back to back nights of nothing but positive music and good vibes,” says Moon. “Catch me and some of my favorite artists at The Refinery on May 23 & 24 to kick off Memorial Day Weekend!”

Pre-sale for tickets begins tomorrow (Nov. 12) with general on-sale beginning Nov. 14 at goodtimefest.us.

Moon also recently announced his expanded 2026 “American Palm Tour” dates. The 17-date headline run kicks off Jan. 29 in Oklahoma City and visits major markets including Dallas, Nashville, Boston, Minneapolis and more.

Max McNown, Vincent Mason & Laci Kaye Booth To Perform At Spotify ‘Homegrown’ Showcase

/by

Spotify is celebrating its “homegrown” playlist with a showcase in Athens, Georgia tomorrow (Nov. 12). Max McNown, Vincent Mason and Laci Kaye Booth will take the stage.

The event will be open to 800 top Spotify fans in the Athens, Georgia area. Free tickets will be dispersed via email through Spotify’s Top Listeners program. Fans can RSVP here.

The event celebrates “homegrown,” a playlist that celebrates the roots of country music with featured artists including Zach Bryan, Lainey Wilson, Sam Barber, Charles Wesley Godwin and more. Listen to “homegrown” here.