Photo: Courtesy of Starseed Entertainment

James Barker Band will release their label debut EP, Ahead Of Our Time, on Oct. 20. Along with the collection announcement, the band has released their new breakup anthem, “Champagne.”

Ahead Of Our Time includes six tracks, five of which were penned by frontman James Barker along with writers including Rodney Clawson, John Byron and Blake Pendergrass. The project showcases the group’s trademark cheeky lyrics and catchy melodies from the clever “Step On His Boots,” to the star-crossed title track and the charm of “Champagne.” “Meet Your Mama” tugs at the heartstrings, while “On the Water (feat. Dalton Dover)” serves as the project’s go-to party anthem. The EP wraps with “Heartbeat,” which captures the essence of love at first sight in a fast-paced musical journey.

“This project tells the story of who we are, where we’ve been and where we’re headed in our next chapter,” shares Barker. “We were drawn to the title of Ahead Of Our Time because these songs have been a part of our journey for a while. From the writing room to the stage, they’ve been with us on the road, interacting with our fans, and evolving along the way. As creators, we’ve experienced these songs ahead of their formal release, but the only part that matters is when it’s in the hands of our fans who can make it their own. We can’t wait for everyone to do just that on Oct. 20!”

Cody Hibbard. Photo: Brooke Stevens

For Droptine Records artist Cody Hibbard, finding success in the music industry is a different kind of hard work than he’s used to.

After farming on his family’s ranch in Oklahoma for his whole childhood, Hibbard was recruited to the US Naval Academy out of high school. He picked up guitar after sustaining a shoulder injury that cut his time at the Academy short.

Hibbard briefly attended an undergraduate pharmacy program, then headed to the oil pipeline for a lucrative summer job. That summer stint turned into a full time position for the next nine years. He carried his pawn shop guitar, three songs and deep Southern drawl from campfire to campfire as he played to friends and co-workers.

“I only knew three songs. I’d play those three songs every time that we’d all get drunk and just make up lyrics,” remembers Hibbard in a recent visit with MusicRow. When out on a job in Texas, Hibbard’s three song set grew into a side gig of playing restaurants on the weekends, and led to his first release “Half Whiskey, Half Lonely.”

Soon after, as the world slowed down in 2020, he began writing his own songs and his music career began to take off. He released his first EP Memory and a Dirt Road, that year and continued to play gigs around Texas.

In March 2021, Hibbard left his job on the oil pipeline, trading the ditches and heat for co-writes and industry meetings. His drive for hard work stuck with him as he stepped on to Nashville’s Music Row.

“These label meetings we take, everywhere we go, they always ask, ‘Do y’all have any questions?’ The only question I always ask back is, ‘Do y’all know how to work?’ Because that’s all I want to do. I want to stay busy, write musicand perform.

“This job is not a job to me after coming from where I came from,” explains Hibbard. “This is a beautiful lifestyle. Does it get stressful? Of course—it’s running your own business at the end of the day.”

While country through and through, Hibbard’s music tackles a wide variety of subjects and pulls from his experiences, and from influences of classic rock, Christian and gospel, and early 2000s country hits.

“I mean look at me—I’m an Asian guy with a redneck accent,” Hibbard says.  “There’s nothing wrong with being different. I am country to the core but there’s nothing wrong with being here or there or anywhere else.”

Industry veteran Jim Catino saw the value in Hibbard’s unique perspective and drive, and reached out. Hibbard soon signed a publishing deal with Droptine and Sony Music Publishing, and has since released tunes such as “Looking Back Now,” “We Speak Country,” “Beer Problem” and more.

His latest release, “Bend,” is Hibbard’s ode and honor to military families. It was influenced by his non-profit work with veterans who, inspired by his vulnerability, often share deep stories and emotions with him. He compares the strong, unyielding love between spouses to the strength of the willow trees in his home state of Oklahoma.

Hibbard explains, “I just kept thinking about all the songs you hear about the willows. It reminded me of those couples—how the wind can just pound that tree left and right but it never does break. Basically it’s saying, ‘You can throw whatever at me, I’ll just keep bending, and we’ll see what happens in the end.’”

Hibbard wants to take that vulnerable songwriting and spin it with some rock influences from his favorite bands, such as Avenged Sevenfold. His upcoming track, “House That He Built,” highlights those stylings.

All of Hibbard’s vulnerability is part of his hard work, bringing value to the fans. “I don’t get on stage and make myself vulnerable because I enjoy the spotlight,” Hibbard says. “I’m a guy who could live in the woods all year round if I needed to, but to hear people say, ‘Your songs got me through some heartbreak or some loss,’ means everything to me.”

Cody Alan.

Cody Alan has joined SiriusXM The Highway, hosting the new morning show, Highway Mornings with Cody Alan & Macie Banks.

The new show will be filled with the latest in country music, pop culture, and entertainment and feature celebrity guests, listener calls, personal stories, and much more. Highway Mornings with Cody Alan & Macie Banks launches today (Sept. 11) and will air weekdays from 5 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET on The Highway in the car on channel 56 or anywhere with the SXM App.

A highly regarded radio host over the last two decades, Alan has won multiple awards including being named 2021 National On-Air Personality of the Year by the CMA, as well as the ACM’s Personality of the Year twice. Additionally, he was a nine-time recipient of the Country Music Director of the Year award during his tenure in Dallas.

Alan also appears weekly on Hot 20 Countdown as TV Host of CMT’s flagship music show. His memoir Hear’s The Thing was released in 2021, which features many of Cody’s on-air adventures, his coming out story, and the lessons learned by truly listening.