Pictured (L-R): Greg Sowders (WCM), Guy Moot (WCM), Bernie Leadon, Carianne Marshall (WCM) and Trevian Kutti. Photo: Courtesy of WCM

Bernie Leadon, Eagles founding member and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, has signed with Warner Chappell Music to a long-term, worldwide publishing agreement. Leadon will release his first solo album in more than two decades, Too Late to Be Cool, on Oct. 10.

“I have been associated with Warner Chappell and the rest of Warner Music since 1971. I am delighted to renew my connections with them now at this point in the 21st Century,” shares Leadon. “Warner Chappell and Warner Music have always been at the pinnacle of support for songwriters and other music creators, and that reality is still very evident in the current leadership and staff. My sincere thanks go to all of them.”

“It’s no exaggeration to say that much of the music we call Americana today owes a deep debt to Bernie’s boundary-crossing inspiration,” adds WCM’s Guy Moot, Co-Chair and CEO, and Carianne Marshall, Co-Chair and COO. “He has helped shape a canon of iconic music, from his early years with genre-defying groups like The Flying Burrito Brothers and Dillard & Clark to his generation-defining work with the Eagles to his countless collaborations with other artists. His creativity, musical brilliance, and pure devotion to his craft have made him a true American treasure, with six decades of extraordinary songs and sounds to his credit. We’re honored and excited to welcome him into the Warner Chappell family.”

In 1971, Leadon co-founded the Eagles alongside Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Randy Meisner. After stepping away from the Eagles in 1975, he worked with Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Stephen Stills and Alabama among others. In 1998, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with The Eagles.

Leadon penned all the songs on his upcoming album, including the recently released tracks “Too Many Memories,” “Just a Little,” and “Go On Down to Mobile.” It also marks Leadon’s reunion with esteemed producer/engineer and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Glyn Johns.

Curb records has released the 11 track project, REAGAN: Songs Inspired By The Film, today (Sept. 26).

The new collection of songs follows the official film soundtrack release on Aug. 29. On the new album, the original tracks are from an array of artists including Alabama, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt and more, who drew inspiration from the themes and characters of the film. The project was produced by Mark Joseph and Vince Emmett, and Tim Cook served as music supervisor.

“We were so pleased to have an eclectic and amazing group of artists come alongside the project,” says Joseph. “It was great to partner with Mike Curb and the Curb Records team to bring these collections out.”

REAGAN: Songs Inspired By The Film Track List:
1. “America’s Dream” Gary Cherone (Gary Cherone)
2. “City On A Hill” Travis Tritt (Travis Tritt)
3. “I Saw The Time” Alabama (Randy Owen)
4. “This Is America” Wayne Newton (Caryn Borland)
5. “Rancho Del Cielo” Ricky Skaggs (Caryn Borland)
6. “Always” Commodores (William King)
7. “Keep On Moving” Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives (Marty Stuart)
8. “I Knew It Would Be You” Kathie Lee Gifford, Claude Kelly (Kathie Lee Gifford, Richard Spitz)
9. “Do We Want To Win” Tanya Tucker (Chuck Cannon, Regie Hamm)
10. “Do I Say Goodbye” Sweet Comfort Band (Bryan Duncan, James Raymond, Rick Thompson)
11. “Start The World Over Again” Lee Greenwood (Lee Greenwood, Mike Curb, Ronald Reagan)

Kuke Music Holding Limited, a classical music services platform in China, has acquired a controlling interest in Naxos Music Group, one of the world’s largest independent classical music companies. Naxos Music Group is based in Nashville and is the label of The Nashville Symphony.

Under the terms of the agreement, Kuke acquired a controlling interest in Naxos Music Group through two transactions involving Naxos One Holding Limited (“Naxos One”) and Desun Holding Limited (“Desun”), one of the two existing shareholders of Naxos One.

Kuke firstly subscribed for 17,500 newly issued Class B ordinary shares of Naxos One for a total worth of US$105 million. Kuke secondly acquired 108 Class A ordinary shares of Naxos One from Desun, which automatically converted into 108 Class B ordinary shares of Naxos One upon transfer for a total of $1.35 million. The deal was settled entirely through the issuance of Kuke’s Class A ordinary shares as consideration.

“This strategic acquisition of Naxos Music Group represents a landmark transaction that will significantly enhance our position as a leading classical music services platform,” says Peixian Tan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kuke. “Naxos’s world-class content library, combined with its proven global distribution capabilities, creates compelling synergies with our existing music education and technology platforms.”

Jason Aldean, Kane Brown & Bailey Zimmerman

Jason Aldean, Kane Brown and Bailey Zimmerman will headline Hoofbeat Festival in Cadott, Wisconsin June 25-27.

Other artists on the bill include Aaron Tippin, Adrien Nunez, Ashley Cooke, Atlus, Austin Brown, Chandler Walters, Chase Matthew, Chase McDaniel, Clay Walker, Crossroads, Dalton Davis, Dasha, Derek Jones & The 50 South, Dirty Prescott Kids, Elizabeth Nichols, Emily Ann Roberts, Gundo, If Nothing Else, Jake Birdseye, Josh Gallagher, Josh Ross, Katie May, Lara Bell, Lassos & Lace, Maiden Dixie, Mary Kutter, Nate Smith, Naughty Northern, Neal McCoy, Rafe Carlson, Rick Monroe & The Hitmen, Russell Dickerson, Six Figure Sunrise, Slamabama, Something Familiar, Terri Clark, Tigirlily Gold, Timothy Wayne and Tucker Wetmore.

“Hoofbeat has always been about tradition—friends, family, and music in the hayfield,” festival promoter Wade Asher says. “Year after year, our loyal fans return, and new fans join the party. This lineup carries that spirit forward, honoring the roots of country while celebrating the next wave of artists our fans will be talking about for years.”

Festival tickets, camping, and glamping are on sale now, along with pit passes. Tickets and more information are available here.

Lamont Landers has dropped his debut EP Introducing… Lamont Landers today (Sept. 26) via Lucille Records.

Produced by Dave Cobb, the seven tracks capture life in America and the joys of love. Lori McKenna co-penned a track with Landers, “Devil Is Alive And Well,” on the new collection, which also features cuts by Oscar Charles, Madeline Edwards, Philip Towns and more.

“I’m beyond excited to finally share this EP with everyone,” shares Landers. “Each song is a piece of my story, and I poured everything I’ve felt and lived into this music. I hope fans connect with it, feel the emotion behind each track, and enjoy the journey as much as I did creating it.”

Hailing from Decatur, Alabama, Landers’ journey began when a viral cover of Ray Charles’ “Hit The Road Jack” earned over half a million views overnight, leading to performances on America’s Got Talent and Showtime at the Apollo. His social media presence, including a repost by Questlove of his rendition of “Rubber Band Man”, caught the attention of Cobb and ultimately led to a deal with Cobb’s MCA imprint, Lucille.

Landers recently took the stage alongside Yola and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at the King of Soul Music Festival which benefits the Otis Redding Center for the Arts in Macon, Georgia. He is currently touring across the U.S. as a headliner as well as direct support for St. Paul & The Broken Bones.

Introducing… Lamont Landers Track List:
1. “America” (Lamont Landers, Dave Cobb)
2. “Oh Shit! (I’m In Love)” (Lamont Landers, Dave Cobb, Aaron Raitiere)
3. “Golden Skies” (Lamont Landers, Dave Cobb, Philip Towns)
4. “Lotta Love” (Madeline Edwards, Klare Essad, Oscar Charles)
5. “Devil Is Alive And Well” (Lamont Landers, Lori McKenna)
6. “Love’s Got The Best Of Us” (Madeline Edwards, Dan Fernandez, Emily Falvey)
7. “How Long (Until The Rain Is Gone)” (Lamont Landers, Dave Cobb, Philip Towns)