Kirk Franklin To Receive Black Music Icon Award At Fourth Annual Recording Academy Honors

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Kirk Franklin. Photo: Chris Cavanaugh

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and producer Kirk Franklin will be celebrated with the Black Music Icon Award at the fourth annual Recording Academy Honors Presented by the Black Music Collective at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Santa Monica on Jan. 30.

The Black Music Icon Award celebrates Black music creators whose commitment to their craft has profoundly shaped the industry and whose legacy of service inspires countless people around the world.

A 20-time Grammy-winning gospel artist, Franklin has revolutionized the gospel genre by blending gospel, R&B and hip-hop. The Fort Worth, Texas native began playing piano at age four and directing choirs at 11. Franklin’s debut album, Kirk Franklin & The Family, was the first gospel album to sell more than a million copies, spending 100 weeks on the Billboard Gospel charts.

Known for hits like “Stomp,” “Revolution” and “Brighter Day,” Franklin’s music has achieved widespread crossover success and transformed the genre. Through the joint-venture between RCA Records and his company, Fo Yo Soul Entertainment, Franklin has fostered diverse, Christ-centered content while mentoring urban youth. His 13 albums, all certified Gold or Platinum, have earned him nine Dove Awards, 33 Stellar Awards and a Soul Train Award.

Collaborating with artists like Kanye West, Mary J. Blige and Chance the Rapper, Franklin has consistently bridged the gap between gospel and mainstream music, reaching broader audiences. In 2011, he also authored The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above Life’s Storms, which focuses on a transparent approach to addressing issues from marriage and politics to sex and religion. Through his foundation, he leads community outreach initiatives focused on education and mentorship, empowering future generations and promoting personal growth through faith and music. Franklin’s renowned leadership of urban contemporary gospel choirs, including The Family, God’s Property and One Nation Crew, continues to dominate the Billboard Gospel chart while achieving mainstream success.

“Kirk has not only revolutionized gospel music but has also bridged the gap between genres, redefining the possibilities of musical expression and inspiring generations with his message of hope and faith,” says Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “His unwavering dedication to his craft and his legacy of service embody the very essence of the Black Music Icon Award. We look forward to honoring Kirk for his profound influence on the industry and the countless lives he continues to touch worldwide.”

AEG Presents Names Weston Hebert Vice President Of Global Touring

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Weston Herbert

AEG Presents has appointed Weston Hebert as Vice President of Global Touring. Based out of the company’s Nashville office, his responsibilities will include driving touring strategies and initiatives across the global market, reporting to President of Global Touring, Rich Schaefer.

Herbert began his career at WME in Nashville, focusing on international expansion of the agency’s Country Touring business. Prior to joining AEG, he served as a Talent Buyer for Live Nation Entertainment in the Great Lakes region, overseeing bookings and programming at numerous prominent venues including Andrew J Brady Music Center, The ICON Festival Stage, Bogart’s & The Bluestone. He also successfully booked and promoted tours for emerging artists such as The Red Clay Strays, Gavin Adcock and Lawrence.

“When Rich & I first spoke about this opportunity, I jumped at the chance to join the AEG Presents family,” says Hebert. “Rich & the Global Touring team have cultivated an exceptional sense of collaboration & community with the artists, managers & agents they work with. I’m excited to contribute to the ecosystem they’re fostering, which drives artist development & growth in all facets of the business.”

“We’re very excited to welcome Weston to Global Touring, boosting our presence in Nashville,” adds Schaefer. “We’ve been watching Weston’s development as a touring promoter from afar and have been impressed by his relationships with the artist community, managers and agents and his impeccable taste in music. We’re looking forward to Weston being a significant contributor to our team.”

Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Bailey Zimmerman Among Lineup For Field & Stream Music Fest

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Field & Stream Music Fest has unveiled the lineup for the festival taking place Oct. 3-5 at Carolina Adventure World in Winnsboro, South Carolina.

Co-produced by Field & Stream, the fest will feature over 40 artists performing across multiple stages including Eric Church (a key investor in the brand), Miranda Lambert, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Riley Green, ZZ Top, Bailey Zimmerman, Shane Smith & The Saints, Kameron Marlowe, Larry Fleet, Tyler Farr, Whey Jennings, Ashland Craft, Boy Named Banjo, Josh Sanders, Edwin McCain, David Lee Murphy and many more.

The Fest brings together the best of country music and outdoor adventure where fans can dive into themed villages like the Ugly Stik Fish On America Village, where pro fishing tips and casting competitions await, or the onX Hunt Village, featuring outdoor gear showcases and expert-led demos. For sports fans, the GameWatch Football Showdown Village delivers live games on massive screens, complete with spirited activities and a fully stocked bar. Beyond the villages fans can take on excursions like trophy fishing, archery, Rattlesnake Park mountain biking and off-road tours.

Pre-sales begin tomorrow (Jan. 9) for Field & Stream 1871 Club Members, with tickets on sale to the general public Jan. 10 at fieldandstreammusicfest.com.

Brown Sellers Brown Announces New Hires & Promotion

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Pictured (clockwise from top left): Ash Bowers, Angela Wheeler, Abby Driscoll and Wendy Buckner

Brown Sellers Brown (BSB) has hired Ash Bowers as Director of Artist Management and A&R Support, Wendy Buckner as Day-to-Day Manager for artists, including Ben Gallaher and Spencer Hatcher, and Abby Driscoll as Day-to-Day Manager for Annie Bosko, as Bosko’s previous Day-to-Day Manager Angela Wheeler has been promoted to Director of Content & Creative.

“As we continue to grow BSB, hiring Ash, Wendy and Abby and promoting Angela helps set us up for continued success in 2025,” says BSB Partner Benny Brown. “All four of those individuals have worked with some of the biggest brands in the music business, and their combined abilities will be a great asset to BSB’s artist roster.”

Reporting directly to Benny Brown and fellow partners Paul Brown and Jason Sellers, Bowers will lead management strategy for artists like Gallaher and Hatcher. In his new role, he will also provide A&R assistance across Quartz Hill Records and Stone Country Records while serving as a record producer for multiple acts. Bowers started in the industry as a Stoney Creek Records artist before becoming a songwriter and producer, securing cuts with Keith Urban, Brad Paisley and Dustin Lynch, among others. He also co-founded a publishing and management company in 2013. Bowers can be reached at ash@brownsellersbrown.com.

Reporting to Bowers, Buckner brings more than 25 years of experience in music publishing, music and television production and artist management to her new position. She most recently served as Executive Personal Assistant to Wynonna Judd and Assistant to Marion Kraft at ShopKeeper Management, whose clients include Miranda Lambert.  Buckner can be reached at wendy@bsbmgmt.com.

Driscoll will report to Bosko’s Manager Randy Bernard. The Belmont University graduate began her artist management career interning and working part-time as an assistant at Make Wake Artists. After graduation, she joined CAA as a receptionist and floater. Driscoll at can be reached at abby@bsbmgmt.com.

In her elevated role, Wheeler will report directly to Sellers and provide leadership support for the production of creative assets, including cover artwork, music videos and social media content. Before joining the company, she gained over 30 years of experience with The Charlie Daniels Band, ultimately serving as Director of Creative Services & Logistics for the Country Music Hall of Famer. Wheeler also worked as Director of Creative Services & Licensing for Daniels’ record label, Blue Hat Records, and Executive Assistant to President of Corlew Music Group David Corlew.

Industry Ink: Brian Crews, Cory Edmondson, Kurt Stevens

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Jayson Entertainment Group Adds Brian Crews

Brian Crews

Industry veteran Brian Crews has joined Jayson Entertainment Group (JEG) as Director of Business Development & Strategy, where he will continue working in talent buying, concert promotion and production.

Crews began his career with Roxboro Jaycees, where he helped book and produce the Flem Whitt Beach Music Festival. He later founded Crewser Entertainment & Promotions, a talent buying and concert production company. Crews most recently served as Senior Talent Buyer/Event Producer at Romeo Entertainment Group (REG). Over the past two decades, he has worked with artists including Lainey Wilson, Alabama, Hank Williams Jr., Lee Brice, Nelly, 3 Doors Down and more.

“We are excited for Brian to join us at JEG. His knowledge and experience is going to help us grow and expand,” shares Aaron J. Green, Partner, Jayson Entertainment Group. “Brian shares our mission of making great events happen!”

KFGE/Lincoln, NE Ups Cory Edmondson

Cory Edmondson

Cory Edmondson has been promoted to PD at KFGE/Lincoln, NE. He takes over the role from Steve King, who will focus on duties as OM for the five-station cluster as well as the company’s seven-station cluster in Omaha.

“I don’t think there is anyone more deserving than Cory to lead the charge for Froggy,” shares King. Edmondson joined KFGE in 2022 after working for numerous stations, such as KFLS/Klamath Falls, OR, KKOA/Hilo, HI, KTHK/Idaho Falls, ID and KKNU/Eugene, OR.

 

Maui Songwriters Festival To Debut ‘Festival Find’ With Kurt Stevens

Kurt Stevens

The Maui Songwriters Festival will debut their new “Festival Find” program with Kurt Stevens earning the debut honor. Stevens will perform during the festival, taking place Jan. 15–18 in Maui, Kapalua.

A South Florida native, Stevens is rooted in the traditions of artists, such as Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Jack Johnson and more. He recently caught the attention of SiriusXM’s Radio Margaritaville with his latest release, “Everglades,” which is now in regular rotation on the station. The song draws a parallel between a romantic relationship and the Florida Everglades.

Splice Releases New AI Discovery Tool For Country Creators

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Splice, the sounds catalog platform that helps music creators bring their ideas to life, is launching the country music genre in its Create AI tool, which allows producers, songwriters and instrumentalists to build song starters and create stacks using compatible sounds from across the vast Splice catalog.

The Splice team spent months in Nashville, Austin and Los Angeles to capture rich, authentic, human-made country sounds for this launch. Released under a new sample label, Splice Country features performances from country musicians including Devin Malone (Jelly Roll, Carrie Underwood), Trevor Nealon (Willie Nelson, Lee Ann Womack) and Kate L. Malone (Sam Hunt, Emma White).

“Create is already changing the game for producers across genres whose phones are filled with Stacks and I’m looking forward to seeing how the country community engages with the tool,” says Kenny Ochoa, SVP of Content at Splice. “Our ability to deliver these beautiful country samples right into studio workflows is going to make such a difference for country producers. It was important to us to get this right, to find the right musicians to play on these sample packs and get the best recording quality and instrumentation that producers in the country space want to use.”

“Inspiration can be a luxury when you’re always creating,” says CMA Award-winning songwriter Mikey Reaves (Miranda Lambert, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson), producer of the recently released Country Mojo & Spice sound pack. “That’s where Splice Create comes in. With a single click, it generates a full production vibe—again and again—until the right one sparks your next song.”

Splice Country is home to 10 new sample packs featuring loops and melodies using the unique instruments that define the genre; the dobro, pedal steel, lap steel and banjo. These sounds are now accessible in Splice’s Create Mode, providing country producers with the same technology embraced by songwriters, producers and Splice users worldwide. With the launch of Splice Country, the company now has 29 in-house sample labels spanning more than 130 genres, featuring hundreds of instruments.

Billy Strings Announces Spring Shows

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Billy Strings. Photo: Dana Trippe

Billy Strings will continue his headline tour through the spring, which will run through June 21 in Lexington.

The new dates will include multiple shows in St. Augustine; Cary, North Carolina; Grand Rapids; Lexington; Savannah; St. Louis and more. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, (Jan. 10) at billystrings.com/tour.

The spring shows are just the latest added to Strings’ 2025 run, which also includes stops in Denver, Asheville, Atlanta and Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Additionally, following his two-night stand at Bridgestone Arena, Strings will once again return to the Ryman Auditorium on March 2 for a third Nashville show.

The upcoming performances celebrate Strings’ latest album, Highway Prayers, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s all-genre Top Album Sales chart last fall—the first time in 22 years that a bluegrass album has been the top-selling album across genres.

Billy Strings Confirmed Tour Dates:
January 24 — Denver, CO — Ball Arena
January 25 — Denver, CO — Ball Arena
January 26 — Denver, CO — Ball Arena
February 6 — Asheville, NC — ExploreAsheville.com Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 7 — Asheville, NC — ExploreAsheville.com Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 8 — Asheville, NC — ExploreAsheville.com Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 14 — Asheville, NC — ExploreAsheville.com Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 15 — Asheville, NC — ExploreAsheville.com Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 16 — Asheville, NC — ExploreAsheville.com Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 21 — Atlanta, GA — State Farm Arena
February 22 — Atlanta, GA — State Farm Arena
February 28 — Nashville, TN — Bridgestone Arena
March 1 — Nashville, TN — Bridgestone Arena
March 2 — Nashville, TN — Ryman Auditorium (SOLD OUT)
April 3 — St. Augustine, FL — St. Augustine Amphitheatre
April 4 — St. Augustine, FL — St. Augustine Amphitheatre
April 5 — St. Augustine, FL — St. Augustine Amphitheatre
April 9 — Tampa, FL — Yuengling Center
April 11 — Savannah, GA — Enmarket Arena
April 12 — Savannah, GA — Enmarket Arena
April 15 — Charlottesville, VA — John Paul Jones Arena
April 17 — Cary, NC — Koka Booth Amphitheatre
April 18 — Cary, NC — Koka Booth Amphitheatre
April 19 — Cary, NC — Koka Booth Amphitheatre
May 30 — Grand Rapids, MI — Van Andel Arena
May 31 — Grand Rapids, MI — Van Andel Arena
June 6 — Rosemont, IL — Allstate Arena
June 7 — Rosemont, IL — Allstate Arena
June 11 — Kansas City, MO — T-Mobile Center
June 13 — St. Louis, MO — Chaifetz Arena
June 14 — St. Louis, MO — Chaifetz Arena
June 20 — Lexington, KY — Rupp Arena
June 21 — Lexington, KY — Rupp Arena

Bold: on-sale this Friday, Jan. 10 at 10:00 a.m. local time

Rani Hancock Appointed Executive Vice President, Head Of U.S. Creative At Kobalt

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Rani Hancock. Photo: Charlie Gross

Kobalt has appointed Rani Hancock to the position of Executive Vice President, Head of U.S. Creative at the company. She will now lead the company’s creative teams in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville.

Hancock joins Kobalt from her position as EVP, Head of A&R at Columbia Records, where she worked with Dove Cameron, Maren Morris and JoJo Siwa, among others. In her previous role as Executive Vice President, A&R at RCA Records, she signed chart-topping artists including Miley Cyrus, Kesha and Becky G and A&R’d projects for Pitbull, Britney Spears and more. During her stint as President of Sire Records, she signed Bryce Vine and Cavetown, oversaw projects by Tegan and Sara and Andra Day, as well as executive produced the Golden Globe-nominated soundtrack for The United States vs. Billie Holiday.

At Kobalt, Hancock will report directly to Jeannette Perez, the company’s President & Chief Commercial Officer.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rani Hancock to Kobalt Music,” says Perez. “Her exceptional creative vision and proven track record make her the perfect fit to head our U.S. creative team. Rani’s deep understanding of the evolving music landscape, combined with her passion for nurturing talent, will be invaluable as we continue to empower songwriters, artists and producers in achieving their greatest potential.”

Laurent Hubert, CEO of Kobalt adds, “Rani is a creative executive who has always looked at the songwriter as a foundational player in our business. That point of view, along with her vast experience in our business, embodies the kind of leadership and creative acumen that makes her the ideal leader to guide our U.S. creative team moving forward.”

A Berklee College of Music grad, Hancock began her career working for Clive Davis at Arista Records, later joining him as part of the founding team at J Records. She has A&R’d six No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 singles, three No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 albums and 17 Billboard Hot 100 Top 20 singles throughout her career.

“Joining Kobalt is an incredible opportunity to be part of a company that truly values songwriters, artists and producers,” shares Hancock. “Laurent and Jeannette have built an amazing team and a culture of creativity and innovation. I’m incredibly excited to work alongside them to champion the next generation of creative talent. Kobalt’s commitment to empowering artists aligns perfectly with my own values, where great songs and great songwriters always come first. I can’t wait to contribute to their continued success.”

‘Odies Beach Vacation’ Curated By Old Dominion Coming To Miramar Beach

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Old Dominion

Old Dominion is curating a brand new Moon Crush music vacation weekend, “Odies Beach Vacation,” in Miramar Beach, Florida on Nov. 13 – 15.

Moon Crush “Odies Beach Vacation” will feature two special performances by the band, as well as sets from Brothers Osborne, Shaggy, Russell Dickerson, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Niko Moon and more. General tickets go on sale beginning Jan. 14 for the event, which is presented by Topeka and the Messina Group with Old Dominion.

Topeka allows guests to immerse themselves in live music from the comfort of their own personal cove complete with delivery of all food, drinks and merchandise within five minutes at a 5,500 capacity open air green space venue a short walk from guests’ beach condos or homes. Offering a more intimate and unique experience, guests spend the day under the sun at the beach and nights under the stars seeing their favorite artists.

“This isn’t a music festival, this is a music vacation full of fun, great music and as always, no bad vibes. We can’t wait to spend time with you all, soak in the sun and create memories together,” says Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey.

Jason Aldean To Co-Headline Fenway Park With Brooks & Dunn This Spring

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Jason Aldean and Brooks & Dunn will unite for a co-headlining show at Boston’s Fenway Park on Friday, May 30.

The one-night-only event will see the three-time ACM Entertainer of the Year and the recently-crowned CMA Vocal Duo of the Year perform their hits under the lights of the famous ballpark, and feature special guests Nate Smith and RaeLynn.

“Playing Fenway Park has always been a highlight for me over the years. I love the city of Boston, the people and the energy surrounding the city. Getting to play it with some of my musical heroes, Brooks & Dunn, is going to be one for the ages,” shares Aldean.

“It’s going to be a blast playing such an iconic stadium like Fenway with our buddy Jason,” says Kix Brooks. “See you in the spring, Boston!”

Tickets will go on sale this Friday (Jan. 10) at 10 a.m. local time at LiveNation.com. Additionally, different VIP packages and experiences will be available at VIPNation.com. Packages vary but include premium tickets, a backstage tour, an onstage photo, a photo op at the Green Monster, an invitation to the VIP Hospitality Lounge, a VIP-exclusive gift and more.