United Record Pressing

United Record Pressing, America’s oldest vinyl record pressing plant, is celebrating 75 years in business.

Five days a week for the last 75 years, over 120 employees cut, silver, electroplate, press, inspect and package vinyl records to be sent to every corner of the globe, all from their operation on Allied Drive in Nashville.

From Francis Craig Band’s Red Rose / Near You, which spurred the construction of United Record Pressing’s first plant as an offshoot of one of Nashville’s first independent labels, Bullet Records, to the first U.S. 7-inch of The Beatles’ Please Please Me / From Me To You to offering what is now referred to as the “Motown Suite,” an on-site place for Black artists and professionals to stay while pressing their albums during segregation to producing quantities of vinyl for Minor Threat, Kendrick Lamar, Thom Yorke, Taylor Swift, Paramore and David Byrne, United Record Pressing has worked to refine the pressing process.

Over seven decades of experience has translated into modern-day integration, such as exploring how AI-powered technologies can detect plating issues before they affect production or through collaborations with Sibert Instruments to apply optical disc technology to vinyl as well as the plant’s installation of 24 new Pheenix Alpha pressing machines in addition to the restoration of 40 historic Lened and SMT machines. United Record Pressing has also made significant strides in sustainability, becoming the first North American plant to earn a Sony Green Partner Certification in 2023.

Vinyl has seen  17 consecutive years of revenue growth, reaching $1.4 billion in 2023​​, and United Record Pressing has sought to be a significant contributor to this resurgence.

“Our ability to scale up to the size of our major label partners while staying accessible to independent artists and labels is something we take a lot of pride in,” says Cam Sarrett, Director of Sales & Marketing, United Record Pressing. “The market demands on vinyl are at an all time high, but United has kept the doors open through downturns too, operating with as few as 12 employees in the ‘90s. I believe that’s in large part because of creativity from independent artists and labels and the support of their fans.”

Pictured (L-R): Chris Owen (Cornman Music), Nate Lowery (Cornman Music), BJ Hill (WCM), Alexander Palmer, Ben Vaughn (WCM), Brett James (Cornman Music) and Julie Hess (WCM)

Hit songwriter and producer Alexander Palmer has signed a joint global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music and Cornman Music.

Palmer began learning classical and jazz piano at five years old in his home country of Germany, and also taught himself to play the drums and bass. Splitting his time between Nashville and Los Angeles, Palmer has worked with a bevy of country, pop and hip-hop artists. He has celebrated three multi-Platinum No. 1 country hits with Dierks Bentley’s “Somewhere On A Beach,” Jason Aldean’s “Got What I Got” and Bailey Zimmerman’s “Religiously.” He also worked with Jason Derulo on the five-times Platinum “Whatcha Say” and Chris Brown’s double-Platinum “Turn Up The Music.” Most recently, he co-penned “Huntin’ By Yourself” from Luke Combs’ Fathers & Sons album, which debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart.

“Alex is a seasoned veteran in so many aspects, yet he continues to step up with every new opportunity,” says BJ Hill, SVP, A&R, WCM Nashville. “Being able to partner now with the incredible team at Cornman is like adding rocket fuel to the fire.”

“We’re honored to partner with Alex and have him join the Cornman Music and Warner Chappell family,” adds Nate Lowery, GM and VP, Cornman Music. “I first heard of Alex back in 2016 when we collaborated on the Dierks Bentley hit, ‘Somewhere On A Beach,’ and I’ve been a fan ever since. Brett James, Chris Owen, and I are excited to work with Ben Vaughn, BJ Hill, and the rest of the team, and we look forward to what the future holds.”

Dennis Quaid’s Reagan Rules At The Box Office

Dennis Quaid as Ronald Reagan. Photo: Rob Batzdorff

Dennis Quaid’s Reagan surprised box office watchers by nearly doubling anticipated first-week projections, riding off with $9.2 million and finishing in third place at the box office behind Deadpool & Wolverine and Alien, while landing the No. 3 per-screen average on opening weekend.

Moviegoers gave the film an “A” CinemaScore and a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes in sharp contrast to the Rotten Tomatoes critics score at 19%. That 79% chasm makes it the film with one of the greatest gaps between critics and fans in the history of Hollywood films.

Megan Moroney Rocks GMA’s Summer Concert Series

Good Morning America Anchors Whit Johnson and Gio Benitez, Megan Moroney, Anchors Rebecca Jarvis and Sam Champion. Photo: ABC/Lorenzo Bevilaqua

Megan Moroney performed last week as part of ABC’s Good Morning America Summer Concert Series. Taking the stage at GMA’s Times Square studio, Moroney delivered renditions of two standout tracks from her sophomore album Am I Okay? Between songs she also took a moment to chat with Good Morning America anchor Rebecca Jarvis.

HunterGirl Makes Huckabee Debut

HunterGirl on Huckabee. Photo: Courtesy of TBN

HunterGirl recently made her debut on TBN’s Huckabee, delivering a heartfelt performance of her song “Ain’t About You.” She also sat down to chat with Governor Mike Huckabee.

“Ain’t About You” became a standout track on 19 Recordings/BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s label-debut EP, Tennessee Girl. What HunterGirl refers to as her “45 minute-conversation with Jesus” went on to make history as the first debut radio single in over 30 years to be completely written by a female country artist herself.

Pictured (L–R, back row): Sony Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, Josh Van Valkenburg, Loeb & Loeb’s Megan Pekar, Sony Music Publishing’s Aubrey Landon and Dale Bobo. (L–R, front row): Loeb & Loeb’s Derek Crownover, Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, Jeremy Stover and RED Creative Group’s Taylor Lamb. Photo: Amy Allmand

Hit songwriter and producer Jeremy Stover has signed an exclusive worldwide co-publishing agreement with Sony Music Publishing Nashville. As part of the deal, Sony has has acquired several songs from Stover and RED Creative Group, including “7500 OBO,” “With A Woman You Love,” “We Didn’t Have Much” and “You, Me, & Whiskey,” and will cover all of Stover’s future works.

“Jeremy Stover is a master at crafting rural storytelling with sonic sophistication,” says Rusty Gaston, Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO. “His productions and songs overflow with heart and make you feel right at home as a listener. We are thrilled to be partnering with Jeremy and RED Creative and look forward to a bright and successful future together.”

Stover has had numerous chart-toppers with an array of country acts, including Tim McGraw, Justin Moore, Jack Ingram and LoCash, among others. He currently has radio singles out with Moore’s “This Is My Dirt” and Ashley McBryde’s “The Devil I Know,” and has had recent cuts with Luke Combs, Priscilla Block and Travis Denning.

“I couldn’t be more excited to partner with my longtime friend Rusty and the incredible team at Sony,” shares Stover. “Telling stories through country music is what I love to do. This partnership will allow me to continue to do that at the highest level. Let’s get to work!”