Parker McCollum Celebrates Platinum Birthday With The King

Pictured (L-R): Enzo DeVincenzo, Red Light Management; Cindy Mabe, UMG Nashville Chair & CEO; Parker McCollum and Nick Rhodes, Red Light Management. Photo: Chris Kleinmeier

Parker McCollum recently celebrated his birthday weekend by joining his biggest musical influence George Strait for a sold-out show in College Station, Texas. The concert not only broke the record for the largest U.S. ticketed show in history, but the occasion was even more memorable because McCollum was also presented with a Platinum plaque by UMG Nashville Chair & CEO Cindy Mabe for his track, “Burn It Down.”

The song’s video also recently took home the ACM Award for “Visual Media of the Year.”

Hootie & The Blowfish’s ‘Cracked Rear View’ Hits 22 Times Platinum

Hootie & the Blowfish’s Dean Felber, Darius Rucker, Jim “Soni” Sonefeld and Mark Bryan pose with a plaque celebrating the RIAA 22-time Platinum certification of Cracked Rear View. Photo: ABC/Paula Lobo

Hootie & the Blowfish performed on June 20 on ABC’s Good Morning America, and during the broadcast, received a special surprise: a commemorative plaque from the RIAA celebrating their debut album, Cracked Rear View, achieving 22-times Platinum, further extending its double-Diamond status.

The monumental achievement solidifies Cracked Rear View as one of the top 10 best-selling albums in music history, a testament to the band’s enduring appeal and the album’s lasting impact on the music industry.

Paul Mason Promoted To Cumulus Media’s Spoken Word Programming Operations Manager

Paul Mason

Paul Mason has been promoted to Cumulus Media’s Spoken Word Programming Operations Manager for the Nashville Market. He will provide day-to-day programming oversight for Nashville’s Spoken Word stations, adding SuperTalk 99.7 WTN/WWTN-FM to his existing responsibilities over 104.5 The Zone/WGFX-FM and Titans Radio.

Mason previously spent four years as Program Director for Cumulus Nashville’s 104.5 The Zone and Titans Radio. Prior to joining Cumulus, Mason was Program Director for 14 years for Hubbard Media’s NewsTalk 850 WFTL and Fox Sports 640, serving West Palm Beach and Miami/Fort Lauderdale. Prior to that, he was Assistant Program Director for Clear Channel Communications/iHeartMedia Cincinnati’s 700WLW for six years.

Tim Robinson Launches Aligned Talent Agency

Tim Robinson

Christian music industry veteran Tim Robinson has launched Aligned Talent Agency.

Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, the firm already boasts a stable of Christian artists including Love & The Outcome, Dan Bremnes, 7eventh Time Down and the 2021 winner of Australia’s The Voice, Bella Taylor Smith. In addition, Aligned Talent Agency is home to such diverse emerging acts as bilingual artist Evan Egerer, rockers Ignescent and Detroit-based sibling duo Alive City, among others.

Country For A Cause Raises $70K For Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

Country For A Cause Board Members along with Kelly Lang, T.G. Sheppard and John Berry

Country For A Cause ‘s CMA Fest 2024 concert at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley raised $70,000 for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

The show, celebrating its 10th anniversary, was hosted by T.G. Sheppard and Kelly Lang, along with Devon O’Day, and featured performers including Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Moe Bandy, John Berry, Chad Brock, T. Graham Brown, Chapel Hart, Lacy J. Dalton, Mike Farris, Crystal Gayle, Terri Gibbs, Lee Greenwood, The Kody Norris Show, Makenzie Phipps, Stephanie Quayle, Sister Sadie and Leona Williams, along with surprise appearances by Ian Flanigan, Tim Atwood and Rhonda Vincent.

Pictured (L-R): RECORDS’ Andrew Saltman, RECORDS Nashville’s Josh Easler and Joe Fisher, Columbia Records’ Jenifer Mallory; Ty Myers; Columbia Records’ Julian Swirsky and Joe Gallo; RECORDS’ Barry Weiss; Starstruck Entertainment’s Narvel Blackstock and RECORDS’ David Enriquez. Photo: Courtesy of Columbia Records

Ty Myers has signed a record deal with RECORDS Nashville/Columbia Records.

“After a year of being pursued by every major label from Nashville to LA to New York, I am beyond excited to have signed with RECORDS/Columbia,” Myers says. “They felt like family from the very start and they share the vision I have for my music & my future. I feel incredibly blessed and honored that they are backing me and I am just so stoked to get started. It’s a dream come true.”

The 17-year-old Texas native began enjoying music from a very young age, and listened to an array of artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Bill Withers, Otis Redding, Chris Stapleton and George Strait, among others. To hone in on his songwriting and playing, Myers opted for homeschooling. In 2023, he released his debut single “Tie That Binds,” which has amassed over 6.1 million streams on Spotify. Shortly after, “Drinkin’ Alone” gave the singer another 11 million Spotify streams.

“It’s not often you meet a proper singer/songwriter at the tender age of 17 who writes, sings, plays guitar and performs like Ty Myers,” shares CEO and Co-Founder of RECORDS’ Barry Weiss. “Simply put, this is what the music business is all about. We’re wildly excited at RECORDS Nashville to have signed him with our colleagues at Columbia Records.”

So far this year, Myers has been playing headline shows in his home state and has opened up for Willie Nelson. He is set for more headline shows in Austin, Terrell and Stephenville throughout the summer, and will open up for Wade Bowen, Randy Rogers Band, Cody Johnson and Josh Meloy.

Myers is also set to release his new single “Let ‘Em Talk” soon.

Myers is managed by Narvel Blackstock of Starstruck Entertainment and represented by CAA.

Pictured (L-R, front row): Amber Grimes (Executive Vice President/General Manager at LVRN), Tanner Adell, Justice Baiden (Head of A&R at LVRN) and Carlon Ramong (Creative Director at LVRN); (L-R, second row): Junia Abaidoo (Head of Touring & Operations at LVRN) and Tunde Balogun (CEO of LVRN). Photo: Noah Tidmore

Country riser Tanner Adell has signed a record deal with Love Renaissance (LVRN) out of Atlanta. She joins LVRN’s roster that includes R&B and hip-hop artists 6LACK, Summer Walker, DVSN, SPINALL, TxC and more.

Adell has been turning heads in the music industry since 2021 with her blend of country lyricism, pop vocal stylings and hip-hop rhythms. She released her debut mixtape, Buckle Bunny, last summer, and recently had a meteoric career moment with her feature on Beyoncé‘s Cowboy Carter album.

With her signing, Adell hopes to continue to diversify the country music scene and inspire the next generation of country-fusion artists.

She shares, “The members of LVRN are all real people who have my back and truly understand who I am. They have been able to embrace the intricate details of my artistic identity in a way I haven’t experienced before. I could tell right away that LVRN had a firm grasp on my musicality and knew exactly how we were going to collaborate to take my career to the next level.”

Justice Baiden, Head of A&R at LVRN, says, “It’s rare these days to be wowed and instantly connect to an artist. Tanner is a generational talent who will change how people feel, perceive, and digest country music. We believe in the stories she tells and her ability to relate to the everyday person; she will touch a global audience. Our decision to support her journey reflects how we at LVRN came into the business and how we see things: fearless, rebellious, loving, Renaissance!”

Amber Grimes, LVRN Executive Vice President/General Manager, adds, “Given our profound affinity for storytelling, we were determined to collaborate with Tanner. She has a jaw-dropping story waiting to be shared through her songwriting. We are thrilled to welcome Tanner to our family, amplify her narrative, and continue to cultivate her success as an artist. Our commitment to nurturing talent and supporting artistic integrity extends across all genres.”

Adell is represented by Wide Eyed Entertainment for management and WME for booking. She is signed to UMPG Nashville for publishing.

Pictured (L-R, back row): Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, Warner Chappell’s Bethany Mako, SMACKSongs’ Lee Krabel, Twelve6’s Travis Myatt, BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, Country Aircheck’s Chuck Aly, SESAC’s Lydia Cahill, Warner Music Nashville’s Kristen Williams, Warner Records’ Co-Chairman, CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck; (L-R, front row): Ryan Beaver, Warren Zeiders, Jared Keim and Ross Copperman. Photo: Steph Sorenson

Warren Zeiders celebrated his first No. 1 at country radio, “Pretty Little Poison,” on Tuesday (June 18) with a party at Halls Chophouse in Nashville.

Written by Zeiders, Ryan Beaver and Jared Keim, and produced by Ross Copperman, the track hit No. 1 on both Country Aircheck’s Mediabase Country chart and Billboard’s Country Airplay chart the week of Feb. 26. The single also marks the first chart-topper for Beaver and Keim.

The Platinum-certified tune has amassed over 380 million global streams, peaked in the top 25 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and earned the Warner Records artist a CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year.

During the celebration, hosted by BMI and SESAC, all three writers and Copperman spoke about the song. Along with BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, who emceed the event, there to speak was SESAC’s Lydia Cahill, SMACKSongs’ Lee Krabel, Twelve6 Entertainment’s Travis Myatt, Warner Chappell’s Bethany Mako, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, Country Aircheck’s Chuck Aly, Warner Chappell’s Bethany Mako, Warner Music Nashville’s Kristen Williams and Warner Records’ Co-Chairman & CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck.

Barnhart presented a special donation on behalf of the song’s crew to The Bridge House, which helps youth out of homelessness and empowers them to live a life that will change a life.

BMI also presented Zeiders and Beaver with a custom Taylor 210-dlx guitar. To congratulate Keim, SESAC gifted him a custom-wrapped Gibson guitar.

Additionally, Zeiders recently released his latest single “Relapse” and is currently on the road for his “Pretty Little Poison Tour.” In August, he will join Jelly Roll as direct support for “The Beautifully Broken Tour” before launching his first European headlining tour in 2025.

Reid Haughton

Up-and-coming artist Reid Haughton recently stopped by the MusicRow office to play a few tunes and discuss his recent album.

The Haleyville, Alabama native grew up singing and playing guitar in church. After graduating high school, he attended Auburn University, where his talent as a performer blossomed. After impressing River House Artist’s VP/GM Zebb Luster at a Riley Green concert in 2019, Haughton moved to Nashville to begin his music career.

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s Madison Hahnen and LB Cantrell, Reid Haughton, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, John Nix Arledge and Liza Anderson

Since then, Haughton has been on the road playing shows across the country with the likes of Whiskey Myers and 49 Winchester while honing his skills as a songwriter. He debuted his self-titled EP, produced by Grammy-winning guitarist Sadler Vaden, in May of last year and recently followed up with his first full-length project titled Higher Than 9, on May 17.

“When I first started writing songs I was honestly trying to mimic Luke Combs. He and Eric Church are the two people I was thinking about a lot,” explained Haughton. “Being on the road is what led to my current sound, really. We were in Indianapolis playing 8 Seconds Saloon with Aaron Watson and my now-wife and I were sitting in the van, freezing cold. I was about to go on in 10 minutes and we were listening to Marcus King. Afterwards, she looked at me and said, ‘Why don’t you play the type of music you love?’ It was like a light went off in my head–when I got home, I started writing.”

Haughton treated the MusicRow crew to several tracks off of his recent album such as “Man Made Money” and “Mendoza Line,” which he co-wrote with Luke Preston.

“For us it really all comes back to being on the road. Nowadays, it feels like we are the last of a dying breed–playing on the road.

Pictured (L-R): Reid Haughton & MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson

We know how to play music with our hands and we don’t run tracks. To each their own, but we are going out there and playing music the best we can, and we aren’t worried about anything else.”

Before performing his final track, “The Crow,” written by Scott Stepakoff, Nicolette Hayford and Aaron Eshuis, he reminisced about hearing the song for the first time early in his career and thinking that if he ever got the chance, he would cut the song. Four years later, he proudly sang the track to close out the special visit.

Additionally, Haughton took the Hard Rock Stage during this year’s CMA Fest, and will visit Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and more on upcoming tour stops.