Rising Nashville recording artist RVSHVD has signed with EMPIRE’s publishing division.

From Willacoochee, Georgia, the 23-year-old singer-songwriter started making music ten years ago. While listening to rap beats as a young teen, RVSHVD realized his talent for songwriting. Crediting Lil Bow Wow as an early influence, he dug deeper into the power of songwriting by studying the work of Lil Wayne, Eminem, and Tupac.

RVSHVD (pronounced RA-SHAD) jumped genres after hearing “Sweet Thing” by Keith Urban. With the help of a signature vocal tone, his home studio, and a viral TikTok video, RVSHVD became nationally recognized for his country version of Roddy Ricch’s “Ballin’.” The song went viral on Spotify, TikTok, Apple Music and YouTube, amassing over 20 million streams to date. RVSHVD has shared his talents through TikTok by posting country versions of some of today’s most popular hip-hop tracks. His song, “Raised Up,” teased on Tik Tok, gained nearly 6 million views and landed in the Top 10 All Genres Chart on iTunes. RVSHVD has continued to release original songs through EMPIRE.

“As EMPIRE Nashville continues to grow, we’re thrilled to add artist/writer RVSHVD to our roster,” says VP of A&R, Eric Hurt. “We believe his unique style and talent is important to the country format and we’re excited to be a part of his growing career.”

“It’s a relationship town and you’ll be hard pressed to find a more genuine and dependable crew than Eric, Heather [Vassar], William [Dyer], Sarah-Beth [Gerlecz] and the rest of the team at EMPIRE,” says RVSHVD’s manager, Jonnie Forster. “RVSHVD already feels at home.”

“I’m thankful to everybody at EMPIRE for the opportunity and my friends, family and my fans for the support of my music,” shares RVSHVD. “It’s so dope to be able to live my dreams and do what I love.”

EMPIRE’s publishing division currently represents hit writers Yung Bleu, India Got Them Beats, !llmind, Nebu Kiniza, Fuse (of 808 Mafia), Justin Love, and Kal V, among others.

Carly Pearce graced the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater stage Thursday night (Dec. 2) and reminded Nashville just why she’s the new CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year.

Pearce is wrapping up her first headlining tour tonight (Dec. 3) at The Castle Theatre in Bloomington, Illinois. She chose smaller theaters in more metropolitan markets like Chicago, New York City, and Washington, DC to tour her esteemed 2021 album, 29: Written in Stone. In a press release the now 31-year old said that after spending the last few summers on big tours, wondering if her songs were truly connecting to such big crowds, she decided to hone in on intimate venues for this tour. “To hear those voices coming back to me and faces with their own pain, that’s when you realize these songs matter,” she said.

But Pearce is gearing up to go really big in 2022, when she will join Kenny Chesney on his “Here And Now Stadium Tour.”

Sony Music Nashville’s Andrew Jannakos joined Pearce on select dates for the tour, including at the CMA Theater. He provided a smooth, low-key opening set for Pearce, impressing the audience with his romantic “Wine Country” and signature “Gone Too Soon,” as well as several other well-written new songs.

When it came time for Pearce’s soul-baring set, she held nothing back, guiding the captivated audience track by track through 29: Written in Stone. She played the album in order and noted how meticulous she was with its sequence.

Kicking things off on a sassy note, Pearce performed the charming “Diamondback.” Throughout the show Pearce displayed her growth from the painful divorce that inspired her album. At times, like when she’s singing about her worth on “Diamondback” or telling her ex off on “Liability,” she gives a wink to the crowd, knowing her fans have been there, done that. On other songs like “Day One” and “Messy,” she seems to evoke an advice-giving role to her fans, empowering them to get through the valley they may be in. Performance by performance Pearce shows why she’s one of the most exciting, charming and talented artists in the format.

The intimate crowd held onto every word Pearce said—and sang. They knew the harmonies, the background vocals, and even added their own commentary—which Pearce responded to throughout the night. They were thrilled to hear “Next Girl,” and showed the same love for “Messy” and “Should’ve Known Better.”

During her current single, “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” Pearce played both roles of the wife and the other woman, a part usually sung by Ashley McBryde. “Just pretend I have dark curly hair and a big eagle tattoo,” Pearce quipped.

Pearce’s homegrown country vocals shined on “Dear Miss Loretta.” The Kentucky-native said that Loretta Lynn‘s “Blue Kentucky Girl” was the first song she learned on guitar, and that though she listened to Lynn her whole life, “some certain events in [her] life have made [Pearce] understand her songwriting a little better.”

Elsewhere in the setlist Pearce performed perhaps the most emotional song on the record: “Show Me Around,” a song inspired by the tragic death of her former producer, Busbee. Pearce revealed that the song title came from a speech given by songwriter Barry Dean at Busbee’s funeral. Dean said that he thought Busbee was looking at Heaven like he would look at Disneyland, searching for things to show his wife and daughters. During the pauses in Pearce’s performance it was so silent that you could hear sniffles arising from the seats.

At some point Pearce thanked her label president Scott Borchetta, who beamed up at her from his seat, for letting her make the transparent, vulnerable album she wanted to make.

Pearce’s show wasn’t the only event at the Country Music Hall of Fame Thursday night. The opening to Bill Anderson‘s new Hall of Fame exhibit took place earlier in the evening. Pearce even stopped by to celebrate Anderson before her show, lending her vocals to his iconic “Whiskey Lullaby.” When Anderson arose to give his remarks, he commented on Peace’s performance, saying “you don’t have to worry about the future of country music when there’s people like her.”

On Friday (Dec. 3) UTA announced that Matthew Morgan has joined the agency as Co-Head of its Nashville office, working alongside Co-Head Jeffrey Hasson, and simultaneously announced the addition of rock agent Buster Phillips to the agency’s Music City headquarters.

Morgan has worked with Grammy award-winning hitmakers Zac Brown Band and Lizzo, and was a key player in the latter’s career growth. He has also worked with Anderson East, Breland, Cam, Dean Lewis, GAYLE, Jessie James Decker, JP Saxe, Keane, Kidd G, Michael Franti, Nightly, Noga Erez, Phillip Phillips, Rival Sons, Robyn Ottolini, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and The Revivalists, among others. Morgan previously spent 13 years at CAA and two years at CMT.

Phillips has been an agent for the better part of twenty years. Over that time, he has represented the talents of Devon Gilfillian, Gov’t Mule, Ida Mae, Iron and Wine, Kathleen Edwards, Low Cut Connie, Nicole Atkins and The War and Treaty among many others. Prior to joining UTA, Phillips created the college and festival divisions at Creative Artists Agency and contributed to the festival business at WME.

“Matthew and Buster are well-respected agents with collective decades of experience working with artists across multiple genres. They are fierce advocates for their clients, and we are thrilled to welcome them to UTA,” said David Zedeck, Partner and Co-Head of Global Music. “Our Nashville office is rapidly expanding, and that momentum will continue under Matthew and Jeffrey’s leadership.”

“UTA Music has been on the cutting edge of client service and innovative opportunities, and I am thrilled to be joining the UTA family,” stated Morgan. “With a roster full of world-class artists and bold innovators, the next chapter in Music City will be a special one.”

Phillips added, “This is an exciting time for music in Nashville and I am thrilled to be joining forces with UTA—a company that truly focuses on culture and entrepreneurship. They have done great work for their clients, and I am looking forward to hitting the ground running. The sky’s the limit!”

Morgan and Phillips’ announcement follows UTA’s recent hiring of Nashville-based music agent Scott Clayton as Co-Head of Global Music. The company has further bolstered its music group over the last 18 months through key new hires including agents Hasson, Brett Saliba, Matt Korn, Zach Hartley, and Emily Wright, who are based in Nashville; agents Matt Meyer and Robbie Brown, based in Los Angeles; and Director of Creative Strategy Rebecca Prochnik and agents Carlos Abreu and Matt Lee, based in London. In March 2021, UTA acquired UK-based Echo Location Talent Agency (Echo), which was founded and led by Obi Asika, who now serves as Co-Head of the company’s UK office alongside Neil Warnock.

Additionally, in June 2021 UTA opened its new Nashville headquarters at the historic downtown site of the former Carnegie Library in the heart of Music City.