(L-R): Derek Spirk, Alex Whiten, Steven Curtis Chapman, Madeline Halm and Greg Ham. Photo by Jacob Stillman

Christian hitmaker and five-time Grammy winner Steven Curtis Chapman has signed with One:Eight Entertainment for management representation.

One:Eight Entertainment is helmed by industry veteran Greg Ham. Ham previously served as President & CEO of ForeFront Records and most recently served as a partner in the MWS Group, representing Michael W. Smith, CeCe Winans, and Olympian Scott Hamilton, among others. Ham and his team at One:Eight Entertainment will continue to represent those clients along with producer and director Robert Deaton as well as artist and worship leader Charity Gayle.

“We are thrilled that Steven has entrusted this season to One:Eight for his management,” Ham shares. “It’s been a privilege to call him a friend for many years and we are excited to see what this collaboration will produce.”

“I’m very blessed to have been surrounded and supported by great people throughout my career, and I couldn’t have hoped for a better team around me for this new season,” says Chapman. “Greg, who has been a longtime valued friend, brings years of seasoned wisdom and unrivaled knowledge and experience, and Alex, who has been a part of my management team for the last several years, brings great passion and energy. The whole team is world-class and I’m honored and excited to work with them!”

Pictured (L-R:) Jeff Hill (APA), Jennifer Hludzik (APA), Allen, Tiffany Zimmerman Bottom (Line Mgmt.), Casey Broston (APA), and Keith Naisbitt (APA). Photo: Angela Chamberlain

Jay Allen has signed an exclusive booking deal with APA.

Allen came to prominence in the music world after seeing his mother suffer from Alzheimer’s and writing the song “Blank Stares.” A video of him performing the song with his mother on stage in Iowa went viral, with over 500 million views on Facebook. He now tours the country as an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association, and the song has gone on to raise over $100 million dollars to help fight the disease.

Allen has been featured on NBC’s The Voice, ABC World News, PeopleTV, and in People and Forbes magazines, among others. He was selected as The Highway Find on Sirius XM with his song “Sounds Good To Me,” won the 2022 Country Now Awards as Favorite Competition Contestant, and was recognized as one of Music Mayhem Magazine’s 2023 Artists to Watch.

“APA is excited to have Jay join our family. He has an incredible story-telling talent that immediately brought all of us at APA into his world,” says veteran agent, Jeff Hill. “We look forward to putting him on the road to share his music and see him rise to new levels.”

Allen shares, “APA has a long-standing reputation as an agency that artists know and trust and I’m so proud to be affiliated with them. I’ve been touring for years and I’m looking forward to taking it to the next level with Jeff and this awesome team.”

Pictured (L-R): Rose Bates, Dierks Bentley and Tatum Allsep. Photo: Steve Lowry

Music Health Alliance (MHA), the music industry’s critical nonprofit healthcare resource, is celebrating its 10th year in business this year, marking a decade of working towards its mission to provide free healthcare advocacy and resources to music industry professionals.

Music Health Alliance’s goal is to create a safe and confidential place for the music community to gain the very best healthcare and health insurance solutions through defined and transparent advocacy services, with an emphasis on the prevention of illness and overall wellness.

Since 2013, MHA has saved more than $100,000,000 in healthcare costs, provided free advocacy and support to more than 20,000 music industry clients in 50 states, facilitated more than 3,200 counseling sessions through MHA’s Mental Health Fund and saved nearly 2,500 families from bankruptcy due to medical bills. The organization has also provided life-saving diagnostic care to 57 clients through the Ben Eyestone Fund as well as aided 31 individuals in securing life-saving heart, liver, kidney and lung transplants, and provided access to over a million meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In 10 years MHA has gone from just an idea to a thriving organization that has served tens of thousands and saved over $100 million in healthcare costs to keep the music playing across this country,” says Tatum Allsep, Music Health Alliance Founder & CEO. “MHA’s success is possible because we have a fierce staff, dedicated Board of Directors and encouraging donors and community who sincerely believe in our mission to Heal The Music. Thank you all and cheers to 10 years!”

During a kickoff event held at Nashville’s Gibson Garage this week, multi-Platinum entertainer Dierks Bentley, a longtime supporter and client of MHA, joined the celebration as celebrity ambassador.

“Healthcare is the ultimate thing you can offer your team out there on the road,” shares Bentley. “Having 30 people on my team, it is tough to navigate insurance and healthcare, and having MHA to help us figure it out and uncover benefits we didn’t even know were available. They’ve helped us save so much over 10 years and $100 MILLION industry wide…it’s just incredible!”

The gathering also served as a way to announce MHA’s establishment of the Richard M. Bates SMILE Fund, named in memory of music enthusiast and the Walt Disney Company’s longtime SVP, Government Relations. The Richard M. Bates SMILE Fund is the music industry’s first dedicated fund for dental health. Through the generosity and vision of Bates’ family and friends, and matching grants from The Walt Disney Company, music professionals of all ages will no longer need to forgo critical dental healthcare that is often costly and not covered by medical insurance.

Pictured (L-R): Lytle Management’s John Lytle (President, MHA Board of Directors), Rose Bates, Dierks Bentley, MHA’s Tatum Allsep and The Walt Disney Company’s Susan Fox. Photo: Steve Lowry

“Our family is very grateful to support something so meaningful and lasting,” shares Richard’s wife Rose Bates. “Richard would have been quite touched by this honor while being thrilled that it will help so many musicians with their health-related concerns.”

Music makers of all genres who are in need of critical dental healthcare will now be able to access qualifying grants through the fund. The Richard M. Bates SMILE Fund will not only bring smiles, but will also make a significant impact on MHA’s mission to heal the music.

To learn more about Music Health Alliance’s free services and resources, contact MHA at 615-200-6896 or info@musichealthalliance.com.

Entirely funded through grants and individual and corporate donations, financial support from the music community is critical to continue Music Health Alliance’s advocacy and free services. 86 percent of all dollars donated go directly to MHA’s programs and services – for every one dollar donation, MHA is able to provide $30 in life-saving healthcare resources to Heal The Music.

MHA is also launching The Visionary Circle, an annual giving society to recognize generous friends who are invested in the ongoing success and future vision of Music Health Alliance. The future of MHA lies in the belief that no member of our music industry family should ever have to face a healthcare crisis alone, and The Visionary Circle will make an immediate impact on the scope of MHA’s work and ensure it can continue to heal the music for generations to come.

Donate to Music Health Alliance at MusicHealthAlliance.com/donate-to-heal.

Chris Stapleton. Photo: Becky Fluke

Chris Stapleton has added new headline shows to his “All-American Road Show” tour.

The newly-confirmed 2023 dates include stops in El Paso, Syracuse, St. Louis, Charleston, Toronto, Des Moines, Baltimore and more through Aug. 25.

Special guests on the tour include Charley Crockett, Marcus King, Nikki Lane, Margo Price, Allen Stone, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives and The War and Treaty.

Tickets go on sale next Friday, Feb. 10, and Stapleton’s fan club will have early access to tickets and VIP packages with pre-sale Feb. 7-9. Citi cardmembers will also have access to the pre-sale tickets through the Citi Entertainment program. More information and a full list of tour dates can be found at chrisstapleton.com/tour.

In addition to the new “All-American Road Show” dates, Stapleton is set to perform the national anthem at Super Bowl LVII next Sunday, Feb. 12. He will also headline RodeoHouston on March 16 as well as Stagecoach Music Festival on April 30, and will join George Strait for a series of stadium shows with special guests Little Big Town.

Pictured (L-R): Emily Olson, Ben Caver, Greg Hill and Laurel Kittleson-Cobb.

Dream 3 Publishing, founded by industry veterans Greg Hill, Emily Olson and Laurel Kittleson-Cobb, has announced the signing of flagship songwriter Ben Caver. Caver’s credits include a two-week No. 1 with Brett Young’s “Here Tonight” as well as cuts with Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Jake Owen, Kane Brown, Rascal Flatts and Tim McGraw.

Caver’s last publishing deal ended right as the pandemic started, leading him to become an EMT for a season. During that time, he continued writing independently and recording background vocals for artists including Young, Brown, Cole Swindell, Dustin Lynch, and Thomas Rhett.

A father of two, Caver spends his free time with his family and has continued working as an EMT for Metro Nashville, giving him unique perspectives and experiences that he weaves into his songs.

“We’ve been huge fans of Ben for years and are so excited to team up with him as our flagship writer,” says Olson. “As we were dreaming up Dream 3 Publishing, we knew that we had to work with Ben. His incredible melodies are some of the best in town, and he’s consistently and quietly been getting cuts the past 10 years. We are so excited about what’s ahead for him!”

“In our first meeting, the vision Greg, Laurel and Emily laid out was simple, exciting and exactly what I’d been dreaming of in a publisher,” shares Caver. “I’ve known and gotten to work with Emily and Laurel throughout my career and have always admired their hard work and commitment to creativity. I believe Greg’s perspective on publishing, matched with his years of management experience will create a fresh approach to how songwriters and artists collaborate both in writing rooms and on the road. I’m honored to be the first signing and I could not be more excited to call Dream 3 my new home!”