Warner Music Nashville has partnered with Round Here Records and signed Redferrin to a major label deal. Redferrin’s debut single,“Red In My Last Name,” is available everywhere now.

Produced by Corey Crowder, Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, “Red In My Last Name” serves as a manifesto for Redferrin’s uncompromising style, and the track’s adrenaline-pumping energy and rebellious swagger offer a sample of the kaleidoscopic musical textures he can create.

Born Blake Redferrin, the White House, Tennessee native has been making a name for himself as one of Nashville’s most unorthodox and innovative new singer-songwriters. He already boasts cuts including Florida Georgia Line’s hip-hop inspired “Countryside,” Nelly’s recent smash “Lil Bit,” and Dean Brody and The Reklaws’ “I Can’t Help Myself,” which hit No. 1 in Canada and set a record for the most one-week radio spins in the nation’s history. Living just 30 miles north of Music City, Redferrin spent his first 24 years on the pegs of a dirt bike. He turned professional by 18 and joined the national Arenacross circuit. He later began exploring the idea of changing direction and picked up the guitar he learned to play as a teen again. Writing songs of his own was a natural progression, and he had struck up a friendship a few years earlier with another avid rider – FGL’s Tyler Hubbard. After Redferrin stopped racing, he signed a publishing deal with Hubbard and Brian Kelley’s Tree Vibez Music.

“From day one, we’ve known that huge things are ahead for Redferrin,” said Florida Georgia Line’s Kelley and Hubbard. “Whether in the writing room, studio, or on the stage, he’s completely blown us away and creatively grown faster than we could have ever imagined. In addition to being wildly talented, he’s one of the best guys you’ll meet and we can’t wait for everyone to get to know him! We’re so proud to stand in support of Redferrin with a Warner Music Nashville/Round Here Records partnership.”

“Redferrin is a truly undeniable talent and we are so lucky to have him join our Warner Music Nashville family,” said Warner Music Nashville Chairman & CEO John Esposito. “We are so fired up to introduce him to the world. Every song is a hit and there’s no doubt in my mind that he will be the next superstar in country music and beyond!”

“I am so fired up,” exclaimed Redferrin. “It’s been a long time coming and a long backroad to get here. I want to thank BK and Tyler, John Esposito and Cris Lacy, Leslie Dipiero, and so many others for believing in me and my music. Your support and hard work means the world to me. I can’t believe we’re really doing this and can’t wait to see where this ride takes us.”

Universal Music Group Nashville artists Eric Church, Lauren Alaina, Priscilla Block, Jon Pardi, and Parker McCollum performed at the annual Team UMG at the Ryman luncheon for CRS virtual attendees today (Feb. 18).

EVP Promotion UMG Nashville Royce Risser served as the host for the showcase, and kicked everything off with UMG Nashville Chairman/CEO Mike Dungan by his side. Before Dungan could introduce the first act, Risser surprised him with a loud blast of fireworks going off behind the two executives. This prank proved to be a favorite of Risser’s, as he gave every UMG Promotion staff member who appeared throughout the stream the same fright.

Once Dungan recovered, he introduced recent UMG Nashville signee, Priscilla Block. Block first gained recognition last year on TikTok thanks to her catchy original songs like the humorous “PMS” and the body-positivity anthem “Thick Thighs.” Her “Just About Over You” reached the top spot on the iTunes all-genre song chart within 12 hours of release, and is currently climbing country radio’s Top 40. “Believe me, no one is more skeptical of the TikTok thing than me,” Dungan said. “She is the real deal.”

Block got the music started with “My Bar,” live from the Ryman Auditorium. “I’m freaking out to be here at the Ryman,” she said.

The charismatic and thankful Block then sang her viral hit “Just About Over You.”

Sr. VP, Promotion, MCA Nashville, Katie Dean then appeared, and after being scared by the fireworks, she introduced Parker McCollum. McCollum started CRS week strong by winning MusicRow‘s Breakout Artist of the Year at the publication’s virtual CountryBreakout Awards.

McCollum thanked country radio right out of the gate for his first Gold, Platinum, and No. 1 song, “Pretty Heart,” before performing the tune on the Ryman stage. McCollum then played his newest single, “To Be Loved By You.” The driving heartbreak song, which he cowrote with Rhett Akins, was most added at country radio upon its debut earlier in the year.

Next Mercury Nashville VP, Promotion Damon Moberly introduced Lauren Alaina.

Alaina played some tunes from her 2020 Getting Over Him EP, starting with the piano ballad, “What Do You Think Of.” Beautifully sung as usual, Alaina’s recorded version features pop vocalist Lukas Graham.

She then played her hot and heavy duet, “Getting Over Him,” with label-mate Jon Pardi.

VP, Promotion, Capitol Records Nashville, Bobby Young appeared to introduce the next act. Capitol Records Nashville won Label of the Year at MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout Awards earlier this week for the 16th consecutive year (17th overall). Young was on hand to re-introduce Jon Pardi.

“It’s good to see you on whatever you’re watching this thing on,” Pardi said before launching into his mariachi-infused “Tequila Little Time.” The tune is Pardi’s latest single, and follows his Platinum-certified No. 1, “Heartache Medication.” Pardi’s next selection was a tune from his surprise 2020 album, Rancho Fiesta Sessions, the Sinéad O’Connor hit “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which he recorded because he was inspired by Prince’s version of the song.

VP, Promotion, EMI Nashville, Jimmy Rector joined Risser next. Impressively, he didn’t flinch at the fireworks. He introduced the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, Eric Church.

Church said he was impressed by Rector not flinching at the fireworks. “You should probably check your hearing or your alcohol consumption, either one,” he said.

Church started his acoustic set by talking about his upcoming three-album project, Heart & Soul, due out in April. The first tune he played, “Heart On Fire,” is on the Heart project. It was the first song recorded on the 28-day retreat where he created the album. He first mentioned the process at last year’s CRS.

“I’ve never dreamed a song before, but I dreamed this song,” Church said before going into the madness dreamscape, “Crazyland.” The song features characters called emotions, such as Sad, Regret, All My Fault and I Told You So, who all come together in Crazyland.

Before playing his current single, the romantic “Hell Of A View,” Church talked about his co-writer Casey Beathard. The hit songwriter tragically lost his son Clayton in late 2019, when the 22-year-old was killed outside of a Nashville bar. Church called Beathard “an intergral part” of his music, and said he admires his strength for coming on the writing retreat shortly after Clayton’s passing. There the two wrote “Hell Of A View,” which was most-added at country radio upon its debut and has already hit No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

Church closed with a song that was motivated by and dedicated to the fans at the 2017 Route 91 Las Vegas shooting. He delivers a love letter to his fans with “Through My Ray-Bans,” singing: Everybody’s got their arms around everybody else’s shoulders / Guarding against the world outside like an army of Friday night soldiers / The battle wages tomorrow but tonight you don’t give a damn / Wish you could stay the way I see you through my Ray-Bans.

LiveXLive To Premiere Laura Bell Bundy’s New Video

LiveXLive has announced that actress/singer/Broadway star Laura Bell Bundy is releasing the music video to her newest single “American Girl” featuring Shea Carter on the platform. The exclusive premiere will take place Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. ET along with interviews and behind the scenes footage on LiveXLive’s original franchises of LiveZone and Music Lives ON as well as on-demand.

“American Girl” is the third single off Bundy’s upcoming album, Women of Tomorrow, due out this spring. “American Girl” was penned by Bundy, Carter, and Jeremy Adelman.

Bundy says, “The video feels like a walk into the past, but it is just showing that as much as things have changed they really haven’t. The same expectations of what it means to be a woman persist. We go into debt trying to become that woman too… financially and emotionally… leaving us empty and wondering why we are not happy.”

 

Drew Baldridge Announces Second Leg Of Bonfires Tour

Drew Baldridge has announced the second leg of the Baldridge & Bonfires Tour is set for 36 dates with more to possibly be added. All of the dates are private, booked directly with fans and performed outdoors to small, socially-distanced crowds. During the shows, fans will get to hear Baldridge’s newest single, “That’s You,” which he wrote with Trannie Anderson and producer Jason Massey.

Last spring, Baldridge safely traveled coast-to-coast playing outdoor graduation ceremonies as students celebrated his viral hit “Senior Year.”

 

PCG Partners With Kennesaw State

Mark DeLelys has been promoted to vice president, revenue at the Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum.

In his new role, DeLelys will have responsibility for all earned income streams and will be charged with developing and implementing strategic initiatives designed to grow revenue, expand e-commerce presence, and identify new lines of business for the institution. He reports to CEO Kyle Young in his new position.

DeLelys holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology, and came to the museum in 2012 from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. DeLelys most recently served as senior director of museum sales and retail, where he was responsible for all facets of admissions, tourism sales and merchandising for the museum, Hatch Show Print, and Studio B. In this role, he helped to increase the museum’s online ticket sales and e-commerce revenue.

“Since joining the museum nearly 10 years ago, Mark’s leadership and expertise have been critical to the museum’s growth,” said Young. “We created this role to complement the museum’s unique operating model, which is centered on a diverse, earned revenue base. With Mark, we have an established leader who not only has a strong background in arts and culture, but also the business acumen to consistently deliver innovative ideas that will help the museum grow and expand our platforms for sharing the country music story.”