Christian Hayes Forms Team [Exclusive]

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Pictured (L–R, back row): UMPG’s Troy Tomlinson, Safford Motley PLC’s Scott Safford and UMPG’s Don Glista; (L–R, middle row): UMPG’s Cyndi Forman, Roxy King and Wildrose Projects’ Helena Capps; (front): Christian Hayes. Photo: Courtesy of UMPG

Country newcomer Christian Hayes has assembled his team, signing with WME for booking, UMPG for publishing and FBMM for business management. The ASCAP affiliate’s representation includes Safford Motley PLC’s Scott Safford for legal and Essential Broadcast Media for publicity.

Pictured (L–R, back row): WME’s John Showfety, Brian Jones, Jon Folk and Doug Neff; (L–R, front row): WME’s Lane Wilson, Christian Hayes, Wildrose Projects’ Helena Capps and WME’s Geoff Turner. Photo: Courtesy of WME

The group of experts join Hayes’ manager Helena Capps of Wildrose Projects, who discovered him on Instagram in September of 2023. Hayes was living in Rome, Georgia and working at an oil company when he posted a video singing his self-penned song “Leaving” to the platform. After a series of messages and music links, the two started working together. Hayes has since released the viral single “LILY,” which has amassed over two million streams, as well as recent release “Cheyenne.”

“Music has always been a part of my life and now, it always will be,” shares Hayes. “Not many people get to live out their passion and purpose and I’m beyond blessed to do so thanks to this amazing team we’ve built. I’m excited to start this journey alongside all of them!”

Hayes started writing at just seven years old when his Grandpa Jack gave him his first journal, in which he was encouraged to write poems, songs and feelings. He began playing guitar when he was eight and the rest is history. After picking up a copy of Guitar for Dummies at the local library, Hayes started leading worship at his church until he graduated from high school and enrolled in the US Navy Reserve. In college at the University of Alabama is where he feels his songwriting began to improve.

“After hearing ‘LILY,’ we were huge fans of Christian’s songwriting,” says Cyndi Forman, Senior VP, A&R atUMPG Nashville. “Once we heard him perform live, we knew we had something incredibly special on our hands. Christian’s approach to songwriting is unique yet fits right in at a time when genres are blending.”

Jon Folk, Partner at WME, shares, “We couldn’t be more excited to be working with Christian Hayes. He is such an incredible singer, songwriter and performer. We can’t wait to see the rest of the world discover such an amazing talent!”

Redferrin Sets ‘The Old No. 7 Tour’ For September

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Redferrin. Photo: Sean Hagwell

Redferrin is set to kick off his first major headlining journey, “The Old No. 7 Tour,” on Sept. 4 in Lakehead, California.

The Warner Music Nashville artist will visit over 35 cities on the trek, including Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, St. Louis, Tuscaloosa, Boston and more, in support of his co-written and co-produced, Tennessee whiskey-inspired debut EP, Old No. 7, which has now amassed 120 million streams. General tickets go on sale tomorrow (Aug. 16) at 10 a.m. local time. For more information, click here.

“It’s tough to put into words how excited I am about ‘The Old No. 7 Tour,'” says Redferrin. “It’s been very rewarding to see people connecting to the songs. I’m sure thankful for everyone that’s come to a show so far this year and I hope to see y’all this fall on my first headlining run. We ’bout to have us a time!”

The 2024 Amazon Breakthrough Artist to Watch has surpassed 200 million global career streams to date with viral breakout hits like “Jack and Diet Coke” and current track “Just Like Johnny,” which continues to average 2.7 million streams a week.

Russell Dickerson Readies ‘Bones The EP’

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Russell Dickerson plans to release his latest body of work, Bones The EP, on Aug. 30.

Serving as an ode to the people and relationships that have shaped Dickerson, the five-song project centers around memories of late-night bonfires with friends, old flames, unknowingly significant conversations over cold beers and more. Credited as co-writer on every tune, the country star dropped the title track last month.

“Bones The EP is a nostalgic collection of songs that take me back to some of the best times of my life,” shares Dickerson. “Those nights that you don’t want to end with the people you love most. Relationships that didn’t work out and hurt at the time, but turned out for the best. I hope people hear these songs and get transported to a place with people they love.”

Additionally, he will head to Ireland next week to kick off his “Good Day To Have A Great Tour.”

Bones The EP Track Listing:
1. “What A Life” (Russell Dickerson, Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps)
2. “Bones” (Russell Dickerson, Chase McGill, Chris LaCorte, Parker Welling)
3. “Miss You So (Letters To You)” (Russell Dickerson, Seth Ennis, Joe Fox, Alejandro Linares, Alexander James Pappas, Derek Thomas Doherty, Nathan Scot Barcalow, William Strohmeyer Jr.)
4. “Those Nights These Days” (Russell Dickerson, Seth Ennis, Jordan Reynolds)
5. “Cold Beer Conversation (Acoustic)” (Russell Dickerson, Casey Brown, Ryan Hurd, Brad Tursi)

Hardy, Ben Johnson & Dave Alan Johnson Producing ‘Music Row’ Docuseries

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Pictured (L-R): Hardy, Ben Johnson and Dave Alan Johnson

Country hitmaker Hardy, Grammy-nominated songwriter Ben Johnson and award-winning film and television writer/producer Dave Alan Johnson are executive producing a new docuseries focused on prolific songwriters and artists in country music today. The project is called Music Row.

Currently in production in Nashville, some of the creatives set to be featured include Cody Johnson, Ashley Cooke, Hunter Phelps and Ashley Gorley, among others. Through Exceleration Studio, Susana Zepeda serves as Producer on the unscripted series with Showrunner Dave Alan Johnson.

“Storytelling is the heart of country music, and it’s what makes the genre so special. It is magic to go from huge talent huddled in a small room to a stadium singing in unison,” shares Hardy. “This show has the best talent in the business with scores of hits and awards showing us how it’s done.”

“While the songs are sung, the songwriters and producers are often unsung,” adds Ben. “Hardy and I are thrilled to partner with Dave in finally showing people how some of their favorite songs were created.”

Music Row aims to give viewers a privileged look inside the making of tunes beloved by millions as well as the inner workings of one of the hottest industries across the globe.

“This show celebrates those who walk into a room with nothing and walk out with a piece of art, a song, that can move people around the world for generations,” shares Dave. “Hardy and Ben are among the best to ever do it, and it’s been a complete joy to learn from them—and all of their talented friends—how the wonder of what they do happens!”

Christine Melko Ross Joins Outback Presents

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Christine Melko Ross

Christine Melko Ross has joined Outback Presents as Senior Vice President of Global Operations.

Based in Montreal, she will spearhead the live entertainment company’s Canadian operations and oversee international business development and expansion strategy. The Illinois Wesleyan University graduate’s career began at Paulette Wolf Events & Entertainment in Chicago. Melko Ross then served as the lead Talent Buyer for Donald K. Donald/Universal Concerts/House of Blues Concerts, where she booked multiple shows and managed tours for acts like the Backstreet Boys and Leonard Cohen.

Prior to Outback Presents, Melko Ross spent over two decades with Just For Laughs Group. She created the comedy company’s Touring division and played a key role in running its Montreal festival and launching its Toronto festival, while working with comedians Jerry Seinfeld, Trevor Noah, Tom Segura, Hannah Gadsby, Bill Burr, Iliza Shlesinger, Sebastian Maniscalco, Rick Mercer, Jimmy Carr, John Cleese Eric Idle and more. She has also produced and developed festivals in Sydney, Bermuda, Mexico, London and Austin as well as managed corporate hospitality for the Kentucky Derby, among other events.

“Everyone at Outback Presents is excited to have Christine join the team,” says Michael Smardak, Outback Presents Co-CEO. “Her extensive achievements and experience in comedy will be invaluable to our global growth. We are very proud to have her join us.”

“I am very excited to work with Mike Smardak, Brian Dorfman and the entire team at Outback,” adds Melko Ross. “They have built an amazing roster of successful touring talent and have done a fabulous job at establishing themselves as the largest independent promoter in North America. Together, we will strive to elevate Outback to the global stage. We cherish similar values in ensuring a great audience and artist experience, and I can’t wait to get started!”

She can be reached at christine.melkoross@outbackpresents.com.

Maddox Batson To Host ‘Maddox Batson & Friends’ Show Next Month

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Maddox Batson Corn Maze

Rising teen country star Maddox Batson plans to host a special headlining show, “Maddox Batson & Friends,” on Sept. 28 at the White House Pumpkin Patch in White House, Tennessee. Select proceeds will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, a cause that is very dear to Batson, whose mother has had Type 1 diabetes for nearly 30 years.

In addition to musical performances, the event will feature a Batson-shaped corn maze as well as a hayride, farm games, farm animals and more. General tickets and VIP tickets, which include preferred seating and priority access to a meet-and-greet are only available online. For more information, click here.

The 14-year-old spent last summer playing over 20 shows, developing his sound and learning alongside his father, who is also a musician. His debut single, “Tears In The River,” went viral earlier this year with more than 21 million global streams, peaking at No. 18 on Spotify’s Viral 50 U.S. chart and reaching No. 12 on the TikTok Viral chart. Batson’s second track, “I Wanna Know,” garnered nearly 10 million streams and landed on YouTube’s Trending page upon release. Most recently, he co-wrote Lana Del Rey and Quavo’s latest single, “Tough.”

Shawna Thompson To ‘Lean On Neon’ In September

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Shawna Thompson of Thompson Square will release her solo debut album, Lean On Neon, on Sept. 13 via Sun Records.

Featuring collaborations with Leona Williams, Vince Gill, Pam Tillis, Ricky Skaggs and more, Lean On Neon explores family ties, themes of faith and loss as well as hope and love while drawing inspiration from music trailblazers.

“My dad was the biggest influence on this record,” Thompson shares. “He played me the first music I’d ever heard. I lost him eight years ago to colon cancer, so writing and recording this record was a way to feel closer to him. Growing up, I was his shadow. I’m super thankful he took me with him to so many shows and included me in his love of country music. If it weren’t for his influence, I never would’ve started singing or met my husband Keifer and started Thompson Square. Lean On Neon is the album I moved to Nashville to create. It just took me a while.”

She co-wrote seven tunes on the 13-track project, which her husband produced alongside two-time Grammy winner Chad Carlson. The collection also features renditions of Williams’ “Yes Ma’am (He Found Me In A Honky Tonk),” Hank Williams Jr.’s “Outlaw Women” and Buck Owens’ “Together Again.”

“I have a deep seated passion for classic country music. In creating Lean On Neon, we tried to honor its authenticity and pay homage to all the artist that came before me and made me who I am,” the artist continues. “It’s very important to me to pass down this tradition to the next generation. And for my fellow old school country fans, I want you to feel like you stepped into a time machine when you’re listening.”

Lean On Neon Track Listing:
1. “The Honky Tonk Overture” (Keifer Thompson, Shawna Thompson)
2. “Yes Ma’am (He Found Me In A Honky Tonk)” (Glen Barber)
3. “Burn It Down” (Rob Hatch, Keifer Thompson, Shawna Thompson)
4. “The Doctor’s Always In” (Connie Harrington, Chuck Jones, Jimmy Ritchey)
5. “Bama Clay (feat. Vince Gill & Ricky Skaggs)” (Leslie Satcher, Keifer Thompson, Shawna Thompson)
6. “Lean On Neon (feat. Jim Lauderdale)” (Leslie Satcher, Keifer Thompson, Shawna Thompson)
7. “Honky Tonk Hurtin’” (Leslie Satcher, Keifer Thompson, Shawna Thompson)
8. “Lonesome And Then Some” (George Ducas, Marv Green, Keifer Thompson, Shawna Thompson)
9. “Small Town Wreck” (Leslie Satcher, Keifer Thompson)
10. “I Don’t Know Why (feat. Leona Williams)” (Keifer Thompson, Shawna Thompson, Leona Williams)
11. “Jones On The Jukebox” (Don Goodman, Becky Hobbs, Mack Vickery)
12. “Outlaw Women (feat. Sunny Sweeney & Ashton Shepherd)” (Hank Williams Jr.)
13. “Together Again” (Buck Owens)

BMI’s ‘Rooftop On The Row’ Features Lauren Watkins & Josh Ross

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Pictured (L-R): Nina Carter, Mason Hunter, Claire Dodelin, Leslie Roberts, Lauren Watkins, MaryAnn Keen, Josh Tomlinson, Clay Bradley; Photo: Nathan Zucker

Last night (Aug. 13), BMI held another “Rooftop On The Row” event, presented by George Dickel, which saw performances from rising artists Lauren Watkins and Josh Ross.

The event welcomed over 600 industry professionals to the top of BMI Nashville to watch performances, eat and connect. The final installment of the “Rooftop On The Row” series will be held next month on Sept. 17 and will act as the official kick-off to AmericanaFest, featuring Wyatt Flores, Kade Hoffman and Emily Nenni.

Josh Ross

Watkins kicked the evening off with her songs “One Trick Pony,” “Gatlinburg” and several tunes from her recently-released album, The Heartbroken Record. These tracks included “Shirley Temple,” “Mama, I Made It,” “Anybody But You” and “Stuck In My Ways.” Following Watkins, Ross took the stage performing “On A Different Night,” “Red Flags” and a single from his Complicated EP, “Single Again.”

During the event, BMI’s Mason Hunter teamed up with Delta Air Lines’ Maddie Marrott and Charlie Schewe to give away two first-class round-trip tickets to a lucky guest. Attendees were provided food and drinks by sponsors Delta Air Lines, Gallagher Insurance, ONErpm, Red Bull Jukebox, Texas Roadhouse, Topo Chico, White Claw and YETI. Stars to previously take the stage on BMI’s rooftop include Morgan Wallen, Billy Strings, The War & Treaty, Hardy, K. Michelle, Riley Green, Maddie & Tae, Mackenzie Carpenter and Dylan Marlowe.

Tracy Lawrence Inducted Into Texas Country Music Hall Of Fame

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Linda Davis & Tracy Lawrence. Photo: Sean O’Halloran

Tracy Lawrence was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame on Saturday (Aug. 10) in Carthage, Texas alongside Roy Orbison and The Mandrell Sisters.

The Lone Star State native also took the stage to perform his tune “Texas Tornado” during the ceremony. Over the course of his career, Lawrence has sold 13 million albums and notched 18 No. 1 singles. In June, he unveiled his Out Here In It EP and hosted a sold-out show during CMA Fest, where he was surprised with a plaque commemorating over one billion career streams.

“I’m so honored. For those who don’t know, I was born in Atlanta, Texas. I appreciate your graciousness and hospitality of everyone here in Carthage, it’s been such a great day for us,” Lawrence shared during his induction. “It’s not really a job, it’s a lifestyle. I love it. I still love it as much as I ever did.”

He also recently supported Riley Green’s “Ain’t My Last Rodeo Tour,” while hosting fellow country stars on his TL’s Road House podcast and raising money for his Mission:Possible charity.

Secretly Distribution & Oh Boy Records Strike Global Deal

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The late John Prine and Jody Whelan of Oh Boy Records. Photo: Neilson Hubbard

Secretly Distribution has entered into a worldwide distribution deal with the late John Prine‘s Oh Boy Records.

The label, founded in 1981 by the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, started as Prine’s vehicle to become an independent artist after his major label deal had expired. Oh Boy continues to be run by the Prine family.

Secretly Distribution and Oh Boy will be co-presenting “Independents’ Day,” an AmericanaFest day party at Vinyl Tap on Sept. 18, which will feature performances by artists from Oh Boy and other SD labels.

“Oh Boy is thrilled to be able to join Secretly Distribution at this time of growth and expansion for both companies,” says Jody Whelan, Managing Partner, Oh Boy Records. “We’ve long been fans of the artists they work with, but in getting to know their team it also quickly became clear that Secretly holds dear the same independent values; the values that have fueled Oh Boy since its inception in 1981, and have seen Secretly Distribution build a truly independent global distribution network. We are honored to be represented by this excellent company and are excited to celebrate our collaboration in Nashville in September during AmericanaFest.”

“SD has been fans of Oh Boy for so long—I have John Prine LPs that I swiped from my mom’s collection decades ago,” says Josh Madell, Director of Artist & Label Strategy, Secretly Distribution. “They are a truly iconic American independent label—founded by artists, for artists looking for a sustainable way to release music outside of the major label system—and when I met Jody and Fiona [Whelan Prine] it was clear immediately that their ethos perfectly aligns with what we strive for at SD. Oh Boy is a cornerstone of the vibrant Nashville scene, and we could not be more thrilled to work with them on both their incredible catalog and their current roster of next generation folk, country and blues artists.”

Oh Boy’s catalog features albums from Prine, Kelsey Waldon, Swamp Dogg, Alice Randall’s My Black Country, Arlo McKinley, Emily Scott Robinson and Tré Burt. Upcoming releases from core Oh Boy artist Dan Reeder, whose new album Smithereens will be out in October, as well as recent signing Palmyra, will be among the first new Oh Boy titles to be handled by SD’s global team and distribution network.