MARB MKTG, formerly known as Marbaloo Marketing, has relocated from downtown Nashville to a restored chapel in East Nashville’s Eastwood Village neighborhood.

Sara Jordan Jacobson & Caitlin Blackford with the company’s 2024 Silver Clio Award.

Over the last fourteen years, the consulting business founded by Faithe Dillman has evolved into what is now MARB MKTG, a parent company that encompasses different agencies offering varying services and specialities. Its team has worked on projects for the Academy of Country Music, Megadeth, Carly Pearce, Kenny G and author James Patterson. Following its 2024 Silver Clio Award win for Dolly Parton’s TikTok channel launch campaign, the company has rebranded its imprints, and its roster of artists and public figures will now be housed under the AVE EAST MKTG Agency.

Additionally, the AVE WEST PR Agency will continue servicing its brand and product roster. BAND-WIDTH MKTG has returned to servicing the festivals, concerts and tours it originally launched to market while continuing to promote the virtual livestreams and VIP experiences it pivoted to during the pandemic, and REMEDY CREATIVE celebrates its eighth year providing branding and content as well as fast asset solutions. The agencies have unified business development, client success, finance, operations and the executive suite to MARB MKTG. For more information, click here.

Moving forward, Marbaloo will be reserved for Dillman’s individual consulting services and pro-bono work.

For MARB MKTG media relations, contact Head of PR Sara Jordan Jacobson at sarajordan@marbmktg.com, and for AVE EAST MKTG media relations, contact Director of Publicity Caitlin Blackford at caitlin@aveeastmktg.com.

Pictured (L-R): CMA’s Milly Olykan, Holler‘s Ross Jones, Baylen Leonard and CMA’s Meredith Goucher. Photo: Luke Dyson for CMA

The Country Music Association presented two CMA International Awards while celebrating its return to Country to Country (C2C) Festival this past week.

Carly Pearce & Ricky Ross. Photo: BBC Radio Scotland

CMA Vice President, International Relations & Development Milly Olykan and radio broadcaster Baylen Leonard surprised Holler Editor Ross Jones on stage during the sold-out CMA Songwriters Series on Thursday (March 7) with the CMA Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award for his vision and efforts to expand country music globally.

Kicking off the festival weekend, the CMA Songwriters Series featured performances by host Charlie Worsham as well as Colbie Caillat, Lauren Alaina, Stephen Wilson Jr. and special guests Abbey Cone and Fancy Hagood.

Country star Carly Pearce honored longtime BBC radio host Ricky Ross during an interview on BBC Radio Scotland’s Another Country with the CMA International Country Broadcaster Award on Sunday (March 10) for his successful broadcasting career.

Additionally, the organization’s international touring series, “Introducing Nashville,” opened each festival stop in Rotterdam, Berlin, Stockholm, Oslo, London, Belfast and Glasglow with artists including Karley Scott Collins, Conner Smith, Lauren Watkins and Greylan James.

“After a historic year of international growth in county music, it is truly remarkable to have been at C2C this past week surrounded by the very fans who continue to contribute to our format’s achievements,” says Olykan. “In 2023, our genre reached unprecedented heights worldwide, and the momentum is set to continue in 2024. Presenting this unique array of country music to our fans feels especially rewarding this year, where we are at an exciting crossroads with our genre attracting wider engagement from artists, industry and fans who are wanting to participate more in country music.”

Dolly Parton with her Rockstar plaques. Photo: Courtesy of Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton‘s Rockstar album has been certified Gold just four months after its release.

The 30-song project on Butterfly Records/Big Machine Label Group accumulated six No. 1s on the Billboard charts during its debut week, and was ranked the No. 5 top-selling country album of 2023. Additionally, Rockstar was expanded with the release of a deluxe edition featuring 39 tracks, five bonus tracks and four previously unheard songs.

“When I set out to make my rock album, I always hoped it would be embraced by my fans as well as people who may not listen to my music,” states Parton. “I am thrilled to receive this Gold record! Thank you to everyone who was a part of this project. I guess I can now officially say I am a rockstar!

Her run of No. 1 albums on the Billboard charts dates back to 1977, the longest span for any country artist, marking 46 years between her first No. 1 album, New Harvest…First Gathering, and her most recent.

“I am so proud of Dolly’s hard work in making an incredible album. She set the standard for us all on this project with her work ethic. I also must send appreciation to my entire team for their laser focus on this achievement,” says Parton’s manager Danny Nozell. “We had the best partners in Scott Borchetta and the Big Machine Label Group, making this a true global effort. This is a history-making launch that none of us take for granted.”

Carole-Ann Mobley with Ryan Larkins

Music industry veteran Carole-Ann Mobley is commemorating the 10th anniversary of her company, CAM Creative.

To mark the milestone, Mobley is also celebrating her first No. 1 song as a publisher of “The Painter,” co-written by Ryan Larkins and recorded by Cody Johnson, and her first Association for Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) award nomination for Larkins as AIMP Rising Songwriter of the Year.

Mobley started CAM Creative in 2014 to fill a need she saw for full A&R services to help further the artistry and careers of independent artists. Since starting her company, she has worked with Larkins, BMG, Erin Kirby, LoCash, Tenille Arts, Callista Clark, Olivia Lane, Drew Baldridge, Roman Alexander, Cassadee Pope, writer/producer Alex Kline and many more.

“I never dreamed I’d be celebrating 10 years of owning my own company,” she shares. “I get to do what I love on my own terms and hopefully help people reach their goals.”

After graduating from The University of Texas with a Bachelors in Radio, Television and Film, Mobley started her career as an assistant sound engineer at Austin City Limits. She soon moved to Nashville to work for legendary Muscle Shoals producer Barry Beckett, and was later hired by Starstruck Entertainment to oversee A&R for the management roster including Reba McEntire, Jo Dee Messina, Rhett Akins and others. Mobley then formed Starstruck Productions with Starstruck staff writer and producer David Malloy, where they developed and produced multi-Platinum artists for BNA, RCA and others.

Her talent then landed her a job as Senior Director of A&R at BMG Nashville, where she worked with Kenny Chesney, Alabama, Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Chris Young, Jake Owen, Sara Evans and more.

In 2008, she joined Warner Music Nashville as VP of A&R. There she signed Brett Eldredge and Frankie Ballard, and worked with other chart-topping artists before stepping out on her own in 2014.