Ron Kaplan & Gary Buck

Industry veterans Ron Kaplan and Garry Buck have joined Reliant Talent Agency’s leadership team. The long-time agents and business partners have worked together for over 40 years, and have represented a variety of touring artists.

Both Kaplan and Buck got their start at Chicago-based Prestige talent agency, which later became American Famous Talent, before co-founding Monterey International with their Monterey Peninsula partners in 1994. In 2017 when Paradigm acquired Monterey International, Kaplan and Buck shared stints with Paradigm before joining ICM Partners.

Kaplan and Buck bring additional agents Alex Buck and Ashley Marchi, as well as a roster of artists.

“Joining Reliant Talent and returning to a boutique culture, similar to what [we] created at Monterey International with Dan Weiner, Fred Bohlander, and Paul Goldman feels like a homecoming. Being at Reliant Talent will provide our clients a team with common goals through collaborations and hard work,” shares the pair.

“We are thrilled to announce the addition of Ron Kaplan and Garry Buck to the Reliant staff, along with their exceptional team and amazing caliber of clients,” notes Reliant Talent President Steve Lassiter. “Their many years of experience and leadership speaks for themselves and will greatly enhance our growth as we continue to expand our reach. Knowing they had numerous options, we are proud, honored, and flattered that they chose Reliant Talent to call home.”

Kaplan and Buck can be reached at rkaplan@relianttalent.com and gbuck@relianttalent.com, respectively. Buck and Marchi can be reached at abuck@relianttalent.com and amarchi@relianttalent.com.

Since its formation in 2021, Reliant Talent has grown into a full-service entertainment firm and booking agency, comprised of a growing team of agents with decades of experience spanning major talent agencies across many different genres. Headquartered in Nashville, Reliant works closely with artists and their teams, while aligning and implementing diverse touring ideas and strategies focused on advancing and enriching artists’ fan bases.

Pictured (L-R): Sam Sarno, Johnny Clawson, Lee Krabel. Photo: Molly Bouchon

Johnny Clawson has signed a worldwide publishing deal with SmackSongs.

Born and raised in Leesburg, Virginia, Clawson lived in New York City, where he was working in finance. He walked away from his corporate job in 2018 to move to Nashville and pursue his dream of songwriting.

Last year, Clawson released his first single, “Lifetime,” which quickly garnered attention from labels, songwriters and publishing houses in town.

“We are beyond thrilled to welcome Johnny to Smack,” says Sam Sarno, Creative Manager at Smack. “His natural talent as a songwriter and artist is only enhanced by his passion, infectious energy, and work ethic. We are so excited to be on this journey with him and can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together.”

“It is a dream come true to be a part of such an exciting group of creatives,” adds Clawson. “After my first meeting with Sam, I knew that she and the rest of the Smack team were the right partners for me in this next stage of my career. I feel incredibly fortunate for this opportunity and grateful that they have taken this leap of faith with me.”

Pictured (L-R, front row): Lily Isaacs, Given’s Cindy Owen and Sonya Isaacs; (L-R, back row): Becky Isaacs and Ben Isaacs. Photo: Angela Talley

Award-winning artists The Isaacs have signed with Given Entertainment for management.

The family band, comprised of mother Lily Isaacs, daughters Becky and Sonya and son Ben, are known for their tight harmonies, live performances, and solid musicianship. Throughout their 50-plus year career, they have won eight Dove awards and received Grammy nominations for their last three albums.

After performing as guests for 30 years, they were officially inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry on Sept. 14, 2021. A year earlier they were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

“There is no greater blessing than doing what you love with the people you love,” notes Cindy Owen, Given Founding Partner. “God gifted The Isaacs with a remarkable talent that transcends any genre. Seeing them live is an experience, with moments that touch your soul in ways I have never witnessed. We want to make sure more people are given the opportunity to experience this, and them. I am honored to share this journey with them in expanding new horizons for an extraordinary family and legacy that is so greatly deserving.”

“Some things in life come so naturally and sweetly you just know they’re a gift from God,” Sonya Isaacs adds. “The opportunity to work with Cindy, who we love, trust and feel so comfortable with, towards a broader platform is one such gift we are extremely grateful for and excited to unwrap!”

Kristian Bush is releasing the third installment of his four-album release 52 – New Blue on Sept. 30. In celebration of the release, he’s shared two new tracks from the collection, “Diamond Motel” and “When’s The Last Time (feat. Dark Water).”

When creating the project, Bush set out to assemble a collection of love songs, but ultimately re-discovered another love—the ‘90s. Finding success as one half of Sugarland, he is also part of folk-rock duo Billy Pilgrim, which formed in the ‘90s.

Bush co-wrote each of the 12 songs on 52 – New Blue, and many of his co-writers have written popular hits in or around the 90’s. He teamed with Billy Steinberg (“Like a Virgin,” “True Colors”), Matraca Berg (“Strawberry Wine,” “You and Tequila”), Billy Montana (“Bring on the Rain,” “More Than a Memory”) and Chris Barron of the Spin Doctors on tracks for the new project.

“While looking for a way to group my songs for this next release, I stumbled on a truth. I found a New Blue. I found that the music and attitude, lyrics and chords, and the foundation of me walking out onto rock stages in the ‘90s, was woven into every Sugarland song, every solo song, every production and every co-write since. Many of the songs on this project feel like songs I would have put out in 1995.”

The final volume of Bush’s set is slated to be released in early 2023. The four-installment album series is named, not only his 52nd year on this planet, but the idea of a year—split into four seasons and 52 weeks—with all four albums released within a year’s time.

52 – New Blue Track List:
Diamond Motel –Kristian Bush, Billy Steinberg
Sailing to Arizona (feat. Chris Barron) – Kristian Bush, Jeff Cohen, Chris Barron
When’s The Last Time (feat. Dark Water) – Kristian Bush, Benji Shanks, Brandon Bush
The Great American Scream Machine (feat. Amie Miriello)–Kristian Bush
Give Me A Road–Kristian Bush, Benji Shanks
Crazy That Way (feat. Stephanie Lambring) –Kristian Bush, Bobby Pinson
Way With Words–Kristian Bush, Justin Lance, Clint Daniels
Man Like Me–Kristian Bush, Taylor Davis
Somebody Promised You–Kristian Bush
Mirror Behind The Bar–Kristian Bush, Phillip Lammonds, Billy Montana
New Girl (feat. Amie Miriello)–Kristian Bush, Matracea Berg, Jeff Cohen, Daniel Tashain
Put A Dent In It–Kristian Bush, Ellis Paul, Connie Harrington

Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard embrace at their last show as a duo. Photo: John Shearer

On Wednesday (Aug. 31), Florida Georgia Line‘s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley played their final concert as a duo at the Minnesota State Fair.

“This is our last official concert as Florida Georgia Line,” said Hubbard from the stage, according to Country Now.

In their final set, the Diamond-selling duo performed a myriad of their hits, such as “This Is How We Roll,” “H.O.L.Y.,” “May We All,” “Dirt” and “Meant to Be,” before closing with their first-ever hit “Cruise.”

Florida Georgia Line burst onto the country music charts in 2012 with “Cruise,” a song that would become a record-breaking No. 1 country hit. “Cruise” earned Diamond certification from the RIAA, becoming the first country single to attain sales and streams equivalent to 10 million units. They went on to earn a second Diamond-certified single with “Meant to Be,” a 2017 collaboration with pop singer Bebe Rexha.

Hubbard (a Georgia native) and Kelley (from Florida) met on campus at Belmont University in Nashville, and began a friendship with their shared an interest in music. In 2011, Big Loud began handling their artist development, publishing, management and record production. Producer Joey Moi, a partner at the company, helped to develop the FGL sound, incorporating elements similar to the popular recordings he produced for rock band Nickelback.

The following year, the duo signed a record deal with Republic Nashville/Big Machine Records and released the album Here’s To The Good Times. Since then, FGL tallied 19 career No. 1 singles, more than 13 billion global streams, sold more than 40 million tracks and 4.8 million albums worldwide, logged nearly 2 billion video views and played to over 4 million fans spanning massive arena and stadium headline tours. They’ve been honored by ACM, AMA, Billboard, CMA, CMT and more.

Their achievements as a duo are currently being celebrated at the Florida Georgia Line: Mix It Up Strong exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame, running until Jan. 1, 2023.

In early 2021, the two announced on social media that they would be releasing their own music as individuals. Though rumors swirled that the two were breaking up, Kelley and Hubbard maintained that they weren’t, but that they were exploring their creativity as solo artists.

Soon after, Kelley partnered with Warner Music Nashville to release an EP, BK’s Wave Pack. In June of 2021, he released a 17-song project inspired by his beach-side upbringing, Sunshine State Of Mind. After aligning with Big Machine Label Group in June of 2022, Kelley is releasing more new music.

Though slower to start, Hubbard started his journey as a solo artist in late 2021. After partnering with Borman Entertainment’s Gary Borman for management, Hubbard signed with EMI Nashville and began releasing music, such as hit fast-rising single “5 Foot 9.” In August he released a 6-song EP, Dancin’ In The Country, and announced his full-length debut solo album would be released on Jan. 27, 2023.