Singer-songwriter and musician Rob Williford has signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music and Edgehill Music Publishing.

Williford is a frequent collaborator of country hitmaker Luke Combs, having written his 2019 CMA Song of the Year, “Beautiful Crazy,” which went RIAA-certified double Platinum and ruled Billboard’s Country Music Airplay chart, holding the No. 1 spot for seven straight weeks. Williford also co-wrote Combs’ fast-rising hits “Forever After All” and “Doin’ This.”

Williford, a Gastonia, North Carolina native, is currently playing guitar and singing in Combs’ band on his stadium tour. The multi-faceted talent is also collaborating on a studio project with Kyle Cook of Matchbox 20 and producer David Mescon. The album, written and co-produced by Williford, is expected to be released later this year.

Music industry veterans Peter Strickland and Craig Campbell have launched Marathon Talent. The company combines Marathon Talent Agency and Campbell Entertainment management clients under a new full-service management and artist development business.

A Boston native, Strickland established Marathon Talent Agency in 2018 after rising to Chief Marketing Officer during his tenure at Warner Music Group. He helped launch the careers of Blake Shelton, Dan + Shay, Faith Hill, Hunter Hayes, Jana Kramer, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Larry The Cable Guy, and others. He was recognized as a Top 50 Power Player by Billboard in 2015 and 2017, and is a 2008 graduate of Leadership Music.

Strickland brings clients Jon Wolfe, comedian Byron Kennedy, and pop artist Maeve Steele to the Marathon Talent roster, among others.

Campbell spent nine years at AristoMedia and 14 representing artists such as The Chicks, Miranda Lambert, Gretchen Wilson, Montgomery Gentry, and Patty Loveless at Sony Music/Sony BMG Nashville. He launched his publicity and artist management company in 2008. A native of Cincinnati, he is a graduate of MTSU’s Recording Industry Management Program and a 2013 alumnus of Leadership Music.

Campbell brings pianist Kory Caudill and traditionalist Tommy Townsend (with Space Colonel Management) to Marathon Talent, and will maintain a select group of publicity clients at Campbell Entertainment.

“Craig upholds the values of Marathon Talent, not only in his career but also in his daily lifestyle-being honest, dedicated, trustworthy resilient. His integrity is unshakable,” says Strickland.

“I admired Peter’s career from down the street, while he was at Warner and I was at Sony,” adds Campbell. “I really got to know him after he launched Marathon Talent Agency and was drawn to his passion for artists and their music. When he brought up the idea of combining our strengths, it was an easy and enthusiastic ‘yes.’”

PickleJar is set to host an exclusive livestream of the Country Radio Broadcaster’s Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Thursday, June 30.

Broadcasting live from the Virgin Hotel in Nashville, the live entertainment and cashless tipping platform will stream the ceremony through PickleJarPlus.com, as well as the CRB Facebook page starting at 7 p.m. CT.

PickleJar will make exclusive red-carpet interviews and photos available across all of their digital platforms and free for all users. Cocktail hour will kick off at 6 p.m. CT with Brian McFayden on site to conduct inductee and honoree interviews on the red carpet. 

The ceremony, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the radio industry over a 20-year period, will honor eight new Hall of Fame inductees: Becky Brenner, Barry Mardit, Whitney Allen, Debbie Conner, Cathy Martindale and Rachel & Grunwald.

Bob Call was a 2021 selection but was unable to attend last year’s ceremony due to a last-minute family emergency. The Country Radio Hall of Fame deferred Call’s induction to the 2022 ceremony so he could be properly recognized.

The CRB Artist Career Achievement Recipient was recently announced as country icon, Trisha Yearwood. 

“We are thrilled to work with RJ Curtis and his amazing team again to share the Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony with the masses,” says PickleJar CEO Jeff James. “These inductees deserve to have their special moment shared with as many people as possible, and we are so thankful we can make that happen.” 

This marks the second consecutive year that PickleJar has partnered with CRB to bring the event into the public’s homes. This partnership also extends to CRB’s annual Country Radio Seminar where PickleJar made their debut footprint this year with multiple activations and sponsorships throughout the week’s festivities. 

Ray Charles’ Tangerine Records is celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of Charles’ most important and impactful albums, A Message from The People, with a special remastered anniversary edition available on vinyl, CD and all streaming services for the first time in more than a decade.

Originally released on April 4, 1972, A Message from The People remains one of Charles’ most celebrated albums, and among his most socially conscious work of his six-decade career. The landmark recording confronts poverty and injustice while offering a universal message of brotherhood and hope for peace.

The album includes classic tracks “They’ll Be No Peace on Earth Without All Men As One” and “Abraham, Martin and John,” the gospel-infused “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and “Heaven Help Us All.” It also features “Hey Mister,” played during a Congressional joint hearing in 1972 to speak on behalf of common citizens to a government that was widely seen as ignoring their needs.

Charles’ classic rendition of “America the Beautiful,” which quickly became our second national anthem and has inspired countless generations since its release 50 years ago, is also found on the collection. A new video of the iconic track has also been shared in honor of this historic release.

Tina Crawford has joined David Fanning‘s boutique management company, 33 Creative, as Manager/Partner. She will help support the 33 Creative roster, which includes BBR/Stoney Creek act Parmalee and new Warner Music Nashville signee Avery Anna.

Crawford spent eight years as VP at Major Bob before announcing her exit earlier this year. Prior to Major Bob, she spent time at BBR and at WBCT Grand Rapids.

“I’m excited to bring all my past experience in radio/label/publishing into artist management in a unique and elemental type approach,” Crawford tells MusicRow.

Fanning is a songwriter, producer and manager who produced the No. 1 singles “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” and “If I Didn’t Have You” for Thompson Square, “Carolina” for Parmalee, and other top 40 singles recorded by various country artists. He co-wrote and co-produced Parmalee’s recent No. 1 hit, “Take My Name,” as well as Anna’s “Narcissist.”

Crawford and Fanning can be reached at tina@33creative.co and david@33creative.co, respectively.