Brown Sellers Brown, helmed by industry veterans Benny Brown, Paul Brown and Jason Sellers and home to Brown Sellers Brown (BSB) Management and Quartz Hill Records, has announced the launch of a second record label, Stone Country Records.

Country music entertainer Easton Corbin is the label’s first artist signing. Known for No. 1 singles “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll With It,” Corbin’s inaugural single for Stone Country Records will release in early 2022. Additionally, guitarist, songwriter, and artist Ben Gallaher also makes a shift from Quartz Hill Records to the new entity, with new music expected in early 2022.

In addition to signings, the label also announces a string of staff changes, hires, and promotions.

Quartz Hill Records National Director of Promotion & Marketing, Matt Galvin, has been elevated to VP of Promotion & Marketing for Stone Country Records. Prior to joining Quartz Hill in October 2020, he spent 15 years as the Director of RCA Promotion & Marketing for Sony Music Nashville where he worked to develop the careers of Kane Brown, Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, Martina McBride, Chris Young and more. Galvin began his career in radio promotion with Sony Music Entertainment’s Arista Records. He will report to Brown Sellers Brown Sr. VP of Promotion & Marketing, April Rider. He can be reached at Matt@stonecountryrecords.com

Ron Bradley has been named Director of Promotion for Stone Country Records. Bradley’s career stops include Director of West Coast Promotion/Marketing for UMG/EMI Records Nashville where he was instrumental in the success of hit singles by Eric Church, Brothers Osborne, Eric Paslay and Alan Jackson. He also owned and operated independent record promotions company R. Bradley Artist & Project Development. Bradley most recently served as the Director of West Coast Promotions/Marketing for Show Dog Nashville. He can be reached at Ron@stonecountryrecords.com

BSB Management Director of Promotion & Marketing, Gwen Foster, has shifted to Director of Promotion for Stone Country Records. With over 25 years in the industry, Foster has worked with Luke Combs, Aaron Watson, Montgomery Gentry, Colt Ford, Don Henley and more. She previously served as the Director of West/Southwest Promotion for Big Label Records; the Director of Midwest Promotion for Thirty Tigers; and in West Coast Promotion for I.R.S./Capitol Records, Average Joe’s Records and Treehouse Records. Foster began her career in country radio having worked in the Phoenix, Dallas and San Diego markets. She joined BSB Management in July 2021 and can be reached at Gwen@stonecountryrecords.com

Radio promotion executive, Traci Hite, has been named Director of Promotion for Stone Country Records. She joins Stone Country from Curb|Word Entertainment where she most recently served as the Director of National Promotion. Her previous experience includes radio promotion at Capitol Christian Music Group. Hite also spent four years in radio as the Promotion Director at WAY-FM and KCBI-Dallas. She can be reached at Traci@stonecountryrecords.com

Bradley, Foster, and Hite report directly to Galvin.

As previously announced, BSB Management and Quartz Hill Records Promotion Coordinator, Denise Miller, also expands her duties to include Stone Country Records. Miller can be reached at denise@brownsellersbrown.com

Anthem Entertainment has acquired a catalog of country hits from songwriter Kelly Archer. Anthem and RED Creative Group have also signed Archer to an exclusive publishing deal going forward.

The catalog includes “After a Few” by Travis Denning, which reached No. 1 and set a new record for spending over 60-weeks on the U.S. Billboard Country Airplay chart. The acquisition also includes Platinum-certified singles “Somebody Else Will” by Justin Moore and “Sleep Without You” by Brett Young.

“Kelly Archer is more than a hit songwriter,” says Helen Murphy, CEO of Anthem Entertainment. “In addition to multiple No. 1 songs and numerous awards, she has always been ahead of her time, is an amazing talent, and a wonderful individual. I am thrilled to have her catalog at Anthem Music Publishing, and I am grateful that together with Jeremy Stover and the team at Red Creative we will work with her to create beautiful songs.”

Stover, founder of RED Creative Group, adds, “Kelly Archer is not only a prolific and extremely hard-working songwriter, she is also a supreme talent and one of the best in this town. We are excited to continue working with Kelly as we feel confident that she has only scratched the surface of what she is capable of. We look forward to partnering with her in this next chapter of her career.”

“I’m thrilled to continue working with Jeremy, Taylor [Lamb] and team RED. Jeremy has put together an eclectic group of creatives who work hard and motivate me to keep growing as a writer. I’m equally excited to partner with Helen, Tim [Wipperman], Gilles [Godard], and team Anthem. They have a really great creative staff that I’ve admired over my years in the business but never had the chance to work with until now,” shares Archer.

Jason Aldean impacts country radio this week with “Trouble With A Heartbreak,” earning a cumulative 182 adds across the Billboard, Mediabase, and MusicRow radio charts. The track is featured on the second installment of his 10th studio album Macon, Georgia.

“The cool thing about putting out two parts of this record is having fans hear all the different influences I grew up on,” Aldean shares. “This song hit me right when I heard it and reminded me of those bitter R&B breakup songs that take me back to riding through the backroads of Georgia.”

“Trouble With A Heartbreak” was written by Kurt Allison, Brett Beavers, Tully Kennedy and John Morgan. It follows Aldean’s 26th career chart topper and multi-week No. 1 “If I Didn’t Love You,” featuring Carrie Underwood.

Kelsea Ballerini Celebrates Milestone Year, Strong Start To 2022

Two-time Grammy award-nominated vocalist, Kelsea Ballerini, barrels into 2022 with the news that her third studio album, Kelsea, has achieved Gold status. The 2020 release’s certification follows on the heels of quite the impressive year for the multi-Platinum songwriter and producer.

In 2021, Ballerini notched her first two CMA Awards, taking home Musical Event of the Year and Video of the Year for “Half of My Hometown” featuring Kenny Chesney; was crowned CMT’s Artist of the Year; and performed in sold-out arenas and amphitheaters as direct support to the Jonas Brothers on their “Remember This Tour.” She also picked up three RIAA certifications, including her sixth No. 1 “Hole in the Bottle” with Shania Twain going Platinum and “Half of My Hometown” and 2021 single, “I Quit Drinking” with Lany going Gold.

Ballerini also added author to her growing list of titles, making her literary debut with an original book of poetry entitled Feel Your Way Through, which was released in November 2020.

 

MTSU To Host Tribute Concert For Jazz Drummer Duffy Jackson

Middle Tennessee State University’s School of Music faculty members, students, and area jazz musicians will pay tribute to the late jazz drummer Duffy Jackson on Thursday, Feb. 3. The performance marks the second event in this season’s three-concert MTSU Jazz Artist Series.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall inside the Wright Music Building, the tribute concert will feature faculty jazz artists Don Aliquo on saxophone, Matt Endahl on piano, Chip Henderson on guitar, David Loucky on trombone, and Jonathan Wires on bass. Chris Brown, one of Nashville’s prominent jazz drummers, will sit in on the drum chair, while trumpeter Mike Barry and trombonist Roger Bissell will lead their respective sections of this special big band.

“The concert will showcase historic arrangements played by guest musicians from Duffy’s Nashville-based band,” shares Jamey Simmons, professor of jazz trumpet and director of MTSU’s Jazz Studies Program. “It will feature legendary music associated with Duffy during his tenure with some of the most swinging jazz musicians in history, as well as his time in Nashville. We will also honor his widow, Marina, and her donation to MTSU of a library of his big band music.”

Duffy Jackson, son of jazz bassist Chubby Jackson, first picked up his sticks at age four. At 20, Jackson was the youngest drummer ever hired by Count Basie, and soon became the anchor for that legendary band along with Lionel Hampton’s and Illinois Jacquet’s groups. He also worked with Lena Horne and was a member of the Monty Alexander Trio. He moved to Nashville in 2008 and influenced the city’s jazz scene until his death at age 67 in March 2021.

Tickets are on sale for $10 each. Admission is free for MTSU students, faculty and staff with a current ID. To reserve tickets, contact Jamey Simmons at 615-898-2724 or james.simmons@mtsu.edu.

 

Sam Alex Hosts Inaugural Camp Broadcast Acoustic Concert Benefit Show

Radio & TV personality Sam Alex hosted his inaugural Camp Broadcast Acoustic Concert this past Sunday (Jan. 16). The event raised money for student scholarships to attend the upcoming Camp Broadcast. The singer-songwriter round featured performances from Adam Hambrick, Jake Hoot, and Lanie Gardner.

“I’m so proud of all the accomplishments from our Camp Broadcast alumni, many of them are now working full-time in the broadcast industry,” Alex shares. “Supporting these students and giving them opportunities to attend camp and interview celebrities & newsmakers for their hosting reel and be mentored by professionals is an opportunity that should be available to all.”

Camp Broadcast is a masterclass for high school and college-aged aspiring journalists and broadcasters. While there, students have the opportunity to interview celebrities and newsmakers for their hosting reel. Previous guests have included Olympic Champion Scott Hamilton; NFL Star Donovan McNabb; musicians Cassadee Pope, Scotty McCreery, Cole Swindell, Granger Smith, Chris Tomlin, and KC and the Sunshine Band; Bravo’s Andra Simmons, actress Siena Agudong, ESPN’s Jordan Bernfield, Entertainment Tonight’s Cassie DiLaura, Inside Edition’s Megan Alexander, University of Georgia Head Basketball Coach Tom Crean and many more.

This year’s session will take place June 13-16 in Chicago. For more information, click here.

 

PLA Media Adds Outlaw-Inspired Country Singer Waylon Hanel To Roster

PLA Media has added emerging outlaw country artist Waylon Hanel to its growing talent list.

After losing his younger brother in 2021, the self-taught musician found an outlet in music. The Michigan native, named after the legendary Waylon Jennings, hopes to carry on the torch of outlaw country in the genre. His self-titled EP is prepped for release this spring.

“My pal, hit writer Bernie Nelson, called me from Texas raving about doing a writing session with a talented Michigan kid, Waylon Hanel. I was honored to work with Jennings when I was at RCA and, true to his namesake, this 20-year-old is following in his hero’s style of outlaw country,” says CEO and owner of PLA Media Pam Lewis. “This kid’s powerful vocals and commanding delivery bodes well beyond his years. Ole Waylon would be pleased!”