Caroline Jones Readies New Album Due In February

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Caroline Jones is set to release her new album, Good Omen, on Feb. 13. The project marks her debut release on Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. The title track will be released on Friday (Nov. 14).

“I am thrilled to announce my next album, Good Omen. This project has my most raw and empathetic storylines yet, set to a backdrop of rich, dark, bluegrass infused tracks. This being my first album as a mother, I’ve channeled the intense empathy that motherhood affords you, which, it turns out, is a superpower as a songwriter and artist. I collaborated with some amazing new songwriters and musicians on this project, including co-producer Julian Raymond, and cannot wait for folks to hear the stories and the sound that we crafted,” shares Jones.

Jones, a member of the Zac Brown Band, penned all 12 tracks alongside Eric Paslay, Sarah Buxton, Emily Weisband and Liz Rose, among others. In support of the album, Jones will kick off her nearly 20-date headlining tour Feb. 17 in Nashville, before traveling to Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and more. A full list of tour dates is available below.

Good Omen Track List:
1. “No Tellin’” (Caroline Jones, Lauren McLamb, Clara Park)
2. “All The Things” (Caroline Jones, Brandon Hood, Liz Rose, Emily Weisband)
3. “You’re It For Me, Honey” (Caroline Jones, Rob Grimaldi, Lauren McLamb, Brandon Ratcliff)
4. “The Bridge” (Caroline Jones, Sarah Buxton, Lauren McLamb)
5. “Forever Love” (Caroline Jones, Brandon Hood, Eric Paslay)
6. “Storm Chaser” (Caroline Jones, Jamie Kenney, Lauren McLamb, Brandon Ratcliff)
7. “Cutting It Close” (Caroline Jones, Gabe Faust, Lauren McClamb)
8. “Good Omen” (Caroline Jones, Sarah Buxton, Joy Williams)
9. “Family” (Caroline Jones, Bobby Hamrick)
10. “Divorce in a Small Town” (Caroline Jones, Sarah Buxton, Eric Paslay)
11. “Becca” (Caroline Jones, Lauren McLamb, Brandon Ratcliff)
12. “All The Things (Acoustic)” (Caroline Jones, Brandon Hood, Liz Rose, Emily Weisband)

“Good Omen Tour” Dates:
February 17 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East
February 19 – Gainesville, FL – Heartwood Soundstage – Indoor Stage
February 20 – Tampa, FL – Crowbar
February 21 – Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits
March 5 – New York, NY – The Mercury Lounge
March 6 – Wayne, PA – 118 North
March 7 – Cambridge, MA – The Middle East – Sonia
March 19 – Charlotte, NC – The Evening Muse
March 20 – Atlanta, GA – Smith’s Olde Bar
March 21 – Raleigh, NC – The Pour House
April 3 – Denver, CO – Lost Lake
April 4 – Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room
April 8 – West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour
April 9 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues Anaheim – The Parish
April 11 – San Francisco, CA – Cafe Du Nord
April 30 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
May 1 – Chicago, IL – Joe’s on Weed Street

By Design Reveals Global Publishing Partnership With Sony Music Publishing

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, By Design’s Josh Thompson, and By Design’s Josh Pauley. (L-R, front row): By Design’s Jeremy Holley, By Design’s Rod Riley, and By Design’s Josh Bailey. Photo: William King

By Design has established a global publishing partnership with Sony Music Publishing. With the deal, Sony Music Publishing will provide global administration services for By Design’s growing roster, as well as collaborate for joint-venture signings.

“Our passion for songwriters and great songs drives everything we do at SMP, and it’s clear that By Design shares the same spirit,” says Rusty Gaston, CEO of Sony Music Publishing Nashville. “We are thrilled to partner with their team and champion the incredible roster and catalog they’re building.”

“We’ve always said that By Design is more than a label — it’s a creative ecosystem,” shares Josh Bailey, Co-Founder of By Design. “Partnering with Sony Music Publishing allows us to expand that ecosystem, giving our creatives best-in-class support on a global scale. It’s about equipping creatives to tell meaningful stories and providing the infrastructure to bring those stories to life.”

“This partnership reflects what we’ve believed from the beginning — that great art thrives in great alignment,” adds Josh Thompson, Co-Founder of By Design. “Rusty and the SMP team understand the balance between creative excellence and creator care, and together we’re building a foundation that empowers writers to dream boldly and impact culture through their original design.”

The company recently appointed Josh Pauley as Vice President of Publishing and A&R.

Callie Prince Inks With Endurance Music Group

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Pictured (L-R): EMG’s Lauren Funk and Michael Martin, Callie Prince, EMG’s Courtney Kruckeberg.

Callie Prince has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Endurance Music Group.

“I’m beyond thrilled to be working with the one and only Callie Prince! She truly has a knack for pairing great lyrics with infectious, soaring melodies. From the first time I heard ‘She Calls Him Baby,’ I was hooked—she has a rich, captivating voice that makes you want to hit repeat. The entire Endurance team has been fired up about Callie for a while now, and we’re so excited to make it official! Her passion makes the creative process effortless, and we can’t wait to see where she goes from here,” shares EMG Creative Director Courtney Kruckeberg.

“It is truly an honor to work with Endurance,” Prince says. “They believe in me and my songwriting, and they champion me and push me to get better. I’ve always dreamed of being a songwriter, and they have helped turn that dream into a reality!”

A Mississippi native, Prince will release her debut EP, Girls Who Cuss, on Friday (Nov. 14). Her recent single “Cigarette” landed on featured editorial playlists including Spotify’s Fresh Finds, All New Country and Fresh Finds Country; Apple Music’s New in Country; CMT’s The Roundup; and Whiskey Riff’s Country New Music Friday.

Prince is currently managed by 1221 Management.

JUST IN: Dan + Shay Sign New Management Deal

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Simon Tikhman, CEO and Co-Founder, The Core Entertainment; Dan + Shay; Kevin “Chief” Zaruk, CEO and Co-Founder, The Core Entertainment

Three-time Grammy-winning, multi-Platinum duo Dan + Shay have signed with The Core Entertainment for management. The duo will be represented by The Core Entertainment co-founders and CEOs Simon Tikhman and Kevin “Chief” Zaruk.

Dan + Shay have built a career defined by powerful performances and enduring, emotionally resonant songs. Their catalog includes landmark hits such as “Tequila,” “Speechless,” “10,000 Hours” (with Justin Bieber), “Glad You Exist” and “Save Me The Trouble,” contributing to billions of streams, multiple No. 1 singles and numerous Platinum and Gold certifications worldwide.

In joining The Core Entertainment, Dan + Shay join an acclaimed, multi-genre roster that includes Bailey Zimmerman, Cameron Whitcomb, Nate Smith, Josh Ross, Nickelback and more.

“We’ve always admired The Core’s ‘music-first’ mentality, and from our first conversations with Simon, Chief, and the entire team, we knew that it was the perfect home for us,” Dan + Shay share. “They have built something truly special, and we are proud to be a part of the story they are writing. We believe in their passion and vision for our music, and can’t wait to launch the next chapter of our career together. The best is yet to come.”

Tikhman and Zaruk note, “Dan + Shay are rare talents—world-class vocalists, songwriters, and performers whose music continues to connect on a global level. We’re honored to join their team and look forward to building on everything they’ve created while opening new doors across music, touring, and partnerships.”

Industry Leader Bill Ivey Passes

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Bill Ivey. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Bill Ivey, the Country Music Hall of Fame executive who became the head of the Recording Academy, the American Folklore Society and the National Endowment for the Arts, has passed away.

Ivey, 81, was the Hall of Fame’s CEO from 1971 through 1997. He died in Nashville on Friday, Nov. 7.

While at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Bill Ivey founded its Library & Archives, built the museum’s collections, acquired Hatch Show Print and purchased the Bob Pinson Recorded Sound Collection. His leadership elevated the institution from being a modest tourist attraction to being the world’s center for the preservation and study of country’s many styles, past and present.

Born in Detroit in 1944, Ivey earned an undergraduate history degree at the University of Michigan, then an M.A. in folklore and ethnomusicology at Indiana University. He was also an acoustic-guitar player. He was doing graduate work toward a Ph.D. in 1971, when he decided to apply for a job as director of the library at the Country Music Foundation (CMF), the umbrella nonprofit for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The Museum had opened on Music Row in 1967, and the board of the Country Music Association (then running the CMF) determined four years later that the Museum should have a proper library and research center.

In August, 1971, Ivey was hired to oversee the development of the library. He so impressed the CMF’s board that he was promoted to director of the CMF by the fall of that year. During the next 25 years, he made the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum a key player in the music industry as well as Nashville’s burgeoning tourism industry. Ivey also set a rigorous standard that ensured the collections of artifacts, recordings and library materials documenting country music would be unmatched. He presided over two building expansions and secured national accreditation for the museum, which it has maintained.

In December 1997, President Bill Clinton selected Bill Ivey to be the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. While there, Ivey established the NEA “Songs of the Century” project to educate students about the history of American popular music. He laid the groundwork for better relations with Congress and led to the funding of his “Challenge America” and “Creative Links, Positive Alternatives for Youth” initiatives designed to foster stronger ties between arts organizations, community groups and federal agencies. He also accompanied First Lady Hillary Clinton to the Grammy Awards when she won in the Spoken Word category.

After four years of serving the NEA in Washington, Ivey returned to Music City. He directed the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University and served on the faculty there from 2002 to 2012.

Bill Ivey rose through the volunteer ranks of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS) to become its trustee and two-time national chairman (in 1981-83 and again in 1989-91). He remained a force on the Grammy organization’s board of directors for many years. Ivey was also elected president of the American Folklore Society.

In 1989, he helped found the Leadership Music nonprofit networking forum and served for several years as that organization’s discussion facilitator. He also wrote liner notes for historical reissue albums as well as scholarly articles. In later years, Bill Ivey wrote three books exploring the intersections of popular culture, politics and public policy.

In a social media post, the CMF eulogized Bill Ivey: “He was a challenging thinker who helped cement the reputation of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as a significant and authoritative music history center. His impact on the Museum and the wider arts world is incalculable.”

A Celebration of Life will be held for Ivey on Saturday (Feb. 21) at 2 p.m. CT at the CMA Theater inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Tyler Hubbard Renews Global Administration Deal With Warner Chappell Music Nashville

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Pictured (L-R): Spencer Nohe (WCM), Tyler Hubbard and Austen Adams (WCM).

Tyler Hubbard has renewed his global administration deal with Warner Chappell Music Nashville.

As a songwriter, Hubbard has penned 19 No. 1 hits, and has become the only country artist to achieve four consecutive chart-topping hits both as part of a duo and as a solo act. His credits include Jason Aldean’s “You Make It Easy,” “Lights Come On,” and “Burnin’ It Down,” Little Big Town’s “Hell Yeah,” and Cole Swindell’s “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight.” among others.

As a solo artist, Hubbard has garnered more than two billion streams. His 2023 RIAA Gold-certified debut self-titled solo album features chart-toppers “5 Foot 9” and “Dancin’ In The Country,” both earning 3x and 2x Platinum certification by the RIAA, respectively. His most recent self-released hits “Back Then Right Now” and “Park” were both off his 2024 Strong album.

During his time with Florida Georgia Line, Hubbard and duet partner Brian Kelley made history with “Cruise” as the first country song to earn RIAA Diamond certification. They are also the only country act to receive two RIAA Diamond-certified singles for their “Cruise” and “Meant to Be” with Bebe Rexha.

“I’m beyond grateful to continue this journey with Warner Chappell Music,” shares Hubbard. “The team has been such a huge part of my story as a songwriter and publisher, and I couldn’t be more excited for what the future holds. Music has always been a way for me to connect with people, and I feel so blessed to keep doing what I love with people who believe in me. Let’s keep this thing rollin!”

“Tyler’s signature voice, bright spirit, and heartfelt songwriting have left a lasting mark on country music,” adds Austen Adams, President, WCM Nashville. “Spanning from his acclaimed early smashes to his latest inspired hits, he continues to prove himself as an artist of undeniable talent and staying power. Spencer Nohe and the entire Warner Chappell team have been incredible champions of this work, and we couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead!”

Warner Records Group Elevates Gregg Nadel To President Of A&R

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Gregg Nadel.

Warner Records Group has elevated Gregg Nadel to President of A&R. Based in Los Angeles, he reports to Warner Records Group CEO & Co-Chairman Aaron Bay-Schuck.

Nadel has been with Warner Music Group for his entire 28-year career and most recently served as Co-Chair & Co-President of Warner Music Nashville, now Warner Records Nashville. Prior to that position, Nadel served as President of Elektra Entertainment for seven years. He has spearheaded high-profile campaigns for Ed Sheeran, who he worked with from the early days of Sheeran’s career. Nadel has been named to Billboard’s Power 100 list multiple times. In his current role, he will help drive overall A&R strategy and global collaboration across the company’s three major divisions.

“As we continue to build out Warner Records Group as a tight-knit, seamless global ecosystem, having Gregg join us at the group level will be a huge asset,” says Bay-Schuck and Tom Corson. “He’s a rare, all-around music man, with experience in everything from signing chart-topping artists to making records to developing superstars to leading creative teams. His invaluable relationships, calm judgment, and gift for bringing out the best in world-class talent will make a real difference as we focus our combined efforts on forging long-term careers with our US, UK, and Nashville teams.”

“Joining the mothership at Warner Records Group is an extraordinary opportunity to champion amazing artists on the global stage and to connect the dots to bring them to audiences everywhere,” adds Nadel. “An incredible devotion to the music is hard-wired into this company’s DNA, and I’m looking forward to working with Aaron, Tom, Joe, Karen, Cris [Lacy], and their brilliant teams on both sides of the Atlantic to discover, nurture, and elevate the next generation of stars.”

Ryman Auditorium Debuts ‘Unexpected Company’ Exhibit

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Photo: Eric Ahlgrim

The Ryman Auditorium recently debuted its new exhibit, “Unexpected Company,” which celebrates the wide variety of guests who have taken the Ryman stage.

The exhibit is now open as part of the Ryman’s daytime tour experience. Tickets and tour information are available here.

The collection features rare artifacts and archival materials, including Harry Houdini’s handcuffs used during his 1924 Nashville performance; Jackie Robinson’s personal memorabilia and writings tied to his 1962 appearance at the Ryman, where he spoke to more than 1,200 attendees about the power of the vote and civil rights; a gown worn by Aretha Franklin commemorating her two Ryman performances in 2010 and 2011; Clint Eastwood’s hat and amended film script from the 1982 movie Honkytonk Man, shot on location at the Ryman; a Rowlf the Dog puppet, celebrating his Ryman appearances on The Jimmy Dean Show; and a costume worn by Jessica Lange while portraying Patsy Cline in the 1985 biopic Sweet Dreams, filmed at the Ryman.

Photo: Eric Ahlgrim

Photo: Eric Ahlgrim

Connor Hicks Signs With Tape Room Music

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Pictured (L-R): Caroline Hodson (Tape Room Music), Nick Tressler (Raised Rowdy Management), Ashley Gorley (Tape Room Music), Connor Hicks, Blain Rhodes (Tape Room Music) and Katherine Godwin (Tape Room Music). Photo: Ike Everard

Connor Hicks has inked an exclusive global publishing deal with Tape Room Music.

Hicks’ music has become popular with fans for its themes of small-town life, enduring love and life’s defining moments. His homestate of Kentucky shapes his bluegrass side, combined with his love of country music. Hicks’ influences include Brett Eldredge and the Zac Brown Band.

Hicks recently released his new single “Lonely Season,” which followed his 2024 releases of “The Heart I Used To Have” and “Remembering Somebody.”

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue growing into the artist I’ve always wanted to be,” shares Hicks. “My goal has always been to create music that feels real, and I’m thrilled to do that alongside a team like Tape Room that is truly the best of the best. All glory to the man upstairs.”

“From our first meeting with Connor, we knew we wanted to be a part of his journey as an artist,” adds Tape Room Music President Blain Rhodes. “We are so excited to welcome him to the Tape Room family and help him bring his music to the world.”

Essential Music Publishing Promotes Andie Rankins

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Andie Rankins

Provident Entertainment’s publishing division, Essential Music Publishing, has elevated Andie Rankins to Vice President of Essential Publishing Administration.

Rankins joined the company in 2015, when Provident acquired its catalog from Sony Music Publishing, she assumed responsibility for developing, instituting and overseeing the company’s internal publishing administration process. Since then, Rankins has driven significant growth within the division by expanding its client base and strengthening operations. She rises to her current position after holding the title of Senior Director, Essential Publishing Administration.

Under Rankins’ leadership, Essential Publishing Administration has developed into a thriving, integral part of Provident Entertainment. Her strategic vision and commitment to excellence have expanded the division’s reach beyond Provident’s internal creative community to serve a diverse roster of valued industry partners, including Elevation Worship, Fair Trade Services, Hillsong Publishing, Bell Partners, BEC Worship and many more.

“Andie’s unwavering care and commitment for our copyrights and writers, combined with her servant leadership approach, make her the ideal person to lead Essential Publishing Administration as Vice President,” says Holly Zabka, President of Provident Entertainment. “I am thrilled to celebrate this well-deserved promotion.”