Winter Jam, one of Christian music’s biggest multi-artist tours, has announced the lineup for its 2022 “All Together Now” tour. Sponsored by Compassion International, headliners for this year’s event will feature Skillet and Tauren Wells.

Skillet, best known for songs like “Whispers in the Dark,” “Hero,” and “Monster” joins the tour with their new album Dominion set to release Jan. 14. Meanwhile, Wells is coming off his hit single “Famous For (I Believe),” which won Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year at the 2021 GMA Dove Music Awards.

“We are beyond excited to play Winter Jam again,” says John Cooper of Skillet. “Due to the times we are living in, I think Winter Jam will have more energy, more passion and will be more encouraging than ever before. We’ll be playing new songs from our upcoming record, Dominion, and some of the old fan favorites too. We are ready, the fans are ready—let’s kick off 2022 as a year of victory instead of defeat!”

Also included in this year’s lineup are KB, Colton Dixon, I Am They, and NewSong. Shane Pruitt is slated to speak while Abby Robertson and Bayside Worship will lead the pre-jam. Once again, the tour will honor it’s “no ticket required” policy with a $10 donation at the door.

Winter Jam kicks off this year’s tour on Jan. 7 in Charleston, West Virginia; and will hit a total of 41 cities around the country, including Columbus, Tampa, Tulsa, St. Louis, and more before its final stop on March 27 in Allen, Texas.

“I am so excited about getting back out on a full 41 city Winter Jam Tour with an amazing lineup,” says Eddie Carswell of NewSong. “After the last couple of years, we wanted to make sure everyone could come to these shows, so we went to just a $10 donation at the door. The heart of Winter Jam is to make it affordable for everyone. It’s all about the people getting together to hear the music and the message of Jesus.”

For more information and a full list of tour dates, click here.

Justin Morgan Inks Publishing Deal With BMG, Centricity

Pictured (L-R): Justin Nicolet (Centricity), Justin Morgan, Chris Oglesby (BMG), Chad Segura (Centricity)

Justin Morgan has signed a worldwide publishing deal with BMG, in partnership with Centricity.

A native of Texas, Morgan’s cuts have amassed over 20 million on-demand streams, including with contemporary Christian artists Audio Adrenaline, Aaron Shust, Caitie Hurst, Meredith Andrews, and Lydia Laird as well as with country music acts Runaway June, Home Free, Jackson Michelson, Sykamore, DJ Silver, King Calaway, Lauren Duski and more.

“When worlds collide in a creative way, amazing things happen,” says BMG’s VP of Creative, Chris Oglesby. “Justin knows what to do with a song and a track. Privileged to lock arms with him and Centricity on raising the bar.”

“We love working with Justin and have had a very fruitful relationship thus far,” adds VP of Centricity, Chad Segura. “As we’ve watched him grow and branch out into new genres, we’ve been excited about the idea of adding the expertise of another team to the mix for this next season. BMG was the absolute perfect fit. We’re big fans of Chris Oglesby, and his team, and can’t wait to see what our combined efforts will generate in the days ahead!”

“Signing this deal feels like coming home,” says Morgan. “I’ve worked with Chad and Justin at Centricity for years and have been close with Chris and the team at BMG for a while as well. Having champions in both camps is incredible. The Lord knows what he’s doing bringing people together, and I can’t wait to see what we can make happen as a team.”

SMACK Adds Danielle Veronneau As Catalog Manager, Operations Coordinator

Danielle Veronneau

Publishing, management, and artist development company, SMACK, has added Danielle Veronneau to its team as Catalog Manager & Operations Coordinator.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Veronneau studied at Belmont University and graduated from Quinnipiac University. In her new role, she will manage all aspects of the publishing house’s song catalogue, including its more than 50 No. 1 country radio hits, and roster of more than 20 writers.

Veronneau can be reached at danielle@smacksongs.com.

Dylan Taylor Signs Publishing Deal With Bluewater Music

Dylan Taylor

Recording artist, songwriter and multi-media artist Dylan Taylor has signed a worldwide publishing and administration deal with Bluewater Music.

Originally from Atlanta, Taylor spent most of her formative years in Nashville, releasing her own material and collaborating with her band Hippie Speedball. Her songs have been licensed for several US television programs, including The L Word, Keeping Up With The Kardashians and Washington Heights.

As part of the publishing and administration deal, Bluewater Music will help Taylor with opportunities in the U.S. and internationally both as a writer and artist through their global creative and administrative network.

“Dylan fully embodies what Bluewater look for in songwriters and she has a fantastic work ethic,” says Liam McMellon, creative director of Bluewater Music. “We’ve been a fan of her songs for some time and we’re excited to be teaming up with Dylan for this next stage of her career.”

“I’m beyond excited to be joining forces with Bluewater Music,” adds Dylan. “I can’t think of a better place to be sending my songs and growing as a songwriter. The best is yet to come!”

Chase Rice. Photo: Mike Lerner

Chase Rice is adding entertainment venue partner to his resume. The multi-Platinum artist announced his partnership with Forward Hospitality Group to bring a new venue to Cleveland, Ohio in December 2021.

The space will be called Welcome To The Farm, and will offer live music, drinks and bar food. The 5,250 sq. ft. new building is located in the the Flats East Bank entertainment district, situated directly on the Cuyahoga River as it flows into nearby Lake Erie. Forward Hospitality Group, which operates 15 total venues, also owns FWD and Good Night John Boy within the development.

“We’ve been working on this for a while and I’m excited to finally let everyone in on the secret,” shares Rice of the venture. “I’ve had a blast learning about another side of the entertainment and hospitality industry and getting to put my stamp on things at Welcome to the Farm. I can’t wait to welcome y’all in December!”

Ohio is a special place to Rice, whose late father grew up in the Columbus area and played football for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

“Not only is Ohio special to me as an artist and because of my dad’s connection to the area, but Cleveland itself is also a really inspiring city as a musician,” adds Rice. “It’s awesome to know that we’ll be just a mile down the road from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which is home to people like The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Nirvana, Tom Petty and so many more who have all had a huge impact on my career.”

Appropriately, Rice’s new single, “If I Were Rock & Roll,” highlights the singer’s love for country and rock & roll.

Kristian Bush is diving into his Appalachian roots with his new album Troubadour, due out Nov. 19. The throwback lead single from the project, “Hunt Dog Hunt,” is set for release Nov. 5.

The 16-song collection is the soundtrack to Bush’s country music musical of the same name, which debuted at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre earlier this year. Bush is featured as a co-writer on all of the project’s tracks.

Half of the Grammy-winning country duo Sugarland, Bush grew up in East Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains surrounded by mountain music and rich bluegrass. Troubadour fittingly begins with traditional 1930’s bluegrass, progressing through the decades reflecting an Americana dynamic.

Bush assembled a group of players and recorded the album live in one room in his Atlanta studio. The group honed the blend of harmonies until they mimicked what Bush remembered hearing in church as a child.

“It’s a very spooky thing when we get it right,” Bush explains. “You don’t know where one note ends and the other begins. They all start to move together, and they’re making a color that only people from the mountains make.”

He continues, “One way or another, where you grew up is what’s in your bones. As many wonderful, crazy opportunities as I get in my life to go play music, you have to know where you’re from because otherwise, you’ll have no idea where you’re going. This record is me.”