Amanda Good and Kailyn Finnegan. Photo: Rachel Deeb

The AMG has announced industry veterans Amanda Good and Kailyn Finnegan as Head of Marketing and Senior Manager of Touring and Live Events, respectively.

“When we started the AMG two years ago, we knew we wanted to create a multi-faceted company where our artists would be surrounded with the best team in the industry. Amanda and Kailyn are undoubtedly the best and brightest in their fields, and we couldn’t be more proud to add them to our team,” shares President and CEO of The AMG Rob Beckham.

In this new role, Good will oversee the strategy and execution of marketing campaigns for all artists on The AMG’s roster. She will also supervise the company’s Digital Marketing and Creative teams. Good has over 15 years of industry experience, and most recently served as Senior Director of Marketing and Artist Development at Universal Music Group Nashville. While there she where she successfully managed over 35 album releases from artists including George Strait, Josh Turner, Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood, Caylee Hammack and Hootie & the Blowfish.

In her new position, Finnegan will be working closely with artists’ teams to create comprehensive action plans that best allocate budgets, resources, and timeframes for live events. Additionally, she will manage touring strategy and execution or all clients on The AMG’s roster. Finnegan has nearly two decades of touring experience including most recently with Live Nation, where she worked on some of the industry’s biggest tours, including Bryan, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, and others.

“We have no doubt that our new team members’ unique experience and insight will help elevate all of the artists on our roster, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds,” says COO Kristy Reeves.

Good and Finnegan can be reached at amanda@theamg.com and kfinnegan@theamg.com, respectively.

Tyler Rich. Photo: Zack Napier

Tyler Rich is planning a West Coast run this fall with the Two Thousand Miles Tour, featuring special guest Shy Carter. The tour kicks off at Club Rodeo in San Jose, California on Sept. 28, with stops in San Diego, L.A., Portland, Spokane, and more through Oct. 17.

“Postponed. Rebooked. Cancelled. Rebooked. Fourth times a charm?” jokesRich. “Being able to finally do my first headline tour, almost two years later, is an overwhelming feeling for so many reasons. Not only just performing again for a live crowd, but I’ll get to play songs for the first time from my debut album and my new single ‘Better Than You’re Used To.'”

The tour supports Rich’s debut album of the same name, Two Thousand Miles, out now via The Valory Music Co. Over the last year off the road, he has created and connected virtually, recording the aptly-titled  “Feels Like Home” from a makeshift home studio and hosting a weekly themed Instagram Live series. After teasing the demo on TikTok, Rich began working on plans to release “Better Than You’re Used To” and has since amassed over 19 million streams, with a career 282.9 million global streams to date.

Tickets and VIP packages in select markets go on sale Monday, June 21 at TylerRich.com.

Pictured (L-R): CEO, Sony Music Publishing, Rusty Gaston; President of Verse 2, Kent Earls; Rivers Rutherford; Kane Brown

Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member Rivers Rutherford has signed with Verse 2 Music, a Sony Music Publishing joint-venture helmed by multi-Platinum entertainer Kane Brown and publishing veteran Kent Earls.

“Rivers is a true songwriting craftsman in every sense of the word,” says Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO, Rusty Gaston. “We couldn’t be happier to welcome him to the Sony Music Publishing family, and we look forward to supporting him as he continues to push the boundaries of Nashville songwriting.”

One of music’s most talented and accomplished singer-songwriters, Rutherford’s cuts include hits for iconic legends Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, and Kris Kristofferson.

Over the course of his prolific career, Rutherford has had numerous No. 1 hits, multiple Grammys, CMA and ACM nominations, and over 20 ASCAP awards—including both of the coveted awards for Country Song Of The Year and Songwriter Of The Year. In addition to recent hits with Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, and Reba McEntire, the award-winning writer has penned No. 1 songs by Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, and Brooks & Dunn. His hit “Ain’t Nothin’ ‘Bout You” won Billboard’s and ASCAP’S Song Of The Year and spent 6 weeks at No. 1, marking Brooks & Dunn’s most successful single to date.

“I am very happy to sign to Verse 2 and be working again with my good friend Kent Earls. I am also grateful to be working with an artist as talented and exciting as Kane Brown, whose creativity and work ethic I greatly admire. Rusty Gaston and the rest of the Sony Music Publishing family are superstars and I’m honored to contribute to such a deep and storied catalog of classic country music,” shares Rutherford.

“Rivers Rutherford is a Nashville songwriting icon. He is a timeless creator of ultra cool, soulful country music. Rivers is an incredibly successful Hall of Fame songwriter but is an even better person at heart. To be able to sign him to Verse 2 is an honor and we’re excited to add him to our roster,” says Earls.

Pictured (L-R): Chase Cooper (Floating Leaf Entertainment), Davis Danziger (Floating Leaf Entertainment), Chris Van Belkom (Falcon – Combustion Music), Chris Farren (Combustion Music), Jeb Hurt (Floating Leaf Entertainment), Kolby Cooper, Jared McManus (Floating Leaf Entertainment), Jon Loba (President, BMG Nashville), Chris Poole (Director A&R, BBR Music Group), JoJamie Hahr (SVP, BBR Music Group). Photo: Wales Toney

BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records has signed recording artist Kolby Cooper in partnership with Combustion Music.

The 22-year-old singer-songwriter, who has already racked up over 110 million streams, has been playing sold-out shows around the country and built an audience of thousands of fans. With a fresh sound, Cooper’s music is influenced by his Texas roots layered over a wailing electric guitar.

“The observational perspective of Kolby’s songwriting immediately piqued my interest but seeing the overwhelmingly enthusiastic response at live shows has been really exciting to witness,” says Chris Poole, Director A&R, BBR Music Group. “I’m so excited to have the opportunity to work with such an incredible talent and help expand his wildly passionate fanbase he’s been cultivating and take everything to the next level.”

“It’s badass, I’m really excited to be a part of a team that wants to make what I do as huge as possible and is down for it all,” says Cooper. “We’re about to light this thing up!”

Cooper will release his first song as a signed artist, “Excuses,” on June 25. Inspired by his guitar player’s sudden breakup, the new song delivers overwhelming relatability paired with his rough-hewn vocals. The song is available for pre-save and pre-add now.

Kolby is managed by Floating Leaf Entertainment, booked by Red 11 Music, and is a staff songwriter at Combustion.

Toby Keith

Country recording artist Toby Keith is continuing his Country Comes To Town Tour June 20 in Prescott, Arizona after recently launching in California, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana. The run will visit over two dozen markets across the country through the end of the year.

The tour name originates from Keith’s hit of the same name which was featured on his How Do You Like Me Now?! album. After adding the track back to the set list on his 2019 That’s Country Bro Tour!, Keith knew that its lyrics were perfect for this newest touring effort. As the song says, “You better be ready when the sun goes down, that’s when country comes to town.”

Keith recently hosted his annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic in Oklahoma. The 16th annual classic in 2019 raised $1.3 million and over the years the event has raised $13.7 million used to build and operate the OK Kids Korral, the cost-free home for families of children being treated at area hospitals.

Toby Keith’s Country Comes to Town Tour:
6/20 – Findlay Toyota Center- Prescott, AZ
6/25 – Country Jam USA – Grand Junction, CO
6/26 – Nebraskaland Days – North Platte, NE
7/10 – Pendleton Whisky Music Festival – Pendleton, OR
7/15 – LaPorte County Fair – LaPorte, IN
7/17 – Meadow Event Park – Doswell, VA
7/30 – Adirondack Bank Center – Utica, NY
7/31 – Summer Stage at Tag’s – Big Flats, NY
8/1 – Orange Motorsports & Ent. – Middletown, NY
8/8 – Jackson County Fair – Jackson, MI
8/13 – Ashley for the Arts – Arcadia, WI
8/14 – First National Bank Arena – Jonesboro, AR
8/15 – Illinois State Fair – Springfield, IL
9/2 – The Great Allentown Fair – Allentown, PA
9/3 – Mohegan Sun – Uncasville, CT
9/4 – Bank of NH Pavilion/Meadowbrook – Gilford, NH
9/5 – Hard Rock Hotel and Casino – Atlantic City, NJ
9/10 – Freedom Fest – Fort Polk, LA
9/18 – Nugget Event Center – Sparks, NV
10/14 – Xtream Arena – Coralville, IA
10/15 – InTrust Bank Arena – Wichita, KS
10/16 – Budweiser Events Center – Loveland, CO
10/17 – Ford Wyoming Center – Casper, WY
10/23 – Laughlin Event Center – Laughlin, NV
12/3 – Hertz Arena – Estero, FL