HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), the South Korean entertainment company home to international superstars BTS, is acquiring Ithaca Holdings, and its properties including SB Projects and Big Machine Label Group. Ithaca Holdings CEO Scott “Scooter” Braun will join the board of HYBE and Scott Borchetta will remain CEO of Big Machine Label Group.

Ithaca Holdings is a fully integrated media company with interests across music, tech, film, television, brands and culture. The deal brings together a range of services including management, label services and publishing for global artists BTS, TXT, SEVENTEEN, NU’EST, GFRIEND, ENHYPEN, ZICO, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, J Balvin, Demi Lovato, Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Line, Lady A and more.

HYBE will use Ithaca’s market and industry expertise to expedite HYBE artists’ entry in the U.S. market and beyond.

Regarding the newly integrated partnership, HYBE Chairman & CEO Bang Si-Hyuk said, “The inevitable joining of HYBE and Ithaca Holdings marks the start of a new adventure no one could have possibly imagined. The two companies will work closely together leveraging our proven track records of success, know-how, and expertise to create synergy, transcend borders and break down cultural barriers. Please look forward to the endless possibilities of HYBE and Ithaca Holdings, and the new paradigm the partnership will establish in the music industry.”

Braun said, “This will be the first time HYBE’s groundbreaking systems and curation will be integrated in the U.S. market at the onset of an artist’s career. Plus, it will help us to continue to further the careers of the artists we already work with. Global opportunities for artists become exponential with this partnership. This is an opportunity for us to make history and further innovate the music industry and revolutionize the game itself. Its implications for the business will be monumentous for a long time to come. I am incredibly grateful for Chairman Bang’s friendship and his willingness to support the creative journey of an artist.”

Eric Church, Ashley McBryde, Darius Rucker

ACM Lifting Lives, teamed up with the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative, is set to premiere a COVID Vaccine PSA at the upcoming ACM Awards.

The new advertisements are part of the national campaign, “It’s Up to You,” and emphasize the important role education about COVID-19 vaccinations plays in a return to live music. The PSA will feature Eric Church, Ashley McBryde and Darius Rucker at the Ryman Auditorium and Grand Ole Opry House.

“We are so grateful to Eric, Ashley, Darius and the team at ACM for lending their talent for this extraordinary partnership. Together, we will help increase awareness about the COVID-19 vaccines and connect audiences to resources where they can get answers to their top questions,” says Lisa Sherman, president and CEO of the Ad Council. “Millions of Americans are looking forward to getting back to seeing live music again, and getting educated on the vaccines is one of the best steps to getting there.”

According to Ad Council research fielded by Ipsos in February, approximately 40% of the American public remain undecided about getting a COVID-19 vaccination. Of that undecided population, only 56% say they feel confident they have enough information to guide their decision about getting a COVID-19 vaccination, compared to 96% of those already committed. A majority (over 80%) are eager to get back to the moments and people they miss.

“ACM Lifting Lives is proud to partner with the Ad Council in educating the public on the COVID-19 vaccinations and how they can play a role in ending the pandemic,” says Lyndsay Cruz, ACM Lifting Lives executive director. “With the support of the country music industry and artists, we have worked tirelessly this past year to provide over $3.5 million in financial aid to families in need within the country music community. By joining the Ad Council and this campaign, we are continuing our commitment to providing a brighter future for these families and fans. We would like to thank each of the artists for making this message impactful and supporting us in achieving this goal.”

The “It’s Up To You” initiative launched in February and is the largest and most significant communications effort in U.S. history. Developed pro bono by ad agency Pereira O’Dell, the new PSA will direct audiences to GetVaccineAnswers.org for the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccines.

The 56th Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton, airs on April 18 at 7 p.m. CST on CBS.

Ashlie Amber

Newcomer Ashlie Amber is burgeoning a country sub-genre of her own, an infusion of glamorous bravado into traditional country music that she calls ‘country vogue.’

The entertainer grew up in Colorado, listening to the music of The Spinners, the Bee Gees, Whitney Houston, and Earth, Wind & Fire, before discovering country music via a Tim McGraw song, “Where The Green Grass Grows.” Amber was hooked, eventually leading her to love the music of Garth Brooks, LeAnn Rimes and Shania Twain.

Following her love of Whitney Houston, Amber created her own headliner tribute show to celebrate the vocal. Her show grew to be one of the best acts in international waters landing her a residency onboard one of the worlds acclaimed cruise lines and ships, The Celebrity Edge, a $1.2 billion vessel touring Europe and the Caribbean. It was there Amber earned her performing chops.

In a recent virtual visit with MusicRow, Amber talked about her journey to country music and how she plans to excel in a genre that has historically stifled Black, and female, voices.

“A lot of people say, ‘We don’t want this in country, we don’t want that in country.’ I’m like ‘Well, you must realize that that’s already in country,'” Amber says. “The genre has already changed, it has already evolved with or without us. So it’s just really nice to be able to get to do country, but still have the R&B flair because of course I still have those as part of my roots. Fusing the two together and bringing pop into the mix, it’s so much fun because country music at its core is just about great stories, great music, using live instruments, and just having fun.”

Working with Grammy and Emmy-winning producer Jamie Tate, Amber has released previous singles “Almost Love,” “My Revenge,” and “Fight With You.” The latter, a  tune written by Mary Haller, Lo and Avrim “Ave” Topel, shows off the tender parts of Amber’s rangey voice.

All of Amber’s music, and her charismatic personality, reflects her ‘country vogue’ motif. She credits Shania Twain for starting the sub-genre. “She really started the sub-genre, I just put a name to it,” Amber says.

“There’s somebody in Nashville who said that I wasn’t authentic enough. I actually knew exactly what he meant by what he said. I understand that I’m not the traditional country image. I rock a giant fro-hawk, come on. I’m very curvy and I’m very edgy, I’m not that girl next door. So instead of trying to fight that and try to be like that, I’m like, ‘You know what, you’re right.’ I’m not traditional country. I’m country vogue. My music is country, at its core it’s country. The stories that I’m telling are country, but I’m also fashion.”

“I don’t quite fit in, but I don’t want to. I grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood, we were the only Black family. I have never fit in my entire life. So why would I start now?”

Amber recently celebrated the first self-penned release of her career with her newest single, “Those Nights,” along with the launch of her publishing company Diva Music Group. Universal songwriter Morgan Matthews—who recently celebrated a No. 1 song as the producer of Alicia Keys and Miguel’s “Show Me Love”—composed the music for “Those Nights.”

“A lot of my writing and even the song selections that I didn’t write, I like to keep things very positive. I think music should be a celebration,” Amber says. “I just wanted to write about the good side of the relationship instead of always focusing on the breakup. I wanted to celebrate those early stages.”

AmericanaFest is returning in person this fall, slated for September 22-25. Passes for this year’s event go on sale April 8, and more information on the event will be available soon.

The Americana Music Association celebrated its 20th anniversary of AmericanaFest in 2019. For over 20 years, the event has brought together fans and music industry professionals alike, offering seminars, panels and networking opportunities by day and showcases each night. The Americana Honors & Awards Show is the featured performance of the festivities, normally taking place at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

The 2020 festival was canceled due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and a three-day online music industry conference, Thriving Roots: A Virtual Community Music Conference, was held in its place last September featuring Rosanne Cash, Mavis Staples, AMAF Board Members Jackson Browne, Rhiannon Giddens and T Bone Burnett, and many more.