Pictured (L-R): 49 Winchester’s Bus Shelton, MCA’s Mike Harris, 49 Winchester’s Noah Patrick, MCA’s Rob Femia and Dave Cobb, 49 Winchester’s Isaac Gibson, MCA’s Katie McCartney, 49 Winchester’s Justin Louthian, New West Records’ John Allen, 49 Winchester’s Tim Hall and Chase Chafin. Photo: Jordan Dziekan
Country-rock band 49 Winchester has signed a record deal with MCA, with releases via their Lucille Records imprint.
Formed in Virginia, the six-piece band combines Southern rock and country with vulnerable storytelling. They have gained a dedicated fanbase through touring their electric live shows, and will be performing at the Ryman Auditorium on Nov. 14 and 15.
The band consists of Isaac Gibson alongside Bus Shelton (lead guitar), Chase Chafin (bass), Noah Patrick (pedal steel), Tim Hall (keys) and Justin Louthian (drums).
“We’re thrilled to be joining the MCA and Lucille family,” says Gibson. “Working with Dave Cobb is a dream, and we can’t wait for our fans to hear the new music we’re creating together.”
“So grateful to the fans and team who helped us build this to where it is today,” adds Chafin, bassist and co-founder. “We couldn’t be more excited for MCA to be the home of future 49 Winchester releases, and to share this next chapter with those who made it possible.“
Their major label debut, a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes,” will release this Friday (Nov. 7). The single was produced by MCA Chief Creative Officer Dave Cobb. The band is currently working on a full-length album with Cobb, releasing in 2026. The album will be released in collaboration with New West Records, with all other future releases exclusively under MCA.
“We are so excited to have 49 Winchester join Lucille Records,” shares Mike Harris, President & CEO of MCA. “Their mix of Southern rock is powerful and authentic, and we look forward to supporting them as they continue to evolve.”
“In working with 49 Winchester it felt like they laid it all out on the line,” says Cobb. “The record is pure heart and honesty, a lotta heart, soul and love went into making this album.”
“Watching 49 Winchester’s remarkable growth and success over the past several years has been incredibly rewarding,” adds John Allen, President of New West. “Their achievements reflect the band’s extraordinary talent and relentless work ethic, as well as the dedication of everyone at New West. Partnering once again with my longtime friend Dave Cobb is always a pleasure, and MCA is the perfect home for 49 Winchester as we work together to reach even greater heights.”
49 Winchester Inks With MCA/Lucille Records
/by Madison HahnenPictured (L-R): 49 Winchester’s Bus Shelton, MCA’s Mike Harris, 49 Winchester’s Noah Patrick, MCA’s Rob Femia and Dave Cobb, 49 Winchester’s Isaac Gibson, MCA’s Katie McCartney, 49 Winchester’s Justin Louthian, New West Records’ John Allen, 49 Winchester’s Tim Hall and Chase Chafin. Photo: Jordan Dziekan
Country-rock band 49 Winchester has signed a record deal with MCA, with releases via their Lucille Records imprint.
Formed in Virginia, the six-piece band combines Southern rock and country with vulnerable storytelling. They have gained a dedicated fanbase through touring their electric live shows, and will be performing at the Ryman Auditorium on Nov. 14 and 15.
The band consists of Isaac Gibson alongside Bus Shelton (lead guitar), Chase Chafin (bass), Noah Patrick (pedal steel), Tim Hall (keys) and Justin Louthian (drums).
“We’re thrilled to be joining the MCA and Lucille family,” says Gibson. “Working with Dave Cobb is a dream, and we can’t wait for our fans to hear the new music we’re creating together.”
“So grateful to the fans and team who helped us build this to where it is today,” adds Chafin, bassist and co-founder. “We couldn’t be more excited for MCA to be the home of future 49 Winchester releases, and to share this next chapter with those who made it possible.“
Their major label debut, a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes,” will release this Friday (Nov. 7). The single was produced by MCA Chief Creative Officer Dave Cobb. The band is currently working on a full-length album with Cobb, releasing in 2026. The album will be released in collaboration with New West Records, with all other future releases exclusively under MCA.
“We are so excited to have 49 Winchester join Lucille Records,” shares Mike Harris, President & CEO of MCA. “Their mix of Southern rock is powerful and authentic, and we look forward to supporting them as they continue to evolve.”
“In working with 49 Winchester it felt like they laid it all out on the line,” says Cobb. “The record is pure heart and honesty, a lotta heart, soul and love went into making this album.”
“Watching 49 Winchester’s remarkable growth and success over the past several years has been incredibly rewarding,” adds John Allen, President of New West. “Their achievements reflect the band’s extraordinary talent and relentless work ethic, as well as the dedication of everyone at New West. Partnering once again with my longtime friend Dave Cobb is always a pleasure, and MCA is the perfect home for 49 Winchester as we work together to reach even greater heights.”
Sam Williams Exits Mercury Nashville
/by Lauryn SinkSam Williams. Photo: Spencer Miller
Sam Williams has parted ways with Mercury Nashville after four years with the label.
“Thank you to Cindy Mabe and Universal Nashville for believing in me and giving me the space to grow as an artist. I’m grateful for every opportunity I’ve been given and what is next to come. I’ve made more music than I have ever made this year, and this is still only the beginning. The new chapter begins in January 2026 and it’d mean the world to have your support,” Williams shared in part in a social media post.
Williams released his album Act II: Countrystar earlier this year. He has appeared on stages such as the Grand Ole Opry, CMA Fest and more. He recently took the stage at the inaugural Hollywood and Mind event for conversation with Leslie Fram and Gayle.
COILER Signs With Riser House Rock
/by Lauryn SinkPictured (L-R): Jason Martin (Riser House Rock), Matt Swanson (Riser House Entertainment), COILER, Jim Kaufman (Producer/A&R) and Jennifer Johnson (Riser House Entertainment)
COILER has signed with Riser House Rock, marking the flagship signing for the newly launched division of Riser House Entertainment.
The signing follows the release of COILER’s debut EP, BITE, which dropped on Oct. 17.
“We’re honored to welcome COILER as the first of many signings to the Riser House Rock roster,” shares Jason Martin, President of Riser House Rock. “COILER is a singular talent whose fearless songwriting and wide-eyed view of the world give his music an authenticity that cuts deep. Together with producer Jim Kaufman, he’s crafting a body of work built to last for decades.”
“COILER is a pure and true talent,” says Kaufman. “He’s been transformed by the power of rock and roll, and the energy he transmits when he plays his music is raw and unshakable. I couldn’t wait to capture that sound on record and share it with the world from the first moment I saw him.”
“Hailing from a tiny town in the Midwest, I never imagined I’d get to this point,” shares COILER. “To be surrounded by such inspiring people who believe so wholeheartedly in me is surreal. I’m endlessly grateful to Jim Kaufman, Jennifer Johnson, Matt Swanson, Jason Martin, Sofia Barbetta, and the whole Riser House team, as well as so many others who see this potential in me and are helping me build something I’ve only ever dreamt of. This is just the start, and I can’t wait to see how far we take this.”
‘CMT Hot 20 Countdown’ To Air Final Episode In December, More Exit CMT/Paramount
/by Madison HahnenCody Alan
17-year CMT Hot 20 Countdown host Cody Alan will host his final show at the end of December, amid changes at Paramount. This will mark the end of the show, which first premiered in 2013.
Three additional staff members have also exited Paramount Global, following the company’s merger with Skydance Media. Sr. Director, Communications Ali Marszalkowski; Manager, Communications Justin Permenter and Sr. Director, Marketing and Creative Production Mark Thomas are among the departures.
Marszalkowski joined Paramount in 2019 as Director, Communications, before being elevated to Sr. Director, Communications in 2022. During her time with the company, she worked on projects for CMT, MTV, VMAs, Paramount+, Showtime and CBS. Before Paramount, she held roles at Sunshine Sachs and Rodale Inc. Marszalkowski graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelors in Public Relations.
Permenter joined Paramont/Viacom in 2017, and has worked on across programming on Paramount, Paramount+, MTV, CMT, Comedy Central and VMAs, as well as helped lead RuPaul’s Drag Race. He is a Florida State University graduate with a Bachelors in Marketing, Hospitality and Communications.
Thomas joined Paramount in 2019 as Marketing and Creative Production. During his time at the company, he worked on the CMT Music Awards, CMT Artists of the Year, CMT Crossroads, Yellowstone, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and more. Prior to Paramount, he held roles at AVVAY and Calvin Klein. Thomas is an East Tennessee State University graduate with a Bachelors in Marketing/Marketing Management. He is also currently the Secretary for the Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Board, and is also a CMA Member Ambassador and Co-Chair for CMA Foundation’s Music Teachers of Excellence event.
SMACK Reflects On Year Of Achievement
/by Lauryn SinkSMACK Writers + Staff. Photo: Brenton Giesey
SMACK reflected on the past year of achievements for its 25 signed writers with a celebration last night at 1 Hotel last night (Nov. 3).
Of the writers, 17 have charted on the country charts in the last year, with three of those earning their first No. 1 singles. Every writer on the roster has landed a major label cut or release in the past 12 months with artists including Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, and Old Dominion to rising voices like Ella Langley and George Birge.
Three SMACK writers also earned their first No. 1 cuts this year.
“SMACK was originally created in support of Shane McAnally’s efforts as a writer and producer. It’s humbling to see how it has evolved to a place that houses 25 writers with full publishing and management teams,” shared Robert Carlton, President. “At our core, we are still that small independent publisher striving to help our creatives reach their dreams. With this roster and staff, I truly believe we are better equipped for success than we’ve ever been.”
Walker Hayes earned a No. 1 at Christian radio with MercyMe. Hayes also released his newest project, 17 Problems, which features Kane Brown on “Song For My Son.”
SMACK Founder Shane McAnally signed with UTA and sold out his first-ever comedy shows across the country.
CTK Enterprises Adds Three Department Leaders
/by Madison HahnenPatrick Kells, Robert Kelley and Adam Davis
CTK Enterprises has added three new department leaders to its team, establishing new divisions for its client roster. Patrick Kells has joined as Head of Retail Merchandising, Robert Kelley has been appointed GM, Dolly Parton’s Life Of Many Colors Museum, and Adam Davis has been named Director, Content Development & Archiving.
“I am proud to welcome three well-respected leaders to our team,” shares Danny Nozell, Founder/CEO of CTK Enterprises. “As we look toward the future, CTK continues expanding its role as a leading player in all areas of music and entertainment. Today’s announcement is just the beginning of what will be a growth era for CTK.”
Kells brings 30 years of expierence to the organization. He has held previous roles at Carnival Corporation, The Coca-Cola Company, The Walt Disney Company and Ralph Lauren. Throughout his previous roles, he has had experience in lifestyle marketing, category planning and procurement, strategic business planning, digital commerce business and retail strategy. Kells holds a Bachelors in Business Management from Saint Vincent College, as well as a MBA in Marketing from Florida Atlantic University. He can be reached here.
Kelley joins CTK Enterprises after most recently serving as the President and Owner of his own Robert Kelley Consulting, where he worked with global hospitality oriented companies. His other previous career stops include Special Olympics USA Games and various Walt Disney World Theme Parks. Throughout his career, Kelley has been recognized with the Spirit of Disney Award, Disney’s Conservation Leadership Award, and Partners in Excellence. He can be reached here.
Davis joins the company after previously serving as Content Producer at Sony Music Entertainment for seven years. Before that, Davis worked as a freelancer, where he worked on NBC’s The Apprentice and The Celebrity Apprentice, Bravo’s Top Chef, Bravo’s Cyrus vs. Cyrus, CMT’s I Love Kellie Pickler, and more. At Sony, he worked across its roster of artists fulfilling storytelling, production and post-production needs. Davis is a graduate of Belmont University with a Bachelors in Finance. He can be reached here.
Lauren Daigle & Jordan Davis To Host ‘CMA Country Christmas’
/by Lauryn SinkLauren Daigle & Jordan Davis. Photo: Josh Brasted/CMA
Lauren Daigle and Jordan Davis will host the 16th annual CMA Country Christmas, set to premiere Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. CST on ABC, with streaming available the next day on Hulu and Disney+.
Daigle, Davis, Riley Green, Lady A, Little Big Town, Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and BeBe Winans will all take the stage throughout the night.
The show was filmed in front of a live audience in Nashville. A production of the Country Music Association, Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Milton Sneed serves as Director and Jon Macks as Writer.
Megan Moroney. Photo: John Russell/CMA
Riley Green. Photo: John Russell/CMA
Parker McCollum. Photo: John Russell/CMA
Lady A. Photo: John Russell/CMA
The Kentucky Headhunters Dip Into The Vaults To Re-Release ‘Big Boss Man’
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Kentucky Headhunters have reissued Big Boss Man, a one-of-a-kind project originally recorded in partnership with Sony/ATV Music Publishing two decades ago.
Long considered a hidden gem within the band’s catalog, Big Boss Man returns as a newly remastered, fully restored project, released on the band’s own Practice House Records label. The origins of the project go back to 2005, when then Sony/ATV President Donna Hilley, compilation supervisor Jack Jackson and creative director of new music Tom Long, approached The Headhunters with an idea to take 12 classics from the Sony/ATV catalog and “Headhunterize” them, infusing each song with the group’s signature energy. The purpose behind the project was to breathe new life into iconic songs to offer producers refreshed, sync-ready versions of timeless hits.
“In 2005, I traveled to Sony to pick up CDs of the catalog and came home with two very large boxes of music,” recalls Headhunters guitarist Richard Young. “The whole process was so much fun, but as the rest of the band will tell you, we probably spent more time in the Practice House just listening to the catalog and entertaining ourselves than it took to actually record the album! Sony’s catalog is so vast, it was a challenge narrowing it down to twelve songs.”
When the album, christened Big Boss Man, was completed, a small independent label issued a limited run of records before dissolving shortly thereafter. For nearly 20 years, the original recordings remained available only digitally and under a different title until Kathy Scobey, current head of Sony/ATV Publishing, worked with Young to strike a new agreement allowing the Headhunters to remaster and re-release Big Boss Man on Practice House.
“We’ve always been about honoring where we come from while pushing things forward,” adds Young. “This record captures that better than ever. It’s loud, raw, honest, and pure Headhunters.”
Big Boss Man is in select record stores now, and to help celebrate the album’s release, The Headhunters will return to the Grand Ole Opry on Nov. 6, performing as the Spotlight Artist for the Opry’s Country Classics show.
Cattle Country Festival Announces 2026 Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Cattle Country Festival in Gonzales, Texas is returning for its third year April 10-12.
The 2026 lineup includes Koe Wetzel, Treaty Oak Revival, Randy Houser, Robert Earl Keen, Josh Abbott Band, Paul Cauthen, Corey Kent, Casey Donahew, Stoney LaRue, Tyler Braden, Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Asleep At The Wheel, Drake Milligan, Atlus, Austin Meade, Emily Ann Roberts and more.
New to the festival this year is the Whiskey Jam stage that will feature up-and-coming artists including Brooke Baird, Brandi Behlen, Ellis Bullard, Hayden Butler, Aaron McBee, Aaron McDonnell and more.
The music and camping festival will once again take place on the sprawling 400-acre ranch in Gonzales, Texas along the Guadalupe River. Back by popular demand, the festival will offer more GA and VIP camping areas, additional tents in the Glamping Village with a private glamping lounge, as well as more RV spaces and amenities for those staying on the grounds. The Boot also offers several swimming areas, aptly named Cowboy Coves, where attendees can cool off and enjoy the festival’s waterside experience. The festival grounds will also feature food, wine, spirits, brews and shopping as well.
Passes for the 2026 Cattle Country Festival, including camping, RV, and glamping passes, are now on sale at CattleCountryFest.com. There are also Premium VIP and shuttle packages available, and new this year, the festival will introduce a Fast Pass that will allow expedited entry into the festival and access to the fast pass bar line at all GA bars. There will also be local, military, student, teacher, and first responder discounts available.
Recording Academy Welcomes Over 3800 New Members
/by Madison HahnenIn the new membership class, 50% are 39 and under, 58% are People of Color and 35% identify as women. This year also marked the first time invitations were extended to all Latin Recording Academy Voting Members. Full new members demographics can be found here.
“Today marks the beginning of an exciting week — not only are we welcoming this year’s incredible new class of Academy members, but we’re just days away from unveiling the 2026 GRAMMY Awards nominees,” says Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “This year’s class reflects the vibrancy of today’s diverse music landscape. The addition of many Latin Recording Academy voting members underscores that music has no borders and that our mission to serve music people, regardless of where they are from, is stronger than ever. I can’t wait for our members’ passion and hard work to shine through in this year’s nominations.”
Membership for the Recording Academy include Voting Membership for recording creators and Professional Membership for music business professionals. All members are able to participate in year-round events, including DREAM, WingTM, GRAMMY U and more. All members also vote for GRAMMY winners.
The 2026 GRAMMY nominees will be revealed beginning at 10 a.m. CST this Friday (Nov. 7) via livestream on the GRAMMY website and YouTube. Among those who will announce the 2026 nominees are Angélique Kidjo, Brandi Carlile, CeCe Winans, Chappell Roan, David Foster, Doechii, Dr. Chelsey Green, Gayle King, Jon Batiste, KAROL G, Little Big Town, Lizzo, Masaki Koike, Mumford & Sons, Nicole Scherzinger, Sabrina Carpenter and Sam Smith.