Get Engaged has joined SAMY, a global independent social-first agency.

Founded in 2016 by Alex Dermer, Cam Fordham and Ben Hiott, Get Engaged has more than 120 employees across Atlanta, New York, Nashville and Los Angeles offices, serving clients including Sephora, Raising Cane’s, DoorDash, Live Nation, NBCUniversal, EA Games, Sazerac, Universal Music Group, and Perplexity. Get Engaged will retain its founders, leadership and hands-on service model.

“We built Get Engaged to help brands connect with culture in ways that move their businesses forward,” says Get Engaged Co-Founder and CEO, Alex Dermer. “Joining SAMY gives us the global reach, technology and talent to take that vision further. What excites me most is our shared ambition for where this industry is going and the role we can play in shaping it. As I step into the CEO role of Get Engaged, I’m proud of what we’ve built and energized by what this partnership makes possible for our clients and our team.”

“The next era of marketing will belong to brands that create moments people want to be part of,” shares Get Engaged Co-Founder, Cam Fordham. “We see a huge opportunity to bring brands, creators and talent together in ways that go well beyond a single campaign. With SAMY, we can take bigger swings and turn bold ideas into experiences and partnerships that reach audiences around the world.”

“Joining forces with Get Engaged consolidates SAMY as an independent, global leader in social and creator marketing,” adds SAMY CEO, Juan Andres Elhazaz. “Having established a proven track record as a leader in Europe and Latin America scaling our U.S. footprint was one of SAMY’s primary growth objectives and Get Engaged is the ideal partner to lead that expansion. We now bring our data and insight- driven Influencer and Social capabilities, powered by tech and AI, to maximize strategy and creative output, allowing leading brands to resonate authentically with today’s audiences.

The Raine Group served as exclusive financial advisor to Get Engaged.

Cody Johnson recently hosted his third annual “Cody Johnson Championship Event,” presented by Tractor Supply, in Belton, Texas.

Over the course of the annual six-day event, more than $2 million in cash and prizes was awarded. The COJO Championship also partnered with the Guy Fieri Foundation, the Ranching for Heroes Foundation, and Boot Campaign for the Champs for Charity Gala, raising more than $635,000 for the three nonprofits.

“It takes a really big team to organize all the events that take place during the week,” says Johnson. “I’m so proud of the heart and soul everyone brings to the table, which enables us to give back to important causes.”

In the Celebrity Pro-Am Team Roping Invitational, Johnson teamed with five-time National Finals Rodeo Qualifier heeler Drew Trey Yates to finish third overall. Johnson also made his mark in the 10.5 roping, where he and fellow Texan Bradley Jackson stopped the clock in 6.46 seconds, placing second in the Rotation fast-time standings. In the #12 roping, Cody and Justin Davis finished 19th in the average, earning fourth place in the Incentive.

“Cody Johnson has built something special with the COJO event, bringing the team roping community together to compete and give back,” adds Heather Strohm, marketing director at Tractor Supply. “We’re honored to present the COJO Championship and celebrate the Champs for Charity Gala surpassing $2 million raised in just three years for causes that matter deeply to Cody and the communities we serve.”

Emily Ann Roberts has released a new collection of songs, Thread, today (Oct. 16) via RECORDS Nashville / Sony Music Nashville.

On the new project Roberts weaves dynamic stories that honor her Appalachian influences set against the bluegrass-tinged instrumentation and time-honored musical traditions she’s embraced since childhood. The Knoxville native co-wrote every track on the new EP along with writers Jessi Alexander, Wyatt McCubbin, Paul Sikes, Ben Williams, and more.

Roberts has racked up nearly 200 million global streams, bolstered by an ever-growing community of fans (thanks in part to her beloved “Yeehaw Meemaw” persona), and now steps into her next chapter with Thread, which finds a new kind of magic in the timeless sounds and storytelling heritage she’s treasured all her life.

She’ll join Cody Johnson for a European run later this month, with stops in London, Dublin, Glasgow and additional cities across the U.K., and will also be heading back to C2C Festival in 2027, taking the main stage in London, Manchester, Glasgow, Berlin, and Rotterdam.

Thread Track List:
1. “Thread” (Emily Ann Roberts / Jessi Alexander / Ben Williams)
2. “Lonely Boy” (Emily Ann Roberts / Ryan Beaver / Frank Rogers)
3. “Garden Grow” (Emily Ann Roberts / Kelly Archer / Paul Sikes)
4. “When I Do” (Emily Ann Roberts / Jeff Hyde / Bryan Simpson)
5. “Laundry” (Emily Ann Roberts / Wyatt McCubbin / Jessi Alexander / Ben Williams)

Zach Top Launches Collection With Kimes

Zach Top has partnered with Kimes to launch a new clothing collection. The collection includes long-sleeve button-up shirts, short-sleeve polos, hoodies, sweatshirts and more. The pieces will be available online and through Kimes Ranch retailers.

“Working on this collection has been a really cool experience because I got to be involved in the process from the beginning,” says Top. “I wanted the clothes to feel like things I’d actually wear, and we were able to take some classic Western ideas and put our own spin on them. I’m proud of how it all came together.”

“We wanted this collection to feel natural to Zach,” adds Amanda Kimes, co-founder of Kimes Ranch. “His personal style is such a big part of who he is, so it was important that the collection came from his perspective. Zach was involved throughout the process, and that collaboration is what makes the final product feel genuine.”

 

The Red Clay Strays Release Austin City Limits Performance Video

The Red Clay Strays have shared a new live performance video of their single “Demons In Your Choir.” The video comes from their hour-long Austin City Limits TV episode airing Oct. 24 on PBS stations nationwide.

The track comes from their latest album, Grateful. The band is currently on tour with upcoming dates in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and more.

 

Brothers Osborne Appear On The Jennifer Hudson Show

Brothers Osborne joined Jennifer Hudson for a conversation on The Jennifer Hudson Show earlier this week (Oct. 12).

Their conversation covered the upcoming fifth studio album, Watertown, out Oct. 23, Osborne family history and dynamics, including a special video from John and TJ’s mom, Trisha, and a fun “which brother would” game.

 

Adult Leisure Sign With Big Loud Rock

Adult Leisure has signed with Big Loud Rock. Their single “Kiss Me Like You Miss Her” comes in as the No. 1 Most Added Song at Alternative radio this week. The track debuted at No. 40 on both Mediabase’s Alternative chart and Billboard‘s Alternative Airplay chart ahead of its official impact date.

“We’re happy to finally say that we’ve signed with Big Loud Rock,” Adult Leisure shares. “Over the last few months, we’ve had the pleasure of getting to know everyone, talking about what’s next for us, and working out what we are building together. It feels like we’ve found the right people at the right time, and we can’t wait to get started.”

“It’s rare to see a UK alt-indie band connect this quickly over here right out of the gate, but the early radio support behind “Kiss Me Like You Miss Her” just tells you everything,” adds Big Loud Co-Founder and Big Loud Rock President Joey Moi. “We’re excited to officially welcome Adult Leisure to the Big Loud Rock family, and can’t wait to keep this momentum going stateside.”