Pictured (L-R): Maverick’s Chris Parr, RIAA’s Jackie Jones, Darius Rucker, UMG Nashville’s Mike Dungan. Photo: Strange Bird Media

Darius Rucker has gotten a lot of mileage out of “Wagon Wheel.” His 2013 hit, which was originally released by Old Crow Medicine Show in 2004, has now been certified 8x multi-Platinum by the RIAA. The feat makes Rucker the only solo male country artist to reach the milestone of an 8x multi-Platinum song in RIAA history.

Rucker’s label of more than 14 years, UMG Nashville, surprised the superstar with plaques commemorating the accolade during a stop at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Feb. 12.

“I don’t believe you. I don’t believe this!” Rucker responded. “Wow, what a testament to the fans and their love of country music.”

“Wagon Wheel” was penned by Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor, and based on a sketch from Bob Dylan, who is credited as a co-writer on the track. “Wagon Wheel,” featured on Rucker’s Gold-certified album True Believers, earned Rucker the third Grammy of his career, this time for Best Country Solo Performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.

“Even in my wildest dreams for ‘Wagon Wheel,’ the singer was never me or Bob,” Secor said. “It could have been a lot of different people who had the big hit with it. It could have been one of those perfect-smile guys with the made-for-TV personalities. That it was instead a salt of the earth singer like Darius is something divine I’ll leave to the theologians to figure out.”

Mike Dungan, UMGN Chairman & CEO, recalled his conversation with Darius when Rucker decided to record “Wagon Wheel”: “Darius called my cell phone one night and told me that he was in the audience for the talent show at his daughter’s high school. He said, ‘Hey man, do you know that song ‘Wagon Wheel?’ I just watched a band full of kids perform it, and it reminded me of how great that song is, and I want to cut it.’ I said, ‘you’re crazy,’ to which he said, ‘well I’m cuttin’ it! I’ll talk to you later!’ We (the label) thought that this was going to either be huge… or a disaster. He was right, everybody’s happy, life is good!”

“On behalf of RIAA, we’re so pleased to mark such an amazing accomplishment,” said Jackie Jones, Vice President of Industry Relations at the Recording Industry Association of America. “A certification of this magnitude is incredibly rare—occurring only a few times in our organization’s history. Darius, his team and the entire UMG Nashville family should be very proud of this historic moment in music.”

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has teamed with City National Bank to present the third annual Nashville Songwriter Awards, set for Sept. 22 at the Ryman Auditorium.

The ceremony will honor Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Songwriter-Artist of the Year, and celebrate recognition of the “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written.” This year will also include special segments to honor Songwriter and Songwriter-Artist of the Decade, as well as the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Honorees, performers and ticket announcements for this year’s event are forthcoming.

Clint Black has sold out his upcoming show at the Ryman Auditorium on Sunday, May 17. Black’s last appearance at the historic Music City venue was back in 1999.

“The Ryman holds such a special place in our history, I’m especially thrilled to be playing there. And knowing the fans are going to fill it up for us has us all really excited for May 17th! We’re planning for a very special evening here in Music City!” says Black.

Black rounded out 2019 with the release of his 22nd album project, Still Killin’ Time, which features eight live versions of his hits and two studio recordings, “This Old House” and “No One Here For me” – songs that were originally written for his 1989 debut album, Killin’ Time. “This Old House” pays tribute to country music’s home, the Grand Ole Opry. The song features a host of guest powerhouse performers who are no strangers to the Opry, including Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Cody Jinks, Sara Evans, Michael Ray, Darius Rucker, Travis Tritt, and Steve Wariner.

Pictured (L-R): Ted Ellis, Mike Meade, Amy Aylward, Chuck Rhodes, Tom Cross, Wayne Halper. Not pictured: Bob Frank, Chuck McDowell III

Longtime music industry execs Chuck Rhodes, Mike Meade, Amy Aylward and Wayne Halper, along with Bob Frank (BFE/Audium Nashville), Ted Ellis and Tom Cross (Creator Ventures CO, LTD.) and Chuck McDowell III (Wesley Financial Group) have launched Fusion Entertainment Company (FUSENTCO) in Nashville. The new company will operate as a booking agency and will offer management and label services to select clients. Additional company staffers include Tayler Bock and Joan Saltel.

“I have known and worked with Mike Meade and Amy Aylward for many years,” says Rhodes. “When the opportunity arose to merge their booking agency Acceleration Music Group into our Fusion launch, I jumped at the chance.”

Meade and Aylward had been operating Acceleration Music Group (AMG) following their departure from Buddy Lee Attractions in 2018. The initial artist roster for booking will include Darryl Worley, Ty Herndon, John Schneider, Michelle Wright, Danielle Peck, country duo Smith & Wesley, Billy Gilman, Brody Ray, Trent Tomlinson, Keith Anderson and Jason Michael Carroll. Additional artists will be announced soon. The management division of FUSENTCO launches with Grammy-nominated guitarist Denny Jiosa.

Rhodes will serve as Executive Vice President/General Manager and oversee day-to-day operations along with Vice Presidents/Agents Meade and Aylward. Halper, who brings his extensive record label and legal experience to the organization, will handle legal affairs and business development.

“We had an incredible year with AMG in 2019 and are looking forward to the future with this new venture, Fusion Entertainment Company,” says Meade. “Our long history with this team in other facets of the industry and the relationships we all share with our clients and friends will prove to be the perfect merger.”

“Mike and I would like to thank Darryl Worley, Ty Herndon and Michelle Wright who initially showed faith and encouraged us to start AMG,” adds Aylward. “We are looking forward to continuing to grow with them and the talented additions to our roster.”

Frank, Founder and CEO of BFE and Chairman/Co-Founder of Fusion, notes, “Chuck Rhodes and I have been discussing this opportunity for a long time now. We work with so many artists who we feel are underserved in this space. Fusion will now super-serve these same artists, and we are thrilled to be able to put together such an experienced team.”