Holly Zabka
Holly Zabka has been promoted to Sr. Vice President at Essential Music Publishing. Zabka was previously Vice President of Publishing at the company.
Zabka was the first executive hired to run the publishing company in 2008 as Sr. Director of Publishing, and was promoted to VP in 2013. Since the inception of the company 12 years ago, Zabka and her EMP team have more than 15,000 copyrights and over 60 No. 1 songs, including “You Say” by Lauren Daigle, which also went No. 1 on the Mainstream Adult Contemporary Top 40 Chart, Cory Asbury’s “Reckless Love,” Zach Williams’ “Chain Breaker,” “Only Jesus” by Casting Crowns, and “Known” by Tauren Wells, among many others.
Additionally, through Zabka’s leadership, Provident’s Publishing division has received four GMA Dove Awards for Song of the Year (“You Say,” “Reckless Love,” “By Your Side,” and “Give Me Your Eyes”), was named 2019 BMI Publisher of the Year, and is a four-time SESAC Publisher of the Year. Under Zabka’s direction EMP has been responsible for signing and partnering with songwriters such as Jason Ingram, Matt Maher, Jonathan Smith, Ethan Hulse, Mia Fieldes, Ran Jackson, and Bryan Fowler, to name a few, and have also signed and represented Provident Label Group artist songwriters including Zach Williams, Tauren Wells, Matt Maher, I AM THEY, Elle Limebear, Vertical Worship, Rhett Walker, and more.
The publishing company is also behind many of today’s country hits, and to date has four No.1’s, three of which were written by Casey Brown for Russell Dickerson: “Every Little Thing,” “Blue Tacoma,” and “Yours.” EMP has also published “Flatliner,” written by Matt Brownleewe and recorded by Cole Swindell and Dierks Bentley.
“I am pleased to announce that Holly Zabka has been promoted to Sr. Vice President, Essential Music Publishing,” said Terry Hemmings, President and CEO, Provident Music Group. “In her 10 plus years with us, she has grown our publishing business into a globally impactful entity. Our roster and catalogue represent the very best in our industry. Holly’s role in shepherding the writers and songs necessary to bring us to this position is clear and the contribution to our business is evident in the results. Additionally, since joining our Sr. Leadership Team, she has added valuable insights and ideas, which have contributed to growing the overall business of Provident Entertainment Group. Please join me in congratulating Holly on this significant and well-deserved achievement!”
Signings: Clay Walker, Sarah Buchanan, Travis Tritt
/by Jessica NicholsonClay Walker Signs With TKO Artist Management
Clay Walker has signed with TKO Artist Management and is prepping for the digital release of his 2003 album A Few Questions on March 27. TKO Artist Management represents The Bacon Brothers, Glen Campbell, Colt Ford, Krystal Keith, Toby Keith, Chris LeDoux, Ned LeDoux, Mac McAnally and Waterloo Revival.
Sony/Provident Signs Sarah Buchanan
Top Row (L-R): Jeff Cruz, Jamie Rodgers, Holly Zabka, Jason Frizzell, Josh Pauley, Kauland Buchanan, Nathanael Kotras, Bottom Row (L-R): Sony/Provident CEO Terry Hemmings, Sarah Buchanan
Sarah Buchanan has signed a recording contract with Sony/Provident, and a publishing agreement with Essential Worship. Buchanan, who leads worship at Nashville’s Church of the City-Sylvan Park, is set to release music later this year and launch a tour in early 2021.
“There have never been truer words to describe how I feel – this means the world to me. I feel incredibly validated and affirmed in what I have felt my heart pulling me towards for several years. It is overwhelming to look around and see so many new faces in my corner that have quickly become like family to me,” Buchanan said. “I am incredibly at peace and feel a new sense of responsibility to steward this new platform as best I can – that is not lost on me. There is no manual on how to navigate the thing that you have been working towards for what feels like forever, which is a weird reality for me now. I am beyond honored to be joining the Provident team and working alongside people I have admired from afar for so long – seriously, someone pinch me.”
Travis Tritt Signs With Big Noise Music Group
Pictured (L-R): Adam Muhlbaum (Big Noise Music Group, Sr. VP of Marketing and Project Management), Mike “Cheez” Brown (Travis Tritt’s Manager), Jon Cohen (Big Noise Music Group, President), Travis Tritt, Nick Gross (Big Noise Music Group, CEO)
Travis Tritt has signed with Los Angeles-based label Big Noise Music Group and is set to release a new full-length album later this year. The project, which is being produced by Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, The Highwomen, Sturgill Simpson), will mark Tritt’s first album release in more than 12 years.
Walker Hayes, Teddy Robb, Brandon Ratcliff Revive Triple Play Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughWalker Hayes, Teddy Robb, and Brandon Ratcliff are taking a page from the playbook of ’90s country and hitting the road together on the Triple Play Tour presented by Monument Records. The tour will be visiting major markets across the U.S., kicking off on April 9 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and running through May 16 in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Inspired by the original Triple Play tour that launched the careers of Shania Twain and Toby Keith, Hayes, Ratcliff, and Robb will all be releasing new singles into the marketplace throughout the run and sharing one bus and one band. The trio will be fully investing in these cities with press, radio, college and brand events in addition to the marketplace shows.
Hayes has kept fans and audiences across the globe captivated since the release of his debut album boom., which included the Platinum hit “You Broke Up With Me.” After selling out clubs across the country last year on his Dream On It Tour, and releasing his latest EP, 8Tracks, Vol. 3: Black Sheep, Hayes’ songs have been streamed nearly half a billion times. He has new music set for release this month.
Ratcliff burst onto the scene with his debut single, “Rules Of Breaking Up,” accumulating over 50 million streams. After hitting the road with Kelsea Ballerini and Brett Young, and opening dates for Keith Urban, Ratcliff was selected as a Pandora Ones to Watch artist and topped Rolling Stone’s all-genre Breakthrough Artists chart last summer. On his latest project, Uncovered, Ratcliff digs into his musical influences, releasing covers of Fleetwood Mac’s “Rhiannon,” Stevie Wonder’s “Livin’ For The City,” and Alison Krauss’ “Forget About It.”
Robb released his debut track “Really Shouldn’t Drink Around You” in 2019. Since then, his music has accumulated over 80 million worldwide streams, and he’s played festivals across the country and performed to national audiences. New music will be announced in the coming weeks.
Mercury’s Triple Play Sampler: Three Home-Run Artists was released in 1993, featuring John Brannen, Toby Keith and Shania Twain.
BREAKING: Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo Ordered To Close Remainder Of Festival
/by Jessica NicholsonThe City of Houston and the Houston Health Department have ordered the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to close the remainder of the festival, and the festival’s organizers have announced they will comply with the city’s order. The grounds will close at 4 p.m. today.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo launched March 3, and was slated to run through March 22. Among the artists that had been slated to make upcoming appearances through March 22 include Kane Brown, Cody Johnson, Lizzo, Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, Gwen Stefani, Khalid, Chris Stapleton, Marshmellow and Luke Bryan.
“The Rodeo is deeply saddened; however, the safety and well-being of our guests and our community is our top priority. Out of precaution, the City has decided that this is the best course of action for our community,” the festival’s organizers said via a statement. Organizers are working on a plan to refund tickets to attendees.
“The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has been a fabric of this community since 1932. Having to close early is extremely difficult as guests, volunteers, exhibitors, rodeo athletes and entertainers look forward to the 20 days of the Rodeo each year. We look forward to the 2021 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to continue to promote agriculture, education, entertainment and Western heritage. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.”
ACM Awards Are On: The Academy of Country Music To Hold Awards Show Despite Coronavirus Concerns
/by Jessica NicholsonAs cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus continue to rise across the United States, leading festivals and other music events to postpone or cancel shows, the Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions plan to move forward with the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards show, which is set for April 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“We are closely monitoring the situation along with the MGM team, who are in continuous contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Southern Nevada Health District, and other agencies and experts for guidance. We will take every precaution to ensure the safety of our artists, staff, crew, guests and attendees,” the organization said via a statement.
The ACM today announced its first round of performers, with a lineup that includes this year’s ACM Awards host Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert. Lambert will perform alongside Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars tourmates Lindsay Ell, Caylee Hammack, Elle King, Ashley McBryde and Tenille Townes for their live television premiere performance of their Music Event of the Year-nominated song “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.
In recent weeks, Nashville-based songwriter festival Tin Pan South announced it will postpone the festival until the summer, while Austin’s massive SXSW festival announced its cancellation. Coachella and its country music-focused counterpart Stagecoach have both been postponed until October.
To date, there have been more than 120,000 confirmed cases of the virus globally, including more than 1,000 in the United States.
Round Hill Music Nashville Promotes Four
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (clockwise, from top left): Emily Corter, Steve Nalbert,
Robbie English, and Kevin Thompson.
Round Hill Music Nashville has promoted four employees within the Sync Licensing, Creative Licensing, and Royalty Services departments. Steve Nalbert has been elevated from Senior Director of Sync & Creative Licensing to Head of Creative Licensing. Kevin Thompson was promoted from Director of Sync Licensing to Senior Director, Emily Corter was promoted from Senior Coordinator of Royalty Services to Manager, and Robbie English was promoted from Senior Coordinator of Sync Licensing to Manager.
Holly Zabka Rises To Sr. VP At Essential Music Publishing
/by Lorie HollabaughHolly Zabka
Holly Zabka has been promoted to Sr. Vice President at Essential Music Publishing. Zabka was previously Vice President of Publishing at the company.
Zabka was the first executive hired to run the publishing company in 2008 as Sr. Director of Publishing, and was promoted to VP in 2013. Since the inception of the company 12 years ago, Zabka and her EMP team have more than 15,000 copyrights and over 60 No. 1 songs, including “You Say” by Lauren Daigle, which also went No. 1 on the Mainstream Adult Contemporary Top 40 Chart, Cory Asbury’s “Reckless Love,” Zach Williams’ “Chain Breaker,” “Only Jesus” by Casting Crowns, and “Known” by Tauren Wells, among many others.
Additionally, through Zabka’s leadership, Provident’s Publishing division has received four GMA Dove Awards for Song of the Year (“You Say,” “Reckless Love,” “By Your Side,” and “Give Me Your Eyes”), was named 2019 BMI Publisher of the Year, and is a four-time SESAC Publisher of the Year. Under Zabka’s direction EMP has been responsible for signing and partnering with songwriters such as Jason Ingram, Matt Maher, Jonathan Smith, Ethan Hulse, Mia Fieldes, Ran Jackson, and Bryan Fowler, to name a few, and have also signed and represented Provident Label Group artist songwriters including Zach Williams, Tauren Wells, Matt Maher, I AM THEY, Elle Limebear, Vertical Worship, Rhett Walker, and more.
The publishing company is also behind many of today’s country hits, and to date has four No.1’s, three of which were written by Casey Brown for Russell Dickerson: “Every Little Thing,” “Blue Tacoma,” and “Yours.” EMP has also published “Flatliner,” written by Matt Brownleewe and recorded by Cole Swindell and Dierks Bentley.
“I am pleased to announce that Holly Zabka has been promoted to Sr. Vice President, Essential Music Publishing,” said Terry Hemmings, President and CEO, Provident Music Group. “In her 10 plus years with us, she has grown our publishing business into a globally impactful entity. Our roster and catalogue represent the very best in our industry. Holly’s role in shepherding the writers and songs necessary to bring us to this position is clear and the contribution to our business is evident in the results. Additionally, since joining our Sr. Leadership Team, she has added valuable insights and ideas, which have contributed to growing the overall business of Provident Entertainment Group. Please join me in congratulating Holly on this significant and well-deserved achievement!”
New Album From Margo Price Coming In May
/by Lorie HollabaughPrice primarily cut That’s How Rumors Get Started at Los Angeles’ EastWest Studios, and tracking occurred over several days while she was pregnant with daughter Ramona. “They’re both a creation process,” she says. “And I was being really good to my body and my mind during that time. I had a lot of clarity from sobriety.”
Price shared a video for her new single “Twinkle Twinkle,” directed by Matthew Siskin that was inspired by a candid, backstage conversation with Marty Stuart about the tough truths of touring and the illusory nature of success. She’ll perform songs from the new project at dozens of shows with Chris Stapleton and The Head & The Heart this Spring and Summer, in addition to festival appearances and more shows to be announced soon.
The album follows Price’s 2017 project All American Made, which landed on several best-of lists, and led to Price’s first Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, as well as three sold-out headlining shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Margo also released the 2016 album Midwest Farmer’s Daughter, which earned her a spot on Saturday Night Live, and followed with the EP Weakness in July 2017.
BREAKING: Coachella And Stagecoach Officially Postponed
/by Sherod RobertsonAt the direction of the County of Riverside and local health authorities, Coachella and Stagecoach have been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns, according to their statement to media.
Coachella will now take place on October 9, 10 and 11 and October 16, 17 and 18, 2020. Stagecoach will take place on October 23, 24 and 25, 2020. All purchases for the April dates will be honored for the rescheduled October dates. Purchasers will be notified by Friday, March 13 on how to obtain a refund if they are unable to attend.
Zac Brown Band Postpones Spring Tour Due To Coronavirus Concerns
/by Jessica NicholsonZac Brown Band has become the latest group to postpone shows due to the rising number of cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) cropping up across the country. The group is postponing the Spring leg of its The Owl Tour, including the Spring tour’s concluding date on April 25 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
The tour was set to begin Feb. 28 at TaxSlayer Center in Moline, Illinois, and was to promote their latest album, The Owl, which released Sept. 20, 2019.
The band issued a statement on Twitter on March 10, stating:
According to Johns Hopkins University and Medicine, as of March 10, 2020, there were 959 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States, and 28 deaths from the virus.
Nashville Tornado Relief Efforts From ACM Lifting Lives, The Onsite Foundation, Iron Mountain
/by Jessica NicholsonSeveral organizations throughout Nashville and the country are working to offer relief to those affected by last week’s tornado outbreaks across Middle Tennessee.
ACM Lifting Lives, via the Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund, has earmarked $100,000 to respond directly to individuals who have been impacted by the devastating tornadoes that hit the Greater Nashville area. This fund responds quickly to unforeseen, immediate financial/medical/personal needs of members or organizations of the music community who face unexpected hardships.
If you are part of the music community and are interested in applying for an immediate grant from ACM Lifting Lives, please go to acmliftinglives.org or email: liftinglives@acmcountry.com.
The Onsite Foundation has organized an effort of independent and licensed therapists to support Middle Tennessee residents who experienced the unexpected loss of homes, businesses, and human life.
Those in need of crisis support or Grief Counseling can text 615-323-3191 to be connected to a licensed therapist in your community to schedule an appointment. Therapists are on a first come, first-serve basis. Services and support will be available until May 1, 2020. Up to three sessions per individual will be provided. The number of sessions needed will be determined by the referred therapist based on independent evaluation and assessed needs. All therapists are independent, licensed therapists and are not employed by The Onsite Foundation. The Onsite Foundation is not responsible for the services rendered.
Iron Mountain Incorporated’s Entertainment Services Division, which is skilled in entertainment content and asset preservation, is coordinating a relief effort to help those affected by the recent tornadoes in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
IMES is offering to conduct free appraisals of media assets, such as audio or video master recordings, that were damaged in the March 3 tornadoes. If these appraisals are used for insurance purposes, once the claims have been processed, IMES can help coordinate and provide any remediation or restoration services necessary in its L.A. and New Jersey studio facilities. Additionally, IMES is offering free storage at its Nashville facility for up to 60 days for studio equipment, musical instruments, or media that have been displaced by the storms, while cleanup takes place.
Also, for anyone who has sustained damage to their fine art, IMES will work with its Crozier Fine Arts division to help access damage and offer advice on insurance claims, restoration, etc. The Crozier Fine Arts division is a storage, logistics and transportation firm for high-value paintings, photographs and other types of art belonging to individual collectors, galleries and art museums.
For further information, or to speak to someone about storage, restoration or insurance claims, contact Brian Towle, IMES Sales Director, NA, and Global Head of Operations, brian.towle@ironmountain.com or at 908-251-7239.