Pictured (L-R): Jason Fletcher (Tour Manager for Gareth), Ciara Newell-Bailey (Sr. Dir., Creative at BMG), Gareth and Cassie Mcilroy (Sr. VP, Investments and Business Development)
Northern Ireland-born singer-songwriter Gareth has signed a publishing deal with BMG.
Born and raised in Castlederg, Northern Ireland, Gareth blends his Irish roots with a love for country music and storytelling. He got his start playing in local pubs, and his breakthrough came in 2024 with a viral cover of “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan, which amassed over 25 million views and 15 million streams.
Gareth
The buzz from that cover led to his projects Covers (From Across the Pond) and his debut original EP Changing Seasons, which together have garnered over 25 million streams and significant airplay on stations such as SiriusXM’s The Highway and Absolute Country Radio. His rise has also seen him share stages with Brett Young and The 502s, while earning him a loyal fanbase.
“We are delighted to welcome Gareth to BMG,” says Ciara Newell-Bailey, Senior Director, Creative (Publishing) BMG. “His deep love for music, his roots, and his hometown shines through in his writing style. Writing from the heart, his lyrics resonate with honesty and emotion, all complemented by his stunning and beautiful voice. Gareth’s talents know no bounds, and we are thrilled to be part of his creative team and to support him on his musical journey.”
Walk Off Entertainment’s Chris Ruediger adds, “We are very excited to work with BMG. They are fervent believers in Gareth’s craft and understand his desire to blend his Irish roots with country storytelling. We are fortunate to have BMG in our corner to champion Gareth’s songwriting and artistry.”
“I feel very fortunate to be in such great hands at BMG,” says Gareth. “They see my vision as a songwriter and artist and I am ready to get to work!”
Gareth’s latest single, “Last Thing I Do,” is due out Jan. 17 via Walk Off Entertainment. The track is a heartfelt ode to staying grounded while chasing dreams, a theme that resonates deeply with Gareth’s own journey.
“I wrote this song as it relates to my recent move from Northern Ireland to Nashville,” he shares. “The song mentions that no matter where you travel or what dreams you chase, you will never forget those that are closest to you. Somehow you will always find your way back to the ones you love.”
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Gareth.png9931136Lorie Hollabaughhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLorie Hollabaugh2025-01-14 15:29:082025-01-14 15:29:08Global Country Artist Gareth Inks With BMG
Jason Isbell will release his first entirely solo acoustic album, Foxes in the Snow, March 7 via his own Southeastern Records. The first single from the project, “Bury Me” is out now.
Foxes in the Snow was recorded in New York City at the Electric Lady Studios in October. Recorded entirely on the same all-mahogany 1940 Martin 0-17 acoustic guitar in the span of just five days, the album marks Isbell’s first new music since 2023’s Weathervanes. It was written completely by Isbell alone.
The album announcement follows news of a solo US tour. “An Intimate Evening With Jason Isbell” kicks off on Feb. 15 in Chicago
Isbell recently added actor to his skillset with his performance opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon. He will next be seen in RZA’s upcoming One Spoon Of Chocolate.
Foxes in the Snow Track List:
1. “Bury Me” (Jason Isbell)
2. “Ride to Robert’s” (Jason Isbell)
3. “Eileen” (Jason Isbell)
4. “Gravelweed” (Jason Isbell)
5. “Don’t Be Tough” (Jason Isbell)
6. “Open and Close” (Jason Isbell)
7. “Foxes in the Snow” (Jason Isbell)
8. “Crimson and Clay” (Jason Isbell)
9. “Good While It Lasted” (Jason Isbell)
10. “True Believer” (Jason Isbell)
11. “Wind Behind the Rain” (Jason Isbell)
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jason-Isbell.jpg15002250Lorie Hollabaughhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLorie Hollabaugh2025-01-14 14:53:302025-01-14 14:53:30Jason Isbell’s First Solo Acoustic Project ‘Foxes In The Snow’ Due In March
Veteran music agent Lance Roberts has joined WME as a Partner in the company’s country division. Based in Nashville, Roberts brings with him clients including Chris Janson, Craig Morgan, Easton Corbin, Ian Munsick, Parmalee and Sammy Kershaw.
With over 30 years of career experience, Roberts joins WME after nearly a decade at UTA.
“Lance is known in our industry as an agent with a keen eye for talent and a commitment to nurturing and growing artists’ careers,” says WME Co-Head of the Nashville Office, Joey Lee. “We are excited to have his expertise at WME.”
“Most of us have known and respected Lance’s work for many years and are thrilled he is joining our team,” adds Jay Williams and Becky Gardenhire, Co-Heads of Nashville Office. “He’s creative, strategic, and passionate and his knowledge will benefit all of our artists.”
Roberts began his career in 1992 at the Bobby Roberts Company, where he worked alongside Country Music Hall of Fame members John Anderson, Merle Haggard, Ray Price and Waylon Jennings. He moved to UTA when the agency acquired the Bobby Roberts Company in 2014.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to join the amazing team at WME. They have been extremely supportive of this next chapter in my career, and I am looking forward to working with the most talented agents in our industry,” Roberts shares.
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Lance-Roberts-FT.jpeg11971323LB Cantrellhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLB Cantrell2025-01-14 14:00:052025-01-14 14:15:24BREAKING: Lance Roberts Joins WME As A Partner
Sally D’Avanzo. Photo: Courtesy of Farris, Self & Moore
Business management firm Farris, Self & Moore has promoted longtime employee Sally D’Avanzo from Client Manager to Associate Business Manager.
D’Avanzo has been with FSM from the beginning, starting out as an office administrator just out of college. An Atlanta native, she graduated from The University of Georgia in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Risk Management and a certificate in Music Business. While at UGA, she interned for New West Records, Widespread Panic’s Management and Baby Robot Media. D’Avanzo can be reached at sally@fsmnash.com.
“Sally has been an asset to our team at FSM since day one, and her drive, knowledge and care for our clients and staff has helped elevate her to Associate Business Manager in 2025,” says Catherine Moore, Partner. “Sally encompasses the FSM values of all in, boutique, authentic and innovative and she continues to exude those values whether it’s working with clients or mentoring staff. I am excited to see where this year takes our team as she steps into this new role!”
Farris, Self & Moore is also celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year.
“Ten years ago, we opened our doors not knowing what was ahead,” says Partner Stephanie Self of the anniversary. “We set our mission statement: To be a boutique business management and financial planning company that provides the highest level of service to songwriters and entertainers. Our core values: Family/Boutique (anything but corporate, to have a style of our own); Innovative (constant but never standing still); Authentic (delivering what we promise); All In (determined advocates). And ten years in, those statements could not be more true. We have an outstanding team that works tirelessly and with endless integrity for our clients, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for FSM.”
Opry Entertainment Group (OEG), a division of Ryman Hospitality Properties, has acquired a majority stake in Southern Entertainment, a live events, hospitality and production company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Southern Entertainment’s portfolio includes several owned or promoted festivals, such as the Carolina Country Music Fest, Barefoot Country Music Fest, Lovin’ Life Music Fest, Greenville Country Music Fest, and the upcoming Field & Stream Outdoor Music Fest, set to debut in 2025.
“In just 10 years, the Southern Entertainment team has grown their business into one of the strongest independent festival businesses in the United States,” shares Patrick Moore, OEG CEO. “With this investment, we are entering a dynamic and growing sector of the events business with seasoned operators who share our passion for creating unforgettable experiences for artists and fans. This investment will allow us to expand our reach to a large and loyal fan base that is complementary to our current audience.”
Bob Durkin and Rob Pedlow, who co-founded Southern Entertainment in 2015, will remain at the helm of the company.
“Joining forces with OEG will add immediate value to our existing events and allow us to accelerate our plans to bring festivals to new markets,” add Durkin and Pedlow. “We are confident our fans, the artists who play our stages and the cities where we operate will benefit from our alliance with such an iconic name in country music.”
Southern Entertainment will incorporate OEG’s artist development initiatives into its country music festivals, which have featured numerous Opry members and Opry NextStage artists in recent years. The two teams also plan to create additional artist-focused experiences in the coming years.
“We view festivals as a tremendous opportunity to deepen our commitment to artists at all phases of their careers,” Moore continues. “And we especially look forward to joining forces with Southern Entertainment to bring even more of the up-and-coming artists who play our stages to their large-scale events.”
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Untitled-10.png10801080Madison Hahnenhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngMadison Hahnen2025-01-14 12:51:402025-01-14 12:51:40Opry Entertainment Group Acquires Majority Interest In Southern Entertainment
Pictured (L–R, back row): Bridget Buchholz, Lauren Klein, Alexis Donn, Rachel Mangan and Jessica Hamorsky; (L–R, front row): Annissa Allen-Gore, Kelsey Roche, Mackenzie Adkins, Megan Astri and Beka Bishop
The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) has announced its 2025 Board of Directors, Board of Officers and new members.
The WMBA Board of Directors focuses on governance and long-term strategy for the organization. This year’s Board of Directors will be led by Chairwoman Amery Fridenstine (Above Board Consulting), Sheree Spoltore (Global Songwriters Connection), Jensen Sussman (Sweet Talk Publicity) and Christy Walker-Watkins (AristoPR). Brandi Simms (MooTV/Moo Creative/The Steel Mill) will continue as Board of Directors Emeritus, and Lauren Spahn (Buchalter) will serve as Legal Counsel.
Tasked with implementing the strategies and ensuring efficient day-to-day operations, the Board of Officers is elected by WMBA members and reports to the Board of Directors. The 2025 Officers consist of President Mackenzie Adkins (Rhonda & Co.), Vice President Megan Astri (Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Secretary Rachel Mangan (Lewis Brisbois), Treasurer Kelsey Roche (FBMM), Events & Education Co-Chairs Beka Bishop and Bridget Buchholz, Marketing Co-Chairs Lauren Klein and Alexis Donn, Membership Chair Jessica Hamorsky, and Community Outreach Co-Chairs Annissa Allen-Gore and Lucki Price.
This year’s class of new members includes Alexa Pressman (Stage Right Capital), Alexes Aiken (Westwood One), Alyssa Murphy (FBMM), Alyssa Ramsey (Play It Again Music), Anastasia Elliot (Anastasia Music, LLC), Ania Diallo (Recording Academy), Anna Filipic (FBMM), Anna Scott (Walk Off Entertainment), Annabella Gelmetti (Nashville Symphony/Graphite Publishing), Annie Scherer (Warner Music Group), Ashley Dax (iHeartRadio/The Grand Ole Opry), Cameron Rowe (Q Prime), Candace Fox (Journey Risk True), Cicely McDowell (Level Group Ltd.), Courtney A. Taylor (237 Global/One More Time VIP), Delaney Loughran (Academy of Country Music), Dezha Sexton, Donna Duncan (CMT/Paramount), Emma Gibby (Outback Presents), Erin Moorman (Syntax Creative), Eryn Cooper (Opry Entertainment Group/WSM Radio), Heather Howard (Academy of Country Music), Heather Rowntree (Northstar Artists), Heather Vaughn (FBMM), Jada Star Roberts (Dolly Parton Enterprises), Jada Wilson (Warner Music Nashville), Jessica Bloom (Warner Music Group), Jessica Mayts (Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Jordyn Newma (FBMM), Kate Cheyne (FBMM), Katie Neal (Audacy), Kayla Ott (The MLC), Kirstie Kraus (Kraus House of Entertainment), Kyra Tillotson (Fort Nash/Walk Off Entertainment), Leigh Cara (Venture Music), Liz Mayo (The MLC), Megan Schultz (Riser House Entertainment), Melissa Goldberg (CMT), Olivia Dahlstrom (WHY&HOW), Rachel Glidden (Courage Music), Rae Leigh (Rae Leigh Music/Songwriter Trysts), Rhiannon Ferronetti (WHY&HOW), Sam Bogle (Red Phoenix Events/Cam Bogle Management), Samantha DeSpirito (BMG), Sarah Irwin (Outback Presents), Shana Melissa Saunders (UMG Nashville), Shannon Lawrence (Warner Music Group), Shelby Landry (Outback Presents), Tatia Rose (RMG Inc./Nashville Music Academy) and Tess Schoonhoven (Venture Music).
WMBA’s first membership meeting of 2025 will take place next week at the Academy of Country Music headquarters.
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/WMBABOO2025.jpg598844Liza Andersonhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLiza Anderson2025-01-14 10:49:242025-01-15 16:07:14Women’s Music Business Association Announces 2025 Boards & Members
The lineup has been announced for the upcoming “iHeartCountry Festival Presented by Capital One,” set for May 3 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
The 12th annual festival will feature performances by Brooks & Dunn, Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts, Sam Hunt, Megan Moroney, Bailey Zimmerman and Nate Smith, and is once again hosted by iHeartMedia’s nationally syndicated top on-air country personality, Bobby Bones.
“We are so excited about this year’s lineup and bringing these artists to fans all in one night at Moody Center in Austin,” says Rod Phillips, Executive Vice President of Programming for iHeartCountry. “It’s a thrill every year to watch so much great music come to life on one big iHeartCountry stage.”
Eligible Capital One cardholders get exclusive access to presale tickets before the general public beginning Jan. 21-23, and pre-sale information and tickets can be found at iHeartRadio.com/CapitalOne. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Jan. 24 at via Ticketmaster.com.
Hulu will be the official streaming destination of the festival, with performances livestreamed exclusively to all Hulu subscribers. The event will also broadcast across iHeartCountry stations nationwide and the iHeartRadio app on May 3 at 7 p.m. CT.
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/iheartcountry-ft.png10801080Lorie Hollabaughhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLorie Hollabaugh2025-01-14 10:26:452025-01-14 10:27:36Thomas Rhett, Megan Moroney & Sam Hunt Among iHeartCountry Festival Lineup Performers
Soundstripe, the music licensing technology company, has appointed Jeff Perkins as the company’s new CEO.
Current Co-CEO and co-founder Travis Terrell will transition into the role of President. He will focus on further strengthening Soundstripe’s music business and leading its business development team to secure rightsholder and other strategic partnerships. Co-founder and Co-CEO Micah Sannan will shift to an advisory role, supporting Perkins, while co-founder Trevor Hinesley will remain CTO.
Perkins joins the company with a background in marketing and experience in the New York ad industry at notable agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi and Havas. He has led several companies to profitable growth, most recently as CEO of ParkMobile, where he helped increase revenue by more than 230% during his tenure.
Soundstripe now serves over 1,000 enterprise companies and more than one million individual content creators. Designed specifically for use in sync, its curated catalog now features over 15,000 songs selected to meet the unique needs of filmmakers, marketers and creators across a wide range of projects. The company recently launched its AI-powered Song Editing tool, which empowers creators to customize tracks for their projects. Additionally, Soundstripe reached a milestone of $13.2 million in all-time payouts to artists.
Perkins joins as Soundstripe prepares to launch an innovative new click-to-license music solution later this year.
“As co-founders, we are thrilled to welcome Jeff to our team,” says Terrell, co-founder of Soundstripe. “He has proven himself a highly effective leader with experience scaling businesses that cater to both large enterprises and individual users. We know Jeff is the right person at the right time to lead Soundstripe into our next stage of growth.”
“I am very excited to join the Soundstripe team,” shares Perkins. “Our founders, Travis, Micah and Trevor, have built an incredible company that combines the highest quality music with an innovative AI-powered platform that solves a major problem in the industry. I look forward to working with this talented team as we continue to expand our business and provide creators with the best music and technology solutions available on the market.”
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jeff-fix-ParkMobile-2878-PRINT-2-1-scaled.jpg20482560LB Cantrellhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLB Cantrell2025-01-14 09:59:052025-01-14 09:59:05Jeff Perkins Joins Soundstripe As CEO
Sam Barber. Photo: Outlaw Foundry; Avery Anna. Photo: John Shearer
Sam Barber and Avery Anna‘s “Indigo” ascends the country streaming songs chart and secures the No. 5 slot with 8.1 million new streams, adding to 43 million ATD, according to Luminate data.
Morgan Wallen‘s “Smile” scores the top spot with 21 million streams, adding to 33 million ATD, as Shaboozey‘s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” scoots down to No. 2 with 13.4 million new streams, adding to 1.02 billion ATD. Post Malone and Wallen’s “I Had Some Help,” moves to No. 3 with 13 million streams, adding to 897 million ATD, while Wallen’s “Love Somebody” falls to No. 4 with 12 million new streams, adding to 179 million ATD.
On the country albums chart, Wallen’s One Thing At A Time holds No. 1 with 40K in total consumption (1K album only/51 million song streams), as his Dangerous: The Double Album takes No. 2 with 28K (372 album only/36 million song streams). Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion backs up to No. 3 with 27K (1.3K album only/32 million song streams), followed by Jelly Roll‘s Beautifully Broken at No. 4 with 21K (3.6K album only/22 million song streams). Zach Bryan‘s American Heartbreak climbs to No. 5 with 18K (925 album only/23 million song streams).
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Sam-Barber-Avery-Anna-2.png600600Liza Andersonhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLiza Anderson2025-01-14 09:48:362025-01-14 09:48:36Weekly Register: Sam Barber & Avery Anna Infiltrate Top Five On Country Songs Chart
Wyatt Flores will continue his “Welcome Back To The Plains Tour” through the spring.
The tour will include stops in St. Petersburg, Memphis, New Orleans, Charlottesville, St. Louis and more. Tickets for the new dates will be available for pre-sale starting today (Jan. 14) at with general on-sale following Friday (Jan. 17).
The upcoming shows add to a breakout year for Flores, who released his full-length debut album, Welcome to the Plains, this past fall and was recently featured as part of NPR Music’s “Tiny Desk Concert” series, made his late-night TV debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, performed on CBS Saturday Morning last month and spoke with NPR’s “All Things Considered.” The burgeoning artist has garnered over 325 million streams to date.
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/wyatt_flores3.jpeg10001500Lorie Hollabaughhttps://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.pngLorie Hollabaugh2025-01-14 09:46:492025-01-14 09:46:49Wyatt Flores Confirms Spring ‘Welcome Back To The Plains Tour’ Dates
Global Country Artist Gareth Inks With BMG
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Jason Fletcher (Tour Manager for Gareth), Ciara Newell-Bailey (Sr. Dir., Creative at BMG), Gareth and Cassie Mcilroy (Sr. VP, Investments and Business Development)
Northern Ireland-born singer-songwriter Gareth has signed a publishing deal with BMG.
Born and raised in Castlederg, Northern Ireland, Gareth blends his Irish roots with a love for country music and storytelling. He got his start playing in local pubs, and his breakthrough came in 2024 with a viral cover of “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan, which amassed over 25 million views and 15 million streams.
Gareth
The buzz from that cover led to his projects Covers (From Across the Pond) and his debut original EP Changing Seasons, which together have garnered over 25 million streams and significant airplay on stations such as SiriusXM’s The Highway and Absolute Country Radio. His rise has also seen him share stages with Brett Young and The 502s, while earning him a loyal fanbase.
“We are delighted to welcome Gareth to BMG,” says Ciara Newell-Bailey, Senior Director, Creative (Publishing) BMG. “His deep love for music, his roots, and his hometown shines through in his writing style. Writing from the heart, his lyrics resonate with honesty and emotion, all complemented by his stunning and beautiful voice. Gareth’s talents know no bounds, and we are thrilled to be part of his creative team and to support him on his musical journey.”
Walk Off Entertainment’s Chris Ruediger adds, “We are very excited to work with BMG. They are fervent believers in Gareth’s craft and understand his desire to blend his Irish roots with country storytelling. We are fortunate to have BMG in our corner to champion Gareth’s songwriting and artistry.”
“I feel very fortunate to be in such great hands at BMG,” says Gareth. “They see my vision as a songwriter and artist and I am ready to get to work!”
Gareth’s latest single, “Last Thing I Do,” is due out Jan. 17 via Walk Off Entertainment. The track is a heartfelt ode to staying grounded while chasing dreams, a theme that resonates deeply with Gareth’s own journey.
“I wrote this song as it relates to my recent move from Northern Ireland to Nashville,” he shares. “The song mentions that no matter where you travel or what dreams you chase, you will never forget those that are closest to you. Somehow you will always find your way back to the ones you love.”
Jason Isbell’s First Solo Acoustic Project ‘Foxes In The Snow’ Due In March
/by Lorie HollabaughJason Isbell. Photo: Christy Bush
Jason Isbell will release his first entirely solo acoustic album, Foxes in the Snow, March 7 via his own Southeastern Records. The first single from the project, “Bury Me” is out now.
Foxes in the Snow was recorded in New York City at the Electric Lady Studios in October. Recorded entirely on the same all-mahogany 1940 Martin 0-17 acoustic guitar in the span of just five days, the album marks Isbell’s first new music since 2023’s Weathervanes. It was written completely by Isbell alone.
The album announcement follows news of a solo US tour. “An Intimate Evening With Jason Isbell” kicks off on Feb. 15 in Chicago
Isbell recently added actor to his skillset with his performance opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon. He will next be seen in RZA’s upcoming One Spoon Of Chocolate.
Foxes in the Snow Track List:
1. “Bury Me” (Jason Isbell)
2. “Ride to Robert’s” (Jason Isbell)
3. “Eileen” (Jason Isbell)
4. “Gravelweed” (Jason Isbell)
5. “Don’t Be Tough” (Jason Isbell)
6. “Open and Close” (Jason Isbell)
7. “Foxes in the Snow” (Jason Isbell)
8. “Crimson and Clay” (Jason Isbell)
9. “Good While It Lasted” (Jason Isbell)
10. “True Believer” (Jason Isbell)
11. “Wind Behind the Rain” (Jason Isbell)
BREAKING: Lance Roberts Joins WME As A Partner
/by LB CantrellLance Roberts. Photo: Kathy Thomas Photography
Veteran music agent Lance Roberts has joined WME as a Partner in the company’s country division. Based in Nashville, Roberts brings with him clients including Chris Janson, Craig Morgan, Easton Corbin, Ian Munsick, Parmalee and Sammy Kershaw.
With over 30 years of career experience, Roberts joins WME after nearly a decade at UTA.
“Lance is known in our industry as an agent with a keen eye for talent and a commitment to nurturing and growing artists’ careers,” says WME Co-Head of the Nashville Office, Joey Lee. “We are excited to have his expertise at WME.”
“Most of us have known and respected Lance’s work for many years and are thrilled he is joining our team,” adds Jay Williams and Becky Gardenhire, Co-Heads of Nashville Office. “He’s creative, strategic, and passionate and his knowledge will benefit all of our artists.”
Roberts began his career in 1992 at the Bobby Roberts Company, where he worked alongside Country Music Hall of Fame members John Anderson, Merle Haggard, Ray Price and Waylon Jennings. He moved to UTA when the agency acquired the Bobby Roberts Company in 2014.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to join the amazing team at WME. They have been extremely supportive of this next chapter in my career, and I am looking forward to working with the most talented agents in our industry,” Roberts shares.
Reach Roberts at LRoberts@WMEAgency.com.
Farris, Self & Moore Promotes Sally D’Avanzo, Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary
/by Lorie HollabaughSally D’Avanzo. Photo: Courtesy of Farris, Self & Moore
Business management firm Farris, Self & Moore has promoted longtime employee Sally D’Avanzo from Client Manager to Associate Business Manager.
D’Avanzo has been with FSM from the beginning, starting out as an office administrator just out of college. An Atlanta native, she graduated from The University of Georgia in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Risk Management and a certificate in Music Business. While at UGA, she interned for New West Records, Widespread Panic’s Management and Baby Robot Media. D’Avanzo can be reached at sally@fsmnash.com.
“Sally has been an asset to our team at FSM since day one, and her drive, knowledge and care for our clients and staff has helped elevate her to Associate Business Manager in 2025,” says Catherine Moore, Partner. “Sally encompasses the FSM values of all in, boutique, authentic and innovative and she continues to exude those values whether it’s working with clients or mentoring staff. I am excited to see where this year takes our team as she steps into this new role!”
Farris, Self & Moore is also celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year.
“Ten years ago, we opened our doors not knowing what was ahead,” says Partner Stephanie Self of the anniversary. “We set our mission statement: To be a boutique business management and financial planning company that provides the highest level of service to songwriters and entertainers. Our core values: Family/Boutique (anything but corporate, to have a style of our own); Innovative (constant but never standing still); Authentic (delivering what we promise); All In (determined advocates). And ten years in, those statements could not be more true. We have an outstanding team that works tirelessly and with endless integrity for our clients, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for FSM.”
Opry Entertainment Group Acquires Majority Interest In Southern Entertainment
/by Madison HahnenOpry Entertainment Group (OEG), a division of Ryman Hospitality Properties, has acquired a majority stake in Southern Entertainment, a live events, hospitality and production company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Southern Entertainment’s portfolio includes several owned or promoted festivals, such as the Carolina Country Music Fest, Barefoot Country Music Fest, Lovin’ Life Music Fest, Greenville Country Music Fest, and the upcoming Field & Stream Outdoor Music Fest, set to debut in 2025.
“In just 10 years, the Southern Entertainment team has grown their business into one of the strongest independent festival businesses in the United States,” shares Patrick Moore, OEG CEO. “With this investment, we are entering a dynamic and growing sector of the events business with seasoned operators who share our passion for creating unforgettable experiences for artists and fans. This investment will allow us to expand our reach to a large and loyal fan base that is complementary to our current audience.”
Bob Durkin and Rob Pedlow, who co-founded Southern Entertainment in 2015, will remain at the helm of the company.
“Joining forces with OEG will add immediate value to our existing events and allow us to accelerate our plans to bring festivals to new markets,” add Durkin and Pedlow. “We are confident our fans, the artists who play our stages and the cities where we operate will benefit from our alliance with such an iconic name in country music.”
Southern Entertainment will incorporate OEG’s artist development initiatives into its country music festivals, which have featured numerous Opry members and Opry NextStage artists in recent years. The two teams also plan to create additional artist-focused experiences in the coming years.
“We view festivals as a tremendous opportunity to deepen our commitment to artists at all phases of their careers,” Moore continues. “And we especially look forward to joining forces with Southern Entertainment to bring even more of the up-and-coming artists who play our stages to their large-scale events.”
Women’s Music Business Association Announces 2025 Boards & Members
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L–R, back row): Bridget Buchholz, Lauren Klein, Alexis Donn, Rachel Mangan and Jessica Hamorsky; (L–R, front row): Annissa Allen-Gore, Kelsey Roche, Mackenzie Adkins, Megan Astri and Beka Bishop
The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) has announced its 2025 Board of Directors, Board of Officers and new members.
The WMBA Board of Directors focuses on governance and long-term strategy for the organization. This year’s Board of Directors will be led by Chairwoman Amery Fridenstine (Above Board Consulting), Sheree Spoltore (Global Songwriters Connection), Jensen Sussman (Sweet Talk Publicity) and Christy Walker-Watkins (AristoPR). Brandi Simms (MooTV/Moo Creative/The Steel Mill) will continue as Board of Directors Emeritus, and Lauren Spahn (Buchalter) will serve as Legal Counsel.
Tasked with implementing the strategies and ensuring efficient day-to-day operations, the Board of Officers is elected by WMBA members and reports to the Board of Directors. The 2025 Officers consist of President Mackenzie Adkins (Rhonda & Co.), Vice President Megan Astri (Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Secretary Rachel Mangan (Lewis Brisbois), Treasurer Kelsey Roche (FBMM), Events & Education Co-Chairs Beka Bishop and Bridget Buchholz, Marketing Co-Chairs Lauren Klein and Alexis Donn, Membership Chair Jessica Hamorsky, and Community Outreach Co-Chairs Annissa Allen-Gore and Lucki Price.
This year’s class of new members includes Alexa Pressman (Stage Right Capital), Alexes Aiken (Westwood One), Alyssa Murphy (FBMM), Alyssa Ramsey (Play It Again Music), Anastasia Elliot (Anastasia Music, LLC), Ania Diallo (Recording Academy), Anna Filipic (FBMM), Anna Scott (Walk Off Entertainment), Annabella Gelmetti (Nashville Symphony/Graphite Publishing), Annie Scherer (Warner Music Group), Ashley Dax (iHeartRadio/The Grand Ole Opry), Cameron Rowe (Q Prime), Candace Fox (Journey Risk True), Cicely McDowell (Level Group Ltd.), Courtney A. Taylor (237 Global/One More Time VIP), Delaney Loughran (Academy of Country Music), Dezha Sexton, Donna Duncan (CMT/Paramount), Emma Gibby (Outback Presents), Erin Moorman (Syntax Creative), Eryn Cooper (Opry Entertainment Group/WSM Radio), Heather Howard (Academy of Country Music), Heather Rowntree (Northstar Artists), Heather Vaughn (FBMM), Jada Star Roberts (Dolly Parton Enterprises), Jada Wilson (Warner Music Nashville), Jessica Bloom (Warner Music Group), Jessica Mayts (Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Jordyn Newma (FBMM), Kate Cheyne (FBMM), Katie Neal (Audacy), Kayla Ott (The MLC), Kirstie Kraus (Kraus House of Entertainment), Kyra Tillotson (Fort Nash/Walk Off Entertainment), Leigh Cara (Venture Music), Liz Mayo (The MLC), Megan Schultz (Riser House Entertainment), Melissa Goldberg (CMT), Olivia Dahlstrom (WHY&HOW), Rachel Glidden (Courage Music), Rae Leigh (Rae Leigh Music/Songwriter Trysts), Rhiannon Ferronetti (WHY&HOW), Sam Bogle (Red Phoenix Events/Cam Bogle Management), Samantha DeSpirito (BMG), Sarah Irwin (Outback Presents), Shana Melissa Saunders (UMG Nashville), Shannon Lawrence (Warner Music Group), Shelby Landry (Outback Presents), Tatia Rose (RMG Inc./Nashville Music Academy) and Tess Schoonhoven (Venture Music).
WMBA’s first membership meeting of 2025 will take place next week at the Academy of Country Music headquarters.
Thomas Rhett, Megan Moroney & Sam Hunt Among iHeartCountry Festival Lineup Performers
/by Lorie HollabaughThomas Rhett, Megan Moroney and Sam Hunt
The lineup has been announced for the upcoming “iHeartCountry Festival Presented by Capital One,” set for May 3 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
The 12th annual festival will feature performances by Brooks & Dunn, Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts, Sam Hunt, Megan Moroney, Bailey Zimmerman and Nate Smith, and is once again hosted by iHeartMedia’s nationally syndicated top on-air country personality, Bobby Bones.
“We are so excited about this year’s lineup and bringing these artists to fans all in one night at Moody Center in Austin,” says Rod Phillips, Executive Vice President of Programming for iHeartCountry. “It’s a thrill every year to watch so much great music come to life on one big iHeartCountry stage.”
Eligible Capital One cardholders get exclusive access to presale tickets before the general public beginning Jan. 21-23, and pre-sale information and tickets can be found at iHeartRadio.com/CapitalOne. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Jan. 24 at via Ticketmaster.com.
Hulu will be the official streaming destination of the festival, with performances livestreamed exclusively to all Hulu subscribers. The event will also broadcast across iHeartCountry stations nationwide and the iHeartRadio app on May 3 at 7 p.m. CT.
Jeff Perkins Joins Soundstripe As CEO
/by LB CantrellJeff Perkins
Soundstripe, the music licensing technology company, has appointed Jeff Perkins as the company’s new CEO.
Current Co-CEO and co-founder Travis Terrell will transition into the role of President. He will focus on further strengthening Soundstripe’s music business and leading its business development team to secure rightsholder and other strategic partnerships. Co-founder and Co-CEO Micah Sannan will shift to an advisory role, supporting Perkins, while co-founder Trevor Hinesley will remain CTO.
Perkins joins the company with a background in marketing and experience in the New York ad industry at notable agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi and Havas. He has led several companies to profitable growth, most recently as CEO of ParkMobile, where he helped increase revenue by more than 230% during his tenure.
Soundstripe now serves over 1,000 enterprise companies and more than one million individual content creators. Designed specifically for use in sync, its curated catalog now features over 15,000 songs selected to meet the unique needs of filmmakers, marketers and creators across a wide range of projects. The company recently launched its AI-powered Song Editing tool, which empowers creators to customize tracks for their projects. Additionally, Soundstripe reached a milestone of $13.2 million in all-time payouts to artists.
Perkins joins as Soundstripe prepares to launch an innovative new click-to-license music solution later this year.
“As co-founders, we are thrilled to welcome Jeff to our team,” says Terrell, co-founder of Soundstripe. “He has proven himself a highly effective leader with experience scaling businesses that cater to both large enterprises and individual users. We know Jeff is the right person at the right time to lead Soundstripe into our next stage of growth.”
“I am very excited to join the Soundstripe team,” shares Perkins. “Our founders, Travis, Micah and Trevor, have built an incredible company that combines the highest quality music with an innovative AI-powered platform that solves a major problem in the industry. I look forward to working with this talented team as we continue to expand our business and provide creators with the best music and technology solutions available on the market.”
Weekly Register: Sam Barber & Avery Anna Infiltrate Top Five On Country Songs Chart
/by Liza AndersonSam Barber. Photo: Outlaw Foundry; Avery Anna. Photo: John Shearer
Sam Barber and Avery Anna‘s “Indigo” ascends the country streaming songs chart and secures the No. 5 slot with 8.1 million new streams, adding to 43 million ATD, according to Luminate data.
Morgan Wallen‘s “Smile” scores the top spot with 21 million streams, adding to 33 million ATD, as Shaboozey‘s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” scoots down to No. 2 with 13.4 million new streams, adding to 1.02 billion ATD. Post Malone and Wallen’s “I Had Some Help,” moves to No. 3 with 13 million streams, adding to 897 million ATD, while Wallen’s “Love Somebody” falls to No. 4 with 12 million new streams, adding to 179 million ATD.
On the country albums chart, Wallen’s One Thing At A Time holds No. 1 with 40K in total consumption (1K album only/51 million song streams), as his Dangerous: The Double Album takes No. 2 with 28K (372 album only/36 million song streams). Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion backs up to No. 3 with 27K (1.3K album only/32 million song streams), followed by Jelly Roll‘s Beautifully Broken at No. 4 with 21K (3.6K album only/22 million song streams). Zach Bryan‘s American Heartbreak climbs to No. 5 with 18K (925 album only/23 million song streams).
Wyatt Flores Confirms Spring ‘Welcome Back To The Plains Tour’ Dates
/by Lorie HollabaughWyatt Flores. Photo: Natalie Rhea
Wyatt Flores will continue his “Welcome Back To The Plains Tour” through the spring.
The tour will include stops in St. Petersburg, Memphis, New Orleans, Charlottesville, St. Louis and more. Tickets for the new dates will be available for pre-sale starting today (Jan. 14) at with general on-sale following Friday (Jan. 17).
The upcoming shows add to a breakout year for Flores, who released his full-length debut album, Welcome to the Plains, this past fall and was recently featured as part of NPR Music’s “Tiny Desk Concert” series, made his late-night TV debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, performed on CBS Saturday Morning last month and spoke with NPR’s “All Things Considered.” The burgeoning artist has garnered over 325 million streams to date.