Pictured (clockwise from top left): Ash Bowers, Angela Wheeler, Abby Driscoll and Wendy Buckner

Brown Sellers Brown (BSB) has hired Ash Bowers as Director of Artist Management and A&R Support, Wendy Buckner as Day-to-Day Manager for artists, including Ben Gallaher and Spencer Hatcher, and Abby Driscoll as Day-to-Day Manager for Annie Bosko, as Bosko’s previous Day-to-Day Manager Angela Wheeler has been promoted to Director of Content & Creative.

“As we continue to grow BSB, hiring Ash, Wendy and Abby and promoting Angela helps set us up for continued success in 2025,” says BSB Partner Benny Brown. “All four of those individuals have worked with some of the biggest brands in the music business, and their combined abilities will be a great asset to BSB’s artist roster.”

Reporting directly to Benny Brown and fellow partners Paul Brown and Jason Sellers, Bowers will lead management strategy for artists like Gallaher and Hatcher. In his new role, he will also provide A&R assistance across Quartz Hill Records and Stone Country Records while serving as a record producer for multiple acts. Bowers started in the industry as a Stoney Creek Records artist before becoming a songwriter and producer, securing cuts with Keith Urban, Brad Paisley and Dustin Lynch, among others. He also co-founded a publishing and management company in 2013. Bowers can be reached at ash@brownsellersbrown.com.

Reporting to Bowers, Buckner brings more than 25 years of experience in music publishing, music and television production and artist management to her new position. She most recently served as Executive Personal Assistant to Wynonna Judd and Assistant to Marion Kraft at ShopKeeper Management, whose clients include Miranda Lambert.  Buckner can be reached at wendy@bsbmgmt.com.

Driscoll will report to Bosko’s Manager Randy Bernard. The Belmont University graduate began her artist management career interning and working part-time as an assistant at Make Wake Artists. After graduation, she joined CAA as a receptionist and floater. Driscoll at can be reached at abby@bsbmgmt.com.

In her elevated role, Wheeler will report directly to Sellers and provide leadership support for the production of creative assets, including cover artwork, music videos and social media content. Before joining the company, she gained over 30 years of experience with The Charlie Daniels Band, ultimately serving as Director of Creative Services & Logistics for the Country Music Hall of Famer. Wheeler also worked as Director of Creative Services & Licensing for Daniels’ record label, Blue Hat Records, and Executive Assistant to President of Corlew Music Group David Corlew.

Splice, the sounds catalog platform that helps music creators bring their ideas to life, is launching the country music genre in its Create AI tool, which allows producers, songwriters and instrumentalists to build song starters and create stacks using compatible sounds from across the vast Splice catalog.

The Splice team spent months in Nashville, Austin and Los Angeles to capture rich, authentic, human-made country sounds for this launch. Released under a new sample label, Splice Country features performances from country musicians including Devin Malone (Jelly Roll, Carrie Underwood), Trevor Nealon (Willie Nelson, Lee Ann Womack) and Kate L. Malone (Sam Hunt, Emma White).

“Create is already changing the game for producers across genres whose phones are filled with Stacks and I’m looking forward to seeing how the country community engages with the tool,” says Kenny Ochoa, SVP of Content at Splice. “Our ability to deliver these beautiful country samples right into studio workflows is going to make such a difference for country producers. It was important to us to get this right, to find the right musicians to play on these sample packs and get the best recording quality and instrumentation that producers in the country space want to use.”

“Inspiration can be a luxury when you’re always creating,” says CMA Award-winning songwriter Mikey Reaves (Miranda Lambert, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson), producer of the recently released Country Mojo & Spice sound pack. “That’s where Splice Create comes in. With a single click, it generates a full production vibe—again and again—until the right one sparks your next song.”

Splice Country is home to 10 new sample packs featuring loops and melodies using the unique instruments that define the genre; the dobro, pedal steel, lap steel and banjo. These sounds are now accessible in Splice’s Create Mode, providing country producers with the same technology embraced by songwriters, producers and Splice users worldwide. With the launch of Splice Country, the company now has 29 in-house sample labels spanning more than 130 genres, featuring hundreds of instruments.

Rani Hancock. Photo: Charlie Gross

Kobalt has appointed Rani Hancock to the position of Executive Vice President, Head of U.S. Creative at the company. She will now lead the company’s creative teams in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville.

Hancock joins Kobalt from her position as EVP, Head of A&R at Columbia Records, where she worked with Dove Cameron, Maren Morris and JoJo Siwa, among others. In her previous role as Executive Vice President, A&R at RCA Records, she signed chart-topping artists including Miley Cyrus, Kesha and Becky G and A&R’d projects for Pitbull, Britney Spears and more. During her stint as President of Sire Records, she signed Bryce Vine and Cavetown, oversaw projects by Tegan and Sara and Andra Day, as well as executive produced the Golden Globe-nominated soundtrack for The United States vs. Billie Holiday.

At Kobalt, Hancock will report directly to Jeannette Perez, the company’s President & Chief Commercial Officer.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rani Hancock to Kobalt Music,” says Perez. “Her exceptional creative vision and proven track record make her the perfect fit to head our U.S. creative team. Rani’s deep understanding of the evolving music landscape, combined with her passion for nurturing talent, will be invaluable as we continue to empower songwriters, artists and producers in achieving their greatest potential.”

Laurent Hubert, CEO of Kobalt adds, “Rani is a creative executive who has always looked at the songwriter as a foundational player in our business. That point of view, along with her vast experience in our business, embodies the kind of leadership and creative acumen that makes her the ideal leader to guide our U.S. creative team moving forward.”

A Berklee College of Music grad, Hancock began her career working for Clive Davis at Arista Records, later joining him as part of the founding team at J Records. She has A&R’d six No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 singles, three No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 albums and 17 Billboard Hot 100 Top 20 singles throughout her career.

“Joining Kobalt is an incredible opportunity to be part of a company that truly values songwriters, artists and producers,” shares Hancock. “Laurent and Jeannette have built an amazing team and a culture of creativity and innovation. I’m incredibly excited to work alongside them to champion the next generation of creative talent. Kobalt’s commitment to empowering artists aligns perfectly with my own values, where great songs and great songwriters always come first. I can’t wait to contribute to their continued success.”

Jason Aldean and Brooks & Dunn will unite for a co-headlining show at Boston’s Fenway Park on Friday, May 30.

The one-night-only event will see the three-time ACM Entertainer of the Year and the recently-crowned CMA Vocal Duo of the Year perform their hits under the lights of the famous ballpark, and feature special guests Nate Smith and RaeLynn.

“Playing Fenway Park has always been a highlight for me over the years. I love the city of Boston, the people and the energy surrounding the city. Getting to play it with some of my musical heroes, Brooks & Dunn, is going to be one for the ages,” shares Aldean.

“It’s going to be a blast playing such an iconic stadium like Fenway with our buddy Jason,” says Kix Brooks. “See you in the spring, Boston!”

Tickets will go on sale this Friday (Jan. 10) at 10 a.m. local time at LiveNation.com. Additionally, different VIP packages and experiences will be available at VIPNation.com. Packages vary but include premium tickets, a backstage tour, an onstage photo, a photo op at the Green Monster, an invitation to the VIP Hospitality Lounge, a VIP-exclusive gift and more.