Activist Artists Management Adds Mak Symmonds & Chelsea Fodero

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Mak Symmonds & Chelsea Fodero. Photo: Courtesy of Activist Artists Management

Activist Artists Management has added Mak Symmonds and Chelsea Fodero as Artist Managers.

Symmonds brings nearly a decade of experience across artist management, marketing and career development. Most recently, she served as Director of Marketing at SMACK, leading strategy across the company’s management, label and publishing divisions. Before that, Symmonds served as Day-to-Day Manager for Chris Tomlin, Patrick Droney and Redferrin.

“Mak is the kind of person who instantly puts people at ease,” shares Matt Maher, Founding Partner at Activist Artists Management. “She brings experience, curiosity, a deep love of music, and a collaborative, roll-up-your-sleeves approach that’s exactly how we like to work at Activist. She understands how to build meaningful, long-term careers for artists, and we’re excited to have her bring that perspective to our team.”

“I’ve always believed some of the best careers are built on real relationships with artists, with fans and with the communities they serve,” says Symmonds. “Over the years, the moments I’m proudest of are the ones where an artist creates something that lasts, on stage and off, and that’s exactly the work I’m excited to keep doing. Activist builds for the long haul, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join a team that cares this deeply about artists.”

Fodero joins Activist with more than 15 years of experience in artist management, touring and day-to-day operations. Most recently, she served as Day-to-Day Manager for USHER, helping oversee his sold-out Past Present Future World Tour, as well as creative, styling, merchandising and brand partnerships, including collaborations with Ralph Lauren, Baccarat, MLB, the Atlanta Braves and Selfridges. She previously worked with GRAMMY Award-winning Producer of the Year Andrew Watt, Alicia Keys and Mac Miller.

“Chelsea has worked at the highest levels of the business and knows firsthand what it takes to manage the day-to-day of a global artist career,” says Bernie Cahill, Founding Partner at Activist Artists Management. “She’s thoughtful, relentless about the details, and deeply committed to the artists she works with. We’re thrilled to have her join Activist and excited for what she’ll bring to the team.”

“I’ve spent my career in not only the day-to-day logistics but also the large scale operations of every aspect of an artist’s career, and I’ve learned that the biggest moments, whether it’s a sold-out tour, a GRAMMY stage or a global campaign, are built on hundreds of small decisions made well,” adds Fodero. “Activist has a reputation for putting artists first and thinking long-term, and that’s the kind of management I believe in. I’m excited to bring everything I’ve learned to this team and help artists build careers that are as sustainable as they are ambitious.”

Fodero is based in New York, while Symmonds is based in Nashville and Los Angeles.

Greylan James Slates Debut Album For November

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Greylan James will release his self-titled debut album on Nov. 13 via Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment.

The project includes 13 original songs, all co-written by James, with 11 produced or co-produced by him, along with a cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” Throughout the album, James draws from his own experiences, pairing personal lyrics with honest storytelling. The cover features his dog, Knox.

“I’ve spent the past 10 years in town writing songs for other artists while trying to navigate becoming the artist I always dreamed of being,” shares James. “After the past year, I feel like I’ve found my footing, and it’s now the perfect time to share my story through my self-titled debut album. This is the first time I’ve truly let people see all of me, from the good, the bad, the mistakes, the memories and everything in between. I’m so excited to finally be releasing my debut project for the fans and everyone who has been on this journey with me.”

Across the 13 tracks, James co-wrote with Chase McGill, Emily Weisband, Rocky Block, Sam Ellis and more. Co-production on the project includes James, Jason Massey, Brock Berryhill, Julian Raymond and Dann Huff.

Along with the album announcement, James has released “Water At A Wedding (her side)” featuring Gabriella Rose. The new version came from fans creating their own perspectives of the song, prompting James to bring in Rose to officially tell the story from the woman’s point of view. The original “Water At A Wedding” has become a career milestone for James and is currently climbing inside the Top 20 at country radio.

The Knoxville native will embark on his first headline tour, “Wedding Season: The Tour,” next month in West Virginia. He will also join Kenny Chesney as an opening act for all dates of the “Original Vibe Room Tour.” In the past year, James’ songs have been recorded by Morgan Wallen, HARDY, Cole Swindell, Blake Shelton and others, building on previous credits with Chesney, Chris Young, Bailey Zimmerman and more.

Greylan James Tracklist:
1. “Who Broke Up With You” * + ~ (Greylan James, Brad Clawson, Ashley Gorley)
2. “Things That I Can’t Change (featuring Cole Swindell)” * + ~ (Greylan James, Brock Berryhill, Rocky Block, Jared Mullins)
3. “Water At A Wedding” * + (Greylan James, Matt Dragstrem, Chase McGill)
4. “Tennessee You Again” * + (Greylan James, Josh Miller, Matt Roy)
5. “Sunrise” * + ^ (Greylan James, Rocky Block, Rodney Clawson)
6. “Ain’t Thinkin’ Bout You” * (Greylan James, Brock Berryhill, Rocky Block)
7. “Night In Shining Armor” * + (Greylan James, Rocky Block, Geoff Warburton, and Summer Overstreet)
8. “Pullin’ From A Bottle” * + (Greylan James)
9. “Truck Stop” # (Greylan James, Rocky Block, Sam Ellis)
10. “Good Run” # (Greylan James, Josh Miller, Jacob Davis)
11. “Give Me A Second (the before)” * ! (Greylan James)
12. “Water At A Wedding (her side) (with Gabriella Rose)” * + (Greylan James, Matt Dragstrem, Chase McGill, Gabriella Rose, Emily Weisband)
13. “Hold It Down (the after demo)” * + (Greylan James, Blake Pendergrass)
14. “I Will Always Love You ​(goodbye)” * + (Dolly Parton)

* produced by Greylan James
+ produced by Jason Massey
~ produced by Brock Berryhill
^ produced by Julian Raymond
# produced by Dann Huff

LOCASH’s Latest Collection ‘Chris & Preston’ Slated For Release Oct. 23

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LOCASH will release their new album, Chris & Preston, on Oct. 23 via Galaxy Label Group.

Members Preston Brust and Chris Lucas are turning the spotlight toward the friendship, shared history, and real-life experiences that have shaped their music through the years on the new project, which features the new track “Where My Stars Line Up” (an ode to the kind of love that makes the whole world feel like home), and current country single “Talkin Bout.”

The album serves up a rich collection of love songs, and the two also turn their attention to the touchstones that matter most to them on it, including family, hometown roots, and their passion for country music – all brought to life in “Let The Country Music Play,” their new collaboration with Parmalee.

“LOCASH is what we built together, but Chris & Preston is who we are,” says Brust. “This album is two brothers, two friends, two voices, and a lot of life lived. After all these years, it felt right to put our names on it.”

As they gear up for the release of Chris & Preston, LOCASH continue their recently launched “Let The Country Music Play Tour,” their North American headline tour currently running through Dec. 12.

Chris & Preston Track List:
1. “Talkin Bout” (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Blake Bollinger, Nate Kenyon)
2. “These Days” (Ashley Gorley, Taylor Phillips, Preston Brust, Chris Lucas)
3. “I Aint Goin Nowhere” (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Maya Kurchner, John Byron)
4. “Where My Stars Line Up” (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Jeffrey East, Taylor Phillips)
5. “Let The Country Music Play” with Parmalee (Rupert Holmes, Brinley Addington, Tommy Cecil, Matt Thomas)
6. “Love Always Wins” (Chris Lucas, Blake Bollinger, Preston Brust)
7. “YES” (Ben Johnson, Ashley Gorley, Cole Swindell, Thomas Rhett, Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, John Byron)
8. “Case of Missin You” (Jeffrey East, Chris Lucas, Preston Brust)
9. “Rockstar” (Preston Brust, Chris Lucas, Blake Bollinger, Nate Kenyon)
10. “Make It About You” (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Josh Kear, Chris DeStefano)
11. “Fish Her Off My Mind” (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Blake Bollinger, Harley Schrock)
12. “Life On Music Row” (Chris Lucas, Preston Brust, Nate Kenyon, Blake Bollinger)

Emily Yahr Releases Book About Taylor Swift’s Country Music Years

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Washington Post reporter Emily Yahr has released TAYLOR SWIFT: THE DEBUT YEARS, a detailed look at Swift’s first 10 years in Nashville and the experiences that shaped her career and rise in the music industry.

Swift’s path to becoming a global pop star began in Nashville. She moved to the city at 13, where she wrote songs, built relationships with early collaborators and began developing the career that would change the music industry. Drawing on original, never-before-published interviews with more than 100 people, including those who worked with Swift and those who passed on her, Yahr explores the early decisions, risks and relationships that helped shape her rise.

Many of the stories about Swift’s Nashville beginnings are already familiar, from taking her demo CD door to door to performing at the Bluebird Cafe. The book goes beyond those moments, uncovering new details about the opportunities she pursued, the setbacks she faced and the risks she took along the way. Her story included turning down a deal with major label RCA to join a new, unproven label and following her own instincts even when others were unsure of her potential.

While writing songs with established Nashville industry figures after school, Swift quickly stood out as a songwriter. Some industry executives questioned whether a young artist could bring a new generation of listeners to country music, but interviews with those around her highlight her clear vision, strong work ethic and determination to make that vision a reality.

TAYLOR SWIFT: THE DEBUT YEARS also offers a look at Nashville’s music industry in the early 2000s. Yahr explores the world of Music Row, the Grand Ole Opry, songwriting rooms and record-label offices, along with the importance of country radio and the demanding promotional tours that helped artists connect with radio programmers across the country.

Swift’s years in Nashville continued to influence her music long after she moved beyond country. Published around the 20th anniversary of her debut album, TAYLOR SWIFT: THE DEBUT YEARS examines the early years of a career that reshaped popular music while offering a closer look at the Nashville industry that helped launch it.

Jennifer Nettles, Carter Faith, Carly Pearce, More To Be Featured On ‘Heartland’ Soundtrack

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Netflix will release the soundtrack to its new original movie, Heartland on Nov. 13 via Netflix Music. The project’s title track, originally written and recorded by Hailey Whitters, is out today performed by Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Nettles.

The album features songs performed by Carter Faith, Carly Pearce, Margo Price, Trannie Anderson and more. Production credits include Tofer Brown, Kristian Bush, David Ferguson, Stewart Lerman, Frank Lidell and Eric Masse. The album’s 15 tracks were written by Jessi Alexander, Anderson, Charles Wesley Godwin, George Jones, Hillary Lindsey, Roger Miller, Don Schlitz, Alysa Vanderheym and more.

Directed by Shana Feste, Heartland follows the story of former country legend, Misty Jones, played by Chastain, who comes out of seclusion to investigate the disappearance of her missing niece, played by Faith. It will be released exclusively on Netflix on Nov. 13.

Heartland Track List:
1. “Heartland” performed by Jessica Chastain feat. Jennifer Nettles
2. “Heartbreak Country” performed by Ross Lynch
3. “Still the Sparrow Sings” performed by Carter Faith
4. “You’re Gonna Burn For That” performed by Jennifer Nettles
5. “Family Ties” performed by Jessica Chastain
6. “Ready & Waiting” performed by Carly Pearce
7. “Tall Tall Trees” performed by Channing Wilson
8. “The Night We Met” performed by Jace Jacobs and Charlie Heart
9. “Too Late For Coffee, Too Early for Beer” performed by John Hawkes and Margo Price
10. “A-11” performed by Eddy Dunlap
11. “Die With A Secret” performed by Charlie Heart
12. “Shut Up & Ride” performed by Heart Sisters
13. “Honeycomb” performed by Carter Faith feat. Trannie Anderson
14. “Texas Land” performed by David “Fergie” Ferguson
15. “Shouldn’t Have Called” performed by Jessica Chastain and John Hawkes

Stella Lefty Celebrates ‘Boston’ With Nashville No. 1 Party

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Pictured (Seated, L-R): Jacob “JKash” Hindlin, Stella Lefty, Grace Enger and Joe Reeves. (Standing, L-R): Livelihood Music’s Jaime Hindlin, Atlantic Outpost’s Stephanie Hagerty, Kobalt’s Rani Hancock, ASCAP’s Nicole George-Middleton, BMI’s Shannon Sanders, Livelihood Music’s Carolyn Moore and ASCAP’s Emilia James. Photo: Ed Rode

Stella Lefty gathered friends and industry members to celebrate her first No. 1 song, “Boston,” on Friday (Oct. 2) with a No. 1 party at the CAA office. The track was written by Grace Enger, Jacob “JKash” Hindlin, Noah Kahan and Joe Reeves.

To kick off the celebration, Lefty performed the hit track alongside Reeves. Emceed by ASCAP’s Emilia James, ASCAP’s Nicole George-Middleton, BMI’s Shannon Sanders, Livelihood Music’s Jaime Hindlin and Carolyn Moore, Kobalt’s Rani Hancock and Atlantic Outpost’s Stephanie Hagerty each took the microphone to honor the songwriters and the team behind the track.

Pictured (L-R): Jacob “JKash” Hindlin, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, Stella Lefty, Grace Enger, MusicRow’s Lauryn Sink and Joe Reeves. Photo: Ed Rode

Sanders was on deck to speak about Enger. “What I love most about this moment is that ‘Boston’ didn’t happen in isolation. You and Stella have developed a real creative friendship. You’ve written together, sung together and helped shape so much of the music that has introduced Stella to the world. Great songwriters have a way of taking something incredibly personal and making everybody listening feel like it belongs to them, and Grace, you have that gift.”

He also took a moment to honor Reeves. “You didn’t just help write ‘Boston.’ You produced it, engineered it, programmed it and helped create a song that the world fell in love with. You’ve become an important part of Stella finding her sound and have continued to build that body of work alongside her. You once described making this record as capturing lightning in a bottle. Well, you caught it.”

George-Middleton spoke about Hindlin, noting that this is his eighth country chart-topper. She also recognized Kahan, who was unable to attend the party due to scheduling conflicts, for his first No. 1 on country radio.

Pictured (L-R): Jacob “JKash” Hindlin, Stella Lefty, Grace Enger and Joe Reeves. Photo: Ed Rode

Hindlin and Moore spoke about their time working with Lefty. “Stella, I’m so proud of you,” Moore shared. “It’s been incredible to be on this ride with you. You are the most hardworking person I know. You are a brilliant songwriter and artist, but you’ve remained so grounded, kind and open-hearted through this whole process. I’m just so grateful to be part of the ride.”

Hancock and Hagerty echoed similar sentiments, thanking everyone involved for their work to get the song to the top of the charts.

Billboard and Country Aircheck presented Lefty with plaques commemorating the song’s chart-dominating success.

Reeves was the first of the creators to take the microphone, stating, “Stella drills it in to me every time we work that it needs to be about having fun and just making good music. That’s what we went into this to do. I just never could have imagined this.”

“Stella is one of the best songwriters I’ve ever met,” Enger shared. “I think the thing I’ve learned the most from you is just to have fun and how all the good things come when you’re just having fun with good people. Thank you to everyone on her teams who have helped this little song become a big song.”

Stella Lefty performs “Boston” with Joe Reeves. Photo: Ed Rhode

“Everyone on these stools is really good at what they do. It is hard to get a No. 1. What a lot of people don’t account for is luck, and I just consider myself lucky,” Hindlin added. “The thing about my career is I’ve just been so lucky to be around the best people.”

Lefty closed the afternoon thanking each member of her team and country radio for embracing her. “To country radio, I’ve loved you guys my whole entire life. You raised me, so thank you for playing my song, because I just could have never imagined that any of this would happen,” shared Lefty. “To have a No. 1 song is a very crazy feeling. I’ve dreamed of this my whole life, and I love country music more than anything in the whole world. To be part of this community, I feel so grateful and so honored.”

Halie Hampton Mosley Joins Breit Group [Exclusive]

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Halie Hampton Mosley

Halie Hampton Mosley has joined Breit Group as Chief Operating Officer, effective this week.

In her new role, Mosley will oversee daily operations and help guide the continued growth of Breit Group, its teams and artist roster. She will remain based in Nashville, where she will also help expand the company’s presence.

Mosley joins Breit Group after five years at WHY&HOW, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer. There, she helped manage the company’s operations and industry relationships while working closely with its artists and staff.

“I’m honored and excited to be a part of this next chapter of Breit Group and to serve its artists, teams and mission as we grow together,” shares Mosley. “I’m deeply grateful to Bruce Kalmick and Eddie Kloesel for five incredible years at WHY&HOW alongside a remarkable roster and am proud of what we were able to build there.”

Before joining WHY&HOW, Mosley managed day-to-day operations for Florida Georgia Line alongside Irving and Jeffrey Azoff. She previously spent more than seven years at Maverick Nashville working under Clarence Spalding, gaining experience in artist management and other areas of the music industry.

Breit Group’s roster includes Phil Wickham and Pat Barrett, as well as Brandon Lake who boasts 8 Dove Award nominations and will perform at the award show tonight alongside Lainey Wilson.

Mosley can be reached here.

Artist Action: Zach Bryan, Kashus Culpepper, Waylon Jennings, Heather Russell

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Zach Bryan Sets Gillette Stadium Attendance Record

Zach Bryan broke the Gillette Stadium attendance record on Oct. 3, performing for 73,538 fans during his “With Heaven On Tour,” which was the largest crowd for any event in the venue’s history. The show was the second of two nights at the stadium, and the Foxborough shows are part of Bryan’s biggest tour yet, spanning more than 40 dates across North America and Europe beginning in March 2026.

The milestone adds to a record-setting year for Bryan. On September 27, 2025, he became the first artist ever to play Michigan Stadium, drawing 112,408 fans, the largest ticketed concert audience in U.S. history. That show surpassed the previous mark of 110,905, set by George Strait in Texas in 2024, and also set a single-night merchandise sales record of $5 million.

 

Kashus Culpepper Performs On ‘Today With Jenna & Sheinelle’

Kashus Culpepper performs on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle. Photo: Zane Heinlein

Kashus Culpepper performed “Better Weather” and “Man Of His Word” from his album on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle on Oct. 1. To bookend the week, he joined Shaboozey for his “Outlaws Never Die Tour” at Radio City Music Hall, marking Culpepper’s first appearance at the iconic venue.

 

Corky’s Coffee & Waylon Jennings Brew Up New Coffee & Merch Collection

The estate of country icon Waylon Jennings has announced a new collaboration with Detroit-roasted coffee brand Corky’s Coffee. The partnership celebrates one of country music’s most enduring artists through a limited-edition collection created for coffee lovers, music fans and collectors alike. The collab includes two exclusive coffee products, and also includes a Waylon Jennings retro drinkware collection, giving fans a way to bring the collaboration into their everyday coffee ritual, as well as an exclusive vinyl variant of Diamonds, a forthcoming album of previously unreleased Waylon Jennings recordings due out Nov. 13.

Heather Russell Signs With Prescription Songs

Heather Russell

Toronto-born singer-songwriter Heather Russell has signed with Prescription Songs. Russell has had success with her initial singles supported by Prescription, including “Don’t Know What You Had,” “Killing Spree,” “Adam Sandler,” and the most recent “Bullets.” The partnership continues with the company as she moves into her next album cycle. The former American Idol contestant and child YouTube star just released a new project, Tears From The Dive Bar, on Oct. 2, via Prescription Songs’ independent label counterpart Amigo Records.

Greylan James To Launch Headlining ‘Wedding Season: The Tour’ In November

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Greylan James. Photo: Dustin Haney

Greylan James is kicking off his headlining “Wedding Season: The Tour” in West Virginia on Nov. 6 with special guest Carson Wallace.

The 12-city tour was inspired by his viral Top 20 single, “Water At A Wedding,” and will feature stops in Birmingham, Pittsburgh, Knoxville, Louisville, Chicago and more through Dec. 19.

Pre-sale begins tomorrow (Oct. 7), with general on-sale beginning Oct. 9. Fans can text +1 (914) 499-0771 to receive the pre-sale code.

“A crazy year gets even crazier,” says James. “So many things I’ve dreamed about for a long time have happened this year, and it just felt right to close out 2026 celebrating the song that really kicked all of this off. Y’all have loved the hell outta ‘Water At A Wedding,’ and getting to hear y’all sing it back never gets old. So we figured… why not finish the year out with the ‘Wedding Season Tour’? Let’s do it.”

“Water At A Wedding” launched James to a new level in his career as the single nears Top 15 at country radio. Tomorrow (Oct. 7), James will release “Water At A Wedding (her side),” providing a new perspective to the wedding day’s story.

Following his headlining tour, James will open the entirety of Kenny Chesney’s 2027 stadium “Original Vibe Room Tour.” The tour serves as a full-circle moment for James, who grew up in the same hometown as Chesney, and even got haircuts from Chesney’s mom as a kid. Inspired by the superstar from an early age, James would go on to earn several songwriting cuts from Chesney, including Top 5 single “Happy Does.” Chesney recently brought James onstage to perform another song, “Born,” together in Nashville at The Pinnacle.

“Wedding Season: The Tour” Dates:
Nov. 6, 2026 in Huntington, W.Va. at Jerk’s
Nov. 20, 2026 in Birmingham, Ala. at Workplay Soundstage
Nov. 21, 2026 in Decatur, Ga. at Eddie’s Attic
Dec. 3, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa. at Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall
Dec. 4, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio at Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
Dec. 5, 2026 in Plain City, Ohio at The Grainery
Dec. 10, 2026 in Knoxville, Tenn. at Open Chord
Dec. 11, 2026 in Louisville, Ky. at Headliners Music Hall
Dec. 12, 2026 in Chattanooga, Tenn. at Barrelhouse Ballroom
Dec. 17, 2026 in Chicago, Ill. at Carol’s Pub
Dec. 18, 2026 in Detroit, Mich. at El Club
Dec. 19, 2026 in Grand Rapids, Mich. at The Stache

Warren Zeiders Accelerates Into Spring On ‘The No Brakes Tour’

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Warren Zeiders

Warren Zeiders will kick off his 2027 “The No Brakes Tour,” in support of his recently-released album No Brakes, in March.

The 16-city tour will include shows in Kansas City, Louisville, Chicago, Atlanta, Tulsa and more through May 1. Ticket pre-sales are currently ongoing, with general on-sale beginning Oct. 9. The tour will spotlight tracks from Zeiders’ new album No Brakes, a 12-track collection detailing Zeiders’ approach to both love and heartbreak.

Next week, Zeiders sets out on the last leg of his first-ever world tour in the UK, and he recently performed on the Video Music Awards and America’s Got Talent. In four years in the industry, the breakout star has amassed more than 4.2 billion global career streams, 2 billion TikTok views, 6.4M million monthly listeners on Spotify, and earned Double Platinum, Platinum and No. 1 singles.

“The No Brakes Tour” Dates:
March 25 – House of Blues – Orlando, FL
March 26 – Seminole Hard Rock Live– Hollywood, FL
April 1 – Midland Theatre – Kansas City, MO
April 2 – Vibrant Music Hall – Waukee, IA
April 8 – Hard Rock Live – Tulsa, OK
April 9 – Billy Bob’s Texas– Ft. Worth, TX
April 10 – John T. Floore Country Store – Helotes, TX
April 15 – GLC Live at 20 Monroe – Grand Rapids, MI
April 16 – Old Forester’s Paristown Hall – Louisville, KY
April 17 – The Salt Shed – Chicago, IL
April 22 – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark – Philadelphia, PA
April 23 – Citizens Live at The Wylie – Pittsburgh, PA
April 24 – Andrew J Brady Music Center – Cincinnati, OH
April 29 – Township Auditorium – Columbia, SC
April 30 – Cola-Cola Roxy – Atlanta, GA
May 1 – Coyote’s Joe’s – Charlotte, NC