Anthony Manker

Starstruck Entertainment has added Anthony Manker as Manager of Music Assets. Manker will work with Starstruck artists Maggie Rose, John King, Emily Ann Roberts, Chris Jobe, Caroline Kole, Post Monroe, and Stealing Oceans as well as the other artists, writers and producers managed by Starstruck.

Starstruck COO Cliff Williamson commented, “Because today’s digital media requires a steady stream of fresh content – photos, videos and music, Anthony’s background in licensing and administration makes him the ideal person to manage these assets for Starstruck artists as we explore all marketing opportunities.”

From Adams, Tennessee, Manker worked as Licensing Manager under John Barker at ClearBox Rights upon graduating from Belmont University in 2015. Prior to graduating, Manker worked in royalty administration at Sony/ATV and in general licensing at SESAC. While a student, Manker was a member of the 2014 Pipeline Project at Belmont University where research he conducted with classmates Alex Marsh and Devin Dawson was cited by the U.S. Copyright Office in its February 2015 report Copyright and the Music Marketplace.

Founded in 1988, Starstruck Entertainment develops, manages, promotes and markets entertainers, songwriters, and producers. Starstruck clients include Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton.

Manker can be reached at anthonym@starstruck.net

Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s John Zarling, Vector management’s Ken Levitan, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, CTK management’s Danny Nozell, and Webster PR’s Kirt Webster. Photo: Randy Dorman

SESAC will honor Kenny Rogers with the SESAC Legacy Award at its Nashville Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The SESAC Legacy Award recognizes Rogers’ contributions to the creative arts.

Additionally, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton were recently presented with a digital gold plaque from Sony Music Nashville for “Islands In The Stream” surpassing 500,000 digital units sold. The song has sold over 3 million physical copies and continues to be a fan favorite in the new modern download era.

Rogers and Parton performed the classic duet during Rogers’ All In For the Gambler show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Oct. 25. Parton also performed her signature song “I Will Always Love You” during the event.

River House Artists/Columbia Nashville’s Luke Combs will make his headlining debut at the Ryman Auditorium with two nights on Feb. 2-3, 2018, as part of his Don’t Tempt Me With A Good Time Tour. Ashley McBryde will join him for both shows.

Tickets will be available in pre-sale to Combs’ Bootleggers fan club starting Tuesday, Oct. 31 and on-sale on Nov. 4.

“When It Rains It Pours” marks the second multi-week No. 1 hit from Combs’ debut album This One’s For You. The album has garnered more than 371 million streams to date and generated Combs’ Platinum-certified multi-week No. 1 hit single “Hurricane.”

Randy Travis

Music icon and Country Music Hall of Famer Randy Travis has signed with Zach Farnum‘s entertainment firm, 117 Publicity. With multiple high-profile projects on the horizon, including an autobiography and a full-length documentary, the 117 team will represent Travis exclusively throughout the media landscape.

With lifetime sales in excess of 25 million, Travis’ honors extend to seven Grammy Awards, 10 Academy of Country Music statuettes, 10 American Music Awards, two People’s Choice awards, seven Music City News awards, eight Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association and five Country Music Association honors.

“Randy Travis is easily one of the most accomplished and renowned superstars in the history of the music industry,” said Zach Farnum, President & CEO of 117 Entertainment Group. “He is an influencer of nearly every artist that has come onto the country scene since he first topped the chart in the mid ‘80s, pivoted an entire movement for the genre and has garnered innumerable major awards and iconic hits. We are thrilled to work with him, celebrate his monumental success and build on future opportunities,” said

Since his near fatal stroke in 2013, with the help of his wife Mary and rigorous physical therapy, Travis continues to make improvements in his speaking, walking, and yes, singing.

117 Entertainment Group specializes in management and publicity and marketing campaigns for musicians, events and brands representing the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Negron, Lee Roy Parnell, Bobby Bare, Logan Mize, Lewis Brice, Paul Bogart and Scooter Brown Band, just to name a few.