Pictured (L-R, front row): Fluid Music Revolution’s AJ Burton; Spirit Music Group’s Kara Jackson, Frank Rogers and Derek Wells; (L-R, back row): Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC’s Leisl Eschbach; Spirit Music Group’s Kennedy Murphy and Gray Schubert; Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC’s David Crow; Spirit Music Group’s Mike Fiorentino and Brian Bradford. Photo: Courtesy of Spirit Music Nashville
Singer-songwriter Tim Montana has renewed his publishing deal with Spirit Music Nashville.
Montana recently scored his first top five on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart with his single “Devil You Know,” and his debut rock album, Savage, will be released July 12 from Music Knox Records/BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville.
Montana taught himself to play guitar in an off-the-grid trailer where he lived with his family in Butte, Montana. After a stint at the Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles, and his return to Montana, he got his first break in 2007 when David Letterman was at a show and invited him to appear on The Late Show with David Letterman. At 21, he settled in Music City and formed his band the Shrednecks.
At a studio session in 2013, Montana was introduced to ZZ Top founder Billy F. Gibbons, and during an impromptu songwriting collaboration, they co-wrote and recorded the single “This Beard Came Here to Party.” The song became an anthem for the Boston Red Sox, as well as for the Nashville Predators during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Montana and Gibbons also shared credits on the songs “Fifty Fifty,” “Weed and Whiskey” and “Rust and Red,” and Gibbons invited Montana to open for ZZ Top on tour. Montana later released the album Tim Montana and the Shrednecks, featuring Gibbons on four tracks.
Montana also collaborated on tracks with Kid Rock including “Tennessee Mountain Top” and “Greatest Show On Earth” for 2017’s Sweet Southern Sugar, which bowed in the top 10 of the Billboard 200. In 2020, Montana signed a record deal with producer Michael Knox and Music Knox Records/BBR Music Group.
In addition to his music career, Montana has his own show Tim Montana’s Wild Side on Velocity Outdoor Channel. He is an avid supporter of U.S. military veterans and, for the past three years, has headed up the “Tim Montana & Friends American Thread Sporting Clays Shoot” in Nashville.
“Tim Montana is truly a one-of-a-kind human being and artist,” says Frank Rogers, Chief Creative Office, Spirit Music Group/CEO, Spirit Music Nashville. “We are excited to keep the party going with the Ol’ Boy! Y’all get ready for what’s next—it’s going to melt your face off!”
“These guys should have dropped me a dozen times but they rolled with me through it all and in the bottom of the ninth (year) we hit one out of the park,” says Montana. “Stoked to keep rocking with the Spirit team and now we get to shake up the rock world! A marriage with a publisher that long can be tough for artists, but when the noises in the studio are getting louder that’s a good sign of things to come.”
Now Open: Applications For MusicRow’s 2024 Artist Roster Issue
/by LB CantrellApplications for MusicRow‘s upcoming Artist Roster print issue are now being accepted through Friday, April 26, 2024 with the official form below. Previously included companies will also be solicited separately.
This ultimate artist resource edition includes the Artist Roster company directory, featuring contact information and artist rosters for Nashville record labels, managers, publicists, lawyers, talent agents, publicity, artist services companies (business managers, digital music, legal, marketing, radio promotion and organizations), media and banking.
Click here to access the Artist Roster application.
For advertising opportunities in the Artist Roster print issue, email Sherod Robertson at srobertson@musicrow.com. Rate card information is available here. For questions regarding directory, please email directory@musicrow.com.
Tim Montana Renews Deal With Spirit Music Nashville
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R, front row): Fluid Music Revolution’s AJ Burton; Spirit Music Group’s Kara Jackson, Frank Rogers and Derek Wells; (L-R, back row): Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC’s Leisl Eschbach; Spirit Music Group’s Kennedy Murphy and Gray Schubert; Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC’s David Crow; Spirit Music Group’s Mike Fiorentino and Brian Bradford. Photo: Courtesy of Spirit Music Nashville
Singer-songwriter Tim Montana has renewed his publishing deal with Spirit Music Nashville.
Montana recently scored his first top five on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart with his single “Devil You Know,” and his debut rock album, Savage, will be released July 12 from Music Knox Records/BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville.
Montana taught himself to play guitar in an off-the-grid trailer where he lived with his family in Butte, Montana. After a stint at the Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles, and his return to Montana, he got his first break in 2007 when David Letterman was at a show and invited him to appear on The Late Show with David Letterman. At 21, he settled in Music City and formed his band the Shrednecks.
At a studio session in 2013, Montana was introduced to ZZ Top founder Billy F. Gibbons, and during an impromptu songwriting collaboration, they co-wrote and recorded the single “This Beard Came Here to Party.” The song became an anthem for the Boston Red Sox, as well as for the Nashville Predators during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Montana and Gibbons also shared credits on the songs “Fifty Fifty,” “Weed and Whiskey” and “Rust and Red,” and Gibbons invited Montana to open for ZZ Top on tour. Montana later released the album Tim Montana and the Shrednecks, featuring Gibbons on four tracks.
Montana also collaborated on tracks with Kid Rock including “Tennessee Mountain Top” and “Greatest Show On Earth” for 2017’s Sweet Southern Sugar, which bowed in the top 10 of the Billboard 200. In 2020, Montana signed a record deal with producer Michael Knox and Music Knox Records/BBR Music Group.
In addition to his music career, Montana has his own show Tim Montana’s Wild Side on Velocity Outdoor Channel. He is an avid supporter of U.S. military veterans and, for the past three years, has headed up the “Tim Montana & Friends American Thread Sporting Clays Shoot” in Nashville.
“Tim Montana is truly a one-of-a-kind human being and artist,” says Frank Rogers, Chief Creative Office, Spirit Music Group/CEO, Spirit Music Nashville. “We are excited to keep the party going with the Ol’ Boy! Y’all get ready for what’s next—it’s going to melt your face off!”
“These guys should have dropped me a dozen times but they rolled with me through it all and in the bottom of the ninth (year) we hit one out of the park,” says Montana. “Stoked to keep rocking with the Spirit team and now we get to shake up the rock world! A marriage with a publisher that long can be tough for artists, but when the noises in the studio are getting louder that’s a good sign of things to come.”
Folk Alliance International Taps Jennifer Roe As Executive Director
/by John Nix ArledgeJennifer Roe. Photo: Fawn Lies
Folk Alliance International (FAI) has appointed longtime Operations Director Jennifer Roe as its new Executive Director.
Since joining FAI, Roe has played a crucial role in leading staff and overseeing day-to-day operations. As a strong advocate for arts and culture at both federal and state levels, Roe shows her commitment to fostering folk music and building an interconnected community.
In her previous role, Roe worked alongside former Executive Directors Louis Meyers, Aengus Finnan and Neeta Ragoowansi to expand FAI’s reach, doubling the operating budget and expanding the organization’s global network to include artists, record companies, publishers, presenters, agents, managers, arts administrators, diplomats and more.
“Taking on the Executive Director position at Folk Alliance International is a thrilling opportunity. I love this community, and I am excited to continue to work with our dedicated team and board to serve our membership,” Roe shares. “I am ready to embrace the challenges and seize the opportunities in this role as we work to advance the strategic plan. I am honored to lead an organization that celebrates cultural diversity, promotes artistic expression, and cultivates a community united by the power of music.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer Roe as Folk Alliance International’s Executive Director. With Jennifer’s deep knowledge of Folk Alliance International and her passion and dedication to the folk community, she is uniquely qualified to lead us, bringing about a new chapter for the organization. We are so grateful to Jennifer, and we look forward to the work she’ll do both with and for our members and the folk community at large.” says FAI’s Board President, Ashley Shabankareh. “We are so excited to have Jennifer at the helm of the organization!”
Prior to joining FAI, Roe worked on Capitol Hill for the U.S. Senate Majority Leader before transitioning to a public service role for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. She later returned to her home in Kansas City, where she worked with individuals with disabilities and established an administrative services business, where FAI became a client.
In addition to her new role, Roe has shared that the International Folk Music Awards 2025 conference will take place from Feb. 19 to 23 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, at the Queens Elizabeth Hotel.
Chris DuBois, JD Groover & Geoff Ogunlesi Form 1221 Artist Management
/by LB CantrellJD Groover. Photo: Mitch Wallis
Chris DuBois, CEO of Sea Gayle Music, has established a new management firm, 1221 Artist Management, in partnership with JD Groover, Senior Creative Director/A&R of Sea Gayle Music, and Geoff Ogunlesi of The Ogunlesi Group.
While rising through the ranks at Sea Gayle for the past six years, Groover has simultaneously worked as a tour manager for a major label recording artist. This experience has prepared him to take on the role of VP of Management for 1221, while continuing in his current position at Sea Gayle Music. Ogunlesi and DuBois will oversee 1221 Management while maintaining their respective operations within The Ogunelsi Group and Sea Gayle Music.
“In today’s publishing world, having turnkey management services is a natural way to grow and support an artist’s career. To have folks who know how to establish an artist’s foundation rooted in publishing is key, and we’re elated to see JD naturally step into this role,” shares DuBois of Groover. “We are thrilled to create a path for JD’s expansion into management while continuing his role at Sea Gayle.”
The Ogunlesi Group is an entertainment and music management company based in Hollywood. Founded by Ogunlesi, the firm’s roster spans genres, including Young Thug, charlieonnafriday, Reyna Roberts, Gashi and more.
“In one of my early first trips to Nashville, I had the opportunity to meet and spend time with Chris, JD and the broader Sea Gayle team. I was blown away by not only their abilities and their prowess, but also their value systems,” Ogunlesi shares. “Their sense of community and camaraderie is in line with my own values within my company. As our company has thought about expanding into the country space and into Nashville, we wanted to do so with integrity as I have the utmost respect for the culture and the people involved. The creativity within the parties in this partnership is unmatched, and we are grateful to be a part of this venture together.”
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity presented by Geoff and Chris,” Groover adds. “Chris and Sea Gayle Music helped me get my foot in the door years ago, enabling me to learn the publishing side of the business, and that, coupled with my time on the road touring, have felt like the most incredible way to see the impact a song can truly have. My passion for songs, songwriters, the development of artists and this community could not be stronger, and I am honored to represent 1221 and Sea Gayle in this new capacity.”
Read DuBois at cdubois@seagayle.com, Groover at jdgroover@seagayle.com and Ogunlesi at geoff@theogunlesigroup.com.
Kenny Chesney’s ‘Born’ Gets Classic Vinyl Treatment
/by Lorie HollabaughKenny Chesney will release a two-disc vinyl edition of his latest album, Born, on May 24.
The hitmaker reportedly contemplated creating a vinyl pressing of the project, but knew all 15 tracks couldn’t fit on one disc. Chesney didn’t want to exclude any of the tunes, so he developed two discs to provide fans with the needle-on-vinyl experience.
“I’m lucky,” says Chesney. “I have fans who still believe in the actual listening experience, starting an album at the beginning and taking the journey the songs are creating. Experiencing and asking ‘How does this music define a moment or a state of life? How does it color or reflect my mind?’ So much of my own life’s been defined by what I was listening to over the years, and still is. That’s a whole different way of consuming music than just a hit. Knowing that, I decided to go ahead and do vinyl. It’s a limited run, but it’s there for all the people who put on albums and make that kind of listening a destination. For anyone who sinks into the songs, this is for you.”
The Born vinyl will be available for preorder this Thursday (April 18) at 11 p.m. CT. For more information, click here. Additionally, Chesney will kick off the “Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour” at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida this Saturday (April 20).
Nate Smith To Kick Off 14-City ‘Through The Smoke Tour’ In September
/by Lorie HollabaughNate Smith will embark on his 14-city “Through The Smoke Tour” this fall.
The new headlining trek will kick off Sept. 19 in Portland and visit Chattanooga, Atlanta, Baltimore, Milwaukee and more through Nov. 23. John Morgan and Karley Scott Collins will join Smith as special guests.
Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday (April 19), and Smith’s fan club will have early access to tickets and VIP packages starting today (April 16). For more information, click here.
Additionally, the ACM New Male Artist of the Year nominee’s current single “Bulletproof” has landed among the top 25 at country radio. He is also currently supporting Morgan Wallen on his “One Night At A Time 2024 Tour.”
Beyoncé Tops MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by Madison HahnenBeyoncé
Global superstar Beyoncé has topped MusicRow‘s Top Songwriter Chart this week following the release of Cowboy Carter album on March 29. She co-penned 23 out of the 27 tracks on the project. “Texas Hold ‘Em,” “ll Most Wanted,” “Levii’s Jeans,” “Ameriican Requiem,” “Daughter,” “16 Carriages,” “Protector,” “Tyrant,” “Riiverdance,” “Alliigator Tears,” “My Rose,” “Just For Fun” and “Amen” all pushed Beyoncé to the No. 1 spot this week.
Hunter Phelps jumped into No. 2 this week with “Truck Bed,” “Chevrolet,” “Take Her Home” and “Bulletproof.” Beyoncé’s cover of “Jolene” gives Dolly Parton the No. 3 spot.
Ashley Gorley (No. 4) and Josh Phillips (No. 5) round out the top five this week.
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
NaSHOF To Hold Golf Classic
/by LB CantrellThe first-ever Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Golf Classic will take place on Monday, May 20 at Old Natchez Country Club in Nashville.
Open to men and women, the scramble-format event will feature an end-of-day guitar pull. All proceeds benefit the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Registration is now open. For more information on teams and sponsorships, contact Tournament Coordinator Joshua Lykins with Elite Events of Music City at joshua@eeomc.com or 615-995-9316.
Sony Music Publishing Nashville & Verse 2 Music Renew Global Deal With Josh Hoge
/by John Nix ArledgePictured: Josh Hoge Photo: Peyton Hoge
Sony Music Publishing Nashville and Verse 2 Music have renewed their global publishing deal with award-winning songwriter Josh Hoge.
Hoge has written numerous hits across multiple genres including Chris Young’s “I’m Comin’ Over” and “Think of You,” and Kane Brown’s “Cool Again,” “Used To Love You Sober” and “One Thing Right” with Marshmello. The 2016 SESAC Songwriter of the Year has earned a Grammy nomination for “Think of You” and a CMA Award nomination for “I’m Comin’ Over,” in addition to several RIAA multi-Platinum certifications.
His recent chart successes with Brown’s No. 1 tracks “Bury Me In Georgia” and “Thank God” earned recognition at the 2023 SESAC Music Awards, the latter receiving the title of SESAC’s 2023 Country Song of the Year. Additionally, Hoge’s latest release, “Tie Up” by Zac Brown Band, made its debut at No. 24 on Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart.
Expressing his gratitude for the extended partnership, Hoge shares, “I’m very thankful to be continuing this journey with Kent [Earls], Kane, Rusty [Gaston] and the SMP/Verse 2 family! I’ve always been a writer that’s loved when I’ve been able to be exactly who I am and create exactly the way I want, and Kent and team have always let me be myself, which I think that’s a big reason to our success together. It truly is and feels like a family and you can’t find that everywhere. Can’t wait for all that’s still to come!”
“When Kane and I started Verse 2 Music, we wanted to foster long-term relationships with writers and artists that desire to make music history, and Josh is a prime example of this,” shares Earls, Partner, Verse 2 Music. “Delivering a Song of the Year within the first deal proves our visions align. We look forward to continuing an already successful relationship.”
Gaston, Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO, shares, “Josh is a creator who is always carving his own lane. He’s passionate, enthusiastic, and delivers great songs again and again. We couldn’t be happier to continue this successful relationship with Josh, Kent and Kane.”
Gabe Patillo, Former TobyMac Diverse City Member, Passes
/by Lorie HollabaughGabe Patillo
Former TobyMac Diverse City member Gabriel (Gabe) Patillo passed away on Friday, April 12 after a battle with cancer.
Gabe began honing his creative skills at the age of 10. As a child, he danced for dcTalk, appeared in multiple videos for Brentwood Music and worked as a theater kid at Opryland in Nashville. As an adult, Gabe worked with Grammy and GMA Dove award-winning artist TobyMac as part of Diverse City, where he sang background vocals, was a choreographer and dancer and co-produced TobyMac tours. He also used his talents in the voiceover world working with Square Inc., Budweiser, ESPN and Under Armour, among others.
Gabe is the son of Gospel Music Association President Jackie Patillo. He is survived by his mother; wife Jenni Patillo; three children, Amara, Milo and Remy; and his brother, Marcel Patillo. He is remembered for his enormous talent, generous spirit and unending energy.
A GoFundMe has been established to support Gabe’s family here.