Ian Munsick‘s documentary, White Buffalo: Voices of the West, will begin streaming on various platforms this Friday (Jan. 26).

The documentary will initially be available on Apple iTunes, Apple, Google Play, Kanopy (Libraries), Microsoft, Vudu, YouTube Rentals and Amazon TVOD. After 60 to 90 days, it will become available on Freevee, The Roku Channel and Tubi.

“Some of the best kept secrets are out there, thriving, where the prairie meets the mountains,” Munsick reflects. “I was lucky enough to be born and raised in the heart of cowboy country, mostly untouched by the outside world. It’s a culture where Cowboys and Native Americans are one in the same. I’ve always wanted to use my platform to help shed light on what’s been hidden for decades, and Voices of the West was a great way to convey an important message, while artistically collaborating with a people who rarely get the opportunity to have their voices heard.”

The film expands on the concept of Munsick’s sophomore album White Buffalo, with the white buffalo representing a sacred symbol for the plains tribes of Native America, its return signaling prosperity and rebirth. Delving into conversations with Pro Buckin’ Horse producer and entrepreneur from the Blackfoot Tribe, Dougie Hall; rancher, horse trainer and actor from the Crow Tribe, Stephen Yellowtail; and cowgirl from the Blackfeet Nation, Sammy Jo Bird; Munsick explores the modern-day relationship between cowboys, ranchers and Native American tribes, and how they often rely on each other to live off the land out west.

Munsick first premiered the documentary to an intimate crowd of 150 attendees on Dec. 6 at the Beverly Theater in Las Vegas during NFR. He’ll return to the road in 2024 as direct support for select dates of Lainey Wilson’s “Country’s Cool Again” tour.

Republic Live, producers of the Boots and Hearts Music Festival in Canada, is launching a new management division, RLive.

“It’s been a passion of ours since the beginning to seek out artists who we believe have incredible talent and potential,” shares Stan Dunford, Co-Founder of Republic Live and Boots and Hearts. “It’s time we take our enthusiasm for the industry, artists, and fans, and work to invest in the future of artists, while partnering with the best-in-class. We look forward to growing RLive with like-minded, hardworking individuals, that are looking for the next step or searching to find their place in the country music scene.”

Alberta native Casadie Pederson has been named Director of Artist Management and Development and will lead the expansion of the company beyond live festival events and into artist development and management. With offices in Toronto and Nashville, Republic Live’s RLive management division will be based in Nashville where Pederson will work alongside Republic Live’s Brooke Dunford, who continues to focus on talent buying and strategic growth for the company.

“I am so thrilled to be joining this admired team at Republic Live,” says Pederson. “Collectively everyone brings so much experience to the table and we are so excited to see where this will take us. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I can’t thank the RL team enough for welcoming me to a team that is dedicated to playing a bigger role in helping artists.”

With new music set to launch in March via a new partnership soon-to-be announced, country artist Tyler Joe Miller is the first signing to the newly-formed management division. Future plans include focusing on continued artist development and new signings, while enhancing the infrastructure across the company to play a bigger role in helping artists build and develop their careers.

RLive will focus on highlighting the artist development principles founded within the Boots and HeartsEmerging Artist Showcase to help launch the careers of emerging artists, while elevating top-notch talent to the next level. Canadian talent previously recognized as top finalists in the Emerging Artists program include artists such as Tim Hicks, Tenille Arts, Josh Ross, Robyn Ottolini, Owen Riegling, Jade Eagleson, James Barker Band, The Reklaws, Tebey and more. The national Canadian contest consistently receives over 400 applicants a year as Boots and Hearts plays host each summer, with finalists that have gone on to win numerous Canadian Country Music Awards, JUNO Awards and more.

Luke Bryan closed out his ninth annual Crash My Playa concert vacation in Riviera Cancún, Mexico this past weekend.

Starting on Wednesday (Jan. 17), the four-day event returned to the Moon Palace Cancún resort and treated fans to daily pool parties, nightly concerts and late-night celebration sets.

This year’s beach bash featured headlining performances by Jon Pardi and Jelly Roll as well as two headlining shows by Bryan, who was joined by Dierks Bentley and Eddie Montgomery on Saturday night (Jan. 20) for the finale show “Luke & Friends.”

“I can’t think of a better way to kick off the year,” says Bryan. “Jon and Jelly Roll came out and just blew everyone away with their sets, and it was so fun to watch. On Saturday night I’m pretty sure I was having more fun than anyone out there! Being able to have a set list that is more off the cuff and spontaneous is one of my favorite nights on stage.

“Dierks and I always have fun singing together and then to top it with a legend like Eddie Montgomery was just something I have always wanted to do. I could not have asked for a better group of artists and friends to have down here with us.”

In keeping with tradition, Dustin Lynch hosted his infamous, all-day pool party. Additionally, Ernest, Jon Langston, Mitchell Tenpenny, Ashley Cooke, Avery Anna, Lily Rose, Zach Top, Bailey Zimmerman and DJ Rock took the stage throughout the four days.

The Faster Horses Festival is returning to the Michigan International Speedway for its 11th year in July with a star-studded 2024 lineup, including first-time headliners Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and Hardy.

Taking place in Brooklyn, Michigan on July 19 through 21, the festival’s Main Stage will host performances by Sawyer Brown, Ashley Cooke, Jackson Dean, Old Dominion, Ernest, Tigirlily Gold, Riley Green, Tyler Hubbard, Cody Johnson, Alexandra Kay, Shane Smith & The Saints, DJ Rod Youree and Zach Top.

Faster Horses will also continue to introduce fans to rising acts, bringing a stacked lineup to its “Next From Nashville” stage. Trending newcomers set to play are Tanner Adell, Avery Anna, Graham Barham, Sadie Bass, Annie Bosko, Aidan Canfield, Jade Eagleson, HunterGirl, Samantha McKaige, Meg McRee, Josh Ross, Austin Williams, Anne Wilson, Stephen Wilson Jr. and Jake Worthington.

Faster Horses fans will have the option to purchase tickets including general admission and VIP options, as well as high end suites here. Three-day festival passes and camping for the one-of-a-kind experience will go on-sale beginning Feb. 9 at FasterHorsesFestival.com.

Rock and Roll and Country Music Hall of Famer Brenda Lee’s iconic holiday hit “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” has achieved a new milestone, hitting one billion streams on Spotify, a first for Lee.

The festive traditional Christmas hit broke multiple records this past holiday season, spending most of the season at No. 1 on Spotify’s Top 50 U.S. chart.

“What a year and holiday season it was for me personally, and for ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,'” says Lee. ” I am so thankful that Spotify listeners propelled this holiday classic to one billion streams—that just blows my mind! It takes geniuses like the writer (Johnny Marks) and musicians to create a song with such longevity and I couldn’t be more grateful people are still listening to ‘Rockin’.”

In December, the song became Lee’s third Billboard Hot 100 No. 1, and her first since 1960. By hitting the No. 1 spot, Lee now holds the record for the longest gap between an artist’s first and most recent week at No. 1. It also made her the oldest woman to top the Hot 100, surpassing previous record-holders Cher (“Believe”) and Mariah Carey (“All I Want for Christmas is You”).