Dolly Parton and Duncan Hines’ parent company Conagra Brands have developed a new line of retail food items through a new licensing partnership.

The new partnership expands beyond Dolly’s Duncan Hines Sweet Treats to a variety of new food categories, including frozen foods and refrigerated items, as well as grocery and snack items inspired by down-home comfort cuisine.

“I loved co-creating my Duncan Hines line with Conagra and I’m thrilled we’re going well beyond the baking aisle with new items across the store,” says Parton. “We’re looking to continue to inspire special moments in the kitchen, with some of my family’s favorite recipes, and I think people are really going to love them!”

The new products will start rolling onto store shelves nationwide this month, with an expanded line-up of Duncan Hines’ mixes including Chocolate Cake Mix, Yellow Cake Mix, Cinnamon Crumb Cake Mix, Blueberry Muffin Mix and Banana Nut Muffin Mix. Additionally, the first single branded Dolly Parton item, Buttermilk Pancake Mix, will start hitting shelves this winter and marks Dolly’s first foray into the breakfast category. More items are expected to launch later in 2024, including frozen items.

Parton’s newest baking mixes and frostings are flowing through to stores nationwide now on a rolling launch, but the brand is giving consumers a chance to try some of the new items and get exclusive, limited-edition Dolly keepsakes with the new Dolly Parton Bake Like a Rockstar Baking Collection, available online only while supplies last. The kit includes: Dolly Parton’s Blueberry Muffin Mix, Cinnamon Swirl Crumb Cake Mix, Favorite Chocolate Cake Mix and Creamy Chocolate Buttercream Frosting; an exclusive magnet featuring the popular illustration of Dolly from the Duncan Hines’ packaging; a Dolly-inspired, collectible oven mitt; and recipe cards with some of Dolly’s favorite recipes like Lemon Glazed Blueberry Crumb Cake and Coffee Cake Muffins.

“This unprecedented partnership with Dolly Parton gives us an incredible opportunity to further cement Conagra Brands in our established categories, while authentically positioning us for tremendous growth in new ones including Southern cooking and comfort food,” says Tom McGough, Chief Operating Officer at Conagra Brands.

Spirit Music Group has entered into a new administration services agreement with Downtown Music Publishing. Per the agreement, Spirit will use Downtown’s global administration, registration and technology platforms to support their infrastructure needs. Spirit’s current sub-publishing arrangements will remain place.

“This move allows us to pair Spirit’s expertise at A&R, marketing, branding, digital and synchronization with Downtown’s extensive administration, technology, and registration capabilities to provide the best infrastructure available for our songwriters and partners,” shares Jon Singer, Chairman, Spirit Music Group. “By uniting these strengths for Spirit clients, the sum is even greater than its parts.”

Spirit’s song catalog totals over 100,000 songs and counting, with songs recorded by music legends such as The Who, Chicago, Faith Hill, Camilla Cabello, Ricky Martin, Toto, Jason Aldean, Charles Mingus, Taylor Swift, Chaka Khan, Elvis Presley, Eminem, Tom Petty and more. Through their catalog, they have over 200 No. 1 songs and an additional 800 charted hits.

Singer continues, “As Spirit continues to grow, invest in new talent, and acquire repertoire, we want to continue to focus on what we do best—ensuring that our songwriters and artists are seen, heard and prioritized and driving growth for them through proactive, innovative song management. Linking arms with Downtown ensures that we stay ahead of the curve and in so doing allows us to maintain a laser focus on creating value for our copyrights as we continue to aggressively scale our business in the coming years.”

Downtown currently manages more than 23 million music assets for over one million creators and 2,500 enterprise clients. Client distributions currently exceeds $100 million dollars, with 14% increases every year since 2021. Downtown is currently the largest pure-play provider in the industry.

Andrew Bergman, CEO of Downtown Music Holdings says, “We are pleased to be working with the amazing team at Spirit and to administer a catalog so filled with musical gems. We designed Downtown and our suite of service offerings specifically with these types of deals in mind so it is immensely gratifying for Spirit to have chosen to work with us.”

“Working with Spirit Music Group reinforces our dedication to fostering the success of legendary musical catalogs as well as supporting new talent, both abundantly represented in Spirit’s catalog,” adds Emily Stephenson, President of Downtown Music Publishing. “Downtown is committed to providing the best services to our clients via investments in administration, rights management, data and technology and we are thrilled to be working with the Spirit team.”

Topeka has revealed their latest music vacation experience with Lauren Daigle‘s “Kaleidoscope Beach Weekend.” The event will take place April 25-27 along the shores of Miramar Beach, Florida.

The lineup includes Daigle headlining all three nights, with each night having a theme to accompany the music. Thursday night will be “Worship Set” with Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes. Natalie Hemby, Ellie Holcomb and Jason Ingram will be featured for Friday’s “Storyteller Set.” To close out the weekend, Saturday will hold a “Kalediscope Jam” with Jon Batiste and Gable Price & Friends.

Attending guests will enjoy a true family friendly vacation, relaxing by the beach during the day with the concerts at night. Topeka has long been spearheading music vacation experiences, with other weekend’s announced such as The Avett Brothers’ Moon Crush “Avett Moon” Music Vacation and Brandi Carlile’s “Mothership Weekend.”

Weekend passes are on sale now.

CAA has signed singer-songwriter Ty Myers.

The Texas native grew up just west of Austin as the sixth generation to be raised on his family’s cattle ranch, and has been singing since he could walk. At the age of eight, Myers began playing guitar and writing songs. When he wasn’t playing football, baseball, hunting or fishing, he spent all his free time writing music or playing shows with his father.

In March 2023, Myers dropped his debut independent tune, “Tie That Binds,” which has amassed more than two million streams to date. He has since released four other original songs and most recently, a cover of George Strait’s 1981 hit “Down And Out.” Myers continues to expand his catalog, frequently co-writing with some of Nashville’s most skilled songwriters.

Managed by Narvel Blackstock and Starstruck Entertainment, he will also continue to play shows around the Texas area.

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.