Pictured (L-R): Dream 3’s Emily Olson, Kobalt’s Stephanie Cox, Ben Caver, Kobalt’s Kevin Lane, Dream 3’s Greg Hill, Kobalt’s Morgan Brasfield and Dream 3’s Laurel Kittleson-Cobb.

Dream 3 Publishing has announced a partnership with Kobalt that will include Kobalt’s publishing administration, creative services and sync department.

“Kobalt is the perfect partner for us. We love everyone on their creative team and how much Kobalt adds to our small company,” says Emily Olson, Dream 3 Publishing. “We are excited about all of our future signings and success together.”

Dream 3 Publishing launched in October of 2022 with Olson, Greg Hill and Laurel Kittleson-Cobb at the helm. The partnership announcement follows the signing of the company’s flagship writer Ben Caver.

“I knew I wanted to be involved with Dream 3 from the first conversation I had with them,” says Kevin Lane, Senior Director, Creative at Kobalt.  “The combined experience and expertise of Greg, Laurel and Emily make Dream 3 the ideal partner and a destination for creatives.  The sky’s the limit for what we will accomplish together.”

Nina Burghard & Lisa Purcell

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has announced the promotions of Nina Burghard and Lisa Purcell to executive vice president roles. Burghard will serve as Executive Vice President of Finances and Operations, and Purcell will serve as Executive Vice President of External Affairs.

Both previously holding senior vice president titles, Burghard and Purcell step into newly created positions and report to museum CEO Kyle Young, providing key strategic counsel.

“Both Lisa and Nina have moved into expanded roles, taking on the supervision of additional departments and scopes of work, helping to strengthen the institution,” shares Young. “Their talents and leadership have been essential to the success of the museum and its growth over the past decade.”

Previously serving as Senior Vice President of Financial Services and Operations, Burghard added the museum’s information and technology department to her responsibilities, as well as the management of the museum’s COVID-19 safety processes during the pandemic. She oversees the museum’s financial operations, including financial statement analysis; company-wide and departmental budget and cash flow preparation and analysis; accounting; and forecasting. Her information and technology oversight includes infrastructure, internal communications, networking and data storage, applications, reporting and data analysis. Additionally, she is responsible for the organization’s human resources as well as the museum’s maintenance and operations departments.

Prior to joining the museum in 1998, Burghard spent a decade with Arthur Anderson LLP, where she managed a number of clients with varying businesses, including healthcare, insurance, benefit plans, not-for-profit organizations and more. She holds a bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Tennessee and is a certified public accountant. She is a member of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants, where she serves as a past president of the Tennessee Chapter and past chair of the Industry Committee.

Purcell previously served as Senior Vice President of External Affairs. She has added supervision of the marketing and public relations departments to her scope of work, which supports the museum’s development, education and community engagement efforts. Her leadership areas encompass contributed income, including individual giving, planned giving, membership and corporate partnerships; educational programming; public relations; public affairs; and marketing. In 2022, the integrated external affairs team provided programming and instruction for more than 130,000 individuals in nearly 1,600 in-person and virtual education programs; facilitated a record number of news stories featuring the museum and its initiatives; engaged nearly 150 volunteers; coordinated two Medallion Ceremonies, which induct new Hall of Fame members; facilitated major exhibit and programmatic partnerships; collaborated with digital service providers; and more.

Prior to joining the museum in 2014, Purcell served as vice president of external affairs for Hands On Nashville and worked in the program and administrative departments of diverse nonprofit organizations, ranging from the Frist Art Museum to the music business charity T.J. Martell Foundation. She holds both undergraduate and master’s degrees in art history from West Virginia University and has completed certificate programs in leadership at Belmont and Harvard universities. Purcell serves on the Leadership Music Board of Directors and the Education Board Committee of the Nashville Symphony.

Sony Music Nashville, WME and The CORE Entertainment teams surprise Nate Smith with a Platinum-certification plaque for “Whiskey On You.” Photo: Helena Akhtar

Nate Smith was surprised by his Sony Music Nashville, WME, and Core Entertainment teams with a Platinum plaque for his hit single “Whiskey On You.” To celebrate the achievement, he is releasing two new tracks from his upcoming, self-titled album next Friday, “Better Boy” and “Oil Spot.” The full-length album will arrive April 28.

“Whiskey On You” topped the country charts for the second week in a row this week, achieving the first multi-week No. 1 on a debut single since 2019 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Adding to the song’s accolades, “Whiskey On You” was also No. 1 on Canada’s country radio chart for six weeks, making the song the longest-running No. 1 country debut by a male vocalist in the country’s chart history.

Smith is set to perform “Whiskey On You” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Feb. 15. The rising star will be joining Thomas Rhett on his “Home Team Tour 23,” which kicks off May 4 in Des Moines, Iowa, and will visit 40 cities this summer.

Jordyn Shellhart performing at The Electric Jane. Photo: Hayley Gjertsen

Warner Music Nashville introduced artist Jordyn Shellhart with a special industry showcase at The Electric Jane on Wednesday evening (Feb. 8).

Shellhart performed a collection of self-written songs that will be featured on her full-length Warner debut, set for release this spring. The project’s first track “Who Are you Mad At” is out now. Her musical influences range from Emmylou Harris and Kris Kristofferson to Taylor Swift and Kacey Musgraves.

Born in Wyoming, Shellhart came to Nashville at the age of 10. By the age of 16, she had signed both a record and publishing deal, made her Grand Ole Opry debut and planned a country-wide tour.  After taking a break from the stage, she found herself singing again and racking up credits as a songwriter, including Little Big Town’s Grammy-nominated “Sugar Coat” as well as songs recorded by Kelsea Ballerini, Cody Johnson, Don Williams and more.

Now, Shellhart is ready to share her music through her own voice with more original work coming this year.

Pictured (L-R, back row): SMP’s Josh Van Valkenburg, Synnovea Halsel, Anna Weisband, Aubrey Rupe and Dale Bobo. (L-R, front row): Red’s Jeremy Stover, Matt Mulhare, Red’s Taylor Lamb, SMP’s Rusty Gaston and Tom Luteran.

Matt Mulhare has signed a joint publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing Nashville and Red Creative Group.

A native of Florida, New York, Mulhare grew up on early 2000’s country, listening to Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley, along with rock staples from Pearl Jam to Oasis. He fell in love with songwriting at a young age and moved to Nashville after high school to attend Belmont University.