Pictured (L-R): Vickie Gordon, Brian Crews, Cara Lippman, Paige Zuidema, Adriana (Dri) Valadez
Romeo Entertainment Group has added five new staff members to its team, including Cara Lippman, Paige Zuidema, Brian Crews, Vickie Gordon and Adriana (Dri) Valadez.
Lippman joins REG as the Executive Assistant to Romeo Entertainment Group President R.J. Romeo and Michelle Romeo, as well as Office Manager. She earned a B.S. degree in English Education and a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology. After working as an English and French teacher and theater director, Lippman served in the administrative field for more than 20 years. She performs with her own blues band, Cara Being Blue, has self-released two indie radio charting albums, and toured the UK and Europe. Lippman served the Nashville community as founder and host of the Pro Blues Jam for six years and as the Secretary to the Nashville Blues & Roots Alliance for three.
Zuidema has been named an Event Coordinator at Romeo Entertainment Group. She began her career in Nashville in 2010 interning for Better Angels Music Group and also interned for Stoney Creek Records and Broken Bow Records. In 2013, she was hired as Director of Secondary Radio Promotions, and also assisted in the day to day management for artists such as Maggie Rose and Tate Stevens. In 2014, she graduated from Trevecca University with a degree in Communications with a minor in Music Business. Zuidema joined The Kinkead Entertainment Agency team in 2015 and worked with Bob Kinkead as his Executive Assistant for seven years.
Crews has joined the company as a Talent Buyer helping to REG to expand to the East Coast. Crews previously served as president of Crewser Entertainment where he served as an artist manager, booking agent and talent buyer for seven years. Throughout his career Crews managed and booked artists including Tracy Byrd, Keith Anderson, T. Graham Brown, Ray Scott, and more. As a talent buyer and concert producer Crews has produced shows for Hank Williams, Jr., Alabama, Montgomery Gentry, Jon Pardi, Brantley Gilbert, 3 Door Down, ravis Tritt, Lee Brice and Nelly, to name a few.
Vickie joins Romeo Entertainment Group as an Event Coordinator. She graduated in 2015 from Randolph-Macon College. Upon graduating, Vickie relocated to Los Angeles to intern with the Academy of Country Music before moving on to work at Agency for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. She began working within the Music Department at APA as the Executive Assistant to Josh Humiston. In 2019, she was promoted to Agent and began developing a Fairs Department in the L.A. office. In this role, she worked with all departments within APA Music, booking acts across the roster on fairs across the U.S. She later began to work on the Festivals Team as well.
Valadez joins Romeo Entertainment Group as an Event Coordinator. (Dri) Valadez began her career in Nashville in 2013 as an intern for Fan Clubhouse. From there, Valadez interned for iHeart Radio in the radio promotions department. In 2015, she began interning at deciBel Nashville with producer Dave Brainard as well as Brian Crews at Crewser Entertainment. In 2016, she graduated from Belmont University and transitioned to an employee at Crewser Entertainment. During her six years at Crewser, Dri was an assistant, social media and marketing manager, tour manager and did day-to-day management for Ray Scott, Crawford & Power, Maggie Baugh and Keith Anderson.
“We are thrilled to welcome our latest additions to the team, all of whom embody the hardworking and positive culture that has become a hallmark of our organization,” shares R.J. Romeo, President of Romeo Entertainment Group. “As we continue to expand, our focus remains on finding individuals who will not only contribute to the success of our events, but also grow professionally within our company. I am eager to work alongside our new team members and help our clients bring their concerts to life with our collective expertise and dedication.”
Brent Anderson Signs With Spirit Music Nashville/Fluid Music Revolution
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R:) Cole Perry (Spirit Music Nashville), Kara Jackson (SMN), Brian Bradford (SMN), Kennedy Murphy (SMN), Michelle Davey (SMN), Mike Fiorentino (SMN), Brent Anderson, Derek Wells (SMN), AJ Burton (Fluid Music Revolution), Frank Rogers (Spirit Music Group), Elizabeth Lombardi (Milom, Crow, Kelley, Beckett, Shehan PLC)
Brent Anderson has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Spirit Music Nashville/Fluid Music Revolution.
A native of Pascagoula, Mississippi, Anderson started playing guitar at six years old. By the time he was ten, he was fronting his own three-piece band. At 17, his gift for songwriting caught the ear of Nashville and he signed his first songwriting deal. Anderson later signed with Sea Gayle/Arista Nashville and his debut album was produced by Frank Rogers.
Since moving to Nashville in 2005, Anderson has written songs cut by Brad Paisley, Dustin Lynch, Blake Shelton, Cole Swindell, Sheryl Crow, Florida Georgia Line, and Scotty McCreery, among others. Anderson co-wrote “Lonely Tonight” with Ryan Hurd, which hit No. 1 on the Country Airplay charts, and garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
He also co-produced Chris Janson’s album Buy Me a Boat and the 2017 single “Fix a Drink”—singing backing vocals and playing acoustic guitar on the track—as well as produced songs for Jameson Rodgers. His vocals and guitar playing have been featured on many artist projects as well, including for Rodgers, Lainey Wilson, and Brad Paisley.
Anderson’s new EP, Bloodline, was released in 2022 on Red Balloon Music, and a full length album titled Rearview Tennessee is slated for release this summer.
“We are thrilled to welcome Brent Anderson to the Spirit/Fluid family!” shares Rogers, Chief Creative Officer, Spirit Music Group/CEO, Spirit Music Nashville. “Brent is a world-class songwriter, singer, musician and producer who’s potential is truly limitless. We could not be more excited about partnering with Brent—this is going to be a lot of fun! Let’s go!”
“I have been a friend/fan of Brent and his songwriting for some time now,” adds AJ Burton, Vice President, Fluid Music Revolution. “Knowing his long history with Frank and after a couple of recent hangs, I knew I wanted him to be a part of Spirit Fluid to help build this next chapter of his career.”
“Working with Frank, and now AJ and the Spirit/Fluid team, is a full circle moment,” shares Anderson. “I’m really grateful to join forces with such a talented team of music publishers and excited about what the future will bring.”
Weekly Register: Morgan Wallen Infiltrates Charts With New Music
/by LB CantrellMorgan Wallen. Photo: David Lehr
Morgan Wallen is on the precipice of new music, with a 36-song album called One Thing At A Time due out in March.
Of the teasers he has released from the project, multiple tracks make up the top 10 on the country streaming charts this week. New song “Last Night” debuts at No. 1 on the country streaming songs chart and No. 4 all-genre, earning 26 million streams this week and 37 million RTD according to Luminate data.
Other Wallen songs in the top 10 include hits “Thought You Should Know,” “You Proof” and “Wasted On You,” as well as new songs “I Wrote The Book,” “One Thing At A Time” and “Everything I Love.”
Elsewhere on the country streaming songs chart is Zach Bryan‘s “Something In The Orange” at No. 2, Bailey Zimmerman‘s “Rock And A Hard Place” at No. 3 and Luke Combs‘ “The Kind Of Love We Make” at No. 9.
On the country albums chart, Wallen continues his reign at the top with Dangerous: The Double Album earning 46K in total consumption (1.4K album only/57 million song streams). He is followed by Shania Twain‘s new album Queen Of Me (38K in total consumption), Bryan’s American Heartbreak (32K), Hardy‘s The Mockingbird & The Crow (21K) and Zimmerman’s Leave The Light On (20K)
Kelsea Ballerini Unpacks Some Life Lessons On Intimate New EP ‘Rolling Up The Welcome Mat’
/by Lorie HollabaughKelsea Ballerini
Kelsea Ballerini is releasing a special new EP, Rolling Up The Welcome Mat, today (Feb. 14).
The Valentines gift for fans features an intimate set of songs that measures the most personal aspects of her last few years. Working with frequent collaborator Alysa Vanderheym, the pair co-produced and co-wrote three tracks on Rolling Up The Welcome Mat. Ballerini wrote the other three on her own, committed to sorting through her life completely on her own terms.
“I wasn’t worried about anything other than presenting the songs as honestly as possible,” says Ballerini. “Most of them started with me and my guitar. I was writing by myself for most of the project, and it was nice to trust myself again. The only way I’ve been able to handle my life since I was 12 was to write about it. Ironically, I started writing music because my parents got divorced; that was my therapy. Rolling Up The Welcome Mat was how I processed everything. It’s the way I got my feelings out of my body and heart and put them to music, which is the purest way I could’ve handled it.”
From the opening chords of the moody “Mountain With A View,” a whispery self-examination of doubt and letting go, to the realization of “Penthouse,” the churning “Blindsided,” and the vulnerability of “Leave Me Again,” the project refracts the reality of so many people who face what they were told they wanted turning out not to be what they truly desired in the end.
To accompany the new EP, Ballerini wrote and directed a short film alongside co-director Patrick Tracy that takes a deeper dive into the emotions that went into Rolling Up The Welcome Mat. Filmed in a white, minimalist environment, the film is available on YouTube.
Ballerini will launch the second leg of her “Heartfirst Tour” on March 6 in Toronto and will visit cities throughout the Midwest and East Coast, closing out on March 18 in Pittsburgh.
Encore Music Group Acquires Dean Dillon’s Dean’s Cabin Publishing Catalog [Exclusive]
/by LB CantrellEncore Music Group CEO, Justin Ward
Encore Music Group has announced the acquisition of Dean Dillon‘s Dean’s Cabin Publishing, containing over 400 songs that include co-writes with George Strait, Tim Nichols, Luke Combs, Liz Rose, Buddy Cannon and more.
The catalog has includes seven cuts by Strait, including the Gold-certified single “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar” from the Honky Tonk Time Machine album and “You Gotta Go Through Hell” from the Strait Out of the Box: Part 2 box set. It also contains “Tomorrow Me” from Combs’ Growin’ Up album, Jon Pardi‘s “Love Her Like She’s Leaving,” Lainey Wilson‘s “Straight Up Sideways” and Tenille Arts‘ “Territory.”
“We are honored to be in the music publishing business with songs written or co-written by Country Music Hall of Famer Dean Dillon, Rick Huckaby, and Dan Alley among so many other talented artists and writers,” shares Encore Music Group CEO Justin Ward. “This specific catalog has not been saturated amongst the artist community so we look forward to sharing these songs with those making new records and looking for hit songs.”
Encore Music Group and Dean’s Cabin Publishing are administered by Peter Roselli and the team at Bluewater Music Services Corp.
Romeo Entertainment Group Adds Five
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Vickie Gordon, Brian Crews, Cara Lippman, Paige Zuidema, Adriana (Dri) Valadez
Romeo Entertainment Group has added five new staff members to its team, including Cara Lippman, Paige Zuidema, Brian Crews, Vickie Gordon and Adriana (Dri) Valadez.
Lippman joins REG as the Executive Assistant to Romeo Entertainment Group President R.J. Romeo and Michelle Romeo, as well as Office Manager. She earned a B.S. degree in English Education and a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology. After working as an English and French teacher and theater director, Lippman served in the administrative field for more than 20 years. She performs with her own blues band, Cara Being Blue, has self-released two indie radio charting albums, and toured the UK and Europe. Lippman served the Nashville community as founder and host of the Pro Blues Jam for six years and as the Secretary to the Nashville Blues & Roots Alliance for three.
Zuidema has been named an Event Coordinator at Romeo Entertainment Group. She began her career in Nashville in 2010 interning for Better Angels Music Group and also interned for Stoney Creek Records and Broken Bow Records. In 2013, she was hired as Director of Secondary Radio Promotions, and also assisted in the day to day management for artists such as Maggie Rose and Tate Stevens. In 2014, she graduated from Trevecca University with a degree in Communications with a minor in Music Business. Zuidema joined The Kinkead Entertainment Agency team in 2015 and worked with Bob Kinkead as his Executive Assistant for seven years.
Crews has joined the company as a Talent Buyer helping to REG to expand to the East Coast. Crews previously served as president of Crewser Entertainment where he served as an artist manager, booking agent and talent buyer for seven years. Throughout his career Crews managed and booked artists including Tracy Byrd, Keith Anderson, T. Graham Brown, Ray Scott, and more. As a talent buyer and concert producer Crews has produced shows for Hank Williams, Jr., Alabama, Montgomery Gentry, Jon Pardi, Brantley Gilbert, 3 Door Down, ravis Tritt, Lee Brice and Nelly, to name a few.
Vickie joins Romeo Entertainment Group as an Event Coordinator. She graduated in 2015 from Randolph-Macon College. Upon graduating, Vickie relocated to Los Angeles to intern with the Academy of Country Music before moving on to work at Agency for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. She began working within the Music Department at APA as the Executive Assistant to Josh Humiston. In 2019, she was promoted to Agent and began developing a Fairs Department in the L.A. office. In this role, she worked with all departments within APA Music, booking acts across the roster on fairs across the U.S. She later began to work on the Festivals Team as well.
Valadez joins Romeo Entertainment Group as an Event Coordinator. (Dri) Valadez began her career in Nashville in 2013 as an intern for Fan Clubhouse. From there, Valadez interned for iHeart Radio in the radio promotions department. In 2015, she began interning at deciBel Nashville with producer Dave Brainard as well as Brian Crews at Crewser Entertainment. In 2016, she graduated from Belmont University and transitioned to an employee at Crewser Entertainment. During her six years at Crewser, Dri was an assistant, social media and marketing manager, tour manager and did day-to-day management for Ray Scott, Crawford & Power, Maggie Baugh and Keith Anderson.
“We are thrilled to welcome our latest additions to the team, all of whom embody the hardworking and positive culture that has become a hallmark of our organization,” shares R.J. Romeo, President of Romeo Entertainment Group. “As we continue to expand, our focus remains on finding individuals who will not only contribute to the success of our events, but also grow professionally within our company. I am eager to work alongside our new team members and help our clients bring their concerts to life with our collective expertise and dedication.”
Jordan Schmidt Leaps Into Top 10 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellJordan Schmidt. Photo: Ed Rode
With three charting songs, Jordan Schmidt makes a big move from No. 30 to No. 10 this week on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. Schmidt is a co-writer on Mitchell Tenpenny’s “We Got History,” Cole Swindell’s “Drinkaby” and Hardy and Lainey Wilson’s “Wait In The Truck.”
Zach Bryan marks another week at the top of the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week, notching his 18th consecutive week at the peak. As the sole writer on the songs he is charting with, Bryan receives all of the points earned from airplay, digital download track sales and streams on the Songwriter Chart.
Morgan Wallen (No. 2), Ashley Gorley (No. 3) and Michael Hardy (No. 4) remain in their places within the top five this week, while Luke Combs moves up to No. 5 following the addition of his new song “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old” to the country charts.
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.
Thirty Tigers Announces Staff Promotions, Additions
/by Caela GriffinThirty Tigers is kicking off 2023 with some promotions and additions to their Nashville office.
Former Project Managers John Moser and Ale Delgado have been promoted to Senior Project Managers, overseeing departmental operations and managing album release campaigns. Moser and Delgado have been with Thirty Tigers for seven and five years, respectively.
Micki Windham, former Production Manager, has been promoted to Senior Production Manager and Alex Ramsay has been promoted to Independent Retail Sales & Marketing Manager. Former Catalog Coordinator Sydeny Clancy has expanded her role to Production Coordinator, offering support across all production efforts for both new releases and inventory management.
For new additions, Thirty Tigers welcomed Kayla Ganz as the new Director of Digital Sales and Streaming in February of 2022. Ganz previously served as Naxos Music Group’s Director of Digital Sales and Partnerships. Lauren Caudle joined Thirty Tigers in September 2021 and was promoted to Project Manager in June of 2022.
Additionally, Zack Hallcroft returned to Thirty Tigers as a Project Management Coordinator after five years at CDA Entertainment.
“With the growth of our current employees and several key additions we’ve made in the last year,” says President and Co-founder of Thirty Tigers, David Macias. “I’m confident Thirty Tigers will continue to serve our clients while maintaining a culture of love and service.”
Thirty Tigers is a Nashville-based global music marketing, management, and distribution company with a vast client base.
Comedian Henry Cho Welcomed Into Grand Ole Opry Family
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Vince Gill, Don Schlitz, John Conlee, Henry Cho, Ben Isaacs and Steve Wariner. Photo: Chris Hollo
Comedian Henry Cho was officially inducted into the Grand Ole Opry family Saturday night (Feb. 11) by his buddy Vince Gill.
Gill called out Opry members John Conlee, Ben Isaacs, Don Schlitz and Steve Wariner to join him for the special induction moment.
“I just want to say congrats. And to encourage you to come out here. That’s the best thing you can do for us and that’s why you are becoming a member; because you show up,” Gill said during the induction. “And when we’re laughing there’s nothing wrong in this world. What you get from this place is friendships, and those will mean more than the funniest joke you will ever write or the biggest hit we will ever have. So welcome to our family.”
Cho responded with a characteristic joke saying, “Thank y’all. For all of you that stood up, I hope you get out of here quickly and the ones that didn’t, I hope you get stuck in traffic. This is a great honor, and I can’t even put it into words. To have my pal Vince do this induction means the world to me. I want to thank my family and thank God—well kinda not in that order. Thank you, Grand Ole Opry.”
Cho, along with Comedian Gary Mule Deer, was surprised in January with an invitation to join the Opry by member Marty Stuart. The two comedians have each played the Opry more than 100 times and are the first comedians to be inducted as members since comedian Jerry Clower became an Opry member nearly 50 years ago. Mule Deer’s induction is set to take place on March 10.
“The Opry is going to be stronger, better, and funnier with Henry as an official member,” said Dan Rogers, Opry VP and Executive Producer. “We’re thrilled our dear friend is family.”
The War And Treaty Announce Special Guests For The ‘Lover’s Game Tour’
/by Caela GriffinThe War And Treaty will headline their “Lover’s Game” tour this spring, supported by their newly named opening acts, Kat & Alex and William Prince.
“Michael and I have been working hard to make this tour a special opportunity for fans to unite through the power of love with our new music,” Tanya Trotter says. “We are so excited to have Kat & Alex and William Prince join us on the road and we are looking forward to creating some unforgettable moments together.”
The Lover’s Game album marks the husband and wife duo’s first major-label release with Mercury Nashville. Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter were previously recognized by the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry, and won the Americana Music Association award last year for Duo/Group of the Year.
The 35-city tour, named for their upcoming album releasing Mar. 10, will kick off in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Mar. 19 with stops in New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto before closing in Nashville, Tennessee on May 13. Limited tickets are available at thewarandtreaty.com.
“Lover’s Game Tour” Dates:
3/19 Oklahoma City, OK *
3/21 Phoenix, AZ *
3/23 Solana Beach *
3/24 Santa Ana, CA *
3/25 Pioineertown, CA *
3/26 Los Angeles, CA *
3/28 San Francisco, CA *
3/30 Portland, OR *
3/31 Seattle, WA * SOLD-OUT
4/01 Vancouver, BC, Canada *
4/03 Bozeman, MT SOLD-OUT
4/05 Salt Lake City, UT *
4/07 Denver, CO *
4/13 Louisville, KY –
4/14 St. Louis, MO –
4/15 Davenport, IA –
4/16 Minneapolis, MN –
4/19 Evanston, IL –
4/20 Grand Rapids, MI –
4/21 Detroit, MI –
4/22 Columbus, OH –
4/23 Cleveland, OH –
4/25 Buffalo, NY –
4/26 Toronto, ON, Canada
4/28 South Burlington, VT –
4/29 Brownfield, ME
4/30 Rockland, ME –
5/02 Hamden, CT –
5/03 New York, NY –
5/05 Ardmore, PA –
5/06 Washington, DC –
5/09 Charlotte, NC –
5/10 Durham, NC –
5/11 Knoxville, TN –
5/13 Nashville, TN –
* Kat & Alex Support
– William Prince Support
National Museum Of African American Music Hip Hop Exhibit Open Now
/by Lorie HollabaughThe NMAAM features gallery exhibit displays iconic pieces of the origin and cultural impact of hip hop through the lenses of four legendary artists. This is Hip Hop also showcases the work of four notable documentarians, representing the country’s four major regions (Midwest, West, East and South). Enthusiasts of the genre can experience some of the most memorable moments and performances in hip hop history through each photographer’s unique experience.
Photo: Elle Danielle/MOJO Marketing & PR
Visitors can gaze upon the photography of Chicago native, Raymond Boyd (Midwest), who rose to prominence in the early 1980s for his black-and-white pictures of notable hip pop performers visiting the Midwest, and whose in-depth interpretations were created especially for the This Is Hip Hop display; Traci Bartlow (West Coast), whose ’90s Bay Area hip hop photos were featured in Oakland Museums; Andre Leroy Davis (East Coast), an artist renowned for his must-see illustrations that satirize and comment on current events and culture; and the South’s very own, Shannon McCullum, a self-taught photographer from Atlanta with more than 25 years of experience in the music industry.
NMAAM kicked off the celebration with a conversation featuring Boyd at This is Hip Hop’s opening reception, which was led by Nashville’s radio personality and host of the Kenny Smoov Morning Show, Kenny Smoov of 92Q.