We asked Stem Head of Artist and Label Strategy Alison Junker and Head of Artist and Label Relations, Rock and Alternative Chris Allen—two key members of the company's Nashville team—about Stem’s strategic expansion, its unique value proposition for artists wary of traditional record deals and more. For some reason, they decided to answer our questions. Dive in below.
What have been some key drivers in helping expand Stem's presence in Nashville?
AJ: In addition to signing some key independent country artists, we’ve been able to penetrate the market with intentional strategy around marketing and pitching. The landscape also continues to work in favor of independent artists. I said it when I started over a year and half ago, and it rings even more true today: There is no better time to be an independent artist than right now.
CA: Relationships are everything. Alison Junker and I have both been part of the community for over a decade. We have worked at labels, publishers, DSPs and distributors. We have strong ties to the community and love artist development. Having a relationship with Big Loud Records is huge—they are one of the most successful independent labels in country music and have expanded into all genres. The managers and publishers are doing the hard work. When they get it right there’s no need for a label in the traditional sense.
What value proposition can Stem offer an artist who is wary of a traditional record deal?
AJ: Our value proposition is multifaceted and ever-growing, but the key difference between Stem and a major label deal is simple: At Stem, you have a team that has the expertise of a major label but you’re able to release your music whenever you want.
CA: Stem is all about independence. I was attracted to their motto: "Helping artists unfuck the music business.” My background is in artist management. As a manager I know the artist and every song—it’s the artist’s life and livelihood—and I’m committed to their success. Stem has the same mindset. Stem is committed to more than just market share. We are taking a curated approach to our roster and the songs we release every week have a much higher batting average in terms of playlisting. Stem's deals are generous for the level of service we provide.
Tell us about some of the artists you've signed to Stem since joining, and what they have cooking in 2024.
AJ: We signed Spencer Crandall a few months after I started and have helped him grow his team with a publishing deal with Warner Chappell and a few additional releases to his breakout album. He’s been writing for the past year or so and we just released his first new song since 2022. We’re working toward an album in 2025 with many more releases this year. Chris Allen and I also signed Shaylen, who has seen success across all aspects of her career over the past year. Her breakout song “What If I Don’t” was added to Hot Country shortly after she signed with us, and it’s now seen over 25m streams on Spotify alone. We’re working on an EP for release in the fall. We’re also working with the newest breakout star, Tucker Wetmore. His first release ever, “Wine into Whiskey,” had over 1.2m first-day streams. To say there is momentum is an understatement and we’re excited to keep that up with more releases this spring.
CA: We've signed a mix of artists and labels, Verswire, Barnaby/Cadence Records (Andy Williams’ label), 800 LB Gorilla, Thriller Records, Set it Off; (coming off a #1 song at Octane, they have another big single called “Fake Ass Friends”), and Go-Jo (over 50m on first single). A massive success has been Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners. In one year with Stem, RMCM have gone from 400k Spotify monthly listeners to over 16m.
With country artists continuing to post record DSP and box office numbers, what are your thoughts on the health of the genre at large? Is there any ceiling in sight?
AJ: Considering the numbers I’m seeing on Tucker Wetmore’s first release, I think the ceiling for country artists is only getting higher. Regardless of genre, great storytelling will always win. That being said, I think country artists do it best.
CA: I don’t see a ceiling or boundaries. We are working with Chugg in Australia. They are doing sold-out festivals, arena and stadium tours regularly with Nashville artists. Beyoncé just released a country record. It keeps expanding in the U.S. and around the world.
What are your thoughts on hot chicken? Is it too hot or not hot enough?
AJ: Not too hot, but I could live without it as a whole.
CA: I’m a fish guy. I’ll do the jalapeño yellowtail and spicy tuna crispy rice. We need a Nobu here.
No big whoop, but Seth England’s Big Loud just happens to have the year’s biggest album in any genre, Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time, which spent a mind-blowing 18 nonconsecutive weeks at #1 on the album chart, amassed 5.3 in ATD, generated billions of streams and launched single “Last Night” into the stratosphere.
Wallen, whose prior set, Dangerous: The Double Album, spent most of the year in the Top 10, took home the Male Artist of the Year trophy at the 2023 ACMs and the Country Songwriter of the Year prize from BMI (“Last Night” also earned a Grammy nom for Best Country Song). He also embarked on an absolute barnburner of a tour that proved he was one of the biggest stars in live music as well.
While Morgan was ruling the world, his pal HARDY was breaking out bigtime—first with the powerhouse single “wait in the truck” f/Lainey Wilson (Which won Music Event of the Year and the video prize at both the CMAs and the ACMs) and subsequently with the concept album the mockingbird & THE CROW, a dazzling fusion of country and hard rock that scored a Top 5 chart bow. He also won the ACMs’ inaugural Artist-Songwriter of the Year award. His playful but hard-charging new single, “ROCKSTAR,” is headed for Active Rock radio.
There were plenty more awards, including ACM New Female Artist of the Year for hot rookie Hailey Whitters, and numerous accolades for Big Loud itself, notably Country Aircheck Label of the Year, the CCMA Awards Record Company of the Year and the MusicRow Awards Label Group of the Year.
England and team—Producer/President of A&R/Partner Joey Moi, Writer/Partner Craig Wiseman, COO Austen Adams, SVP/GM Patch Culbertson, SVP Promo Stacy Blythe, SVP Marketing Candice Watkins, SVP A&R Sara Knabe and VP Insights & Analytics Eric England—extended not only the profile of Big Loud but its reach. They launched Big Loud Texas with Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall, inked a partnership with Severance Records and opened offices in London, England, and Brisbane, Australia. Big Loud Rock, with Greg Thompson, Lloyd Aur Norman and AJ Kasen rounding out the exec team, is making noise in L.A.
Big Loud brought Cayleigh Shepherd and Johnno Keetels aboard as label managers in the U.K. and Australia, respectively, while upping Brittani Koster to director, streaming & commercial partnerships, Ava Boney to A&R manager, Justin Clark to manager, national promotion/associate label manager Canada and Caitlin Erramouspe to digital, manager.
RECORDS Nashville has inked rising Country artist Alli Walker.
Known for her pop/rock country sound, the Prince Edward Island native boasts 700k+ social media followers, 10m+ views on her viral track, “The Whiskey’s Gone,” and has secured partnerships with Nike and Google.
“I’ve been grinding for 15 years as an independent artist and beyond excited to add incredible team members and join forces with RECORDS Nashville,” said Alli. “I’m so grateful to collaborate with such a talented team that believes in me and my vision who can elevate my music to new heights and help me connect with a broader audience!”
Josh Easler, EVP/promotion & commercial strategy, RECORDS Nashville, adds, “The RECORDS Nashville team is always looking for artistry that stands out, and Alli Walker does just that. We are excited to get started amplifying what she is already having success with.”
To celebrate the new deal, Walker has released her latest track, “I Like Big Trucks.” Walker co-wrote her twist on “Baby Got Back” alongside Stuart Walker, Madison Kozak, Thomas (Tawgs) Salter and Anthony Ray (aka Sir Mix-a-Lot).
With more new music and tour dates on the way, Walker’s gearing up to perform at The American Performance Horseman, opening for Luke Bryan at Globe Life Field on 3/8, and the Tailgate Party at Texas Live! on 3/9.
Seen above hoping this pic wouldn't land in our inbox are (l-r) RECORDS Nashville’s EVP of A&R Joe Fisher, Manager Brad Turcotte, Walker, RECORDS Nashville A&R Laurel Kittleson-Cobb and Easler.
Photo credit: Helena Akhtar
In honor of International Women’s Day, Mickey Guyton has released her aptly titled new single, “Woman," an ode to women’s empowerment. Written by Guyton, Victor Franco, Oliver Frid, Kameron Glasper and Tayla Parx, the track serves as the Capitol Nashville star's first release of 2024.
“I loved the idea of writing a song that celebrates the power women have,” Guyton remarked. “Throughout history and even today, women have taken pain, setbacks and doubt, and they turn that into inner strength, and they persevere to achieve incredible things. Releasing this on International Women’s Day seemed only fitting. We’re miracle workers, y’all!”
The release coincides with Guyton's performance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Friday night (3/8). We've been instructed to stay at least 200 yards away from the vicinity.
UTA has inked rising Country band Ole 60 for global representation in all areas.
Consisting of members Aden Wood, Ryan Laslie, Jacob Ty Young, Colby Clark, Dustin “Catfish” Fuqua and Jarrett Davis, Ole 60 most recently hit #1 on the Apple Music Country Albums and iTunes charts with their debut EP, three twenty four, while their track “smoke & a light” topped Spotify’s U.S. Viral 50 chart.
The Kentucky-based band will also hit the road this month as direct support on Dylan Gossett’s No Better Time Tour for select shows before supporting Charles Wesley Godwin for five dates. Additionally, the six-piece will perform at the Grind City Music Festival on 4/6 in Memphis, Tenn.
Ole 60 will continue to be represented by Whale Tale Management’s Davis Danziger, Wales Toney and Ty Little, as well as lawyer Matt Cottingham.
Seen above just before popping some of Kentucky’s finest hot chicken-flavored champagne are UTA’s Alec Vidmar, Elisa Vazzana, Justin Hill, Matthew Morgan, Buster Phillips; Ole 60’s Wood, Laslie, Young, Clark; Danziger, Little; and Cottingham.
Nine-time Grammy-winner and 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Sheryl Crow is gearing up to release her 11th studio album, Evolution, with a special concert at The Franklin Theatre on 3/23.
Due on 3/29 via The Valory Music Co., the album features nine new songs and is produced by Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Maroon 5, Keith Urban, Gary Clark Jr) and John Shanks (“Do It Again”).
The event will be filmed and broadcast on PBS later in the year, marking the first in a series of special events at the Franklin Theatre. Tickets are now available to Franklin Theatre Loyalty Club members, with public on-sale beginning 3/8 here.
On the album, Crow says, “This music and these lyrics came from sitting in the quiet and writing from a deep soul place. I said I’d never make another record, thought there was no point to it. But this music comes from my soul, and I hope whoever hears this record can feel that.”
Photo credit: Dove Shore
UMG Nashville has appointed David Friedman to the newly created position of VP of promotion and strategy. In his new role, he'll oversee all strategic elements of the label’s promotion operation.
Friedman comes with more than 25 years of experience, including a stint at MCA Nashville. He's been with UMG Nashville since 2015.
"Over the past year, the UMGN promotion department has evolved, and having someone with David’s vast experience running point on our overall radio strategy makes the department stronger,” UMG Nashville EVP & COO Mike Harris said. “Having his expertise at the center is a natural fit, and I’m really excited for David and to see where he can take this new role.”
Friedman added, "UMG has been my home for 8+ years and I’m looking forward to working with all four of our iconic imprints in plotting a course for the future."
Meanwhile, our future is looking as bleak as ever.
The Core Entertainment and ASCAP took over Nashville’s Critters on 3/4 to celebrate Nate Smith’s back-to-back #1s with “Whiskey on You” and “World on Fire,” the latter of which held the top spot for 10 weeks and tied Morgan Wallen’s “You Proof” for the longest run atop the Country Airplay chart. Next up, Smith will drop his EP Through the Smoke on 4/5. Seen feeling extra grateful that Nashville is 2,000+ miles away from us are (l-r) The Core co-founder Kevin “Chief” Zaruk, Sony Music Publishing Nashville topper Rusty Gaston, Smith and The Core co-founder Simon Tikhman.
Photo credit: Nicki Fletcher
