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

Travelers passing through BNA Airport’s Concourse C were treated to a surprise Keith Urban show on Saturday morning (3/2). Putting on a 30-minute impromptu performance with his band, the Country star took the food court stage for a set that included his latest single, “Messed Up as Me,” which he debuted at the Ryman Auditorium during Country Radio Seminar week in Nashville.

In an Instagram post, Urban wrote, “From the baggage claim to a REAL STAGE !!!! Sooooo fun celebrating the release of ‘Messed Up As Me’ with loads of you in Concourse C yesterday and a massive thank you to everyone at @flynashville for helping us pull off the surprise."

Peep clips of the airport show below and watch the vid for “Messed Up as Me” here.

The 59th ACM Awards will return to Frisco, Texas on 5/16 for a second consecutive year, streaming live from Ford Center at The Star via Prime Video, globally and exclusively.

"Frisco, Texas and The Star District proved to be the perfect new home for the evolution of this Emmy-nominated ‘Party,’ bringing music’s biggest global superstars to the passionate and loyal Texas Country Music fans!” said ACM CEO Damon Whiteside.

He continues, “We’re thrilled to bring ACM Awards week to life again at the home of America’s Team, the Dallas Cowboys, along with our best-in-class partners at Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Dick Clark Productions and our Executive Producer, Raj Kapoor, to make this year’s show even bigger and better.”

“The stars of country music shine very brightly here in Texas, and we’re honored to be the home of this amazing celebration once again. We can’t wait to host all of the great artists and fans at Country Music’s Party of the Year,” added Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager, Jerry Jones.

Pre-sale tickets will be available to ACM A-List subscribers beginning 3/6, while general on-sale kicks off at 11am ET on 3/8 via SeatGeek.

The 59th ACM Awards is produced by DCP, with Kapoor serving as executive producer and showrunner and Patrick Menton as co-executive producer. Barry Adelman is the executive producer for DCP and Whiteside is executive producer for the ACM. John Saade will also continue to serve as consulting producer for Amazon MGM Studios.

Additional details for this year’s show, including hosts, nominees, performers and more will be announced in the coming months.

This illustrious photo op was orchestrated to celebrate the inking of singer-songwriter and Yellowstone star Luke Grimes to Warner Chappell, "in collaboration with Range Media Partners," per the publicity materials. Seen preparing to collaborate on a magnum of Cabernet are (back, l-r) Range's Matt Graham and Cameron Lutz, WCM’s Alexa Morris and Jessi Vaughn Stevenson; (front, l-r) WCM Nashville President/CEO Ben Vaughn and Grimes.

Grimes, whose debut single, “No Horse to Ride,” was featured on Yellowstone's mid-season series finale last year and peaked at #7 on the Country Digital Song Sales chart, is slated to drop his self-titled, Dave Cobb-produced debut album on 3/8 via Capitol Nashville. The LP follows 2023’s Pain Pills or Pews EP, which earned 105m+ streams. Grimes will return to Stagecoach in April; we recommend stocking up on sunblock now.

"When you meet Luke you quickly realize his deep love for creating music," reads a quote from Ben Vaughn. "We've been so impressed with how he has formed strong creative relationships with other amazing writers, and with his commitment to country music. Everyone at Warner Chappell is beyond honored that he has chosen us to represent his songs. Also, he has promised me a Yellowstone cameo as the bandit Vaughnito."

“Warner Chappell has been incredibly helpful getting me started on this journey and I'm honored to officially become a part of their family. Big thanks to Ben and Jessi [Vaughn Stevenson] and the rest of the team. It means the world,” added Grimes.

Offering a star-studded celebration during the final day of CRS, Big Machine Label Group showcased superstars and in-demand newcomers at the Omni hotel in Nashville on 3/1.

Hosting a bevy of Country radio and industry execs, BMLG President & CEO Scott Borchetta invited the room to preview their eclectic roster of talent alongside imprint leaders like Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment President/CEO Jimmy Harnen, The Valory Music Co. President George Briner and Big Machine Records EVP/GM Kris Lamb.

Performers at the luncheon included Lady A, Carly Pearce, Brian Kelley, Riley Green, Chris Janson, Jackson Dean, Greylan James and Mackenzie Carpenter, as well as a surprise set from Capitol Nashville’s Dierks Bentley.

Borchetta closed out the shindig by bringing out two more special guests, Oklahomans Garth Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, to perform their latest single “Rodeo Man.”

Seen above just before platters of hot chicken were served are (back row, l-r) CRB’s RJ Curtis, Greylan James; Lamb; Briner; CRB’s Kurt Johnson; (middle row, l-r) Harnen; Janson; Kelley; Green; Lady A’s Charles Kelley; BMLG’s Allison Jones; (front row, l-r) Bentley; Dean; Pearce; Borchetta; Lady A’s Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood; Carpenter; and BMLG’s Sandi Spika Borchetta.

Photo credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BMLG