Core Values: Chief Zaruk and Simon Tikhman
Core's Chief Zaruk and Simon Tikhman (Isaac Mason)
Kevin “Chief” Zaruk and Simon Tikhman started The Core Entertainment in 2019 as a hybrid of management, label, publishing, branding and other ventures under a single umbrella. It reps Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith, Josh Ross and Nickelback, among others.
The company recently celebrated the milestone of three singles in the Country radio Top 10 (and a #1 for Ross with “Single Again”), including Zimmerman’s latest, “Backup Plan” f/Luke Combs, which is also on its way to the top.
Atlantic/Warner Nashville’s Zimmerman, whose “All the Way” with BigXthaPlug is a stone smash, just notched a Top 15 debut with new album Different Night, Same Rodeo. That set is the highly anticipated follow-up to his first LP, Religiously, which amassed the most first-week streams of any country debut set ever. Zimmerman's sold-out New to Country Tour, meanwhile, already has a Red Rocks date as well as his biggest headlining show yet, at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Sony Nashville’s Smith, who’s racked up 2.7b+ career streams, just scored his fourth straight Country radio #1, with “Fix What You Didn’t Break.” Having headlined a sold-out trek and toured with Morgan Wallen, Thomas Rhett and Cole Swindell, he’s now on the road supporting Jason Aldean. Not for nothing, Smith has appeared on countless “next big thing” and “breakthrough” lists.
The Core has also been instrumental in returning Nickelback to global prominence. Under its wing, the band has mounted a sold-out arena tour and been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame—and received long-overdue props for its outsized hits.
In 2023 Chief and Simon struck a partnership with Sir Lucian Grainge and UMG to launch The Core Records; signings include Brandon Wisham, Hannah McFarland and Just Jayne.
Maintaining offices in Nashville and Los Angeles, The Core boasts a staff of 30, led by President Tracy Martin, GM Dan Dymtrow and VP of Artist Development Jamie Younger.
At left: Uh-oh, it's one of those music-biz rituals we're not supposed to talk about. Seen after Zimmerman's recent show at Red Rocks are, from left, The Core’s Tracy Martin, Atlantic Music Group’s Zach Friedman and Tony Talamo, Zimmerman, Tikhman, Atlantic Records’ Ian Cripps, Zaruk and Atlantic Records’ Jeff Levin. At right: Chief and Simon with Josh Ross, whose album, Later Tonight (on The Core's label via UMG), is due on Sept. 19.