Nashville powerhouse singer-songwriter Ernest has launched DeVille Records, a joint venture with Big Loud Records, the company announced on Friday. According to the announcement, the label is “founded on the old-school values of artist development and creative swagger” and launches with Grammy-nominated Chandler Walters (a co-writer of Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help”), Rhys Rutherford, and Cody Lohden as its first artists.
“We’re going to build this thing wide and on concrete,” Ernest (pictured above, foreground, with the label’s artists) said of the label. “Artist development. Write the songs and do it the old-school way. Make the videos, see the vision, help the vision come to life.”
Big Loud CEO/partner Seth England added, “We have been in business with Ernest for almost a decade. He grew in an independent and cultural environment much like the one he desires to create. He and I have talked about this day for years, and all of the unique ways we could help break the next wave of prolific artists. Kudos to Rhys, Cody and Chandler for buying into this vision and supporting this unique rollout style with our upcoming DeVille project.”
The label’s first project, “Cadillac Sessions,” is a mixtape-style compilation featuring two new originals and one cover from Ernest Walters, Rutherford and Lohden – plus “additional superstar guests,” out May 9.
+ Mom+Pop Music has signed musicians-songwriters-poets the Brudi Brothers, whose tongue-in-cheek viral hit “Me More Cowboy Than You” has racked up more than 33 million views/streams.
The group, who are managed by Lily Silver, said in the announcement, “We recently wrote this song with the intent of inciting class warfare among the country western scene, but when we played it for the first time, people ended up actually enjoying it. Welders, cowboys, and every imaginable tradesman reached out in support of our message. We were speechless over the viral numbers and overwhelmed by the A&R types who came calling. An independent label called Mom + Pop stuck out to us; they share our interests and values, and we genuinely look forward to working with them.”
Label co-owner Thaddeus Rudd said, “The Brudi Brothers struck us as completely unique, interpreting American music through their own lens, looking forward as much as backwards for inspiration. It was a total team effort for us; there are so many fans at Mom+Pop. We’re jumping in on ‘Me More Cowboy Than You’ and setting up new music.”
The Seattle natives will embark on a spring tour supporting Grammy Award-winning roots artist Sierra Ferrell beginning in May, along with select headline dates.
Thursday, April 3
Warner Music Group and Grammy-nominated artist and philanthropist Josh Groban were honored at the organization’s annual gala held at The Altman Building in Flatiron on April 2.
The night culminated with $800,000 raised for the Harmony Program, which helps children gain critical life skills by bringing music education directly into underserved communities across New York City.
Hosted by CBS Mornings Plus’ Adriana Diaz, the evening included a special live performance by Groban and students from the Harmony Program.
“The Harmony Program’s work isn’t just about expanding access to music education, it’s about harnessing the power of music to encourage collaboration and cultivate community,” said Kevin Gore, a Harmony board member and WMG’s president of global catalog. “It’s more important than ever for all of us to ensure that artistic expression continues to flourish freely and that organizations like the Harmony Program continue to thrive, so that they can foster the next generation of leaders, dreamers, and music makers. It’s an honor to be recognized by such an essential and impactful organization in our community.”
On stage, Groban said, “The work of the Harmony Program is vitally important because it’s changing the mindset of these young people. Arts education, in an ever-divided and cynical world, is what tells us about the beauty of our similarities, but more importantly about the beauty of our differences. This honor is so special and it means the world to me.”
“Warner Music Group has been an invaluable partner to the Harmony Program and its students for over a decade,” said Harmony Program Founder and Executive Director, Anne Fitzgibbon. “Beyond financial support, they have provided our students with career mentorship, industry internships, and unforgettable, collaborative performances with world-class artists like Joyce DiDonato, Chris Thile, and Josh Groban. They exemplify the power of corporate philanthropy to inspire young people, and by extension, their broader communities.”
The Planning Committee for last night’s gala included WMG CEO Robert Kyncl, Kevin Gore, Adriana Diaz, Eliah Seton, Heather Buck, Evan Gogel, Kirsten Kern, Dennis Lee, Dr. Kalmon Post, and Rick Song. Additional sponsors included Kirsten and Peter Kern, Georgia and Don Gogel, Jenny and Roy Niederhoffer, Eliah Seton and James McKeever, SoundCloud, and Evan Gogel and Abra Metz-Dworkin.
+ Universal Music Publishing and She Is the Music hosted a three-day wellness and songwriting camp in Miami in celebration of Women’s History Month.
Between March 17 and 19, the two companies hosted artists, songwriters, and producers at Mindful Music Lab, a studio led by wellness and music expert Brittany Berger. Each day began with a sound healing meditation, followed by songwriting sessions with such artists as Shirel, Renée, MJ Nebreda, Maia and Drea.
Senior VP of Latin America and US Latin Ana Rosa Santiago said, “We are proud to support these incredible women from our global roster, providing them with opportunities to connect, collaborate, and create music together. Collaborating with She Is The Music and Mindful Music Lab to bring this camp to life has been an incredible experience, and the positive feedback from the talented participants speaks for itself, confirming the impact of this experience for them.”
Berger added: “These women turned healing into success. They created a space of authenticity, connection, trust, and safety; creating not only as artists, but as a family. This is how we make music with consciousness.” This original initiative combined creativity and mindfulness, reinforcing the importance of mental health in music while fostering a strong, supportive network, proving that UMPG is more than a team, it’s a family.”
+ Iowa-born and Nashville-based manager Kiley Donohoe has launched independent management company, Greenhouse Management. The current roster includes ACM-nominated artist Ernest, Chandler Walters, as well as rising artist-writers Cody Lohden and Rhys Rutherford.
Wednesday, April 2
Def Jam Recordings has appointed Tim Pithouse as general manager, as confirmed by chairman and CEO Tunji Balogun.
Pithouse most recently serving as president of Three Six Zero and previously held leadership roles at The Orchard, Sony Music Entertainment Australia, and more. He has also worked with such talent as Calvin Harris, Willow, Marcus Rashford, FKA Twigs, Skepta, Dom Dolla and Kid Cudi, among others.
Pithouse commented, “Def Jam has long stood at the creative intersection of artistry, success and culture. Having the opportunity to be part of this dynamic team and again work with Tunji Balogun and his unrivalled style and taste, is a privilege. I’m thrilled to be here and honored to help write the next chapter of this iconic label”
“I’ve known Tim Pithouse for almost a decade, going back to our days at Sony Music where we worked closely together to develop and break several new artists,” said Balogun. “Not only is Tim a world class executive, he’s also the rare person in our business who understands how culture moves and always has his finger on the pulse of what’s next. His breadth of knowledge and instinctive ability to interact with artists and their teams will be integral in helping to carry out our overall vision for the label. I’m thrilled to welcome Tim to the family at Def Jam.”
+ The annual Grammys On The Hill Awards, hosted by the Recording Academy, will return to Washington, D.C. on April 8-10.
The awards will honor Randy Travis and United States Representatives Linda Sánchez (D-CA) and Ron Estes (R-KS) for their commitment to advancing pro-music policy. On April 9, Advocacy Day will bring together Grammy winners and nominees, along with other esteemed industry leaders, for meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss critical music policy issues.
The week of music advocacy culminates with the Academy’s second annual Grammys On The Hill Future Forum, a conference exploring critical issues impacting the music community. It serves as a tool to empower and protect the creative integrity of artists.
+ Lava for Good, a podcast network, and iHeartPodcasts, the largest podcast publisher globally, have renewed their multi-year partnership. The renewed partnership follows a banner year for Lava for Good, with CEO and co-founder Jason Flom and Pulitzer Prize-winning host Maggie Freleng receiving the 2024 iHeartPodcast Social Impact Icon Award for the impact of Lava’s “Wrongful Conviction” series in actual exonerations and in criminal legal reform, including inspiring legislative change in three states.
Lava for Good is launching new seasons of its “Bone Valley” and “The War on Drugs” series, releasing weekly new “Wrongful Conviction” episodes, and expanding its lineup with several new series launching in 2025, including a new docuseries from Maggie Freleng and a deep dive into the history and impact of the Taser, bodycams and increasingly tech-driven policing.
“Lava for Good has built a remarkable track record of delivering stories that not only engage but resonate long after the episode ends,” said Will Pearson, president of iHeartPodcasts. “Their ability to blend sharp true crime analysis with deep investigative work makes them a standout in the podcasting space. We’re thrilled to continue our partnership and bring even more compelling narratives to listeners in 2025 and beyond.”
+ Exceleration Music has appointed Matt Harmon as head of rights development. In this new role, Harmon will work with the growing list of Exceleration-owned and partner labels, which include +1 Records, Alligator, Bloodshot, Candid, Down the Road, Kill Rock Stars, Mack Avenue, SideOneDummy, and Yep Roc, among others.
A respected veteran of the independent music industry, Harmon spent over two decades at Beggars Group US, where he played a pivotal role in the company’s growth. Joining in 1998 as head of sales, he rose through the ranks to become president, overseeing an expanding roster of iconic labels, including Matador Records, 4AD, Rough Trade, XL Recordings, and YOUNG. During his tenure, he guided Beggars through a period of massive growth and spearheaded the development of the company’s current US headquarters in .
At Exceleration Music, Harmon will lead label operations across the company’s portfolio, supporting labels in A&R development, marketing strategy, and catalog growth.
+ Country artist Matt Schuster has officially signed a management agreement with Dillon Goldberg of Nashville-based FNGRPRNT.
“Matt is an exceptional talent with the kind of voice and songwriting ability that cuts through,” said Goldberg. “I’m thrilled to partner with him and help realize the full scope of what he’s capable of.”
In the past year, Schuster has joined Bailey Zimmerman, Jessie Murph, Myles Smith, and Walker Hayes as a supporting act on their headline tours. He is currently signed to Warner Music Nashville for records, Universal Music Publishing Group for publishing, and WME for booking representation.
“Dillon brings a lot of experience to the table and really understands the landscape of breaking artists in 2025,” added Schuster. “He gets how music, content, and culture all work together today, and I’m looking forward to building something strong together.”
+ Concord Music Publishing has signed producer Dom Martinez. The worldwide publishing deal, effective immediately, includes his full catalog and future works.
Originally from Denver and currently based in Nashville Martinez has collaborated with emerging talents such as breakout star Myles Smith, Caleb Hearn, Braden Bales, Chesle, Asiris, Vwillz, and Eli Wilson.
+ Sony Music Publishing Nashville has inked rising singer-songwriter Averie Bielski to a global publishing deal. Originally from Roswell, Georgia, Averie has quickly made a name for herself with her viral, debut single “I Do Too,” which garnered attention across TikTok ahead of its release.
Averie said, “Finding a home at Sony Music Publishing has been such a blessing, especially being a younger writer! Having a team that truly believes in you and your work as a songwriter is hard to come by, but I am so blessed to have found that dream team! I’m truly so excited and ready to see what we can achieve and can’t wait to see all God has in store for the SMP team and I!”
Sony Music Publishing Nashville’s Manager of Creative A&R Synnovea Halsel said, “We’re beyond excited to welcome Averie to the SMP family. From the moment I heard her first song, I was taken aback. The way that Averie thinks about intertwining fresh lyrics and unique melodies is so special. She has such a bright future ahead of her!”
Monday, March 31
ASCAP has announced the 12 writer and 12 publisher members elected to serve on its board of directors for a two-year term beginning April 1. Newly elected to the board as a writer member is songwriter Claudia Brant.
President and Chairman of the Board, Paul Williams, commented: “It is both a privilege and a responsibility to be elected to the ASCAP Board by our songwriter, composer and publisher peers. The ASCAP Board takes seriously our commitment to advocating for and protecting the value of our more than one million members’ music and upholding our principles of fairness and efficiency to maximize distributions to our members. We welcome our newly elected songwriter Claudia Brant to join us in this mission, which puts the needs of our music creators and publishers first.”
In addition to Paul Williams, the writer members who were re-elected in the at-large field are: composer-songwriter Jon Batiste; songwriter-producer Desmond Child; composer Sharon Farber; Writer Vice Chair composer Dan Foliart; songwriter-composer Michelle Lewis; songwriter-producer Terry Lewis; composer-producer Marcus Miller; songwriter Jimmy Webb; and composer Doug Wood. Composer Alex Shapiro was re-elected in the Symphonic and Concert field.
The publisher directors re-elected in the at-large field are: Peter Brodsky, Sony Music Publishing; Bob Bruderman, Kobalt; Marti Cuevas, Mayimba Music; Ree Guyer, Wrensong Publishing, Keith Hauprich, BMG US; Dean Kay, Lichelle Music Company; Evan Lamberg, Universal Music Publishing Group; Leeds Levy, Leeds Music; Publisher Vice Chair Irwin Z. Robinson, Cromwell Music, Inc.; Paul Robinson, Warner Chappell Music; and Jon Singer, Spirit Music. James M. Kendrick, European American Music, was re-elected in the Symphonic and Concert field.
+ Latin indie label Nacional Records is gearing up for the release of “The Story of Nacional Records: Volume Uno,” and “The Story of Nacional Records: Volume Dos,” a pair of double-vinyl editions celebrating the company’s catalog.
“I have long enjoyed getting a demo, hearing it and getting excited and watching it grow into a future classic,” writes Nacional Founder Tomas Cookman in the liner notes. “The back and forth with artists and writers in doing whatever small part I could to help them navigate their dreams was often the best part of what my ‘job’ has been all these years.”
These limited-edition releases feature classics by Nortec Collective, Ana Tijoux, Aterciopelados, Los Amigos Invisibles, Manu Chao, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Adrian Quesada, Bomba Estéreo, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Tom Tom Club, El Guincho, Jungle Fire and rising star Yadam, among more (a total of 51 artists are include.
+ Sony Music Publishing has signed Jesse Fink to a worldwide publishing deal.
Los Angeles-based songwriter Fink has penned chart-topping songs including Myles Smith’s “Stargazing,” and co-wrote Artemas’ “i like the way you kiss me,” which recently surpassed one billion Spotify streams. Other notable works also include “dirty little secret” “cross my heart,” and “ur special to me” by Artemas; “Conversations in the Dark” by John Legend; “Breakfast” by Dove Cameron; and Leyla Blue’s “What A Shame.”
Sony Music Publishing Manager, A&R Clark Adler said: “Jesse is an exceptional songwriter, and his incredible passion and work ethic elevate everyone around him. We couldn’t be happier to join Jesse’s team as he continues to take his career to new heights.”
Fink stated, “I’m so excited to be partnering with SMP for this next chapter of my career. Clark and Katie are incredible A&Rs, writer advocates and overall humans. I am beyond grateful for their belief in me and can’t wait to see all that we accomplish together in the years to come.”
+ On April 2, Rev. Al Sharpton will hold the Keepers of the Dream gala — this year honoring Patti LaBelle, Chris Matthews, labor leader George Gresham, among others — at the Sheraton New York Times Square.
Anthony Anderson will return to host this year’s gala, marking the fourth time he has emceed the event. Additional honorees include E. Brian Dobbins, Rev. Dr. Tecoy Porter and Rev. Stephan Marshall.