Jake Worthington Signs Management, Publishing Deal With Big Loud
Jake Worthington. Photo: Christopher Hornbuckle
Jake Worthington has signed with Big Loud for management and publishing.
Hailing from La Porte, Texas, Worthington was a finalist on Season 6 of NBC’s The Voice in 2014, and is ready to introduce his own brand of authentic country, drawing from inspirations like George Jones, Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, and Randy Travis. The emerging tunesmith has been writing with Nashville songwriters Craig Wiseman, Lee Miller, Tony Lane, Ernest Keith Smith, Matt Jenkins and more, and new music is expected from him in the coming months.
“As a Texan myself, adding Jake to the Big Loud roster is truly a full-circle moment for me,” says Big Loud Management’s Troy “Tracker” Johnson. “There’s just something about him, and I’m excited for everyone to hear it. He’s real, he’s country—plain and simple.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Jake into the Big Loud Publishing family as well,” says Big Loud Publishing’s Travis Carter. “We can’t wait to continue building upon the already incredible catalog of country music he is bringing to the table.”
“I am so proud to make country music happen with this group of trailblazers,” says Worthington.
Joe Nichols Signs With Quartz Hill Records
Pictured (L-R, top row): BSB Management’s Shawn Pennington; Quartz Hill Records’ April Rider and Paul Brown; (L-R, bottom row:) Quartz Hill Records’ Jason Sellers, Joe Nichols, Benny Brown
Joe Nichols has signed a label deal with Quartz Hill Records. Nichols will release his brand new single, “Home Run,” on April 23. The anthem about reconnection and rebirth was written by award-winning songwriters Ashley Gorley, Dallas Davidson and Ross Copperman.
The move reunites Nichols with veteran label head Benny Brown, with whom he enjoyed two multi-week No. 1 songs, “Yeah” and “Sunny and 75,” from his album Crickets, that was released in 2013 on Red Bow Records.
A staunch country traditionalist, Nichols has six No. 1 hits and eight Top 10 singles to his credit including the chart-toppers “Brokenheartsville,” “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” and “Gimme That Girl,” and Top 10 hits “The Impossible,” “If Nobody Believed In You,” “What’s A Guy Gotta Do,” and more. Nichols has been honored with the ACM’s Top New Male Vocalist award, the CMT Breakthrough Video of the Year award, and CMA’s Horizon Award. He’s earned multiple RIAA Platinum and Gold certifications and appeared on national shows ranging from the ACM Presents: Superstar Duets on CBS to The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The View, Entertainment Tonight and Austin City Limits.
Nichols is currently in the studio recording his full-length debut project for Quartz Hill, reuniting with producers Mickey Jack Cones and Derek George, who helmed his album Crickets. Cones also produced Nichols’ follow-up album, Never Gets Old.
“Joe has one of the purest and most timeless voices in country music. He’s an incredible artist whose songs come from the heart. I couldn’t be more excited to reunite with Joe and welcome him to the Quartz Hill Records family,” says Brown.
“I’m so excited to be a part of the Quartz Hill Records family. Benny Brown has always been an amazing person to me and my family and I can’t wait to make many memories and hits with the whole Quartz Hill team!” says Nichols.
Nichols is booked by WME and managed by Brown Sellers Brown (BSB) Management.
The Mechanical Licensing Collective Announces Webinar Series
The Mechanical Licensing Collective has announced a new, four-part webinar series geared to inform current and prospective members on what they need to know about the organization and its work.
Each webinar is 30-minutes and will focus on a particular area of interest, inlcuding what The MLC does, how to become a member, the importance of musical works data accuracy, and a summary of The MLC’s royalty distribution process.
Both current and prospective members are welcome to register for the events.
Starting on April 8, the webinars are scheduled as follows:
- The Basics: What is The MLC and Who Should be a Member? – April 8 – 12 p.m. ET | 11 a.m. CT | 9 a.m. PT
- Membership 101: How to Join The MLC – April 15 – 12 p.m. ET | 11 a.m. CT | 9 a.m. PT
- Data Accuracy and Why it Matters – April 22 – 12 p.m. ET | 11 a.m. CT | 9 a.m. PT
- Getting Paid: The MLC’s Royalty Distribution Process – April 29 – 12 p.m. ET | 11 a.m. CT | 9 a.m. PT
The MLC is responsible for administering the new blanket compulsory license for the use of musical works by digital music services. As of January 2021, mechanical royalties from streaming in the U.S. are now processed and paid out by The MLC at no cost to songwriters or music publishers.
Round Hill Inks Agreement With Zach Crowell, Establishes Joint Venture With Tape Room
Zach Crowell. Photo: Courtesy of Tape Room Music
Zach Crowell has signed a worldwide agreement with Round Hill Music, which includes the acquisition and administration of his back catalog, neighboring rights (via Sound Hill, Round Hill Music’s recently-launched neighboring rights division) and producer royalties. Tape Room Music will remain involved in Crowell’s publishing through a joint venture with Round Hill moving forward.
An award-winning songwriter and producer, Crowell has written 13 No.1’s and produced 12 No.1’s at country radio. His hit with Sam Hunt, “Body Like A Back Road,” set an all-time record of 34 weeks for the most time spent at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart by a solo male performer—Crowell co-wrote, produced and mixed the crossover smash. His additional writing and producing credits include Hunt’s triple Platinum debut, Montevallo, select tracks on Carrie Underwood’s Storyteller, “Cop Car” by Keith Urban, and “Strong” for the 2014 National Chevy Silverado advertising campaign. He’s received three CMA Triple Play awards, which recognize songwriters with three or more No. 1 songs in one year, and been nominated for several Grammy, CMA and ACM Awards.
Most recently, Crowell achieved three No. 1 songs with Hunt’s “Kinfolks” (co-writer and producer), “Hard to Forget” (producer) and Dustin Lynch’s “Ridin’ Roads” (co-writer and producer). He currently has two singles, Lynch’s “Momma’s House” (producer) and Hunt’s “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s” (co-writer and producer).
“As a songwriter and producer, Zach is one of country music’s true contemporary icons,” says Josh Gruss, founder and CEO of Round Hill Music. “His originality and creative genius alongside his amazing track record of success speaks for itself and his star will only continue to shine brighter.”
“Zach was the first writer signed to Tape Room and we couldn’t be happier to continue our long successful relationship together with Round Hill moving forward,” shares Blain Rhodes, general manager of Tape Room Music.
“Round Hill has always been on the front edge of where the music business is headed and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the team,” says Crowell.