BMG Nashville
Blake Shelton has a new label home, signing with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. Oklahoma native Shelton, who has earned 28 No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay hits during his career, is currently in the top 10 on the Country Airplay chart with his Post Malone collaboration “Pour Me a Drink.” During the course of his career, […]
BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville hosted its second annual brunch at the 2024 ACM Awards at the Stonebriar Country Club in Frisco, Texas, on May 16. Held the morning of the awards, the brunch included more than 150 attendees from the label, radio, streaming services and other industry executives.Jon Loba, president of frontline recordings for BMG North America, opened the brunch, which was moved inside due to stormy weather. Lainey Wilson, who went on to win entertainer of the year at the ACM Awards a few hours later, introduced her new single, “Hang Tight Honey,” from her for forthcoming album, Whirlwind, before the label and Melinda Newman, Billboard’s executive editor, West Coast and Nashville, presented Wilson with a plaque for having the shortest stint of any woman artist between No. 1 songs on the Country Airplay chart. Later, Billboard’s exec vp of charts and data partnership Silvio Pietroluongo presented Jelly Roll, a plaque for landing three No. 1s on the Country Airplay chart in 2023, while the artist played a recording of his new single, “Liar,” which he later played on the ACM Awards.
The brunch also included superstar Jason Aldean and his writing collaborator-turned-duet partner John Morgan performing “Friends Like That,” their current single, as well as “Trouble with a Heartbreak,” a 2022 No. 1 hit for Aldean, co-written by Morgan. The Frontmen, a supergroup comprised of the Richie McDonald (formerly of Lonestar), Larry Stewart (formerly of Restless Heart) and Tim Rushlow (formerly of Little Texas), also performed two of their songs, including new single, “Beatles and Eagles,” as well as a mini-medley of their previous groups’ hits.
Additionally, Frank Ray played his new Latin-tinged tune, “Uh Huh (Ajá)” and Blanco Brown sang along as his new Diane Warren-penned song, “Snapshot,” played.
See photos from the event, sponsored by Heineken Silver, Zilzie Wines and Billboard, below.
BBR Music Group Team
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
BBR Music Group’s team attending the ACM Awards at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Frank Ray & Oscar Chavira
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Frank Ray and Oscar Chavira at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Blanco Brown & Jason Aldean
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Blanco Brown and Jason Aldean at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Lainey Wilson & JoJamie Hahr
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Lainey Wilson and JoJamie Hahr at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Jon Loba
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Jon Loba at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Melinda Newman & Jelly Roll
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Melinda Newman and Jelly Roll at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Lainey Wilson
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Lainey Wilson at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
HunterGirl & Jon Loba
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
HunterGirl and Jon Loba at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
John Morgan, Jason Aldean, JoJamie Hahr, Jelly Roll, Larry Stewart, Tim Rushlow, Richie McDonald & Jon Loba
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
John Morgan, Jason Aldean, JoJamie Hahr, Jelly Roll, Larry Stewart, Tim Rushlow, Richie McDonald and Jon Loba at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Lee Adams, John Morgan & Shelley Hargis
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Lee Adams, John Morgan and Shelley Hargis at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Chris Oglesby, Peter Strickland, JoJamie Hahr, Lainey Wilson, John Morgan & Jon Loba
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Chris Oglesby, Peter Strickland, JoJamie Hahr, Lainey Wilson, John Morgan and Jon Loba at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Jon Loba, Jelly Roll & Adrian Michaels
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Jon Loba, Jelly Roll and Adrian Michaels at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Blanco Brown
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Blanco Brown at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Shelley Hargis, JoJamie Hahr, Jon Loba, Ken Tucker, Blanco Brown, Chris Loss & Peter Strickland
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Shelley Hargis, JoJamie Hahr, Jon Loba, Ken Tucker, Blanco Brown, Chris Loss and Peter Strickland at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
John Morgan, Jason Aldean, HunterGirl, Frank Ray & Jelly Roll
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
John Morgan, Jason Aldean, HunterGirl, Frank Ray and Jelly Roll at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Frank Ray
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Frank Ray at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Carson James, Lee Adams, Jon Loba, Shelley Hargis, Charlie Cook, JoJamie Hahr, Ken Tucker & Adrian Michaels
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Carson James, Lee Adams, Jon Loba, Shelley Hargis, Charlie Cook, JoJamie Hahr, Ken Tucker and Adrian Michaels at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Jelly Roll
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Jelly Roll at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Shelley Hargis, JoJamie Hahr, Jon Loba, Jelly Roll, Silvio Pietrolungo, Adrian Michaels & Peter Strickland
Image Credit: Andy Pollitt
Shelley Hargis, JoJamie Hahr, Jon Loba, Jelly Roll, Silvio Pietrolungo, Adrian Michaels and Peter Strickland at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Frank Ray
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Frank Ray at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Jason Aldean
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Jason Aldean at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
John Morgan & Jason Aldean
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
John Morgan and Jason Aldean at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
Shelley Hargis, JoJamie Hahr, Jon Loba, Melinda Newman, Lainey Wilson, Peter Strickland & Lee Adams
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Shelley Hargis, JoJamie Hahr, Jon Loba, Melinda Newman, Lainey Wilson, Peter Strickland and Lee Adams at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
The Frontmen
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Larry Stewart, Tim Rushlow and Richie McDonald of The Frontmen at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
The Frontmen
Image Credit: Rich Polk for Billboard
Larry Stewart, Tim Rushlow and Richie McDonald of The Frontmen at the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s Annual Brunch held at Stonebriar Country Club on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
As Jelly Roll himself told it in his recent Billboard cover story, it was attending church with his daughter that inspired the raw, career-defining record Whitsitt Chapel. The rising Tennessee artist has become a sensation over the past two years building up to this release, with a number of accolades that have burgeoned his career and his story.
But this record was that final piece of the puzzle, and its artistic merits were matched by its commercial performance: The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, No. 1 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums and, with 90,000 equivalent album units, became the largest week for an initial entry on Top Country Albums since the chart transitioned to a consumption-based methodology in February 2017.
As BMG Nashville president Jon Loba puts it, that’s down to Jelly Roll and the work he put into the music. But the success nonetheless earns Loba the title of Billboard’s Executive of the Week.
Here, Loba talks about the build-up to the album, the strategies the label used to maximize its impact and where they can go from here in building Jelly Roll’s career. “Going forward we will continue giving Jelly his creative and artistic freedom, while we continue to work on building the connection to new audiences and nurture the connection with his existing audience,” Loba says. “It’s really that simple. When you have your first experience or interaction with Jelly, you have a strong desire to go deeper — and tell others about him.”
This week, Jelly Roll’s Whitsitt Chapel debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and topped both the Rock & Alternative and Country Albums charts. What key decision did you make to help make this happen?
It of course all starts with the music. Jelly turned in an absolutely epic record that we have no doubt will stand the test of time. I think we will look back two decades from now and see this as the album that fully revealed the depth, texture, intellect and heart of Jelly Roll. The biggest decision I made was getting out of Jelly’s way and trusting him to turn in such a masterpiece. Initially, we had a collection of absolute slam dunk, commercial country hits Jelly wrote and was ready to record. After he attended his daughter’s church one Sunday, however, he called me up to say he felt the deep need to scrap all those songs and go on a musical and spiritual journey with his next record. We knew we had hit singles lined up, but I heard the conviction in his heart about this alternate path. His manager John Meneilly and I always say, “When in doubt, trust Jelly,” and that’s what we did. We didn’t know what this album would be, but we wanted to support him and his creativity. It turned out to be not only the right thing artistically but the right thing commercially.
The album had the biggest opening week for a first entry on the Top Country Albums chart since it went to a consumption-based methodology in 2017, almost tripling the previous record. How did you build the momentum leading up to this release?
Once you meet him, you are a fan for life. The buzz on Jelly started with “Save Me” and grew with “Dead Man Walking” and “Son of a Sinner,” so the commercial credibility was there to begin with. Our partners were really interested in his music and curious about him as we communicated how special he was. Once they met him one on one, it was a game changer. When you spend time with Jelly, you immediately root for him and want to create opportunities, which they did. Importantly, when they created those opportunities, Jelly always delivered for them and, in turn, [they] wanted to create more. Ultimately, the opportunities for his singles grew organically into opportunities for his album release.
What was your sales approach for this record?
First and foremost, making sure our partners heard the entire project well in advance. We knew the music would speak for itself and afterward our partners immediately came back to us with new creative opportunities for exposure. Wherever possible, we wanted Jelly to present it first-hand, to talk about his motivation and journey in creating Whitsitt Chapel. We also know Jelly has a passionate and committed fan base, so we wanted to be sure we had a strong focus on physical, as they are collectors… more so than most country consumers.
Jelly Roll’s music crosses several different genres, and Whitsitt Chapel is the latest in a line of albums that have reached the top echelon of both the Country radio charts and the Rock & Alternative radio charts. How do you work the same songs differently at different formats?
We don’t work them much differently. When Jelly and I first met, he had many questions about where his music would fit. He had a strong desire to have his music heard and accepted in the country genre, but he also wondered if some of it could work in rock and top 40. I was really firm in telling him not to worry about genres. All he needed to do was keep making music that connected with hearts and minds — music that saves and changes lives. You see examples of that at every Jelly show as you talk to his fans. He has this ability to connect with a wide variety of audiences because of his truth and willingness to be extremely open and share it. I said it in that first meeting, and I feel it even more strongly now: Jelly transcends genres. He is on the path to becoming a cultural icon.
Jelly Roll’s success has been considered one of the best examples of artist development in recent years. How do you continue to build on that in his career going forward?
We would love to take credit for Jelly’s artist development, but that wouldn’t be honest — Jelly is responsible for his artist development over the years of making music, touring and speaking his truth. We were fortunate that before us, there had not been a full team out there strategically telling his story, introducing him to partners and passionately laying down in the road for him as we asked for exposure opportunities. Going forward we will continue giving Jelly his creative and artistic freedom, while we continue to work on building the connection to new audiences and nurture the connection with his existing audience. It’s really that simple. When you have your first experience or interaction with Jelly, you have a strong desire to go deeper — and tell others about him.
BMG/BBR Music Group has named Peter Strickland as its new general manager, reporting to BMG Nashville president Jon Loba. He previously worked with the label for nearly two years as a consultant.
Strickland will oversee the financial and daily operations of BMG/BBR Music Group, streamlining distribution channels and physical-product sales as well as spearheading the label’s comedy initiatives. He succeeds Rick Shedd, who retired in April.
During his career, Strickland has held several executive-level titles at Warner Music Nashville (WMN), including as vp of sales; vp of sales & marketing; senior vp of brand management & sales; executive vp/GM; and chief marketing officer. In addition to those roles, he also created two comedy imprints and executive produced Jimmy Fallon’s 2013 Grammy Award-winning comedy album, Blow Your Pants Off, before opening his management company, Marathon Talent, in 2018.
“Peter and I worked together early in our career, where I had the chance to see his creativity, passion and energy up close,” Loba said in a statement. “Working with him again over the last year as a consultant, it is evident those same qualities burn hotter than ever. Beyond that, he is the consummate team player and was the obvious choice to step into the GM role upon Rick Shedd’s retirement. We couldn’t be more excited to officially bring him into the BMG family!”
“It’s an honor to be asked to join this incredible team,” Strickland added. “Jon Loba has built a great culture at BMG, and in reuniting with Jon, I look forward to contributing to the next chapter.”
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