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“Truck Bed” hitmaker and multiple award winner HARDY has launched label imprint Crow Records in partnership with Big Loud Rock. The inaugural signing to Crow Records is Sikarus, who will release his label debut, “Nonchalant,” tonight (Feb. 27).
HARDY formed Crow Records with his longtime partners at Big Loud Rock to sign, develop and release music from artists HARDY is inspired by.
Sikarus is the solo project from Nashville songwriter Jordan Brooker, who has written for Luke Combs (2019’s “Refrigerator Door”), among other artists. Brooker was raised on classic rock artists including Led Zeppelin and Nirvana, as well as turn-of-the-century alt-rock and pop-rock artists.
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“The second I heard Sikarus’ music I thought to myself, ‘What a cool sound, I want to do anything I can to be able to work with him,’” HARDY said in a statement. “I’ve known Jordan for many years and I’m so excited to finally be able to say that we are officially working together. I love rock ‘n’ roll, I love exploring new things and I couldn’t be happier for Sikarus to be the first artist signed to Crow Records.”
“I’m incredibly honored to be the first signing at Crow Records,” Sikarus added. “I think HARDY is one of the most brilliant musical minds I’ve ever met. We’ve been friends for a long time, so getting the chance to work with him in this capacity is so dope. ‘Nonchalant’ is all about that attitude of going with the flow and not getting hung up on the little things. It can be a really beautiful quality in a person, so much so that it makes you want to write a song about it.”
“HARDY is a generational talent and all of us at Big Loud Rock are honored to continue strengthening our partnership with him by joining forces on Crow Records,” Big Loud partner/Big Loud Rock president Joey Moi said. “Developing the next generation of alternative and rock artists is at our core, and collaborating with HARDY to sign and foster new talent in the space has the whole team excited as we continue to expand.”
HARDY has earned a trio of Billboard Country Airplay chart-toppers, as well as three No. 1s on the Hot Hard Rock chart. His recent project Quit!! topped the Hard Rock Albums chart with songs including “Rockstar” and “Psycho,’ as well as collaborations with Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith and Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst. Quit!! follows HARDY’s sophomore album, The Mockingbird & THE CROW, which featured both country and rock songs.
Sikarus will join HARDY on select dates of the Jim Bob World Tour this year, playing arenas and amphitheaters across the United States, including a stop at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sept. 24.
See the full list of tour dates below:
Aug. 14—T-Mobile Center @ Kansas City, MO*
Aug. 15—Denny Sanford PREMIER Center @ Sioux Falls, SD*
Aug. 16—Somerset Amphitheater @ Somerset, WI*
Aug. 21—Van Andel Arena @ Grand Rapids, MI*
Aug. 22—Pine Knob Music Theatre @ Clarkston, MI*
Aug. 29—Maine Savings Amphitheater @ Bangor, ME*
Aug. 30—Xfinity Theatre @ Hartford, CT*
Sept. 4—Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview @ Syracuse, NY*
Sept. 5—The Pavilion at Star Lake @ Burgettstown, PA*
Sept. 6—Hersheypark Stadium @ Hershey, PA*
Sept. 11—Brandon Amphitheater @ Brandon, MS†
Sept. 12—Coca-Cola Amphitheater @ Birmingham, AL†
Sept. 13—CCNB Amphitheatre @ Simpsonville, SC†
Sept. 18—Lakewood Amphitheatre @ Atlanta, GA*
Sept. 19—MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre @ Tampa, FL*
Sept. 20—iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre @ West Palm Beach, FL*
Sept. 24—Madison Square Garden @ New York City, NY*
*With Koe Wetzel and Stephen Wilson Jr.
†with Stephen Wilson Jr.
Rapper Jelly Roll has returned to his old alma mater, Tennessee’s Antioch High School, to visit with students following a tragic shooting incident that occurred on their grounds last month.
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The incident took place on Jan. 22 when a 17-year-old student opened fire inside the school’s cafeteria just after 11am. The shooting resulted in the deaths of a 16-year-old student and the perpetrator, while another two students were injured.
Over a month on from the tragedy, one of the school’s most famous graduates has returned to their old hallways, with Jelly Roll (also known as Jason DeFord) meeting with students on Tuesday (Feb. 25). According to a post from Metro Nashville Public Schools on Instagram, Jelly Roll visited to talk to students and staff about the tragedy. Full details of what was discussed have not been made available to the public.
“Thank you, Jelly Roll, for reaching out to the Antioch community and offering some comfort during a difficult time,” the post concluded. “We appreciate your support!”
Jelly Roll is one of the most prominent students to have attended the school, which is located 12 miles southeast of Downtown Nashville. Alongside former sportsmen and former North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis, the only other notable entertainer to have walked the halls of Antioch High School is Yelawolf.
The brief return to his old school isn’t the first time that Jelly Roll has been there again in recent years. In May 2024, Jelly Roll visited Antioch High School as part of the Save the Music Foundation, speaking to the class of music tech teacher Robert “Rock” Kennedy, and offering students feedback on their own compositions. Additionally, the singer spoke with former teachers, and both addressed and performed for current students as part of an assembly.
Jelly Roll himself has asserted himself as a massive success story in recent years, finding widespread fame with his ninth album, 2023’s Whitsitt Chapel (itself named after a chapel in Antioch he previously attended), which hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
His follow-up, 2024’s Beautifully Broken, gave him his first appearance atop the main chart and arrived following his debut Grammy nominations, which saw him in the running for best new artist and best country duo/group performance for his “Save Me” collab with Lainey Wilson.
Brooks & Dunn are set to receive a lifetime achievement award at the 64th Western Heritage Awards, which will be presented at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Saturday, April 12. Each year, the museum recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to Western heritage through works in film, […]
Several country music songwriter heavyweights will be taking the stage in Las Vegas in August, when the inaugural Las Vegas Songwriters Festival takes place at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
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Presented by MGM Resorts International and Entersong Entertainment, the event will take place Aug. 21-24, 2025. The festival will feature 50 award-winning songwriters, and 100 live performances, as songwriters perform at venues throughout the resort.
The event will feature Bob DiPiero (Kathy Mattea’s “Walking Away a Winner,” the Oak Ridge Boys’ “American Made,” Tim McGraw’s “Southern Voice”), Dean Dillon (“Tennessee Whiskey,” as well as George Strait’s “Ocean Front Property,” “Marina Del Rey,” “The Chair,” and more), Liz Rose (Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush,” Taylor Swift’s “Fearless,” “White Horse,” “Tim McGraw” “All Too Well” and more) and Victoria Shaw (Garth Brooks’ “The River,” John Michael Montgomery’s “I Love The Way You Love Me”).
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The event will be hosted by Matt Warren, who has crafted songs for Darius Rucker, Gary Allan and others), and was founded by Entersong’s Rob Hatch and Mike Every, in collaboration with MGM Resorts.
More performers include Billy Montana, Jesse Lee, Justin Wilson and more, with each songwriter blending music with storytelling, discussing the inspirations behind their songs. Some writers will also host select Q&A sessions.“For years Mandalay Bay has been one of the leaders in delivering memorable entertainment experiences for its guests and we believe the Las Vegas Songwriters Festival (LVSF) will continue this tradition,” said Paul Davis, Senior Vice President of Booking and Development, MGM Resorts International, via a statement. “LVSF will provide a platform for songwriters to celebrate their incredible artistry and storytelling that has shaped the industry’s greatest hits and resonate with music fans everywhere.”
Entersong’s Hatch said, “The Las Vegas Songwriters Festival brings together some of the most prolific songwriters of our time – artists whose words and melodies have shaped the soundtrack of our lives. It’s an intimate opportunity to hear the stories behind the songs, straight from the voices that wrote them.”
Fans can purchase either general admission or VIP tickets, and have the option to purchase a room-and-ticket package. Artist pre-sales will run Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. PST to Thursday, Feb. 27 at 10 p.m. PST. Members of MGM Rewards will have pre-sale access Thursday, Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. PT to 10 p.m. PT. Tickets for the general public go on sale Friday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. PST via LVSF at Mandalay Bay.
Las Vegas Songwriters Festival at Mandalay Bay
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Kelsea Ballerini wants to leave the past in the past. The country superstar briefly stopped her show while performing her Rolling Up the Welcome Mat track “Penthouse” on tour at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla., on Sunday (Feb. 23), after she heard fans shouting profanities about her ex-husband, Morgan Evans. In “Penthouse,” written about her […]
Shaboozey orders up a 35th frame atop Billboard’s multi-metric Hot Country Songs chart with his crossover smash, “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”
As it holds atop the tally dated March 1, the track breaks out of a tie with Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road,” which led for 34 frames in 2017, to become the sole longest-leading title by a single act since Hot Country Songs became the genre’s singular songs ranking in 1958. Overall, only Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line’s duet “Meant to Be” has led longer: for 50 weeks, beginning in December 2017.
“A Bar Song” totaled 59.8 million in all-format airplay audience, 16.2 million official U.S. streams and 4,000 sold Feb. 14-20, according to Luminate.
The track, co-written by the Virginian (born Collins Obinna Chibueze), first hit the Hot Country Songs summit last May. It also logged a record-tying 19 weeks at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and a record-shattering 27 weeks atop the all-format Radio Songs chart.
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“A Bar Song (Tipsy),” on American Dogwood/EMPIRE, with country radio promotion by Magnolia Music, additionally ruled Country Airplay for seven weeks beginning last August, the longest reign for an artist’s initial entry on the chart. Plus, it became the first song to crossover to the top five, or even top 10, on Country Airplay, Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay.
Meanwhile, when “A Bar Song” initially reached the Hot Country Songs apex, it dethroned Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” marking the first time that two Black artists have led the list back-to-back.
Here’s a look at the 10 longest-leading No. 1s on Hot Country Songs (since 1958):
50 weeks, “Meant to Be,” Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line, starting December 201735 weeks, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Shaboozey, May 202434 weeks, “Body Like a Back Road,” Sam Hunt, February 201727 weeks, “I Hope,” Gabby Barrett, July 202025 weeks, “Last Night,” Morgan Wallen, February 202324 weeks, “Fancy Like,” Walker Hayes, July 202124 weeks, “Cruise,” Florida Georgia Line, December 201221 weeks, “10,000 Hours,” Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber, October 201920 weeks, “I Remember Everything,” Zach Bryan feat. Kacey Musgraves, September 202319 weeks, “You Proof,” Morgan Wallen, May 202219 weeks, “The Bones,” Maren Morris, March 202019 weeks, “Walk On By,” Leroy Van Dyke, September 1961
Released Feb. 14 on the deluxe version of Sabrina Carpenter’s album Short n’ Sweet, the remix of her originally solo smash “Please Please Please” — adding Dolly Parton in a featured role — debuts on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart (dated March 1). The remix opens at No. 17 on the survey after it drew […]
Mom+Pop Music has become the latest coastal label to open an office in Music City, naming Katie Fagan as president of Mom+Pop Music Nashville.
Fagan was previously head of A&R for Prescription Songs in Nashville for the last eight years and had opened Prescription’s first office outside of Los Angeles.
“I will continue M+P’s legacy by signing tastemaker artists and bands, leaning into the local talent pool in the Americana, folk, alt-country and indie spaces,” Fagan tells Billboard. “While expanding our footprint in Nashville is a priority, we know that these genres span worldwide, and I want to be cognizant of talent within these spaces globally as well. We hope to provide a home to both legacy acts and up-and-comers looking for a strategic creative partnership where we can elevate and uphold the integrity of their artistic vision.”
For now, Mom+Pop Nashville will rely on existing staff in New York and Los Angeles “with the goal of hiring locally when the timing aligns appropriately and strategically,” Fagan says.
“Katie has proven herself an important voice and advocate for creatives in the Americana, folk, and Alt-Country spaces,” said Michael Goldstone, founder of Mom+Pop, in a statement. “No one is better suited to reinforce and grow Mom+Pop’s presence in Nashville and globally as we broaden our industry aesthetic.”
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At Prescription, Fagan, who has been featured on Billboard’s 40 Under 40 and Women in Music lists, worked with a number of acts, including Joy Oladokun, Anderson East, Maggie Rose, Nick Bailey, Sarah Hudson, Malibu Babie and Cirkut, as well as songwriters/producers who landed placements with Lana Del Rey, Chris Stapleton and Noah Kahan, among others.
Fagan is also co-founder of The Other Nashville Society (TONS), which helps promote non-country music in Music City through its 1,500 members; a member of She Is The Music’s songwriting and publishing committee; and a governor of the Recording Academy’s Nashville chapter.
Mom+Pop, which was formed in 2008, includes Caamp, Chaparelle, Del Water Gap, Magdalena Bay and Pablo Pablo on its current roster. The self-distributed label has a staff of 25 with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London and Nashville.
Beyoncé had yet another groundbreaking night at the 2025 Grammy Awards earlier this month, where the superstar was at last awarded her first win in the album of the year category, thanks to Cowboy Carter. Bey’s shocked reaction has since become a hilarious meme, and her mother Tina Knowles was just as surprised by the […]
Morgan Wallen opened up about hard times, and ponders the long-tail familial impact of his lower moments in a personal new song he wrote for his 4-year-old son, Indigo Wilder. On Monday (Feb. 24), the reigning CMA entertainer of the year and 19-time Billboard Music Awards winner shared a snippet of the track titled “Superman” to social media.
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In an accompanying caption, Wallen explained why it has taken a while for him to craft a song for his son.
“Been trying for a long time to write a song I loved to my son. None of them ever feel good enough because of how perfect I want something like this to be,” he shared. “And not saying this is perfect, but I am very proud of it. Here is a clip, It’s called ‘Superman.’”
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The song starts off with Wallen’s thoughts of how Indigo will grow to learn more about the life his father has led to this point — surely, the incredible career accomplishments, but the low points as well.
The song opens candidly, with lyrics that seemingly reference Wallen’s arrest last year, when the singer-songwriter was briefly taken into custody after allegedly throwing a chair from the roof of a Nashville bar. (He later pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges, and was sentenced to seven days in a DUI education center, as well as two years probation.)
“One day he’s gonna see my mugshot from a night when I got a little too drunk/ Hear a song about a girl that I lost/ From the times when I just wouldn’t grow up,” Wallen sings. He continues describing his fears as a father in the vulnerable lines, “And when you ain’t a kid no more/ I hope you don’t think less of me/ I try to hide my fallen soul/ But you’re gonna see.”
The self-aware lyrics continue: “Now and then, that bottle’s my kryptonite … brings a man of steel to his knees/ Don’t always know wrong from right/ Sometimes I’m my own worst enemy/ No I don’t always save the day, but you know for you I’ll always try/ I’ll do the best I can, a Superman is still just a man sometimes.”
Wallen has been steadily sharing new music over the past few months, including “Lies, Lies, Lies,” “Smile,” “Love Somebody” and the title track to his upcoming new album, I’m the Problem. He’s set to launch his 2025 I’m the Problem Tour in June.
Hear Wallen’s snippet of “Superman” below:
