Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and Grand Ole Opry member Chris Young has signed with UTA for global representation in all areas.
The signing comes as Young approaches nearly two decades in the country music spotlight. In addition to his robust solo catalog, over the years he has performed with Miranda Lambert, Jon Pardi, Ashley McBryde and others.
“I’m very excited to move into this new chapter at UTA. I really feel like there is a plan and a vision for growth and moving forward,” Young said.
UTA Agent Brian Hill added, “Chris is a world-class singer, songwriter, and live performer. We’re excited to welcome him to the UTA family, and we look forward to building upon the incredible foundation he’s already established. This is only the beginning!”
+ Kurt Vile has inked a new long-term co-publishing deal with Third Side Music, which expands the independent global music publisher’s representation to the Philadelphia rocker’s Vile’s entire catalog, including his solo material and works by Kurt Vile and the Violators. TSM will also administer his future works beginning with his latest album, “Philadelphia’s Been Good to Me.”
“Kurt is one of the real ones. An incredible singer-songwriter who can turn seemingly effortless phrases into deep in your head hooks, all backed by low-key trips to shredsville. All around good dude. Back in 2015, we started working together on the release of B’lieve I’m Goin Down…, and I’m stoked to now include the prior back catalog into the work, and also be in the long-term KV business. We grindin’,” says Jeff Waye, COO and co-founder of TSM.
+ WME has hired two new agents for its contemporary music team: Aleks Ljubojevic and Sophia Simon. The announcement was made by Kirk Sommer, Global Head of Music at WME.
Ljubojevic will bring electronic artist and producer and Swedish House Mafia member Steve Angello with him to WME for representation in Europe for his solo career. He joins WME from Ace Agency in Amsterdam, where he represented Martin Garrix, Sam Feldt, Don Diablo, and many others in the electronic music space. He will focus on expanding WME’s electronic music roster and driving growth opportunities for both emerging and established talent. Ljubojevic is based in London and reports to Stephanie LaFera, Partner and Head of EMD at WME.
Simon joins WME from So.Connected, the agency she founded in 2024 focused on developing international artists and music projects in the Brazilian market. Through the agency, she has worked with artists and labels including Martin Garrix, NE-YO, Jason Mraz, Ultra Records, Maddix, Sean Paul, Alesso, and Soulja Boy, and has helped develop BRESH’s presence in Brazil. She previously co-managed Brazilian singer-songwriter and actress Giulia Be and worked as a day-to-day manager at Milk & Honey. Simon is based in Spain and reports to Rob Markus, Senior Partner and Head of International at WME.
“Aleks and Sophia both have strong track records of developing talent, building international touring businesses, and creating opportunities for artists across key markets worldwide,” said Sommer. “The future of music is global, and their additions to our team continue to strengthen WME’s position as the leading agency for long-term global success.”
+ Rothenberg, Mohr & Binder LLP has announced the promotion of Joseph Duthie to Partner. Duthie’s promotion comes as RMB continues to invest across its New York and Beverly Hills offices.
Duthie, who joined RMB in 2021 and is based in the firm’s New York office, works closely with Gunna, Lisa, Marshmello, Jon Bellion, Charlie Puth and TDE Top Dawg Entertainment. His roster includes Matt Maschi and Louis Coppola’s new record/publishing venture Lavoro Media Group, recording artist and producer Kurtis Wells, recording artist Harvey Brittain and producer Hamish.
Founding Partners Paul Rothenberg, Jeremy Mohr and Josh Binder said jointly: “We are excited to welcome Joe to our partnership. Joe is a tireless attorney with an instinct for the deal. Beyond first-rate legal work, he has invested himself in the operations and growth of our New York office. We look forward to more success alongside him and the incredible group of partners, associates, and colleagues at RMB.”
+ Veteran concert promoter Jason Legassie has announced the launch of Off the Rails Presents, a Massachusetts-based independent concert promoter with national reach. The new firm will present music and more at venues including Off the Rails in Worcester, MA 01608) and the new Off The Rails Boston. Legassie will serve as vice president and operating partner alongside co-founder Chris Besaw, who will operate the Boston venue.
“I am thrilled for this latest challenge in my career and eager to build OTR Presents from the ground up into something truly special,” says Legassie. “OTR Presents is open for business, not just in the Northeast but nationwide.”
+ Warner Chappell Music, the global music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, has signed an administration and sub-publishing deal with Satori Song, the publishing company of French pop singer-songwriter Étienne Daho.
The agreement, which was orchestrated by WCM France’s President Matthieu Tessier and A&R Director Jérôme Brucker, covers Daho’s entire 45-year discography, from his 1981 debut album, “Mythomane,” to his latest release, “Tirer la nuit sur les étoiles.” The deal encompasses more than 200 songs, including his celebrated works written and composed for Vanessa Paradis, Jane Birkin, Françoise Hardy, Dani, and Marianne Faithfull.
“I’m delighted to be joining the Warner Chappell Music France roster as I embark on an exciting new chapter in my career,” Daho said.
Tessier added, “Working alongside a great artist like Étienne Daho and helping champion his repertoire, both in France and internationally, is a great privilege for all of us at Warner Chappell Music. I would like to extend my deepest thanks to Étienne and his producer Laurent Manganas for their trust.”
+ Management company Neon Coast has promoted Nikki Boon to Chief Creative Officer. She has been with the company for a decade, working closely country star Kane Brown and global independent alt-pop band Nightly. In her new role, will provide creative oversight and direction for every artist at Neon Coast as well as international strategy
“Nikki’s creative thinking is second to none. She has a passion for our artists that you can feel in every conversation she has,” said Martha Earls, Founder and Owner of Neon Coast.
+ Peermusic has completed its acquisition of Australia-based 120 Publishing as announced by the company’s Mary Megan Peer and Ralph W. Peer. In connection with the transaction, Peermusic has appointed 120 Publishing General Manager, Karen Hamilton, as Managing Director, Peermusic Australasia.
The deal will give Peermusic the publishing rights to 120 Publishing’s approximately 5,000 works and 120,000 administered copyrights. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Mary Megan Peer noted: “The acquisition of 120 Publishing marks our continued investment in the Australasian market and repertoire. We are proud to steward a catalog with such artistic talent and cultural importance, ensuring these songs and songwriters continue to find new opportunities globally.”
+ Former Universal Music Group exec Cristina Pimentel and former Andreessen Horowitz partner Caitlin Glazebrook have launched Duets Network, Inc. to help startups in sports, entertainment and the creator economy. The company’s goal is to be a one-stop shop for founders, bringing investor connections, expert guidance and business resources together on a single online platform. It was recently showcased at LA and SF Tech Weeks.
Pimentel said, “At Universal Music Group, I kept meeting founders with promising businesses who didn’t know where to turn for help. Finding someone who understands your industry and the problem you’re trying to solve, early on, can make a real difference. Caitlin and I are building Duets with this community to make those connections easier than ever.”
Glazebrook added, “When I was at Andreessen Horowitz, I spent a lot of time fielding pitches from startups that weren’t right for our fund. Angels and emerging fund managers face the same challenge with far less bandwidth. We’re building Duets as an extension of their teams, helping them source and vet startups that fit their investment criteria.”
Monday, Oct. 26
Mary J. Blige has sold undisclosed shares of her publishing and recorded-music assets to Primary Wave Music, the company announced on Monday morning. Included in the deal are some of Blige’s greatest hits, including “Family Affair,’ “My Life,” “Mary Jane (All Night Long),” “You Bring Me Joy,” “Be Without You,” “I Can Love You,” and others; further details were not announced.
Known universally as “the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul,” over the course of her three-decade-plus career Blige has sold an estimated 50 million records worldwide across 15 studio albums, two live albums and 83 singles, which have garnered her nine Grammy Awards amid 37 Grammy nominations, two Oscar and one Emmy nom. She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018 and inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. She kicked off her first-ever Las Vegas residency, “Mary J. Blige: My Life, My Story.” The 20-date residency began this past May and will run through February 2027 at Dolby Live at Park MGM.
Natalia Nastaskin, Primary Wave’s Chief Content Officer, said “From the moment I heard ‘You Remind Me’ on NY’s KISS-FM, I became a Day 1 Mary J. Blige fan. For over 30 years, she has gifted the world with hit after undeniable hit and in the process has created the soundtrack of our lives. To partner with the Queen herself on her extraordinary catalog and her everlasting legacy is an honor for me and for our entire Primary Wave team.”
* Sandlot-Atlantic Outpost recording artist Stella Lefty, who is enjoying one of the biggest hits of the year with “Boston,” has signed with Nashville-based Make Wake Artists for management representation. At the company, which also manages Luke Combs, Lefty will be managed by founder and CNO (Chief Navigation Officer) Chris Kappy and managing partner Sophia Sansone.
Launched in 2015, the company’s roster includes Jon Bellion, Flatland Cavalry, and Dylan Marlowe, among others.
“Stella’s connection to her fans reminds me of Luke’s fan connection very early on… It is real!!!,” Kappy said in a statement. “Stella has the talent, authenticity and drive to build something truly special, and our team is committed to helping her realize that potential.”
+ Veteran vocal group Boyz II Men have signed with Warner Records Nashville and will launch an all-new country project, scheduled for release in 2027. Since emerging from Philadelphia with their 1991 debut, “Cooleyhighharmony,” the group has sold an estimated 60 million albums worldwide and wont four Grammy Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“Boyz II Men’s global influence is decades in the making,” shared Warner Records Nashville Chair & President, Cris Lacy. “Every genre and culture has benefited from their original music, and their impact on artists in the current country landscape, while perhaps surprising to some, is quite profound. When I learned that growing up listening to artists like Randy Travis was seminal in their desire to collaborate with Nashville’s award-winning singers and songwriters, I knew we had to be a part of it.”
+ Pop vet JoJo has partnered with Seeker Music, which has acquired the singer-songwriter’s original and re-recorded versions of her first two albums – “JoJo” and “The High Road” – as well as future releases and projects. The celebration kicks off with Seeker’s release of a deluxe 20th anniversary edition of “The High Road,” featuring the original album and four bonus tracks from the original 2006 editions, as well as acoustic versions. Jojo has also collaborated in the past with Seeker CEO and founder Evan Bogart; Seeker already held interest in two of her hits via deals with other cowriters.
“Deciding who to trust with such a personal and important part of my catalog wasn’t something I took lightly,” Jojo said. “Over time it was heartening to learn more about Seeker’s ethos and see how involved and passionate Evan is — someone who truly understands artists because he is a creator himself. It feels full-circle to have both versions of these albums together with a team committed to finding new ways to amplify it.”
Bogart added, “I’ve personally been such a fan for so long, and it means the world to all of us at Seeker to be partnering with her. This is just the beginning!”
+ Believe has named Mel Curley as Global Head of Editorial & Marketing Partnerships. Based in New York, Mel will report to Darya Pourshasb, Believe’s Chief Marketing Officer. According to the announcement, Curley will lead Believe’s global EMP strategy, strengthening relationships with key digital platforms and unlocking new editorial and promotional opportunities to support artists and labels growth and international development across Believe’s Artist Services, Label & Artist Solutions and TuneCore.
She joins from Amazon Music, where she served as Global Head of Independent Label Relations, overseeing relationships with more than 350 independent distributors, labels and artists. Previously, she held senior positions at Arista Records and at Sony Music Entertainment.
Pourshasb said, “As competition for audience attention intensifies, our ability to connect artists and labels with fans across digital platforms has never been more important, which is why Editorial and Marketing Partnerships are a key pillar of our music marketing strategy. Mel brings an exceptional combination of DSP expertise, music industry experience and strategic vision.”
+ Hybe Americas has announced the launch of Tru Records, a new record label “created to discover and develop the next generation of Latin pop artists,” according to the announcement. Latin music veteran Alejandro Mejía will be the company’s first general manager, and its first artist is Santos Bravos, the first Latin pop group created by Hybe Americas.
“The launch of Tru Records represents a unique opportunity to champion Latin American talent and bring it to new audiences around the world,” Mejía said. “Starting this new chapter with Santos Bravos and with the support of Hybe Americas allows us to build careers with international reach while staying true to our Latin identity and the stories we tell.”
