News

Rising country singer and Cowboy Carter collaborator Willie Jones has signed a new record deal.

Jones has signed to Gravel Road Records, the independent record label co-founded by industry veterans Anthony Martini and Rich Barner. The singer, who blends country with hip-hop and soul, duets with Beyoncé on “Just for Fun” from Cowboy Carter and saw his streaming numbers — along with other acts like Shaboozey and Brittney Spencer — reach new heights after the album’s release.

“Beyond excited to partner with Gravel Road and get this music out,” Jones tells The Hollywood Reporter. “The past year has been one of the greatest years of my life, and now to have a team of people who believe in me and my vision who can help and expand help the vibration of the world through music is truly an honor.”

The 30-year-old, who was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, was previously...

Anthony Martini was no stranger to the music industry before getting involved with the controversial AI rapper Fn Meka, who enjoyed a week-long stint at Capitol Records before being dropped amid fierce criticism that the project was an insulting caricature of Black and hip-hop culture. Back in the day, Martini worked at the prominent management company Crush Management; more recently, he served as CEO of Royalty Exchange. But before all that, Martini, who is white, co-founded and fronted the New Jersey hardcore band E.Town Concrete — and frequently used the...