JFH News: Music Business Stalwarts Rusty Harmon, Scott Brickell, Ron Smith and Chase Swayze Announce Marketing, Distribution and Label Joint Venture Hit and Run Music

Music Business Stalwarts Rusty Harmon, Scott Brickell, Ron Smith and Chase Swayze Announce Marketing, Distribution and Label Joint Venture Hit and Run Music

Pictured Back Row (L-R): Paige Heinemann, Vere Music; Chase Swayze, Hit and Run Music; Caleb Gauntt, Hit and Run Music; Rusty Harmon, Vere Music; Ron Smith, Hit and Run Music Front Row: Annie Harsch and Kaylin Townsend, Vere Music

NEWS SOURCE: Marushka Media
August 12, 2024

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 12, 2024) — Music industry stalwarts Scott Brickell, Ron Smith, and Chase Swayze of BrickHouse Entertainment and the new Hit and Run Music label along with Rusty Harmon (former Hootie and the Blowfish manager and founder and President of Vere Music), have partnered with Vere Music on a new artist development, marketing, and distribution venture based in Nashville. The JV will serve independent artists, new and established, across all genres of music. All projects will be distributed through ADA, which is part of the Warner Music Group family of companies.

Harmon says, “Today’s music industry is ever evolving. Artists have more freedom and access than ever before. But with that freedom there is still a need for marketing, distribution, and execution of a strategy. Hit and Run Music and Vere have combined to provide the elements needed for a successful career. We are excited about this new model and the team we have assembled.”

Swayze adds, “Hit and Run Music is a great way for artists to pair marketing strategy and distribution in a nontraditional way. Our structure allows artists to focus on writing and recording great music while our team implements marketing strategies and grows their career. The label landscape is changing and I am excited about this new venture.”

The label’s inaugural artist is Micah Christopher, to whom much of this venture’s formation can be credited. Micah Christopher’s debut single, “That’s Who Jesus Is,” debuted on June 21. The song is the first from his new EP, scheduled for release in February 2025.

Christopher says, “Throughout this whole journey I’ve been on with music I’ve always said I want a team of people that fully believe in me, know and love my family well, and see the dreams and vision I have and help me make it reality. I’m beyond grateful for the expertise, experience, belief, and friendships I have through my friends at Hit and Run Music.”

Industry veteran, Matt Roberts, a partner at JRA who represents many of the top selling artists in music and film adds, “The experience this team has is unmatched and what they’re doing is going to change the game for so many viable artists who just didn’t have a shot at accessing this level of talent of industry veterans. I’m looking forward to working with them on artists they’re developing based on their individual track records alone. Together, there’s no telling what this team will do.”

Collectively, the venture’s four principals have driven the success of artists including Hootie and the Blowfish, MercyMe, Amy Grant, CAIN, Faith Hill, Vince Gill, Michael W. Smith, Audio Adrenaline, Switchfoot, Phil Wickham, the VeggieTales franchise and more.

The team can be reached at: Caleb@brickent.com

About Hit and Run Music:
Hit and Run Music is a dynamic new label dedicated to accelerating the marketing and distribution of artists' music. Leveraging the expertise of numerous industry leaders, Hit and Run Music combines extensive industry knowledge with great songs to reach listeners and grow artists' careers. Our goal is to deliver exceptional music and fastrack artist growth. We believe great songs open doors of opportunity and we are excited for this new venture!

About Vere Music:
Vere Music was created in 2020 to provide record release marketing campaigns, major label services and distribution for independent artists and labels who want to maintain their creative vision without sacrificing ownership or control. Vere offers customizable services including digital marketing, product management, radio promotion, sync licensing, content creation, and global music distribution through a partnership with Warner Music Group’s independent distribution arm ADA Worldwide. Helmed by noted industry leader Rusty Harmon with Project Manager Paige Heinemann, Vere Music is focused on developing a roster of established and developing artists eager to build and sustain meaningful careers.

About Scott Brickell:
Scott Brickell founded BrickHouse Entertainment in 1998 and since then, has collectively reached more than 60 multi-platform No. 1 singles, numerous gold, platinum, and multi-platinum records, multiple Grammy/Dove/American Music Awards, and participated in more than 6,500 shows to date. Brickell has been a leader in artist management, he has helped numerous artists develop successful and long-lasting careers. Also as the published author of The Business Behind the Song (Forefront Books), he managed the Rock and Worship Roadshow, has also served on the GMA board of directors for over 20 years, and was the chairman of the board for two years. He was also the executive producer of the $100M film “I Can Only Imagine,” and was portrayed in the movie by Country Music legend Trace Adkins.

About Ron Smith:
Ron Smith has been involved with artist management, music publishing, book publishing, product branding, and live tours, and his passion for relationships and a keen eye for talent have made him a success in multiple industries. Launching his first music publishing and artist management firm, McSpadden-Smith Music, with his father-in-law Gary McSpadden and brother-in-law Shawn McSpadden, Smith grew the publishing company’s music catalog to 4,000+ songs and dozens of No. 1 hits across Christian, Pop, and Country music from artists such as Faith Hill, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, and Vince Gill. He also served as a key consultant to Simon & Schuster with the VeggieTales brand while helping grow VeggieTales’ music releases and live tours. He launched Freeman-Smith Publishing with Criswell Freeman, a book publishing company that currently produces 10-15 titles per year with sales of more than $1M per year and with titles found in major grocery stores and airports throughout the U.S.

About Chase Swayze:
Chase Swayze is a managing partner at BrickHouse Entertainment, alongside industry veterans Scott Brickell and Ron Smith. With nearly a decade of experience, his passion lies in helping artists achieve their goals and guiding their vision to create a lasting career in music. He currently manages a talented roster including Micah Tyler, Iveth Luna, Bay Turner, Christian Paul, and Micah Christopher. While also supporting other BrickHouse clients MercyMe, CAIN, and Caleb and John. Over the years Chase has managed artists in Christian, Country, and R&B/Pop and just this year partnered to host a festival called Rock The Country in Poplar Bluff, MO featuring Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, and Hank Williams Jr. alongside many other talented artists.

In 2019 Swayze founded The Joshua Foundation and in 2021 was elected to the board for the Gospel Music Association. Alongside his professional career, Chase has an incredible wife and two young kids that he considers his greatest achievement.

About Rusty Harmon
Harmon loves music. Always has. His first taste of the professional world of the music industry came when he was in college at NC State University. He began working at the college radio station, changed majors and never looked back. He soon met the first band he would ever manage, Hoot and the Blowfish, and guided their career through three #1 releases, more than 25 million records sold worldwide, multiple awards including Grammys, MTV Music Award, Billboard’s Artist of the Year and more. Harmon went on to manage two other artists to #1 records. In his career Harmon has run management companies, record labels, and label services/distribution companies. Today, Harmon and Paige Heinemann form the nucleus of Vere Music Co, a unique label services team with global distribution from the Warner Music Group’s independent distribution arm, ADA. Harmon is also an Adjunct Professor at Lipscomb University, teaching multiple Music Industry courses.

About ADA:
ADA is a global service organization committed to independent artist label development. As part of Warner Music Group, ADA offers the indie community access to an unparalleled global distribution system and a dedicated team that provides a comprehensive array of commercial, marketing, analytics, and music licensing services. Established in 1993, ADA focuses on the independent music business, breaking new artists and supporting industry legends. ADA marries the effectiveness and convenience of a major label with the dynamics and flexibility of an independent. ADA’s partners include 10K Projects, Rostrum Records, South Coast Music Group, Mute Records, VP Records, Centricity Music and artists like Daft Punk, Quevedo, Macklemore, Paris Hilton, Stonebwoy, Papa Roach, The Rose, Dylan Conrique, and Murda Beatz.

About BrickHouse Entertainment:
BrickHouse Entertainment exists to help artists navigate the music business, including record label relationships, music publishing, live shows, touring, merchandise, book & movie deals, publicity, sponsor relationships, endorsements, and strategic partnerships.

BrickHouse Entertainment currently manages MercyMe, CAIN, Micah Tyler, Caleb & John, Iveth Luna, Christian Paul, Bay Turner, Micah Christopher, and Mitchell Lee. It has previously managed and consulted many artists including Audio Adrenaline, Switchfoot, Phil Wickham, Rend Collective, Sidewalk Prophets, among others. BrickHouse also managed the Rock and Worship Roadshow from conception through the first six years of its existence. With over 25 years in business and over 6,500 shows completed; BrickHouse continues to help artists develop lasting careers in the music industry.