Homestead Music – Nashville, TN-based management firm to Country stars Sam Hunt, Dustin Lynch, and riser Conner Smith – announces today (9/16) the signing of NBC’s Songland winner Madeline Merlo. The award-winning songwriter will release her spirited EP, SLIDE, via BBR Music Group / Wheelhouse Records next Friday (9/23).

“I am so thrilled to join Homestead Music’s incredible roster and work with this world-class team,” shares Merlo. “As an artist, it is so important to place your career in capable hands. I am beyond excited to see what the future holds with Homestead Music behind me.”

Praised by American Songwriter as having “long made a career by telling big emotional stories in the span of 3 minute or so songs,” Merlo last caught nationwide attention with her Lady A cut during season two of the songwriting reality TV series. “Champagne Night” notched a three-week #1 song on US Country radio and earned her, along with her co-writers, the 2021 CCMA (Canadian Country Music Association) Award for Songwriter of the Year. Dominating her jump from Canadian success to Music City stardom, the British Columbia-native brings with her four Top 15 Country radio singles on the Canadian airwaves, in addition to being the winner of the CCMA Award for Rising Star plus two Female Artist of the Year nods.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be working with Madeline [Merlo] in this next stage of her career,” adds Chelsey Block, Homestead Music Managing Partner. “She’s one of the most prepared new artists there is, and her music fills a lane we’re thrilled for the genre to have.”

Pivotal in inking the deal with Merlo, Homestead Music is also proud to advance Chelsey Block to Managing Partner, effective immediately. Established in 2013 with Founder / Managing Partner Brad Belanger at the helm, Block has proven herself as a key power player at the company for more than three years.

“Chelsey [Block] has been the center of our wheel since she came on board more than three years ago,” admits Brad Belanger, Homestead Music Founder / Managing Partner. “We’re grateful and excited for her to step into this leadership position at Homestead Music.”

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ABOUT MADELINE MERLO:
Award-winning songwriter and “rising Country star” (Country Now) Madeline Merlo “has long made a career by telling big emotional stories in the span of 3 minute or so songs” (American Songwriter). Now, after scoring 4 Top 15 Country radio singles on the Canadian airwaves and winning the Canadian Country Music Association’s Rising Star Award (and being nominated twice for Female Artist of the Year), the “breakout talent” (American Songwriter) is set to release her spirited four-track EP Slide via BBR Music Group / Wheelhouse Records on Friday, September 23. Vastly produced by Zach Crowell (Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Dustin Lynch, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban) and backed by iridescent beats, the new project — entirely co-written by Merlo — delivers powerful female stories, from budding romances (“Slide, “I Need A Drink”) to growing up (“YOUNG-ish,” produced by Crowell and Jerry Flowers) to the lessons learned in-between (“Girl Where He Grew Up,” produced by Crowell and Nathan Chapman). Winner of the season 2 premiere of the NBC songwriting reality TV series Songland, the Canadian songstress’ captivating track “Champagne Night,” recorded and released by Lady A, went on to be a three-week No. 1 song on US Country radio and earned her the 2021 Canadian Country Music Association Award for Songwriter of the Year. For more information on Madeline Merlo, visit: www.madelinemerlo.com.