Michelle Branch to BMG, Liamini Segura to Lighthouse & More Signings

Veteran singer-songwriter Michelle Branch has entered a new phase of her career by signing a recording agreement with BMG. The deal marks the upcoming release of her EP, Everywhere and Back Again, scheduled for November 6. This collection revisits select tracks from her earlier catalog, including her debut album The Spirit Room, featuring newly recorded versions that offer refreshed interpretations for both longtime followers and new listeners alike.

Highlighting the EP is a reworked rendition of “The Game of Love,” a hit originally performed by Santana and Michelle Branch that achieved considerable chart success and earned a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Branch’s collaboration with Gregg Alexander, the New Radicals’ frontman who co-wrote the song, underscores the project’s blend of nostalgia and innovation. Details regarding additional guest artists involved in the EP remain under wraps, with anticipation building among fans.

Branch’s management continues under Vector Management, while BMG’s leadership expressed pride in supporting her creative evolution and reaffirmed the enduring impact of her songwriting on pop-rock music.

In parallel developments, Lighthouse Management + Media has signed Liamani Segura, an emerging talent recognized for her roles in Disney productions such as High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and Descendants: Wicked Wonderland. Segura recently inked a recording contract with Def Jam Recordings and debuted her EP Dear Little Me under the label. She is also slated to join the Worlds Collide Concert Tour this fall, performing in arenas across the country.

Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens has expanded her representation by signing with WME for global music endeavors. This move comes ahead of her seventh solo studio album, Hope Is the Thing With Feathers, which will be released on September 18 through Nonesuch Records. Giddens has garnered acclaim not only for her recordings but also for her contributions to film soundtracks and live performances, including sold-out shows at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The post-hardcore band Chiodos has ended a decade-long recording hiatus by joining SharpTone Records. The label recently issued their new single "TAPDAT," coinciding with a North American tour commemorating the 20th anniversary of their debut album, All’s Well That Ends Well. Festival appearances and additional headline dates are planned for the summer season.

Jazz guitarist and vocalist George Benson, a ten-time Grammy winner, has partnered with Candid Records to reissue his 2013 album Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole. The reissue, slated for September 11, will include three restored bonus tracks, revitalizing Benson’s homage to the legendary vocalist.

Management company Mutual Friends, which oversees artists such as Chelsea Cutler and Quinn XCII, has broadened its roster with the addition of Ashe and Goth Babe. Both artists will maintain their longstanding relationship with manager Sean Patrick Sheahan, who recently joined Mutual Friends.

Country music management firm G Major Management has welcomed two new artists, Mae Estes and Clayton Mullen, to its roster, which already features notable names like Thomas Rhett and Ella Gibson. Estes, recognized as a rising artist-writer by the Association of Independent Music Publishers in 2024, recently released her label debut single “The 90s Called.” Mullen is preparing to release a new EP this summer, including the track “Can’t Compete With Carolina.” The management team has also been strengthened by the hiring of Taylor Venis and Kenzie Couch, who will oversee day-to-day artist management and operations.

Other notable signings include New York-based trans nonbinary artist Hank Heaven, who joined Nice Life Recording Company with an EP release planned for August 14, and Nashville’s Myles Erlick, who has entered a joint venture with Huff Co Entertainment and ONErpm. Erlick is recognized for his multi-instrumental talents and blending country-pop melodies with energetic performances.

Additional artist representation updates feature country trio Highway Home signing with WME for booking representation following a recent Warner Records deal, and Colton Dawson securing global booking with WME amid his association with Warner Records Nashville and TKO Artist Management. Rising Americana artist Evan Bartels has been signed by Joan of Arc Music, preparing to debut his single this August.

The music industry continues to see a dynamic reshuffling of artist agreements and management partnerships, with established artists revisiting their catalogs and emerging talents gaining momentum through strategic label signings and touring opportunities. These developments reflect ongoing investment in diverse genres and evolving artist careers.