HEY NOW Records is growing fast. The Kenny Chesney-backed indie label has named three executives to a newly formed Business & Commerce team.
What We Know:Danny Bess joins as SVP of Finance & Operations, bringing seven years as CFO at Warner Music Nashville and 25 years as VP of Finance at UMG Nashville. Rachel Brown comes aboard as Manager of Operations, with a background in project management and merchandising. Troy Scott has been named VP of Commerce & Consumer Products. Scott is arriving from UMG Nashville where he rose to Sr. Director of E-Commerce & Retail.
What They Said: “As the label expands its reach, it’s critical to have systems in place to support the work being done by the various teams,” said Kris Lamb, President & Co-Founder. “To be able to engage executive talent that includes Danny Bess and Rachel Brown on the business side, and Troy Scott for commerce and consumer products, we’re going to be able to move twice as fast, knowing our needs will be supported by a strong foundation.”
What Remains Unclear: The label hasn’t detailed how quickly these roles will scale. No artist roster beyond Chesney has been publicly announced atthis point.
What It MeansHEY NOW Records already made history. Kenny Chesney’s “Carry On” locked out the entire Country radio reporting panel in its first week. That is only the third time ever, and the first for an independent label. These hires suggest the label is now building the operational backbone to match that early momentum. Simply put, HEY NOW is playing a long game.
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David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.
