NASHVILLE, TENN. – Brock Phillips has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with Big Loud Publishing / Local Hay.

“The first time I heard Brock’s songs I knew there was something special and unique about him,” shares Scott Cooke, President of Local Hay Records. “We are so proud to have him on the roster and can’t wait for everyone to hear what he’s working on.”

“Brock’s first writing trip to Nashville was such a success we knew we wanted him to move here ASAP,” shares Sara Knabe, Big Loud Records SVP of A&R. “He is a perfect addition to our writing roster. You’ll be hearing his songs soon and for years to come.”

Born in Canada, Phillips is a singer-songwriter and producer who has been immersed in music all his life. Wearing many musical hats out of both passion and necessity, he began his journey studying music in high school before continuing to Berklee College of Music, where he began creating his own personal style and sound influenced by Chris Stapleton, John Mayer, Kings of Leon, and Ariel Posen.

Phillips returned to Canada after Berklee taking his skills to Vancouver, booking weekly residencies at clubs and bars that morphed into opening gigs for multi-platinum artists like Dallas Smith, Josh Ross, and MacKenzie Porter. In 2024, Phillips relocated to Nashville and continues to dive headfirst into the Music City writing scene.

NASHVILLE, TENN. – Fast-rising country star Hailey Benedict today releases the touching single “Things My Mama Says” (LISTEN HERE) along with the captivating official visualizer (WATCH HERE). Produced by Joey Moi and Scott Cooke, “Things My Mama Says” marks Benedict’s debut single via Big Loud Records and its Dallas Smith-founded imprint Local Hay Records.

Written by Benedict alongside Clara Park and Ava Suppelsa, the song is a deeply personal reflection on the emotional tension between trusting a mother’s advice and worrying about her from a distance – a narrative rooted in Benedict’s own experience.

“The day I signed my record deal was the same day I found out about my mom’s cancer diagnosis. I immediately felt like I should put my career on pause,” Benedict shares. “My mom has always been one of my biggest supporters, and despite her diagnosis, she urged me to keep pursuing my dreams. Most of the time she’s right – but this time I wasn’t so sure. ‘Things My Mama Says’ illustrates the irony of how our mothers spend their lives worrying about us, and then one day, the roles reverse.”

Writing the lyrics was somewhat of a therapeutic process, but at first, Benedict wasn’t sure she’d ever feel ready to release something so personal.

“As I began sharing the song and story, I realized that I wasn’t alone in these emotions, and that others connected with the sentiment of the song,” she says. “My hope is that people can relate to the song in their own way, drawing from their own relationships with loved ones.”

Benedict announced her worldwide recording and publishing deals with Big Loud / Local Hay last month, first revealing the news while on stage in Toronto at Billboard Canada‘s Women in Music event, which celebrated influential and trailblazing women of the music industry. Following that, Benedict headed to the CCMA Awards in Edmonton, where she was nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, presented an award during the nationally televised broadcast, and performed at the sold-out Legends Show.

Hailed as “the future star of country music” by CityTV and praised as a “prodigy whose star is definitely on the rise” by The Calgary Herald, the guitar-wielding, CCMA Award-winner drew international attention at age 14 when Keith Urban pulled her on stage for an impromptu performance in front of a sold-out arena, instantly catapulting her into the spotlight.

2023 was a monumental year for Benedict, culminating in her victory at the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition. This summer, she fulfilled a lifelong dream by performing on the main stage at Big Valley Jamboree, her hometown festival where she has been a lifelong attendee. Benedict’s quarter-million-strong following on TikTok helped earn her a CCMA Award for Interactive Artist of the Year, to go along with four career nominations.

CONNECT WITH HAILEY BENEDICT

WEBSITE | TIKTOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK | X

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Media Contacts

Canada
Adam Gonshor | Collabo PR
adam@collabopr.com

U.S.
Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud Records
rachel@bigloud.com

BILLBOARD EXCLUSIVELY SHARES THE NEWS AT BILLBOARD CANADA‘S WOMEN IN MUSIC – SEE THE MOMENT AND READ MORE HERE

FIRST SINGLE WITH THE LABEL “THINGS MY MAMA SAYS” OUT OCT. 4 – PRE-ADD / PRE-SAVE HERE

NOMINATED AT THIS WEEKEND’S CCMA AWARDS IN EDMONTON FOR BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR

NASHVILLE, TENN. – Big Loud Records and its Canada-based, Dallas Smith-founded imprint Local Hay Records are proud to announce the signing of fast-rising country star Hailey Benedict. In addition to the record deal, Benedict has also signed a global publishing deal with Big Loud Publishing / Local Hay.

Benedict revealed the exciting news over the weekend on stage in Toronto at Billboard Canada‘s Women in Music event, which celebrated influential and trailblazing women of the music industry.

“I’m ecstatic to begin this new chapter with such an incredibly creative and dedicated team that shares my vision for my songwriting, artistry, and career. After a decade as an independent artist, it was crucial for me to partner with a record label that aligns with my values and passion for music. I truly believe I’ve found the perfect home with Big Loud and Local Hay. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to every single person who has supported and championed my music and journey throughout the years. This would not be possible without your support, and I can’t wait to see what is to come next,” says Benedict.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Hailey to our team. Hailey has the drive, talent, and passion you dream about in a new artist. The sky is truly the limit,” shares Scott Cooke, President of Local Hay Records.

Benedict will introduce her next chapter with the single “Things My Mama Says,” out Oct. 4 – pre-add / pre-save here. Her first release on the label threads sincere advice and wisdom from a mother into a daughter’s acknowledgement of its value despite her hesitancy to follow it.

“Hailey wowed us in our first meeting with quality songwriting, heartfelt storytelling, and an unwavering authenticity that we could not ignore,” adds Big Loud Records SVP of A&R, Sara Knabe. “’Things My Mama Says’ is a special song, and our entire team is honored to share it with the world while we proudly welcome Hailey to Big Loud.”

Hailed as “the future star of country music” by Citytv and praised as a “prodigy whose star is definitely on the rise” by The Calgary Herald, the guitar-wielding, CCMA Award-winner got her start at age 14 when Keith Urban pulled her on stage for an impromptu performance in front of a sold-out arena, drawing international attention and instantly catapulting her into the spotlight.

2023 was a monumental year for Benedict, culminating in her victory at the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition. This summer, she fulfilled a lifelong dream by performing on the main stage at Big Valley Jamboree, her hometown festival where she has been a lifelong attendee. Benedict’s quarter-million-strong following on TikTok helped earn her a CCMA Award for Interactive Artist of the Year, and she enters this year’s CCMAs with a nomination in the Breakthrough Artist category.

CONNECT WITH HAILEY BENEDICT

WEBSITE | TIKTOK | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X

#  #  #

Media Contacts

Canada
Adam Gonshor | Collabo PR
adam@collabopr.com

U.S.
Jess Anderson | Big Loud Records
jess@bigloud.com