Black River Entertainment

United States • NashvilleFounded 2005

Black River Entertainment is an American independent country music label based in Nashville, Tennessee. Its roster includes Matt Stell (signed May 2026), Kellie Pickler (catalog), and Glen Templeton. In May 2026, Matt Stell signed with Black River Entertainment and released 'Better Angels' with Ne-Yo as his first track on the label. Gordon S. Kerr serves as CEO and Rick Froio as EVP.

Contact & HQ

Headquarters

Nashville, TN, USA

Ownership & Distribution

Label Type

Independent Label

Parent Company

Independently owned

Distribution

Independent distribution network

Additional Details

Genres

CountryCountry Pop

Signing Process

Black River Entertainment runs its own A&R under CEO Gordon S. Kerr and EVP Rick Froio. Unsolicited demos are not accepted. The label signs country artists through A&R scouting and referrals. Black River's 2026 signings include Matt Stell, who has amassed over 1.1 billion global streams and earned two chart-toppers at country radio.

Demo Policy

No unsolicited demos. Submit through representation or build a strong touring and streaming profile first.

Notable Artists

Matt Stell
Kellie Pickler (catalog)
Glen Templeton

Black River Entertainment is an American independent country music label based in Nashville, Tennessee. Its roster includes Matt Stell (signed May 2026), Kellie Pickler (catalog), and Glen Templeton. In May 2026, Matt Stell signed with Black River Entertainment and released "Better Angels" with Ne-Yo on May 29, 2026, as his first track on the label. Gordon S. Kerr serves as CEO and Rick Froio as EVP. The label's team also includes Brendan Rich (who leads Matt Stell's team), Doug Johnson, Aaron Steinberg, and Chase Miller.

Black River Entertainment built its reputation on country music. Matt Stell, the Arkansas native who signed with the label in May 2026, has amassed over 1.1 billion global streams and earned two chart-toppers at country radio with the double-Platinum hit "Prayed For You" and Platinum certified "Everywhere But On." His signing to Black River represents the label's continued investment in established country acts with proven streaming and radio success. CEO Gordon S. Kerr described Stell as an incredible artist with a unique voice and a vision for where he wants to go.

How Black River Operates

Black River Entertainment runs dedicated A&R under CEO Gordon S. Kerr and EVP Rick Froio from its Nashville headquarters. It operates an independent distribution network. The label's strength is its focused roster and its willingness to sign established country acts with proven streaming and radio success. Its 2026 Matt Stell signing shows continued investment in country artists with billion-stream profiles.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you make country music with proven streaming and radio success, Black River Entertainment is a focused independent Nashville label that signs established acts. Its 2026 Matt Stell signing (an artist with over 1.1 billion global streams) shows it targets artists with proven traction rather than developing acts. Its small, focused team means personalized attention for each signing.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

Country focus: Black River signs country and country pop. Artists in other genres should look elsewhere.
No unsolicited demos: Black River does not accept cold submissions.
Established artist focus: Black River tends to sign artists with proven streaming and radio success rather than developing acts.
Small roster: Black River maintains a focused roster, so signing opportunities are rare.