Two powerful forces behind the scenes in bluegrass music have today announced that they will henceforth be working together. Moonstruck Management and Hope River Entertainment will merge the two companies under the Moonstruck banner.
Penni McDaniel has run Hope River as a publicity company this past 15 years, serving the needs of numerous bluegrass artists and labels with album and radio promotion, plus booking, public relations and talent buying services. Josh Trivett has built Moonstruck into a major factor in bluegrass managing the careers of acts like Lonesome River Band, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, The Church Sisters, Newtown, and several others. He has also recently moved into festival and event management, working as the talent buyer for the Huck Finn Jubilee.
McDaniel says that working closely with Trivett on two events this year, and getting to know new Moonstruck agent Ben Wilson, has convinced her that folding her company into his is the right move.
“I’ve been working with Josh for many years in regards to our mutual clients like Lonesome River Band, and more recently working and getting to know Ben. I am so impressed with their enthusiasm, business experience and professionalism. The three of us had the opportunity to work closely together at the Huck Finn Jubilee and Uncle Dave Macon Days, and we immediately clicked as a team. We felt like the merger was an obvious and natural next step in helping our clients achieve their own career goals. We are honored to be working with such talented artists and appreciate their excitement about this new venture. I’m thrilled to help expand Moonstruck Management as we head into a very positive future with this new team.”
And for Trivett, it allows for the expansion into the sort of agency he had envisaged for the company.
“I am so excited about the merger of Moonstruck Management and Hope River Entertainment on so many levels. Penni McDaniel is a wonderful veteran of the industry in all aspects: Booking, PR, Album & Radio Promotions. With the recent hire of Ben Wilson as Booking Agent, and now adding all of Hope River’s services under the Moonstruck umbrella, this fulfills my original vision – Moonstruck Management will be a full service agency that offers artists an entire gamut of services needed to build or advance their career.”
Current plans call for Penni to continue projects she is now working or has committed to, and to continue doing publicity for Larry Cordle, Lonesome River Band, Volume Five, Trinity River Band, Bill Monroe Music Park, and management for Dave Adkins and Donna Hughes. The only difference is that she will now perform this, and new work, as part of Moonstruck. They have also recently brought Mountain Home Music on as a client.
One artist who sees the immediate benefit of Josh and Penni working together is Sammy Shelor of Lonesome River Band.
“I’ve worked with both companies for many years who have both furthered the success of Lonesome River Band. I couldn’t be more excited over this merger and having everything under one roof. It’s a real benefit with us all working closer together towards the common goal.”
You can find out more about the services offered and the acts and artists served at the Moonstruck Management web site.
