True Grit (Cody Jinks, Charles Wesley Godwin) Acquired by WME

There has been yet another huge shakeup in the world of independent country music, and Texas-based booking and management agencies. True Grit Talent Agency that previous oversaw the careers of Cody Jinks, Charles Wesley Godwin, Ward Davis, Whitey Morgan and the 78s, Bart Crow, and scores of others has just been acquired by massive talent agency WME.
Based in Austin, TX, True Grit was founded in the spring of 2018 with a healthy roster of independent country acts. As Cody Jinks exploded from a regional act based out of Fort Worth to a major festival headliner from coast to coast with multiple Gold and Platinum records, it helped True Grit grow into a management company with national implications.
True Grit very much became the epicenter of the “new Outlaw” movement in country music, along with overseeing Charles Wesley Godwin’s ascent from the Appalachian scene. Godwin recently signed with the mainstream record label Big Loud (Morgan Wallen, HARDY). The success of True Grit made it one of the most important booking and management agencies in independent country music.
According to reporting in Billboard, True Grit agents Mike Krug, Carrie Creasy, and Shelby Vanek are all now working under the WME umbrella, and have imported the lion’s share of their talent rosters with them. They remain based in Austin.
“We are very excited that what we do caught the eye of a company like WME,” Mike Krug said in a statement. “We are proud of all we have built here in Austin and know that joining WME will create exponentially more opportunities for our clients.”
True Grit was started in part by Arthur Penhallow Jr. who previously worked with Austin’s C3 Management, and before with Punch Enterprises managing guys like Bob Seger. Earlier in August, Saving Country Music learned that Arthur Penhallow was no longer working with Cody Jinks. Penhallow had been Cody’s personal manager for multiple years prior, and the two launched Cody’s Late August Records, which recently released the album Won’t Die This Way from Erin Viancourt.
It’s unclear who is currently managing Cody Jinks, but Late August Records is currently being overseen by Stephanie Hudacek of Soudly Music, known for working with artists such as Adam Hood, Channing Wilson, and Kaitlin Butts. WME is booking Cody Jinks for live performances under the new deal.
News of the True Grit acquisition comes after it was announced that Red 11 was acquired by WME in April. Red 11 had been one of the biggest booking agencies for Texas/Red Dirt acts, including the Turnpike Troubadours, to Mike and the Moonpies, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, Cody Canada and the Departed, Jack Ingram, Jason Eady, and more.
August 28, 2023 @ 12:01 pm
Trig, is this good, bad or neutral for the artists and/or fans? Seems like monopolies or mega-companies aren’t generally good for fans anyway.
August 28, 2023 @ 12:30 pm
I don’t really know, and that is why I just reported the news, and will now sit back and see how all of this shakes out. After the Red 11 sale, I did hear from some smaller venues and festival promoters who said the move basically locked them out of being able to book these artists now that they were on WME. A similar thing may happen with True Grit roster now. That said, this potentially gives some of True Grit’s undercard greater opportunities to open for bigger acts or play festivals or venues they may have not had access to previously.
Generally speaking, the acquisition of smaller local and regional companies by bigger national and international companies is troubling. When you centralize power, it often de-centralizes representation, especially for local, independent and up-and-coming talent. This is what we saw with country radio. Hopefully WME and the agents still keep their regional focus and make sure the next Cody Jinks from Texas is given opportunities to develop their career as opposed to being locked out of the process by major booking agencies like WME.
August 28, 2023 @ 4:23 pm
My brain read it as True Grit purchased by WWE… lol was about to say wtf ????
August 30, 2023 @ 9:15 am
Your not the only one ????
August 28, 2023 @ 4:41 pm
: D Hoping that Cody gets more traction with True Grit’s move to WME.
While this article waits to get more messages – am hoping to shamelessly plug Parkway Music out of Clifton Park, New York.
Within this year, let a nice Strat slip through my fingers. It has been in the back of my mind, since.
This month, granddaughter received her Girl Scout Gold award.
Bought & presented her with a Crater Lake National Park, Pendleton blanket. She Loved it!
Thought might continue that line of gifting with 2 grandsons who will be getting their Eagle Scout.
The first, this December.
Coud Not get that Strat out of my mind.
Called Parkway Music last Monday.
After talking with Alex for a few & letting him know what i was after, he played a Player Fender Telecaster over the phone.
Said, i want THAT one.
The tone & sound were SUPERB.
Talked with grandson Monday night, after talking with Alex.
Asked him, “Alright, do you want a Pendleton blanket – OR – a Telecaster?”
After we stopped laughing … well, you know.
At 3:00 this afternoon, unboxed a Used Player Fender Telecaster, sitting in a hard plastic molded Roadrunner guitar case.
The thing is STUNNING.
Carmel sunburst.
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Emailed Matt Plummer, head of shipping at Parkway, this afternoon.
Mr. Matthew Plummer!
What a GORGEOUS guitar.
My grandson & i are laughing like it’s our birthdays, we stole it, and a pony ???? under the Christmas tree!
You guys knocked it out of the ballpark!
Thank you for your time, and professionalism.
Sending all of you great big bear hugs.
Can’t wait to give this to him, this Friday night.
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I Love the guys at Parkway!!!
In my experience, (and I was thoroughly tutored by my musician friend), knew that if i was going all in on this Tele, no one was getting that business but Parkway
August 29, 2023 @ 5:53 am
Always a Tele over a Strat for me
August 29, 2023 @ 8:18 am
Gibson Les Paul
August 30, 2023 @ 11:23 am
A sign that Independent Country Music is growing in popularity and becoming more successful?
September 1, 2023 @ 3:18 pm
Odd Question? Is Arthur Penhallow Jr the son of Arthor P that was on WRIF 101 rock radio in Detroit since the beginning of time?
October 23, 2023 @ 7:19 pm
Sorry for the absurdly late response here, but yes he is! Pretty cool dude too, at least when I met him back in ’07. He was managing a band called Huck Johns, and I was helping a friend shoot their concert video at St. Andrew’s Hall in Detroit. Arthur Jr introduced us to his pops, and even bought the crew burgers and beer at The Detroiter next door.