- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Bailey Zimmerman's Arena Leap Marks 'Exact Right Time' for The Core Entertainment
The management company's co-CEOs Simon Tikhman and Kevin Zaruk discuss the country artist's rapid rise, Dan + Shay's next chapter, and the keys to longevity in the music industry.
Published on Feb. 11, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Core Entertainment co-founders Simon Tikhman and Kevin 'Chief' Zaruk discuss the rapid rise of country artist Bailey Zimmerman, who is embarking on his first arena tour later this month. They explain how they carefully mapped out Zimmerman's progression from opening for Morgan Wallen to headlining fairs and festivals, ensuring the 'thirst' from fans was there before making the jump to arenas. The pair also address managing artists' mental health, the strategy behind signing Dan + Shay, and the lessons young acts can learn from veteran rockers Nickelback about consistency and authenticity. Additionally, they share their perspective on the pros and cons of signing with coastal versus Nashville labels, and the advice they give artists who want to get political.
Why it matters
The Core Entertainment's approach to developing artists like Bailey Zimmerman and Dan + Shay provides insight into the delicate balance managers must strike in today's music industry, where artists are 'under a microscope' due to social media and high expectations. The company's focus on mental health support, strategic career planning, and preserving artistic authenticity offers a model for nurturing long-term success in an increasingly challenging landscape.
The details
Tikhman and Zaruk, who co-founded The Core Entertainment in 2019 with Live Nation as a partner, have built a management roster of over a dozen artists, including Bailey Zimmerman, Dan + Shay, Nate Smith, Cameron Whitcomb, Josh Ross, Tyler Hubbard, and Nickelback. They discuss how Zimmerman's feature on BigXThaPlug's hit 'All the Way' was a 'massive' boost, helping him reach new audiences and playlists. The pair also highlight their approach to mental health support, offering 10 free therapy sessions per year to employees. For acts like Dan + Shay, they're focused on evolving the duo's release strategy and live show to reach 'a whole new fan base.' And for veteran rockers Nickelback, they credit the band's consistency and authenticity as keys to longevity. When it comes to deciding between coastal and Nashville labels, Tikhman and Zaruk say they prioritize the global potential of an artist, noting that coastal labels can provide opportunities for features and crossover success that Nashville labels may not.
- Bailey Zimmerman is embarking on his first arena tour starting on February 19, 2026.
The players
The Core Entertainment
A management company co-founded by Simon Tikhman and Kevin 'Chief' Zaruk in 2019, with Live Nation as a partner. The company manages over a dozen artists, including Bailey Zimmerman, Dan + Shay, Nate Smith, and Nickelback.
Simon Tikhman
The co-founder and co-CEO of The Core Entertainment.
Kevin 'Chief' Zaruk
The co-founder and co-CEO of The Core Entertainment, who has worked with Nickelback since 1998.
Bailey Zimmerman
A country artist managed by The Core Entertainment who is embarking on his first arena tour in 2026.
Dan + Shay
A country duo managed by The Core Entertainment, known for their successful career and large fan base.
What they’re saying
“His growth has happened very quickly, but also it feels like this was the exact right time for this move. We didn't force it.”
— Kevin 'Chief' Zaruk, Co-founder and Co-CEO, The Core Entertainment (Billboard)
“Consistency is so important. This is your job. If you say yes to something, you're going to go to it on time and you're going to be a professional.”
— Simon Tikhman, Co-founder and Co-CEO, The Core Entertainment (Billboard)
“If you have an act like a Megan Moroney or what Ella [Langley] is doing or Bailey, where you start being like, 'Is this a global artist where we can do features with Big X?' BigX's [duet] came from [Zimmerman's label] Atlantic. That does not happen from a Nashville label.”
— Kevin 'Chief' Zaruk, Co-founder and Co-CEO, The Core Entertainment (Billboard)
What’s next
The Core Entertainment plans to release new music from Dan + Shay as early as April 2026, followed by a tour and album release in the fall.
The takeaway
The Core Entertainment's approach to developing artists like Bailey Zimmerman and Dan + Shay highlights the importance of strategic planning, mental health support, and preserving artistic authenticity in an industry where artists face intense scrutiny and high expectations. Their ability to identify global potential and leverage opportunities across genres and platforms offers a model for nurturing long-term success in the evolving music landscape.
