Up Close: K&K Insurance Group, Inc.kandkinsurance.comOrigin in Motorsports: Decades before K&K Insurance became a leading provider of sports, leisure, and entertainment insurance, its co-founder, Fort Wayne, IN businessman Nord Krauskopf, was a popular stock car racer. In the late '40s, the only insurance for this high-risk sport consisted of individual racers contributing to a fund that would help cover the costs in the event of an accident. Aware of a gap in the market, Krauskopf and his wife Teddi pitched a plan to Lloyd’s of London to create specialized insurance for race car drivers. Eighteen years after launching K&K Insurance for this purpose in 1952, their dedication to motorsports resulted in winning the Grand National Championship. In the '60s and '70s, they expanded into festival and fair insurance, and in the '80s took a broader approach that included sports, leisure, and event organization across the U.S. and Canada. Over the past 70+ years, K&K has also become one of the largest providers of insurance and claims resolution services for recreation, motorsports, and event organizations. Driven by their trademarked branding motto “Insuring the World’s Fun,” the company offers over 80 specialty insurance programs in numerous categories—ranging from Camps and Campgrounds, Events and Attractions, and Venues and Facilities to Instructors, Schools and Product Liability Insurance.Essential Operations: Staffed with experienced examiners, litigation specialists, and management personnel, K&K’s claims team offers decades of experience in the investigation and resolution of claims, providing quality claims management. The company employs more than 250 agents who perform a variety of traditional insurance company functions on behalf of the insurance companies they represent, allowing them to provide stellar service in sales, marketing, underwriting, loss control, and claims resolution. Through active involvement in industry associations, events, and conventions, its staff stays connected with current industry trends and challenges. Liability Insurance for Musicians: According to K&K Marketing Manager Lorena Hatfield, the company’s claims staff is well versed on the types of risks musicians face when they’re performing at an event, festival, or concert venue. If something should happen that prompts an audience member or facility owner to sue, the performers are often drawn into the lawsuit—and without insurance, they need to hire an attorney to determine liability. Whether it’s injury or property damage, with insurance coverage, K&K manages the process, reducing a musician’s stress considerably. Many facilities require this coverage in advance. There are three criteria for insuring musicians: 1) A group must have at least one member or representative who is at least 18 years old; 2) Annual gross income from the performing group’s activities cannot exceed $500,000 ($300,000 for an individual musician); and 3) No more than 30 members in a performing group. Coverage options are offered for both individual Performer’s Insurance and Entertainer and Musicians (Group) Program.Contact K&K Insurance Group, Inc. 800-637-4757 The post Up Close: K&K Insurance Group, Inc. first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Music Business News Last Week: Live Nation, NIVA, Tickets, MoreHere’s a roundup of the key music business news last week with highlights including Live Nation, the NIVA Conference, Quebec's battle with Spotify and more.
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Indie Musician News Last Week: Marketing, Merch & MoreThis week, our tips, advice and indie musician news covered some unique merch ideas, music PR, a guide to A/B testing, and more...
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New Music Critique: Bobby Bognar's HandsomeContact: bobbybognar@gmail.comWeb: PandoraSeeking: Film & TV PlacementStyle: RockBobby Bognar’s Handsome delivers a familiar brand of rock that rarely strays from the genre’s well-worn paths. “Every singer tells a story, all are more melodic than mine,” he admits on “Get Out!”—a line that proves unintentionally self-aware. The vocals lack distinction, and while the lyrics occasionally hint at poetic depth, they fall short of resonance. The guitar work is serviceable but uninspired, and production choices do little to elevate the material. Despite its sincerity and flashes of introspection, the tracks struggle to leave a lasting impression.The post New Music Critique: Bobby Bognar's Handsome first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

From Taylor Swift’s masters victory to HYBE’s eventful week… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-UpThe five biggest stories to hit our headlines over the past seven days
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Why Are Concert Tickets So Expensive? A look at the numbersWhy are concert tickets so expensive? This analysis breaks down what’s behind rising prices - from rising expenses to high demand, ticket fees and even streaming.
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When is the right to Time to Hire a Music PR Team?Think you're ready to take your music career to the next level? Learn seven signs that reveal whether it's time to hire a PR team to amplify your reach.
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Guitar Center Adds Powerhouse Duo to Ignite a New Era in Music EducationGiovanni “John” Bianchette, Guitar Center Vice President of Music EducationGuitar Center has announced the the addition of two "high-impact leaders to its Lessons team: celebrated educator Giovanni 'John' Bianchette as Vice President of Music Education, and GRAMMY® Award-winning rock guitarist Dave Kushner as Senior Director of Music Education Experience.""With this powerhouse duo at the helm, Guitar Center is charting an electrifying course toward 50,000 active students – redefining how music is taught, experienced, and shared across its nationwide store network," they say in a statement.“This is a game-changer and showcases our commitment to the future of music education,” said Mike Schultheis, EVP and Chief Stores Officer at Guitar Center. “John is a strategic powerhouse in education, and Dave is a literal rock legend. Together, they bring unmatched energy, creativity, and credibility to our Lessons Program that will inspire a whole new generation of lifelong musicians.”"John Bianchette is a respected educator and brings public and private sector experience from leadership roles at Mathnasium, including Vice President of Education and Training," they add. "He has led instructional strategy, driven talent development, and shaped innovative, student-centered learning models. Focused on impact, Bianchette builds high-performing teams, broadens access, and redefines quality instruction. As Vice President of Music Education, he’ll oversee the expansion, innovation, and quality of Guitar Center’s music education offerings – building a scalable, inclusive experience that keeps students progressing, engaged and excited."“I couldn’t be more thrilled to join a brand that lives and breathes music,” said Bianchette. “Guitar Center gives us the platform to reach tens of thousands of aspiring musicians, and we’re just getting started. It’s time to put music education back where it belongs – at the center of culture, creativity and community.”"Dave Kushner is best known as a founding member of rock supergroup Velvet Revolver and brings decades of stage, studio and education experience to his new role as Senior Director of Music Education Experience at Guitar Center," they add. :Kushner has composed music for film and television, collaborated with icons like Elton John and Stevie Wonder, and developed popular online guitar courses. In his new role, Kushner will bring the magic of performance to every lesson – energizing curriculum and content for students online and in-store."“From the stage to the classroom, music has the power to change lives,” said Kushner. “As a musician who grew up in Hollywood, Guitar Center has been a part of my DNA for decades. With this new role, I plan to marry the ‘glory’ of the past culture with an educational experience rooted in the present and drive it all into the future.”“The future of music education starts now,” said Schultheis. “And it’s louder, bolder, and more inspiring than ever!”The post Guitar Center Adds Powerhouse Duo to Ignite a New Era in Music Education first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

HYBE launches subsidiary in China, as K-Pop giant’s global expansion continuesChina is the world's fifth-largest recorded music market
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NIVA shares 2025 conference sessions, sets State Of Live revealThe National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) has announced an impressive agenda for fourth annual national gathering, NIVA ‘25, in Milwaukee on June 22 - 25.
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Instagram Shares replace Likes to boost engagementAs engagement falls, Instagram Shares replace Likes for successful creatores. If your posts aren’t landing in DMs or group chats, you’re missing the metric that matters most.
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SK Sharma joins PE giant Warburg Pincus as Senior Advisor, focused on investment opportunities in Generative AIWarburg Pincus LLC has more than $87 billion in assets under management
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Teddy Swims Honored with BMI Pop Song of the Year Backstage at Radio CityTeddy Swims has made a name for himself blending powerhouse vocals with raw, emotional songwriting and now, he’s got the accolades to prove it. On Tuesday night, just before stepping onto the iconic stage at New York’s Radio City Music Hall for a sold-out show, Swims was met backstage by representatives from BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) bearing some very well-deserved news: he’d officially earned the title of BMI’s 2025 Pop Song of the Year.It’s all thanks to his chart-dominating hit “Lose Control,” which Swims co-wrote with Julian Bunetta, Marco “Infamous” Rodriguez, and Mikky Ekko—all fellow BMI-affiliated songwriters.A statement from the company discloses that “'Lose Control'” recently logged a record-breaking 92nd week on Billboard’s Hot 100, including a record 63 weeks in the Hot 100’s top 10." It’s a rare kind of success, not just in pop music, but in any genre—an endurance feat that speaks to the song’s resonance with listeners across the country.A statement from the company further reveals that “Swims received awards for ‘The Door’ and ‘Lose Control’ for being two of the 50 most-performed pop songs of the previous year in the U.S.” For anyone who’s been following his meteoric rise, the recognition is no surprise—Swims has become a steady presence on playlists, radio stations, and Billboard charts.The timing couldn’t have been more fitting. Radio City Music Hall has hosted legends for nearly a century, and now Swims joins the ranks of artists who’ve been celebrated not only by sold-out crowds, but by the industry itself.For BMI, the awards are part of their ongoing mission to support and spotlight the songwriters and composers shaping today’s music. For Swims, they mark another major milestone in a career that’s still clearly on the rise.The heartfelt energy that Swims brings to the stage is the same energy that powers his songs—and clearly, it’s connecting. With his voice, his vulnerability, and now, a handful of BMI awards in tow, Teddy Swims continues to chart a course all his own.The post Teddy Swims Honored with BMI Pop Song of the Year Backstage at Radio City first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Fairness in ticket resales ‘is neither expected nor delivered’"The manipulation of inventory, unchecked speculative listings, and aggressive affiliate networks have created a system where fairness (in ticket resales) is neither expected nor delivered," says artist manager and ticketing crusader Randy Nichols on fairness in ticket resales.
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Meta, TikTok, Spotify & New Rules of Soft Power [Mark Mulligan]Soft power hasn’t disappeared - it’s just moved online, where tech companies now shape what we watch, share, and care about. Behind the screens, writes Mark Mulligan of MIDiA. algorithms are quietly rewriting the rules of culture.
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