Kevin “Chief” Zaruk is the longtime manager of Nickelback, and one of Canada’s big behind-the-scenes names in country and rock. 2023 was a big year for him, with The Core Entertainment, the company he co-founded in 2015, expanding into the record label space. The Core Records, a partnership with UMG’s Lucian Grainge, aims to develop new artists and guide them to success. Zaruk’s client Bailey Zimmerman is one of the hottest new acts in country, recently named Billboard Country Rookie of the Year, and his first album made history, achieving the biggest first-week streams for a debut country album. The Core also manages rising artists like Josh Ross, Nate Smith and Valley.