ArtistDirect News
Crossroads Music Names Scott Wagner President/CEO and Jon Weisberger Chairman After Mickey Gambles Death
When the long‑time co‑founder of Crossroads Music, Mickey Gamble, passed away, the company faced an uncertain future. On April 30, 2026, the Asheville‑based label announced a new leadership team that promises continuity and a fresh vision.
Scott Wagner will step into the role of President and CEO, while Jon Weisberger will become Chairman of the Board. Both have deep roots in the company and a track record that spans the broader music industry.
Founded in the early 2000s, Crossroads Music began as a modest recording studio before expanding into a regional powerhouse. Today it operates four distinct labels—Horizon Records, Sonlite Records, Mountain Home Music Company, and Organic Records—each specializing in southern gospel, bluegrass, folk, and Americana. The roster has grown to include traditional gospel quartets, contemporary bluegrass bands, and innovative new artists, cementing the company’s reputation as a bastion of genre‑defining talent.
Wagner’s tenure at Crossroads spans more than twenty years, during which he has seen the company evolve from a local studio to a national distribution partner. Prior to joining Crossroads, he held senior positions at Pamplin Music Group, WEA Christian, EMI Christian (now Capitol Christian), and Spectra Distribution. In his statement, Wagner emphasized that the company’s core values—“great music, great artists, lasting relationships, and forward thinking”—will remain intact, while he plans to nurture emerging talent and strengthen the foundation laid by Gamble.
Weisberger’s career is a blend of performance, songwriting, studio production, and broadcasting. A former bassist for Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, he has earned the IBMA Songwriter of the Year award twice and received a Grammy nomination. He joined Crossroads in 2019 as an A&R director, where he championed fresh voices and innovative collaborations. In his new role as chairman, Weisberger reflected on Gamble’s belief that music can foster community and pledged to continue that mission across the company’s diverse roster.
The appointments came shortly after Gamble’s death, which left a void in Crossroads’ leadership and vision. The board’s decision to elevate Wagner and Weisberger underscores a commitment to preserve the company’s culture while steering it toward growth in an increasingly digital and fragmented music‑distribution landscape.
Independent labels today confront rapid shifts in streaming models, artist‑direct distribution, and genre‑blending releases. Crossroads’ new leadership team is well positioned to leverage the company’s established relationships with artists, distributors, and publishers, while adapting to emerging digital trends and ensuring that its four labels continue to thrive.
Wagner’s experience at Spectra Distribution—an independent distributor known for digital catalog management—provides him with the logistics know‑how to keep an independent label competitive in the streaming era. Weisberger’s dual success as a songwriter, with two IBMA Songwriter of the Year awards and a Grammy nomination, equips him to guide Crossroads’ A&R team toward artists capable of blending genre traditions while maintaining authenticity.
The board’s statement framed the transition as a tribute to Gamble’s legacy and a commitment to preserve Crossroads’ culture while pursuing growth.
Crossroads confirmed the appointments through an official statement, effective immediately. The company will maintain its current operations under the new executive structure, with Wagner overseeing day‑to‑day management and Weisberger guiding strategic direction.
As the industry evolves, Crossroads Music’s leadership transition signals both a tribute to Mickey Gamble’s legacy and a renewed focus on nurturing the next generation of southern gospel, bluegrass, folk, and Americana talent.
Scott Wagner will step into the role of President and CEO, while Jon Weisberger will become Chairman of the Board. Both have deep roots in the company and a track record that spans the broader music industry.
Founded in the early 2000s, Crossroads Music began as a modest recording studio before expanding into a regional powerhouse. Today it operates four distinct labels—Horizon Records, Sonlite Records, Mountain Home Music Company, and Organic Records—each specializing in southern gospel, bluegrass, folk, and Americana. The roster has grown to include traditional gospel quartets, contemporary bluegrass bands, and innovative new artists, cementing the company’s reputation as a bastion of genre‑defining talent.
Wagner’s tenure at Crossroads spans more than twenty years, during which he has seen the company evolve from a local studio to a national distribution partner. Prior to joining Crossroads, he held senior positions at Pamplin Music Group, WEA Christian, EMI Christian (now Capitol Christian), and Spectra Distribution. In his statement, Wagner emphasized that the company’s core values—“great music, great artists, lasting relationships, and forward thinking”—will remain intact, while he plans to nurture emerging talent and strengthen the foundation laid by Gamble.
Weisberger’s career is a blend of performance, songwriting, studio production, and broadcasting. A former bassist for Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, he has earned the IBMA Songwriter of the Year award twice and received a Grammy nomination. He joined Crossroads in 2019 as an A&R director, where he championed fresh voices and innovative collaborations. In his new role as chairman, Weisberger reflected on Gamble’s belief that music can foster community and pledged to continue that mission across the company’s diverse roster.
The appointments came shortly after Gamble’s death, which left a void in Crossroads’ leadership and vision. The board’s decision to elevate Wagner and Weisberger underscores a commitment to preserve the company’s culture while steering it toward growth in an increasingly digital and fragmented music‑distribution landscape.
Independent labels today confront rapid shifts in streaming models, artist‑direct distribution, and genre‑blending releases. Crossroads’ new leadership team is well positioned to leverage the company’s established relationships with artists, distributors, and publishers, while adapting to emerging digital trends and ensuring that its four labels continue to thrive.
Wagner’s experience at Spectra Distribution—an independent distributor known for digital catalog management—provides him with the logistics know‑how to keep an independent label competitive in the streaming era. Weisberger’s dual success as a songwriter, with two IBMA Songwriter of the Year awards and a Grammy nomination, equips him to guide Crossroads’ A&R team toward artists capable of blending genre traditions while maintaining authenticity.
The board’s statement framed the transition as a tribute to Gamble’s legacy and a commitment to preserve Crossroads’ culture while pursuing growth.
Crossroads confirmed the appointments through an official statement, effective immediately. The company will maintain its current operations under the new executive structure, with Wagner overseeing day‑to‑day management and Weisberger guiding strategic direction.
As the industry evolves, Crossroads Music’s leadership transition signals both a tribute to Mickey Gamble’s legacy and a renewed focus on nurturing the next generation of southern gospel, bluegrass, folk, and Americana talent.