The Cobras: A Cobra Kai Music AU

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When Tory finally relented and set up a dinner for her dad to meet her boyfriend, Mike actually ended up liking Robby a lot more than he thought he would much to his daughter's pleasure.

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The media attention from after the benefit concert continued and amplified when more people picked up on the connection between Robby and Johnny, and Robby and Tory.

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As well as offers from labels in L.A. specialising in rock music, Tory had also received some invitations back to Nashville from labels and publishing houses on Music Row.

Invited to hang with the other 'outcasts of country music' including Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Orville Peck and Kelsea Ballerini. Tory also received support from a country music superstar who also loved to dabble in rock music, the Carrie Underwood!

After various different offers from both states and genres, Tory eventually decided to partner with Highway 65, run by country artist, Rayna Jaymes, who had recently started her own label, looking to nurture new and different talent. The multi-millionaire also wasn't interested in taking profits from her artists having made and still making her own fortune. Mike agreed that it was the best deal for Tory financially and the one that also gave her the most freedom to do whatever she wanted to do.

Meanwhile, The Cobras had also signed to Capitol Records in L.A. going with a competitor of Eagle Fang's record company, Universal Music Group, to make sure they weren't getting preferential treatment.

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At a writer's retreat in Nashville, Tory was already making waves, challenging a couple of male writers who wanted to write a song about after a guy cheated on his girlfriend, she just wished him the best. Tory burst out laughing "Yeah, that's not how it works."

Tory's official debut single to country radio was filled with the typical country storytelling, powerful vocals, and a rock undertone. And it's 20 week run at Number 1, got Tory inaugurated into that year's CMT's Next Women of Country. A program which aims to promote female country artists and fight systemic gender disparity within the country music industry as part of CMT's overarching Equal Play Initiative.

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On the other side of the country, The Cobras' debut single, "Monsters" was making waves and garnering a lot of attention for the mix of voices on the track. Traditionally, most rock bands had only one lead singer.

The Cobras were also promoted on MTV Push and nominated as Push Artist of The Year at the MTV VMAs.

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With the nationwide success of "I Hope", a pop artist, Charlie Puth, had reached out to Tory about releasing the song as a duet with him.
"I don't know what to do." She told Johnny and her dad.
"If it feels like a sell out, don't do it." Johnny warned the up and comer.
"I don't know. He says he's really interested in the lyricism - says he's been looking for a continuous sentence chorus for a while."
"What does he get out of this?" Mike asked looking at the legal aspect.
"Not much. I think he's pretty much doing it for fun. It's not as if he's trying to break into the country music genre."
"Just be careful he doesn't break you out of it after you fought so hard to get in." Johnny warned. "Some people down south don't take too kindly to deviations from traditional country."
"Well, if we're not changing the song, would it matter?" Tory asked. "Then I'm not changing anything, he is."
"Look, it's up to you kid. I know it's been done before and the smart thing to do would be to capitalise on the success of your debut single and extend it, but if it doesn't feel right don't do it." Was Johnny's final advice.
"I don't see anything in the contract that is damaging." Her dad finished reading. "Talk to Rayna about it and see what she thinks."

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Tory finally decided to collaborate with Charlie and thankfully the risk paid off. It was all about storytelling in country music and the double point of view made the song even better and the two were even invited to perform it on the prestigious and traditional CMA Awards where the original was nominated for Single of the Year.

Robby also very kindly agreed to play guitar for their performance at Tory's request to make sure the rock edge was heard and felt.

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The young musical couple were the stars of the red carpet and their pictures were plastered over every magazine and entertainment news website and social media with dozens of reporters comparing them to older celebrity couples, one of their favourites was the 'Gen Z Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman'.