Hudson Plachy, Brad O’Donnell

Christian music executives Brad O’Donnell and Hudson Plachy have been promoted to co-presidents of Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG), it was announced today by the company’s Chairman & CEO Peter York, to whom both will report.

In their expanded roles, O’Donnell and Plachy now oversee all day-to-day aspects of CCMG’s creative and financial matters, while continuing to manage the company’s market-leading Label Group—which includes prominent Christian music labels Sparrow, Forefront, Motown Gospel, sixsteps, Hillsong and Jesus Culture, among others—as well as its Capitol Christian Publishing division. They continue to work closely with York to identify and implement label strategy and support the ongoing development of CCMG’s mission to impact lives with quality and compelling music. Both O’Donnell and Plachy are based at the company’s headquarters in Nashville.

O’Donnell, an 18-year veteran of CCMG, was previously the company’s Chief Creative Officer, having been promoted to that position in 2017. He continues to lead CCMG’s label team with Plachy and is responsible for all A&R and creative-related strategic objectives, as well as overseeing A&R Administration and the creative staff for the company’s recorded music and music publishing businesses. O’Donnell now adds full oversight of CCMG’s publishing division to his portfolio, with General Manager of Publishing Casey McGinty now reporting directly to him. He will also work directly with CCMG’s Vice President of Business Affairs Joe Brazil in structuring deals and maintaining productive business relationships with CCMG’s artists, writers and partners.

Plachy, a 17-year veteran of Capitol Christian Music Group, was promoted to Chief Marketing Officer in 2017 and continues to oversee marketing, streaming, promotions and commercial partnerships for the company. He now adds oversight of CCMG’s Finance Department to his portfolio, with company CFO Chris Koon now reporting directly to him. Plachy will also continue to drive the company’s business development projects as well as its international expansion.

According to Peter York, who recently renewed his contract as Chairman & CEO of CCMG, “Hudson and Brad have consistently exhibited excellence, success, loyalty and faithfulness in their respective areas of responsibility for our company. They have demonstrated ambitious vision and market leadership, and have worked tirelessly—along with our amazing team—to achieve another record year for CCMG. Their promotions are extremely well-deserved, further strengthen our leadership structure and better position it for our industry’s continuing and positive evolution. “

Capitol Music Group Chairman & CEO Steve Barnett added, “With Peter continuing to oversee the company at a strategic and leadership development level, and Brad and Hudson taking the day-to-day reins, CCMG is poised for even greater growth from its position as market leader. Last year was the company’s best since 2000, and CCMG becomes even more vital to CMG’s overall success with each passing year. Everyone in the Tower joins me in congratulating Brad and Hudson on their well-deserved promotions, and we thank Peter for continuing to demonstrate exemplary leadership.”

O’Donnell has held A&R leadership positions at CCMG since joining the company in 2001, overseeing the label group roster and the production of numerous chart-topping projects at both radio and retail, as well as playing significant roles in the careers of numerous Platinum and Gold artists, including Chris Tomlin, Mandisa, TobyMac, and many others. He was also instrumental in the development of sixstepsrecords. O’Donnell previously served as Director of A&R at Word Records and earned esteem as a musician, songwriter and producer. He also earned a Master’s degree in Music from the University of Miami, Florida in 1995.

Plachy began his career at CCMG in 2002, when he was hired as a marketing coordinator and worked on the team handling Steven Curtis Chapman, Nichole Nordeman and many others. He was promoted to Manager of International Sales and Distribution in 2008, liaising with the company’s worldwide affiliates to achieve global objectives for the company’s artists and projects. He was promoted to Director of Product Marketing in 2011, then Vice President of Marketing in 2015, and rose to Senior Vice President of Marketing in 2016. Plachy has been integral to the success of such key Platinum and Gold artists as Hillsong United, Switchfoot, TobyMac and many others.

Both O’Donnell and Plachy have played significant roles in the development of global hip-hop star NF, whose 2017 album, Perception, has sold nearly 4 million adjusted albums and achieved more than 5 billion streams.

Luke Combs tops this week’s Country Streaming Songs chart, with 10 million streams of his latest single, “Beautiful Crazy,” according to Nielsen Soundscan. The track also holds the No. 1 position this week on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, and Country Digital Sales charts.

On the Country Streaming Songs chart, Dan + Shay take the No. 2 and No. 3 slots, with “Speechless” (7.7 million streams) and “Tequila” (7.4 million streams). Chris Stapleton‘s “Tennessee Whiskey” is at No. 4 with 7.3 million streams, followed by Kane Brown‘s “Heaven” with 7 million.

As previously reported, Florida Georgia Line topped this week’s Country Albums chart with their latest project, Can’t Say I Ain’t Country, which moved 50K in total consumption in its debut week. Comb’s This One’s For You is at No. 2 with 25K in total consumption.

Kacey Musgraves‘ Golden Hour, which topped the country albums chart last week following her multiple Grammy wins, is at No. 3 this week, with 20K. Fellow Grammy winners Dan + Shay see their self-titled project at No. 4 with 15K. Stapleton’s Traveller is at No. 5 with 12K.

Other top country debuts include the Elvis Presley 68 Comeback Special 50th Anniversary, which debuted at No. 9 with 9K, Ryan Bingham‘s American Love Song at No. 12 (7.5K) and Hayes Carll‘s What It Is at No. 26 with 5.2K.

Some songwriters on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart found themselves benefitting from the Grammy effect this week, including Best Country Song co-writer Shane McAnally, who advanced two spots to No. 1 this week. McAnally is supported by seven songs this week: Midland’s “Burn Out,” Old Dominion’s “Make It Sweet,” Jake Owen’s “Down To The Honky Tonk,” Eli Young Band’s “Love Ain’t,” Brothers Osborne’s” I Don’t Remember Me (Before You),” and Kacey Musgraves’ “Space Cowboy” and “Rainbow.”

Kacey Musgraves finds herself at No. 19 after many months of not appearing in the top 60 on the Top Songwriter Chart. Luke Laird also made a huge leap from No. 23 to No. 9 with the help of some Grammy-induced listening, co-writing Musgraves’ “Space Cowboy” and “Butterflies” with Natalie Hemby (No. 45), along with Owen’s “Down To The Honky Tonk.”

Ashley Gorley moves down to No. 2 this week, and Kevin Welch follows him at No. 3. Brett James and Luke Combs stay in place at No. 4 and 5, respectively.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, published every week, uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital downloaded track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Pictured (L-R): Matt Stell; Josh Van Valkenburg, SVP, Sony/ATV; Paul Sikes; Victoria Goodvin, Wide Open Music; Ash Bowers; Jimmie Allen; Troy Tomlinson, President/CEO, Sony/ATV; Tom Luteran, VP, Sony/ATV

Wide Open Music has entered into a worldwide publishing agreement with Sony/ATV Nashville. The principals of the indie publishing company are songwriter/producer Ash Bowers and business partner Steve Williams.

The Wide Open Music writer roster includes Jimmie Allen, Ash Bowers, Matt Stell and Paul Sikes.

“Steve and I are very proud of our songwriters and want the best opportunities and the best team surrounding them, which is why we are excited to partner with Sony/ATV,” said Bowers.

“We admire what Ash and Steve have built in a relatively short period of time and feel fortunate to be able to come alongside them in building for the future,” said Sony/ATV Nashville’s President/CEO Troy Tomlinson.

Tayler Bock has been appointed Chief Business Officer for Nashville-based music business software company Tempo. Bock will oversee Tempo’s day-to-day business operations and all future projects for the company.

Prior to his role at Tempo, Bock was most recently an agent at Buddy Lee Attractions. He also previously worked as an agent at ArtistLive, and has worked in many aspects of the industry including tour management, venue hospitality, artist management, booking, talent buying, merchandising, and royalty collection. He has worked with artists including Wheeler Walker Jr, Ty Herndon, Terry McBride, Jon McLaughlin, Joe Denim, David Adam Byrnes, Evan Bartels, and more.

“Right now as the music industry moves further and further into a digital age, I could not be more excited to be a part of the Tempo team,” said Bock. “Bringing new aged technology to aspects of the music business that are becoming more dominant than they were years ago is a very exciting, yet challenging future!”

The company celebrated its eight-year anniversary in 2018, and offers software product lines for booking, publishing, touring and talent buying. With over 3,000 users, Tempo provides support for all aspects of the industry. Tempo staffers include founder Brittany Wegusen, Vice President of Client Relations Gwen Gude, and Alex Dolezal in client relations.

Tempo’s client roster includes Rob Thomas, Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts, Lee Brice, Cole Swindell, Jon Langston, Red 11 Music, Conway Entertainment, Cara Lewis Group, Romeo Entertainment, and Kinkead Entertainment.