2019 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Artist of the Year

/by

Following last week’s announcement of this year’s nominees for the 31st annual MusicRow Awards, we take a look at a newly-added category for this year’s awards, the Artist of the Year category. The MusicRow Awards will be presented at a private ceremony on June 26.

See the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting closes on May 21 at 5 p.m. If you do not have a subscription, you may subscribe to receive a ballot.

2019 Artist of the Year nominees:

Dierks Bentley recently celebrated his 18th career No. 1 with “Burning Man,” feat. Brothers Osborne. The song is the second consecutive chart-topper from his ninth studio album The Mountain, following the hit “Woman, Amen.” Bentley co-wrote 10 of 13 tracks on The Mountain, which earned the highest debut sales of his career and became his seventh No. 1 album. Additionally, “Burning Man” earned a 2019 MusicRow Song of the Year nomination, and his tour of the same name is a sold-out success.

Kane Brown scored his third consecutive No. 1 with “Lose It,” and followed that with his new single, “Good As You,” which was the most-added at country radio that week. With the 2018 release of his album Experiment, Brown became one of only three country artists to top the overall Billboard 200 chart last year. For the album, Brown worked with Dann Huff, who is nominated for MusicRow Producer of the Year. Brown wrapped his soldout headlining arena tour in March, and will spend the summer on the road with Jason Aldean.

Eric Church is playing back-to-back nights in cities on his current Double Down Tour, visiting arenas nationwide. In addition, he’s upping the ante with a stop at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on May 25, expected to more than double his attendance record set at Bridgestone Arena in 2017. His current album, Desperate Man, debuted atop the Billboard Country Albums chart in October, and his producer Jay Joyce is nominated for 2019 MusicRow Producer of the Year. Church is a co-writer of the album’s latest single, “Some of It,” which recently climbed to No. 1 on the MusicRow Country Breakout Chart.

Luke Combs was voted Breakthrough Artist during last year’s MusicRow Awards, and he returns this year in the running for Artist of the Year. Combs recently made history as the first artist to simultaneously top all five Billboard country charts for multiple weeks. His single “Beautiful Crazy” spent seven straight weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and makes Combs the first artist to send his first five singles to the top of that chart. He is currently on the Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour, a sold-out nationwide run named after his brand new single.

Dan + Shay had a runaway year thanks to their major hits “Tequila” and “Speechless.” Together the songs made Dan + Shay the first duo to hold the top two spots on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart simultaneously for eight consecutive weeks. Also, “Tequila” was the most-streamed country song released in 2018. Their current single “All To Myself” follows suit as it climbs the charts. After Dan + Shay’s sold-out headlining tour, they will hit the road on tours with Florida Georgia Line, and Shawn Mendes. Dan + Shay are also nominated for 2019 MusicRow Song of the Year as co-writers of “Speechless,” and their producer, Scott Hendricks, is nominated for Producer of the Year.

Kacey Musgraves is having a stellar run with her latest album Golden Hour, which won four Grammy Awards, including the overall Album of the Year, and was voted Album of the Year at the CMA and ACM Awards. The project includes current single “Rainbow,” which is also nominated for MusicRow Song of the Year. Musgraves is wowing audiences around the globe on her sold-out Oh, What a World: Tour II. The acclaimed singer-songwriter is a previous three-time MusicRow Awards winner, taking the triple crown in 2013 for Breakthrough Artist, Breakthrough Songwriter, and Song of the Year.

 

Big Machine Label Group Tops Country, Active Rock Charts

/by

Big Machine Label Group artists top the charts in two genres this week, as Eli Young Band‘s “Love Ain’t” sits at No. 1 on both the Billboard Country Airplay chart and Country Aircheck/Mediabase chart, while rock outfit badflower‘s “Heroin” tops the Active Rock chart. Eli Young Band’s chart-topper marks their fourth No. 1 hit at BMLG (this time on The Valory Music Co. imprint) while badflower earns their second consecutive chart-topper on Big Machine/John Varvatos Records.

Big Machine Label Group Tops Country, Active Rock Charts

/by

Big Machine Label Group artists top the charts in two genres this week, as Eli Young Band‘s “Love Ain’t” sits at No. 1 on both the Billboard Country Airplay chart and Country Aircheck/Mediabase chart, while rock outfit badflower‘s “Heroin” tops the Active Rock chart. Eli Young Band’s chart-topper marks their fourth No. 1 hit at BMLG (this time on The Valory Music Co. imprint) while badflower earns their second consecutive chart-topper on Big Machine/John Varvatos Records.

ACM’s Pete Fisher Steps Down, RAC Clark Named Interim Executive Director

/by

The Academy of Country Music has announced that Pete Fisher is stepping down after almost two and a half years as the head of the organization, which includes his duties with the Academy of Country Music Awards™ show and ACM Lifting Lives®, the charitable arm of the Academy. Fisher plans to pursue new opportunities. R.A. (RAC) Clark, Executive Producer of the Academy of Country Music Awards, has been appointed the interim Executive Director of the Academy, effective immediately.

“Following many years on the ACM Board, it’s been an honor to serve the Academy in the role of CEO,” said Fisher. “I’ve greatly enjoyed working with the Academy staff, Officers and Boards, and I look forward to continuing to support the good work of the ACM and ACM Lifting Lives. Proud of what we have accomplished, I look forward to what the future holds.”

Clark has been associated with the Academy – and with country music – throughout his 38 year producing career. In addition to producing the Academy of Country Music Awards live on the CBS Television Network since 1999, he has executive produced many Academy TV specials, TNN’s Prime Time Country, and much more. He is the son of one of the founding members of the ACM Awards telecast, Dick Clark, the late television and broadcasting pioneer.

“My work with the ACM over the years has included some of my most professionally-fulfilling projects. I look forward to stepping into this interim role and supporting the legacy of the Academy,” said RAC Clark.

ACM’s Pete Fisher Steps Down, RAC Clark Named Interim Executive Director

/by

The Academy of Country Music has announced that Pete Fisher is stepping down after almost two and a half years as the head of the organization, which includes his duties with the Academy of Country Music Awards™ show and ACM Lifting Lives®, the charitable arm of the Academy. Fisher plans to pursue new opportunities. R.A. (RAC) Clark, Executive Producer of the Academy of Country Music Awards, has been appointed the interim Executive Director of the Academy, effective immediately.

“Following many years on the ACM Board, it’s been an honor to serve the Academy in the role of CEO,” said Fisher. “I’ve greatly enjoyed working with the Academy staff, Officers and Boards, and I look forward to continuing to support the good work of the ACM and ACM Lifting Lives. Proud of what we have accomplished, I look forward to what the future holds.”

Clark has been associated with the Academy – and with country music – throughout his 38 year producing career. In addition to producing the Academy of Country Music Awards live on the CBS Television Network since 1999, he has executive produced many Academy TV specials, TNN’s Prime Time Country, and much more. He is the son of one of the founding members of the ACM Awards telecast, Dick Clark, the late television and broadcasting pioneer.

“My work with the ACM over the years has included some of my most professionally-fulfilling projects. I look forward to stepping into this interim role and supporting the legacy of the Academy,” said RAC Clark.

Live In The Vineyard Goes Country Offers Great Music, Moments

/by

Live In The Vineyard CEO Bobbii Hach-Jacobs, Mickey Guyton, CMT’s Leslie Fram, Kaci Brown and Sam Gray of Brown & Gray gathered together during an exclusive dinner held for music supervisors at MadoroM Vineyards.

Live In The Vineyard Goes Country took place May 14-16 in Napa, with attendees enjoying top tier wines, meals from world-renowned chefs, and elbowing with artists during the three-day event. Among those enjoying some vino with the guests were Brad Paisley, Little Big Town, Brandon Ratcliff, Brothers Osborne, Brown & Gray, Caylee Hammack, Chris Lane, Cody Johnson, Dillon Carmichael, Erin Enderlin, Gone West, Haley & Michaels, HARDY, Ingrid Andress, Jon Pardi, Kylie Morgan, LANCO, Michael Ray, Mickey Guyton, Morgan Evans, Rayne Johnson, Runaway June, Scotty McCreery, Seaforth, Teddy Robb, Tenille Townes, Travis Denning, and Walker Hayes.

Each year, LITVGC hosts industry insiders as well as grand prize winners from radio station promotions across the country and special sweeps winners through sponsors. Attendees were treated to intimate performances by some of Country music’s biggest names and fastest rising stars in a beautiful countryside setting all while enjoying specially made, locally-driven cuisines and award-winning wines from partner wineries including Regusci Winery and Round Pond Estates as well as hosting wineries Whetstone Wine Cellars, Hall Winery, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Peju, One Hope, Caymus Vineyards, JaM Cellars, MadoroM Vineyards, Far Niente, Italics Winegrowers, etc. Concerts were also hosted at Uptown Theatre and Blue Note (JaM Cellars Ballroom).

Big Loud President Clay Hunnicutt, Chris Lane, HARDY and Big Loud’s VP of Marketing Candice Watkins at Round Pound Estate Winery during Live In The Vineyard Goes Country (2019), presented by CMT

Little Big Town performs during Live In The Vineyard Goes Country (2019), presented by CMT at Uptown Theatre

Held in the intimate, rustic quarters of JaM Cellars York House, UMG Nashville’s Travis Denning played to a packed room of music programmers and industry influencers during Live In The Vineyard Goes Country (2019), presented by CMT

Live In The Vineyard Goes Country Offers Great Music, Moments

/by

Live In The Vineyard CEO Bobbii Hach-Jacobs, Mickey Guyton, CMT’s Leslie Fram, Kaci Brown and Sam Gray of Brown & Gray gathered together during an exclusive dinner held for music supervisors at MadoroM Vineyards.

Live In The Vineyard Goes Country took place May 14-16 in Napa, with attendees enjoying top tier wines, meals from world-renowned chefs, and elbowing with artists during the three-day event. Among those enjoying some vino with the guests were Brad Paisley, Little Big Town, Brandon Ratcliff, Brothers Osborne, Brown & Gray, Caylee Hammack, Chris Lane, Cody Johnson, Dillon Carmichael, Erin Enderlin, Gone West, Haley & Michaels, HARDY, Ingrid Andress, Jon Pardi, Kylie Morgan, LANCO, Michael Ray, Mickey Guyton, Morgan Evans, Rayne Johnson, Runaway June, Scotty McCreery, Seaforth, Teddy Robb, Tenille Townes, Travis Denning, and Walker Hayes.

Each year, LITVGC hosts industry insiders as well as grand prize winners from radio station promotions across the country and special sweeps winners through sponsors. Attendees were treated to intimate performances by some of Country music’s biggest names and fastest rising stars in a beautiful countryside setting all while enjoying specially made, locally-driven cuisines and award-winning wines from partner wineries including Regusci Winery and Round Pond Estates as well as hosting wineries Whetstone Wine Cellars, Hall Winery, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Peju, One Hope, Caymus Vineyards, JaM Cellars, MadoroM Vineyards, Far Niente, Italics Winegrowers, etc. Concerts were also hosted at Uptown Theatre and Blue Note (JaM Cellars Ballroom).

Big Loud President Clay Hunnicutt, Chris Lane, HARDY and Big Loud’s VP of Marketing Candice Watkins at Round Pound Estate Winery during Live In The Vineyard Goes Country (2019), presented by CMT

Little Big Town performs during Live In The Vineyard Goes Country (2019), presented by CMT at Uptown Theatre

Held in the intimate, rustic quarters of JaM Cellars York House, UMG Nashville’s Travis Denning played to a packed room of music programmers and industry influencers during Live In The Vineyard Goes Country (2019), presented by CMT

Spotify To Test Vehicle Listening Habits With Voice-Controlled In-Car Device

/by

Spotify is trying to learn more about people’s listening habits and preferences to help create an unparalleled experience for its users through a new voice-controlled music and podcast device called “Car Thing.”

Car Thing was developed to help Spotify learn more about how people listen to music and podcasts. The test will be done in the U.S. only, with a small group of invited Spotify Premium users. The company doesn’t have any current plans to make this specific device available to consumers, but the results from the test will dictate how they develop experiences everywhere people listen.

Spotify might do similar voice-specific tests in the future, according to the company, so “Voice Thing” and “Home Thing” may be on the horizon soon.

Spotify To Test Vehicle Listening Habits With Voice-Controlled In-Car Device

/by

Spotify is trying to learn more about people’s listening habits and preferences to help create an unparalleled experience for its users through a new voice-controlled music and podcast device called “Car Thing.”

Car Thing was developed to help Spotify learn more about how people listen to music and podcasts. The test will be done in the U.S. only, with a small group of invited Spotify Premium users. The company doesn’t have any current plans to make this specific device available to consumers, but the results from the test will dictate how they develop experiences everywhere people listen.

Spotify might do similar voice-specific tests in the future, according to the company, so “Voice Thing” and “Home Thing” may be on the horizon soon.

Industry Ink: Jordan Davis, Belmont University, Jerry Bradley, Jersey Shore Country

/by

Jordan Davis’ Home State Hits 500 Million Streams

Photo ID (L-R): Red Light Management’s Zach Sutton, MCA Nashville VP Promotion Katie Dean, Jordan Davis, WME’s Becky Gardenhire, UMG Nashville COO Mike Harris. Photo: Steven Stauffer

MCA Nashville’s Jordan Davis celebrated a milestone achievement Friday night (May 17) before he played to a sold-out crowd at The Theater at Madison Square Garden as part of Old Dominion’s “Make It Sweet Tour.” Jordan’s debut album Home State has accumulated over 500 million worldwide streams spurred by the success of his recent back-to-back No.1 hit singles “Singles You Up” and “Take It From Me.” Since its release, “Singles You Up” has dominated streaming charts spending over a month on the Spotify US Viral Chart (peaking at No.2) in addition to hitting the Spotify Global Viral Chart and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Both tracks are included on Home State as well as Jordan’s current single “Slow Dance In A Parking Lot,” which was most-added at country radio its debut week and continues to climb the country airplay charts.

 

Belmont University’s Cheryl Slay Carr Releases Music Industry Book

Cheryl Slay Carr, associate dean and associate professor at Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, recently authored “Music Business Careers: Career Duality in the Creative Industries.” The book, newly released by Routledge/Taylor & Francis, examines the careers of what she calls “dualists,” people who balance an analytical career and a creative career. The book offers research, interviews with dualists, frameworks such as a Career Duality Model, and chapter exercises to guide readers through their own career decisions.

“It’s a decision that can create a real dilemma that I have seen in students and experienced firsthand. I wanted to understand that dilemma better and decided to research and write about it for all the Dualists out there. This book is designed for use by anyone seeking to navigate their own career journey, or the exploration can be a facilitated, academic investigation when used as a textbook for a career-focused or other music business course. Either way, if you see yourself in this analytical/creative experience (even outside the entertainment industry), this book is for you.”

 “Music Business Careers” is available on Amazon and at Routledge.com.

 

CMHoF Honors Member Elect Jerry Bradley

Country Music Hall of Fame Member Elect Jerry Bradley and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young on the stage of the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo by: Diana Carniato for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum celebrated the upcoming induction of Country Music Hall of Fame Member Elect Jerry Bradley with a special luncheon honoring him in the museum’s CMA Theater on May 16. During the luncheon, Bradley shared this sentiment about his upcoming induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, “I look forward to being inducted this October. It’s an honor to to join all my heroes in the Country Music Hall of Fame.”

In October of this year, Bradley, along with Brooks & Dunn and Ray Stevens, will be formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

 

Kaptain Jack Aponte Launches Online Radio Country Station Jersey Shore Country

Kaptain Jack Aponte, a New Jersey native who spent the last eight years in Nashville and created the internet radio station renegaderadionashville.com, as well as In The Cab Radio (a station specifically for truck drivers), has now created JerseyShoreCountry.com, in partnership with DPM Shore Solutions. The station will broadcast from its studio on the Seaside Heights Boardwalk in New Jersey.

JerseyShoreCountry.com is now a reporting station on MusicRow Magazine’s reporting panel. The station’s airplay will be figured into the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart.

“We are beyond thrilled to be back in New Jersey with our friends and family. When we were thinking of where we would like to set up our studios, there was no question we wanted to be in Seaside Heights, NJ. Kaptain Jack has been part of the entertainment landscape in Seaside Heights for 37 years and can’t wait to turn Seaside Heights into Nashville at the Jersey Shore.”