On The Cover: ‘MusicRow’ Features Carrie Underwood on October/November Issue

MusicRow has released its 2019 Publisher Issue, with Carrie Underwood gracing the cover.

Underwood emerged from the promise of her 2005 American Idol win to become a true multi-format, multi-media superstar, spanning achievements in music, television, and film. A seven-time Grammy Award winner, she has sold 64 million records worldwide and recorded 26 No. 1 singles, 13 of which she co-wrote. Underwood is currently nominated for three CMA Awards, including the coveted Entertainer of the Year honor, as well as Album of the Year (Cry Pretty) and Female Vocalist of the Year. Underwood will host the upcoming CMA Awards on Nov. 13 in Nashville, along with guest hosts Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton.

Last fall, she released the Gold-certified studio album Cry Pretty, her first on Capitol Records Nashville, marking the first time she has co-produced her own album. The title track and lead single, co-produced and co-written by Underwood, topped the iTunes Top Songs charts in 12 countries. The second leg of her Cry Pretty Tour 360 launched in San Diego, California in September, and has included stops at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and Los Angeles’ Staples Center. The tour will wrap Oct. 31 in Detroit, Michigan.

In 2018, she released the hit event anthem she co-wrote, “The Champion” featuring Ludacris, which opened NBC’s Super Bowl LII. The song was also incorporated into the network’s coverage of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Also in 2018, Underwood celebrated her 10th anniversary as a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry. This year, Underwood returns for her seventh season as the voice of primetime television’s No. 1 program, NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

The 2019 Publisher print issue includes the 2019 Publisher Directory and features interviews with new UMPG Nashville President/CEO Troy Tomlinson, Spirit Music Nashville CEO Frank Rogers, and SESAC Holding’s President and Chief Operating Officer Kelli Turner.

John Ozier discusses his new role and vision as head of Reservoir Media Management’s Nashville office, while Warner Chappell Music Nashville President/CEO Ben Vaughn, Specialist insurer Beazley’s Focus Group Leader Angela Weaver, and Anderson Benson Partner Brent Daughrity discuss protection against copyright infringement. This issue also details the challenges and opportunities song pluggers face, as told by Janine Appleton-Ebach, Creative Nation’s Shaina Botwin, Sea Gayle’s Kim Wiggins, and Downtown Music Nashville’s Natalie Osborne. Concord Music executive and Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) Board member Evelyn Paglinawan offers an update on the MLC’s work to ensure songwriters are compensated fairly for their creative works.

This issue also highlights the work and careers of some of Nashville’s most impactful tunesmiths, including Relative Music Group’s HARDY, StudioBeast/BMG’s Claude Kelly, BMG’s Hillary Lindsey, Sony/ATV’s Lindsay Rimes, and Big Machine Music’s Laura Veltz.

Single copies of MusicRow’s Publisher Issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $45, and are included with yearly memberships.