Performers Announced For ‘MusicRow’ Magazine’s 18th Annual Country Radio Meet & Greet And CountryBreakout Awards
Pictured (L-R): Joe Hanson, Shane Owens.
MusicRow Magazine’s upcoming 18th Annual Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards will feature performances from Shane Owens and Joe Hanson.
This private event, which is slated for Feb. 19, will be open to MusicRow Magazine members, including country radio broadcasters and industry affiliates ahead of the 2020 Country Radio Seminar. This year’s presenting sponsor is FirstBank.
“We are very excited to have both Joe Hanson and Shane Owens showcase their exceptional talents at this year’s Country Radio event,” adds MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. “We look forward to hosting this annual event for our valued industry members in order to celebrate and honor those reaching the most spins on our MusicRow radio chart. MusicRow’s reporting panel of stations for the CountryBreakout Chart represent the best in secondary radio.”
Owens, who was previously named MusicRow’s Independent Artist of the Year in 2018, returns as a performer for this year’s event. The Alabama native makes traditional country music for the modern world. Timeless and timely, it’s a classic sound with a contemporary edge, driven forward by a mix of southern storytelling, Bible-belt twang, and Owens’ big, booming baritone.
Owens’ latest album, Thankful For Country Music, features his current single “Hard Luck Girl” which is currently receiving airplay nationally as well as 11 more tracks heavily influenced by the music and stylings of country music traditionalists ranging from Ray Price to Conway Twitty.
Longtime country music journalist Robert K. Oermann points to Owens’ traditional approach as his strongest weapon. “I like to think that there are cycles in [country] music,” Oermann explains. “Usually, the pendulum swings out and the pop-country people bring in a whole lot of new listeners, and then the new listeners discover real country music. Then there’s usually a swing back to more traditional styles. I hope we’re on the cusp of that… and if we are, Shane is perfectly positioned.”
He made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2017 and has been invited back for additional appearances. Cracker Barrel has picked Owens’ music to appear in several of the store’s exclusive releases, while Netflix included his song “Country Never Goes Out of Style” in the popular series The Ranch.
Owens continues to move forward, but he also remains rooted in the sound that launched his career, breathing new life into a sound that’s at once fresh and familiar.
Also performing is Illinois native Joe Hanson who is best known for appearing on The Voice and has proven to stand out and stand up for country music. Hanson’s talent also took him directly in front of a distinguished panel consisting of Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan of American Idol. These prestigious opportunities speak volumes of Hanson’s talent in these early stages of his career and dedication to his craft.
Hanson adds, “These experiences helped guide me along my journey in music and helped me realize that every artist has a unique gift with their artistry and that although these are great opportunities to fast track the dream of ‘making it’ in music there’s no one way to get there.”
Hanson’s love for country music started with humble beginnings in the church located in his hometown of Naperville, Illinois where he developed his love for both God and music. Hanson subsequently moved to Nashville and has teamed up with chart-topping producers and writers to touch as many lives as possible with his positive message through music.
From the great emerging artist stage at Summerfest Festival in Milwaukee to Nashville’s music circuit, Hanson is an artist who continues to build momentum.
Last year, he released the single “Young Got Old,” a nostalgic anthem for youth and growing up which he co-wrote alongside Jason Duke and Travis Smith. He is currently working on a new EP to be released later this year.
This year’s Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards will honor the 2020 CountryBreakout Awards winners, which are tallied from chart performance on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart in 2019. Categories include Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Group/Duo of the Year, Breakout Artist of the Year, Independent Artist of the Year, Label of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year (for writing the most No. 1 songs on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart over the previous year). The Reporter of the Year honor will be selected by MusicRow staff from its weekly reporting panel of over 80 country stations in the secondary radio market throughout the United States. The winners will be profiled in MusicRow Magazine’s 2020 Country Radio print issue.
Subscribed members will receive their copy of the MusicRow Country Radio issue by mail. To be added to the mailing list and to receive your invitation to the 2020 event, become a member of MusicRow Magazine at musicrow.com.
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