2023 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Producer Of The Year

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Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 35th annual MusicRow Awards, we take a closer look at the Producer of the Year category. This visionary class of nominees created up some of country music’s most innovative projects during the eligibility period of June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023.

This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Presenting Sponsor of the 2023 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting is now open and closes on Aug. 18 at 5:00 p.m.

To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscriber here.

Zach Crowell lent his production talent to Cole Swindell for his award-winning, multi-week No. 1 “She Had Me At Heads Carolina,” in addition to other hits by the artist over the past year. He produced Dustin Lynch’s record-breaking duet with MacKenzie Porter, “Thinking ‘Bout You,” which was the No. 1 song on the Mediabase 2022 Year-End Country Chart. Crowell’s work can also be heard on Sam Hunt’s rising new single “Outskirts,” Russell Dickerson’s “God Gave Me A Girl” and Conner Smith’s “Creek Will Rise,” as well as music from Jelly Roll and Madeline Merlo.

Dan Huff continued his legacy of producing hit records over the past year. Continuing his long-standing relationship with Kane Brown, he lent his talents to his Different Man album, producing No. 1 hits “Like I Love Country Music,” “Thank God,” “One Mississippi” and “Bury Me In Georgia.” Huff also produced Thomas Rhett’s recent hits “Slow Down Summer” and “Half Of Me,” Keith Urban’s “Brown Eyes Baby” and Brett Young’s “Dance With You,” to name a few. His work can also be heard on music from Darius Rucker, Russell Dickerson, Brian Kelley, Kameron Marlowe, Restless Road, Caylee Hammack, Tiera Kennedy and more.

Jay Joyce helmed the production on longtime client Lainey Wilson’s fourth studio album, Bell Bottom Country, which won the ACM’s Album of the Year prize and secured Wilson more hits with its “Heart Like a Truck” and “Watermelon Moonshine.” He also produced another longtime collaborator Eric Church’s 2021 triple album Heart & Soul, containing recent hits such as “Hell Of A View,” and Corey Kent’s major label debut album Blacktop and new music from LANCO.

Shane McAnally was celebrated for his production credits on projects from Carly Pearce, Sam Hunt, Old Dominion, Kelsea Ballerini and more over the past year. Alongside Josh Osborne, McAnally worked on Pearce’s 29: Written In Stone album, containing hits “What He Didn’t Do,” “Next Girl” and “Never Wanted To Be That Girl.” He also lent his production skills to Old Dominion’s Memory Lane project, Ballerini’s Subject To Change album as well as singles for Hunt, Walker Hayes and Kylie Morgan.

Joey Moi is the production architect for Morgan Wallen’s record-breaking projects Dangerous: The Double Album and One Thing At A Time, both of which stayed in the top echelons of the country albums chart since their respective releases. Released in March, the record-shattering One Thing At A Time album has yielded hits such as “Last Night,” “You Proof,” “Thought You Should Know,” “Don’t Think Jesus” and “Thinkin’ Bout Me.” Moi also contributed to Hardy’s The Mockingbird & The Crow album, as well as projects from Jake Owen, Lauren Alaina, Ernest and more.

In addition to recent production credits with Russell Dickerson, Chase Matthew and more over the past year, Alysa Vanderheym really impressed with her work with Kelsea Ballerini. Vanderheym co-produced Ballerini’s lauded Rolling Up The Welcome Mat EP, which has become some of the star’s most well received work to date by both fans and critics. Vanderheym’s talents can also be heard on music from Tyler Rich, Joy Oladokun, Fancy Hagood and more.

LB Cantrell
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