2024 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Discovery Artist Of The Year

Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 36th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank, we take a closer look at the Discovery Artist of the Year category. The award will honor a Nashville developing artist who demonstrates significant talent and potential to rise.

This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Aug. 27.

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. 9 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, becoming a MusicRow subscriber here.

Paving her own lane in country music, Tanner Adell has been weaving the tales of her California and Wyoming upbringing through her musical storytelling. Her lyricism keeps its roots in country while infusing an addictive blend of pop vocals and hip-hop beats. On her debut album Buckle Bunny, Adell spilles out energetic tunes and honest ballads that reflect her personal narrative as a biracial woman. The project earned critical acclaim from The New York Times, NPR, Billboard, MusicRow and more. Earlier this year, Adell was featured on Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter album. while continuing to make a name for herself with appearances at Faster Horses, Golden Sky, C2C, Stagecoach, Hangout Festival and more. She is also featured on the Twisters soundtrack with “Too Easy,” and recently released her latest single “Cowboy Break My Heart,” which she debuted at the BET Awards. She also made her national television debut on the Jennifer Hudson Show earlier this year.

When Avery Anna began posting videos of herself singing in her bathroom, the Arizona native’s fan base started growing rapidly. Her distinct lyricism goes well beyond her 20 years and is paired with a dynamic, piano-forward sound. Her debut EP, Mood Swings, served as a seven-track intro that paved the singer-songwriter’s path to over 350 million streams. The project featured the Gold-certified, viral hit “Narcissist,” which she performed at the CMT Music Awards, when she was a Breakthrough Artist of the Year nominee. Anna made her national television debut and performed the empowerment anthem “Self Love” on NBC’s Today. She has shared the stage with Cole Swindell, Jordan Davis, Breland, Chase Rice and more across the United States and abroad, and has already embarked on her own headlining tour. Anna recently released her debut album, Breakup Over Breakfast, featuring stellar tracks “Girl Next Door,” “Blonde,” “Make It Look Easy” and “Two Sides Of The Story” and more.

With her rafter-reaching voice and straight-shootin’ songwriting, Ella Langley has become the maverick country music needs. While spiking her unfiltered true stories with unapologetic rock & roll grit and unassuming pop appeal, she has amassed millions of streams and a rapidly growing fan base. The Alabama native gigged at bars and local festivals before moving to Nashville in 2019. With “If You Have To,” “Damn You” and “Country Boy’s Dream Girl,” Langley continued to deliver to her huge online following. She is currently on the road with Riley Green. and is set to support Hardy, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley and Morgan Wallen throughout 2024. Her debut EP, Excuse The Mess, garnered over 120 million streams in a year. She earned her first CMT Music Awards Nomination for Collaborative Video of the Year with “That’s Why We Fight” with Koe Wetzel. Langley is readying her debut album, Hungover, featuring tunes “Paint The Town Blue,” “Nicotine,” and viral hit “You Look Like You Love Me” with Riley Green.

Honing a deep-rooted love for traditional music, Zach Top has infiltrated the genre with his homage to classic sounds and authentic storytelling. Growing up in Sunnyside, Washington, Top always listened to classic country music while driving around his family’s ranch tending to livestock, embodying the spirit of ’90s country legends such as George Strait, Keith Whitley and Randy Travis. At seven years old, he formed a band with his siblings, igniting his musical ambitions. Before moving to Nashville in 2021, Top perfected his craft by playing in various bluegrass bands, including award-winning Modern Tradition. His debut album, Cold Beer & Country Music, features the top-25-and-climbing radio single “Sounds Like The Radio.” Top opened up for Brothers Osborne earlier this year and will support Lainey Wilson throughout 2024. He also made an appearance at Under the Big Sky Festival, and will perform at Watershed Festival, RedWest Fest and more.

Steeped in authenticity and glittered with barstool charm with an addictive Tennessee limestone gravel in her voice, Lauren Watkins writes. breathes and lives country music. The Nashville native grew up mesmerized by a jukebox rotation of legends such as Willie Nelson and Sheryl Crow to contemporary hitmakers like Eric Church, Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton. After attending Ole Miss, she moved back to Music City and her turn-on-a-dime lyricism quickly caught the attention of Nicolle Galyon, who signed her to her first publishing deal. Her 17-track debut album, The Heartbroken Record, introduced her take on country music, focusing on a sound that’s both appreciative of the genre’s roots and in lockstep with where it’s headed next. Watkins has previously shared the stage with Ernest. Conner Smith, Jameson Rodgers, Austin Snell and Lily Rose. She is slated to open for Morgan Wallen. Maddie & Tae and Corey Kent throughout the year.

After sustaining an injury while playing college football at Montana Technological University, Tucker Wetmore headed back to his hometown of Kalama. Washington and dusted off his guitar. It was then that the singer-songwriter channelled his feelings into original songs rooted in country storytelling with modern melodies. Less than a year later, he came to Nashville to sharpen his writing skills and craft his unique country sound. He blends his baritone vocals with singalong hooks and infectious charisma. With over one million social media followers and tens of millions of TikTok views. Wetmore’s dedicated fan base has brought his debut singles “Wine Into Whiskey” and “Wind Up Missin’ You” into the Billboard Hot 100. In four months alone, he amassed over 200 million streams. He recently opened for Kameron Marlowe on the road, and will head out with Luke Bryan in the fall.