MusicRow Amplifies Industry Wisdom Through Print

With MusicRow’s six yearly print issues, subscribers have the opportunity to read exclusive editorial content and hear from some of the Nashville music industry’s thought-leaders.

This year’s features included interviews with Spotify’s Rachel Whitney, Storme Warren, Sacks & Co.’s Asha Goodman, Robert K. Oermann, Grand Ole Opry’s b, Downtown’s Emily Stephenson, NSAI’s Bart Herbison, Back Blocks Music’s Rakiyah Marshall and many more. Managers Daniel Miller, Charly Salvatore and Juli Griffith gathered for a round-table with MusicRow in the Artist Roster issue, as did Spencer Nohe, Roxy King, Amy Hendon Scott and Alex Heddle in the Publisher issue, and Hunter Williams, Elisa Vazzana, Adi Sharma, Beth Hamilton and Keith Levy in the Touring/Next Big Thing issue.

MusicRow also distributed five updated directories, including the InCharge executive directory, the Artist Roster company directory, the Publisher company directory and the Next Big Thing rising executives directory.

Follow along below as MusicRow revisits its print editions of 2024. All six MusicRow print issues detailed are available for purchase at MusicRow.com, and are included with MusicRow subscriptions.

Country Radio & Streaming Issue (February/March 2024)

Curb Records’ Dylan Scott graced the cover of the 2024 Country Radio & Streaming Issue. The ACM Award-nominated, multi-Platinum singer has notched four No. 1 singles at radio (“My Girl,” “Nobody,” “New Truck” and “Can’t Have Mine”), as well as top five hit, “Hooked.” Inside this issue, MusicRow spotlights the 2024 CountryBreakout Awards winners. The 2024 winners include Male Artist of the Year Morgan Wallen, Female Artist of the Year Lainey Wilson, Group/Duo of the Year Dan + Shay, Breakout Artist of the Year Megan Moroney and Independent Artist of the Year Boomtown Saints. UMG Nashville was honored with Label of the Year for the first time, while Ashley Gorley was named Songwriter of the Year for the fifth time. KRWQ’s Bryce Burtner, who reports to the weekly MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart, was named Reporter of the Year.

Also in this issue, MusicRow takes a close look at Big Loud’s radio success and strategies with SVP, Promotion Stacy Blythe and then-VP, Promotion Ali Matkosky, and discusses country music’s growth with Spotify’s Head of Editorial Nashville Rachel Whitney. The CRS New Faces Class of 2024 is spotlighted along with The Big 615’s Storme Warren, who shares more about the new platform with MusicRow. The issue also features a special profile on veteran radio promoter Diane Richey, who retired after decades of success in the music business, as well as lists of past CountryBreakout Award winners and categories.

InCharge Issue (April/May 2024)

Black River’s Kelsea Ballerini covered MusicRow‘s sought-after InCharge Issue this year. Among dozens of accolades, she’s garnered four Grammy Award nominations, won two ACM Awards, Billboard Awards and CMA Awards; an iHeartRadio Music Awards honor and received multiple career nominations from the ACM, CMA, Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, CMT and People’s Choice Awards. Notably, she snagged her first nomination as an artist/producer for the ACM Awards’ Music Event of the Year in 2022 for “Half Of My Hometown.”

This annual guide highlights some of the most influential industry executives in the Nashville music business. This year’s edition includes 374 profiles which are accompanied by contact information, career biographies and detailed board and organizational membership affiliations. The guide also includes a record label staff index, a company appendix and a professional categories appendix, which lists executives by their areas of expertise, including label, talent agency, management, music publishing, legal, finance, performing rights organizations and more.

Artist Roster Issue (June/July 2024)

ASCAP songwriter and Big Loud Records/Songs & Daughters/Pigasus Records recording artist Hailey Whitters is featured on the cover of MusicRow’s 2024 Artist Roster Issue. “Everything She Ain’t” marked multiple firsts for the Iowa-born artist including her first-ever top 20 single at country radio, appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 and RIAA Platinum certification. This year’s Artist Roster print edition features exclusive editorials including a celebration of Curb Records’ 60th anniversary. In the six decades since its inception, the company has achieved an impressive 435 No. 1 hits, garnered over 1,500 top 10 songs and charted over 4,500 total records. Founder and Chairman Mike Curb talks to MusicRow about the label’s journey and his vision. Three of Nashville’s top managers—Daniel Miller, Charly Salvatore and Juli Griffith—come together for a roundtable discussing the opportunities and challenges they face in our rapidly-growing industry.

The Artist Roster issue also explores the impact of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album on the industry and the featured artists that have been championed because of it. Elsewhere, Asha Goodman, Exec. VP of Sacks & Co. and head of its Nashville office also talks with MusicRow about elevating their expansive client list. Finally, this issue features a look inside the exciting Nashville Yards development. Pinnacle’s Head of Music, Sports and Entertainment Andy Moats; CAA Co-Head of Nashville Music Jeff Krones; Southwest Value Partners’ Managing Partner Cary Mack and AEG Presents’ Regional VP Mike DuCharme all give their expertise on the value the new neighborhood will bring to the industry. In addition to its editorial features, MusicRow’s 2024 Artist Roster contains a seven-part company directory, complete with client rosters in the categories: Label, Management, Talent Agents, Publicity, Artist Services (Banking, Business Management/Financial/Insurance, Digital Music, Legal, Marketing and Radio Promotion), Media and Organizations (Trade & Professional Development, Performing & Mechanical Rights and Unions).

MusicRow Awards Issue (August/September 2024)

Big Loud/Back Blocks/Mercury/Republic emerging star Ashley Cooke graced the cover of the 2024 MusicRow Awards print issue. Cooke’s July 2023 debut album shot in the dark unfolds as if it was ripped from pages of her personal journal. Fully capturing the essence of a daring twenty-something growing up, chasing her dreams and taking risks, Cooke infuses heartfelt lyrics, captivating melodies and raw relatability as she invites listeners to come along for the ride. The striking debut garnered Cooke praise from critics, as well as her first CMT Award for Breakthrough Female Video of the Year at the 2024 CMT Awards. The ACM New Female Artist of the Year nominee recently celebrated her first career No. 1 song at country radio with “your place.”

The issue spotlights MusicRow Awards nominees in a range of categories, including Producer of the Year, Label Group of the Year, Talent Agency of the Year, Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year, Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year, Male Songwriter of the Year, Female Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year, Discovery Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Group/Duo Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year, as well as the Top 10 Album All-Star Musicians. The winners were announced online in a virtual event on Aug. 27.

The 2024 MusicRow Awards print issue also looks into the illustrious career of country music journalist and historian Robert K. Oermann, as well as Opry Photographer Chris Hollo. The MusicRow Awards print issue also contains an informative roundup of all the awards applicable to the Nashville music industry.

Publisher Issue (October/November 2024)

MusicRow’s 2024 Publisher Issue featured COJO Music / Warner Music Nashville artist Cody Johnson on the cover. Johnson has established a following of passionately loyal fans who regularly sell out shows across the country. The artist that media has touted “just might be the future of real country music” has skyrocketed to success with five celebrated albums, including Leather, Human: The Double Album, A Cody Johnson Christmas, Cody Johnson & The Rockin’ CJB Live and Ain’t Nothin’ To It; plus an award-winning feature-length documentary, Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story. He has amassed 7.5 billion global streams and three No. 1 singles.

The Publisher Issue includes the 2024 Publisher Directory, listing Nashville’s top publishing companies as well as organizations available for songwriters. Back again in the 2024 Publisher Issue is the State of the Union roundtable, this time featuring Warner Chappell’s Spencer Nohe, UMPG’s Roxy King, Big Machine Music’s Alex Heddle and BMG’s Amy Hendon Scott. Elsewhere, NSAI’s Bart Herbison tells MusicRow about the issues facing songwriters, and Downtown Music Publishing’s Emily Stephenson is the subject of the popular My Music Row Story column.

For the 2024 Publisher Issue, Nashville hitmakers Charlie Handsome, Ernest and Chandler Walters spoke with MusicRow about the making of Post Malone’s blockbuster F-1 Trillion album. MusicRow’s 2024 Publisher Issue also highlights the work and careers of some of Nashville’s most in-demand songwriters, including Connie Harrington, Jordan Reynolds, Tanner Adell, Pete Good, Lauren Hungate and Matthew West.

Touring & Next Big Thing Issue (December 2024/January 2025)

The last of the MusicRow print issues for the year, the Touring & Next Big Thing issue, featured The Valory Music Co.’s Thomas Rhett on the cover. Pairing his laid-back perspective with a vocal drenched in casual country soul, Rhett has spent just over 10 years gathering 22 No. 1s, 16 billion streams and armfuls of accolades—eight ACM Awards including 2020’s Entertainer of the Year, two CMA Awards, five Grammy Award nominations, plus trophies from the CMT Music Awards, Billboard Awards and iHeartRadio Awards. He has also been recognized with five CMA Triple Play Awards for penning three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period, and he’s never remained static.

Inside MusicRow‘s Touring & Next Big Thing Issue is the 11th annual Next Big Thing class of artists, consisting of Tanner Adell (Bad Cow/Love Renaissance), Gavin Adcock (Thrivin Here Records/Warner Music Nashville), Mackenzie Carpenter (Big Machine Label Group (The Valory Music Co.)), Carter Faith (UMG Nashville (Capitol Records Nashville)), Dylan Gossett (Big Loud Texas/Mercury Records), Ella Langley (Columbia Records/SAWGOD), Vincent Mason (Interscope Records/UMG Nashville/Music Soup), Dylan Marlowe (Sony Music Nashville/Play It Again Music), Drake Milligan (BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records), Zach Top (Leo33), Tigirlily Gold (Monument Records), The Red Clay Strays (RCA Records) and Tucker Wetmore (UMG Nashville/Back Blocks Music/Mercury Records). This issue also features the N.B.T. Industry Directory Class of 2025, which highlights rising Nashville music business professionals who are having a major impact on the industry. MusicRow’s N.B.T. Industry Directory is the first and only list of its kind. These industry members occupy important roles at their respective companies, and are on a trajectory of excellence to successfully lead the Nashville music industry into the future.

The 2025 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue features top agents CAA’s Hunter Williams, WME’s Beth Hamilton, The Neal Agency’s Adi Sharma, UTA’s Elisa Vazzana and Wasserman’s Keith Levy in a roundtable discussion about the issues and opportunities facing the live music business. Mike Harris shares some wisdom regarding his career path and professional philosophies with MusicRow, and Back Blocks Music’s Rakiyah Marshall talks about taking the “back blocks” to success. MusicRow highlights Bonnaroo’s sustainability practices in this issue, and Outback Presents’ Michael Smardak talks about their country and comedy rosters. This issue also includes a look at Nashville music venues.

Important Print Dates For 2025:

Women’s Issue (February/March 2025)
Space Deadline: 2/21
Camera Ready Art Deadline: 3/4
Street Date: 3/20

InCharge Issue (April/May 2025)
Space Deadline: 4/11
Camera Ready Art Deadline: 4/29
Street Date: 5/13

Artist Roster Issue (June/July 2025)
Space Deadline: 5/23
Camera Ready Art Deadline: 6/10
Street Date: 6/24

MusicRow Awards Issue (August/September 2025)
Space Deadline: 7/25
Camera Ready Art Deadline: 8/5
Street Date: 8/26

Publisher Issue (October/November 2025)
Space Deadline: 9/18
Camera Ready Art Deadline: 10/7
Street Date: 10/21

Touring & Next Big Thing Issue (December 2025/January 2026)
Space Deadline: 10/31
Camera Ready Art Deadline: 11/18
Street Date: 12/9