Thomas Rhett Graces The Cover Of MusicRow’s 2025 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue

MusicRow Magazine has released its 2025 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue, with 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.

It’s Rhett’s live show where he connects first-hand with fans in arenas and amphitheaters all around the world and including his recent mini-residency in December at the BleauLive Theater inside Fontainebleau Las Vegas. He has also launched a tequila brand, Dos Primos, now offering Blanco, Reposado and Añejo variants.

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.

“Being named the ‘Next Big Thing’ is more than a title—it’s a recognition of exceptional promise and a distinct presence within the industry,” shares MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson. “It signals the rare qualities of outstanding talent, commitment and a unique artistic perspective that set an individual apart and signal their future impact. This label isn’t just an accolade; it’s a mark of aspiration and achievement that we all strive for in Nashville’s music landscape.”

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.

Single copies of MusicRow’s 2025 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $50, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.