MusicRow Reveals 2025 CountryBreakout Award Winners

For 23 years, MusicRow has celebrated country music’s success at radio in secondary markets with its annual MusicRow CountryBreakout Awards.

Based on spins on the secondary market stations that report to the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart panel each week, winners in eight categories are awarded. These artists and industry professionals wrote, recorded and promoted the music that played across small town America throughout 2024.

Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, Dan + Shay, Zach Top, Drew Baldridge and Big Machine Label Group prevail at this year’s CountryBreakout Awards for garnering the most spins in their own respective categories. Hit songwriters Ashley Gorley and Charlie Handsome, as well as MusicRow Radio Chart reporter Dani Holland are also victors for their esteemed skills.

Morgan Wallen is the winner for Male Artist of the Year for the third year in a row, while Lainey Wilson takes home her second win for Female Artist of the Year. Dan + Shay notch their third win in the Group/Duo of the Year category.

The Breakout Artist of the Year honor is given to a new artist whose first single or album was released in 2024, and earned the most spins on stations that report to the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart. Zach Top takes this year’s Breakout Artist of the Year distinction.

The Independent Artist of the Year award honors a top independent artist, based on the number of spins earned on stations that report to the chart, as well as factors including label size, distribution model and promotion staff. Drew Baldridge takes home the honor this year for the first time for his independent work with “Somebody’s Daughter.”

For the first time, Big Machine Label Group earns the Label Group of the Year honor, with its artists earning the most spins of any label imprint on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart in 2024.

Songwriting juggernaut Ashley Gorley takes home his seventh Songwriter of the Year honor for penning the most No. 1 songs on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart in 2024. This year, Gorley tied with Charlie Handsome for the honor, his first time taking home the win.

This year’s Reporter of the Year goes to Dani Holland (WALS). This honor is an editorial decision that recognizes a MusicRow station panelist that best epitomizes the spirit of the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

The winners of MusicRow‘s 23rd annual CountryBreakout Awards are highlighted in this week’s MusicRow Weekly newsletter, containing the digital Country Radio & Streaming issue. Click here to view.