MusicRow’s 2026 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue Features Gavin Adcock On Cover
MusicRow Magazine, Nashville’s leading music industry publication, has released its 2026 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue, with Thrivin’ Here Records/Warner Records Nashville’s Gavin Adcock on the cover.
Adcock’s album, Actin’ Up Again, was crowned the largest major-label country debut from a solo male artist released in 2024 and was the year’s top streaming major-label debut across the genre. Within less than a year, Adcock more than doubled his previous streaming record with over 25 million first week US streams on new album Own Worst Enemy, released Aug. 15, 2025. Own Worst Enemy debuted as the top new country album on the Billboard 200 Country Chart (No. 4) and top streaming new album on the Billboard 200 All-Genre Chart (No. 14) week of release. The MusicRow Awards Discovery Artist of the Year nominee has won over the hearts of both country musicians and music industry alike, leading to his New Artist of the Year nomination at the 60th ACM Awards.
Inside MusicRow‘s Touring & Next Big Thing Issue is the 12th annual Next Big Thing class of artists, consisting of Graham Barham (Sony Music Nashville/Disruptor Records), Kaitlin Butts (Republic Records), Laci Kaye Booth (Geffen Records), The Castellows (Warner Records Nashville), Kashus Culpepper (Big Loud Records), Lanie Gardner (BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records), Alexandra Kay (BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records), Braxton Keith (Warner Records Nashville), Zach John King (Sony Music Nashville), Chase McDaniel (Big Machine Records (Big Machine Label Group)), Ty Myers (RECORDS Nashville/Columbia), Emily Ann Roberts (RECORDS/Sony Music Nashville), Hudson Westbrook (River House Artists/Warner Records Nashville) and Stephen Wilson Jr. (Big Loud Records).
This issue also features the N.B.T. Industry Directory Class of 2026, 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 a ‘Next Big Thing’ remains more than an honor,” shares MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson. “It’s an acknowledgment of exceptional potential and purpose. It recognizes those rare individuals and teams who elevate their craft, inspire others, and redefine what success looks like in today’s music industry.”
The 2026 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue features a roundtable conversation with top agents including WME’s Barrett Sellers, Wasserman’s Lenore Kinder, The Neal Agency’s Brian Carothers, UTA’s Brian Hill, CAA’s Lindsey Myers and Kinkead Entertainment’s Greg Scott about the current issues and opportunities facing the live music business.
MusicRow highlights mental health visibility within the industry with a look at Hollywood & Mind’s first On Location event in Nashville. Industry executives Gina Miller and Jeanette Porcello discuss genre and equity in Music City.
Chrissy Hall, Director of Concerts for the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry House and Ascend Amphitheater, shares insights into the role of venue bookers, and Chelsae Partosan and Matt Morgan talk about life on the road as tour managers.
Single copies of MusicRow’s 2026 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $50, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.
