MusicRow Reveals 2026 CountryBreakout Award Winners

For 24 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 the nation throughout 2025.

Morgan Wallen, Megan Moroney, Rascal Flatts, Hudson Westbrook, LOCASH and MCA prevail at this year’s CountryBreakout Awards for garnering the most spins in their own respective categories. Hit songwriters Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome and Taylor Phillips, as well as MusicRow Radio Chart reporter Justin Brown are also victors for their esteemed skills.

Morgan Wallen is the winner for Male Artist of the Year for the fourth year in a row, while Megan Moroney takes home her first win for Female Artist of the Year. Rascal Flatts notch their first 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 2025, and earned the most spins on stations that report to the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart. Hudson Westbrook takes this year’s Breakout Artist of the Year distinction.

The Independent Artist of the Year award honors a top independent act, 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. LOCASH takes home the honor this year for the first time for their success with singles “Hometown Home” and “Wrong Hearts,” which were worked by their own independent Galaxy Label Group.

MCA 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 2025.

Songwriting juggernaut Ashley Gorley takes home his eighth Songwriter of the Year honor for penning the most No. 1 songs on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart in 2025. This year, Gorley tied with Charlie Handsome and Taylor Phillips for the honor, making Handsome’s second time and Phillips’ first time taking home the win.

This year’s Reporter of the Year goes to Justin Brown at WJVL. 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 24th annual CountryBreakout Awards are highlighted in this week’s MusicRow Weekly newsletter. Click here to view.