MusicRow Releases 2026 Artist Roster Issue, Shaboozey Graces The Cover
MusicRow, Nashville’s leading music industry publication, has released its 2026 Artist Roster print issue, featuring ASCAP songwriter and American Dogwood/EMPIRE artist Shaboozey on the cover.
Raised in Virginia by parents of Nigerian descent, Shaboozey’s critically acclaimed 2024 album Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going debuted in the top five of the Billboard 200. The album’s breakthrough anthem, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which broke the record for the longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1, has accumulated over two billion streams and made history, making Shaboozey the first Black male artist to simultaneously top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs and Hot 100.
A TIME100 NEXT honoree and Billboard Country Power Player, Shaboozey continues to honor his Virginia roots and highlight modern Americana on a global stage. He has earned nominations from the Academy of Country Music Awards, Country Music Association Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards, alongside wins at the Billboard Music Awards and People’s Choice Country Awards, as well as recognition from ASCAP as their 2025 Country Music Songwriter/ Artist of the Year. An 8X GRAMMY® nominee, Shaboozey won his first Grammy Award in 2026 for Best Country/Duo Group Performance for his collaboration with Jelly Roll, “Amen.” Shaboozey’s highly-anticipated forthcoming album The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales will arrive July 31.
“The volume of content entering the marketplace is staggering, and the lines between human artistry and machine-generated output are becoming increasingly blurred. In this challenging environment, clarity, connection and trust are more important than ever—not just in the artist community, but among the people working behind the scenes,” says Sherod Robertson, Publisher/Owner of MusicRow. “We all know that in the world of music, no one rises alone. Behind every artist’s moment in the spotlight is a team: a team of real people, working to bring the artistry to life with skill, focus and belief. At MusicRow, we’ve long understood the value of that team behind the talent. This understanding feels especially relevant now. As the industry evolves, our commitment remains the same: to document, support and celebrate the real people who shape careers and move this business forward. Our platform, established in 1981, exists to recognize the voices on the mic, the team members behind them, and to provide a trusted view of the ecosystem.”
This year’s Artist Roster edition includes a range of exclusive editorial features, including a look at the recent evolution of Nashville label groups, and a behind-the-scenes look at Nashville’s newest venue, The Truth. Also in this issue, TK Kimbrell discusses estate management, and Dwight Wiles talks about financial stability in the music industry.
The 2026 Artist Roster print issue also features Morris Higham’s Will Hitchcock, Neon Coast’s Nikki Boon, Range Media Partners’ Jared Cotter and Shopkeeper Management’s Crystal Dishmon in a roundtable conversation about modern day artist management.
As always, the Artist Roster issue includes a six-part company directory, listing client rosters across categories including Label, Label Services/Distribution, Management, Talent Agents, Publicity and Artist Services (spanning Banking, Business Management, Digital Music, Legal, Marketing and Radio Promotion). Media and organizational resources—such as industry charities, trade associations and rights organizations—are also featured.
Rounding out the issue is the indispensable Artist Grid, a quick-reference guide connecting artists with their core team members in the Label, Management, Talent Agency and Publicity sectors.
Single copies of MusicRow’s 2026 Artist Roster print issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $50, and are included with yearly subscriptions. 
