Jordan Davis’ Home State Hits 500 Million Streams

Photo ID (L-R): Red Light Management’s Zach Sutton, MCA Nashville VP Promotion Katie Dean, Jordan Davis, WME’s Becky Gardenhire, UMG Nashville COO Mike Harris. Photo: Steven Stauffer

MCA Nashville’s Jordan Davis celebrated a milestone achievement Friday night (May 17) before he played to a sold-out crowd at The Theater at Madison Square Garden as part of Old Dominion’s “Make It Sweet Tour.” Jordan’s debut album Home State has accumulated over 500 million worldwide streams spurred by the success of his recent back-to-back No.1 hit singles “Singles You Up” and “Take It From Me.” Since its release, “Singles You Up” has dominated streaming charts spending over a month on the Spotify US Viral Chart (peaking at No.2) in addition to hitting the Spotify Global Viral Chart and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Both tracks are included on Home State as well as Jordan’s current single “Slow Dance In A Parking Lot,” which was most-added at country radio its debut week and continues to climb the country airplay charts.

Belmont University’s Cheryl Slay Carr Releases Music Industry Book

Cheryl Slay Carr, associate dean and associate professor at Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, recently authored “Music Business Careers: Career Duality in the Creative Industries.” The book, newly released by Routledge/Taylor & Francis, examines the careers of what she calls “dualists,” people who balance an analytical career and a creative career. The book offers research, interviews with dualists, frameworks such as a Career Duality Model, and chapter exercises to guide readers through their own career decisions.

“It’s a decision that can create a real dilemma that I have seen in students and experienced firsthand. I wanted to understand that dilemma better and decided to research and write about it for all the Dualists out there. This book is designed for use by anyone seeking to navigate their own career journey, or the exploration can be a facilitated, academic investigation when used as a textbook for a career-focused or other music business course. Either way, if you see yourself in this analytical/creative experience (even outside the entertainment industry), this book is for you.”

 “Music Business Careers” is available on Amazon and at Routledge.com.

CMHoF Honors Member Elect Jerry Bradley

Country Music Hall of Fame Member Elect Jerry Bradley and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young on the stage of the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo by: Diana Carniato for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum celebrated the upcoming induction of Country Music Hall of Fame Member Elect Jerry Bradley with a special luncheon honoring him in the museum’s CMA Theater on May 16. During the luncheon, Bradley shared this sentiment about his upcoming induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, “I look forward to being inducted this October. It’s an honor to to join all my heroes in the Country Music Hall of Fame.”

In October of this year, Bradley, along with Brooks & Dunn and Ray Stevens, will be formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Kaptain Jack Aponte Launches Online Radio Country Station Jersey Shore Country

Kaptain Jack Aponte, a New Jersey native who spent the last eight years in Nashville and created the internet radio station renegaderadionashville.com, as well as In The Cab Radio (a station specifically for truck drivers), has now created JerseyShoreCountry.com, in partnership with DPM Shore Solutions. The station will broadcast from its studio on the Seaside Heights Boardwalk in New Jersey.

JerseyShoreCountry.com is now a reporting station on MusicRow Magazine’s reporting panel. The station’s airplay will be figured into the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart.

“We are beyond thrilled to be back in New Jersey with our friends and family. When we were thinking of where we would like to set up our studios, there was no question we wanted to be in Seaside Heights, NJ. Kaptain Jack has been part of the entertainment landscape in Seaside Heights for 37 years and can’t wait to turn Seaside Heights into Nashville at the Jersey Shore.”

Following the recent announcement of this year’s nominees for the 31st annual MusicRow Awards, we take a look at the Breakthrough Artist of the Year category. This category is voted on by MusicRow’s subscribed members to honor a Nashville artist who achieved significant career progress for the first time.

The MusicRow Awards will be presented at a private ceremony on June 26. See the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting closes on May 21 at 5 p.m. If you do not have a subscription, you may subscribe to receive a ballot.

2019 Breakthrough Artist of the Year Nominees:

Jimmie Allen is nominated for MusicRow Breakthrough Artist for his success as a recording artist, and Breakthrough Artist-Writer as a co-writer of his single “Best Shot.” The song made history as the first time a black artist took their first-ever single to No. 1 at country radio, and the first time since 2012 a debut single spent three weeks at No. 1. Allen’s follow up, “Make Me Want To,” is now making its way up the charts. He will spend the summer on the road with major tours headlined by Chris Young and Rascal Flatts.

Jordan Davis took his debut track, “Singles You Up,” all the way to No. 1 and followed that hit with another chart-topper, “Take It From Me.” The Louisiana native co-wrote all 12 tracks on his album Home State. He is currently on the road with Old Dominion and will then join Rascal Flatts on tour in July. In 2018, Davis was nominated for MusicRow Breakthrough Artist-Writer for co-writing “Singles You Up.”

Russell Dickerson has earned two No. 1s with his hits “Yours,” and “Blue Tacoma,” both of which he co-wrote. He is following that success with his latest single “Every Little Thing,” which is climbing country radio charts. He was a 2018 nominee for Breakthrough Artist-Writer for co-writing “Yours.” Dickerson joins Thomas Rhett on the road for the Very Hot Summer Tour, kicking off this month.

Cody Johnson‘s traditional sound has been attracting fans in his home state of Texas for years. Now he’s made the jump to the national stage via his partnership with CoJo Music/Warner Music Nashville. Johnson’s first major label single “On My Way To You,” is climbing at radio and earned a nomination this year for MusicRow Awards Song of the Year for co-writers Brett James and Tony Lane.

Ashley McBryde had an incredible year, driven by her album Girl Going Nowhere, and single of the same name. She earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album with the only debut album in the category. McBryde is also nominated for MusicRow Awards Song of the Year as a co-writer of “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” and her collaborator Jay Joyce is up for Producer of the Year. Coming up, McBryde will tour with Miranda Lambert.

Morgan Wallen scored his first No. 1 as an artist with “Up Down,” and followed that with current hit “Whiskey Glasses.” Up next for the Tennessee native is a nationwide stint on Florida Georgia Line’s summer tour, followed by a fall run as direct support for Luke Combs. Wallen was a 2018 nominee for MusicRow’s Breakthrough ArtistWriter as a co-writer of “You Make It Easy,” recorded by Jason Aldean.