Cary Barlowe

Hang Your Hat Music, a creative joint venture with Concord Music Publishing founded by two-time ACM Songwriter of the Year Hillary Lindsey, has signed Cary Barlowe to a worldwide publishing deal. The agreement includes Barlowe’s future works.

Originally from North Carolina, Barlowe started his music career as a member of the Rick Rubin-produced rock band, Luna Halo. He has written nine No. 1 songs in the contemporary Christian music format—three of which earned him Grammy nominations for Contemporary/Gospel Song Of The Year.

His first dip into country music came with Taylor Swift’s “Untouchable” from her 2008 multi-Platinum album Fearless. He has since scored five No. 1 songs on country radio, including Lady A’s “American Honey,” Dustin Lynch’s “Where It’s At,” Florida Georgia Line’s “Sun Daze,” Billy Currington’s “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To” and “Famous Friends” recorded by Chris Young and Kane Brown. Barlowe has also had cuts with Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Chris Lane, Dierks Bentley, Gary Allan, Martina McBride, Steven Tyler, Jimmie Allen, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, and more.

He has also seen success as a session musician with credits on hits for Carrie Underwood, TobyMac, Chris Tomlin, and Chris Young.

“Cary’s multi-faceted talents make him a publisher’s dream,” says Jake Gear, GM at Hang Your Hat Music. “He’s a musical ‘swiss army knife.’ His ability to topline hits across multiple genres, produce demos and tracks, be a session grade multi-instrumentalist, all in addition to his energy and personality make him an asset to any writing room. I couldn’t be more stoked to get to work with him!”

“We are incredibly fired up to welcome Cary to the Concord and Hang Your Hat team!” adds Brad Kennard, Sr. VP A&R at Concord Music Publishing in Nashville. “Cary’s a hit songwriter with the unique ability to bring top-level writing, production, and musicianship to any session. A true triple threat. On top of that, he brings the best passion and energy wherever he goes. He’s just universally loved.”

“I’m so excited and thankful for the next chapter in my musical journey,” Barlowe shares. “To have Hillary and Jake on my side, I know I am in good hands! Also, to have the amazing staff at Concord behind me is huge. Can’t wait to get to work and for what’s ahead of us together as a team.”

Barlowe is Hang Your Hat Music’s fourth signing since its 2020 debut. Ben Chapman, Chris La Corte, and Meg McRee compose the rest of the venture’s roster.

The winners list has been revealed for the 59th Annual ASCAP Country Music Awards.

In place of an in-person event, the writers and publishers of country music’s most-performed songs of the past year will be honored by ASCAP on their social media platforms beginning today. Using the hashtag #ASCAPAWARDS, exclusive winner photos, videos, and acceptance speeches will be posted to @ASCAP on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Dedicated posts for each winning song will be rolled out on @ASCAP social media each day through Nov. 10.

ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams, Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Matthews and EVP, Chief Creative Officer John Titta kicked off the online festivities with a joint welcome video message along with congratulations from ASCAP Vice President, Membership Nashville Mike Sistad and the ASCAP Nashville team.

Hitmaker Josh Osborne is this year’s ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year for the first time. He is credited with eight chart-topping songs this year, including “7 Summers” (Morgan Wallen), “Beers and Sunshine” (Darius Rucker), “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90’s” (Sam Hunt), “Happy Anywhere” (Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani), “Hard to Forget” (Sam Hunt), “How They Remember You” (Rascal Flatts), “Next Girl” (Carly Pearce) and “Nobody But You” (Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani). This is Osborne’s 35th ASCAP Award, including Song of the Year wins in 2015, 2018 and 2020. George Strait, one of Osborne’s biggest influences, shared news of the win with Osborne in an exclusive video featured on @ASCAP social media.

Ashley Gorley’s chart-topping “One of Them Girls” (recorded by Lee Brice) received ASCAP Country Music Song of the Year honors. ASCAP shared Gorley’s award acceptance for the certified Platinum single, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, along with kudos from Brice and several of the song’s publishers on social media.

Sony Music Publishing wins Publisher of the Year for the first time since 2012. Its winning songs include “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90’s” (Sam Hunt), “Hole in the Bottle” (Kelsea Ballerini), “Lady” (Brett Young) and “Things a Man Oughta Know” (Lainey Wilson). SMP CEO Nashville, Rusty Gaston, appeared on @ASCAP social media thanking the company’s songwriters and staff.

For a full list of winners, visit ascap.com.

The social media event will also include a celebration of the life of Connie Bradley, former head of ASCAP Nashville who passed away earlier this year. Bradley was a beloved trailblazer in the music business who served more than three decades at ASCAP, rising to Senior Vice President and head of the Nashville office at a time when women filled very few top leadership positions in the music industry. The video tribute features remembrances from Wynonna Judd, Trisha Yearwood, Amy Grant and more.

Eric Church. Photo: Reid Long

“Heart On Fire” by Eric Church is the most spun single this week on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart. Solely written by Church, the single gained +95 spins pushing it to the No. 1 spot.

Church is currently on the road on his Gather Again Tour with dates slated through May of 2022. In the arenas Church has adopted an in-the-round set up, with the stage at the center of each arena floor in order to accommodate as many fans as possible.

Church, in addition to Chris Stapleton, lead in nominations for this year’s 55th Annual CMA Awards with five nominations. Church is nominated for Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Album (Heart), Single (“Hell Of A View”), and Song of the Year (“Hell Of A View”) at Wednesday night’s awards (Nov. 10).

Click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

Pictured (L-R): NaSHOF Board Chair Sarah Cates; Inductees Rhett Akins, Toby Keith, Buddy Cannon, Amy Grant and John Scott Sherrill; NaSHOF Executive Director Mark Ford. Photo: Bev Moser

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Classes of 2020 and 2021 were officially honored Monday night (Nov. 1) during NaSHOF’s 50th and 51st Anniversary Hall of Fame Gala. The musical contributions of the 10 new inductees were celebrated through star-studded performances of some of their biggest songs for the capacity crowd at Nashville’s Music City Center.

Honored for the Class Of 2020 were Kent Blazy and Brett James in the songwriter category; Spooner Oldham in the veteran songwriter category; Steve Earle in the songwriter/artist category; and Bobbie Gentry in the veteran songwriter/artist category. Those recognized in the Class of 2021 were Rhett Akins and Buddy Cannon in the songwriter category; John Scott Sherrill in the veteran songwriter category; Toby Keith in the songwriter/artist category, and Amy Grant in the veteran songwriter/artist category.

“This year we’re belatedly celebrating our Golden Anniversary—more than 50 years of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame,” said Sarah Cates, Board Chair of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation. “Though we were unable to gather last year, we’re making up for lost time by honoring two stellar classes. It’s gratifying to have these legendary songwriters join us at last!”

Pictured (L-R): NaSHOF Board Chair Sarah Cates; inductees Brett James, Kent Blazy, Steve Earle, Spooner Oldham; NaSHOF Executive Director Mark Ford. Photo: Bev Moser

Trisha Yearwood kicked off the evening honoring inductee Bobbie Gentry in a performance of the hit “Ode To Billy Joe,” a global smash that was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Gentry did not attend the event, and instead NaSHOF member Gretchen Peters spoke on her behalf. Thomas Rhett performed his father’s signature hit “That Ain’t My Truck” as a special tribute to inductee Rhett Akins, then NaSHOF member Byron Hill presented him. Carrie Underwood performed her mega-hit “Jesus Take The Wheel” to honor inductee Brett James, accompanied by co-writers Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson. James was presented by NaSHOF member Rivers Rutherford.

Kenny Chesney honored inductee Buddy Cannon with a performance of the Cannon-penned Vern Gosdin hit, “Set ’Em Up Joe,” before NaSHOF member Bill Anderson presented Cannon. Toby Keith was honored by NaSHOF member Ronnie Dunn, who performed Keith’s 1993 No. 1 hit, “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” a song that would go on to become one of the most played country song of the 1990s. Hall of Fame member Mac McAnally presented Keith.

NaSHOF member John Anderson was on hand to honor John Scott Sherrill with a performance of his 1982 Sherrill-penned hit “Wild And Blue,” before Hall of Fame Board member and industry journalist/historian Robert K. Oermann presented Sherrill. Jason Isbell honored inductee Spooner Oldham with a performance of “I’m Your Puppet,” and NaSHOF member Dickey Lee inducted him.

Emmylou Harris honored inductee Steve Earle with a performance of his song “Pilgrim.” Hall of Fame Board member and host of The Songwriters public television show Ken Paulson presented Earle.

Vince Gill also paid tribute to wife Amy Grant during the special evening with a performance of her song, “Breath of Heaven,” and Garth Brooks took the stage to honor inductee Kent Blazy and also perform their hit “If Tomorrow Never Comes” with him, which was named NSAI’s Song of the Year in 1989.

Pictured (L-R): Thomas Rhett and inductee Rhett Akins. Photo: Bev Moser

Pictured (L-R): Bill Anderson, inductee Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney. Photo: Bev Moser

Pictured (L-R): Trisha Yearwood, inductee Kent Blazy, Garth Brooks. Photo: Bev Moser

Pictured (L-R): Robert K. Oermann, inductee John Scott Sherrill, John Anderson. Photo: Bev Moser