Nashville Industry Members Celebrate Scotty McCreery, ‘A Country Song’s Best Friend’

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Pictured (L-R): Kevin Herring (Triple Tigers), Rusty Gaston (Sony Music Publishing), Producer Aaron Eshuis, BMI songwriter Trent Tomlinson, Scotty McCreery, BMI songwriter Jim Collins, Producer Derek Wells, Brooke Burrows (Mucho Love Publishing), BMI’s David Preston. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI

Industry members gathered in the BMI lobby on Monday afternoon (Sept. 26) to celebrate Scotty McCreery‘s Gold-certified No. 1 song, “Damn Strait,” which pays homage to some of country icon George Strait‘s masterful hit songs.

Notching the Triple Tigers recording artists’ fifth trip to the top, BMI’s David Preston also noted that the track is the second longest run at the top of the Billboard Country Airplay chart at three consecutive weeks behind Luke Combs’ 14 weeks. Written by Trent Tomlinson and Jim Collins, the song also marks another outside cut that has skyrocketed to the peak at country radio.

Hosted by Preston, the celebration kicked off with CEO of Mucho Love Brooke Burrows taking the stage to share her thanks for Collins, Tomlinson and McCreery, as well as Triple Tigers’ SVP, Promotion Kevin Herring and his team for getting the song all the way to the top.

“We are so proud to be a part of ‘Damn Strait’ with Trent and Jim. Thank you so much, Scotty, for making it a big ole hit for us,” Burrows offered. “We’re just so proud to be a part of this.”

Pinnacle Bank’s David DeVaul was also on hand to offer his congratulations to McCreery. On behalf of Pinnacle, he also shared that they would be making a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in honor of the song.

Herring took the microphone next to dote on his history with Tomlinson, noting that the pair first met when the Arkansas native was signed to Lyric Street years ago. “We got a couple of hits, but we never made it to the pinnacle so it’s really special that Trent played this song for me and we were able to take it all the way,” he explained. “It’s really special for me to get to have a No. 1 record with Trent.”

Herring gave a shoutout to McCreery’s management team at Triple 8, including founder George Couri and day-to-day manager Scott Stem. He also thanked the Triple Tigers promotion staff and the label’s President Norbert Nix. Finally, he turned his attention to the man of the hour.

“Scotty, you’re the greatest. We always ask and you always say yes.” He added, “Back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, Conway Twitty was a country song’s best friend. I think that in the 2020s, you are a country song’s best friend,” to which the room happily agreed.

Next, it was time to hear from the writers.

Collins opened the floor, thanking McCreery and the record’s producers, Frank Rogers, Derek Wells and Aaron Eshuis. The Texas Songwriter Hall of Fame member then made note of all the writers of the songs mentioned in “Damn Strait” that contributed to its storyline, including Bob DiPiero, John Jarrard, Mark Sanders, Aaron Barker, Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon, Jamey Johnson, Gary Harrison, Keith Stegall, Frank Dycus and Dean Dillon.

The two-time Grammy nominee also took a moment to honor his attorney Mike Milom and Wayne Milligan who helped track down all of those writers and get the licenses needed to use them in “Damn Strait.”

“The writers gave us permission to use their songs in our storyline. I wanted to recognize them, but in order to do that, I had to get a little help so I have a couple of plaques I want to give out. The first one is to Wayne Milligan, who helped me put my company together.” Collins continued, “[The second person] has been my attorney since I moved to town. [Mike] was a big part of this whole thing and made sure that we could do all this stuff.”

Tomlinson followed, first offering his sentiments to McCreery for believing in the song and singing “his butt off on it.” He then turned the attention to his co-writer, sharing how sweet it is for one of their songs to finally have its day in the spotlight. Tomlinson echoed Collins’ thanks to the original Strait songwriters, saying “I want to thank all the songwriters that wrote the songs that we weaved into our storyline to make this work. If it wasn’t for those songs, there wouldn’t be this one.”

Tomlinson also thanked Herring for his continuous belief in him over the years, and for finally achieving their first No. 1 together after 20 years. He also thanked his BMI family for their support and for all the work they do on behalf of songwriters.

Finally, McCreery addressed the writers, thanking them for writing an amazing song.

“Nashville is a songwriter’s town and I felt so honored to get to sing this. I’ve recorded a lot of songs in the last 11 years and this is right up there with my favorites that I’ve done,” he recalled. “I’ve been fortunate to have songs that have worked on the radio in the last few years, but this one is different.”

McCreery then moved to his team, starting with BMI and rolling through his label, management, his publicists at EBM, the Universal Publishing team, his attorney David Crow, FBMM, his producers, his wife, and his band and crew.

“It takes a village. I’ve always said that, and I have the best village in Nashville,” he said with a smile. “But again, today is Jim and Trent’s. Thank you for writing an awesome song and thank you for sending it to me. I’m looking forward to singing this song for many, many years to come.”

Weekly Register: Koe Wetzel Makes Top Debut On Country Streaming Songs & Albums Charts

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Koe Wetzel. Photo: Jody Domingue

Columbia Records’ Koe Wetzel made some waves on the top country album and streaming songs charts this week.

His newest record, Hell Paso, notches the top debut at No. 3 on the albums chart with 24.5K in total consumption (3.2K album only/26 million song streams). Wetzel also makes the top streaming song debut as “Cabo” from the project comes in at No. 21 with 4.7 million first-week streams, according to Luminate data.

After eight weeks, Morgan Wallen‘s “You Proof” falls from the top spot, making way for Zach Bryan‘s “Something In The Orange.” The newly crowned top streaming song racks up 12 million streams this week, while “You Proof” takes second with 11.5 streams. Wallen can also be found in the No. 5 spot as “Wasted On You” tallies 8 million streams. Luke Combs‘ “The Kind Of Love We Make” maintains the third spot with 11 million streams, and Bailey Zimmerman‘s “Rock And A Hard Place” rises up one to No. 4 with 8.5 million streams.

Though losing the top spot on the songs chart, Wallen keeps his seat atop the country albums chart with Dangerous: The Double Album adding another 48K in total consumption (1.8K album only/59 million song streams). Bryan’s American Heartbreak follows in second with 25K in total consumption. Kane Brown‘s newly-released Different Man falls to No. 4 with 21K, and Combs’ Growin’ Up moves down one to No. 5 with 19K in total consumption.

Morgan Wallen Nabs Three-Week MusicRow No. 1

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For the third consecutive week atop the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart, Morgan Wallen’s “You Proof” regains +68 spins edging out Thomas Rhett’s “Half Of Me” by only 3 spins. Wallen co-wrote “You Proof” with Ashley Gorley, Ernest Keith Smith, and Ryan Vojtesak.

The single remains No. 1 on the country streaming songs chart for an eighth consecutive week. Wallen also keeps his spot at the peak of the country albums chart. Dangerous: The Double Album adds 50K in total consumption this week

Wallen is set to headline iHeartRadio Music Festival this weekend and Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam in 2023. 

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

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Zac Brown Band & Ingrid Andress Produce Vocal Dynamite On New Track

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Zac Brown Band. Photo: Danny Clinch

For-real country music returns with a vengeance in this week’s DISClaimer column.

It doesn’t come any better than Gene Watson & Willie Nelson. Youngsters Brandon Ratcliff, Jon Pardi, Sunny Sweeney and Kelsea Ballerini are flying the country banner high as well.

So is Larry Fleet, who takes home the DISCovery Award.

The audio-nirvana collaboration between the Zac Brown Band and Ingrid Andress is this week’s Disc of the Day.

AVERY ANNA / “Narcissist”
Writers: Ben Williams/David Fanning/Andy Sheridan/Avery Anna Rhoton; Producer: David Fanning; Label: Warner
–Wafting and appealing. The well-produced ballad features layers of soprano vocal, echoey ambiance and pointed lyrics toward a self-centered guy. Lovely listening, if not exactly hit bound.

KELSEA BALLERINI / “If You Go Down”
Writers: Shane McAnally/Julian Bunetta/Kelsea Ballerini; Producers: Julian Bunetta/Shane McAnally; Label: Black River
–“Heartfirst” remains the single, but this new video is so jaunty, flirty and enticing it must be consumed at once. The track bops delightfully with tasty mandolin licks, fiddle embellishments and snappy brushed drumming while her vocal verve rides on top. Ballerini is spreading her wings like never before and making the best music of her career to date. Her new Subject to Change collection drops tomorrow (Sept. 23).

KANE BROWN & KATELYN BROWN / “Thank God”
Writers: Josh Hoge/Jaxson Free/Kyle Fishman/Christian Davis/Jared Mullins; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: RCA
–Mr. and Mrs. Brown get all lovey dovey on a dull ballad.

LARRY FLEET / “Where I Find God”
Writers: Connie Rae Harrington/Larry Fleet; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud
–Beautifully done. His conversational vocal is perfectly phrased on this moving ode to homespun spirituality. Exquisitely country. There is also a live duet version of the song with Morgan Wallen.

KYLIE MORGAN / “Bridesmaids”
Writers: Kylie Morgan/Sam DeRosa/KK Johnson; Producers: Ben Johnson/KK Johnson; Label: EMI
–Life imitates art in this outing, since co-writer DeRosa is one of the bridesmaids in Morgan’s upcoming nuptials. The thin-sounding, upbeat ditty with her lilting singing has evidently exploded on TikTok.

ZAC BROWN BAND & INGRID ANDRESS / “Any Day Now”
Writers: Zac Brown/Clay Cook/Josh Dunne/Ray Fulcher/Ben Simonetti/Jonathan Singleton; Producers: Zac Brown/Ben Simonetti; Label: Warner
–The Georgia band’s The Comeback (Deluxe) album drops a week from Friday. It is packed with celebrity collaborations, including guests Cody Johnson, Blake Shelton, James Taylor, Marcus King, Jamey Johnson and, on this heartbroken track, Andress. The group’s trademark harmonies kick it off, then her piercing soprano underlines the chorus message of regret. Next, they begin singing together, and the result is gorgeously melodic dynamite. The band’s Ryman concert is tonight (Sept. 22).

SUNNY SWEENEY / “Poet’s Prayer”
Writers: Monty Holmes/Buddy Owens/Sunny Sweeney; Producer: none listed; Label: SS
–Sunny sang this on the Opry last weekend, and it blew everyone away. It’s an acoustic ballad that wishes safe travels for gypsy troubadours everywhere. Her current live album includes the moving anthem. She is so pluperfectly country that everything she sings grips me. But this song is something special. It is also apparently somewhat magical: The only two shows when she didn’t sing it, she was in car accidents.

JON PARDI / “Mr. Saturday Night”
Writers: Benjy Davis/Reid Isbell/Joe Ragosta; Producers: Bart Butler/Ryan Gore/Jon Pardi; Label: Capitol
–The title tune of Pardi’s new album maintains the winning formula of his chart-topping “Last Night Lonely.” Which is to say, it is unapologetic honky-tonkin’ hillbilly. The power ballad moans with roadhouse heartache as he drawls the yarn of a good-time guy who hides his blues. So country. So very, very good.

DOLLY PARTON & KELLY CLARKSON / “9 To 5”
Writer: Dolly Parton; Producers: Shane McAnally/Sasha Sloan/King Henry; Label: SmackSongs/
Atlantic
–Dolly’s Oscar-nominated, Grammy-winning 1980 classic gets a complete makeover in this choppy, echoey, hip-hop influenced pop production. Kelly takes the pensive, melancholy lead with Dolly offering harmonies and vocal interjections. The track is drawn from the soundtrack of the documentary Still Working 9 To 5, which explores the impact of the film as well as the ongoing issues faced by women in the workforce.

MADDIE & TAE / “Spring Cleaning”
Writers: Maddie Font/Taylor Kerr/Josh Kerr/Tayla Parx; Producers: Derek Wells/Josh Kerr; Label: Mercury
–Delightfully feisty. Of course, it’s about kicking the bum and all of his shit out. The duo’s saucy vocals are backed by a punchy rhythmic track and roaring guitars. Fun on the hoof. You’ll find it on the eight-tune Through the Madness Vol. 2, which drops tomorrow (Sept. 23).

BRANDON RATCLIFF / “Tale of Two Towns”
Writers: Brandon Ratcliff/Pete Good/Josh Jenkins; Producers: Pete Good/AJ Babcock; Label: Monument
–This has a folkie, bluegrassy texture that ripples with authenticity. His sincere tenor rides atop a crystalline, acoustic track that enchants with every note. He expresses gratitude for his small-town upbringing while rejoicing in escaping it. I simply love this performance.

GENE WATSON & WILLIE NELSON / “Wonderful Future”
Writer: Willie Nelson; Producer: Dirk Johnson; Label: GW
–Two of country’s greatest vocalists create chillbumps in their first duet. Willie kicks it off. Then Gene’s peerless twang takes a turn, while the soaked-in-steel, piano tinkling production waltzes you through the profoundly sad, profoundly country lyric. As they swap verses, the hillbilly heavens open wide. You’ll find it on Gene’s just-released album Outside the Box, which also features a duet with his Opry peer Rhonda Vincent.

MusicRow Taps Cris Lacy As Featured Speaker For ‘Rising Women’ Event

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Cris Lacy

Warner Music Nashville Co-President Cris Lacy will be the featured speaker at MusicRow‘s Rising Women on the Row breakfast on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 8:30 a.m. at the Omni Nashville Hotel.

Attendees will be treated to insights from Lacy during an on-stage interview with MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson.

The ninth annual celebration will honor the next class of Rising Women on the Row honorees: Jen Conger (FBMM, Business Manager), JoJamie Hahr (BBR Music Group/BMG, Sr. VP), Mandy Morrison (City National Bank, Vice President/Senior Relationship Manager), Missy Roberts (Universal Music Publishing Group, VP, A&R), Jennie Smythe (Girlilla Marketing, CEO) and Stephanie Wright (UMG Nashville, Senior VP, A&R).

Presenting sponsors for this year’s Rising Women on the Row are City National Bank, Loeb & Loeb, and Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Alongside Co-President Ben Kline, Lacy guides the highly successful country division of Warner Music Group that includes chart-topping artists such as Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Cole Swindell, Zac Brown Band, Ashley McBryde, and an array of skyrocketing artists who represent the genre’s next generation such as Ingrid Andress, Cody Johnson, Gabby Barrett, Bailey Zimmerman, and Ian Munsick.

Lacy graduated from Vanderbilt with a degree in English before beginning her first full-time industry job at Tom Collins Music Publishing. She continued her publishing experience at Rick Hall / FAME Publishing, Island Bound Music and Warner Chappell Music before accepting an A&R position at Warner Music Nashville in 2005.

She rose through the ranks at the label, and was promoted to SVP of A&R in 2017 and EVP of A&R two years later. While leading A&R at Warner Music Nashville, Lacy was the driving force behind the signing of many of the label’s most prominent artists, including Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band, Cole Swindell, Ashley McBryde, Cody Johnson and Gabby Barrett.

Lacy’s honors include multiple spotlights on Billboard’s Country Power Players and Women in Music lists, as well as MusicRow‘s Rising Women on the Row honor in 2016.

My Music Row Story: FBMM’s Jen Conger

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Jen Conger

The “My Music Row Story” weekly column features notable members of the Nashville music industry selected by the MusicRow editorial team. These individuals serve in key roles that help advance and promote the success of our industry. This column spotlights the invaluable people that keep the wheels rolling and the music playing.

Jen Conger quickly moved up the ranks to become a business manager at FBMM after becoming the first female associate business manager in the firm’s history and doing so at a record pace of under 10 years. In Conger’s almost two decades of experience within the music industry, she has mentored a broad list of accomplished artists who have collectively received 17 Grammy Award wins, along with many ACM, CMA, Billboard and Golden Globe awards. She is a member of the ACM, the CMA, SOURCE, The Recording Academy and The Country Music Hall of Fame Troubadour Society, as well as an alumna of the Society of Leaders in Development (SOLID) and a member of the Leadership Music’s Class of 2020.

Conger played an integral role in the development and execution of seven sold-out concerts held at Bridgestone Arena, in which the proceeds—over $4 million to date—benefited the Country Music Hall of Fame. For the last nine years, she has organized a clothing and instrument donation on behalf of her clients, with donated items totaling over $110,000 given to the W.O. Smith Music School, and in 2018, was involved in the preparation of a sold-out benefit concert in October of that year, which raised over $700,000 net for various music industry-oriented charities, including MusiCares.

Conger will be honored as part of the current class of MusicRow’s Rising Women on the Row on Oct. 20. For more details about the class and the event, click here.

MusicRow: Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a small town called Greensboro, Georgia. I went to high school in Athens, Georgia. My parents would drive an hour each way to take me to school there. I ended up going to college in Nashville at Vanderbilt.

Photo: Courtesy of Jen Conger

What did you study?

I studied U.S. history and English and minored in film studies. I wanted to be in film director. I got accepted to NYU, but my parents didn’t want me to go too far away. I came here and didn’t know anything about the music industry.

What did you do after graduation?

I had gotten an internship at a music video production company. They made music videos for country artists. I had been the executive assistant to one of the owners and the bookkeeper left soon after I started. I raised my hand because I was a struggling kid right out of college trying to make ends meet. I thought, “I don’t necessarily know accounting, but I’m good with math and money, so how about I try out this whole bookkeeping thing.” I just fell into it, but had a knack for it. I thought if this was something I was interested in, I needed to focus on a place that actually does this.

Is that how you ended up at FBMM?

Yes. A friend of mine let me know about a job opening at FBMM. That was 18 years ago, I’ve been here ever since. I fell into it, went back to school and got my masters in accounting, and just have been learning as I go along the way.

What did you learn right away when you fell into business management?

People need financial advisors. Unfortunately, you’re not being taught this in school. So often we have musicians who suddenly have all this fame, but the reality is that the money comes long after the fame. Having a team in place that’s being a good steward to your money is so important. So is having people on your team who know the music industry versus someone who is not well versed on royalties and touring, et cetera. It can get artists in a lot of trouble.

Photo: Courtesy of Jen Conger

Since you didn’t originally set out to be in the music industry, when did you feel like you were in the right place?

Probably two years into working at FBMM. I went out on tour with a client and loved it. I loved seeing how the bills that I was paying were reflected on tour. The video bill, the trucking bill, the bus bill… Seeing it coming together live. That’s when I realized this was going to be a career for me.

Business managers are unsung heroes of the music industry. What are some of your proudest moments that you’ve worked on behind the scenes?

We’re not in the limelight and that’s okay. We get the work done. I think sometimes we make it look too easy. We’re getting the work done so that the artist isn’t having to worry about it, but the artist isn’t seeing the mountains that we’re moving every day to get those things done.

I have one client in particular that has put on multiple shows benefiting the Country Music Hall of Fame. I’ve been at the forefront of that, organizing it and haggling with vendors to try to get as much money to the Country Music Hall of Fame as possible. At the end of the night, being able to let the Hall of Fame know that we’ve got three quarters of a million dollars heading their way is pretty cool.

What advice would you give a new business manager?

The devil is in the details. It’s important to check your decimal points. (Laughs) Be accountable. When you screw up, chances are you’re going to think that it’s way worse than it actually is. There’s probably a long line of people who’ve made the same mistake, so be accountable and own it. Most importantly, learn from that mistake so you don’t repeat it. I tell new hires some of the really big faux pas that I made moving up. [Through my errors], they’re able to understand that even though I may have made a huge error, I’m still here because I learned from it and I grew from it versus trying to be defensive.

Who have been some of your mentors?

From a personal standpoint, my mother is amazing. Her sacrificing for us and being our chauffeur. (Laughs) She had cancer in her early thirties with two young kids; and she sacrificed and did what she needed to do for her family. From a personal level, I’m always trying to emulate that. I’ve got two kids and try to be a fraction of the kick ass mom that she was.

Professionally, Chuck Hull has been a great mentor. He is a tour manager for one of my artists. He’s been in the business for 40 something years. He has worked with some no names you’ve probably never heard of like Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, and John Hiatt. He has taken me under his wing for the last 20 years and has educated me about the touring world—both the historical side of things and how things have changed over time. He’s like a surrogate father to me.

Photo: Courtesy of Jen Conger

What do you think are some of the best qualities about our industry?

That it’s constantly evolving. The technology is constantly evolving. The revenue streams are constantly evolving. There’s not a cookie cutter idea of what an artist should look like anymore. It used to be cookie cutter but we’re definitely moving away from that and I think that’s a wonderful thing.

What’s a moment you’ve had that your little kid self would think is so cool?

I got a shout out at an award show when my client won Entertainer of the Year. Business managers are never in the limelight, and we’re definitely never mentioned in acceptance speeches, so that was a big deal. [Laughs] And then meeting Dolly Parton.

What is something people might not know about you?

I know a lot of film trivia. My favorite movies are Goodfellas and The Godfather: Part II. My favorite Christmas movie is Die Hard.

You will be honored at MusicRow‘s Rising Women on the Row breakfast on Oct. 20. What has your experience been like as a woman in the industry?

Being a woman in the music industry is not easy. It’s still very much a good ol’ boys club. Again, I think we’re moving away from that, which is wonderful.

As women, we have to look out for each other. I’ve seen too many times this hazing mentality of, “It wasn’t easy for me, so I’m not going to bend over backwards to help this next generation.” We need to erase that mentality from our brains because it’s not helping. It’s only making the issue worse. We have to all work with each other and cheer for each other along the way.

NSAI Honors Songwriters At Ryman Marathon

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Decade honorees Taylor Swift (Songwriter-Artist of the Decade) and Ashley Gorley (Songwriter of the Decade) pictured on the red carpet. Photo: Savannah Grimm for NSAI

The annual Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) songwriter awards honored nearly 40 writers Tuesday evening (Sept. 20) during a four-hour extravaganza staged at the Ryman Auditorium.

Major awards were given to Matthew West (Songwriter/Artist of the Year), Garth Brooks (Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award), Ashley Gorley (Songwriter of the Year) and the double-brother team consisting of Jacob & Jordan Davis with Josh & Matt Jenkins (Song of the Year). Gorley was also crowned the organization’s Songwriter of the Decade.

Taylor Swift performing “All Too Well (10 Minute Version).” Photo: Jason Davis for NSAI

At the end of the night, it became clear that the sold-out crowd was there to see Taylor Swift win Songwriter/Artist of the Decade. The superstar was greeted by a shrieking standing ovation and repeated shouts during her speech. Then, the Swifties sang along with every word of her Grammy-nominated, 10-minute opus “All Too Well.”

The show was hosted by the NSAI’s Bart Herbison, Jennifer Turnbow, Lindsay Glover and board president Steve Bogard. The event began with West and CCM artist Anne Wilson performing “Me on Your Mind” (West/Wilson/Jeff Pardo). West’s win was only the second time in the NSAI’s 33-year awarding history that the honor has gone to a Christian-music artist.

“It is an understatement to say how humbled I am before this audience of songwriters,” he said. “Who am I that God has blessed me so much?”

The celebration of Gorley’s songwriting began with Parmalee doing “Take My Name” (Gorley/Matt Thomas/David Fanning/Ben Johnson) and Hardy singing “Give Heaven Some Hell” (Gorley/Hardy/Johnson/Hunter Phelps). Then Bogard presented the President’s Keystone Award to Sony Music Publishing’s Jon Platt. The executive gave $500,00 to aid the songwriting community during the pandemic. In his honor, Little Big Town performed the touching “Rich Man,” penned by the group’s Jimi Westbrook.

Song of the Year winners Jordan Davis, Jacob Davis, Matt Jenkins and Josh Jenkins accept their award. Photo: Jason Davis for NSAI

One of the NSAI’s annual traditions is to salute the “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written,” as voted on by its songwriter members. Songwriters Matt McGinn, Jenn Schott and Nathan Spicer sang their co-written “7500 OBO” (recorded by Tim McGraw) as the first of these 10 tunes. Nashville pop artist Gayle rocked out on her hit “ABCDEFU,” co-written by her with Sara Davis and Dave Pittenger. Sam Hunt sang “23” along with his co-writers Chris LaCorte and Josh Osborne (collaborator Shane McAnally was absent).

Alana Springsteen sang the Chris Stapleton hit “You Should Probably Leave” (Stapleton/Gorley/Chris DuBois). The delightfully goofy phenom “Fancy Like” was sung by its writers Walker Hayes, Shane Stevens, Josh Jenkins and Cameron “Cambo” Bartolini (who broke out a kazoo). The Kenny Chesney hit “Knowing You” was performed by its creators, Brett James, Kat Higgins and Adam James.

Garth Brooks accepting the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award. Photo: Jason Davis for NSAI

Trisha Yearwood took the stage to present hubby Garth with his Lifetime Achievement award. “This is really fitting, because it honors what he cherishes most, the songwriter,” she said. “No one will ever deserve this honor more….a poet, a good man, a song’s best friend and my best friend, Garth Brooks.”

Pat Alger sang their co-written “The Thunder Rolls.” Kent Blazy did “Ain’t Goin’ Down,” which he and Brooks co-wrote with Kim Williams. Tony Arata sang his own “The Dance.” Luke Combs performed “The Beaches of Cheyenne” (Brooks/Bryan Kennedy/Dan Roberts).

“Songwriters—there are no bigger dreamers on the planet,” said Brooks in accepting his honor. “There is nobody more important to music than the songwriter.” Turning to Yearwood, he added, “You are the greatest award I ever got to hold.”

The 10-songs countdown continued with the Morgan Wallen hit “Sand In My Boots” (Gorley/Hardy/Osborne), performed by Larry Fleet. Each of these performances was accompanied by a video interview with its writers explaining how the song came to be. “Half of My Hometown” was sung by Kelsea Ballerini, Nicolle Galyon and Jimmy Robbins, who wrote the song with McAnally and Ross Copperman. The sister duo Tigirlily did “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” (McAnally/Ashley McBryde/Carly Pearce). Co-writers Matt Rogers and Ben Stennis sang their Cody Johnson hit “’Til You Can’t.”

There was a tie in the voting, so the 11th song of the “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written” was “Things a Man Oughta Know.” It was performed by Jonathan Singleton, who co-wrote it with Lainey Wilson and Jason Nix. The NSAI’s Song of the Year was “Buy Dirt,” sung by Jordan Davis, Jacob Davis, Josh Jenkins and Matt Jenkins. “This song has been a life changer for me,” said Jordan Davis, who recorded it with Luke Bryan.

Ashley Gorley, Songwriter of the Decade and 2022 Songwriter of the Year in the audience. Photo: Savannah Grimm for NSAI

The NSAI’s previous Songwriter of the Decade was Craig Wiseman (2000-2009). “I am here tonight to pass the torch,” he said, citing the fact that Ashley Gorley has written 63 No. 1 hits. Thomas Rhett sang “What’s Your Country Song” (Rhett/Gorley/Jesse Frasure/Rhett Akins/Parker Welling). Then Johnson, Phelps and Wyatt McCubbin sang a five-song medley of Gorley’s hits. Babyface crooned Rhett’s hit “Unforgettable” (Gorley/Rhett/Frasure/McAnally) and gave a well-deserved shout-out to the house band featuring lead guitarist Colin Linden.

“What a strange dream,” marveled Gorley. “I don’t know what’s going on. I’m blown away. You all make me feel special. A wild ride it’s been.

“Ten years is a long time,” added the Songwriter of the Decade honoree. “But it’s not as long as 11 years, which is how long I was in Nashville before I had a hit on the radio. And I’m grateful for those years, because it teaches you how hard it is.

“Being a part of a community with people like me, you feel like you’re part of a family…. It’s a huge deal to have somebody believe in you. I am very, very honored. You really, really made me feel loved tonight.”

Jon Platt, Sony Music Publishing Chairman and CEO, watching on as Little Big Town performed “Rich Man” in honor of him receiving the President’s Keystone Award. Photo: Savannah Grimm for NSAI

Pandemonium broke out when Swift was introduced as the Songwriter/Artist of the Decade. “For me, tonight is brimming with camaraderie,” she began. “This is an award that celebrates my family, my co-writers, my team and my fiercest friends. When it comes to songwriting and my life, they are one and the same.”

Swift recalled her teen years on Music Row, learning to write, and thanked the Nashville songwriting community for its generosity toward her 15 years ago. She described her categorization of her songs as “quill lyrics,” “fountain-pen lyrics” and “glitter-gel pen lyrics,” and cited mega-hit examples of each writing style.

“I love doing this,” Swift added. “Writing songs is a calling. I’d still be doing it if I’d never been recognized for it.”

With just her acoustic guitar for accompaniment, she moved to the center-stage mic and delivered “All Too Well” (Swift/Liz Rose). The audience stood and enthusiastically sang/shouted the song with/to her to climax the marathon night of music.

Rachel Fontenot Exits UMG Nashville

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Rachel Fontenot

UMG Nashville Vice President of Marketing & Artist Development, Rachel Fontenot, will exit her post at the end of this month to pursue new opportunities. Her last official day set for Sept. 30, 2022 .

She was promoted to her current position at Universal Music Group Nashville in 2020. In this role, she lead the artist projects and development team while continuing to oversee her roster.

Fontenot initially joined UMG Nashville in 2019 to oversee day-to-day artist development and marketing efforts for Lauren Alaina, Gary Allan, Eric Church, Vince Gill, Sam Hunt, Brandon Lay, Parker McCollum, Kylie Morgan, Jon Pardi, Shania Twain, Brothers Osborne and others.

Fontenot began her career with BMG Nashville and held several positions within the company including production, sales, artist development and marketing. She served as Director of Marketing at Sony BMG where she oversaw the marketing campaigns and international marketing efforts for the entire Sony Music Nashville roster. Fontenot also launched her own artist consulting firm in 2017 where she focused on marketing strategy and artist development while maximizing her well-established relationships with record labels, artists and managers.

Fontenot can be reached at rachel.fontenot@comcast.net.

Hitmaker Jordan Schmidt Inks Publishing Deal With Endurance Music Group

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Pictured (L-R): Attorney T.D. Ruth, daschent’s Dane Schmidt, EMG’s Mark Ahlberg, Schmidt, EMG’s Lauren Funk, and EMG’s Michael Martin. Photo: Ed Rode

Endurance Music Group (EMG) has signed hit songwriter and producer Jordan Schmidt to an exclusive global publishing agreement. The company has also acquired a significant stake in his existing catalog.

Originally hailing from Duluth, Minnesota, Schmidt got his start as a rock/alternative producer in Minneapolis, where he worked with bands such as All Time Low, Metro Station, Motion City Soundtrack, and Quietdrive. He moved to Nashville in 2012, where he made the leap from producer to full-time songwriter, catching the attention of Florida Georgia Line, who signed him to a publishing deal with Tree Vibez Music.

Schmidt’s chart-toppers include Kane Brown’s “Like I Love Country Music” and the 5x Platinum “What Ifs” (feat. Lauren Alaina), the ACM and CMA Single of the Year and Grammy Award-nominated “God’s Country” (Blake Shelton), Mitchell Tenpenny’s “Drunk Me,” and Jason Aldean’s “You Make It Easy” and “Lights Come On.” The deal includes hundreds of songs written by Schmidt, including recent and upcoming releases by Brown, fellow EMG songwriter Jimmie Allen, Cole Swindell, Nelly, Ernest, and others, as well as cuts that he produced on albums from Tenpenny, Tyler Hubbard, The Band Camino, and more.

Schmidt’s songs have been recorded by Morgan Wallen, Dan + Shay, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Dustin Lynch, Chris Lane, Granger Smith, Chase Rice, Ingrid Andress, Billy Currington, LoCash, One Ok Rock, Mickey Guyton, Adam Doleac, Hunter Hayes, Blanco Brown, Caylee Hammack, Noah Cyrus, and more.

Schmidt and his fiancée, songwriter and artist Renee Blair, recently co-wrote the currently climbing single, “Wait in the Truck,” by Hardy featuring Lainey Wilson.

“I’m excited to call Endurance home,” Schmidt shares. “From our first meeting, I could tell they are people who understand songwriters and want to have a positive impact on their careers. I can’t wait to get the ball rolling with their incredible team, freak some of them out with my drunken antics at the next company holiday party, and I hope to add to all the great things already happening at Endurance!”

EMG President Michael Martin notes, “On behalf of everyone at Endurance, I want to give Jordan a heartfelt welcome to the team. His talent in the writer’s room and his skill as a producer have set the tone for his continued impact on country music. He is a tremendous addition to our creative family, and by joining forces we’ll have endless opportunities (and a lot of fun) on this new journey together.”

“I’ve been friends with Jordan and his brother Dane for years, and I am so excited to finally have the opportunity to be on their team! Jordan has proven himself as a hit songwriter and producer time and time again,” EMG Senior Creative Director Lauren Funk adds. “We are thrilled to have him join the Endurance family, and we know the success he has already had is only the beginning.”

DISClaimer Single Reviews: The War & Treaty Share ‘The Sound Of Pure Love’

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It’s Americana music week in Nashville, and the genre’s stars are shining brightly.

None are brighter than The War & Treaty, who easily nail down this week’s Disc of the Day award.

Not that there wasn’t plenty of competition. Check out the sounds of Daniel Tashian, Larkin Poe, the Dirt Band and Jake Blount, for starters. Rootsy tunes are where it’s at.

JIM LAUDERDALE / “That Kind of Life (That Kind of Day)”
Writers: Jim Lauderdale; Producers: Jim Lauderdale/Jay Weaver; Label: Sky Crunch
–The kick-off track of Lauderdale’s new Game Changer album (his 35th), is a rollicking, lively, Telecaster-driven, Bakersfield-nodding toe tapper that has a built-in smile. Drawling, uplifting and totally country.

MARGO PRICE / “Been to the Mountain”
Writers: Margo Price/Jeremy Ivey; Producer: Jonathan Wilson; Label: Loma Vista
–This is Price’s moment. Her memoir Maybe We’ll Make It will be published Oct. 4. She has a new Sonos Radio podcast titled Runaway Horses. She’s been elected to the board of Farm Aid. Her new album is previewed by this stirring single/video. She wails in an echo chamber, backed by a grinding rock riff, about persevering through tough times. Haunting.

DANIEL TASHIAN / “Night After Night”
Writers: Daniel Tashian/Paul Kennerley; Producer: Daniel Tashian; Label: Big Yellow Dog
–Rockabilly nirvana. Acclaimed producer Tashian returns to record making of his own with this slab of retro energy. The project’s title tune channels Buddy Holly, The Everlys and Carl Perkins in an absolutely irresistible stew of stinging guitars, relentless rhythm and in-the-pocket vocal comfort. Better than a cup of morning coffee and more bracing than a ride in a convertible. Essential listening. Tashian’s AmericanaFest showcase is Saturday at noon at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and he headlines at The Basement next Wednesday night.

AMANDA SHIRES / “Hawk for the Dove”
Writers: Amanda Shires/Lawrence Rothman; Producer: Lawrence Rothman; Label: ATO
–The new Take It Like a Man collection by Shires leads off with this dramatic track. Her distinctive, penetrating voice leads the listener into a dark, electronic soundscape of keening guitars and thudding percussion. A wary romance of uncertain fate.

NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND / “Girl From the North Country”
Writer: Bob Dylan; Producers: Ray Kennedy/Jeff Hanna; Label: MRI
–The revived and reconfigured Dirt Band rises to new heights on its Dirt Does Dylan album. This classic gets a loving, gorgeous, crystalline remake with rippling guitars, sighing fiddle, mandolin droplets and heart-in-throat vocals. Arguably a founding act of the Americana genre, the legendary group will showcase its Dylan tunes as well as old favorites at The Ryman on Saturday night.

JOY OLADOKUN / “Purple Haze”
Writers: Joy Oladokun/Dr. Luke; Producer: Dr. Luke; Label: Amigo/Verve Forecast/Republic
–The simple beauty of folk music shines on this current single by this gifted performer. Her liquid alto and perfectly strummed acoustic guitar convey a hopeful message of survival and eventual emotional prosperity. Even though the end of the world might be nigh.

THE WAR & TREATY / “That’s How Love Is Made”
Writers: Michael Trotter Jr./Tanya Trotter/Dave Barnes; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Mercury
–This Nashville couple is as good as it gets. There are no finer singers, nor more emotional interpreters in our world. Their soul-ripping voices can make the angels in Heaven weep for joy. This smoldering, electrifying outing stopped the show at the AMA Awards on Wednesday. Its single/video is a stunning, ecstatic, breath-taking experience. This is the sound of Pure Love that shatters and defies every musical category.

JAKE BLOUNT & DEMEANOR / “The Downward Road”
Writers: Brian Slattery/Jake Blount/Traditional; Producers: Jake Blount/Brian Slattery; Label: Smithsonian Folkways
–This fascinating artist’s album The New Faith drops a week from today. Blount is a banjo player, musicologist, journalist and scholar who fuses percussion loops with old-time fiddle and Demeanor’s rapping on this preview track. Audio layered and folky hooky, it somehow manages to be old-time country and contemporary bopping at the same time. Really cool.

LARKIN POE / “Georgia Off My Mind”
Writers: Rebecca Lovell/Tyler Bryant; Producers: Larkin Poe/Tyler Bryant; Label: Tricki-Woo
–This guitar-wielding Nashville sister duo, Rebecca and Megan Lovell, have a new album called Blood Harmony coming in November. In the meantime, we have this dynamite advance single. It totally rocks, in a bluesy, twangy kinda way. The lyric name-checks Georgia institutions like Coca-Cola, Ray Charles and peaches as items in the rearview mirror as they head to Music City to pursue dreams. The ridiculously catchy track bubbles and boils. Yowza!

TOMMY McLAIN / “The Greatest Show on Hurt”
Writers: Tommy McClain/Nick Lowe; Producer: C.C. Adcock; Label: Yep Roc
–This swamp-pop pioneer had hits in the ‘60s. He’s 82 years old now and releasing his first album in 40 years. This slowly paced ditty has a woozy, lackadaisical charm as he relates his circus-themed heartbreak. His Americana showcase is at Riverside Revival tonight at 9 p.m.

VALERIE JUNE / “Look at Miss Ohio”
Writer: Gillian Welch/David Rawlings; Producer: A June Tunes Music Production; Label: Fantasy
–June’s new Under Cover is a collection of covers of tunes by Dylan, Joe South, John Lennon, Nick Drake and others. Her rendition of this Gillian Welch song features a drawled double-tracked vocal, moaning guitar and echoey atmosphere. Languid and dreamy.

TODD SNIDER / “Big Finish”
Writer: Todd Snider; Producer: Todd Snider/Eric McConnell; Label: TS
–I’ve always been a big fan of this clever guy. The troubadour opens his shows with this wryly humorous, self-aware, solo folky-blues tune. You’ll find it on his live album, due next Friday. The album-release show is at the Ryman on Saturday, Sept. 24. You won’t find a better one-man band. Prepare to be wildly entertained.