Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 34th MusicRow Awards, we take a look at the MusicRow Song of the Year category. The nominees honor Nashville writers and publishers on the craft of songwriting, not necessarily chart performance, during the eligibility period of June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022.

The winners of this year’s honors will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, August 30. Presenting Sponsor of the 2022 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribed members. Voting is now open and closes on July 29 at 5:00 p.m.

To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow member here.

“Circles Around This Town”
“I drove circles around this town tryin’ to write circles around this town / Tryna say somethin’ with meaning, somethin’ worth singin’ about,” sings Maren Morris on her ode to the life of a songwriter, “Circles Around This Town.” Penned alongside Ryan Hurd, Jimmy Robbins, and Julia Michaels, the track is part of Morris’ album Humble Quest, released in March by Columbia Nashville. “Circles Around This Town” was the most-added single on its add week at country radio, broke Amazon Music’s record for most streams for a country song debut by a female artist, and debuted as the No. 1 country song and No. 7 all genre song on Pandora’s Top Thumbed Hundred Chart. The skillfully written song is relatable to songwriters everywhere who are just trying to write “somethin’ worth singin’ about.”

“Doin’ This”
When Luke Combs premiered his new song “Doin’ This” at the 2021 CMA Awards–where he also won Entertainer of the Year for the first time–fans immediately gravitated to the biographical tune about chasing dreams. Co-written with frequent collaborators Drew Parker and Robert Williford, “Doin’ This” finds Combs imagining what he’d be doing if he wasn’t a country superstar. What he finds is that even if he wasn’t, he’d still be “doin’ this.” He sings, “I’d be feelin’ on fire on a hardwood stage / Bright lights like lightning runnin’ through my veins.” The single is on Combs’ new album, Growin’ Up, released in June via River House Artists/Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville. “Doin’ This” became Combs’ thirteenth-consecutive No. 1 single. The history-making singer-songwriter is also up for Artist of the Year at the MusicRow Awards.

“Down Home”
“Down Home,” the new single from Jimmie Allen, finds the country star at his most vulnerable, paying tribute to his late father James. Written in the form of a letter by Allen, Cameron Bedell, Rian Ball, and Tate Howell, Allen sings “I still hate that you’re gone, I wish you were here / But I hope I’m making you proud ’cause I know you’re up there looking down home.” The meaningful song continues to climb the country charts and has garnered more than 20 million global streams. Allen named his first-ever solo headlining tour after the track, which appears on his recently released BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records album Tulip Drive. His success follows his third career No. 1 “Freedom Was A Highway,” and his nomination for Best New Artist at the 64th annual Grammy Awards.

“Flower Shops”
Inspired by the Jerry Chesnut-written and George Jones-recorded “A Good Year for the Roses,” “Flower Shops” finds ERNEST and Morgan Wallen lamenting that they’ve messed up so badly that they need to buy out the local flower shop. “I’ll buy violets and daisies to hide all the crazy, it’s gonna take all you’ve got / Aw, it’s a bad day for love, but a good day for flower shops,” he sings. The track took off, becoming the most-added single on its add week at country radio and hitting No. 1 on MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout Radio Chart. It also spawned an album of the same name for ERNEST. “Flower Shops” is the singer-songwriter’s debut single as an artist, after having achieved five No. 1 hits for other artists such as Wallen, Chris Lane, Sam Hunt, and Florida Georgia Line. ERNEST is also nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year this year at the MusicRow Awards.

“Never Wanted To Be That Girl”
Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde and Shane McAnally crafted a captivating, classic country, cheating song in “Never Wanted To Be That Girl.” The tune features Pearce and McBryde trading verses, and perspectives, of being “the other woman.” With Pearce taking the role as the wife or girlfriend feeling like a fool, and McBryde as the new fling who never saw a ring, the two relate to each other in their heartache, singing, “I thought this kind of lonely only happens to somebody else.” The song hit the top of the country charts and appears on Pearce’s critically acclaimed album 29 (Big Machine Records). Pearce, the reigning ACM Female Vocalist of the Year, is also nominated in MusicRow‘s Artist of the Year for the first time. McBryde took home the Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year award at last year’s MusicRow Awards.

“‘Til You Can’t”
Cody Johnson projects the universal message of living life to the fullest on “‘Til You Can’t,” singing “If you got a chance, take it,” and “If you got a dream, chase it,” because we only have so much time to make our lives count. The inspiring song was written by Matt Rogers and Ben Stennis. In true Nashville fashion, it took six years for the tune to find a home when Johnson cut it, and became Stennis’ first No. 1 song. “‘Til You Can’t” also marked Johnson’s first hit, was certified Platinum by the RIAA, and was the debut single for his sophomore CoJo Music/Warner Music Nashville release, Human The Double Album. This is Johnson’s second nomination in MusicRow‘s Song of the Year category, having been nominated in 2019 with “On My Way To You.”

Multi-talented songwriter and producer Ryan Vojtesak has cracked the top 10 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter chart. Vojtesak is a co-writer on Morgan Wallen’s “Wasted On You” and “You Proof.”

Ernest Keith Smith remains at the top of the chart for the sixth consecutive week. He is a co-writer on four charting songs, including Wallen’s “Wasted On You” and “You Proof,” Jelly Roll’s “Son Of A Sinner,” and his own “Flower Shops.”

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 34th MusicRow Awards, we take a look at the MusicRow Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year category. The Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year is voted by MusicRow’s subscribed members to honor a Nashville songwriter and recording artist who, for the first time, wrote or co-wrote a Top 10 song during the eligibility period of June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022.

The winners of this year’s honors will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, August 30. Presenting Sponsor of the 2022 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribed members. Voting is now open and closes on July 29 at 5:00 p.m.

To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow member here.

Priscilla Block is a co-writer on her first hit single, “Just About Over You,” along with Emily Kroll and Sarah Jones. The moody break-up track went viral at the end of 2020, landing Block a publishing deal with Warner Chappell and recording contract with UMG Nashville. She released her major label debut album, Welcome To The Block Party, in early 2022. With 12 tracks all co-written by Block, the charming singer-songwriter has been making a mark with songs such as “My Bar,” “Thick Thighs,” “I Bet You Wanna Know” and “Peaked In High School.” Block scored her first No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart with “Just About Over You” in August. Block is also nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year this year at the MusicRow Awards.

BRELAND, also known as “The Pen Point Guard,” has been disrupting writer rooms in Nashville for the past few years with his genre-bending sound. First making waves with his Platinum debut “My Truck,” BRELAND has impressed industry members with his boundless creativity on songs such as “Cross Country,” “Throw It Back (feat. Keith Urban),” and “Praise The Lord (feat. Thomas Rhett).” He signed his first ever publishing deal with Reservoir in early 2021, and subsequently scored his first No. 1 with his collaboration with Dierks Bentley and HARDY on “Beers On Me.” BRELAND recently announced that his Bad Realm Records / Atlantic Records / Warner Music Nashville debut album, Cross Country, is coming this fall.

Martin Johnson comes to country music with an impressive resume of pop success. As frontman of the pop-punk band Boys Like Girls, Johnson penned the bands hallmark songs such as “The Great Escape,” “Thunder,” and “Love Drunk.” With his new wave alternative project The Night Game, he released his sophomore album Dog Years in 2021. Johnson, a Warner Chappell writer, also has co-written songs for Jason Derulo, Flo Rida, Gavin DeGraw, Avril Lavigne, and more. He broke through as a hit country songwriter this year with Lady A’s No. 1 hit “Like A Lady” and Elle King’s chart-topper with Miranda Lambert, “Drunk (And I Dont Wanna Go Home).” Johnson’s country credits also include songs recorded by Dan + Shay, Hunter Hayes, and Warren Zeiders.

John Morgan hit a double this year, scoring his first two hit songs in MusicRow‘s qualification period. Morgan first hit the top of the charts with Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood’s “If I Didn’t Love You” in October of 2021; he was back again in May of 2022 with Aldean’s “Trouble With A Heartbreak.” Morgan impressed Aldean so much that the country star signed him to his newly-formed publishing company, Triple Play Music, and his record label imprint with BBR Music Group, Night Train Records. Morgan has released a sampling of his own music with “Coldest Beer in Town” in 2021 and “Right In The Middle” in 2022.

Elvie Shane broke onto the scene with the tender tribute to his step-son, “My Boy.” Since its release, “My Boy” took on a life of its own, from going viral on TikTok, hitting the top of the country charts, and being certified Platinum. Shane released his debut full length album, Backslider, on Wheelhouse Records in October of 2021. The Warner Chappell and Rome Phrey writer co-wrote 14 of the album’s 15 songs. Shane’s new single from Backslider, “County Roads,” was one of the most added songs at country radio upon its debut and continues to climb. Shane is also nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year this year at the MusicRow Awards.

Lainey Wilson brought her signature “Bell Bottom Country” to her studio album Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ in early 2021 via Broken Bow Records. With Wilson as a co-writer on all tracks, the album produced her breakout hit “Things A Man Oughta Know.” The tune took off, hitting the top of the charts, being certified Platinum, and winning Song of the Year at the 2022 ACM Awards. Likewise, Wilson has become an industry favorite, being named to multiple Artist to Watch lists. In early 2022 Wilson rang the bell at the top of the charts again, this time alongside Cole Swindell for their fiery duet, “Never Say Never.” The Sony Music Publishing writer is currently climbing the charts again with her new single “Heart Like A Truck,” a song she co-wrote with Trannie Anderson and Dallas Wilson. The singer-songwriter took home the Discovery Artist of the Year at last year’s MusicRow Awards, and is also nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year this year.

Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 34th MusicRow Awards, we take a closer look at the MusicRow Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year category. The Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year is voted by MusicRow’s subscribed members to honor a Nashville songwriter who wrote or co-wrote a Top 10 song for the first time during the eligibility period of June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022.

The winners of this year’s honors will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, August 30. Presenting Sponsor of the 2022 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribed members. Voting is now open and closes on July 29 at 5:00 p.m.

To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow member here.

Brinley Addington scored his first No. 1 with the Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris duet, “Chasing After You,” which he co-wrote with Jerry Flowers. Addington has also had songs recorded by artists Tyler Farr, Parmalee, Kameron Marlowe, and more.

Cameron “Cambo” Bartolini hit it big with his first country hit when he co-wrote “Fancy Like” with Artist of the Year nominee Walker Hayes. Prior to becoming a hit country songwriter, Bartolini had a hand in writing songs with Doja Cat, including “Candy” and “Freak.” He also co-wrote BRELAND’s new single, “Natural.”

Nick Columbia co-wrote “My Boy” alongside Breakthrough Writer of the Year nominees Lee Starr and Russell Sutton, and Breakthrough Artist-Writer nominee Elvie Shane. Columbia also co-wrote Conner Smith’s viral hit “I Hate Alabama,” as well as songs recorded by Drew Green.

Cale Dodds scored his first No. 1 with the Chase Rice and Florida Georgia Line hit, “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” A former Warner Music Nashville artist, Dodds is currently focused on songwriting. He’s had songs recorded by A Thousand Horses, Cassadee Pope, Filmore, Lit and more.

Levon Gray hit the top of the charts with his first-ever cut: Kane Brown’s “One Mississippi.” After finding him on social media, Artist of the Year nominee Brown invited Gray to co-write with him, ERNEST and Jesse Frasure. What resulted was a No. 1 song and publishing deal with Brown’s Verse 2 Music.

Kat Higgins lived a songwriter’s dream when Kenny Chesney decided to cut “Knowing You,” a song she co-wrote with hitmaker Brett James and fellow Breakthrough Songwriter nominee Adam James. The massive song also landed Higgins in the Female Songwriter of the Year nominees. Other Higgins cuts include songs recorded by Carrie Underwood, Peytan Porter, The Lone Bellow and more.

Adam James scored his first hit with a dream-cut from Kenny Chesney on a song he wrote with Songwriters Hall of Famer Brett James and fellow Breakthrough Songwriter nominee Kat Higgins, “Knowing You.” James has co-written songs recorded by Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band, The Cadillac Three, Charlie Worsham and Filmore.

Josh Jenkins hit a double this year with his first two hit songs: “Fancy Like” recorded by Walker Hayes and “Buy Dirt” recorded by Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan. Jenkins has landed cuts with Adam Doleac and Teddy Robb, and fronts the rock band Green River Ordinance.

Jason Nix co-wrote “Things A Man Oughta Know” with Jonathan Singleton and Breakthrough Artist-Writer nominee Lainey Wilson. The tune took home Song Of The Year at the 2022 ACM Awards. Nix has also had song recorded by Tyler Braden, Eli Young Band and scored a hit on the Texas country charts with Flatland Cavalry’s “Gettin’ By.”

Brandon Paddock translated success in the pop world into country music, scoring his first No. 1 with Lady A’s “Like A Lady.” He has also had songs recorded by Dan + Shay and Warren Zeiders. As a producer, Paddock’s pop credits include Platinum singles for Avril Lavigne and Christina Perri, and his country credits include Elle King and Miranda Lambert’s “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home.)”

Jennifer Schott co-wrote Tim McGraw’s “7500 OBO” with Matt McGinn and fellow Breakthrough Songwriter nominee Nathan Spicer. Schott co-wrote Mickey Guyton’s debut single, “Better Than You Left Me,” as well as songs recorded by Rascal Flatts and Natalie Hemby. She is also nominated for Female Songwriter of the Year this year.

Nathan Spicer co-wrote Tim McGraw’s “7500 OBO” with Matt McGinn and fellow Breakthrough Songwriter nominee Jennifer Schott. Spicer also co-wrote Ryan Hurd’s “To A T,” as well as songs recorded by Jake Owen, ERNEST, and Travis Denning.

Lee Starr co-wrote “My Boy” alongside Breakthrough Writer of the Year nominees Nick Columbia and Russell Sutton, and Breakthrough Artist-Writer nominee Elvie Shane. Starr also co-wrote Conner Smith’s viral hit “I Hate Alabama,” as well as songs for Drew Green and Ashland Craft.

Russell Sutton co-wrote “My Boy” alongside Breakthrough Writer of the Year nominees Nick Columbia and Lee Starr, and Breakthrough Artist-Writer nominee Elvie Shane. Sutton also co-wrote Discovery Artist of the Year nominee Nate Smith’s “Whiskey On You.”

Brett Tyler celebrated his first No. 1 this year with the Jameson Rodgers and Luke Combs-recorded “Cold Beer Calling My Name.” His other cuts include Blake Shelton’s “Hell Right,” Luke Bryan’s “Build Me A Daddy,” and Corey Kent’s “Wild As Her.”

Lydia Vaughan hit the top of the charts for the first time with a dream collaboration, Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood’s “If I Didn’t Love You.” Co-written with Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, and Breakthrough Artist-Writer nominee John Morgan, the duet won Single of the Year at the ACM Awards, and landed Vaughan in MusicRow‘s Female Songwriter of the Year category.