Luke Combs Shoots To No. 1 On MusicRow Chart

/by

In just twelve weeks since its release, “Doin’ This” by Luke Combs moves into the No. 1 position on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart. It gained an additional +131 spins for a total of 1,771 this week and 13,115 overall. Drew Parker and Robert Williford joined Combs in the writers room to pen this single.

“Doin’ This” also landed at No. 2 on the country streaming songs chart gaining 6.1 million streams this week, according to MRC data.

Combs was recently named Male Artist of the Year at the 20th annual CountryBreakout Awards. To see a full list of winners, click here.

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

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Thomas Rhett Shows The Best Of Country Music With Newest Release

/by

Country music is alive and well.

This week in DISClaimer we have proof of that in the sounds of Joshua Hedley, Kane Brown, Randall King, Restless Road and Jimmie Allen. The Disc of the Day is also a country monument, “Death Row,” co-written by Thomas Rhett and beautifully recorded with Russell Dickerson and Tyler Hubbard.

Also flying the country flag high are the oldie remakes by Layla Tucker and Cody Belew, who share the DISCovery Award.

CAITLYN SMITH / “Downtown Baby”
Writers: Simon Wilcox/Caitlyn Smith/Gordie Sampson/Thomas Salter; Producer: Caitlyn Smith; Label: Monument
–Catchy country-pop with a chiming chorus, a steady rhythm and an ear-catching vocal. She wants out of suburbia and back into the swing of things in the urban core. Highly engaging.

JIMMIE ALLEN / “Down Home”
Writers: Jimmie Allen/Cameron Bedell/Rian Ball/Tate Howell; Producers: Ash Bowers/Jimmie Allen; Label: Stony Creek/BBR
–Written for and addressed to his late father, this power ballad exudes sincerity. Sung with heart. Loss and grief are universal emotions, and Allen’s song is a pathway beyond them to love and acceptance.

RANDALL KING / “Shot Glass”
Writers: Tony Lane/Brett James; Producers: Bart Butler/Ryan Gore; Label: Warner
–This fellow is one of my favorite neo-traditionalists. The title tune of his new album showcases his warm baritone in a brilliant barroom ballad embellished by fiddle and steel. Make this man a star.

MAREN MORRIS / “Nervous”
Writers: Jimmy Robbins/Maren Morris/Natalie Hemby; Producer: Greg Kurstin; Label: Sony
–Dark and plodding, featuring her hollering while smothered in a rock production. I lost interest quickly.

RESTLESS ROAD / “Growing Old With You”
Writers: Charles Kelley/Jordan Minton/Jordan Reynolds; Producer: Jared Keim; Label: RCA
–Heart melting. This beautiful ballad expressing timeless and true love belongs on every wedding playlist. This trio has something special going on.

KANE BROWN / “Leave You Alone”
Writers: Jordan Minton/Jordan Schmidt/Kane Brown; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: RCA
–This love ballad gives him plenty of space to show what an expressive singer he is. I could have done without the shrieking electric-guitar solo.

LAYLA TUCKER / “Misery and Gin”
Writers: John Robert Durrell/Snuff Garrett; Producers: Keith Thomas/Jim Zumwalt/Joe McEwen; Label: LT
–Tanya’s daughter reminds us of what great country music sounds like with this terrific performance of Merle Haggard’s bluesy roadhouse classic. The 1980 song remains a masterpiece, and she sings it with emotional precision. Star-making stuff.

THOMAS RHETT, TYLER HUBBARD & RUSSELL DICKERSON / “Death Row”
Writers: Thomas Rhett/Ashley Gorley/Zack Crowell; Producers: Dann Huff/Jesse Frasure; Label: Valory
–Extraordinary. This is country music at its very best, speaking truth and touching the soul. Inspired by the three singers’ prison visit, the song finds humanity, empathy and forgiveness in those who are doomed. Each of the three takes a verse, and all of them soar. Essential listening.

MONTE WARDEN / “Love Is Undefeated”
Writers: Monte Warden/Brandi Warden; Producer: Brandi Warden; Label: Moonkiss
–The Wagoneers man gets tender and gentle on this stripped-down, acoustic effort. The ballad expresses the ultimate survival of man’s essential goodness while strings sigh and a guitar strums. Very pretty.

KATHY MATTEA / “Turn Off the News (Build a Garden)”
Writers: Anthony LoGerfo/Corey McCormick/Logan Metz/Lukas Nelson/Tato Melgar; Producers: Kethy Mattea/Jon Vezner; Label: Captain Potato
–Mattea plucked this song from the repertoire of Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real. It’s a gently persuasive invitation to build trust and unity in these divisive times. Her lilting vocal is backed by sympathetic harmonica and keyboard work. Mattea is the new host of NPR’s Mountain Stage series, and this performance is drawn from one of those broadcasts.

CODY BELEW / “Here You Come Again”
Writers: Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil; Producer: Dustin Ransom; Label: Visionary Media Group
–This guy is a for-real singer, for sure. He completely reinterprets this 1977 Dolly hit, transforming it from a bouncy ditty into a cry of romantic anguish. His only accompaniment is a pianist, but his dramatic performance is so gripping that it needs nothing else. Belew is in the midst of a series of showcases at The Lipstick Lounge on Woodland Street, performing there once a month. March’s date is the 19th, and he’ll appear again at the venue on April 16.

JOSHUA HEDLEY / ”Broke Again”
Writers: Joshua Hedley/Skylar Wilson; Producers: Skylar Wilson/Jordan Lehning; Label: New West
–It’s a rollicking twang fest with loads of hooks, plenty of energy and mounds of hillbilly attitude. The workingman lyric is a dandy, and the band cooks with gas. Neo-traditionalist Hedley celebrates the release of his Neon Blue album with an April 20 show at the groovy new Eastside Bowl. Get yer tix now.

Miranda Lambert Announces Eighth Studio Album, ‘Palomino’

/by

Miranda Lambert. Photo: Robert Ashcroft

Newly-crowned ACM Entertainer of the Year Miranda Lambert has announced her eighth studio album, Palomino, will be dropping on April 29.

The 15-song project opens with a slow build vibe on “Actin’ Up,” serving as the first in a series of postcards from the road, images and moments. Tapping longtime songwriting collaborators Luke Dick and Jon Randall to co-produce with her, Lambert once again pushes the envelope of what country music can contain and the stories that it can tell.

“The making of this record has been one of the most fun and creative experiences of my career,” reflects Lambert. “Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, and I went out to my farm in Tennessee in 2020 and started writing songs. We figured while we have time let’s get out to the country and see what happens. The first one we wrote was ‘Tourist’ and that set us on a path to create something with a bit of a theme. Since we couldn’t travel at the time, we decided to go on a journey through songs. I hope y’all are ready to travel with us wandering spirits and meet some cool characters with great stories.”

Palomino follows her Grammy-nominated collaborative project The Marfa Tapes, featuring Randall and Jack Ingram. Included on the new album are a few revisited tracks from The Marfa Tapes, such as “In His Arms,” “Geraldene” and “Waxahachie,” this time with a full band backing the Texas native.

“I love everything about Marfa: some friends around a campfire, no fixes, no protocols, no filters. It was raw and real, and I wanted to take some of that with me,” remarks Lambert. “‘In His Arms,’ ‘Waxahachie’ and ‘Geraldene’ got to go on this journey with us, cutting them with a full band–and usually the public doesn’t get to hear that part, which I’m really excited about.”

Palomino Track List:
Actin’ Up (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Jon Randall)
Scenes (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
In His Arms (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)
Geraldene (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)
Tourist (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
Music City Queen feat. The B-52’s (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
Strange (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
Wandering Spirit (Mick Jagger, James Rippeto)
I’ll Be Lovin’ You (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Jon Randall)
That’s What Makes the Jukebox Play (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
Country Money (Miranda Lambert, Aaron Raitiere, Mikey Reaves)
If I Was a Cowboy (Miranda Lambert, Jesse Frasure)
Waxahachie (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)
Pursuit of Happiness (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)
Carousel (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby)

My Music Row Story: ASCAP’s Mike Sistad

/by

Mike Sistad

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.

Minnesota native and music industry executive Mike Sistad has worked on both the creative and business sides of the music business. As a musician, he has performed across most of North America, including stops at the Houston Rodeo and Calgary Stampede, as well as radio and TV performances including Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion and the Grand Ole Opry.

A Belmont University graduate, Sistad has worked with legendary Muscle Shoals producer/musician Barry Beckett; as an A&R executive for Tim DuBois and Mike Dungan with Arista Records Nashville; and as a band member for 2-time ASCAP Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year Phil Vassar.

In 2001, the late, legendary Connie Bradley enlisted Sistad to join the ASCAP Membership team. In his current role as VP of Nashville Membership, Sistad continues to work with all aspects of the music industry as it pertains to songwriters, artists and publishing companies. He has contributed to the success of Chris Stapleton, Kelsea Ballerini, Old Dominion, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce and many others. Sistad previously served as both a Board Governor and Chapter Advisor for the Nashville Chapter of the Recording Academy in addition to being an AIMP Nashville board member, CMA, ACM member and Leadership Music alumni.

Pictured: Mike Sistad and fellow band members of The Barn Boys stand in front of their bus in 1983. (L-R): Sistad, Tom Bernstein, Randy Larson, Gene Lunsetter, Terry Ruud, Randy McMillin, Mike Semanko

MusicRow: I didn’t realize you were a musician before you got into the business. Tell me about your musical upbringing. 

I have been doing music since as long as I can remember. My mom is the church organist and pianist at our little Lutheran church back home in Minnesota. She’s 87 years old and she’s still the church organist. So music has always been a part of my life, right from the beginning with performing and playing.

In high school, I ended up playing in a band on weekends with a bunch of buddies. My senior year, [the band competed in] The Country Showdown contest. It was in ’82, and our band ended up winning in Minnesota and representing Minnesota at the national contest here in Nashville. I was just about ready to graduate from high school and instead of just having fun playing—which it was—all the band guys thought if we took this a little more seriously, maybe we can actually do something with this.

The original band name was Bean Ball Barnett & The Back Behind The Barn Boys. Eventually we figured out that nobody wanted to be Bean Ball Barnett so we shortened the name to The Back Behind The Barn Boys. Of course it started out as a joke to us, but we soon had a following and didn’t think we should change the name! The Barn Boys became the abbreviated version. We were booked by the Good Music Agency (GMA) out of Minneapolis, Minnesota—which was a training ground for many of the booking agents that found their way to Nashville over the years.

How did you get to Belmont University? 

I started college for a semester and quit to go be a full-time musician, every parent’s dream for their children. I [traveled with the band] full time for about six years. I started a family in the middle of that and decided I didn’t want to be traveling and gone all the time anymore. So I started to look at going back to school and Belmont was on the radar for me.

Pictured: Arista Records Nashville team at Fan Fair in 2000.

What was your first stop after graduation?

I interned with Barry Beckett, a very famous Muscle Shoals musician and producer here in town, for about a year. In my next internship, I went from Barry Beckett to Arista Records. It was very early on and really small at that point.

I went there as an intern. I thought, “I’ll go check out this record label and be disillusioned by the record industry.” As a musician, you think they’re the big, bad guys. But I ended up loving it. I didn’t know Tim [DuBois], but I knew he was a songwriter and he was running the office. It was a big deal to me that there was a musical person running the office. I ended up working my way into A&R, which was really the only thing I cared to do.

What happened to you when Arista closed?

We kind of knew what was coming before it happened. Phil Vassar was one of the artists I worked with and he was brave enough to invite me to go back out on the road as a musician again, so I did that. Connie Bradley had actually reached out to me too while I was still at Arista. She said, “I don’t have a job to offer you right now, but I’d love for you to consider it when the time comes. I’d like to call you if you’re interested.” I said, “Absolutely, I’d love to do that.”

Phil was just getting started. I was excited to go on the road and start playing with some of the band guys and remember all the reasons I started. [I toured with Phil] for about a year.

Then Connie reached out to talk to me and she actually called Phil to talk to him about it, too. She came to the CRS New Faces show when Phil played. I played with him on that show. That’s where she officially asked me to join.

Pictured (L-R): Mike Sistad, John Osborne, TJ Osborne, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe Johnston at the 2019 ASCAP Country Awards.

Now, more than 20 years later, you are VP of Nashville Membership at ASCAP. What are some things that you’ve enjoyed about transitioning into the business side?

I love being on the business side, but I’m still working with the people who are writing the songs, the people that are singing the songs and the people playing the songs. That’s where my heart is: the creative community, the people making the music. It’s fun to work at a place where we’re owned by our membership. ASCAP is a little different that way than the other PROs in that we’re actually owned by the writers and the publishers. So it’s nice to work someplace where I feel there’s a bigger purpose behind it, other than a job. You’re their advocate, you’re cheerleading for them, you’re trying to hopefully help them move forward and have success. I’m fortunate to get to see a lot of those folks early on before that happens for them and it’s pretty fun to have those kinds of relationships with a lot of people.

When you look back on the last 20 years at ASCAP, when have you felt most fulfilled?

One of the most rewarding parts of what I get to do is trying to be helpful for people when they’re in the beginning stages, especially. A lot of them don’t have a publisher, a manager, or a label deal yet. It’s exciting when you see somebody you believe is going to be great and it might happen a year from now, it might be five years from now, or it might not ever happen.

When I met Carly Pearce, she might have been 18. She was pretty new to Nashville. I love the fact that she just kept going. She had her ups and downs, two steps forward and one step back through all those years, but it’s that five-year or 10-year overnight success thing when things finally start falling into place. She was doing all the right work to get there.

I met Kelsea Ballerini when she was 15. Matt Ramsey from Old Dominion was around town working, trying to make it for a lot of years before things started happening. That’s true for most people. For me, it’s great when I see people that I know have been working for it and haven’t given up when it doesn’t happen easily.

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson, Carly Pearce, Mike Sistad at the unveiling of MusicRow‘s 2018 Artist Roster issue.

Who have been some of your mentors over the years?

Connie Bradley was big mentor, obviously, with my role where I’m at now. My current boss, John Titta has been great. Ralph Murphy really took me under his wing when I came to ASCAP. Phil Vassar—he didn’t have to ask me to come out on the road and play with him when that happened.

The Arista days were really special. It was great to work with Tim DuBois and Mike Dungan. Those two people have been friends through the whole process. As much I missed seeing that time period go away and the Arista family split, what’s really been rewarding is to see the success of all the people that were working there.

If someone was describing you, what would you want them to say?

Respectfully honest. It is business and sometimes you don’t always have the chance to give the answer that someone’s looking for, but if you try to be honest with them and do it respectfully, I think that’s important for everybody.

Pictured (L-R): Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton, Julie Meirick, Mike Sistad at the Grammy Awards.

What are some of your favorite career moments?

Before it became CMA Fest, we used to have Fan Fare down at the old Tennessee state fairgrounds. It was basically the last event or show that we did as Arista Nashville before the merger happened.We have a group picture with a bunch of our artists and most of our staff. It’s got the grandstand full of people in the background off the stage, which is pretty cool. It was a bittersweet day, but at the same time, I think it’s easier to look back on it now as a wonderful time and a wonderful bunch of people to share that with.

Another time was when Chris Stapleton was going have his first year going to the Grammy’s as an artist. I took my wife, Julie, for the first time. We got to sit by Chris and Morgane and he got up to get his first and second Grammy award. [When I was a kid], to think about even going to the Grammy Awards, let alone being a part of it or seeing somebody’s career go like Chris’ has, would have blown my mind.

Those are things you don’t think about when you’re in the middle of it, but it’s pretty fun when those Kodak moments happen in life here and there. It’s fun to hopefully be a small part of these people’s worlds. I’m glad to see all the good things happen for them that they deserve.

The ACM Awards Return To Las Vegas For A Fun-Filled Night

/by

Pictured: (L-R) Co-hosts Gabby Barrett, Dolly Parton, and Jimmie Allen speak onstage during the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for ACM

The Academy of Country Music made its grand return to Las Vegas Monday night (March 7) when country music stars, industry members, and fans gathered at Allegiant Stadium for the 57th Annual ACM Awards. Performances and award presentations streamed live on Prime Video, without commercial interruptions, for the first time in history.

For the first time ever, Miranda Lambert won the night’s top honor, Entertainer of the Year. Chris Stapleton, Carly Pearce, Old Dominion, Brothers Osborne, Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood, and Morgan Wallen were also among the televised winners.

The incomparable Dolly Parton was the host for the evening. She first appeared on screen with a shimmery outfit that looked to be made from a broken disco ball. “We’re making history tonight,” she said of the Prime Video stream. “What happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas.”

Parton’s co-hosts Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett kicked the music off with a performance of “Viva Las Vegas” and “Let’s Go To Vegas” from another stage. That’s when the camera panned around the enormous Allegiant Stadium, which held three stages. Barrett later performed a cover of Lee Ann Womack‘s “I Hope You Dance,” and Allen performed his new single, “Down Home.”

Perhaps because the show wasn’t limited by a huge television network, the energy and flow of the ACM Awards was fun and less polished. Nominees and fans danced in the aisles, and presenters let loose when announcing performers or giving out awards.

Pictured: Ashley McBryde and Eric Church perform onstage during the ACM Awards. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for ACM

Entertainer of the Year nominee Eric Church performed a medley of his many hits early in the night. His sampling included “How ‘Bout You,” “Guys Like Me,” “Smoke A Little Smoke,” “Springsteen,” “Give Me Back My Hometown,” “Round Here Buzz,” “Record Year,” “Hell of A View,” and more. His nine album covers flashed on the screens as Church powered through his performance. Ashley McBryde appeared on stage to sing on “Heart On Fire.”

Walker Hayes performed his new single “AA” before getting the crowd on their feet for his massive hit “Fancy Like.”

When it came time to present the first televised award, Duo and Group of the Year were revealed back-to-back. Brothers Osborne were crowned as the ACM Duo of the Year. The grateful brothers thanked their fans, family and team. “About a week ago, they pulled our single from country radio,” TJ Osborne said candidly of “I’m Not For Everyone,” adding, “I needed a little bit of wind in our sails.”

Old Dominion took home their fifth consecutive Group of the Year Award, the longest winning streak in the category since 2008. “We don’t take that for granted,” frontman Matt Ramsey said, before recognizing the fighting going on in Ukraine. “We’re in this beautiful bubble here when there’s people out there fighting for their lives,” he said.

The next slate of performances included Maren Morris playing one of her new songs, “Circles Around This Town,” and Parmalee, Blanco Brown and Brooke Eden coming together for “Just The Way.” Jason Aldean—who was performing when a gunman opened fire at the Route 91 Festival in Las Vegas in 2017—introduced Chris Stapleton’s performance of “Watch You Burn,” which was written in response to the tragedy.

Yellowstone actors Luke Grimes and Kelsey Asbille, who elicited a big cheer from the country fans, were on hand to present Song and Single of the Year.

Pictured: Lainey Wilson accepts the Song of the Year award for “Things a Man Oughta Know” onstage during the ACM Awards. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for ACM

Darling Lainey Wilson won her second and third ACM Awards—she was named Best New Female Artist last week in some early award announcements—and took home trophies as the artist and co-writer for Song of the Year with “Things A Man Oughta Know.” Wilson knocked her acceptance speech out of the park. “Country music is my life,” she said, before thanking her family, her co-writers and producer Jay Joyce, and her fervent team. “Country music fans have wrapped their loving arms around me, which is a prayer answered,” she continued, before letting the huge stadium and fans at home know that “Things A Man Oughta Know” is about the golden rule: treating others the way you want to be treated.

Immediately thereafter, Aldean and Underwood won Single of the Year for their anthemic “If I Didn’t Love You.” The pair recognized the songwriters and their teams, and later performed the massive hit. After two of his artists accepted their trophies—Wilson and Aldean—the camera panned to BBR Label Group head Jon Loba who beamed up at the stage.

More performances ensued. Pearce and McBryde performed their Music Event Of The Year award-winner “Never Wanted To Be That Girl.” Thomas Rhett played “Slow Down Summer,” starting at the piano. Brothers Osborne performed their rocking “Skeletons.”

James Patterson appeared to promote his new novel with Parton and introduce his co-writer to perform a tune from the novel’s accompanying album, “Big Dreams and Faded Jeans,” with Kelsea Ballerini.

Pictured: Morgan Wallen accepts the Album of the Year ACM award for Dangerous: The Double Album. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for ACM

When it came time to announce the winner for Album of the Year, fans and attendees were shocked to hear Morgan Wallen’s name called for his blockbuster album Dangerous: The Double Album. This marks the first time the controversial figure has won a major voted award for his massively successful sophomore album due to his now infamous use of a racial slur in early 2021. Wallen thanked his family, his team, and his army of fans. “Thank you to everyone who has shown me grace along the way,” he said.

For the next section of performances, Parker McCollum played his breakout hit “Pretty Heart.” Breland played “Praise The Lord,” with a gospel choir and Thomas Rhett lending their vocals to the fun song. Kane Brown sounded fabulous on a swanky new one, “Leave You Alone.” Last year’s Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan performed “Up” before playing “Buy Dirt” with Jordan Davis. Lady A played “What A Song Can Do.”

Male Artist of the Year went to Stapleton for the third time. “This is a rowdy bunch,” he said before recognizing his supporters. Pearce won the ACM Female Artist of the Year, marking her first win in the category and her second win for Music Event of the Year, bringing her total ACM Awards count to four. “This is all I’ve ever wanted to do in the whole world,” she said.

Chris Young played “At The End Of The Bar” with Mitchell Tenpenny before playing his 2019 hit “Raised On Country.” Kelly Clarkson honored host Parton with a beautiful, tender version of “I Will Always Love You.”

Pictured: A screengrab of Miranda Lambert accepting her Entertainer of the Year award. Photo: Arturo Holmes/ACMA2022/Getty Images for ACM

Parton was tasked with announcing the winner of the night’s top honor. For the first time ever, Lambert won the ACM Entertainer of the Year. But also for the first time in 17 years, the singer-songwriter was not in attendance, as she was overseas gearing up for her C2C performance.

Via video, an elated Lambert said, “I’ve been waiting for this for a really long time. I actually never thought it would happen.”

With her hands clenched in a fist, Lambert added, “This one goes out to all the singer-songwriter girls out there that are putting their blood, sweat and tears into their guitar strings. We did it! This is for us.”

Closing out the fun show on an appropriate note, Brothers Osborne and Brittney Spencer collaborated on a special performance of “These Boots are Made for Walkin’.”

WME’s Shannon Saunders Talks C2C 2022 & The Return Of International Touring [Interview]

/by

Shannon Saunders. Photo: Courtesy of WME

C2C: Country to Country is Europe’s biggest country music festival, created by AEG Europe and SJM Concerts in association with the Country Music Association. Each March, country music artists from Nashville, the United Kingdom, and Europe come together in London, Glasgow and Dublin for three days of the best in country music and programming.

After having to cancel the past two years of events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, C2C will make its triumphant return for its eighth year this week (March 11 – 13).

This year’s festival will include performances from some of country music’s biggest and fastest-rising superstars, such as Ashley McBryde, Hailey Whitters, Russell Dickerson, Priscilla Block, Tenille Townes, Brett Young, Breland, Callista Clark, Tenille Arts, Caitlyn Smith, Tiera Kennedy, Morgan Wade, Scotty McCreery, Kip Moore, Flatland Cavalry, and many more.

At the top of the bill for the 2022 C2C festival are Darius Rucker, Miranda Lambert, and Luke Combs, the latter two of which are represented by WME.

MusicRow recently spoke with Shannon Saunders, an agent in WME’s Nashville office with a focus on booking international acts, about what goes in to picking the best artists for an event like C2C, the influence of Nashville artists overseas, and the return to touring in country music.

MusicRow: What is your role at WME?

I have been with WME for over 10 years now, and have worked in various places booking for domestic territories, including fairs and festivals all across the U.S. Most recently I’ve moved into the international territory where I focus on growing our international touring opportunities for our Nashville roster.

What is the importance of a festival like C2C? Why is connecting Nashville artists such a vital piece of it?

C2C has been going on for quite a few years, much longer than I have been working with it directly. It’s always been a great event that introduces new country artists to the UK and Irish marketplace, and most recently even into Germany and the Netherlands. It’s one of our marquee events of the year, and I know that everyone is really looking forward to getting back there.

C2C has really created a wonderful community and culture around it where fans get together and look forward to discovering new artists. You find a lot of artist discovery with the different festival stages during the day, specifically around London. You also get to watch acts like Ashley McBryde, who started on a Spotlight Stage and has continued [to become] a big, main stage act as well.

It’s predominantly [American artists] that are coming over, but there are domestic country music artists that are on the festival as well. For instance, we represent Essex County, who is a part of the festival this year. They are based in the UK and are local to that market. There are many others on the bill as well, so it’s definitely a mix of [American] and local acts.

WME acts Luke Combs and Miranda Lambert are two of the three headliners for C2C this year. What goes into finding the perfect act for an event like this?

Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert

We’re always looking for talent that’s never been overseas before or acts that have put in the work and continue to grow a strong and loyal fanbase in Europe. You have definitely seen that with Luke Combs, who is a strong act there. He started touring really small and has grown all the way up into a major headliner in Europe.

We’ve got acts of all kinds all over [the world]. WME has 18 acts booked from our roster on this 2022 festival that range from big, marquee headliners all the way down to acts that are going over for the very first time and will be introduced as a new artist in Europe.

The 2020 and 2021 editions of C2C were cancelled because of COVID. With that in mind, what will this year’s show be like?

I’m really looking forward to the 2022 festival. I highly anticipate it to be a very large celebration of the comeback of country touring overall, and the excitement of everyone getting together with that community and getting to watch some amazing talent. The lineup this year is truly incredible. It’s very diverse and it’s a great cross section of everything that country music has to offer and all of the many different sounds that live within that genre.

I think C2C is going to be the kickoff of a lot more international country touring for the rest of this year and into 2023. I’m really looking forward to a lot of the things that we have in the pipeline. We have quite a few tours already announced through 2022 with Brad Paisley, Scotty McCreery, Morgan Evans, and The Cadillac Three.

There will be more that will continue to be announced over the next few months, so this is just the beginning of country touring coming back. I’m really looking forward to having a robust touring season in the year to come.

The 57th Annual ACM Award Winners [Full List]

/by

The winners have been revealed for the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards.

For the first time ever, Miranda Lambert was named Entertainer of the Year. This win brings her total ACM Awards count to 37, more than any artist in ACM Awards history, and qualifies her for the coveted Triple Crown Award (New Female/Male Artist of the Year, Female/Male Artist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year).

Carly Pearce earned her first win for ACM Female Artist of the Year and her second win for Music Event of the Year (“Never Wanted To Be That Girl” with Ashley McBryde), bringing her total ACM Awards count to four. Chris Stapleton garnered his third Male Artist of the Year win, and his 13th ACM Award overall.

Old Dominion won for Group of the Year for the fourth time, marking their seventh ACM win overall. Brothers Osborne earned their third win for Duo of the Year, their sixth overall.

Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood took home Single of the Year for “If I Didn’t Love You.” This is Underwood’s second win in that category and 16th award overall, and Aldean’s second win in that category and 15th overall.

Lainey Wilson (New Female Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for “Things A Man Oughta KNow”), Parker McCollum (New Male Artist of the Year), and Morgan Wallen (Album of the Year for Dangerous: The Double Album) all took home their first ACM Award wins.

Off-camera awards included winners for the Music Event of the Year, Video of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year. Pearce and McBryde were announced as winners of the ACM Award for Music Event of the Year for “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” produced by Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. Lambert and Elle King were announced as winners of the ACM Award for Video of the Year for “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” produced by Angie Lorenz, Wes Edwards, and James Stratakis and directed by Alexa and Stephen Kinigopoulos. Michael Hardy was announced as the ACM Award Songwriter of the Year.

To read a full recap of the 57th Annual ACM Awards, click here.

Winners Below In Red:

Entertainer Of The Year
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood

Female Artist Of The Year
Gabby Barrett
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Carly Pearce

Male Artist Of The Year
Jimmie Allen
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen

Duo Of The Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
LOCASH
Maddie & Tae

Group Of The Year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
The Cadillac Three

New Female Artist Of The Year 
Tenille Arts
Priscilla Block
Lily Rose
Caitlyn Smith
Lainey Wilson

New Male Artist Of The Year 
HARDY
Walker Hayes
Ryan Hurd
Parker McCollum
Elvie Shane

Album Of The Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
29: Written in Stone – Carly Pearce
Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Jimmy Robbins, Tony Brown
Record Company-Label: Big Machine Records

Country Again: Side A – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Matt Dragstrem
Record Company-Label: Big Machine Label Group

Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen
Producer: Joey Moi, Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Matt Dragstrem, Dave Cohen
Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records / Republic Records

Famous Friends – Chris Young
Producer: Mark Holman, Corey Crowder, Chris Young, Chris DeStefano
Record Company-Label: RCA Records Nashville

The Marfa Tapes – Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall
Producers: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall
Record Company-Label: Vanner Records / RCA Records Nashville

Single Of The Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Buy Dirt – Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan
Producer: Paul DiGiovanni
Record Company-Label: MCA Nashville

Famous Friends – Chris Young and Kane Brown
Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
Record Company-Label: RCA Records Nashville

Fancy Like – Walker Hayes
Producers: Walker Hayes, Shane McAnally, Joe Thibodeau
Record Company-Label: Monument Records

If I Didn’t Love You – Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood
Producers: Michael Knox
Record Company-Label: Broken Bow Records; Macon Music, LLC; BBR Music Group, BMG

You Should Probably Leave – Chris Stapleton
Producer: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
Record Company-Label: Mercury Nashville

Song Of The Year [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
7 Summers – Morgan Wallen
Songwriters: Morgan Wallen, Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally
Publishers: Big Loud Mountain, Bo Wallace Publishing, Smackborne Music, Sony/ATV Accent, Smackstreet Music, Tempo Investments, Warner Geo Met Ric Music

Buy Dirt – Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan
Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Jacob Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins
Publishers: Anthem Music Publishing II, Bentprop Pub, Big Blue Nation Music, Combustion Five, Jentown, Jordan Davis Music, Smackwork Music, Smack Blue, Kobalt Music Group Music, Universal Music Corporation, WC Music Corp

Fancy Like – Walker Hayes
Songwriters: Cameron Bartolini, Josh Jenkins, Shane Stevens, Walker Hayes
Publishers: Songs of SMACK, Rarespark Media Group, Smackworks Music, Smack Blue, Kobalt Music Group, Holy Graffiti Music, Purplebeatz, WC Music Corp

Knowing You – Kenny Chesney
Songwriters: Adam James, Brett James, Kat Higgins
Publishers: 3 Ring Circus, BMG Platinum Songs, Pompano Run Music, Songs of Brett, WC Music Corp

Things A Man Oughta Know – Lainey Wilson
Songwriters: Jason Nix, Jonathan Singleton, Lainey Wilson
Publishers: Sony/ATV Accent, Sony/ATV Countryside, Spirit Two Nashville, Super Big Music

Video Of The Year [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home) – Elle King and Miranda Lambert
Producers: Angie Lorenz, Wes Edwards, James Stratakis
Directors: Alexa Kinigopoulos, Stephen Kinigopoulos

Famous Friends – Chris Young and Kane Brown
Producer: Jennifer Ansell
Director: Peter Zavadil

I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift featuring Chris Stapleton
Producers: Jil Hardin, Blake Lively, Kathy Palmer, Austin Swift
Director: Blake Lively

If I Didn’t Love You – Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood
Producers: Christen Pinkston, Wesley Stebbins-Perry
Director: Shaun Silva

Never Wanted To Be That Girl – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
Producer: Ryan Byrd
Director: Alexa Campbell

Songwriter Of The Year (Off Camera Award)
Jesse Frasure
Nicolle Galyon
Ashley Gorley
Michael Hardy
Josh Osborne

Music Event Of The Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Buy Dirt – Jordan Davis featuring Luke Bryan
Producer: Paul DiGiovanni
Record Company-Label: MCA Nashville

Famous Friends – Chris Young and Kane Brown
Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young
Record Company-Label: RCA Records Nashville

half of my hometown – Kelsea Ballerini featuring Kenny Chesney
Producers: Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins, Kelsea Ballerini
Record Company-Label: Black River Entertainment

If I Didn’t Love You – Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood
Producer: Michael Knox
Record Company-Label: Broken Bow Records; Macon Music, LLC; BBR Music Group, BMG

Never Wanted To Be That Girl – Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
Record Company-Label: Big Machine Label Group, Warner Music Nashville

The ACM Awards Are Tonight: Here’s How To Watch & What To Expect

/by

Country music stars, industry members, and fans will gather in Las Vegas this evening (March 7) for the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards.

Hosted by global superstar Dolly Parton, alongside co-hosts Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett, the 57th ACM Awards will livestream exclusively on Prime Video at 7 p.m. CT from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This will mark the first time a major award show has been exclusively livestreamed, and will not include commercial breaks.

“Bringing the ACM Awards to streaming will allow us to innovate the format of the show to make it much more in line with what we know viewers want,” ACM CEO Damon Whiteside tells MusicRow. “The show will be fast-paced with no commercials and will be shorter at a 2-hour run time.

“This will allow us to keep the energy and momentum consistently high throughout the show since there will be wall to wall music and awards with no breaks,” he adds. “At the two-hour run time, we joke that no one will have time to get up to go to the bathroom or the kitchen. Get your snacks and drinks before the show starts as no one will want to miss a minute!”

Contributing to the high energy night will be more than 20 performances from artists, including Breland and Thomas Rhett (“Praise The Lord”); Brothers Osborne (“Skeletons”); Brittney Spencer and Brothers Osborne (“These Boots Are Made for Walkin’”); Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde (“Never Wanted to Be That Girl”); Carrie Underwood;  Chris Stapleton (“Watch You Burn”); Chris Young (“Raised on Country”); Chris Young featuring Mitchell Tenpenny (“At the End of a Bar”); Dolly Parton featuring Kelsea Ballerini (“Big Dreams and Faded Jeans”); Eric Church; Gabby Barrett (“Let’s Go to Vegas,” “I Hope You Dance”); Jason Aldean; Jimmie Allen (“Viva Las Vegas,” “Down Home”); Jordan Davis (“Buy Dirt,” feat. Luke Bryan); Kane Brown (“Leave You Alone”); Kelly Clarkson (“I Will Always Love You”); Lady A (“What a Song Can Do”); Luke Bryan (“Up”); Maren Morris (“Circles Around This Town”); Parmalee & Blanco Brown featuring Brooke Eden (“Just the Way”); Thomas Rhett (“Slow Down Summer”); and Walker Hayes (“AA” and “Fancy Like”).

On deck to present tonight are Mickey Guyton, Alan Ritchson (actor, Reacher), Derek Carr (Quarterback, Las Vegas Raiders), Guy Torry (comedian, Phat Tuesdays), James Patterson (author, Run Rose Run), Kelsey Asbille (actor, Yellowstone), Luke Grimes (actor, Yellowstone), and Tom Pelphrey (actor, Outer Range).

In addition to the perk of eliminating commercials, the ACM’s partnership with Amazon also means a more global reach and more opportunities for interesting activations. Slated for tonight is an ACM Awards Red Carpet Show on Prime Video; an interactive version of the pre-show on the Amazon Homepage, the ACM Awards Storefront, Amazon Fashion homepage, and the Amazon Live homepage; a red carpet livestream on TikTok conducted by Amazon Fashion, and more.

“Since the show streams live worldwide in over 230 countries and territories, fans from coast to coast and around the world will be able to watch all of the action in real time vs delayed viewing,” Whiteside adds. “The on-demand version of the show will feature Prime Video’s X-ray technology which will make the program shoppable at the touch of a button.”

So far, the Academy of Country Music has announced two early wins. On Friday (March 4), Parker McCollum and Lainey Wilson were named this year’s New Male and New Female Artist of the Year, respectively.

Tonight, more winners will be named at the 57th Academy of Country Music. See the full list of nominees here.

Country Music’s Visionary TV Producer Jim Owens Dies

/by

Jim Owens

Jim Owens, the visionary producer who revolutionized country music television production, died on Friday (March 4). His wife of nearly 40 years, Lorianne Crook, was by his side.

Owens was born in South Carolina on Aug. 27, 1937. Trained in New York, Owens would become one of the most influential television producers in country music. His first foray into national syndication came in 1977 when he created and produced A Concert Behind Prison Walls with Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt, and Roy Clark.

The following year Owens launched country music’s first fan-voted, big budget, live award show: the Music City News Country Awards. Rated No. 1 in national syndication, the program recognized the appetite for country music content. Owens produced and syndicated the awards show via his own company through 1984.

Pictured (L-R): Lorianne Crook, Jim Owens, Charlie Chase

In 1983, Owens paired entertainment news correspondent Lorianne Crook with veteran radio personality and local television host Charlie Chase to create an Entertainment Tonight-esque program for country music. The program became Owens’ landmark show, This Week in Country Music, providing entertainment news, interviews and performances to the country lifestyle viewer. With Owens at the helm, Crook & Chase quickly gained recognition and popularity. The duo was named official TNN ambassadors and took the show on location around the world. Between 1985 and 1999 productions originated from Los Angeles, Houston, New York, Myrtle Beach, and Orlando, as well as Canada, Japan, Mexico, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

In 1985, The Nashville Network entered an agreement to exclusively partner with Jim Owens Entertainment for original content creation. Over the next 15 years, Owens independently created and produced much of the highest rated programming on TNN: the first daily and weekly country music news shows, award shows, variety specials, musical documentaries, lifestyle programming, and more. Owens and Crook also married in 1985.

Owens delivered a massive amount of programming for TNN in the 1980s and 1990s, including the TNN/Music City News Country Awards (1985-1996), Weekday (1988-1990), Weekend (1988-1990), Country Standard Time (1990-1991), TNN/Music City News Songwriters Awards (1991-1995), and Yesteryear (1994-1995).

In 1993, Owens negotiated with TNN to place Crook & Chase in the primetime 90-minute flagship slot held by Ralph Emery’s Nashville Now. With more than 500 episodes in the vaults, Music City Tonight signed off in 1995 at the height of country’s boom to enable the duo to morph Crook & Chase back into national syndication from Universal Studios in Hollywood. At the same time, the duo released their best-selling autobiography Crook & Chase: Our Lives, The Music & The Stars.

During this era, Owens also contributed to Celebrities Offstage with Lorianne Crook (1988-1995), Funny Business with Charlie Chase (1989-1995), Crook & Chase Tonight (1997) and This Year In Country Music (1989-1999).

When TNN closed in 2000, Owens produced, and Crook hosted a series of Celebrities Offstage specials as well as 180 episodes of Celebrity Kitchen for GAC. In 2007, Owens navigated the return of Crook & Chase to television, initially on RFD and later in syndication through 2014. Since 1989, The Crook & Chase Countdown, currently distributed by iHeart Media, is heard on hundreds of radio stations across North America. Owens executive produced the countdown, along with its companion podcast, Crook & Chase Nashville Chats, until his passing.

Since 2011, Jim Owens Entertainment has held the trademarks for TNN: The Nashville Network. With a 45-year library of original productions and raw footage totaling over 10,000 hours, Owens’ legacy of presenting compelling country lifestyle programming is secured.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in Owens’ name to the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s digital preservation efforts. Supporting this initiative will honor Owens’ lifelong mission to forever document country music’s global impact. Arrangements are pending.

Cody Johnson Returns To No. 1 On MusicRow Radio Chart

/by

Cody Johnson’s “‘Til You Can’t” spends a second week at No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio chart. The single rose to the spotlight one month prior on Feb. 4. He not only rose to the top spot on the MusicRow Chart, he also notched a No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Johnson has also added new RIAA Gold certifications to his credentials, one for “‘Til You Can’t” and one for “Dear Rodeo.” With these new additions, Johnson notches 12 career certifications from the RIAA.

Matt Rogers penned the single with Ben Stennis and appears on his sophomore effort Human The Double Album, which contains songs originally rejected by other Nashville artists for what Johnson considers being “too country for country.”

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