DISClaimer Single Reviews: Luke Combs ‘Keeps You On The Edge Of Your Seat’ With New Single

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Luke Combs. Photo: Jeremy Cowart

I have never been prouder to be a country fan than I was when experiencing this week’s CMA Awards telecast.

The special brought out the best and brightest talents in the genre, delivering at the peak of their powers. Kelsea Ballerini, The War And Treaty, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Jordan Davis, Ashley McBryde, Morgan Wallen with Eric Church, Dan + Shay, K. Michelle with Jelly Roll, Tanya Tucker and Carly Pearce as well as Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Mac McAnally and the Zac Brown Band—these were performances for the ages. If you weren’t a country fan going into the show, surely these moments would make you one. My chest was bursting.

Several songs in today’s column were in the spotlight that night. The Disc of the Day is one of them—mega-talent Combs owns it.

The DISCovery Award goes to HunterGirl, whom I met at the ASCAP party. She is an American Idol alumnus, but she needs no TV set to help her on the triumphant “Ain’t About You.”

RVSHVD / “Small Town Talk”
Writers: Clintarius Johnson/Jason Afable/Josh Logan Tangney/Matty Gibbons; Producers: Jason Afable/Dream Addix; Label: Penthouse South/Sumerian Records
– In a word, wow. Stirring and anthemic, this heart-in-throat performance celebrates everyday life in tiny-town America. He sings with marvelous sincerity, and the song could not be more authentically country. I’m in. His name, by the way, is pronounced “Ra-shad” (just turn those V’s upside down.)

TYLER HUBBARD / “A Lot With A Little”
Writers: Tyler Hubbard/Parker Welling/Casey Brown; Producers: Tyler Hubbard/Jordan Schmidt; Label: EMI Nashville
– Hubbard’s warm delivery continues to enchant. Here, he praises the simple joys of poor-folks romance. Guitars blaze brightly and the beats keep a-comin.

HUNTERGIRL / “Ain’t About You”
Writer: Tristyn Hunter Wolkonowski; Producer: Lindsay Rimes; Label: Wheelhouse Records
– Empowering and loaded with character and charisma. The ballad swells with positive vibes, and her vocal delivery has immense depth. This is a major, major new talent.

LAINEY WILSON / “Wildflowers and Wild Horses”
Writers: Lainey Wilson/Paul Sikes/Trannie Anderson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: Broken Bow Records
– If you had any doubts about this woman, her performance of this burning country rocker on the CMA Awards telecast erased them. And I do mean “country.” A delicious listening experience. “I’m barefoot and bareback and born tough as nails/I’m four fifths of reckless and one fifth of Jack.” You said it, sister.

ALEX MILLER / “Puttin’ Up Hay”
Writers: Alex Miller/Larry Cordle/Jerry Salley; Producer: Jerry Salley; Label: Billy Jam Records
– This snappy hillbilly rocker sizzles with hot fiddle and electric guitar. Loved his low vocal dip at the finale. 

JESSIE MURPH & JELLY ROLL / “Wild Ones”
Writers: Jessie Murph/Jason DeFord/Feli Ferraro/Gregory “Aldae” Hein/Jeff Gitelman; Producer: Jeff Gitelman; Label: Columbia
– Murph’s saucy delivery leads the way as she sings about the dark side of Saturday night. Jelly Roll keeps pace with some strategically placed hillbilly hip-hop. The track loops back on itself throughout. Is there such a thing as “alternative outlaw” music?

TRACK 45 / “When I Grow Up”
Writers: Ben Johnson/Jenna Johnson/KK Johnson/Jaida Dreyer/Jonny Price; Producers: Track45/Jason Hall; Label: Stoney Creek Records
– The angst of youth aches from every note. Their trio family harmonies on the choruses are awesome. I remain a fan.

LUKE COMBS / “Where the Wild Things Are”
Writers: Dave Turnbull/Randy Montana; Producers: Luke Combs/Chip Matthews/Jonathan Singleton; Label: River House Artists/Columbia Nashville
– What a voice. This is a mighty, mighty country-music man. And perhaps never more so than on this punchy rocker about a man who follows his big brother to Hollywood. Right up to the death scene, his gripping delivery keeps you on the edge of your seat. A simply brilliant performance of a titanically well-written song. He justifiably stopped the show with this at the CMA Awards.

KEITH ANDERSON / “Pickup Truck”
Writers: Ben Hayslip/Dallas Davidson/Thomas Rhett Akins; Producer: none listed; Label: ONErpm
– This enduringly good fellow has plenty of gas in his tank as he takes this high-octane rocker out for a spin. “You don’t need a pickup line if you’ve got a pickup truck.” Rock on, bro. 

MORGAN WALLEN & ERIC CHURCH / “Man Made A Bar”
Writers: Brett Tyler/Larry Fleet/Rocky Block/Jordan Dozzi; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud Records/UMG Nashville
– Charisma on the hoof. Individually, they are two of the finest singers we have. Together on this splendidly written ode, they are undeniable. This, my friends, is real country music.

KARLEY SCOTT COLLINS / “Heavy Metal”
Writers: Karley Scott Collins/KK Johnson/Sam Backoff; Producers: Karley Scott Collins/Nathan Chapman; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Her ear-catching, piercing, resonant voice is set in an echoey, stripped-down track. This gives extra punch to the lyric of a gal trapped in a dead-end marriage.

LUKE GRIMES / “Burn”
Writers: Luke Grimes/Randy Montana/Josh Thompson; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Mercury Nashville/Range Music
– If romance with her means pain, bring it on, says Grimes. As always, he sings with great conviction. The track has a faintly western-cowboy vibe.

The 57th CMA Awards Brings Great Music & Deserved Wins [Recap]

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Lainey Wilson accepts the award for Female Vocalist of the Year at The 57th annual CMA Awards.

Country music stars and industry members assembled at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena last night (Nov. 8) for the 57th CMA Awards.

Lainey Wilson was the night’s biggest winner, receiving her first Entertainer of the Year award along with four more. Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton and Jelly Roll were other top winners from the night.

Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning host The 57th annual CMA Awards.

Jelly Roll opened the show a cappella with “Need A Favor,” complete with a gospel choir and a surprise guest appearance from Wynonna Judd.

Hosts Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning officially opened the show with some banter, recognizing some of the night’s top nominees. The hosts kept it lighthearted, focusing on self-deprecating humor and soft jokes.

Combs took home the first televised win of the night with “Fast Car” winning Single of the Year.

“First and foremost, I want to thank Tracy Chapman for writing one of the best songs of all time,” Combs said. “I recorded it because I love this song. It’s meant so much to me my entire life. It was my first favorite song that I ever had, from the time I was four years old.” Producers Jonathan Singleton and Chip Matthews joined Combs onstage for the moment.

Following quickly behind were Bill Anderson and Sara Evans to present Song of the Year. The honor also went to Combs’ cover of “Fast Car.” Chapman was not in attendance, but sent in an acceptance message.

Luke Combs performs “Where the Wild Things Are” at The 57th annual CMA Awards.

“It’s truly an honor for my song to be newly recognized after 35 years of its debut,” she wrote.

Craig Morgan, who was recognized for recently reenlisting in the military, introduced host Bryan’s performance of a medley of hits, including “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day,” “One Margarita,” “That’s My Kind Of Night,” “Play It Again” and “Country Girl (Shake It For Me).”

Ashley McBryde, lit from antique lighting fixtures hanging above her head, sang her “Light On In The Kitchen.”

Cody Johnson performs “The Painter” at The 57th annual CMA Awards.

Cody Johnson kept the musical bar high with his rising single “The Painter,” while a black and white photo of Johnson’s wife came to vibrant life as colors filled her picture. When the camera turned on her at the end of the song, she was teary-eyed beaming up at her husband.

The next award to be presented was Duo of the Year, and it went to Brothers Osborne for the sixth time. The duo shared that they were fans of all of the other duos in the category, and that it shocks them every time they win.

“We are absolutely living out our dream. Thanks for letting us do that,” TJ Osborne said. “I was a nerd growing up,” John Osborne added. “I was a nerd growing up. I had a few friends, but not a lot of friends. I spent my whole life learning how to play music and write songs. Y’all make me feel like a cool kid every year. That means more to me than you could ever imagine.”

Brothers Osborne accept the award for Vocal Duo of the Year at The 57th annual CMA Awards.

Morgan Wallen was the next to perform. Eric Church was his surprise special guest. The two sang “Man Made A Bar” from Wallen’s blockbuster One Thing At A Time album, which will be Wallen’s new single.

Combs took the stage next to perform his exceptional new single, “Where The Wild Things Are.” Stapleton kept the energy high with a hair-raising performance of “White Horse.” Jordan Davis was the next to perform his hit “Next Thing You Know” while cell phone lighters lit up the arena.

The next CMA Award went to Old Dominion for Vocal Group of the Year. Like Brothers Osborne, it was the group’s sixth win in the category.

Kelsea Ballerini performs “Leave Me Again” at The 57th annual CMA Awards.

“This night has been an amazing reminder of the talent pool we have somehow waded into,” shared Old Dominion’s Matt Ramsey. “We got there by surrounding ourselves with the absolute best people.”

The night’s top nominee Wilson was next up to perform her new single, “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.”

Dan + Shay sang their butts off on “Save Me The Trouble.” Kelsea Ballerini followed with an awesome acoustic performance of her tender “Leave Me Again.” The War And Treaty treated everyone to “That’s How Love Is Made.”

Jelly Roll accepts the award for New Artist of the Year at The 57th annual CMA Awards.

The next trophy went to Jelly Roll for New Artist of the Year. He took audience members straight to the “Whitsitt Chapel” in his acceptance speech.

“There is something poetic about a 39-year-old man winning New Artist of the Year. I don’t know where you’re at in your life, or what you’re going through, but I want to tell you to keep going, baby,” he said.

In a tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally embodied his free spirit on “A Pirate Looks at Forty.” Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson picked off where they left off, singing an “adios” to Buffett before transitioning into “Margaritaville.”

Old Dominion and Megan Moroney perform “Can’t Break Up Now” at The 57th annual CMA Awards.

Old Dominion and Megan Moroney performed their new duet, “Can’t Break Up Now.”

The CMA Award for Album of the Year went to Wilson for Bell Bottom Country. She thanked her entire team. “My love for storytelling truly came from being from Baskin—a town of 200 people where there’s really not a whole lot to do. You sit around the kitchen table and tell the same old stories you’ve been hearing for years. The kind of stories that get better every single time you hear them,” she said. “That’s what we wanted to do with this record.”

Stapleton returned to the stage to sing with Carly Pearce on “We Don’t Fight Anymore.”

Martina McBride presented Wilson with Female Vocalist of the Year. “Us girls have been having to blaze trails from the beginning,” Wilson said. Thank you for letting me be a part of that.”

Hardy, Morgan Wallen and Post Malone perform at The 57th annual CMA Awards.

Wallen and Hardy paid tribute to the late Joe Diffie with a fun performance of “John Deere Green.” Hip-hop sensation Post Malone joined the country brothers for “Pickup Man.”

Newly-inducted Country Music Hall of Famer Tanya Tucker performed her evergreen “Delta Dawn,” with support from Little Big Town.

Comedian Nate Bargatze presented Stapleton with the Male Vocalist of the Year honor. “Every one of these guys in this category deserves this award,” Stapleton said. “I’ve won a couple of these and I’m always shocked when I win one.” He dedicated the award to his late collaborators Mike Henderson and Eric Burrows.

Chris Stapleton accepts the award for Male Vocalist of the Year at The 57th Annual CMA Awards.

When it came time to reveal the night’s top honor, Entertainer of the Year, the arena erupted when Wilson’s name was called. With the title, she became the first woman in over a decade to clinch the title. Clearly shocked and emotional, Wilson tearfully shared her appreciation and love for country music.

“We’ve worked our butts off this year and so many years in between,” Wilson said. “I’ve been in this town for 12 and a half years and it finally feels like country music is starting to love me back.”

Once all awards had been handed out, Jelly Roll returned to close the show alongside first-time performer and multi-genre powerhouse K. Michelle, singing The Judds‘ “Love Can Build A Bridge.”

The 57th CMA Awards is available to watch now on Hulu.

2023 CMA Awards Winners [Full List]

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The 57th annual CMA Awards took over Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday night (Nov. 8), celebrating some of country music’s biggest stars.

Early Wednesday morning, Hardy and Lainey Wilson were awarded with two early trophies for their CMA Musical Event of the Year nomination, “Wait In The Truck,” produced by Hardy, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt and Derek Wells as well as for CMA Music Video of the Year, directed by Justin Clough.

Wilson was the most-nominated artist at this year’s CMA Awards with nine nods. She was also the night’s top winner, taking home the Entertainer of the Year trophy, becoming the first woman in over a decade to clinch the title. Wilson was also awarded with Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for Bell Bottom Country.

Chris Stapleton took home Male Vocalist of the Year. Luke Combs was awarded Single and Song of the Year for his cover of Tracy Chapman‘s “Fast Car.”

Jelly Roll took home New Artist of the Year. Old Dominion and Brothers Osborne returned as winners in the Group and Duo categories, respectively.

Click here to read MusicRow‘s full recap of the 2023 CMA Awards.

A full list of CMA Awards honorees is below (winners in RED):

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
– Luke Combs
– Chris Stapleton
– Carrie Underwood
– Morgan Wallen
– Lainey Wilson – WINNER

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
– “Fast Car” – Luke Combs – WINNER
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews
– “Heart Like A Truck” – Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
– “Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll
Producer: Austin Nivarel
Mix Engineer: Jeff Braun
– “Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis
Producer: Paul DiGiovanni
Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley
– “Wait In The Truck” – Hardy (feat. Lainey Wilson)
Producers: Hardy, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells
Mix Engineer: Joey Moi

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist, Producer(s) and Mix Engineer(s)
– Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville – Ashley McBryde
Producers: John Osborne, John Peets
Mix Engineers: Gena Johnson, John Osborne
– Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson – WINNER
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
– Gettin’ Old – Luke Combs
Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
Mix Engineers: Michael H. Brauer, Jim Cooley, Chip Matthews
– One Thing At A Time – Morgan Wallen
Producers: Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Joey Moi, Cameron Montgomery
Mix Engineers: Josh Ditty, Joey Moi, Eivind Nordland
– Rolling Up the Welcome Mat – Kelsea Ballerini
Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym
Mix Engineers: Dan Grech-Marguerat, Alysa Vanderheym

SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Songwriter(s)
– “Fast Car” – WINNER
Songwriter: Tracy Chapman
– “Heart Like A Truck”
Songwriters: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson
– “Next Thing You Know”
Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne
– “Tennessee Orange”
Songwriters: David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams
– “Wait In The Truck”
Songwriters: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
– Kelsea Ballerini
– Miranda Lambert
– Ashley McBryde
– Carly Pearce
– Lainey Wilson – WINNER

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
– Luke Combs
– Jelly Roll
– Cody Johnson
– Chris Stapleton – WINNER
– Morgan Wallen

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
– Lady A
– Little Big Town
– Midland
– Old Dominion – WINNER
– Zac Brown Band

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
– Brooks & Dunn
– Brothers Osborne – WINNER
– Dan + Shay
– Maddie & Tae
– The War And Treaty

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)
– “Save Me” – Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson)
Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens
– “She Had Me At Heads Carolina (Remix)” – Cole Swindell & Jo Dee Messina
Producer: Zach Crowell
– “Thank God” – Kane Brown (with Katelyn Brown)
Producer: Dann Huff
– “Wait In The Truck” – Hardy (feat. Lainey Wilson) – WINNER
Producers: Hardy, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells
– “We Don’t Fight Anymore” – Carly Pearce (featuring Chris Stapleton)
Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
– Jenee Fleenor – WINNER
– Paul Franklin
– Rob McNelley
– Derek Wells
– Charlie Worsham

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Director(s)
– “Light On In The Kitchen” – Ashley McBryde
Director: Reid Long
– “Memory Lane” – Old Dominion
Directors: Mason Allen, Nicki Fletcher
– “Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll
Director: Patrick Tohill
– “Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis
Director: Running Bear
– “Wait In The Truck” – Hardy (feat. Lainey Wilson) – WINNER
Director: Justin Clough

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
– Zach Bryan
– Jelly Roll – WINNER
– Parker McCollum
– Megan Moroney
– Hailey Whitters

BMI Country Awards Toast To 2023 Winners, Honor Matraca Berg With Icon Award

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Pictured (L-R): BMI President & CEO, Mike O’Neill, Matraca Berg and BMI Vice President, Creative, Nashville, Clay Bradley. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

The last of the PRO awards ceremonies took place last night (Nov. 7) at BMI’s Nashville headquarters on Music Row.

Pictured (L-R): BMI Vice President, Creative, Nashville, Clay Bradley, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs and BMI President & CEO, Mike O’Neill onstage during the 2023 BMI Country Awards. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

Hosted by BMI’s President & CEO Mike O’Neill and Nashville’s VP of Creative Clay Bradley, the 71st annual BMI Country Awards celebrated the top songwriters and music publishers behind this past year’s 50 most-performed songs in country music, with special awards being given out to the Country Songwriter, Song and Publisher of the Year. The awards also honored the unparalleled career of BMI Icon Award recipient Matraca Berg.

After plenty of schmoozing had been done by the songwriters, artists and industry members in attendance, a dinner of steak, potatoes and sautéed vegetables was served. We were all seated at immaculate tables with beautiful flowers and candlelight, but no one stayed in their seat for long. It was an evening of communion for the hundreds in attendance.

Pictured (L-R): BMI Executive Vice President, Chief Revenue & Creative Officer, Mike Steinberg, BMI President & CEO, Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Nashville, Clay Bradley pose with Warner Chappell team. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

During the ceremony, BMI saluted the songwriters and publishers of the 50 most-performed country songs of the previous year. Calling up the writers and industry champions behind each hit, audience members cheered them on as they hugged and took photos on stage.

With both of them co-writing four of BMI’s most-performed songs, Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen tied for the coveted BMI Songwriter of the Year award. Combs co-wrote his three consecutive No. 1 singles “Doin’ This,” “Going, Going, Gone” and “The Kind of Love We Make” as well as Zac Brown Band’s “Out in the Middle.” Wallen co-wrote Keith Urban’s “Brown Eyes Baby,” Corey Kent’s No. 1 hit “Wild as Her” as well as his record-breaking songs “Thought You Should Know” and “You Proof.”

Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs perform onstage during the 2023 BMI Country Awards. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BMI

“I moved to town in 2014 and people ask me all the time, ‘When did you know that you made it?’ The answer is when I could pay my rent and have food in the fridge doing music,” Combs said. “To be up here now in a room with people I’ve looked up to for 15 years is unbelievable.”

Wallen shared, “Since the moment I heard ‘Old Rugged Cross’ at my parents’ church when I was about three years old, I knew music was going to part of my life somehow.” He added, “[Music] has been there for me through some really dark places. God, music and my family have meant the entire world to me.”

Lainey Wilson performs onstage during the 2023 BMI Country Awards. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BMI

In one of the night’s most memorable moments, the two country superstars gave acoustic performances of each other’s songs, with Combs performing “Thought You Should Know” and Wallen covering “Going, Going, Gone.”

Wallen’s “You Proof” was named 2023 BMI Country Song of the Year. Written by Wallen, Ernest and Charlie Handsome, the tune was BMI’s most-performed country song of the year. It became the first radio single in country music history to spend 10 weeks at the top spot on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

Pictured (L-R): Troy Tomlinson, BMI President & CEO, Mike O’Neill, Ernest Keith Smith and Morgan Wallen. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

Warner Chappell was named BMI’s 2023 Country Publisher of the Year. The powerhouse published 25 of the 50 most-performed songs of the year, including mega-hits like Tyler Hubbard’s “5 Foot 9,” Maren Morris’ “Circles Around This Town,” Thomas Rhett’s “Slow Down Summer,” Zach Bryan’s “Something In The Orange” and Bailey Zimmerman’s “Rock and A Hard Place.”

Click here for a complete list of the 2023 BMI Country Awards winners.

Throughout the night, BMI turned its attention to its 2023 Icon Award recipient Berg, who joined the ranks of other Icon Award recipients Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams, Jr., Toby Keith and others.

BMI Country Awards first time family photo. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

In between awards, video tributes would appear on screen, with words about Berg being shared by Dean Dillon, Pat Higdon, Chris Farren, Deana Carter, Patty Loveless, Aimee Mayo, Bobby Braddock and Trisha Yearwood.

Almost all who spoke about Berg talked about her innate gift of song, as she garnered her first hit when she was only 18 with “Faking Love.” Respect was also piled on the trailblazer for helping to smash the glass ceiling for female songwriters. Berg was the first woman to have five No. 1 hits in a single calendar year.

When the camera would turn on Berg as she was being honored, she was captured beaming up to the stage, often bringing her gloved hands to her face in humbling joy. The author behind such hits as “Strawberry Wine,” “Wild Angels,” “XXX’s and OOO’s” and “I’m That Kind of Girl” soaked up the love in the room.

Berg was also treated to some awesome performances celebrating her work. Lainey Wilson took on the titanic “Strawberry Wine,” and Ashley McBryde brought the party for “Wrong Side of Memphis.” Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter closed out the tribute as they reunited for a powerhouse duet of their triple-Platinum “You and Tequila.”

When she spoke, Berg thanked BMI, her publishers and co-writers. “All I ever wanted to be was a songwriter,” she said when she tearfully accepted her Icon Award. Cheers and standing ovations abounded for the songwriter, perfectly exemplying the mood of the night.

With all three 2023 PRO awards in the books, the 57th CMA Awards will take place tonight (Nov. 8) at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

CMA Reveals Early Winners Ahead Of Tonight’s Awards

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Hardy & Lainey Wilson

Hours before the country music community gathers at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for the 57th annual CMA Awards, winners have been revealed in two categories.

Hardy and Lainey Wilson earned trophies for their CMA Musical Event of the Year nomination, “Wait In The Truck,” produced by Hardy, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt and Derek Wells as well as for CMA Music Video of the Year, directed by Justin Clough.

The early winners were revealed this morning (Nov. 8) on Good Morning America (GMA), with Lara Spencer sharing the news live from downtown Nashville. CMA Awards hosts Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning also welcomed Spencer to Bridgestone Arena for a behind-the-scenes sneak peek before the big night, and CMA New Artist and Song of the Year nominee Megan Moroney treated GMA viewers to a two-song performance.

“Wait In The Truck” is also up for Single and Song of the Year at tonight’s awards. Wilson is the night’s most nominated artist, with nine total nods. Hardy has four nominations. See the full list of nominees here.

Airing live tonight at 7 p.m. CST, The 57th Annual CMA Awards will include performances from Wilson, Hardy, Moroney, Bryan, Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, Alan Jackson, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, K. Michelle, Little Big Town, Mac McAnally, Ashley McBryde, Old Dominion, Carly Pearce, Post Malone, Chris Stapleton, Tanya Tucker, Morgan Wallen, The War And Treaty and Zac Brown Band.

ASCAP Tosses Epic Party To Honor Songwriters & Publishers

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Pictured (L-R): ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews, ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams, ASCAP Country Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year Jordan Davis, ASCAP VP, Nashville Membership Mike Sistad. Photo: Larry McCormack for ASCAP

The 61st annual ASCAP Country Awards on Monday (Nov. 6) was a lavish cocktail supper that crowned Ashley Gorley and Jordan Davis as its 2023 champs.

Gorley won his 10th Songwriter of the Year honor from the performance rights society. This makes him the most honored country songwriter in the organization’s history.

Pictured (L-R, back row): Pete Chiappeta, Domain Capital Group, Tape Room’s Blain Rhodes, CEO Sony Music Publishing Nashville Rusty Gaston, Tape Room’s Kelly Bolton, ASCAP Nashville Senior Director of Creative Evyn Mustoe, VP Membership, ASCAP Nashville Mike Sistad; (L-R, front row): ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams, ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews, ASCAP Songwriter of the Year and writer of the Song of the Year Ashley Gorley, Tape Room Music’s Caroline Hodson. Photo: Larry McCormack for ASCAP

“I want to first, as always, thank God,” he said. “Huge thanks to everybody at ASCAP for all they’ve done and continue to do for me. I’ve been with ASCAP since I was a student at Belmont….I’m blessed to be a part of this.”

The songwriter’s Morgan Wallen hit “You Proof” was named ASCAP’s Country Song of the Year. On video, Gorley was lauded by Wallen, as well as Ernest, Kelly Lovelace, Parmalee, Dierks Bentley, Chris DeStefano and Chris DuBois.

In contrast to the often awarded Gorley, the organization’s 2023 Songwriter/Artist of the Year was Jordan Davis, winning the honor for his first time.

“This is my favorite night of the year,” said Davis. “Everybody in this room came through ASCAP. I can’t thank you enough.” The MCA Records star recalled moving to Music City 12 years ago on a Sunday. The following day, he went to ASCAP and wrote his first Nashville song. “I love being a part of Nashville, Tennessee, and I love being part of country music. I love country music.”

Sony Music Publishing Nashville team. Photo: Larry McCormack for ASCAP

Davis co-wrote last year’s CMA Song of the Year, “Buy Dirt.” This year, his “Next Thing You Know” is nominated as the CMA’s Single, Song and Video of the Year. ASCAP also awarded him for his co-written hit “What My World Spins Around.”He was saluted on video by Luke Combs, Josh Jenkins, Cindy Mabe, Dierks Bentley, Matt Jenkins and his singer-songwriter brother Jacob Davis.

ASCAP’s Publisher of the Year was Sony Music Publishing. Accepting was Sony’s Rusty Gaston. “Thank you to ASCAP — you fight for songwriters, and we’re so grateful for it,” he said. “This is a gift that we get to do every day. Songs have the power to change the world. It’s an honor to be doing this together.”

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP Country Music Awards winner Lainey Wilson at the ASCAP Country Music Songwriter Awards Celebration. Photo: Ed Rode for ASCAP

At the gala, ASCAP honored the writers and publishers of 50 country hits. They were saluted on silent video screens during the first hour of the soiree.

Presiding at the podium were ASCAP’s Elizabeth Matthews, Mike Sistad and Paul Williams. Matthews congratulated David Lee Murphy, and the late John Jarrard on their election to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and Bob McDill on his elevation into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Sistad gave a shout-out to attendee Lainey Wilson on her nine 2023 CMA Award nominations.

ASCAP Country Music Awards winner Kelsea Ballerini at the ASCAP Country Music Awards Celebration. Photo: Ed Rode for ASCAP

Williams said, “There is no place where I feel more safe than in a room full of songwriters, my tribe. You are my family. The city is changing, but the one thing that hasn’t changed is the heart and soul of what you do. It is holy work. And it is needed now more than ever.”

Among the celebrity songwriters in attendance were Kelsea Ballerini, Brothers Osborne, Kip Moore, members of Old Dominion, Craig Wiseman, Dylan Scott, Hailey Whitters, Jaren Johnston of The Cadillac Three, Jessi Alexander, Jonathan Singleton, HunterGirl and Tony Lane. Eight of the assembled songwriters won their first ASCAP awards at the event, and they were invited to commemorate the occasion with a group portrait.

This year’s ASCAP event was a sharp break from the past. Rather than a formal banquet or a staged awards show, the gala was an elegant-yet-relaxed cocktail supper. The venue was the sophisticated Twelve Thirty Club on Broadway next to the National Museum of African American Music. The club is opulently appointed throughout its several spaces. Guests mingled in a rooftop lounge overlooking Lower Broadway, a gleaming pair of long bars, a sunken lounge featuring red-velvet cocktail seeing and leather booths and a mezzanine with white-and-black marble checkered floors. A sushi and shrimp-cocktail serving bar in one dining area curved beneath a glowing domed ceiling with an ultra-modern chandelier. A second dining area featured gleaming black-and-chrome furnishings for enjoying beef, chicken, potatoes and veggies.

Pictured (L-R): VP Membership, ASCAP Nashville Mike Sistad, ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams, TJ Osborne, John Osborne, ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. Photo: Ed Rode for ASCAP

The wait staff members, male and female, looked like stars-in-waiting — they looked so remarkably and uniformly attractive. They circulated with candied bacon cubes, cheeseburger sliders, truffled cheese-bread bites and other snacks.

Industry dignitaries in attendance included The Recording Academy’s Alicia Warwick, Belmont dean Brittany Schaffer, the NSAI’s Bart Herbison and Jennifer Turnbow, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson and LB Cantrell, the Bluebird Cafe’s Erika Wollam Nichols, Billboard’s Tom Roland, the NMPA’s David Israelite, First Horizon Bank’s Andrew Kintz and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame’s Mark Ford. Other Music Row executives at the ASCAP gala included Tom Luteran, Troy Tomlinson, Ben Vaughn, Ree Guyer, Josh Van Valkenburg, Gilles Godard, Regina Stuve, Brad Kennard, Cyndi Forman, Vincent Candilora, Bob Doyle, Jon Singer, Bj Hill, Leslie DiPiero, Mike Molinar, Kris Ahrend and Dale Bobo.

Click here for a complete list of ASCAP Country Award winners.

David Ray Stevens Enters Top 10 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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David Ray Stevens moves into the top 10 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week. Stevens, who recently signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music, is a co-writer on Jelly Roll’s rising collaboration with Lainey Wilson, “Save Me.”

Zach Bryan maintains his position at the top of the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart for the ninth consecutive week this week, while Ashley Gorley (No. 2), Tracy Chapman (No. 3), Jelly Roll (No. 4) and Chase McGill (No. 5) complete the top five.

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.

CAA’s Nashville Office To Relocate

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Rendering of CAA’s new office

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has signed an agreement to relocate its Nashville office to the Nashville Yards’ mixed-use district, being developed by Southwest Value Partners and AEG.

Occupying nearly 75,000 square feet across two floors, CAA is scheduled to move into its new space in late 2025. The agency will have exterior crown signage as the anchor tenant in the building, which is being developed in a walkable, urban community with multiple retail and restaurant selections and a 4,500-capacity music and event venue.

“Guided by our colleagues in music, CAA opened our first office in Nashville in 1991, immediately making an impact on Music City that continues today,” says Howard Nuchow, Co-Head, CAA Sports. “With more than 3,400 employees across 25 countries, CAA’s track record of success and growth in the representation of entertainment and sports talent and brands has solidified our leadership position around the world.

“The move to Nashville Yards demonstrates our commitment to Nashville and the Southeast, while providing our employees, clients and guests an inspiring environment that captures the spirit of Nashville, one of the most significant sports and entertainment destinations in the world,” adds Nuchow.

Designed by the award-winning CannonDesign, CAA’s offices will have unique features including tech-enabled, indoor-outdoor workspaces, game and listening lounges, private terraces on each floor, and substantial space devoted to collaboration and connection.

Adjacent to the new state-of-the-art music venue and Amazon Nashville’s two office towers, the creative office building at 955 Church Street that CAA will move into rises above Church Street with large 40,000+ square foot floorplates, soaring ceiling heights, three levels of curated retail, dining and entertainment along with best-in-class private amenities including meeting hubs, entertainment spaces and a large outdoor vegetated deck overlooking Nashville Yards.

CAA’s Nashville operations, currently located in the SunTrust Building next to the Ryman Auditorium and less than a mile from Nashville Yards, includes more than 130 employees across Music Touring, Music Brand Partnerships, Music Marketing, Digital Media, Baseball, Football, Hockey, Coaches, Brand Consulting, Property Sales and CAA ICON, the owner’s representative and strategic management consulting firm, which oversees the development, design and construction of major stadiums worldwide. CAA ICON helped guide the successful building of Nashville SC’s Geodis Park and will provide project development and management services to the Tennessee Titans on the development of its new stadium.

SESAC Celebrates Hits & Heritage

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Jon Nite wins Songwriter of the Year at the 2023 SESAC Nashville Music Awards. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for SESAC

The annual SESAC awards kicked off country-music week festivities last night (Nov. 5) with a glamorous reception that honored the performance rights organization’s biggest Nashville songs of 2023.

Kane Brown with SESAC songwriters Christian Stalnecker and Josh Hoge. Photo: Katie Kauss

Jon Nite was honored as SESAC’s Songwriter of the Year. “Amazing!” he exclaimed. “Thank you guys. I don’t deserve this.” Nite recalled moving to Music City in 1998 with $500 in his pocket. “And now I’m here!” Shannan Hatch, who presented his award, also gave him a commemorative, gleaming, black Gibson J-200 guitar.

Nite was honored for co-writing “You Didn’t,” sung by Brett Young, the Gabby Barrett tune “Pick Me Up” and Tyler Hubbard’s “Dancin’ in the Country.” Hubbard, Barrett, Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley and more saluted the songwriter via video. Sony Music Publishing Nashville, which publishes Nite’s works, was named SESAC’s Publisher of the Year.

Singer Kane Brown was on hand to present SESAC’s Song of the Year award to Christian Stalnecker and Josh Hoge, who co-wrote “Thank God.” Brown recorded the chart-toppling romantic country ballad as a duet with his singing wife Katelyn.

SESAC SVP, Head of Nashville Creative Shannan Hatch; Blanco Brown; Senior Director, Creative Services, Lydia Schultz Cahill. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for SESAC

Amid the awards for contemporary songwriting, the program paused to present the SESAC Heritage Award to Albert E. Brumley Music, which has feen affiliated with SESAC for 80 years. Albert E. Brumley (1905-1977) wrote “Turn Your Radio On,” “Rank Strangers to Me,” “I’ll Meet You in the Morning,” “Did You Ever Go Sailing,” “If We Never Meet Again (This Side of Heaven),” “This World Is Not My Home” and “He Set Me Free.” Jamey Johnson dramatically sang Brumley’s most iconic song, “I’ll Fly Away.” Betsy Brumley accepted on behalf of her family.

The other country and Americana songwriters honored were Kelsey Waldon (“Tall and Mighty”), Pete Good & Josh Jenkins (“Y’all Life” sung by Walker Hayes), Casey Brown (Parmalee’s “Girl in Mine”), Justin Ebach (Jon Pardi’s “Your Heart Or Mine”), Henry Brill (“All I Really Wanna Do”), Jim Lauderdale (“That Kind of Life”), Chris LaCorte (Sam Hunt’s “Water Under the Bridge”) and Jared Keim (Dustin Lynch’s “Party Mode”).

Song of the Year co-writer Josh Hoge picked up a second SESAC Award for his work on Kane Brown’s hit “Bury Me in Georgia.” Dillon Carmichael performed a forceful version of “Son of A” before getting his award for it. The first performer of the evening was Megan Moroney, who sang a winsome “Tennessee Orange,” which earned her a SESAC award. The song is a contender for Song of the Year at the CMA Awards. Not present at the gala were Zac Brown & Ben Simonetti, who won for their hit “Out in the Middle.”

Megan Moroney attend the SESAC 2023 Nashville Music Awards. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for SESAC

During the ceremony, Hatch asked veteran tunesmith Rafe Van Hoy to stand in the audience. She then led the attendees in a toast in honor of his induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame last month.

Presiding over the gala were SESAC CEO John Josephson and Senior Directors ET Brown and Lydia Schultz Cahill, plus SVP Shannan Hatch. The organization’s event producer, Tim Fink, greeted guests as they arrived at the Country Music Hall of Fame. The museum’s quietly elegant sixth floor event space was the SESAC venue.

More than 400 music-business attendees complimented the room. Sequined gowns were much in evidence, some accented with feathers. Male attire ranged from sport shirts to tuxedos, with smatterings of cowboy couture. Cocktail tables were draped in black with succulents as centerpieces. The stage was embellished with neon darts that changed colors.

The cocktail supper featured beef tenderloin, pulled pork and fried green tomato sliders. Guests also sampled customized mac & cheese, hot chicken tenders, truffled deviled eggs, tuna sushi on cucumber discs, tomato & mozzarella skewers, impossible-burger meatballs, vegges, cheeses, olives and other bites.

Sunday’s SESAC event marked the beginning of four nights of star-studded events in Music City leading up to Wednesday’s CMA Awards show.

2023 SESAC Nashville Awards Honorees:

“THANK GOD”
Written by: Josh Hoge, Christian Stalnecker
Published by: Blunts and Bonfires Music, Feels Like Friday, Sony Music Publishing, Chorus 2 Music, RMM 416 Publishing
Recorded by: Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown

“DANCIN’ IN THE COUNTRY”
Written by: Jon Nite
Published by: Cuts Like A Nite Music, Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by: Tyler Hubbard

“TENNESEE ORANGE”
Written by: Megan Moroney
Published by: Georgiamo, Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by: Megan Moroney

“YOUR HEART OR MINE”
Written by: Justin Ebach
Published by: Phat Racoon, Universal Tunes
Recorded by: Jon Pardi

“YOU DIDN’T”
Written by: Jon Nite
Published by: Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by: Brett Young

“PICK ME UP”
Written by: Jon Nite
Published by: Cuts Like A Nite Music, Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by: Gabby Barrett

“GIRL IN MINE”
Written by: Casey Brown
Published by: Track & Feels, Warner Chappell Music, Tape Room Tunes
Recorded by: Parmalee

“WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE”
Written by: Chris LaCorte
Published by: Card Tables Music, Hang Your Hat Hits, Concord Tunes
Recorded by: Sam Hunt

“BURY ME IN GEORGIA”
Written by: Josh Hoge
Published by: Blunts and Bonfires Music, Chorus 2 Music, Sony Music Nashville
Recorded by: Kane Brown

“OUT IN THE MIDDLE”
Written by: Ben Simonetti, Zac Brown
Published by: Simonetti Music Publishing, Day For The Dead Publishing
Recorded by: Zac Brown Band

“Y’ALL LIFE”
Written by: Josh Jenkins, Pete Good
Published by: Follow Me Where I Go, SMACKWORKS Music
Recorded by: Walker Hayes

“SON OF A”
Written by: Dillon Carmichael
Published by: Riser House Tunes, Sony Music Publishing
Recorded by: Dillon Carmichael

“PARTY MODE”
Written by: Jared Keim
Published by: Twelve6 Sequoia, Warner Chappell Music
Recorded by: Dustin Lynch

“CHANGE OF HEART”
Written by: Margo Price, Jeremy Ivey
Published by: Peach Pit, Fisheye, RMM 416 Publishing, Good Songs We Love
Recorded by: Margo Price

“THAT KIND OF LIFE (THAT KIND OF DAY)”
Written by: Jim Lauderdale
Published by: Wudang Mountain Songs, Critter City Music
Recorded by: Jim Lauderdale

“TALL AND MIGHTY”
Written by: Kelsey Waldon
Published by: MyKaintuck Publishing, Do Write Music
Recorded by: Kelsey Waldon

“DON’T LET THE DARKNESS”
Written by: Ed Jurdi
Published by: Three Pisces Music
Recorded by: The Band of Heathens

“ALL I REALLY WANNA DO”
Written by: Henry Brill
Published by: Kobalt Group Publishing
Recorded by: Devon Gilfillian

BREAKING: Tim Foisset Joins Spotify

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Tim Foisset

Tim Foisset has joined Spotify as Head of Label Partnerships, Nashville. His new role begins today (Nov. 6).

At Spotify, Foisset will manage the label partnerships team in Nashville, which includes Gemma McInturff, Miller Guth and Meagan Bennington.

Foisset joins Spotify after 13 years at Warner Music Nashville, where he most recently served as SVP Commercial Partnerships, working with Warner Music Nashville’s partners in streaming, digital retail, physical retail, e-commerce and D2C to drive strategic marketing and revenue. He’s guided new release strategies for artists including Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Dan + Shay, Bailey Zimmerman, Ashley McBryde, Gabby Barrett, Ingrid Andress, Cole Swindell, Cody Johnson and more.

Foisset began his career in 1998 at Burly Bear Network in New York City and later joined Fuse Networks as the Manager of Consumer Marketing. He moved to Razor & Tie in 2005 as Director of Digital Marketing, where he managed the label’s relationships with digital partners and oversaw online marketing initiatives. Foisset moved to Music City in 2011 to join Warner Music Nashville.