Ash Bowers Exits Records Nashville To Focus Fully On Management

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Ash Bowers

Music executive, songwriter, and producer Ash Bowers has exited his position as President at Records Nashville.

Bowers was tapped in 2020 to start the Nashville office of Barry Weiss‘ New York City-based label, Records. Co-founded in 2015 by Weiss, Records began as a joint venture with Songs Music Publishing, and found early success with their first two signings, Platinum-selling singer Noah Cyrus and legendary hip-hop artist Nelly. In 2017, when Kobalt bought Songs, Sony Music partnered with Records and has since signed a roster that includes 24kGoldn and Lennon Stella. They are also home to 2019’s debut project, Labrinth, Sia & Diplo present…LSD.

Since opening in 2020, Records Nashville has developed a roster that includes Matt Stell, Chris Bandi, Jennifer Smestad, Dylan Brady, Chase Martin, Lathan Warlick and George Birge. Stell has earned more than 415 million cumulative streams across his catalog to date, with back-to-back No. 1 songs including the Platinum-certified track “ Prayed For You” and Gold-certified “Everywhere But On.” He is one of only eight debut country artists in the last six years to have their first two singles top the charts.

According to Bowers, he is stepping away from the company to shift his focus back fully to his management company Wide Open Music. Wide Open handles management for Platinum-selling recording artist and current ACM New Male Artist of the Year Jimmie Allen in addition to Records Nashville artists Stell, Warlick, Bandi, Martin, and Birge.

“I have a strong passion for managing and developing artists. Shifting all of my focus back to that is undoubtedly the right thing for us all,” Bowers tells MusicRow. “This is not the end of the road for Barry and me. We still have a lot of work to get done together. I am excited to see what’s ahead for us and the artists we’re both involved with.”

Records is looking to fill the position. Click here to apply on MusicRow‘s Job Listings board.

Monument Records Adds Luke Jensen As VP, Promotion

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Luke Jensen. Photo: Robert Chavers

Monument Records has announced the hiring of Luke Jensen as VP, Promotion. Jensen will lead the promotion staff, including three regionals and a coordinator, and report directly to General Manager Katie McCartney. This news comes shortly after it was announced that Drew Bland had exited the position.

Monument’s current roster includes Caitlyn Smith, Walker Hayes, Brandon Ratcliff, Teddy Robb, Tigirlily, Alex Hall, and The Shady Ladies of Music City podcast. Smith just played her single, “I Can’t (feat. Old Dominion),” for the first time live with the band in front of a 9,000-person crowd while on tour and announced her opening slot for George Strait and Eric Church at Mercedes-Benz Stadium later this year. Hayes’ new viral track “Fancy Like” has sat at the top of the iTunes Country Songs Chart for the last three weeks after peaking at No. 1 all genre. The song has been the top selling country song on the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart for three weeks and is top 5 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart.

“We are thrilled to welcome Luke to the team at Monument,” says Co-President Jason Owen. “His experience, expertise, and excitement towards radio promotion is infectious. We can’t wait for him to get started on the hit Caitlyn Smith single ‘I Can’t (feat Old Dominion),’ and the monster coming to radio which is Walker Hayes’ ‘Fancy Like.’”

After spending time at radio stations across the country, including KVOO in Tulsa, WSOC in Charlotte, and KBEQ in Kansas City, Jensen has spent the last five years with Sony Music’s Arista Nashville and the previous four at Blaster Records. Throughout his career, he has worked with an array of artists including country superstars Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, three-time ACM and CMA Vocal Group of the Year Old Dominion, as well as helped newcomers Matt Stell and Lanco achieve their first No. 1 radio singles.

“We’ve known Luke a long time and his passion for our artists and music is unmatched,” says Co-President Shane McAnally. “We couldn’t be more confident that Luke will carry that bright torch for us at country radio.”

“I’m so grateful to Jason, Shane, and Katie for this opportunity,” says Jensen. “I’ve come to know them as some of the brightest minds in this industry, and I couldn’t be more excited to work with them, the rest of the team at Monument, and this amazing roster of artists.”

CBS Announces 2022 Date For Its Inaugural Broadcast Of The ‘CMT Music Awards’

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CBS has announced its inaugural broadcast of the CMT Music Awards will air live from Nashville on Sunday, April 3, 2022. CMT will kick off the company’s first ever Country Music Week, including special programming all week and events capped by exclusive director’s cut airings of the CMT Music Awards later on CMT and various ViacomCBS platforms.

ViacomCBS recently announced that its signature country music award show would move to CBS from CMT after this year’s success. The 2021 CMT Music Awards saw more than a 10% increase in total viewers and was the No. 1 most social program across all of television for the night. Across the six ViacomCBS network simulcast, P18-34 ratings saw a 32% increase over last year’s event.

The CMT Music Awards, country music’s only entirely fan-voted award show, have aired live since 2005. The 2021 show, hosted by Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown, featured the most first-time collaborations and blended-genre pairings in the show’s history. Standout performances included H.E.R. & Chris Stapleton; Gladys Knight, Mickey Guyton, & Breland; and Needtobreathe & Carrie Underwood, who remains the most-awarded artist in CMT Awards history with 23 wins. For a full recap of this year’s CMT Music Awards, click here.

Additional information about the 2022 CMT Music Awards on CBS will be available in the coming months.

Crowder, Frasure, Gorley Lead MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Corey Crowder remains at No. 1 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week for the sixth consecutive week. He is a co-writer on “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” (Chase Rice feat. Florida Georgia Line), “Famous Friends” (Chris Young and Kane Brown), and “Minimum Wage” (Blake Shelton).

Jesse Frasure also maintains position this week at No. 2, with co-writer credit on “Almost Maybes” (Jordan Davis), “Minimum Wage” (Blake Shelton), and “Whiskey And Rain” (Michael Ray).

Ashley Gorley moves into the No. 3 position on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, as a co-writer on “Country Again” (Thomas Rhett), “Give Heaven Some Hell” (Hardy), “Single Saturday Night” (Cole Swindell), and “You Should Probably Leave” (Chris Stapleton).

Nicolle Galyon and Hunter Phelps round out 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.

Alabama Brings Live Music Back To Bridgestone Arena, Kicks Off 50th Anniversary Tour

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Alabama’s Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry. Photo: Rick Diamond

Country Music Hall of Fame members Alabama are celebrating 50 years with their anniversary tour that kicked off with two nights at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena this weekend. It was the band’s first arena performance in Nashville in nearly two decades, and was the first full-capacity concerts held at Bridgestone Arena since the start of the pandemic in early March of 2020.

Alabama’s set was lively and homespun, like a comforting welcome back to live music at Bridgestone Arena after a long hiatus due to the pandemic. They got things started with “Pass It Down,” and transitioned into “Can’t Keep A Good Man Down.” Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry thrilled the crowd when they went into “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band).” Iconic country bands and fiddle players flashed up on the screens behind the 10-piece ensemble. The audience roared when the great fiddle player Charlie Daniels’ picture appeared on the screen. “If I said that we were thankful to see you,” Owen said, trailing off, looking into the crowd with awe.

Wasting no time, the band went into their 1983 hit “The Closer You Get” and 1989’s “High Cotton,” with Owen dancing along with the crowd. While the musicianship was top-notch with virtuoso players like Gordon Mote on keys and Megan Mullins on fiddle, the show’s production was simple and served as a great way to remind Nashville of its roots for its first full-capacity arena show back.

Before the band launched into their monster hit “Dixieland Delight,” Gentry said, “Every time I drive downtown, I hear it in one of [those] clubs, so they still like it.” “Thank the Lord,” Owen responded. The electrifying tune had all of Bridgestone Arena on their feet, dancing a jig. Alabama then seamlessly transitioned into “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?”

Bringing out a string section and a choir, the band played the song that has become somewhat of a theme song for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, “Angels Among Us.” Cell phone lighters waved in the air.

“This is an emotional night,” Owen said mid-way through Alabama’s set. “A few years ago we didn’t know if anyone cared about us anymore. Thank you for letting us share 50 years of our lives.”

“The only thing that would make this the perfect night is if our cousin Jeff Cook was here,” Gentry added. They then played a song written about Cook, whose 2017 diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease left him unable to tour with the band.

After turning on the romance for “Love In The First Degree” and “Feels So Right,” Alabama welcomed their “long lost cousin” Jake Owen on stage for “Lady Down On Love.” Owen was clad in an Alabama jacket, and stood back in awe of the iconic country band in action.

Randy Owen, Jake Owen. Photo: Rick Diamond

Keeping the energy alive, Alabama invited the crowd to shag to “Dancin’, Shaggin’ On The Boulevard,” and the whole arena sang along to another staple, “Mountain Music,” before the band walked offstage and the lights turned down. A relentless roar from the audience sent Alabama back out to the Bridgestone Arena stage, this time in Nashville Predators jerseys, to encore to “My Home’s In Alabama.” Beautiful photos of the bands sacred home state flashed behind the country music icons. Owen and Gentry took an emotional bow, and ended the heart-warming evening.

Martina McBride. Photo: Rick Diamond

Another country great Martina McBride opened the show with her many hits and stellar voice on including “This One’s For The Girls,” “Wild Angels,” and the appropriate “Independence Day.” Alabama brought McBride back out during their set just to recognize her and tell her they loved her. It was just announced that the Country Music Hall of Fame will highlight McBride’s three-decade career with an exhibit opening at the end of July.

Alabama will continue their 50th Anniversary tour on July 23 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania with Tracy Lawrence. Click here to see all the upcoming dates.

Brad Paisley Celebrates July 4th With 350,000 In Nashville

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Brad Paisley performs on Broadway for the 4th of July in Nashville, TN. Photo: Tim Gerst

Brad Paisley‘s new song, “City Of Music,” rang true Sunday night as the streets of downtown Nashville were packed with a massive crowd of 350,000, all celebrating the return of Music City’s 4th of July celebration. Paisley headlined the annual event, which was cancelled last year due to COVID-19, and brought in the holiday weekend in spectacular fashion.

He opened the show with his new single, which acts as his love letter to Nashville and a tribute to its dream seekers, and filled his 90-minute set with No. 1’s, fan favorites, and old standards. Special guests during the evening included blues rock guitar master Joe Bonamassa and Kelsea Ballerini who joined Paisley to perform her hit song, “Hole In The Bottle.” CNN’s Fourth In America aired four of Paisley’s songs live before and during its broadcast of the country’s largest fireworks display.

On tap for Paisley during his busy summer include an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry tonight (July 6) along with a slate of shows this weekend and beyond as he continues his 2021 tour running coast-to-coast through October 9.

Additionally, on Aug. 13, Brad Paisley’s Shark Country will air on Discovery Channel during the network’s famed Shark Week. For the special, Paisley and comedian JB Smoove travel to the Bahamas where Dr. Austin Gallagher helps them put Paisley’s musical talents to the test in shark-infested waters as they see how sound can attract or repel sharks.

Lee Brice Earns MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart No. 1

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Lee Brice jumps from No. 3 to No. 1 this week on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart with his single, “Memory I Don’t Mess With.” Brice co-wrote the single alongside Brian Davis and Billy Montana and it appears on his 2020 release, Hey World.

This year, Brice has signed on to become an official Brand Ambassador for Yuengling Traditional Lager and will help kick off the start of Yuengling’s Stars & Stripes program, which is dedicated to supporting our nation’s military through Team Red, White & Blue, whose mission is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans through the nation’s largest veteran health and wellness community.

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

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Tenille Townes, Tyler Braden, Hannah Dasher

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It sounds like country music is roaring back this week.

There were few pretensions to pop-crossover music in this listening session. Instead, we have beefy, bodacious, hardcore slabs of sound by Toby Keith, Tony Jackson, Brantley Gilbert, Chris Janson and Connie Smith.

Kicking it country-rock style are Tyler Braden and our Disc of the Day winner, Tenille Townes.

The DisCovery Award also goes to a female artist. That would be Sony newcomer Hannah Dasher, who has buckets of personality.

TYLER BRADEN / “Ways to Miss You”
Writers: Tyler Braden/Mark Holman/Michael Whitworth; Producer: Randy Montana/Mark Holman; Label: Warner Music Nashville
— I have been on board with this Nashville firefighter from the beginning. Every release has been a gem, and this heartache rocker continues his admirable track record. It’s a lot more electrified and driving than his previous tracks, but his superb singing and melodic sense both still shine brightly. Will somebody please bring this guy the stardom he deserves?

CHRIS JANSON / “Hawaii on Me”
Writers: Chris Janson/Kelly Janson/Will Nance; Producer: Chris Janson/Tommy Cecil; Label: Warner Music Nashville
— Noted for his high intensity live performances, Janson strips it down to an acoustic presentation on this superbly written message song about life, death and love. With just an acoustic guitar, he grabs you by the ears and doesn’t let go. “When I die, go to Hawaii on me,” spread his ashes and have a good time. Amen, bro.

CONNIE SMITH / “Look Out Heart”
Writers: Marty Stuart/Harry Stinson; Producer: Marty Stuart; Label: Fat Possum
— Connie’s return to the Opry stage last weekend was a triumph. Her one-of-a-kind, heart-in-throat vocal powers are undimmed. This track heralds her new Cry of the Heart collection. If there’s one thing I know about this woman, it’s that she loves to sing with a steel guitar answering her vocal lines. This brisk toe tapper fills the bill, and then some. An instant classic from an enduring classic.

GARTH BROOKS / “That’s What Cowboys Do”
Writers: John Martin/Mitch Rossell/Garth Brooks; Producer: Garth Brooks; Label: Pearl Records
— He falls in love, but leaves because it’s in his male nature to move along. The lilting, Texas-style arrangement is very much in ‘90s Strait territory. Deja vu.

NATALIE HEMBY / “Heroes”
Writers: Natalie Hemby/Jeff Trot/Aaron Raitiere; Producer: Mike Wrucke; Label: Fantasy Records
— Over a sultry, r&b flavored track, the electronically processed Hemby seethes with attitude about turning down a hero’s role in life. Ear catching. This woman is a potent Music City songsmith who has co-penned such monsters as “Bluebird” (Miranda), “Pontoon” (Little Big Town), “You Look Like I Need a Drink” (Justin Moore), “Automatic” (Miranda), “Heartache Medication” (Jon Pardi), ”I’ll Never Love Again” (Lady Gaga), “Crowded Table” (The Highwomen), “Tornado” (LBT), “White Liar” (Miranda) and much more.

TOBY KEITH / “Old School”
Writers: Maren Morris/Ryan Hurd/Brett Tyler; Producer: Kenny Greenberg/Toby Keith; Label: Show Dog Nashville
— A total ear worm. This ridiculously catchy ditty extols the virtues of ordinary, small-town life while a choppy rhythm track bops along. As usual, Toby’s delivery rings with confidence and strength. Absolutely radio ready: “Just the way we like,” indeed.

TENILLE TOWNES / “Girl Who Didn’t Care”
Writers: Tenille Townes/David Pramik/Steph Jones; Producer: David Pramik; Label: Columbia Nashville
— This driving, percussive, rocking outing beats right alongside your heart as Townes unspools her wish to recapture the innocence and verve of youth. She’s in search of that unspoiled girl who didn’t care what others think. She wants to spin and twirl as a dreamer, and by the time she finishes, you will too. I fell head over heels for this.

BRIAN KELLEY / “Boat Names”
Writers: Brian Kelley/Parker Welling/Casey Brown; Producer: Brian Kelley/Corey Crowder; Label: Nashville South Records/Warner Music Nashville
— The “F” in FGL has returned to Florida to make mellow beach music like this drowsy dream of a rich-folks romance. Easy on the ears.

HANNAH DASHER / “Girls Call the Shots”
Writers: Brad Warren/Brett Warren/David Frasier/Lance Miller; Producer: Brandon Hood; Label: Sony Music Nashville
— Very wise, very country, very accomplished. Everything works here—her perfectly nuanced vocal, the clear production, the fantastic lyric. I have a feeling we are listening to a future star. There’s magic in this performance, and elsewhere on her EP she also writes like a champ.

LAINE HARDY / “Memorize You”
Writers: Michail Tyler/Eric Arjes/Steven Dale Jones; Producer: Michael Knox; Label: Buena Vista Records/Industrial Media’s 19 Recordings
— The American Idol winner releases a paint-by-numbers country-romance ditty. Perfectly professional, adequate and ….. boring.

BRANTLEY GILBERT, TOBY KEITH & HARDY / “Worst Country Song of All Time”
Writers: Brantley Gilbert/Hunter Phelps/Michael Hardy/Will Weatherly; Producer: Will Weatherly/Brantley Gilbert; Label: The Valory Music Co.
— I had high hopes for this, since three of my favorites are involved. They didn’t disappoint: It’s hilarious. Best line: “Stick a fork in the Constitution/I support Kim Jong-Un and Putin.” Runner up: “I don’t eat deer and I can’t stand fishin’/I don’t know the words to ‘Family Tradition’…. ‘Folsom Prison’ or ‘Walk the Line.’

Morgan Wade Inks With UMPG Nashville

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Pictured (L-R): UMPG Director A&R Zach Lund and Singer/Songwriter Morgan Wade. Photo: Courtesy of UMPG

Morgan Wade has signed an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Nashville.

Wade’s first full-length album, Reckless, was released earlier this year and showcases her songwriting talent on all 10 tracks. Her current single, “Wilder Days,” is currently at country and Americana radio, and recently earned her the title of SiriusXM’s “Highway Find.” Wade will join Ashley McBryde and Jason Isbell on the road this summer, along with playing numerous festivals including Pilgrimage Music Fest and Rock the South.

“Morgan has a rare mix of authenticity and grit, accompanied with a fresh sound and pop sensibility that blew my mind the first time I heard her music,” says Director A&R, Universal Music Publishing Nashville Zach Lund. “She truly has no ceiling and the UMPG team is beyond grateful for the opportunity to work with her and join the ride.”

“It feels great to have a songwriting home with so many other artists and writers I admire,” shares Wade. “Zach and his team truly understand what I’m about, and I feel very supported by UMPG. I’m thrilled to see where we go from here.”

King Calaway Joins Red Light Management, Slates New Music Coming This Summer [Exclusive]

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King Calaway. Photo: Courtesy of BBR Music Group

Rising country band King Calaway has joined the Red Light Management roster and is set to return with new music this summer.

The band released their debut album Rivers via BBR Music Group’s Stoney Creek Records in October of 2019. Rivers featured their breakout single “World For Two,” which was the No. 1 most added song at country radio in its debut week.

As the COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone to retreat to their homes, the band spent 2020 working on their songwriting, harmonies and groove to create a fresh sound. They have since emerged with brand new music as a 5-piece band comprised of original members Caleb Miller, Chris Deaton, Simon Dumas, Chad Michael Jervis, and Austin Luther. Jordan Harvey, who was part of King Calaway when the band emerged, separated from the band late last year.

Now a part of the Red Light Management roster, King Calaway is excited to release new music via Stoney Creek Records later this year.

“As a band, we’ve been very eager to release the new music we’ve been working on this past year and to get back on the road,” the band says. “We couldn’t be happier to have Red Light behind us in support of a new direction and an exciting new chapter.”

“I’m incredibly excited to welcome KC to the Red Light family,” says Gaines Sturdivant, who will manage King Calaway. “Their musical prowess speaks for itself whether in the studio, onstage, or in the writing room. I can’t wait for everyone to experience the new iteration and sonic evolution they have tirelessly perfected over the last several months. It’s a freshness of the highest caliber which captured my attention immediately.”