Mavericks Frontman Raul Malo Dies Following Battle With Cancer

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Raul Malo. Photo: Michael Weintrob

Raul Malo, the unmistakable voice and charismatic frontman of the Grammy-winning band The Mavericks, has passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 60.

The son of Cuban parents who came to the U.S. in search of a better life, Malo was born in Miami in 1965. He founded The Mavericks with drummer Paul Deakin and bassist Robert Reynolds in 1989, and the band’s genre-defying gumbo of rock and country swirled with Latin horns and beats soon caught the ears of Nashville. After releasing an indie album, they signed with MCA Nashville in 1991, and subsequently released their 1992 debut “From Hell To Paradise.” 1994’s What a Crying Shame yielded the singles “There Goes My Heart” and “O What a Thrill,” which built on their growing popularity.

A talented songwriter and musician, Malo and the band’s 1995 album Music for All Occasions yielded their biggest country hit, “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down,” which was penned by Malo and Al Anderson and featured colorful accordionist and singer Flaco Jiménez. The song hit No. 13 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and became the Mavericks’ signature song during their legendary live performances. The album also helped fuel the band’s consecutive CMA wins for Vocal Group of the Year in 1995 and 1996, and its first Grammy win for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal, for “Here Comes the Rain.”

Malo dominated any stage he stepped on with his inimitable soaring vocals and swaggering style, and the group weathered many changes through the decades and recorded and toured together for over 30 years. Malo’s hits include “Here Comes the Rain,” “What A Crying Shame,” “Dance The Night Away” and “Back In Your Arms Again,” and he also helped write and produce country artist Rick Trevino’s song “In My Dreams” in 2003. The Mavericks disbanded in 2000 for a time, and Malo then pursued a solo career and released nine albums of his own. He also played with the Los Super Seven, a Grammy-winning Latin American collective.

The Mavericks reunited in 2011 and signed with Big Machine Label Group, releasing two albums for the Nashville label, 2013’s In Time and 2015’s Mono. The group has been actively touring and recording since, and in 2018, they won a Grammy for their self-released album Brand New Day in the Americana category. The group lineup of Malo, Deakin, keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden and guitarist Eddie Perez released their latest album, Moon & Stars, in 2024.

Following that release, Malo shared with fans that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer, and after undergoing liver tumor surgery and chemotherapy, in September revealed that the cancer had progressed to leptomeningeal disease, a complication of advanced cancer where fluid surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

Last week just days before Malo’s death, the band carried on with the planned “Dance The Night Away” tribute shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The band issued a statement following his passing, saying: “It’s with the deepest grief we share the passing of our friend, bandmate and brother Raul Malo. Anyone with the pleasure of being in Raul’s orbit knew that he was a force of human nature, with an infectious energy. Over a career of more than three decades entertaining millions around the globe, his towering creative contributions and unrivaled, generational talent created the kind of multicultural American music reaching far beyond America itself.”

Malo’s wife Betty also posted a statement on socials: “My love… our boys’ father… a devoted son and brother… and a friend to so many, gained his angel wings. He was called to do another gig — this time in the sky — and he’s flying high like an eagle. No one embodied life and love, joy and passion, family, friends, music, and adventure the way our beloved Raul did, Now he will look down on us with all that heaven will allow, lighting the way and reminding us to savor every moment. Dino, Victor, Max and I — along with our entire family — thank all of you for your love and support through all of this. We felt every bit of it.”

MusicRow Reveals Next Big Thing Artists Class Of 2026

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MusicRow is proud to reveal its list of artists who are predicted to become the Next Big Thing (NBT) in 2026. The 12th annual NBT list features 14 artists, who are each profiled in MusicRow‘s latest 2026 Touring & Next Big Thing print issue, which releases today (Dec. 9).

Boasting a stand-out group of rising stars in the country music industry, MusicRow’s Next Big Thing Class of 2026 includes a wide range of talent, diverse in sound, style and level of success. What each artist has in common, though, is extraordinary talent and a passion for today’s ever-evolving country music format. These future superstars will expand the boundaries of country music, carrying the torch of the format both to its loyal fans and into the mainstream.

Single copies of MusicRow’s Touring & Next Big Thing print issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $50, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.

MusicRow Magazine’s 2025 Next Big Thing Artists:

GRAHAM BARHAM
Sony Music Nashville/Disruptor Records | The PRNT Co. | UTA | Warner Chappell Music Nashville/Cornman Music | BMI

Graham Barham was raised in Oak Ridge, Louisiana [population: 124], just down the road from Lainey Wilson and Dylan Scott. The son of a sixth-generation farmer and a schoolteacher, he grew up playing baseball at Tim McGraw Park and moved to Nashville to chase his dream. Blending authentic country storytelling with pop hooks and trap energy, Barham makes the kind of music he wants to hear—high-octane, heartfelt and undeniably fresh. He calls it “Club Country,” a sound that pushes the genre forward without letting go of its roots. After going viral with “WHISKEY WHISKEY,” Barham followed up with “OIL MONEY” and “WTH JUST HAPPENED?,” delivering a string of singles that flipped traditional country on its head while building a bold, visual identity. Alongside his artist rise, Barham has written songs for artists such as Blake Shelton, Wyatt Flores, Tyler Braden and Dierks Bentley. With “WHISKEY RAIN” featuring Tyler Hubbard and an eight-song EP out now, Barham is emerging as one of the most exciting artist-writers shaping the next chapter of country music.

 

KAITLIN BUTTS
Republic Records | Triple 8 Management | WME | Me Gusta Music | BMI

Kaitlin Butts’ fearless approach to country music is helping her reach new heights. In 2024, Butts released her acclaimed album Roadrunner!. She leaned into her lifelong love of musical theater and dreamed up a modern-day reimagining of the soundtrack to her all-time favorite musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, which ended up on numerous best-of year-end lists. In 2024, Butts made her Lollapalooza debut and opened for Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne and Flatland Cavalry. She also trekked across the U.S. on her first-ever coast-to-coast headlining tour. 2025 has been another banner year for the Tulsa-born, Nashville-based artist. In addition to her viral anthem, “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me),” amassing over 157 million TikTok views and 67 million global streams, she joined Lainey Wilson on her “Whirlwind Tour” and was featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibition. Butts also joined the 2025 Opry Next Stage Class as well as the CMT Next Women of Country Class of 2025. Showing no signs of slowing down, she is launching her next chapter with the Yeehaw Sessions EP.

 

LACI KAYE BOOTH
Geffen Records | Red Light Management | WME | UMPG/Big Machine Music | BMI

Raised in a barn in Livingston, Texas and now based in Nashville, singer-songwriter Laci Kaye Booth started writing her own songs at age nine. Named one of CMT’s Next Women of Country and SiriusXM The Highway’s Highway Find, she has spent much of the past year on the road including shows with Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney, Ella Langley and more. After she released her debut album, The Loneliest Girl In The World, last spring, Billboard hailed Booth as “one of the genre’s brightest newcomers” and The Los Angeles Times observed, “The most impressive LP from a new(-ish) country act so far this year, The Loneliest Girl in the World teems with vivid songwriting.” With characteristic honesty, Booth captures the bewildering moments when everything seems to be crumbling on her poignant new single, “Luck Of The Draw.” She wrote the song with Ryman Wooten, who joined in on background vocals, and Ben West (Stephen Wilson Jr., Patrick Droney), who also produced and previously helmed Booth’s debut album.

 

THE CASTELLOWS
Warner Records Nashville | Make Wake Artists | WME | Warner Chappell Music Nashville | BMI

Neo-traditional country trio The Castellows bring new meaning to “family tradition.” Sisters Ellie (lead guitar), Powell (banjo) and Lily (vocals) grew up in Georgetown, Georgia, and now live in Nashville. Their sound is traditional yet modern, defined by three-part harmonies that blend into one striking voice. Their songwriting shines across their debut EP A Little Goes A Long Way and their three-song EP Alabama Stone. Their next project, the seven-song Homecoming EP, arrived May 30, followed by a headline “Homecoming Tour” that launched in fall 2025. Since first drawing industry attention in January 2023, the trio has appeared on 2024 watch lists including CMT Next Women of Country, CMT Listen Up and Nashville Lifestyles, earned a CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year nomination, toured with Little Big Town and Sugarland on the “Take Me Home Tour,” been named a SiriusXM Highway Find, performed on NBC’s TODAY and joined Thomas Rhett’s 2025 “Better In Boots Tour” with a Fenway Park stop.

 

KASHUS CULPEPPER
Big Loud Records | Jay Harren Management | CAA | Big Loud Publishing/Warner Chappell Music Nashville | BMI

Alabama-born country crooner Kashus Culpepper encompasses the sound of the south. A student and reverent purveyor of southern music–country, soul, blues, folk and rock– Culpepper found his voice in church at five years old, but it wasn’t until the 2020 global pandemic that he moved from listener to performer, picking up a guitar and learning cover songs to play at barrack bonfires in Rota, Spain during his Navy deployment. Covers soon became originals, and once back on U.S. soil, he played dive bars along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, building a name with a fresh yet reminiscent sound. Culpepper sold out headline club shows throughout the south before formally releasing a single song. With Nashville taking notice, he signed a record deal and will release his debut album Act I on Jan. 23. He has joined Leon Bridges, Sierra Ferrell and Darius Rucker on tour this year. Named to GRAMMY.com’s 25 Artists to Watch in 2025 and several other rising artist lists, The Guardian writes that “it’s obvious why his career has been fast tracked.”

 

LANIE GARDNER
BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records | TRACK mgmt | WME | Big Machine Music | BMI

Lanie Gardner’s extraordinary journey reflects her unmatched talent and determination, from her roots in the Appalachian Mountains to international stages. A gifted storyteller and songwriter from an early age, she developed a blend of classic rock, R&B and country that set her apart. Her career took off after her cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” went viral, earning over 100 million views. On Sept. 5, she released her sophomore album Faded Polaroids, an 18-track scrapbook of self-discovery, family roots, romantic twists and personal healing, following her debut self-penned album A Songwriter’s Diary in late 2024. Her rise includes being named a 2025 Artist to Watch by the Recording Academy and Amazon Music, joining CMT’s Next Women of Country: Class of 2025 and being selected as a SiriusXM Highway Find. In the past year, she has made her Grand Ole Opry debut, performed on the TODAY show, appeared at Stagecoach, toured with Corey Kent and Gavin Adcock, joined Thomas Rhett for select dates with upcoming shows supporting Jason Aldean, earned SiriusXM No. 1 hits with Thomas Rhett and Warren Zeiders and contributed to movie soundtracks.

 

ALEXANDRA KAY
BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records | Beth Keith | Sound Talent Group | BMI

With over 8.7 million social media followers, Alexandra Kay, who starred on Netflix’s Westside, has a rare ability to genuinely connect with audiences through heartfelt melodies, her “refreshing brand of storytelling…custom-made for the country music genre” (People) and her “angelic, yet soaring vocals” (American Songwriter). A bright rising star that Billboard praised as “an adept, propitious singer-songwriter,” she released her debut album All I’ve Ever Known in 2023, reaching No. 1 on the iTunes All Genre and Country charts globally and earning Top 10 spots on Billboard’s Current Country Album, Emerging Artist and HeatSeeker charts independently. Named to Pandora’s 2025 Artist to Watch: Country list and CMT’s Next Women of Country: Class of 2025, Alexandra wrapped a milestone 2024 headlining her own tour, joining Jelly Roll’s “Beautifully Broken Arena Tour” and appearing on the GRAMMY-nominated Twisters soundtrack. In 2025 she has toured worldwide, wrapped dates with Brad Paisley, opened her Waterloo, Illinois coffee shop The Coffee Girl, released her sophomore album Second Wind, featuring her debut radio single “Straight For The Heart,” and launched her third headlining tour.

 

BRAXTON KEITH
Warner Records Nashville | Torrez Music Group | Evergreen Artist Group | Liz Rose Music | BMI

Braxton Keith has been hailed as “a devotedly country artist with the talent to join the ranks of today’s surge of neo-traditionalist hitmakers” (Billboard). His latest release, a “sublime” (MusicRow) version of George Strait’s “The Chair,” is now climbing Spotify’s Top 50 Viral Chart. Last year, Keith released his debut EP Blue, a collection Rolling Stone praised as “hardcore, traditional country music,” while Billboard called it “a slab of stone-cold country…forged from the depths of the Texas honky-tonk circuit” that highlights his unmistakable conversational singing style. The five-track set features his breakout hit “Cozy,” which has surpassed 100 million global streams and continues to rise. A proud Texas native who now splits time between San Antonio and Nashville, Keith is part of a new generation of country singer-songwriters reviving the genre’s core creative tenets. He has become a regular face in venues across Texas and the country while touring with Cody Johnson, Gavin Adcock and Luke Bryan, and is headlining his “This Ain’t My First Tour,” which continues through year-end.

 

ZACH JOHN KING
Sony Music Nashville | Hyphen Media Group | The Neal Agency | Boom Music Group | BMI

Pairing the reflective insight of a roots poet with the edgy intensity of raw alt-rock, Zach John King is pushing country in a new yet familiar direction, straight toward the truth. Raised in Fayetteville, Georgia and a lyricist first with multiple generations of poets in his family, he grew up old school but dreaming of escape. A fan of George Jones, Otis Redding, The Police, Third Eye Blind and Switchfoot, King fronted an indie-rock band through college before moving to Nashville in 2021 to explore his country roots as the genre expands. His minimalistic country-meets-rock style led to his first solo track in 2023, the vivid and audacious “Just Missed You,” followed by independent singles and his 2024 breakout “Wannabe Cowboy,” a conflicted confessional ballad boasting six million global streams. After joining Morgan Wallen’s “I’m The Problem Tour,” he went on to tour with Dylan Scott, Gavin Adcock, Nate Smith, ERNEST and Vincent Mason. His new EP Slow Down arrived this spring, and in 2026 he will rejoin Wallen for the “Still The Problem Tour,” perform at Stagecoach and tour with Riley Green.

 

CHASE McDANIEL
Big Machine Records (Big Machine Label Group) | Vector Management | WME | Sony Music Publishing Nashville | BMI

With the release of his debut album Lost Ones, singer-songwriter Chase McDaniel channels uncompromising honesty, co-writing every track and refusing to sugarcoat his battle with depression and suicidal ideation or his hard-won path toward hope and healing. Intentionally released during National Suicide Prevention Month, Lost Ones reflects his mission to help others find strength in their darkest moments. Raised by his grandparents in Greensburg, Kentucky, the University of Louisville graduate moved to Nashville after surviving his father’s death from addiction, a life-changing weightlifting accident and being rescued during a suicide attempt. With a raw baritone and fiery country-rock, he hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales and iTunes Country charts with “Project,” reached No. 3 all-genre with “Your Daughter,” signed a record deal, released his debut EP Blame It All On Country Music in 2024, made his Grand Ole Opry debut and now tours with Jason Aldean and Alexandra Kay as his first single “Burned Down Heaven” ignites country radio.

 

TY MYERS
RECORDS Nashville/Columbia | Starstruck Entertainment | CAA | UMPG Nashville | BMI

Breakout singer-songwriter-guitarist Ty Myers is commanding attention after releasing his debut album The Select (plus Deluxe and Acoustic editions) and earning his first Platinum hit with current single “Ends of the Earth.” In the studio for his sophomore album, he’s previewed the new era with “Leaving Carolina,” “Through a Screen,” “Come On Over, Baby” and “Two Trains” featuring Marcus King. Nearing a billion global streams to date and more than 20 million per week, Myers has already tallied 200 million+ streams for “Ends of the Earth.” Following his first sold-out headline run, he completed a sold-out “The Select Tour” and added new dates extending into 2026. Set for his Stagecoach debut and to support Luke Combs’ stadium tour next spring, he has also opened for Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, Old Dominion, Tim McGraw and Willie Nelson. Named Billboard’s Country Rookie of the Month and featured in their 21 Under 21 list. Myers first broke through with debut single “Tie That Binds,” followed by Gold “Drinkin’ Alone.” Born just outside Austin, the 18-year-old grew up on his family’s six-generation cattle ranch.

 

EMILY ANN ROBERTS
RECORDS/Sony Music Nashville | Starstruck Entertainment | UTA | Jody Williams Songs/Warner Chappell Music | SESAC

They say the path to the grandest stage is paved with relentless practice, and Emily Ann Roberts embodies that truth. From small Knoxville stages to numerous performances at the Grand Ole Opry, she has diligently earned her place in the spotlight. Her journey began as a standout and runner-up on Blake Shelton’s team on The Voice, an achievement reached before she graduated high school. Since then, Roberts has built extensive experience in performing, songwriting and recording, translating into more than 88 million global streams. Her debut album Can’t Hide Country blends traditional country and bluegrass roots and was spotlighted by Billboard, MusicRow, People and more, followed by her EP Memory Lane released Oct. 3. A seasoned performer, she has toured with Blake Shelton, Megan Moroney, Cody Johnson, Jamey Johnson and Clint Black. She was also named to the CMT Next Women of Country class of 2024, recognized as a Nashville Briefing Artist to Watch and featured in Walt Disney World’s Country Bear Musical Jamboree attraction performing “Try Everything” from Zootopia as Trixie St. Claire.

 

HUDSON WESTBROOK
River House Artists/Warner Records Nashville | River House Artists | Evergreen Artist Group | River House Artists/Sony Music Publishing Nashville | BMI

A son of Stephenville, Texas, Hudson Westbrook “is on the cusp of bona fide country music stardom” (Rolling Stone). After a 2024 splash debut with viral debut “Take It Slow,” he strung together a series of grassroots hits while still enrolled at Texas Tech University, including Texas radio chart-topper, “Two Way Drive,” and current Top 10 country radio hit, “House Again.” Revitalizing the organic country he was raised on while refusing to be held down by his roots, Westbrook’s “traditional country sounds and timeless songwriting” (Billboard) have become his calling card, fully realized on his Top 10, 17-track debut album, Texas Forever. Westbrook is headlining sold-out tours nationwide, following opening gigs with Parker McCollum, Midland, Eli Young Band, Cole Swindell and Ian Munsick. Amassing over 900 million global streams in 18 months, Westbrook was named a Billboard Country Rookie of the Month, a 2025 Artist to Watch by Spotify, Country Now, Holler, The Country Wire, and a SiriusXM all-genre Five for 2025.

 

STEPHEN WILSON JR.
Big Loud Records | ALJ Management/Range Media Partners | UTA | BMG | SESAC

Stephen Wilson Jr.’s journey from the hollers of southern Indiana to Nashville has taken many detours: he’s been an Indiana State Golden Gloves boxing championship finalist, a scientist and a lead guitarist and songwriter in an indie rock band. In 2016, he left his laboratory job and signed a publishing deal, leading to cuts from Caitlyn Smith, Old Dominion, Tim McGraw, Sixpence None the Richer, Leigh Nash and more. His breakthrough arrived in 2023 when he signed a record deal and released his debut double album søn of dad, a 22-song, genre-spanning tribute to his late father, shared on the five-year anniversary of his passing. Named the No. 1 album of 2023 by Holler and praised by Whiskey Riff, Wide Open Country and Rolling Stone, the project propelled him to major visibility. In 2025, he released a deluxe edition featuring a widely streamed “Stand By Me,” performed the national anthem at the 2025 NFL Draft, collaborated with Shaboozey on “Took A Walk,” earned his first CMA nomination for New Artist of the Year and continues a wildly successful U.S. run of his søn of dad tour following support dates with HARDY.

MusicRow’s 2026 N.B.T. Industry Directory Showcases The Next Wave Of Emerging Leaders

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MusicRow has revealed its 2026 N.B.T. Industry Directory list, highlighting a rising class of music industry leaders.

Now in its seventh year, MusicRow’s N.B.T. Industry Directory is the first and only list of its kind, showcasing Nashville music business professionals who occupy important roles at their respective companies. This class of professionals are on a trajectory of excellence to successfully lead the Nashville music industry into the future.

All members of the 2026 N.B.T. Industry Directory are featured in MusicRow’s current Touring & Next Big Thing Issue, which releases today (Dec. 9).

Single copies of MusicRow’s Touring & Next Big Thing print issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $50, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.

The members of MusicRow Magazine’s 2026 N.B.T. Industry Directory are:

Alex Albanese, Creative Mgr., Publishing – Creative Nation Music
Sally Allgeier, National Dir. of Country Promotion – Red Street Records
Taylor Antle, Dir., A&R – Round Hill Music
Amy Beard, VP, Marketing – Big Loud Records
Sarah Bennett, Sr. Publicist – The GreenRoom PR
Ben Binner, Dir. of Content & Strategy – Sun Label Group
Avery Bon, Sr. Dir. Marketing – WHY&HOW
Michelle Bower, Pres., Strategic Partnerships – The Neal Agency
John Bradley, A&R – Electric Feel Entertainment
Kristi Bradshaw, Publicist – OH Creative
Corey Brewer, VP/Head of Media & PR – Big Loud
Matt Brum-Taylor, Dir. of Digital Marketing – Academy of Country Music
Victoria Cappelli Greiner, Sr. Dir., Digital Marketing – AEG Presents Global Touring
Jeff Cherry, Founder/Artist Mgr. – Hudson Hill Mgmt.
Casey Childers, VP of Digital – ONErpm
Camryn Clark, Manager – Left Right Management
Jen Coen, Sr. Director, Brands & Ventures – HYBE America / Big Machine Label Group
Elizabeth Cook, Creative Dir., Publishing/A&R – Back Blocks Music
Sam Cope, Dir. of Digital Accounts Strategy, Americas – FUGA – a Downtown company
Tyler Corrado, Artist Mgr. – Neon Coast
Saxon Curry, Manager – Sticks Management
Courtney Daly, Dir., Artist & Label Strategy – Stem
Aubrey Daniels, Head of Publishing – Major Bob Music
Sally D’avanzo, Assoc. Business Mgr. – Farris, Self & Moore, LLC
Jennifer Davis, Dir., Live Events & Production – Academy of Country Music
Blake Duncan, Sr. Creative Dir., A&R – Combustion Music
Andrew Farwell, President – Outback Presents
Rhiannon Ferronetti, Asst. Mgr. – WHY&HOW
Brittany Finley, Dir. of Publicity – Elicity Public Relations
Justin Ford, VP Creative, Design & Branding – Big Machine Label Group
Houston Gaither, Dir., Radio Marketing – MCA
Allan Geiger, Sr. Dir., Creative & Content – BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville
Carter Green, Agent – WME
Dillon Goldberg, CEO of The PRNT Company – FNGRPRNT
Ethan Goldish, Music Agent – CAA
Anna Kathryn Groom, Mgr., Music Brand Partnerships – Wasserman Music
Bret Guest, Business Mgr. – Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group
Rummy Le Guevel, Business Mgr. – Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group
Weston Hebert, VP, Touring – AEG Presents
Alex Heimerman, VP of Streaming & Strategic Partnerships – Riser House Entertainment
Eunice Hernandez, Relationship Mgr. – Studio Bank
Duane Hobson, Assoc. Dir., Creative Membership – ASCAP
Ben Huddleston, Assoc. Business Mgr. – FBMM
Connor Hunt, Sr. Dir., Media – MCA
Jordon Isbell, Dir., Marketing – Virgin Music Group
Emilia James, Mgr., Creative Membership – ASCAP
Willie Jones, Associate – Loeb & Loeb LLP
Samantha Kane, Mgr., Artist & Industry Relations – Opry Entertainment Group
Colleen Kelley, Associate – Loeb & Loeb LLP
Brad Krause, Sr. Dir., Digital Strategy – MCA
Taylor Krebs, Coord., Music – United Talent Agency
Courtney Kruckeberg, Creative Dir. – Endurance Music Group
Abby Lamb, Assoc. Business Mgr. – FBMM
Lexi Leatherwood, Publicist – OH Creative
Autumn Ledgin, Manager, Tucker Wetmore – Ledgin Management
Nicole Lewis, Artist Mgr. – One Spark Entertainment
Lauren Lieu, Creative Dir./Publishing – River House Artists
Brooke Mansfield, VP of Digital Strategy – Riser House Entertainment
Liz Mayo, Sr. Dir., Public Relations – Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC)
Lyndsie McClure, Dir. of Development – NSAI
Moira McCravey, Agent – WME
Jaclyn McDonald, Mgr., Sync – Concord Music Publishing
Lili McGrady, President – Humanable
Dylan McGraw, Manager – Fusion Music/Red Light Management
Melissa McGreevy, Dir., Audience & Web Marketing Strategy – Warner Records Nashville
Julia McLeod, VP Artist Marketing – ONErpm
Micah McNair, Creative Dir. – Black River Entertainment
Jenny Methling, Sr. Dir., Strategic Partnerships – Country Music Association
Bryan Mooney, Global VP of A&R – Downtown Artist & Label Services
Matt Musacchio, Manager, Vincent Mason, Jessie James Decker – Red Light Management
Kate Myers, Dir., Strategic Partnerships – Warner Records Nashville
Sam Nasr, Manager, A&R – Universal Music Publishing Group
Walker Newberry, Artist Mgr. – Make Wake Artists
Marita Niemiec, Dir., Digital Marketing – Warner Records Nashville
Yitzi Peetluk, Agent – Wasserman Music
Megan Pekar, Associate – Loeb & Loeb LLP
Trevor Perkins, CEO & Founder – PERK PR + Creative Co
Victoria Powell, Attorney – Gutt Law, PLLC
Alex Quattlebaum, Dir. of Touring – Futureshirts, Inc.
Tahsin Rakib Himi, Dir., A&R Research – BMG
Alyssa Ramsey, Manager – Play It Again Music
Amanda Remo, Senior Client Mgr – Harris, Huelsman, Barnes & Company
Tim Reynolds, VP, Digital – Big Machine Label Group
HB Riordan, Artist Mgr. – Make Wake Artists
Rio Van Risseghem, Label Relations Mgr., Country – Amazon Music
Sam Sarno, Sr. Creative Dir. – SMACK
Camryn Scharnhorst, Owner – The Cam Collective Publicity
Karen Schillinger, Music Agent – CAA
Phil Shay, Sr. Dir. of Development – Belmont University, Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business
Chandler Nicole Sherrill, Sr. Dir. of Creative – Electric Feel Entertainment
Allie Snyder, Creative Dir., Video – Sony Music Nashville
Alyson Stokes, Sr. Brand Communications Mgr. – Ryman Hospitality Properties/Opry Entertainment Group
Lizzy Stone, Account Mgr. – Wiles+Taylor & Co
Lexi Stringer, Dir., A&R – Sony Music Nashville
Caitlin Stubner, Vice President – Songtrust – a Downtown company
Mak Symmonds, Dir. of Marketing / Management Team Member – SMACK
Anna Thiel, Creative Mgr. – Eclipse Music Group
Jessica Turri, Head of Artist and Industry Relations, Nashville – ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Julianna Vaughn, Dir., Promotion, SE/MW – Triple Tigers
Layne Weber, Head of Digital and Experiential Marketing – Q Prime South
Anna Widmer, Dir., Radio Marketing & Promotion – Sony Music Nashville
Carlile Willett, Agent, Brand Partnerships – WME

MusicRow’s 2026 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue Features Gavin Adcock On Cover

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MusicRow Magazine, Nashville’s leading music industry publication, has released its 2026 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue, with Thrivin’ Here Records/Warner Records Nashville’s Gavin Adcock on the cover.

Adcock’s album, Actin’ Up Again, was crowned the largest major-label country debut from a solo male artist released in 2024 and was the year’s top streaming major-label debut across the genre. Within less than a year, Adcock more than doubled his previous streaming record with over 25 million first week US streams on new album Own Worst Enemy, released Aug. 15, 2025. Own Worst Enemy debuted as the top new country album on the Billboard 200 Country Chart (No. 4) and top streaming new album on the Billboard 200 All-Genre Chart (No. 14) week of release. The MusicRow Awards Discovery Artist of the Year nominee has won over the hearts of both country musicians and music industry alike, leading to his New Artist of the Year nomination at the 60th ACM Awards.

Inside MusicRow‘s Touring & Next Big Thing Issue is the 12th annual Next Big Thing class of artists, consisting of Graham Barham (Sony Music Nashville/Disruptor Records), Kaitlin Butts (Republic Records), Laci Kaye Booth (Geffen Records), The Castellows (Warner Records Nashville), Kashus Culpepper (Big Loud Records), Lanie Gardner (BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records), Alexandra Kay (BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records), Braxton Keith (Warner Records Nashville), Zach John King (Sony Music Nashville), Chase McDaniel (Big Machine Records (Big Machine Label Group)), Ty Myers (RECORDS Nashville/Columbia), Emily Ann Roberts (RECORDS/Sony Music Nashville), Hudson Westbrook (River House Artists/Warner Records Nashville) and Stephen Wilson Jr. (Big Loud Records).

This issue also features the N.B.T. Industry Directory Class of 2026, which highlights rising Nashville music business professionals who are having a major impact on the industry. MusicRow’s N.B.T. Industry Directory is the first and only list of its kind. These industry members occupy important roles at their respective companies, and are on a trajectory of excellence to successfully lead the Nashville music industry into the future.

“Being named a ‘Next Big Thing’ remains more than an honor,” shares MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson. “It’s an acknowledgment of exceptional potential and purpose. It recognizes those rare individuals and teams who elevate their craft, inspire others, and redefine what success looks like in today’s music industry.”

The 2026 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue features a roundtable conversation with top agents including WME’s Barrett Sellers, Wasserman’s Lenore Kinder, The Neal Agency’s Brian Carothers, UTA’s Brian Hill, CAA’s Lindsey Myers and Kinkead Entertainment’s Greg Scott about the current issues and opportunities facing the live music business.

MusicRow highlights mental health visibility within the industry with a look at Hollywood & Mind’s first On Location event in Nashville. Industry executives Gina Miller and Jeanette Porcello discuss genre and equity in Music City.

Chrissy Hall, Director of Concerts for the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry House and Ascend Amphitheater, shares insights into the role of venue bookers, and Chelsae Partosan and Matt Morgan talk about life on the road as tour managers.

Single copies of MusicRow’s 2026 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $50, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.

Joybeth Taylor Jumps Into Top 15 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Joybeth Taylor

Joybeth Taylor has moved into the top 15 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” and “girl you’re taking home,” BigXthaPlug & Langley’s “Hell At Night,” and Gavin Adcock’s “Need To” and “Never Call Again” all push the songwriter to No. 14 this week.

Riley Green remains at No. 1 for the ninth consecutive week with “Change My Mind” and “Don’t Mind If I Do.” Chase McGill moves to No. 2 with “20 Cigarettes,” “Happen To Me,” “I Got Better,” “It Won’t Be Long” and “the hell you are.”

Charlie Handsome (No. 3), Blake Pendergrass (No. 4) and Ty Myers (No. 5) round out this week’s 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.

JUST IN: Maddie & Tae Announce Split

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Maddie & Tae. Photo: Lily Nelson

Maddie & Tae, the duo comprised of Maddie Font and Tae Dye Kerr, are going their separate ways.

Font plans to continue as a solo artist. Kerr is stepping away from music to take time at home with her two children.

“We’re leaving this so open-ended because, you know, we might make another record one day,” tells People. “We might go do some tour dates one day.”

“It’s been such a hard, hard — honestly, heartbreaking — decision,” Kerr adds. “This was the only dream I’ve ever had since I exited the womb. I had a very specific vision of creating music and singing music. When we met at 15, that’s what we set out to do, and we’re both just so grateful that we’ve had the journey that we’ve had. This career has been everything we’ve ever wanted.”

The duo formed in 2010. They’ve notched two chart-toppers with “Girl In A Country Song” and “Die From A Broken Heart.” Together, the pair has earned 13 CMA nominations, 11 ACM nominations and six CMT Awards nominations as well as released four albums and four EPs, with their most recent project Love & Light released earlier this year.

The duo plans to honor their remaining live show commitments with dates through next spring.

Inside Brandon Lake’s Songline & Christian Music’s Growing Reach [Interview]

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Courtesy of Amazon Music.

For decades, Christian and gospel music have operated in a parallel ecosystem to the broader music marketplace, thriving within their own lanes yet rarely invited onto mainstream stages. But, the past few years have marked a measurable and widely discussed shift. Faith-based music is not only growing but breaking into mainstream conversations, streaming charts and cross-genre collaborations in ways that feel genuinely new.

Part of the shift comes from the democratizing effect of modern streaming platforms, which have reshaped how niche communities find and elevate their favorites. But a bigger part may be generations as younger listeners are engaging with music and with their chosen artists with an intensity and intentionality that would have been unusual a decade ago.

At the center of one of the format’s biggest recent breakthroughs is Brandon Lake, who has amassed over 270 million career streams and earned a foothold on playlists and stages that traditionally sit outside the Christian category. But Lake is far from an outlier. Faith-driven content across both audio and video has surged in visibility. Prime Video’s House of David landed as a Top-10 new U.S. series debut and reached more than 40 million viewers globally, while The Chosen climbed to No. 1 on Prime Video’s U.S. charts. On the audio side, Christian artist Forrest Frank has become one of the most consistently requested musicians on Alexa, reflecting a deepening appetite for spiritually oriented music beyond traditional audiences.

“I’ve been in Christian music over 25 years. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a time like this where there is so much natural pull from the general music marketplace for Christian and gospel music,” Holly Zabka, President, Provident Entertainment tells MusicRow. “It has always been, in my experience, us trying to push into that landscape and be accepted into the overall mainstream landscape. Now there is just a natural pull of people finding our music and being attracted to the music, attracted to the sound and artists, more than I’ve ever experienced.”

Zabka believes that much of this shift comes from changes in the distribution system. “It has leveled the playing field for Christian music. For someone to be scrolling on their phone and go from Luke Combs to Beyoncé to Brandon Lake all in one scroll has opened the door and shifted the game.”

Lauren Stellato at Amazon Music frames the moment similarly, but leans into how younger listeners drive it. “The genre is growing younger,” she tells MusicRow. “That audience is chronically online and they’re constantly sharing songs with friends and family members.” Stellato says she’s seeing more public enthusiasm with people “proudly talking about it” where previously listening to religious music might have been private. That public sharing, she adds, has translated into tangible fandom behaviors such as buying merchandise, attending multiple shows and spreading tracks across platforms.

That shift in listener behavior has also reshaped what industry support looks like. As Christian and gospel music move further into mainstream visibility, DSPs are adapting by giving these artists access to the same high-visibility tools and storytelling formats historically reserved for pop, country and alternative stars, not siloing them into their own lane.

At Amazon Music, that evolution is most clearly seen in Songline, the company’s original performance series. Songline has hosted artists like Ed Sheeran, Maren Morris and The Lumineers. Until Brandon Lake’s recent partnership, it had never featured a Christian artist.

For Stellato, the addition was both overdue and organic. “This is the first Songline we’ve done in the Christian/gospel space. It shows a different side to Lake than what most people typically get to see.”

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That intimacy is built into the Songline format, but it also came from Lake himself. The series was filmed in Charleston, where he grew up, and incorporated quiet moments with his family, including his mother. “I was incredibly honored,” Lake tells MusicRow. “Being labeled as a Christian artist, I’m not going to shy away from the fact that that’s not an opportunity that a lot of us get. I was incredibly honored to get to share what God’s done in my life. For them to want to come to me, to show where I grew up and what made me. It felt like the most authentic thing I could do.”

For Zabka, the partnership was the natural continuation of years of partnership between Provident and Amazon. “Our very first project with Brandon at Provident, Lauren and the Amazon team were intentional and strategic from song releases through the album,” she explains. “[The teams] have always come to each release like ‘what else can we do?’ and ‘how else can we strategically lean into one another?’ Songline is just an extension of that creative partnership.”

That intentionality helped the project resonate. Lake performed reimagined versions of tracks from King of Hearts, but the standout moments were the stripped-back ones. Lake points to “When a Cowboy Prays” as one of the most special performances of the series. “It wasn’t about a big sound,” he says. “Everything got quiet and intimate. I tend to love those moments the most.”

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Stellato noticed it with standout catalog tracks as well. “It gives these songs an opportunity to be seen in a new light,” she says, noting that even the longtime fan-favorite “Gratitude” connected differently in the Songline environment.

But the decision to feature Lake wasn’t driven by aesthetics alone. It was backed by audience data showing that Christian listeners on Amazon were engaging at levels that surpassed expectations. Lake’s King of Hearts debuted at No. 1 across the Billboard Top Rock, Top Rock & Alternative and Top Christian Charts, and Amazon Music drove the highest share of global first-week streams compared to any other DSP.

Timing also played a big role in the decision to feature Lake. “I think this was the first time it really aligned,” Stellato noted. “We’d partnered with him around Easter, we did an Amazon Music Original, and then the album came. The Christian fan base on Amazon Music is really leaning in and looking for this kind of content. Doing it with one of the biggest artists in the space felt like the right next step.”

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Zabka echoes that sense of alignment and urgency. “If we want this genre to keep growing, we have to take risks,” she says. “We have to try things we’ve never done before. Especially with an artist like Brandon, being willing to kick down doors and get that noticed is what makes me excited about the future. There’s so many other artists coming behind him creating great music that can fit in all the different lanes. Its exciting to think about where we see this genre continuing to grow.”

For Lake, Songline offered the chance to let his music and his story meet a wider audience without losing what makes them personal. “I thought it was so cool that they wanted to tell my story in that way,” he says. “We had an absolute blast creating it together.”

Above the numbers, Stellato, Zabka and Lake each stressed that the blurring of genre lines is one of authenticity taking the reins. “I’ve focused less on what people want and more on what naturally wants to come out of me,” Lake says. “Somehow that’s translated to crossing genres.”

The instinct to create from conviction rather than category mirrors the broader movement driving the momentum of faith-based music. Artists are releasing what feels true, and audiences are responding. For as long as listeners continue to champion the music that resonates with them, this softening of lines shows no signs of slowing down.

MusicRow Weekly (News, Charts, More…)

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This week’s edition of The MusicRow Weekly brings a slate of major announcements spanning awards news, executive shifts, management updates and new creative ventures. Click here to see the full edition.

The Academy of Country Music revealed that the ACM Awards will return to Las Vegas for its 61st annual ceremony, set for May 17 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The show will once again stream live on Prime Video, with an additional livestream available through the Amazon Music channel on Twitch. Festivities will begin early as ACM Awards Week kicks off in Las Vegas on May 15.

Capitol Christian Music Group announced several promotions and a new hire. Carlos Monnaco has been elevated to Executive Vice President of Finance, while Garrett Davis rises to Senior Vice President of A&R. Elizabeth Brock steps into the role of Vice President of National Promotions. Rounding out the leadership additions, Michael Fogarty joins the company as Vice President of Digital Marketing.

Jody Williams has expanded his role with Vince Gill. Williams will now oversee management duties for Gill through his new venture, Little Guitar Management. Longtime manager Larry Fitzgerald will continue supporting the team as a consultant, while Jennifer Templeton remains Gill’s day-to-day manager.

Other notable leadership updates include Lisa Hresko’s promotion to Chief Operating Officer at A2IM, accompanied by her appointment as the inaugural President of the Foundation of Independent Music. Sony Music Publishing elevated Jeff Smarr to Senior Vice President, Global Copyright. Additionally, Luma Business Management revealed that Mallori Kirchenschlager has been named Partner.

Timmy McKeever has entered a new management agreement with The Familie, where he will be co-managed by Steve Astephen, Chase Berlin and Royce Risser, alongside Jason McKeever. Emily Peacock has launched Peacock Publishing and Creative Consulting, while Dustin Boyer, Bobby Dirienzo and Olivia Pierce have teamed up to form Industry Plant, a new creative marketing agency. Josiah Siska has secured new representation under Walk Off Entertainment. Singer-songwriter Madison Kozak has signed a co-publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music Nashville in partnership with The Core Entertainment.

In addition, the latest MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart is included. Blake Shelton remains in the No. 1 spot with “Stay Country or Die Tryin’.” Explore more chart data here.

The MusicRow Weekly is delivered every Friday, featuring Nashville’s top music industry news, exclusive interviews, song reviews, radio and songwriter charts and more. Sign up for free here.

Blake Shelton Stays At No. 1 On The MusicRow Radio Chart

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Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton’s “Stay Country or Die Tryin’” remains the No. 1 song on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart this week.

The track is off of his recent, 13th studio album For Recreational Use Only and was written by Sam Ellis, Graham Barham, Drew Parker and Beau Bailey.

Shelton is returning to The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace next year for his eight-show “Blake Shelton: Live in Las Vegas” residency from Jan. 15-31.

“Stay Country or Die Tryin’” currently sits at No. 9 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 9 on the Mediabase chart.

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

JUST IN: Jody Williams To Lead Vince Gill’s Management Team

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Jody Williams.

Jody Williams, Founder and CEO of independent music publishing company Jody Williams Songs (JWS), has taken on management duties for Vince Gill under his new management company, Little Guitar Management.

Williams has served as Gill’s publisher for four years. Larry Fitzgerald, Gill’s manager for over forty years, remains as consultant to Williams. Long-time colleague to Fitzgerald, Jennifer Templeton remains as Gill’s day-to-day manager.

“Taking on this new role with Vince feels like a calling and a natural evolution,” shares Williams. “My motivation is to ensure that Vince’s career aspirations for the near future are realized and his long term legacy includes milestones he has not yet reached. Nobody does Vince Gill like Vince Gill. His unique musical aesthetic has served him well his whole career. I’m honored to work alongside Vince, and very grateful for Larry and Jennifer’s support.”

“Throughout my career I’ve put great care into putting teams together around our artists, yet it was only recently that I used those skills one final time for my buddy Vince,” Fitzgerald reflects. “I’ve always admired Jody’s vision, organizational, and decision-making skills, and he has an ability to engage with talent in meaningful ways. Already a member of Vince’s team as his publisher, we know his passion is unparalleled.”

Williams previously held posts as VP, Creative for BMI, President of MCA Music Nashville, and his independent publishing company Jody Williams Music. He is former Chairman of the Board of the Country Music Association. Currently, he is Board Chairman of The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as a trustee. Williams will continue as CEO of JWS in addition to managing Gill. VP and General Manager of JWS, Nina Jenkins Fisher, will continue to oversee all day-to-day aspects of the publishing company.

Williams can be reached at jody@littleguitarmgmt.com and will retain jody@jodywilliamssongs.co for publishing business.