The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) has announced its Gold & Platinum Class Of 2021, recognizing artists who achieved Gold or Platinum status for the very first time. This year 43 artists from several different genres earned their first Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum certification.

“This year’s ‘Class Of 2021’ first-time Gold & Platinum Awards club joins a towering group of musical giants – legends who have shaped our culture and achieved the very highest level of creative and commercial success. It’s especially great to see this year’s crop of Nashville-based stars carrying on the Music City’s legacy launching amazing careers and Gold & Platinum success,” RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier tells MusicRow. “Congratulations to all of this year’s artists and the label teams that helped them reach this incredible milestone moment. We can’t wait to see what you do next!”

Of the 43 artists recognized, Wheelhouse Records’ Elvie Shane received his first Gold record for his breakout single, “My Boy.”

“Music isn’t just the noise we make,” shared Shane in a statement about the achievement. “It is the people that consume it. This song isn’t just a song. It is a chapter out of my personal journey. A sincerest ‘Thank You’ to my listeners for giving my story a Gold record.”

Pictured (L-R): – Brian Wolf (Maverick Management), JoJamie Hahr (BBR Music Group), Elvie Shane, Jay Jones (BBR Music Group)

Big Loud Records / Back Blocks Music and Republic Records artist Lily Rose was awarded her first RIAA plaque this year, with her debut single “Villian” earning Gold status. The achievements add to a triumphant year for Rose, who was just named as part of MusicRow‘s Next Big Thing Class of 2022.

“I’m still taken aback at how much ‘Villain’ has not only changed my life, but also helped a lot of people feel seen and comforted in tough relationships,” Rose tells MusicRow. “It’s pretty much the only reason we do what we do — for people to discover 3 minutes of lyric and music that makes them feel something. I’m extremely proud to do this for a living, and so thankful for the fans for connecting with this record.”

Lily Rose. Photo: John Shearer

Also representing the Nashville music industry is singer/songwriter/rapper Jelly Roll, who received two Gold records this year for “Creature (feat. Tech N9ne & Krizz Kaliko)” and “Save Me.” In an Instagram post shared in September, Jelly Roll thanked his fans for their support.

For the full Gold & Platinum Class Of 2021 list, click here.

Old Crow Medicine Show announced their seventh studio album, Paint This Town, releasing April 22 via ATO Records. The band also shared a music video for the album’s title track “Paint This Town,” a swinging anthem that fully embodies the band’s carefree troublemaking over the last two decades. The video was directed by Travis Nicholson and turns back time to show younger versions of the band’s six members.

“This song is about growing up in a small town, and having to make fun wherever you could find it,” explains bandleader Ketch Secor. “Our band has always drawn its inspiration from those elemental American places, where water towers profess town names, where the Waffle House and the gas station are the only spots to gather; this is the scenery for folk music in the 21st century. And the John Henry’s and Casey Jones of today are the youth who rise up out of these aged burgs undeterred, undefeated, and still kicking.”

Paint This Town is a return to form for Old Crow Medicine Show, showcasing their ability to merge profound introspection with the rapturous string band revival sound that has made them one of the most influential and respected bands today. Their most incisive body of work to date, the new album shines a light on the darker aspects of the American experience with character-driven songs underpinned by the band’s vision for a more harmonious future. The album was recorded Spring of 2021 in Old Crow’s own Hartland Studio, where they co-produced it with Matt Ross-Spang (John Prine, Jason Isbell), taking a far more insular approach than their previous work. The process unlocked a new level of creative freedom, reviving the band’s spirit of pure abandon and making way for the deliberate unpredictability that recalls their earliest days busking on the street.

“At the end of the day, we’re still just trying to stop you on the street and get you to put a dollar in the guitar case,” says Morgan Jahnig. “Then once we’ve got your attention, we’re gonna tell you about things like the opioid epidemic and the Confederate flag and what’s happening with the environment—but we’re gonna do it with a song and dance. We feel a great obligation to talk about the more difficult things happening out there in the world, but we also feel obligated to make sure everyone’s having a great time while we do it.”

Old Crow Medicine Show released three tracks in the last year that all speak to the current state of the world—“Nashville Rising,” “Quarantined” and “Pray For America.” They also appeared on a duet with Keb’ Mo’ titled “The Medicine Man,” and recently teamed up with filmmaker Julia Golonka to create a video for their 2008 track “Motel In Memphis,” raising funds for Nashville’s community-based grassroots organization Gideon’s Army. One of the most enduring bands of the last two decades, Old Crow Medicine Show has garnered widespread acclaim from NPR, Associated Press, Rolling Stone, Billboard, The New York Times and many more.

In 2020, the band’s East Nashville-based Hartland Studio became home to their regular “Hartland Hootenanny” live stream variety show, which returns on December 18 for a special holiday episode featuring special guest Brittney Spencer. The show airs at 7:00pm CT and will broadcast live on the band’s YouTube and Facebook.

Old Crow is currently on tour and will return to the Ryman Auditorium for their annual New Years Eve performances on December 30 and 31. Find a full list of tour dates at www.crowmedicine.com/tour.

Paint This Town Tracklist
1. Paint This Town
2. Bombs Away
3. Gloryland
4. Lord Willing and the Creek Don’t Rise
5. Honey Chile
6. Reasons To Run
7. Painkiller
8. Used To Be A Mountain
9. DeFord Rides Again
10. New Mississippi Flag
11. John Brown’s Dream
12. Hillbilly Boy

Luke Combs Racks Up Fresh Round Of RIAA Certifications

Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s Caryl Atwood; Sony Music Entertainment’s Dennis Kooker, Jennifer Fowler, Darren Stupak, and Kevin Kelleher; SMN’s Jennifer Way and Randy Goodman; Luke Combs; Make Wake Artists’ Chris Kappy and Sophia Sansone; Columbia Nashville’s Lyndsay Church; River House Artists’ Lynn Oliver-Cline; SMN’s Liz Cost; RHA’s Zebb Luster. Photo: Zack Massey

Luke Combs is celebrating a round of new RIAA certification as his No. 1 album, What You See Is What You Get, has been certified 3x Platinum, while his hit debut album, This One’s For You, is now 4x Platinum.

Five of Combs’ No. 1 singles have also received new certifications. “Beer Never Broke My Heart” was certified 4x Platinum, “Forever After All” and “Even Though I’m Leaving” hit 3x Platinum, and “1, 2 Many” and “Does To Me” feat. Eric Church both hit Platinum.

The achievements add to a triumphant few weeks for Combs, who is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for “Forever After All.” Combs was also recently named Entertainer of the Year at The 55th Annual CMA Awards and once again made history as his latest single, “Cold As You,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay and Mediabase/Country Aircheck charts.

Hannah Dasher Performs at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Annual Nightfall at the Hall Celebration

Hannah Dasher performs. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Breakout country artist Hannah Dasher took the stage last night (Dec. 7) at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for its ninth annual Nightfall at the Hall concert. The event is an after-hours celebration held exclusively for the museum’s Troubadour members, a community of young leaders, ages 21 to 45, who collaborate with other like-minded professionals in supporting their community and the museum.

Nightfall at the Hall admission is a benefit of Troubadour membership. Young professionals can become a Troubadour member until Dec. 14, 2021, at a discounted rate of $5 off an individual Troubadour membership and $10 off a dual membership.

Prior to Dasher’s performance, student artist Jazmine Croom performed “Let’s Go with the Flow,” a song that she wrote with museum staff. Jazmine, a Metro Nashville Public Schools student, has participated in a variety of museum songwriting programs since 2019.

Anita Cochran Donates $10,000 To MusicCares

Pictured (L-R): Alicia Warwick, Senior Executive Director Nashville Chapter of the Recording Academy; Debbie Carroll, Vice President, Health and Human Services, MusiCares; Susan Stewart, Managing Director, Songwriters & Composers Wing, Recording Academy; Anita Cochran; Rondal Richardson, Senior Entertainment and Donor Relations Liaison, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Photo: Glenn Sweitzer

ACM and CMA-nominated artist Anita Cochran was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and has spent the time since focused on beating the illness. Unable to work, several music industry charities helped Cochran financially. In an attempt to repay those organizations, she launched her own charity, The Love Anchors Fund.

Earlier this year, Cochran delivered on her promise and presented the Opry Trust Fund with a $10,000 donation. Most recently, she presented another $10,000 to MusiCares, a partner of the Recording Academy. Cochran has also unveiled that her “Love Anchors Concert Series” will return in 2022.

“I am so appreciative of these friends who have helped host these events with me. And, to all the artists, Sara Evans, Terri Clark, Jamie O’Neal, Caroline Dawn Johnson, Brandy Clark, Thompson Square, Jerrod Neiman, and more who have taken the stage, so far, to be a part of this incredible mission, I am so thankful,” Cochran shares. “As the producer of this series, I could not do it alone. I am blessed to have a small but mighty, staff and so many volunteers that help to make it all possible. Music is a healer, I know that firsthand. And through music I intend to reach out to as many people as I can.”

“We are so thankful for Anita’s generosity and to the artists who made the events possible,” adds Debbie Carroll, VP, Health and Human Services at MusiCares. “Anita’s goal to pay it forward is inspiring and we are grateful. MusiCares is honored to provide support to resilient artists like Anita and so many others.”

Kinkead Entertainment Agency Signs Autumn Kings

Autumn Kings

Autumn Kings has signed with Kinkead Entertainment Agency.

Founded in late 2015, the group has opened for Platinum-selling artists, such as X Ambassadors, The Tea Party, Dorothy, and Billy Raffoul. Additionally, their 2019 released, “Electrified,” was featured as a Detroit Red Wings goal song during the teams 2018-2019 season.

Autumn Kings has accumulated over 18 million streams, as well as earned the COCA Mainstage Artist of the Year award. With regular rotation on Windsor/Detroit radio stations, their most recent single, “Want You To Stay,” has already received over 1.7 million streams. The band will also join Stereos on their 2022 Canadian tour.

“When people come up to us after shows and tell us we changed their lives through our music, that’s when we know we are doing our job,” the band shares. “We’re grateful for all of the people who have given us the opportunity to do music as a career.”

Jason Aldean performs onstage for SiriusXM and Pandora’s Small Stage Series. Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for SiriusXM and Pandora

Jason Aldean will perform for the Pandora LIVE virtual event on Dec. 14 at 9 p.m. ET. As Pandora’s No. 1 most-streamed country artist of all time, Aldean will perform new music from his 10th studio album Macon during the show, along with fan favorites. Listeners can RSVP for free here.

Ania Hammar from SiriusXM’s The Highway will host the show, which was filmed as part of SiriusXM and Pandora’s Small Stage Series in Nashville at Marathon Music Works last month on the day Aldean released Macon.

Highlights of the concert special include an in-depth interview between Aldean and Hammar, and a segment called “The Mysterious Merch Man,” where Aldean pranks unsuspecting fans by going undercover as his own merch man. An encore presentation of the entire event will immediately follow the initial airing on live.pandora.com.

In collaboration with Pluto TV, Pandora has also launched Pandora LIVE: Backstage with Jason Aldean, a new station for fans to hear behind-the-scenes stories from Aldean and a mix of songs that inspire him. After the virtual event, this station will be updated to include live performance tracks and commentary from the show.