Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 37th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank, we take a closer look at the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year category.
The Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year honors a Nashville songwriter who wrote or co-wrote their first top 10 country song via radio or streaming during the eligibility period. Outside nominations from Nashville’s publishing community are considered for this award.
This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting is now open and closes on Aug. 15 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscriber here.
Grady Block co-wrote the smash hit “I’m The Problem,” recorded by Morgan Wallen, alongside Wallen, Jamie McLaughlin, Ernest and Charlie Handsome. Block has also had other cuts with Wallen, Ernest, Josh Ross, Dylan Scott and more.
Blake Bollinger earned his first hit with the Corey Kent recorded “This Heart” with Michael Tyler, Thomas Archer and Jacob Hackworth. Bollinger has also had songs cut by Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, Justin Moore, LOCASH, Parmalee, Jake Owen and others.
Johnny Clawson scored two hits with “Weren’t For The Wind,” recorded by and written with Ella Langley and Joybeth Taylor, and “Texas” recorded by Blake Shelton and written with Josh Dorr, Kyle Sturrock and Lalo Guzman. Clawson has also had cuts with Jon Pardi, Chris Young and McCoy Moore.
Abram Dean co-wrote the Parmalee hit “Gonna Love You” with the band’s Matt Thomas and Andy Sheridan and David Fanning. Dean has also had songs recorded by Lainey Wilson, Josh Ross, Ian Munsick, Dylan Marlowe and more.
Josh Dorr earned his first hit with the Blake Shelton-recorded “Texas,” which he wrote with Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock and Lalo Guzman. Dorr has also had cuts with Jordan Davis, Jon Pardi, Ella Langley, Lana Del Ray and Quavo.
Lalo Guzman scored his first hits with Blake Shelton’s “Texas,” co-written with Josh Dorr, Johnny Clawson and Kyle Sturrock, as well as “Cowboy Songs” co-written and recorded by George Birge with Michael Tyler and Matt McGinn. Guzman has also had other cuts with Jason Aldean, Nate Smith, Madeline Merlo and Dustin Lynch.
Lauren Hungate co-wrote the Bailey Zimmerman hit “Holy Smokes” with Zimmerman, Austin Shawn, Michael Tyler and Ben Stennis. Hungate has also had songs recorded by Carly Pearce, Tucker Wetmore, Mackenzie Porter, Lauren Watkins, Carter Faith and others.
Jenna Johnson earned her first hit with “All The Way” by BigXthaPlug featuring Bailey Zimmerman. The song was cowritten by BigXthaPlug, Ben Johnson, KK Johnson, Charles Nelson Forsberg and Krishon Gaines. Johnson has also had cuts with Nate Smith, David Guetta, Bebe Rexha, Ty Dolla $ign and more.
KK Johnson scored her first hit with BigXthaPlug’s “All The Way” featuring Bailey Zimmerman, written with BigXthaPlug, Ben Johnson, Jenna Johnson, Charles Nelson Forsberg and Krishon Gaines. Johnson has also had songs recorded by Avery Anna, Kylie Morgan, David Guetta, Bebe Rexha, Ty Dolla $ign and others.
Blake Pendergrass scored his first hit with “Just In Case,” written with and recorded by Morgan Wallen with ERNEST, John Byron, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Charlie Handsome, Josh Thompson and Alex Bak. Pendergrass has many more cuts on Wallen as well as Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Post Malone, HARDY, ERNEST, Warren Zeiders and more.
Josh Phillips wrote the Cody Johnson-recorded hit “Dirt Cheap” alone. He has also had songs cut by Chase Matthew, Dillon Carmichael, Chris Janson, George Birge and Brantley Gilbert.
Daniel Ross earned his first hit with “Lies Lies Lies,” recorded by Morgan Wallen, with Jessie Jo Dillon, Josh Miller and Chris Tompkins. Ross has also had more cuts with Wallen as well as Jelly Roll, Jon Pardi, Tim McGraw, Chase Matthew and others.
Andy Sheridan co-wrote the Parmalee hit “Gonna Love You” with the band’s Matt Thomas and Abram Dean and David Fanning. Sheridan has also had songs recorded by Chris Janson, Sam Barber and Avery Anna.
Kyle Sturrock earned his first hit with the Blake Shelton recorded “Texas,” which he wrote with Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr and Lalo Guzman. Sturrock has also had cuts with Dierks Bentley, Chris Young, Matt Stell and more.
Joybeth Taylor scored her first hit with “Weren’t For The Wind,” recorded by and written with Ella Langley and Johnny Clawson. Taylor also has cuts with Gavin Adcock, Kameron Marlowe, Josh Ross, BigXthaPlug, Vincent Mason, Chase Matthew, Wyatt Flores, Corey Kent, Warren Zeiders and others.
Nick Walsh co-wrote the Riley Green hit “Damn Good Day To Leave” with Green, Jonathan Singleton and Erik Dylan. Walsh has also had other songs recorded by Green, Jake Worthington and McCoy Moore.
Jelly Roll, Cece Winans, Dan + Shay, More Unite For Stand Up to Cancer Fundraising Special
/by Lorie HollabaughThe telecast will also feature performances by Noah Cyrus, Gavin DeGraw, Marcus King, Brothers Osborne, Jon Pardi and Winans joined by the Nashville Community Gospel Choir, all lending their talents to help raise critical funds for cancer research.
The special will also include pre-taped segments featuring Kevin Bacon, Jamie Foxx, Tim McGraw, Zoe Saldaña, Keith Urban and Reese Witherspoon. Sheryl Crow will serve as the evening’s host and also perform, along with remarks by SU2C co-founder Katie Couric. Music icon Dolly Parton previously participated in a tune-in campaign to raise awareness for the Nashville telecast, which will feature stories from survivors whose lives were transformed by research made possible through donor support. Viewers will also hear from SU2C-funded researchers about recent breakthroughs in early detection and cancer treatment, along with the growing potential of AI to accelerate progress in the field.
The one-hour special will air simultaneously on over 30 participating media platforms across the U.S. All four major U.S. networks will carry the show, with broadcasters donating prime time slots to support the cause. The telecast will also be available to watch on-demand across multiple digital and streaming platforms.
As a lead-up to the special, SU2C has launched the #Up2Us to #StandUpToCancer campaign, which runs through Aug. 31. Now in its fifth year, the month-long fundraising initiative brings together creators from across Twitch, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube to support groundbreaking cancer research. The campaign features diverse livestream content, from gaming to other engaging genres, and creators will host fundraising streams to raise awareness and support SU2C’s mission to fund research aimed at detecting, treating, and ultimately curing all cancers.
Notable participating streamers and creators include Tess Bohne, Neebs Gaming, Trisha Hershberger, The Jang, KandidlyKayla, Stormfall33 and Khleo Thomas. SMOSH and Marissa Hill are among the YouTube creators attending the SU2C telecast.
LOCASH Celebrates Multi-Week No. 1 ‘Hometown Home’
/by Lauryn SinkJacob Rice, Zach Abend, LOCASH’s Preston Brust, LOCASH’s Chris Lucas, Andy Albert. Photo: Larry McCormack For BMI
LOCASH brought together friends, family and industry partners on the BMI rooftop on Tuesday (Aug. 5) to celebrate their multi-week radio No. 1 hit, “Hometown Home.”
The song, penned by the band’s Preston Brust and Chris Lucas along with Zach Abend and Andy Albert, and produced by Jacob Rice, spent two weeks atop the radio charts earlier this year. It marks the first single and first No. 1 for the duo’s own Galaxy Label Group.
Pictured (L-R, front row) :Jacob Rice, Zach Abend, LOCASH’s Preston Brust, LOCASH’s Chris Lucas, Andy Albert. (L-R, back row): Relative Music Group’s Jesse Matkosky, BMG’s Chris Oglesby, BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, ASCAP’s Kele Currier, Concord’s Matt Turner, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, Galaxy Label Group’s Skip Bishop. Photo: Larry McCormack For BMI
The event kicked off with local high school Father Ryan’s drumline calling the packed crowd to attention. Hosted by BMI and ASCAP and emceed by BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, the event honored the team behind the song with speeches from ASCAP’s Kele Currier, BMG’s Chris Oglesby, Concord’s Matt Turner, Relative Music Group’s Jesse Matkosky and Galaxy Label Group’s Skip Bishop.
Many echoed the sentiment that the duo’s success comes not just from how hard they work but from who they are: the kind of guys who put family first, lead with intention and embody the qualities of leadership both in and out of the writing room.
Studio Bank sponsored the event, with Kari Barnhart presenting a special donation in honor of the writers to LOCASH’s I Love This Life Fund.
“I just want to give a big thanks to Chris and Preston. You guys took a chance on me and I’m really blessed to have met you and started recording demos back in the day. Thank you for making me a part of everything you do,” Rice said, kicking off the remarks from the team behind the song.
Abend expressed the same feelings, thanking each person on stage for allowing him to be part of the single.
“When we left [the day we wrote this song], we knew it felt like something. I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this,” Albert added.
Last to take the microphone was the duo.
“I remember writing on Zoom, and then I remember recording it with you guys…and half of the session was laughing. Just laughing and bringing joy and happiness. It was so amazing to write with these guys,” recalled Lucas.
“I look across this room and I just see so many stories, memories and friends. It would take all evening to pick this party to pieces and say thank you for this and that. Its incredible to watch this community come together to celebrate songwriters, producers, artistry and No. 1s,” said Brust. “This No. 1 right here is for all the new folks moving into town right now. You can do it. Your No. 1 is waiting for you. And this is also for the folks who have been here 25 years…You can still get No. 1s. You can still pull this all together.”
To wrap up the night, Locash, alongside Abend, Albert and Rice, took the stage for a singalong of the celebrated single and the duo’s hit “I Love This Life.”
Ben Goldsmith Extends Publishing Deal With Kobalt Music
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L to R): Stephanie Cox (Kobalt), Ben Goldsmith, Kevin Lane (Kobalt).
Songwriter Ben Goldsmith has extended his publishing deal with Kobalt Music.
Goldsmith originally signed with Kobalt in 2022, and has had songs recorded by Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith, Braxton Keith, Kat Luna, Braedon Barnhill, Tigirlily Gold, Dillon James and others.
“No one works harder than Ben,” says Senior Director, Creative Kevin Lane. “He’s put in countless hours to get to this point and I’m so glad we are seeing that hard work begin to pay off.”
“I am very excited and grateful to continue working with Kevin, Stephanie and all of Kobalt. Since my early days in Nashville, Kevin has been a champion of me, and I am lucky to have him as my publisher. Kobalt feels like a family and I’m looking forward to the next chapter with them,” says Goldsmith.
2025 MusicRow Awards Nominees For Breakthrough Songwriter Of The Year
/by MusicRow StaffFollowing the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 37th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank, we take a closer look at the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year category.
The Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year honors a Nashville songwriter who wrote or co-wrote their first top 10 country song via radio or streaming during the eligibility period. Outside nominations from Nashville’s publishing community are considered for this award.
This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting is now open and closes on Aug. 15 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscriber here.
Grady Block co-wrote the smash hit “I’m The Problem,” recorded by Morgan Wallen, alongside Wallen, Jamie McLaughlin, Ernest and Charlie Handsome. Block has also had other cuts with Wallen, Ernest, Josh Ross, Dylan Scott and more.
Blake Bollinger earned his first hit with the Corey Kent recorded “This Heart” with Michael Tyler, Thomas Archer and Jacob Hackworth. Bollinger has also had songs cut by Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, Justin Moore, LOCASH, Parmalee, Jake Owen and others.
Johnny Clawson scored two hits with “Weren’t For The Wind,” recorded by and written with Ella Langley and Joybeth Taylor, and “Texas” recorded by Blake Shelton and written with Josh Dorr, Kyle Sturrock and Lalo Guzman. Clawson has also had cuts with Jon Pardi, Chris Young and McCoy Moore.
Abram Dean co-wrote the Parmalee hit “Gonna Love You” with the band’s Matt Thomas and Andy Sheridan and David Fanning. Dean has also had songs recorded by Lainey Wilson, Josh Ross, Ian Munsick, Dylan Marlowe and more.
Josh Dorr earned his first hit with the Blake Shelton-recorded “Texas,” which he wrote with Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock and Lalo Guzman. Dorr has also had cuts with Jordan Davis, Jon Pardi, Ella Langley, Lana Del Ray and Quavo.
Lalo Guzman scored his first hits with Blake Shelton’s “Texas,” co-written with Josh Dorr, Johnny Clawson and Kyle Sturrock, as well as “Cowboy Songs” co-written and recorded by George Birge with Michael Tyler and Matt McGinn. Guzman has also had other cuts with Jason Aldean, Nate Smith, Madeline Merlo and Dustin Lynch.
Lauren Hungate co-wrote the Bailey Zimmerman hit “Holy Smokes” with Zimmerman, Austin Shawn, Michael Tyler and Ben Stennis. Hungate has also had songs recorded by Carly Pearce, Tucker Wetmore, Mackenzie Porter, Lauren Watkins, Carter Faith and others.
Jenna Johnson earned her first hit with “All The Way” by BigXthaPlug featuring Bailey Zimmerman. The song was cowritten by BigXthaPlug, Ben Johnson, KK Johnson, Charles Nelson Forsberg and Krishon Gaines. Johnson has also had cuts with Nate Smith, David Guetta, Bebe Rexha, Ty Dolla $ign and more.
KK Johnson scored her first hit with BigXthaPlug’s “All The Way” featuring Bailey Zimmerman, written with BigXthaPlug, Ben Johnson, Jenna Johnson, Charles Nelson Forsberg and Krishon Gaines. Johnson has also had songs recorded by Avery Anna, Kylie Morgan, David Guetta, Bebe Rexha, Ty Dolla $ign and others.
Blake Pendergrass scored his first hit with “Just In Case,” written with and recorded by Morgan Wallen with ERNEST, John Byron, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Charlie Handsome, Josh Thompson and Alex Bak. Pendergrass has many more cuts on Wallen as well as Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Post Malone, HARDY, ERNEST, Warren Zeiders and more.
Josh Phillips wrote the Cody Johnson-recorded hit “Dirt Cheap” alone. He has also had songs cut by Chase Matthew, Dillon Carmichael, Chris Janson, George Birge and Brantley Gilbert.
Daniel Ross earned his first hit with “Lies Lies Lies,” recorded by Morgan Wallen, with Jessie Jo Dillon, Josh Miller and Chris Tompkins. Ross has also had more cuts with Wallen as well as Jelly Roll, Jon Pardi, Tim McGraw, Chase Matthew and others.
Andy Sheridan co-wrote the Parmalee hit “Gonna Love You” with the band’s Matt Thomas and Abram Dean and David Fanning. Sheridan has also had songs recorded by Chris Janson, Sam Barber and Avery Anna.
Kyle Sturrock earned his first hit with the Blake Shelton recorded “Texas,” which he wrote with Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr and Lalo Guzman. Sturrock has also had cuts with Dierks Bentley, Chris Young, Matt Stell and more.
Joybeth Taylor scored her first hit with “Weren’t For The Wind,” recorded by and written with Ella Langley and Johnny Clawson. Taylor also has cuts with Gavin Adcock, Kameron Marlowe, Josh Ross, BigXthaPlug, Vincent Mason, Chase Matthew, Wyatt Flores, Corey Kent, Warren Zeiders and others.
Nick Walsh co-wrote the Riley Green hit “Damn Good Day To Leave” with Green, Jonathan Singleton and Erik Dylan. Walsh has also had other songs recorded by Green, Jake Worthington and McCoy Moore.
Musicians Corner Returns To Centennial Park This Fall
/by Lorie HollabaughMusicians Corner, Nashville’s free concert series from the Centennial Park Conservancy, returns this fall with a five-week season of live music beginning Aug. 29.
The free concert series kicks off with a three-day Free Fest in partnership with Lightning 100 and presented by Amazon Aug. 29-31. Over Labor Day weekend, Yola, Bre Kennedy, Billy Allen + The Pollies, Lilly Winwood, Kara Frazier, The Record Company, Judy Blank, Benny G , Jacob Perleoni, The Brummies, Jonathan Plevyak, Kashena Sampson and The Magi are all set to perform.
Other artists among the 38 appearing on the Musicians Corner stage this fall are Cedric Burnside, Them Vibes, Lockeland Strings with Amanda Shires, The Band Loula, Esther Rose and Kacy Hill, among others. On Sept. 12, Musicians Corner will partner again with Americanafest for a special concert offering the Nashville community an opportunity to see official Americanafest showcases for free.
“Musicians Corner is the perfect excuse to get outdoors with friends and family, enjoy cooler fall temperatures, and experience free live music in one of the most beautiful spots in the city,” says Justin Branam, Musicians Corner Executive Producer. “We’re excited to return to Centennial Park this fall with five weeks of free live music from both new and established artists across genres. We are especially excited for the return of Free Fest, a three-day music festival happening during Labor Day weekend in partnership with our friends at Lightning 100.”
“Musicians Corner is a live music tradition in Nashville,” adds Dan Buckley, Lightning 100 Program Director. “The opportunity for Lightning 100 to partner again with this beloved concert series is an honor and privilege. At the end of the day it’s events like this that make Nashville one of the best cities on the planet to live in. Free Fest is for everyone and we are proud to put our name on it.”
BREAKING: Sarah D’Hilly & Brad Krause Join MCA
/by Madison HahnenSarah D’Hilly & Brad Krause
Sarah D’Hilly has joined MCA as Senior Vice President of Digital Marketing and Strategy.
D’Hilly joins MCA with 20 years of country music industry experience under her belt. Her most recent role was with Apple Music, where she led music business partnerships, content strategy and artist marketing initiatives. While at Apple, she oversaw the launch of the songwriter-driven Lost & Found series, Apple Music Sessions and bespoke projects like Beyonce Covered Sessions and Toby Keith Covered Sessions.
Before Apple Music, she was the Director of Commerce & Digital Strategy at Monument Records, and the Director of Digital Marketing at Borman Entertainment. Her previous work also includes serving on the Digital Committee of Country Radio Seminar and leading panels at Music Business Conference and SXSW. D’Hilly is a member of the 2026 Leadership Music class and a 2025 Billboard Country Power Players honoree.
“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most passionate people in music, and I’m incredibly excited to take everything I’ve learned into this new chapter with MCA,” says D’Hilly. “This label has a legacy of artist development and storytelling that I deeply respect, and I look forward to helping shape what that looks like in the digital era.”
In addition to D’Hilly, Brad Krause has also joined MCA as Senior Director of Digital Strategy. A University of Southern California graduate, Krause has held previous roles at Warner Records, Interscope and The Trenches. In his roles he has gained expertise in platform dynamics, digital storytelling and audience behavior by helming digital campaigns across a variety of artists and brands.
”I’ve enjoyed working with the MCA team and I’m excited to step into this role during such an exciting time,” adds Krause. “I’m passionate about building authentic, community-driven campaigns and can’t wait to collaborate with Sarah to create meaningful digital moments for our artists and their fans.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome Sarah and Brad to the MCA team,” shares Katie McCartney, EVP/GM of MCA. “Their creative vision, passion for artists, and forward-thinking digital expertise make them invaluable as we continue to evolve as a creative hub.”
D’Hilly can be reached at sarah.dhilly@umusic.com and Krause can be reached at brad.krause@umusic.com.
Jake Mitchell Signs With Riser House
/by Lauryn SinkPictured (L-R, back row): Allison Pilotti (Riser House), Aaron Steinberg (Counsel, Riser House), Lauren Spahn (Counsel, Riser House), Matt Cottingham (Counsel, Jake Mitchell). (L-R, front row): Brandon Perdue (Riser House), Teddy, Jake Mitchell and Kirby Mathews (Riser House).
Writer-producer Jake Mitchell has signed an exclusive songwriting deal with Riser House.
Mitchell is known for his work on songs “One Beer” (HARDY, Lauren Alaina, Devin Dawson), “Some Girls” (Jameson Rodgers), “Unapologetically Country As Hell” (HARDY) and “Beer Don’t” (Morgan Wallen), along with additional releases from artists like Jordan Davis, Ashley McBryde, Kane Brown and Luke Bryan. Mitchell’s catalog of releases currently tops 2.5 billion on-demand streams. Additionally, he recently partnered with Riser House to sign Aaron Armstrong to a publishing agreement.
“I’ve known Jake for a long time, and have loved his writing for just as long,” says SVP of A&R + Publishing at Riser House, Brandon Perdue. “When I found out he was starting to look for his next publishing home, I immediately threw our name in the ring. To have the chance to work with such an incredible talent, who also happens to be an incredible human, is a publisher’s dream. It’s been so incredible to see that the rest of the community loves Jake just as much as we do. My entire team is ready to win, and win big, with Jake.”
“I couldn’t feel more blessed and thankful to have a team that understands me creatively and is aligned with my goals so quickly,” says Mitchell. “I’m ready to show up in this next season with a passion that inspires everyone I’m working with. I’m so excited to be with Brandon and the rest of the team at Riser House!”
On The Row: Zach John King Brings His Own Twist to Tradition
/by Lauryn SinkZach John King. Photo: Emma Shane Heim
Zach John King recently stopped by the MusicRow office to share a few songs. Blending storytelling, humor and a keen sense of self, his songs reveal a perspective that’s both relatable and distinctly his own.
The Georgia-born, Nashville-based Sony Music Nashville artist moved to town to be a songwriter, but quickly realized he missed having a chance to share his own stories from the stage. The self-titled “wannabe cowboy” brings a voice that balances humor, grit and honesty, making each song feel like a peek into his world.
Zach John King visits with MusicRow team
“When it comes to my artistry, I want to make sure what you see is what you get. The more specific you are to yourself, the more people relate to it.”
King kicked off the visit by playing his introspective “Wannabe Cowboy,” a track about navigating the line between family tradition and his own version of life.
“Everyone moves here to be a cowboy. You look up to Waylon [Jennings] and Merle [Haggard] and think, ‘wow, those are awesome people.’ The only problem is I live in a cul-de-sac and I don’t really love horses,” King joked. “But, my grandparents lived out in Albuquerque, New Mexico and my granddad is a cowboy. That’s in my blood too.”
He followed that with the reflective “I Deserve A Heartbreak,” a tune King wrote about regretting how he ended a past relationship. He closed out his visit with fan-favorite “Lose You,” his highest streaming single to date.
King will finish out the summer opening Morgan Wallen’s “I’m The Problem Tour” before joining Luke Bryan and Gavin Adcock for select dates this fall.
Megan Moroney Celebrates Second No. 1 Hit With ‘Am I Okay?’
/by Lauryn SinkPictured (L-R): Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon, Megan Moroney and Kristian Bush. Photo: Catherine Powell
Megan Moroney gathered the Nashville music industry on Monday afternoon at her Emo Cowgirl Bar on Westin Nashville’s L27 rooftop to celebrate her most recent No. 1 hit, “Am I Okay?.” Hosted by SESAC, the event honored the artists, songwriters, publishers and industry team members who contributed to the single’s success.
The song, penned by Moroney, Jessie Jo Dillon and Luke Laird, and produced by Kristian Bush, marked the artist’s second No. 1 at radio, following her breakout hit “Tennessee Orange.”
The event was emceed by SESAC’s Shannan Hatch. Industry leaders took the microphone to honor each artist, writer and producer including BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Creative Nation/GMR’s Emily Furman, Big Machine Music’s Alex Heddle, Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, Sony Music Nashville’s Dennis Reese and Pinnacle’s David Devaul.
Pictured (Front Row, L-R): Emily Furman (Creative Nation), Jessie Jo Dillon (BMI/Songwriter), Megan Moroney (SESAC/Songwriter), Kristian Bush (BMI/Producer), Rusty Gaston (Sony Music Publishing). (Back Row, L-R): Luke Laird (GMR/Songwriter), Alex Heddle (Big Machine Music), Shannan Hatch (SESAC), Leslie Roberts (BMI). Photo: Catherine Powell
Many of these people spoke of Moroney’s talent, kindness and sharp understanding of her brand. Industry attendees repeatedly highlighted Moroney, Dillon and Laird’s writing dynamic, noting the high level of respect and admiration each one carries for the others.
“I am uniquely here with [Moroney] from the beginning. What this room probably can’t understand is the distance between celebrating right now and how long ago it was that [the team] made this,” Bush shared, referencing his long-standing relationship with Moroney, who interned with him while in college. “I once asked someone for advice on how to become a hit producer. They said it is really simple, just produce hit songs. This was a hit before it got to me.”
“One thing I want to say about Megan is that no matter what gets thrown at her, she holds her head high and is kind,” shared Dillon. “She is such a special human, aside from the music, and I’m so grateful to be your co-writer and your friend.”
Photo: Catherine Powell
Laird, who notched his 25th No. 1 with the song, told the story of discovering Moroney after hearing her sing “Hair Salon” and watching her performance at CMA Fest in 2022, leading him to reach out to ask her to write. “I’m just so grateful. She is always 20 steps ahead of all of us and it is just an honor to be here.”
To close out the celebration, Moroney took the microphone, thanking each member of her team.
“To my songwriters, writing with y’all is so effortless. [Kristian] has produced everything I’ve ever put out and I’m so grateful for you understanding my brain. I have such solid people around me, the producer, the songwriters, my team. I know in every corner I look there are genuine people who want what is best for me. They trust me, and my instincts, and that’s all you can ask for as a songwriter.”
2025 MusicRow Awards Nominees For Producer Of The Year
/by MusicRow StaffFollowing the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 37th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank, we take a closer look at the Producer of the Year category. This visionary class of nominees crafted up some of country music’s most innovative projects during the eligibility period of June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2025.
This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting is now open and closes on Aug. 15 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscriber here.
Will Bundy has continued to build momentum as both a producer and songwriter, contributing to a wide range of rising and established country acts. Over the past year, he produced tracks and projects for Cole Swindell, Ella Langley, Chase Matthew, Bryce Leatherwood, Graham Barham, Drew Green, Lauren Watkins, Hannah McFarland, McCoy Moore, and Jenna Paulette. In May, Bundy earned three ACM Awards, including one for producing Riley Green and Ella Langley’s duet “You Look Like You Love Me.”
Charlie Handsome produced major releases during the eligibility period for artists including Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, Thomas Rhett, Jelly Roll, and Dylan Scott. Alongside Joey Moi, he co-produced Wallen’s fourth studio album I’m The Problem, which debuted at No. 1 in seven countries and helped set a new record for the most simultaneous entries in Billboard Hot 100 history. He also led production on Post Malone’s country album F-1 Trillion. In addition to his production work, Handsome is a chart-topping songwriter.
Dann Huff continued his prolific run with production credits on recent projects by Kane Brown, Mackenzie Carpenter, Ashley Cooke, Brooks & Dunn, Riley Green, Caylee Hammack, Brian Kelley, Chris Lane, Ryan and Rory, Kameron Marlowe, Thomas Rhett, Neon Union, Keith Urban, Brett Young, and more. Highlights from the eligibility period include Riley Green’s Don’t Mind If I Do, Keith Urban’s High, Kane Brown’s The High Road, and Thomas Rhett’s About A Woman. Huff remains one of Nashville’s most sought-after producers.
Jay Joyce remained a go-to producer during the eligibility period, working on key projects for Eric Church, Lainey Wilson, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Whiskey Myers, and LANCO. He produced Church’s Evangeline vs. The Machine and Wilson’s Whirlwind, the latter earning him an ACM Award in May. Joyce also teamed up with Jon Pardi for his fifth studio album Honkytonk Hollywood, continuing a run of genre-shaping collaborations.
Joey Moi produced major releases during the eligibility period for Morgan Wallen, HARDY, ERNEST, Lauren Alaina, Dallas Smith, Lauren Watkins, Jake Worthington, and more. Alongside Charlie Handsome, he co-produced Wallen’s fourth studio album I’m The Problem, which debuted at No. 1 in seven countries and broke the record for the most simultaneous entries in Billboard Hot 100 history. The project also generated multiple country radio hits. Moi is also Partner and President at Big Loud.
Alysa Vanderheym produced Kelsea Ballerini’s album Patterns, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Albums Chart and No. 4 on the Billboard 200—marking a major milestone in Ballerini’s career. She also contributed production to Jelly Roll’s album Beautifully Broken. In addition to her production work, Vanderheym is an accomplished songwriter.