Pictured (L-R, back row): BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, CAM Creative’s Carole Ann Mobley, Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, Big Machine Music Publishing’s Tim Hunze, Warner Music Nashville’s Cris Lacy, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart and BMG’s Amy Scott; (L-R, front row): Ryan Larkins, Benjy Davis, Cody Johnson and Kat Higgins. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI
Cody Johnson commemorated his two latest chart-toppers at BMI on Thursday (Oct. 10) with a heartfelt celebration. The party honored Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins and Ryan Larkins, the co-writers of “The Painter,” and Josh Phillips, the sole writer of “Dirt Cheap.”
The tunes marked Johnson’s second and third No. 1 hits following 2022’s “‘Til You Can’t.” All three of the artist’s chart-toppers have been outside songs.
Not only that, all three have been given awards due to their craftsmanship. “‘Til You Can’t,” written by Matt Rogers and Ben Stennis, was named Best Country Song at the 2023 Grammy Awards and also won the 2022 CMA Award for Single of the Year.
Pictured (L-R, back row): Warner Chappell’s Bethany Mako, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, Warner Music Nashville’s Cris Lacy and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen. (L-R, front row): Josh Phillips and Cody Johnson. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI
So far, “The Painter” has been named Song of the Year at the 2024 Nashville Songwriter Awards and “Dirt Cheap” was Song of the Year at the MusicRow Awards. Both are nominated for Song of the Year at the upcoming CMA Awards.
Johnson’s newfound reputation as a friend to songwriters was highlighted by everyone who spoke, as was his propensity for selecting quality material for his albums.
After a welcome from BMI’s Clay Bradley, MaryAnn Keen took over as emcee. She orchestrated for “The Painter” to be celebrated first, bringing up Big Machine Music’s Tim Hunze, BMG’s Amy Hendon Scott, CAM Creative’s Carole-Ann Mobley and Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston.
To speak about “Dirt Cheap,” Keen invited Warner Chappell’s Bethany Mako to the podium. A special message from Phillip’s other publisher, Brantley Gilbert, was played on the screen.
Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart shared a special presentation announcing a donation to Different Day Foundation, an organization that empowers and supports women survivors as they overcome and heal from the systems of prostitution and exploitation.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s LB Cantrell, Ryan Larkins, Benjy Davis, Cody Johnson, Kat Higgins and MusicRow’s John Nix Arledge. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI
Warner Music Nashville’s Cris Lacy shared words about Johnson’s commitment to cutting the best songs, no matter who wrote them.
“Best song wins. He doesn’t look at people’s names or track records. He hears the song and then finds out who wrote it, because he cares about what the song means,” she said. “Cody Johnson is the guy who cuts double albums of outside songs in Nashville.”
When it came time to hear from the writers, they all thanked their villages of support, their peers, Johnson and his team.
“The life this song took on has been incredible,” Davis said of “The Painter.” “It’s been awesome to be a part of it.”
“Cody, I feel like you’re a co-writer on this because of how much you gave,” Higgins said. “You took it further than we could have imagined.”
“Thank you Lord for the gift of this song,” Larkins said. He and his wife Chauntay, who inspired “The Painter,” were celebrating their 16th wedding anniversary.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s John Nix Arledge, Josh Phillips, Cody Johnson and MusicRow’s LB Cantrell. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI
“This song has been a blessing. Thank you, Cody, for being as passionate about it as you are,” Phillips said of “Dirt Cheap.” “Thank you to my wife for telling me to send this song to Cody one night.”
When Johnson spoke, he shared his perspective on songwriting.
“All I ever wanted to be was a songwriter… All my heroes were songwriters,” he said. “When you become an artist and it starts to take off, it becomes a struggle [to write the best songs].
“I had the realization through Cris and Scott [Gunter] to start looking at outside songs,” he said. “When I started to see the impact it had on people who had written the songs I was cutting, it gave me a sense of humility and honor that I had never felt before–like I was getting to carry a flag into battle.
“I’m proud to be the guy carrying the flag for the songwriters, because it’s what I’ve always wanted to be,” Johnson said, bringing the room to a thunderous applause.
‘Concert For Carolina’ Adds Four More To Lineup, Announces Livestream
/by John Nix ArledgeLuke Combs, Eric Church, Billy Strings and James Taylor have partnered with Veeps to offer a livestream of “Concert For Carolina” on Saturday, Oct. 26. The decision to add a livestream was made after tickets immediately sold-out upon their release last Thursday (Oct. 10). The stream will provide an additional opportunity to raise funds for Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
The livestream will be available worldwide and, through the use of geotargeting, free to those affected by Hurricane Helene. For those not directly affected by the storm, the stream will cost $24.99. All proceeds from the stream will go to selected charities such as Samaritan’s Purse, Manna Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, Eblen Charities and the organizations supported by Chief Cares.
Additionally, North Carolina natives The Avett Brothers, Scotty McCreery, Chase Rice and Parmalee have joined the lineup for the event.
Click here to access the livestream on Oct. 26.
Weekly Register: Shaboozey Continues To Rule The Country Streaming Songs Chart
/by Liza AndersonShaboozey. Photo: Daniel Prakopcyk
Shaboozey‘s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” continues to rule the country streaming songs chart with 21 million new streams, adding to 801 million ATD, according to Luminate data.
Post Malone and Morgan Wallen‘s “I Had Some Help” stays at No. 2 with 17 million streams, adding to 713 million ATD, while Zach Bryan‘s “Pink Skies” sits at No. 3 with 13 million new streams, adding to 373 million ATD. Wallen’s “Lies, Lies, Lies” lands at No. 4 once again with 11.5 million streams, adding to 223 million ATD, as Bryan and Kacey Musgraves‘ “I Remember Everything” rests at No. 5 with 11 million new streams, adding to 1.04 billion ATD.
On the country albums chart, Wallen’s One Thing At A Time remains at the top with 50K in total consumption (871 album only/64 million song streams). Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion follows at No. 2 with 43K (3.2K album only/51 million song streams), while Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album rises to No. 3 with 32K (383 album only/41 million song streams). Bryan’s The Great American Bar Scene gets bumped to No. 4 with 30K (178 album only/39 million song streams), and Zach Bryan bides at No. 5 with 26K (2.2K album only/32 million song streams).
Artist Action: Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Blake Shelton, Jackson Dean, More
/by Lorie HollabaughCody Johnson Doubles The Fun At No. 1 Party For ‘Dirt Cheap,’ ‘The Painter’
Cody Johnson and Cris Lacy, Co-Chair and Co-President Warner Music Nashville. Photo: Jay Trevino
Five-time CMA nominee Cody Johnson gathered with industry members at BMI on Music Row last week for a double celebration of his No. 1 hits “Dirt Cheap” and “The Painter.” Penned by Josh Philips,“Dirt Cheap” was named Storyteller of The Year at the People’s Choice Country Awards and “The Painter” received NSAI 2024 Song of The Year honors for writers Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins and Ryan Larkins. Each of the songs have also garnered nominations for the upcoming CMA Awards, and both are included on Johnson’s Leather Deluxe Edition album, due out Nov. 1.
Jelly Roll Takes Madison Square Garden
Pictured (L-R): Peter Strickland, Jon Loba, Jelly Roll, Mathis Wolter and Joe Gillen
Jelly Roll gathered backstage with his BMG team at his Madison Square Garden show last week. He just released his 22-track album, Beautifully Broken, as well as a deluxe edition that includes six additional songs, Beautifully Broken (Pickin’ Up The Pieces).
Blake Shelton Goes Back To School In Ada To Share With Students
Music Will CPO Bryan Powell & Blake Shelton with Ada High School students and faculty. Photo: Christina Townsend
Blake Shelton made a surprise visit at Ada High School in Ada, Oklahoma to celebrate the launch and expansion of his hometown’s music program on behalf of Music Will, the largest nonprofit music education program for schools in the U.S. The kickoff event, a surprise visit for the students, welcomed the full 550+ Ada High School student body to hear Shelton share the story of his career and answer questions. It also celebrated the 10th anniversary of Shelton’s Platinum album Bringing Back the Sunshine, which features Ada’s town water tower on its album cover.
Jackson Dean Gets Platinum Surprise From Lainey Wilson
Jackson Dean celebrates his new certification ahead of his debut performance at Red Rocks with Big Machine Label Group and other team members and partners.
Jackson Dean was surprised by tour-mate Lainey Wilson with the news that his first No. 1 single, “Don’t Come Lookin’” is officially Platinum, while his sophomore single “Fearless” is Gold. Presenting him with a plaque ahead of their show in Lubbock, Wilson named him her very first “Cowboy of the Night.” On Saturday night, he knocked off a bucket list item of performing at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado and continued his Platinum and Gold celebrations with country radio and his industry family.
Randy Rogers Band Become Pandora Billionaires
Randy Rogers Band celebrates Pandora Billionaire Plaque. Photo: Justin Rice
Randy Rogers Band went back to their roots for a special hometown show last Friday (Oct. 11) in New Braunfels, Texas at Gruene Hall. During the show they were surprised with the Pandora Billionaire Plaque, which commemorates over one billion streams on the platform.
“I want to thank Johnny Chiang and Pandora for presenting us with the Billionaire Award for over one billion streams on Pandora,” says Rogers. “Feels great to be in my first and only billionaires club. Can’t thank Pandora and the fans enough. They have been with us since the beginning and can’t wait to continue sharing new music for everyone to get up and dance to.”
Austin Snell Hosts Opry Event Supporting CreatiVet
Austin Snell. PhotoL Austin Aguilar
River House Artists/Warner Music Nashville artist Austin Snell lit up the Opry Circle Room last week as he treated 75+ fans to an exclusive acoustic session and VIP meet-and-greets in support of his debut album Still Bleeding. A portion of the proceeds from the evening went to CreatiVet. Fans were also treated to a vinyl announcement for the deluxe edition of Still Bleeding, dropping February 2025.
Tristan Bushman Signs With Warner Chappell Music & Southern Pacific Music
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L–R): Warner Chappell’s Eric Reid, Ben Vaughn, Bethany Mako, Tristan Bushman, 333 Entertainment’s Ross duPre’ and Southern Pacific’s Erland Wanberg
Singer-songwriter Tristan Bushman has signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music and Southern Pacific Music.
Born and raised in Ashton, Illinois, Bushman first took the stage at five years old and has pursued his dream ever since. He moved to Nashville in 2018, and earlier this year teamed up with Joey Hendricks and Drew Erwin to form the trio Verygently. Bushman’s new solo project, The Way Things Are Going, is set for release on Nov. 15.
“I have been a huge fan of Tristan since the moment I met him six years ago,” says Bethany Mako, Manager, A&R, Warner Chappell Music Nashville. “He’s a natural-born storyteller and has a way of captivating any room with his unique voice and poetic lyrics. On top of that, he’s simply a great human, and I am truly honored to be a part of his journey.”
“Tristan is a gifted songwriter who can turn a simple phrase or concept into an intricate, timeless work of art,” adds Erland Wanberg, Co-Founder & CEO, Southern Pacific Music. “From his extraordinary solo work to his artistic contribution to Verygently (the coolest damn band in Nashville!), I’m honored to be a part of his exciting journey and inevitable success as a creator.”
Carly Pearce Extends Publishing Partnership With BMG
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L–R): Altadena’s Daniel Lee, Starstruck Entertainment’s Mike Blong, BMG’s Camryn Clark, Patricia Wittmer, Carly Pearce, BMG’s Chris Oglesby, Altadena’s Jess Busbee, BMG’s Amy Scott and Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC’s David Crow. Photo: Kevin Grace/BMG Nashville
Superstar songstress Carly Pearce has extended her longtime publishing partnership with BMG in association with Altadena, the music company founded by her late producer and collaborator Busbee and Leo33’s Daniel Lee.
“BMG has been a part of my story from the very beginning of my career,” she shares. “They have supported me the whole way, and I couldn’t be happier to continue my journey with them!”
“Carly’s strength, determination and writing skills are as fierce as her work ethic,” says Chris Oglesby, VP, Publishing, BMG Nashville. “We are honored to continue this journey with her and Altadena.”
Pearce recently kicked off her “Hummingbird World Tour” in support of her latest album, Hummingbird, which marks the Big Machine Records artist’s debut as a co-producer and includes Grammy-nominated duet “We Don’t Fight Anymore” with Chris Stapleton and current radio single “Truck On Fire.” Yesterday (Oct. 14), she unveiled the accompanying video for “Truck On Fire,” in which she takes matters into her own hands to live out a revenge fantasy.
16th Annual ‘Opry Goes Pink’ To Take Place Next Week
/by Madison HahnenThe Grand Ole Opry will host its 16th annual “Opry Goes Pink” next Wednesday (Oct. 23) at the Grand Ole Opry House, in partnership with Susan G. Komen.
Opry member Ashley McBryde will begin the show by flipping the switch on the Opry’s signature barn backdrop, turning it pink for the night. Additional performers will include Tanya Tucker, Victoria Shaw, Jeannie Seely, T. Graham Brown, Jon Pardi and Scott Stapp, who will mark his Opry debut during the event.
Tickets are on sale now. Five dollars from every ticket sold will be donated to Susan G. Komen to help the fight against breast cancer. For more information, click here.
Cody Johnson Heralded As A Champion For Songwriters At Double No. 1 Party
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R, back row): BMI’s MaryAnn Keen, CAM Creative’s Carole Ann Mobley, Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston, Big Machine Music Publishing’s Tim Hunze, Warner Music Nashville’s Cris Lacy, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart and BMG’s Amy Scott; (L-R, front row): Ryan Larkins, Benjy Davis, Cody Johnson and Kat Higgins. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI
Cody Johnson commemorated his two latest chart-toppers at BMI on Thursday (Oct. 10) with a heartfelt celebration. The party honored Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins and Ryan Larkins, the co-writers of “The Painter,” and Josh Phillips, the sole writer of “Dirt Cheap.”
The tunes marked Johnson’s second and third No. 1 hits following 2022’s “‘Til You Can’t.” All three of the artist’s chart-toppers have been outside songs.
Not only that, all three have been given awards due to their craftsmanship. “‘Til You Can’t,” written by Matt Rogers and Ben Stennis, was named Best Country Song at the 2023 Grammy Awards and also won the 2022 CMA Award for Single of the Year.
Pictured (L-R, back row): Warner Chappell’s Bethany Mako, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, Warner Music Nashville’s Cris Lacy and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen. (L-R, front row): Josh Phillips and Cody Johnson. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI
So far, “The Painter” has been named Song of the Year at the 2024 Nashville Songwriter Awards and “Dirt Cheap” was Song of the Year at the MusicRow Awards. Both are nominated for Song of the Year at the upcoming CMA Awards.
Johnson’s newfound reputation as a friend to songwriters was highlighted by everyone who spoke, as was his propensity for selecting quality material for his albums.
After a welcome from BMI’s Clay Bradley, MaryAnn Keen took over as emcee. She orchestrated for “The Painter” to be celebrated first, bringing up Big Machine Music’s Tim Hunze, BMG’s Amy Hendon Scott, CAM Creative’s Carole-Ann Mobley and Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston.
To speak about “Dirt Cheap,” Keen invited Warner Chappell’s Bethany Mako to the podium. A special message from Phillip’s other publisher, Brantley Gilbert, was played on the screen.
Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart shared a special presentation announcing a donation to Different Day Foundation, an organization that empowers and supports women survivors as they overcome and heal from the systems of prostitution and exploitation.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s LB Cantrell, Ryan Larkins, Benjy Davis, Cody Johnson, Kat Higgins and MusicRow’s John Nix Arledge. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI
Warner Music Nashville’s Cris Lacy shared words about Johnson’s commitment to cutting the best songs, no matter who wrote them.
“Best song wins. He doesn’t look at people’s names or track records. He hears the song and then finds out who wrote it, because he cares about what the song means,” she said. “Cody Johnson is the guy who cuts double albums of outside songs in Nashville.”
When it came time to hear from the writers, they all thanked their villages of support, their peers, Johnson and his team.
“The life this song took on has been incredible,” Davis said of “The Painter.” “It’s been awesome to be a part of it.”
“Cody, I feel like you’re a co-writer on this because of how much you gave,” Higgins said. “You took it further than we could have imagined.”
“Thank you Lord for the gift of this song,” Larkins said. He and his wife Chauntay, who inspired “The Painter,” were celebrating their 16th wedding anniversary.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s John Nix Arledge, Josh Phillips, Cody Johnson and MusicRow’s LB Cantrell. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI
“This song has been a blessing. Thank you, Cody, for being as passionate about it as you are,” Phillips said of “Dirt Cheap.” “Thank you to my wife for telling me to send this song to Cody one night.”
When Johnson spoke, he shared his perspective on songwriting.
“All I ever wanted to be was a songwriter… All my heroes were songwriters,” he said. “When you become an artist and it starts to take off, it becomes a struggle [to write the best songs].
“I had the realization through Cris and Scott [Gunter] to start looking at outside songs,” he said. “When I started to see the impact it had on people who had written the songs I was cutting, it gave me a sense of humility and honor that I had never felt before–like I was getting to carry a flag into battle.
“I’m proud to be the guy carrying the flag for the songwriters, because it’s what I’ve always wanted to be,” Johnson said, bringing the room to a thunderous applause.
Grand Ole Opry Shares Plans For 100th Year
/by Liza AndersonThe Grand Ole Opry shared plans for its upcoming 100th year with fans, artists and friends who gathered celebrate the Opry’s 99th birthday this past weekend. The year-long “Opry 100” celebration aims to pay tribute to the people and music that have cemented the Opry as a sacred space in the country format since its debut on WSM Radio in 1925.
“This centennial is not just a look back—it’s a celebration of the future of country music and the artists who continue to shape its story,” expressed Dan Rogers, SVP & Executive Producer of the Grand Ole Opry. “Most importantly, we are grateful to the fans, artists, employees, Nashville and the entire country music community who have helped us reach this special moment. We can’t wait for everyone to join us for what will be an unforgettable year.”
“Opry 100” will be marked through a series of special events next year, beginning with a performance from Country Music Hall of Famer and the Opry’s longest-serving member Bill Anderson at the Ryman Auditorium on Jan. 3.
The celebration will see the “Opry 100 Greatest Songs” determined by fans and showcased over the course of 2025 as well as “Opry 100 Honors” shows hosted to salute legends, such as Roy Acuff, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, Patsy Cline, Charlie Daniels, Little Jimmy Dickens, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe, Minnie Pearl, Charley Pride, Porter Wagoner, Hank Williams and Tammy Wynette, who have contributed to the Opry’s history, with a portion of ticket sales benefitting the Opry Trust Fund.
100 artists will make their Grand Ole Opry debuts throughout the year, starting with breakout star Shaboozey on Jan. 18. The historic milestone will also be commemorated with an international show at London’s Royal Albert Hall this fall. More details, including the artist lineup and ticket information will be unveiled next year.
Additionally, the Grand Ole Opry has teamed up with Abrams to publish the first book to include each Opry member and their contributions the circle as told by the artists themselves. Written by Craig Shelburne, 100 Years of Grand Ole Opry is available for pre-order now and will hit shelves on April 15 at retailers nationwide, on the Opry 100 website and at Target with an exclusive edition containing bonus content. The Opry will also collaborate with established Nashville designers to create unique merchandise, artwork and collectibles.
Tickets for most of the 2025 shows will go on sale this Friday (Oct. 18). For more information, click here.
Dylan Scott Slates ‘Country Till I Die Tour’ For Spring
/by Liza AndersonDylan Scott. Photo: Robby Klein
On the heels of his final “I Owe You One Tour” performance last week, Dylan Scott has slated his new headlining run, the “Country Till I Die Tour,” for this spring.
Scott plans to bring catalog of new tracks to the “Country Till I Die Tour” along with singles “Boys Back Home” with Dylan Marlowe, which is approaching the top 20 on the Country Airplay charts, and “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” which has hit the top 25. This year, he sold out over 12 headlining shows in addition to serving as direct support for Cole Swindell’s “Win The Night Tour.”
Tickets are available now for all stops, except Florida, which will go on sale this Friday (Oct. 18). For more information, click here.
Aaron Raitiere Jumps Into Top 10 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by Madison HahnenAaron Raitiere. Photo: Alysse Gafkjen.
Aaron Raitiere has entered the top 10 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. He sits in the No. 8 spot this week with “4x4xU” and “You Look Like You Love Me.”
Zach Bryan remains in the No. 1 spot for the sixth consecutive week with “28,” “American Nights” and “Pink Skies.” Chris Stapleton stays at No. 2 with “Think I’m In Love With You.”
Riley Green (No. 3), Ashley Gorley (No. 4) and Jessie Jo Dillon (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.