Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ Breaks Billboard Chart Record

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Ella Langley. Photo: Caylee Robillard

Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” has notched a 20th week atop the Billboard Hot 100, marking the longest run ever atop the chart for a non-holiday song.

The song has surpassed Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” and Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” which each notched 19 weeks at the top of the chart. The song only follows Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which has topped the Hot 100 each holiday season since the 1994 carol was first No. 1 in 2019, earning a total of 22 weeks.

Featured on her sophomore album Dandelion, “Choosin’ Texas” was co-penned by Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert and Joybeth Taylor, with production from Langley, Lambert and Ben West.

Langley is currently amidst her her sold-out “The Dandelion Tour” through October with upcoming stops in New Jersey, West Virginia, Georgia and more.

CMA Unveils 2026 Broadcast Award Finalists

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The Country Music Association has announced the finalists for the 2026 Broadcast Awards.

The CMA Broadcast Award categories are grouped by market size based on population as ranked by Nielsen. Broadcast Personality of the Year entries are based on aircheck, ratings, community involvement and biographical and impact information.

Radio Station of the Year finalists are judged by aircheck, ratings, community involvement and impact information. The entries are judged by a panel of broadcast professionals, representing all market sizes and regions.

The 60th Annual CMA Awards will air live on Nov. 18 on ABC and Disney+, and next day on Hulu. Winners of the CMA Broadcast Awards will be announced in the coming weeks and recognized during the Pre-Telecast Ceremony.

WCOW, a finalist for Small Market Radio Station of the Year, is also a MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart reporting station.

2026 CMA BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:

Weekly National:

  • “American Country Countdown with Ryan Fox” (Ryan Fox) – Westwood One / Cumulus Media
  • “The Country Top 40 with Fitz” (Cory “Fitz” Fitzner) – Hubbard Broadcasting
  • “Crook & Chase Countdown” (Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase) – Jim Owens Entertainment
  • “The Highway Hot 30 Countdown with Buzz Brainard” (Buzz Brainard) – SiriusXM
  • “Steve Harmon Show” (Steve Harmon) – Westwood One / Cumulus Media

Daily National:

  • “The Angie Ward Show” (Angie Ward) – iHeartMedia
  • “Backstage Country with Elaina Smith” (Elaina Smith) – Key Networks
  • “Big D & Bubba” (“Big D” Derek Haskins, “Bubba” Sean Powell, Carsen Humphreville, Jonathan Shaffer, and Garrett Freche) – Silverfish Media
  • “The Bobby Bones Show” (Bobby Bones, Amy Brown, “Lunchbox” Dan Chappell, Eddie Garcia, Morgan Huelsman, “Scuba Steve” Spradlin, “Mike D” Rodriguez, “Raymundo” Ray Slater, and “Phone Screener Abby” Anderson) – Premiere Radio Networks / iHeartMedia
  • “Katie & Company” (Katie Neal) – Audacy

Major Market:

  • “The Andie Summers Show” (Andie Summers, Jeff Kurkjian, Donnie Black, and Shannon Boyle) – WXTU, Philadelphia, Pa.
  • “Hawkeye and Michelle” (“Hawkeye” Mark Louis Rybczyk and Michelle Rodriguez) – KSCS, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
  • “The Lo Show” (Lauren “Lo” Sessions) – KKBQ, Houston, Texas
  • “Michael J & Candace in the Morning” (“Michael J” Stuehler and Candace Dold) – WPOC, Baltimore, Md.
  • “The Scotty Kay Show” (Scotty Kay) – WUSN, Chicago, Ill.

Large Market:

  • “Deb & Matt in the Morning” (Deborah Honeycutt and Matt Malone) – WFMS, Indianapolis, Ind.
  • “Eagle Mornings with Steve & Karen” (Steve Waters and Karen West) – WGH, Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, Va.
  • “Heather Froglear” (Heather Froglear) – KFRG, Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.
  • “The Jesse & Anna Show” (Jesse Tack, Anna Marie, and Jake Thomson) – WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • “Scott and Shannen” (Scott Dolphin and “Shannen O” Oesterreich) – WMIL, Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.

Medium Market:

  • “Clay and Company” (Clay Moden and Rob Banks) – WYRK, Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y.
  • “The Doc Show with Chewy” (Ken “Doc” Medek and Sean “Chewy” Medek) – WGGY, Wilkes Barre-Scranton, Pa.
  • “Joey & Nancy” (Joey Tack, Nancy Barger, and Karly Duggan) – WIVK, Knoxville, Tenn.
  • “Julie and DJ in the Morning” (“Julie K” Kansy and “DJ Thee Trucker” Dale Sellers) – WPCV, Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
  • “Steve & Gina in the Morning on Kat 103.7” (Steve Lundy and Gina Melton) – KXKT, Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa

Small Market:

  • “The Cat Pak Morning Show with Brent and Friends” (Brent Lane and Jordan Glass) – WYCT, Pensacola, Fla.
  • “Hilley & Hart” (Kevin Hilley and Erin Hart) – KATI, Columbia, Mo.
  • “Kicks Wake Up Krew” (“Dub” Bryan Axelson and Cody Blaine Jackson) – WKXC, Augusta, Ga.
  • “Liz & Scotty in the Morning” (Liz Del Grosso and Scotty Cox) – KCLR, Columbia, Mo.
  • “Officer Don and DeAnn” (“Officer Don” Evans and DeAnn Stephens) – WBUL, Lexington, Ky.

CMA RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:

Major Market:

  • KSCS – Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
  • KSON – San Diego, Calif.
  • KYGO – Denver-Boulder, Colo.
  • WMZQ – Washington, D.C.
  • WPOC – Baltimore, Md.

Large Market:

  • KFRG – Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.
  • WCTK – Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, R.I.
  • WDSY – Pittsburgh, Pa.
  • WMIL – Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
  • WQDR – Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

Medium Market:

  • KXKT – Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa
  • WHKO – Dayton, Ohio
  • WLFP – Memphis, Tenn.
  • WQMX – Akron, Ohio
  • WUSY – Chattanooga, Tenn.

Small Market:

  • KCLR – Columbia, Mo.
  • WCOW – La Crosse, Wis.
  • WKML – Fayetteville, N.C.
  • WKXC – Augusta, Ga.
  • WYCT – Pensacola, Fla.

Maggie Antone Signs With Island Records

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Maggie Antone

Maggie Antone has inked with Island Records.

“Partnering with Island feels so serendipitous, and though it’s bittersweet to no longer be an independent artist, I feel more independent than ever,” says Antone. “It just feels so right.”

Known for her honest songwriting and a sound that blends country, Americana, and pop, Antone has built a growing audience through her independent releases and live shows.

In 2024, she released her debut album, Rhinestoned, on her independent label, Big Love. The album’s opening track, “Johnny Moonshine,” has earned more than 12 million Spotify streams. That same year, she toured with 49 Winchester, Trampled by Turtles and Kat Hasty, and made her Grand Ole Opry debut.

Antone continued that momentum in 2025 with performances at ACL Fest, Windy City Smokeout and Under the Big Sky. She also released “The Devil’s Not In Hell.” Her music has been featured by People, Billboard, Holler and Rough Trade, with praise for the honesty and emotion in her songwriting.

“Maggie is a rare kind of artist—an excellent songwriter with a distinct voice and deep understanding of who she is.” shares Jackie Winkler, Head of A&R.

“She has built an authentic connection with her fans on her own terms, and we’re excited to support her as she enters this next chapter,” add Justin Eshak and Imran Majid, Co-Chairmen and CEOs of Island Records.

She will perform at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion in Bristol, Tennessee, on Sept. 13, followed by the State Fair of Texas in Dallas on Oct. 13.

LP Creative Therapy To Host Fall Workshop With Nicolle Galyon, Tim Dubois & Chris Oglesby

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Music industry veteran LeAnn Phelan is hosting an online LP Creative Therapy workshop for songwriters titled “The Whole Songwriter.”

Set for Sept. 8–11, the workshop will feature conversations with songwriter, producer and Songs & Daughters founder Nicolle Galyon, music executive and songwriter Tim DuBois, and BMG Nashville Head of Creative Chris Oglesby, who will join Phelan for a live Q&A. Centered around “Career, Craft, and Creative Hydration,” the series will explore songwriting, publishing, creative development, leadership, longevity and the importance of taking care of yourself. The series will also feature a conversation about AI and current protections for songwriters with SONA President Erin McAnally and The MLC CMO Ellen Truley.

“I’ve spent my 25+ year career helping songwriters grow, but growth isn’t only about getting a publishing deal or writing a hit song,” says Phelan. “It’s about continuing to develop your craft, understanding the business well enough to make good decisions for yourself, and staying connected to the part of you that wanted to create in the first place.  Those things need to be a priority for you as the songwriter and ultimately to the team you assemble around you.’The Whole Songwriter’ brings those pieces together – Career, Craft, and Creative Hydration.”

Scholarship opportunities will be awarded during the series toward Phelan’s upcoming two-month LP Creative Therapy Workshop. Those interested in participating in the workshop can register here.

Tune In: 2026 MusicRow Awards Winners Revealed Tomorrow

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The industry-voted winners of the 38th annual MusicRow Awards will be revealed on all MusicRow online platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and X, starting at 8:30 a.m. TOMORROW (Sept. 2).

The Top 10 Album All-Star Musicians Awards will also be announced on Sept. 2, recognizing the industry’s most in-demand studio players for Bass, Drums, Engineer, Fiddle, Guitar, Keyboards, Steel and Vocals.

MusicRow Awards Schedule of Announcements:
8:30 a.m.: Top 10 Album All-Star Musicians Awards
9:00 a.m.: Producer of the Year
9:30 a.m.: Studio of the Year
10:00 a.m.: Label Group of the Year
10:30 a.m.: Agency of the Year
11:00 a.m.: Publishing Company of the Year
11:30 a.m.: Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
12:00 p.m.: Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year
12:30 o.m.: Male Songwriter of the Year
1:00 p.m.: Female Songwriter of the Year
1:30 p.m.: Song of the Year
2:00 p.m.: Discovery Artist of the Year
2:30 p.m.: Breakthrough Artist of the Year
3:00 p.m.: Female Artist of the Year
3:30 p.m.: Male Artist of the Year
4:00 p.m.: Group/Duo Artist of the Year
4:30 p.m.: Entertainer of the Year

Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Click here to read about the nominees up for each category. The nominees are also profiled in the recently released MusicRow Awards print issue.

BREAKING: BMG & Concord Finalize Partnership, Name Leadership

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BMG and Concord have completed their partnership, creating a new global music company. The transaction, which was first announced in April, has received all required regulatory approvals, and the company’s global headquarters will be located in Nashville, with Berlin serving as its European headquarters.

Operating under the BMG name, the combined company brings together two businesses spanning music publishing, recorded music, theatrical rights, digital distribution and film & TV.

Bob Valentine, formerly CEO at Concord, now assumes the role of CEO of BMG, with Thomas Coesfeld serving as Chairman. Others on the Executive Management Team include Björn Bauer (Chief Financial Officer), Sebastian Hentzschel (Chief Operating Officer), Victor Zaraya (Chief Revenue Officer), Amanda Molter (General Counsel) and Kent Hoskins (Chief Transformation Officer).

Valentine says, “The new Executive Management Team brings together leaders with the experience, judgement, and focus we need to deliver on BMG’s ambitions. As we begin this next chapter, our priority is to build on the strengths of both businesses, creating a clear, focused organization that can move nimbly, invest with conviction, and deliver long-term value for the artists, songwriters, and playwrights we partner with and represent.”

BMG has also established an 18-member Strategic Leadership Council, comprising the six members of the Executive Management Team and 12 additional senior leaders from across the company.

Nashville’s Job Loba has been named head of Global Frontline Recordings, and Tom Becci as head of Global Recorded Operations. Other members of the Strategic Leadership Council include Alberto Chullen (Corporate Development & Investments), Sophia Dilley (Concord Originals), Sean Flahaven (Concord Theatricals), Celine Joshua (Global Marketing & Streaming), Nitsa Kalispera (Global Supply Chain Operations), Ruth Martinez (Human Resources), Kristal McKanders Dube (Corporate Communications), Alistair Norbury (Senior Creative Advisor to CEO Bob Valentine), Tom Scherer (Global Catalog Recordings) and Jim Selby (Global Music Publishing).

Valentine adds: “The Strategic Leadership Council gives us a broader group of leaders around the table, bringing together different areas of expertise and perspectives across BMG. It will help ensure we stay connected as a leadership team, sharpen our thinking, and maintain alignment as we translate our strategy into action across the business.”

Mark Your Calendar—September 2026

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Single/Track Releases & Radio Add Dates:

September 1
Junior Pro/2 of Us

September 2
Jackson Dean (feat. Laci Kaye Booth)/The Moon And The Wolf/Blue Highway Records

September 4
Hudson Westbrook/The Joker/River House Artists/Warner Records Nashville
Kameron Marlowe/I Won’t/Sony Music Nashville
Kassi Ashton/Chrome Pony/MCA
Macy Todd/luckiest girl alive/Atlantic Outpost
Harper Grace/what was mine (tennessee waltz)/Curb Records
Chanel West Coast/Tennessee
Halle Kearns/Message in a Bottle
Paige Rose/Set The Pace
David Worby (feat. The Bennett Hall Band)/Hope

September 7
Cam Shelton/The Outlaws/Cam Shelton Music
Jordan Allen/California Sunrise
Sofia Lee Davis/Long As I Can/Sofia Lee Davis Music

September 9
Darius Rucker/I Believe/MCA Nashville

September 11
Mo Pitney/God Speaks Through the Radio/Curb Records

September 14
McCoy Moore/Forget We Ever Met/Sony Music Nashville/Cervidae Records

September 18
Karen Waldrup/Just In Case
Tim Dugger/Better Luck Next Town/Curb Records
The Lighthouse Boys/America Bless God

September 25
Walker Montgomery/24/7 365/Red Street Records
Dylan Bradley/Read My Mind

September 28
Mitchell Tenpenny/Ain’t My Problem/Riser House Records
Aaron Goodvin/Not Too Much To Hate/New Motor Records
Clayton Bellamy/I Miss Tom Petty/Skysong Records

 

Album/EP Releases:

September 1
Megan Barker/Humble Beginning
Kyle Frederick/The Force Majeure

September 4
The War And Treaty/Country Baptism/Atlantic Outpost
Lanie Gardner/Faded Polaroids (Deluxe)/BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville
Medium Build/King of Having Fun/slowplay/Island Records
Leon Majcen/The Leaving Kind/Cloverdale Records
Tommy Emmanuel/The Mystery(20th Anniversary Edition)
Myles Erlick/HANDCRAFTED/OneRPM/Huff Co. Nashville
Kurt Stevens/Better with a Breeze
Dan Alley/Keepin’ On
Dani Jack/Dear John

September 9
Natalie Layne/Still Running To You/Centricity Music

September 11
Buddy Miller/Buddy Miller/New West Records
Smithfield/Country With Heart, Part 2
Angela Autumn/Believer/Gar Hole Records

September 15
Phil Madeira/The Millionth Mile

September 18
Riley Green/That’s Just Me/Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
Luke Bryan/Signs/MCA
Dave Stewart/The Way It Was Back Then/Bay Street Records
Cory Asbury/Outsing The Angels
Matthew West/Jesus Is King/Story House Collective
Drew Baldridge/FARM FAITH FAMILY/BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville
Franni Cash/Here I Am
Orville Peck/Mule/Warner Records
The Bends/If You Insist/Warner Records
Rhiannon Giddens/Hope is the Thing with Feathers/Nonesuch Records
Laci Kaye Booth/Love Ain’t For The Faint Of Heart/Lost Highway Records
Cassandra Coleman/End Of Your Love/Warner Records
Jason Scott & The High Heat/Play Boy/Leo33
Katie Pruitt/Fools for the Fleeting/Rounder Records
Aubory Bugg/i think i had something once/Dualtone
Dave Wilbert/The Good News
Nicole Atkins/Drama/Sun Records/Wicked Game Records
Cassidy Daniels/What Have I Got To Lose/101 Music/Thirty Tigers
Skip Ewing/DRAGONFLY
Junior Pro/Cool/Easy Does It Records
Ned Hill/Saw Jesus at the Park

September 25
Kenny Chesney/Silver Sands Marina/HEY NOW Records
Max McNown/Leave On A Light/Fugitive Recordings
Warren Zeiders/No Brakes/Warner Records
Corey Kent/Heartland Rock and Roll/Sony Music Nashville
Dylan Gossett/Ramblin’/Big Loud Texas/Mercury Records
Brandi Carlile/Returning To Myself (Sad Gay Version)/Interscope Records/Lost Highway
Chayce Beckham/Old Fashioned/BBR Music Group/BMG
Joy Oladokun/Hope Is A Heavy Thing/Concord Records
Wheeler Walker Jr./Pullin’ Out
We Are Messengers/Halfway Home/Curb Records
Wade Bowen/The Version Of Me You Get/Thirty Tigers
The Brook & The Bluff/Lookout Pond/Dualtone Records
Harper O’Neil/Learning to Unlove You EP
Lauren Watkins/If I’m Being Honest/Big Loud Records/Songs & Daughters
Abbie Callahan/And For My Next Trick…
Landon Smith/Don’t Mind Me/Lucille Records/MCA
Mike Thomas/Echoes
Lawrence Rothman/Here Lies Love/Sawdust to Stardust/KRO Records
Kinsley/Learn To Live/MCA
Maddie Medley/Fawn’s Enemy/Soundly Music/Thirty Tigers
Brother Bird/The Lodge In Miller County/Easy Does It Records

 

Industry Events:

September 10
60th CMA Awards nominee announcement

September 16
25th Annual Americana Honors & Awards

September 22
Nashville Songwriter Awards

 

Upcoming Nashville Concerts:

Kacey Musgraves. Photo: Kelly Christine Sutton

September 1
Various Artists/Rock The Ryman/Ryman Auditorium
Various Artists/TONS Live!/The Basement East
esperanza spalding/City Winery
Ariel Posen/Cannery Hall (Row One Stage)

September 2
Masego/Ryman Auditorium
Minus The Bear/Marathon Music Works
Various Artists/Ben Chapman’s Peach Jam/The Basement East
esperanza spalding/City Winery

September 3
The Pretty Reckless/Ryman Auditorium
Ben Quad x Macseal/The Basement East
Tamar Braxton/City Winery
Meltt/The Blue Room

September 4
Ray Lamontagne/Ryman Auditorium
PRESIDENT/Brooklyn Bowl
Galactic Empire/EXIT/IN
Christopher Williams/City Winery
Dom Corleo/Cannery Hall (Row One Stage)

September 5
Various Artists/Music City Kickoff Concert/Ascend Amphitheater
Ray Lamontagne/Ryman Auditorium
Various Artists/Nashville Indie Night/The Basement East

September 6
The Suicide Machines/The Basement East
Various Artists/Project Pat/EXIT/IN

September 7
Richard Elliot/City Winery

September 8
Kehlani/Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Ugly Kid Joe/The Basement East
The Barbarians Of California/EXIT/IN

September 9
Roger Daltrey/Ryman Auditorium
Charlotte Sands/EXIT/IN
John Cowan Quartet/City Winery

September 10
Little Feat/Ryman Auditorium
Isaiah Rashad/Marathon Music Works
Uncle Aid & The Deadbeats/Brooklyn Bowl

September 11
Paul Cauthen/Ryman Auditorium
Braxton Keith/Brooklyn Bowl
GUNSHINE/Cannery Hall (The Mil)
Ensiferum/EXIT/IN
the Smithereens/City Winery
Angela Autumn/The Blue Room

September 12
Brooks & Dunn/Bridgestone Arena
Juanes/Ryman Auditorium
The Weeks/Brooklyn Bowl
Jed Harrelson/The Basement East
Yheti b2b Toadface/Cannery Hall (The Mil)
Jude Smith/EXIT/IN
Bitchin Bajas/The Blue Room
BLU EYES/Cannery Hall (Row One Stage)

September 13
The War And Treaty/Ryman Auditorium

September 14
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals/The Basement East
The Wellermen/City Winery
Pink Breath of Heaven/Cannery Hall (Row One Stage)

September 15
Tove Lo/The Pinnacle
Sex Pistols/Marathon Music Works
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals/The Basement East

September 16
Taking Back Sunday/The Pinnacle
Scene Queen/The Basement East
DOMi & JD Beck/Cannery Hall (The Mil)

September 17
Needtobreathe/FirstBank Amphitheater
Ben Howard/Ryman Auditorium

September 18
Shaboozey/Ascend Amphitheater
Danzig/The Pinnacle
Alison Krauss & Union Station feat. Jerry Douglas/Ryman Auditorium
Black Veil Brides/Brooklyn Bowl
Tom Morello/Cannery Hall (Mainstage)
Jenna Raine/Cannery Hall (The Mil)
SWMRS/Cannery Hall (Row One Stage)

September 19
Alison Krauss & Union Station feat. Jerry Douglas/Ryman Auditorium
Face To Face/Brooklyn Bowl
Wind Walkers/Cannery Hall (The Mil)
Lacey Sturm/City Winery
CARDINALS/Cannery Hall (Row One Stage)

September 20
Alison Krauss & Union Station feat. Jerry Douglas/Ryman Auditorium
Gnash/EXIT/IN
Stella Cole/City Winery
Margaret Glaspy/The Blue Room
Various Artists/Nashville miniFEST/Cannery Hall (Row One Stage)

September 21
Jungle/The Pinnacle
Adela/The Basement East
Brother Bird/Cannery Hall (Row One Stage)

September 22
Muna/The Pinnacle
Slayyyter/Brooklyn Bowl
King Mala/The Basement East
Nate Smith/City Winery
Haute & Freddy/The Blue Room

September 23
World Famous Pets/The Basement East
Warren Zeiders/EXIT/IN
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley/The Blue Room
Stanley Simmons/Cannery Hall (Row One Stage)

September 24
Luke Bryan & Friends/Bridgestone Arena
Cameron Whitcomb/Ryman Auditorium
Mom Jeans/Brooklyn Bowl
The Gringos/The Basement East
Owen Riegling/EXIT/IN
Emmylou Harris & Tom Rush/City Winery

September 25
Lil Wayne/Bridgestone Arena
Yelawolf & Highly Suspect/Ascend Amphitheater
Post Sex Nachos/The Basement East
Remo Drive x sports./Cannery Hall (The Mil)
Covet x Anamanaguchi/EXIT/IN
Rufus Wainwright/City Winery
Liam Kazar/The Blue Room

September 26
Dylan Gossett & Charles Wesley Godwin/The Pinnacle
Here Come The Mummies/Brooklyn Bowl
The New Pornographers/Cannery Hall (Mainstage)
Damien Jurado/The Basement East
Benny G/EXIT/IN
Rufus Wainwright/City Winery
Son Little/The Blue Room
Aliah Sheffield/Cannery Hall (Row One Stage)

September 27
Kacey Musgraves/Bridgestone Arena
Starbomb feat. DJ Commander Meouch/Ryman Auditorium
Beach House/Brooklyn Bowl
Icon For Hire/EXIT/IN
Freddy Jones Band/City Winery

September 28
Kacey Musgraves/Bridgestone Arena
Geese/Ryman Auditorium
Charlie Hunter Trio/City Winery

September 29
Staind/FirstBank Amphitheater
Brand New/The Pinnacle
Geese/Ryman Auditorium
Jensen McRae/Brooklyn Bowl
Rebecca Black/The Basement East

September 30
Indigo Girls/Ryman Auditorium
The Midnight/Marathon Music Works
LP/Brooklyn Bowl
The Bros. Landreth/The Basement East
Skitz Kraven/EXIT/IN
This Wild Life/Cannery Hall (Row One Stage)

Ella Langley Breaks Record For Most Consecutive Weeks At No. 1 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Ella Langley. Photo: Caylee Robillard

Ella Langley sits at No. 1 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart for the 19th consecutive week, officially breaking the record for most consecutive weeks at No. 1. Zach Bryan previously held the record at 18 weeks.

Tracks represented for Langley this week include “Be Her,” “Bottom Of Your Boots,” “Choosin’ Texas,” “I Can’t Love You Anymore,” “Jaded” and “Loving Life Again.”

Chase McGill sits at No. 2 with “Carry On,” “Hands Up,” “McArthur” and “Water At A Wedding.” Joybeth Taylor moves up to No. 3 with “Choosin’ Texas,” “Empty Words” and “I Can’t Love You Anymore.”

Jordan Schmidt (No. 4) and Austin Goodloe (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.

Trey Pendley Unveils Debut Album

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Trey Pendley released his debut album, Signs of Life, on Friday (Aug. 28) via Leo33.

Across its 13 tracks, the album celebrates love, family and community, while also looking at the reality of life’s harder moments.

“This album is a collection of songs that feel like snapshots of where I’ve been and what I’ve lived through,” Pendley shares. “There’s a lot of heart, a lot of family, and a lot of real life in these songs. Getting to write a couple of them with the late, great Ronnie Bowman is something I’ll always be grateful for, and having those songs on this record makes them even more meaningful to me. I hope when people listen, they find a little piece of their own story in these songs.”

Pendley will hit the road this fall with Ashley McBryde with upcoming dates in Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas and more.

Signs of Life Track List:
1. “Small Potatoes”
2. “Signs of Life”
3. “Country Boy Friday Night”
4. “Family Man”
5. “As Good As It Gets”
6. “Spend My Time Lovin'”
7. “Another Day Goes By”
8. “Devil Does”
9. “The Dog”
10. “Drunk As Any Rich Man”
11. “Like A River”
12. “Podunk”
13. “TV Tray”

Industry Ink: Jelly Roll, Cole Swindell, Mitchell Tenpenny, MTSU, CRS360

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Jelly Roll Guest Hosts ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’

Jelly Roll. Photo: Jen Rosenstein

Jelly Roll guest hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week. During his time on the show, he shared a monologue talking about on his appearance on Jeopardy, the night he won three Grammy Awards and his faith, among other topics. The full monologue is available here.

Guests during his time on the show included Glen Powell, Jay Shetty, Henry Winkler, Leanne Morgan, Nathan Fillion, Leslie Mann, Bert Kreisher and Stevie Nicks.

 

Cole Swindell Partners With Free Bird Southern Spring Water

Cole Swindell. Photo: Cody Arrington

Cole Swindell has partnered with Southern Spring Water brand Free Bird as both a brand ambassador and investor. Swindell was drawn to the product’s Blue Ridge Mountains roots and its connection to his home state. Free Bird is now available in more than 2,500 retail locations, including Walmart, Harris Teeter, Food City and Han-Dee Hugo’s, as well as Amazon and other major retailers.

“I’m so excited to share that I have invested in and will be partnering up with Free Bird Southern Spring Water, a company I have really admired for a while now,” shares Swindell. “Its values and the people behind it drew me in from the beginning and helped me believe in this product. I’m so excited about the opportunity to work with the incredible team over there, we’ve got so many cool things coming for you guys.”

 

Mitchell Tenpenny Celebrates BMI Million-Air Status

Photo: Courtesy of BMI

Mitchell Tenpenny was recently presented with five BMI Million-Air Awards for his songs “At The End of a Bar,” “Truth About You,” “If The Boot Fits,” “Drunk Me” and “We Got History,” which have surpassed six million broadcast performances on U.S. radio. Tenpenny released a new track last week, “Gone Like That,” which he co-wrote with Jaxson Free and Casey Brown. Mitchell continues his “Speed of Light Tour” through the fall.

 

MTSU To Honor Dolly With Jersey Patch For Season Opener

Chris Massaro and Beverly Keel. Photo: J. Intintoli

Middle Tennessee State University’s Blue Raider football team will honor the life of country icon and beloved humanitarian Dolly Parton by wearing a special commemorative jersey patch for the home season opener against Murray State on Sept. 5.

Athletics Director Chris Massaro and Beverly Keel, dean of MTSU’s Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment, unveiled the jersey patch design at the Center for Popular Music, one of the world’s oldest and largest research centers devoted to the study of American popular music. The center’s collection includes artifacts from Parton’s career, several of which were on display for the announcement. MTSU will display QR codes on the Floyd Stadium scoreboard for fans to donate to Parton’s Imagination Library, and Massaro noted that the date of the game – 9/5 – made it even more appropriate, given Parton’s starring role and legendary song in the 1980 movie 9 to 5.

 

CRS360 Session ‘Prompt Me Like You Mean It’ With Stan Marczewski Available Now

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Country Radio Seminar has released the latest installment of its CRS360 webinar series, “Prompt Me Like You Mean It: From Vague Requests To Powerful AI Conversations,” presented by Stan Marczewski, Director of National Promotion at Stoney Creek Records. The conversation explores the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence and how industry professionals can begin incorporating AI tools and prompt engineering into their everyday workflows. He discusses ways AI can complement the work already being done by promotion professionals, from improving efficiency and communication to supporting creative strategy and day-to-day workflows, while emphasizing the continued importance of the human relationships and instincts at the heart of radio promotion.