Drew Baldridge. Photo: Lyric Ridge Records
Almost a decade after his first record deal, singer-songwriter Drew Baldridge is currently making a push to be the first artist to ever take a self-released single to No. 1 on the country charts.
The Patoka, Illinois native moved to Nashville 13 years ago to pursue a career in music. Not long after, he was inking a record deal with Cold River and releasing his debut album Dirt on Us. The album and proceeding singles did well enough, but when the label closed in 2019, Baldridge had nowhere to go.
“After that, COVID hit and I didn’t know what to do. I was broke, the publishing company I was with got bought out and I was thinking, ‘What am I doing?’ So, I decided I may as well post on TikTok and Facebook to see if anyone would want a show in their backyard,” explains Baldridge. “I thought I would get five requests at most, but we ended up getting over 20,000.”
Baldridge made good on his offer and spent the next two years of his life traveling the country and playing in over 300 people’s backyards with “just me and a guitar.” During this odyssey, his perspective shifted.
“My music really changed when I was in these people’s backyards, eating barbecue, playing corn hole and gaining weight. It made me realize that these were the people I was making music for. I needed to quit thinking about everything else and focus on the people.”
During his two-year tour across the nation, Baldridge married his now-wife and re-recorded her favorite song of his, “She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” so she and her father could dance to it at their wedding. The track was previously recorded in 2019 under Cold River, but wasn’t released as a single due to Tenille Townes’ “Somebody’s Daughter” hitting the radio around the same time.
The re-recorded track was a special, stripped-back version of the original that he titled “She’s Somebody’s Daughter (Wedding Version).” After the song was a success at the reception, he decided that he would create a post about it on social media.
“I remember it was a Wednesday night on our honeymoon, and I told my wife that I was going to post a TikTok about it—telling the story of why it had been recorded. When we woke up the next day, it had close to 10 million views on it.”
After fielding calls from labels in Los Angeles, Baldridge waited for Nashville to get on board, but the calls never game. The success of the song was apparent, though, as women began to post TikToks sharing photos of them with their fathers growing up.
Fast forward to 2023, at one of his first concerts back, Baldridge was playing the Fireman’s Picnic just outside of St. Louis, Missouri. When he began singing “She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” he realized that everyone in the crowd knew the words by heart.
“I looked at my bass player, who has been with me for a decade, and said, ‘Do you ever remember people singing along?’ and he said, ‘No, but I’ve been waiting for 10 years!’”
It was after that event that Baldridge knew he had to capitalize on this opportunity. He readied a radio-friendly version of the sentimental song, titled “She’s Somebody’s Daughter (Reimagined),” and began a grassroots promotion push shortly after by calling up old radio friends and asking them their thoughts on the song and advice for moving forward. Today, that team has grown into its own label, Lyric Ridge Records.
Since then, the staff, consisting of Louis Newman, Chele Fassig, Gwen Foster, Brent Battles and his radio mentor, Tim Richards, among others, has been hard at work pushing the track to the top of the charts. This new venture did come with its own set of unique challenges, though.
“Something a lot of artists don’t have to do is be on their own radio promo phone calls,” Baldridge quips. “I’ve had to put on some thick skin because, now, the stations are telling me that they don’t like my song straight to my face. But, for me, I was like, ‘Hurt me! I am putting all of my time, money and effort into this—I want to know how to get to a good end-destination here.’”
All the time, effort and thick skin has paid off. Baldridge’s track has now earned over one billion impressions on TikTok, 58 million listens across all versions on Spotify and sits at No. 8 on both the Mediabase and Billboard Country Airplay charts.
Baldridge makes it very clear that he has not done all of this alone, though, and that he has his fans and supporters to thank for his success.
“They are a part of this just as much as I am. Without them letting me play in their backyards, graduations and weddings, I can’t send the song to radio. Without them being here when no one else was, I don’t have a career,” says Baldridge. “When I post on my socials and I see someone comment, ‘We had you in our backyard a year ago, and now you have a song in the top 10!’ It makes me so happy—I want to win for them. I want us to win together.”
Morgan Wallen Slates Second Night At Neyland Stadium
/by Madison HahnenMorgan Wallen has slated a second show at the University of Tennessee ‘s Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Friday, Sept. 20. As previously announced, Wallen will also headline the stadium on Sunday, Sept. 22. Hardy and Ernest will support him on both dates.
This makes Wallen the first artist to ever take the Neyland stage for two nights. Over 150,000 fans are expected to attend across both shows. Additionally, this will be the country star’s first time playing in Knoxville since the Tennessee Valley Fair in 2019.
“I’ve had the honor of playing in a lot of college, MLB and NFL stadiums the past two years, but getting to play to my hometown at Neyland Stadium, nothing tops this for a boy from East Tennessee,” shares Wallen.
Tickets for the Sept. 20 show will go on sale this Friday (July 19) at 10 a.m. CT. A portion of every ticket sold will be donated to the Morgan Wallen Foundation. For more information, click here.
BREAKING: Warner Music Nashville Advances Torie Mason
/by Liza AndersonTorie Mason. Photo: Michael Dominic Tedesco
Warner Music Nashville has promoted Torie Mason to Senior Vice President, Marketing & Analytics.
Mason has successfully led the label’s Strategic Marketing & Analytics teams since 2021. In her new role, she will merge and rebrand the Artist Development team into the comprehensive Marketing department. Reporting to Mason, the Marketing team will now encompass Artist Marketing, Digital Marketing, Analytics, Brand Partnerships, Video Strategy and Advertising Strategy, with Interactive Marketing becoming Digital Marketing.
“This new structure will allow us to continue to super-serve our artists and their music with more focus and urgency,” says Ben Kline, Co-Chair & Co-President, Warner Music Nashville. “Torie’s reputation both inside our building and in the community at large makes her one of the most respected and trusted thought leaders in our industry today. She is the right person to lead these efforts for Warner Music Nashville in an ever-changing marketing landscape.”
“I am immensely grateful to Ben and Cris [Lacy] for entrusting me with this opportunity,” adds Mason. “The enthusiasm, energy and expertise that our Nashville marketers demonstrate daily for our incredible roster of artists is truly unmatched. I am thrilled to help chart a course for continued success and innovation alongside this brilliant team!”
Brantley Gilbert Marks Life’s Ups And Downs With New Album ‘Tattoos’
/by Lorie HollabaughFor Brantley Gilbert, his tattoos tell a story just like the songs he writes, so he decided to give a nod to that idea on his seventh studio album, Tattoos, set for release Sept. 13 via The Valory Music Co.
With the announcement, Gilbert shares a taste of the forthcoming project with “Me And My House” featuring Struggle Jennings and Demun Jones, a hand-over-heart declaration of purpose and a defiant tip of the hat to the indie country rap world Gilbert has always admired, with each collaborator writing and performing their own verses.
Featuring 10 songs all co-written by Gilbert with some long-time collaborators, Tattoos mirrors Gilbert’s ink in both striking design and depth of meaning. Through flowing curves and jagged lines, he muses on a life of blue-collar pride and full-throttle rebellion—along with addictive love, abiding faith and blessings beyond what any of us deserve. Other special guests on the project include Justin Moore, Gary LeVox and Ashley Cooke, who appears on lead single “Over When We’re Sober” which is climbing the charts at country radio after being most-added upon its debut.
“All my albums, they capture a chapter of my life,” Gilbert explains. “If somebody wants to know who I am, what I’ve been through and where I stand, they can start at the beginning and listen through, and that’s why it was undeniable that Tattoos should be the title—because my tattoos do the same thing.
“People get ‘em for a lot of reasons, but for most of us, tattoos talk about our victories and losses, our struggles and the whole nine,” he observes. “I was one of those kids who had to learn the hard way. But if I would’ve listened to the advice of others, I don’t know I would have ended up where I am.”
In celebration of his new album Tattoos, Gilbert will headline “Brantley Gilbert’s World’s Largest Album Release Party” on Broadway in downtown Nashville on Sept. 13. The free, multi-artist concert is part of Freedom Friday events kicking off the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix weekend (Sept. 13-15). The fourth annual Freedom Friday concert honors members of the military, police, fire, first responders and frontline heroes. The 160th Special Ops Aviation Regiment will perform a helicopter aerial demonstration and a pre-concert flyover by the 101st Airborne Division.
Tattoos Track List:
1. “Dirty Money” ft. Justin Moore (Brantley Gilbert, Josh Phillips)
2. “Over When We’re Sober” (Brantley Gilbert and Ashley Cooke) (Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Jason DeFord, Justin Wilson)
3. “Tattoos” (Brantley Gilbert, Jake Mitchell, Randy Montana, Cole Taylor)
4. “Gone By Now” (Brantley Gilbert, John Byron, Taylor Phillips, Ryan Vojtesak)
5. “Off The Rails” (Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Brian Davis, Brandon Day, Chase McGill, Josh Phillips, Taylor Phillips, Michael Ray)
6. “The Hell That Raised Us” (Brantley Gilbert, John Byron, Devin Dawson)
7. “Me And My House” ft. Struggle Jennings and Demun Jones (Brantley Gilbert, Struggle Jennings, Matthew David Jones, Brock Berryhill, John Byron, Blake Pendergrass)
8. “God Isn’t Country” ft. Gary LeVox (Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Ned Cameron, Jaxson Free, Jacob Hackworth, Taylor Phillips)
9. “Out Here” (Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Gabe Foust, Jaxson Free, Taylor Phillips)
10. “Miss These Towns” (Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Jaxson Free, Ashley Gorley, Taylor Phillips)
Garth Brooks To Be Inducted Into ‘Austin City Limits’ Hall Of Fame In September
/by Lorie HollabaughAustin City Limits (ACL) is kicking off its 50th anniversary celebrations by inducting Garth Brooks into the ACL Hall of Fame.
For the first time in the ACL Hall of Fame’s decade-long history, only one inductee will be honored at the Hall of Fame ceremony, taking place on Sept. 5 at ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin, Texas. Additionally, Brooks and his band will perform during the event.
The country star first appeared on television series during season 15 in 1990, and returned for ACL’s 25th anniversary broadcast season with a pair of appearances. In 2021, Brooks contributed to the program’s intimate, non-broadcast events to close Studio 6A on the University of Texas campus, where the series was recorded from 1974–2010. He gave the final performance in the studio before ACL moved to downtown Austin. Brooks performed solo and acoustically for a sold-out audience of 200 fans per night as a fundraiser for Austin PBS, during which he shared stories, took song requests and answered questions from the crowd.
“To be part of anything Austin City Limits is and always has been an honor,” says Brooks. “I am humbled and grateful to not only be a part of the 50th anniversary, but to be inducted into the ACL Hall of Fame.”
“Garth is a special friend—there’s no one else quite like him. He never forgets his roots, or the people who were there for him in those early days,” notes Terry Lickona, ACL Executive Producer. “He hit the ACL stage just as his career was taking off, kicked off our 25th anniversary season, and now almost 25 years later, it’s our turn to honor him.”
The event is open to the public, and will be a phone-free experience. A limited number of tickets will available on Aug. 2. Upon arrival, tickets will be scanned and all phones will be secured via the Yondr program until the end of the ceremony. For more information, click here.
Drew Baldridge Pioneers A New Path To No. 1 [Interview]
/by John Nix ArledgeDrew Baldridge. Photo: Lyric Ridge Records
Almost a decade after his first record deal, singer-songwriter Drew Baldridge is currently making a push to be the first artist to ever take a self-released single to No. 1 on the country charts.
The Patoka, Illinois native moved to Nashville 13 years ago to pursue a career in music. Not long after, he was inking a record deal with Cold River and releasing his debut album Dirt on Us. The album and proceeding singles did well enough, but when the label closed in 2019, Baldridge had nowhere to go.
“After that, COVID hit and I didn’t know what to do. I was broke, the publishing company I was with got bought out and I was thinking, ‘What am I doing?’ So, I decided I may as well post on TikTok and Facebook to see if anyone would want a show in their backyard,” explains Baldridge. “I thought I would get five requests at most, but we ended up getting over 20,000.”
Baldridge made good on his offer and spent the next two years of his life traveling the country and playing in over 300 people’s backyards with “just me and a guitar.” During this odyssey, his perspective shifted.
“My music really changed when I was in these people’s backyards, eating barbecue, playing corn hole and gaining weight. It made me realize that these were the people I was making music for. I needed to quit thinking about everything else and focus on the people.”
During his two-year tour across the nation, Baldridge married his now-wife and re-recorded her favorite song of his, “She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” so she and her father could dance to it at their wedding. The track was previously recorded in 2019 under Cold River, but wasn’t released as a single due to Tenille Townes’ “Somebody’s Daughter” hitting the radio around the same time.
The re-recorded track was a special, stripped-back version of the original that he titled “She’s Somebody’s Daughter (Wedding Version).” After the song was a success at the reception, he decided that he would create a post about it on social media.
“I remember it was a Wednesday night on our honeymoon, and I told my wife that I was going to post a TikTok about it—telling the story of why it had been recorded. When we woke up the next day, it had close to 10 million views on it.”
After fielding calls from labels in Los Angeles, Baldridge waited for Nashville to get on board, but the calls never game. The success of the song was apparent, though, as women began to post TikToks sharing photos of them with their fathers growing up.
Fast forward to 2023, at one of his first concerts back, Baldridge was playing the Fireman’s Picnic just outside of St. Louis, Missouri. When he began singing “She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” he realized that everyone in the crowd knew the words by heart.
“I looked at my bass player, who has been with me for a decade, and said, ‘Do you ever remember people singing along?’ and he said, ‘No, but I’ve been waiting for 10 years!’”
It was after that event that Baldridge knew he had to capitalize on this opportunity. He readied a radio-friendly version of the sentimental song, titled “She’s Somebody’s Daughter (Reimagined),” and began a grassroots promotion push shortly after by calling up old radio friends and asking them their thoughts on the song and advice for moving forward. Today, that team has grown into its own label, Lyric Ridge Records.
Since then, the staff, consisting of Louis Newman, Chele Fassig, Gwen Foster, Brent Battles and his radio mentor, Tim Richards, among others, has been hard at work pushing the track to the top of the charts. This new venture did come with its own set of unique challenges, though.
“Something a lot of artists don’t have to do is be on their own radio promo phone calls,” Baldridge quips. “I’ve had to put on some thick skin because, now, the stations are telling me that they don’t like my song straight to my face. But, for me, I was like, ‘Hurt me! I am putting all of my time, money and effort into this—I want to know how to get to a good end-destination here.’”
All the time, effort and thick skin has paid off. Baldridge’s track has now earned over one billion impressions on TikTok, 58 million listens across all versions on Spotify and sits at No. 8 on both the Mediabase and Billboard Country Airplay charts.
Baldridge makes it very clear that he has not done all of this alone, though, and that he has his fans and supporters to thank for his success.
“They are a part of this just as much as I am. Without them letting me play in their backyards, graduations and weddings, I can’t send the song to radio. Without them being here when no one else was, I don’t have a career,” says Baldridge. “When I post on my socials and I see someone comment, ‘We had you in our backyard a year ago, and now you have a song in the top 10!’ It makes me so happy—I want to win for them. I want us to win together.”
Ashley Gorley Named NMPA Top Gold & Platinum Songwriter For First Quarter
/by Liza AndersonAshley Gorley. Photo: Katie Kauss
The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) Gold & Platinum Program has named Ashley Gorley as the top non-performing songwriter for the first quarter of 2024.
During the first three months of the year, 1,161 Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certifications were awarded. Gorley scored eight certifications for songs such as seven-time Platinum “Last Night,” five-time Platinum “Crash My Party” and double-Platinum “Aw Naw.”
“I’m deeply grateful to be recognized by the NMPA,” shares the Sony Music Publishing hitmaker. “I’m especially thankful for their ongoing advocacy for songwriters and publishers, ensuring that our voices and contributions are always celebrated and protected.”
Additionally, fellow Sony Music Publishing writer Usher was recognized as the top artist-songwriter with 20 certifications, including five-time Platinum “U Got It Bad,” quadruple-Platinum “I Don’t Mind” and triple-Platinum “Confessions Part II.”
“Q1 was huge for Sony Music Publishing. Usher’s hits have lasting power, and this proves the enduring popularity of his music. Once again, Ashley Gorley reigns supreme due to his phenomenal country crossover success,” says David Israelite, NMPA President & CEO. “We congratulate both of these exceptional songwriters.”
For NMPA’s full list of Top Gold & Platinum honorees, click here.
Weekly Register: Zach Bryan & Morgan Wallen Secure Several Top-Five Slots
/by Liza AndersonZach Bryan. Photo: Andrew Maclean. Morgan Wallen. Photo: Cameron Baird
Zach Bryan and Morgan Wallen have each secured several top-five slots this week, as they continue to command the country albums chart while debuting singles on the country streaming songs chart, according to Luminate data.
On the country albums chart, Bryan’s The Great American Bar Scene ascends to No. 1 with 137K in total consumption (8.3K album only/162 million song streams). Wallen’s One Thing At A Time shifts down to No. 2 with 69K (1.3K album only/88 million song streams), followed by his Dangerous: The Double Album at No. 3 with 40K (318 album only/52 million song streams). Shaboozey‘s Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going falls to No. 4 with 36K (1.2K album only/43 million song streams), while Bryan’s self-titled collection stays at No. 5 with 32K (2.9K album only/38 million song streams).
On the country streaming songs chart, Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” sits at No. 1 with 33 million streams, adding to 442 million ATD. Wallen and Post Malone‘s “I Had Some Help” remains at No. 2 with 29 million new streams, adding to 392 million ATD, as Wallen’s “Lies, Lies, Lies” lands the top debut at No. 3 with 25 million streams. Bryan’s “Pink Skies” moves to No. 4 with 22 million new streams, adding to 169 million ATD, and his “28” premieres at No. 5 with 20 million streams.
Lakeview Inks With UTA
/by John Nix ArledgeUp-and-coming rock duo Lakeview has inked with UTA for exclusive worldwide representation in all areas.
The duo, comprised of Jesse Denaro and Luke Healy, has amassed over 30 million streams on their breakout single “Home Team,” and struck a chord with their emerging fanbase through their musicality and metal-core influence.
The pair recently released their new rock track, “Money Where Your Mouth Is (featuring Gideon),” which has notched a top five spot on SiriusXM’s Octane channel. Lakeview promises to continue delivering tracks made for the hustling, rural, making-ends-meet crowd.
Lakeview is managed by Gravel Road and published by Ace High Music.
Jo Dee Messina Plots Final Leg Of ‘Heads Carolina, Tails California Tour’
/by Lorie HollabaughJo Dee Messina has plotted the final leg of her “Heads Carolina, Tails California Tour.”
After a two-year run, including a celebratory six-date New England homecoming, Messina plans kick off the last round of dates at the Dam Jam Music Festival in Goddard, Kansas this Friday (July 19). She will visit cities across the U.S. and Canada before closing out the journey in Jackson, Michigan on Oct. 27. Tickets are available now. For more information, click here.
“The crowds, the energy…I’m so looking forward to bringing the fun and excitement to folks this fall,” says Messina.
The artist has consistently toured throughout 2023 and 2024, selling out shows coast-to-coast in addition to making various festivals appearances. She recently performed at the “Freedom Over Texas” event in Houston.
Opry Entertainment Group Welcomes Two Artist Relations Team Members
/by Liza AndersonSamantha Kane & Ariana Cubillos Voegler
Opry Entertainment Group (OEG) has welcomed Samantha Kane as Artist Relations Manager and Ariana Cubillos Voegler as Artist Relations Coordinator.
In their new roles, Kane and Voegler will contribute to the development of artist and industry relations to drive engagement and new opportunities at the Grand Ole Opry and OEG. They will report to Director of Artist Relations & Programming Strategy Jordan Pettit, and join Artist & Label Strategy Senior Manager Jenn Tressler on the growing team.
After graduating from Florida State University in 2019, Kane worked for the Country Music Association as Communications Assistant before joining Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) as Promotions Coordinator. She then served as the label’s Marketing & Events Manager, working on marketing efforts and handling events for the BMLG roster.
Before joining OEG, Voegler graduated from Berklee College of Music, earning a dual Bachelor of Music degree with majors in music production & engineering and songwriting. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in music business from Berklee Online. Voegler previously interned at Round Hill Music and Starstruck Studios, and most recently, gained marketing experience at TAXI in Los Angeles as well as legal experience from Neal & Harwell, PLC in Nashville.
Additionally, OEG is seeking a Manager of Artist & Industry Relations. For more information, click here.