MacKenzie Porter. Photo: Bree Marie Fish
Country singer-songwriter MacKenzie Porter has been making waves in the industry since she started her career in Canada.
After some success up north, the Big Loud singer cemented her success in the U.S. with her hit duet with Dustin Lynch “Thinkin’ Bout You,” which spent six weeks at No. 1. Now she’s ready to make an even bigger splash with her debut album Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart, which released on Friday (April 26). Prior to its release, Porter took some time to speak with MusicRow about how the record came to be.
Born and raised in Alberta, Canada, Porter cut her teeth there before heading to Nashville. “I started playing songs up in Canada. I’ve had a lot of success up there and the goal was always to come down and have a single at U.S. radio, but also build this other fan base at the same time,” shares Porter.
“I feel like I’ve learned so many things through touring and radio up there that now I feel really equipped with the tools [I needed] go into my first record here,” Porter expresses about her move to the U.S. country scene.
While up in Canada, Porter saw not only the growth of her Canadian fan base, but also that the U.S. “Because streaming services are worldwide, I have been able to build both [fan bases] simultaneously.”
When discussing the making behind the project, Porter describes it as six years in the making. “Six years ago is roughly when I signed my record deal. A lot of it at the beginning was developmental. I was trying to get into the best writing rooms and figure out what my sound was and what my brand was.
“At the same time, I was also doing a lot of acting,” she says, referring to her time on the television show Travelers where she played the main role of Marcy Wharton. “I was on a TV show for three years that took up a lot of my time, so I was filming that for five months out of a year and trying to develop [as an artist] at the same time.”
While filming took up a lot of her time, Porter was able to discover her artistry slowly, and felt ready to introduce herself musically when the television project ended.
“I say six years because that’s when I started writing for my debut record, even though there was no [intention to write an album then],” she says. “It was all just writing towards who am I and what my sound is as an artist.”
Reflecting on that time writing for her sound, she revealed that some songs from that time made it onto this record, but she also found inspiration in the studio while recording.”I would say the majority [of the songs] are newer, but there’s a couple that just lived in my catalog that I would come back to all the time, such as ‘Sucker Punch.’”
The album includes a total of 19 tracks, with Porter as a co-writer on nine of those. Working with a host of her frequent writing partners, such as Parker Welling, Lydia Vaughan, Luke Niccoli and more, the album features vulnerable lyrics and clever lyrical hooks such as “Pay Me Back In Change,” “Strong Things,” “Foreclosure” and more. She also introduces newer writer Emma Klein, who solo-penned “Pay Me Back In Change.”
Picking the title of the record, Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart, was an easy choice for Porter. The songs show someone’s journey through life, cultivating from her own experiences.
“The message I want to get across is in life we all have these experiences, whether it’s actual heartbreak in a relationship, work heartbreak, family heartbreak or whatever your situation may be. You always feel a little broken from different situations that you had envisioned to go a different way in your head, and overall that builds who you are as a person,” Porter reflects. “All of these songs are like little moments of heartbreak for me that have really built who I am proud to be today and that was the whole meaning of the record.”
Sonically, Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart bridges the gap between country and pop, but as Porter points out, there is plenty of fiddle, mandolin and banjo. She calls it a, “new age, young, honest sound.”
When asked about a hidden gem on the record, Porter pointed out that she was most excited for listeners to hear “Coming Home To You,” the one love song on the record.
“I’m in this phase of life where [that song] really hits home for me,” she says. “I think people in the same phase of life that I’m going through will also really relate to it.”
Porter’s most vulnerable track on the project, “Nightingale,” was a song she wrote for herself about her journey in the industry.
“When I first moved to Nashville, I was so confident in myself, my story and my ability to write. I would just go up to anybody and say, ‘You should give me a record deal because I’m awesome,'” she quips. “After years of hearing ‘no’ a million times, there were moments where I had lost that. I don’t want to be like that—I want to be the girl who is totally carefree and has no doubt in her mind. I wrote ‘Nightingale’ to myself to keep singing, keep writing your songs and have no fear in this industry.”
When looking at all the writing credits on the record, Lainey Wilson‘s name definitely pops out on “Chasing Tornadoes.”
“My producer Joey Moi sent me that song one day,” Porter shares. “It was before the record was finished, we were looking for the next single and I loved the energy of it. I didn’t really have anything that sounded like that or had that kind of energy. I’m a big fan of Lainey, but it felt like a song that felt like me too.”
The project wraps up with the title track “Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart.” Porter felt that it was a perfect way to wrap up the album because of the very last line of the song, “Maybe this love will put back the parts because nobody’s born with a broken heart.”
“It gives this hopeful outro to the entire thing. Even though the songs are about heartbreak, I’m a very positive person. I can be so upset about something and then the next day, I get back up and try again. That’s how I wanted to make sure I left the audience—knowing that I feel that way and that’s how they should feel in life in those situations too.”
Porter also shared that the meaning of the project changed during the creation process, when she found out she was pregnant with her first child.
“Now [the title] means another thing. My daughter [was] born so perfect and she’s going to experience a bunch of things in life that are probably going to chip away at her little heart,” Porter shares. “It will be good for her. It will show her that she went for it in life, she took risks and she loved people—and maybe they didn’t pan out the way she wanted, but that is a beautiful thing too because it’s always better to go for something and fail than not go at all.”
Porter is gearing up to take her new music out on the road this year, with scheduled festival appearances and headlining dates across the U.S. and Canada. She will also serve as support on select dates of Parker McCollum‘s “Burn It Down Tour.”
She is most excited to play up-tempo tracks “Rough Ride For A Cowboy,” “Have Your Beers” and more to amp up the crowd during her set. She also will share some acoustic, honest moments with the crowd with tracks such as “Pay Me Back In Change,” “Confession” and “Coming Home To You.” With her eyes on the road, Porter can’t wait to see how fans resonate with Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart.
MacKenzie Porter Shares Six Years Of Confessions On Debut Album [Interview]
/by Madison HahnenMacKenzie Porter. Photo: Bree Marie Fish
Country singer-songwriter MacKenzie Porter has been making waves in the industry since she started her career in Canada.
After some success up north, the Big Loud singer cemented her success in the U.S. with her hit duet with Dustin Lynch “Thinkin’ Bout You,” which spent six weeks at No. 1. Now she’s ready to make an even bigger splash with her debut album Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart, which released on Friday (April 26). Prior to its release, Porter took some time to speak with MusicRow about how the record came to be.
Born and raised in Alberta, Canada, Porter cut her teeth there before heading to Nashville. “I started playing songs up in Canada. I’ve had a lot of success up there and the goal was always to come down and have a single at U.S. radio, but also build this other fan base at the same time,” shares Porter.
“I feel like I’ve learned so many things through touring and radio up there that now I feel really equipped with the tools [I needed] go into my first record here,” Porter expresses about her move to the U.S. country scene.
While up in Canada, Porter saw not only the growth of her Canadian fan base, but also that the U.S. “Because streaming services are worldwide, I have been able to build both [fan bases] simultaneously.”
When discussing the making behind the project, Porter describes it as six years in the making. “Six years ago is roughly when I signed my record deal. A lot of it at the beginning was developmental. I was trying to get into the best writing rooms and figure out what my sound was and what my brand was.
“At the same time, I was also doing a lot of acting,” she says, referring to her time on the television show Travelers where she played the main role of Marcy Wharton. “I was on a TV show for three years that took up a lot of my time, so I was filming that for five months out of a year and trying to develop [as an artist] at the same time.”
While filming took up a lot of her time, Porter was able to discover her artistry slowly, and felt ready to introduce herself musically when the television project ended.
“I say six years because that’s when I started writing for my debut record, even though there was no [intention to write an album then],” she says. “It was all just writing towards who am I and what my sound is as an artist.”
Reflecting on that time writing for her sound, she revealed that some songs from that time made it onto this record, but she also found inspiration in the studio while recording.”I would say the majority [of the songs] are newer, but there’s a couple that just lived in my catalog that I would come back to all the time, such as ‘Sucker Punch.’”
The album includes a total of 19 tracks, with Porter as a co-writer on nine of those. Working with a host of her frequent writing partners, such as Parker Welling, Lydia Vaughan, Luke Niccoli and more, the album features vulnerable lyrics and clever lyrical hooks such as “Pay Me Back In Change,” “Strong Things,” “Foreclosure” and more. She also introduces newer writer Emma Klein, who solo-penned “Pay Me Back In Change.”
Picking the title of the record, Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart, was an easy choice for Porter. The songs show someone’s journey through life, cultivating from her own experiences.
“The message I want to get across is in life we all have these experiences, whether it’s actual heartbreak in a relationship, work heartbreak, family heartbreak or whatever your situation may be. You always feel a little broken from different situations that you had envisioned to go a different way in your head, and overall that builds who you are as a person,” Porter reflects. “All of these songs are like little moments of heartbreak for me that have really built who I am proud to be today and that was the whole meaning of the record.”
Sonically, Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart bridges the gap between country and pop, but as Porter points out, there is plenty of fiddle, mandolin and banjo. She calls it a, “new age, young, honest sound.”
When asked about a hidden gem on the record, Porter pointed out that she was most excited for listeners to hear “Coming Home To You,” the one love song on the record.
“I’m in this phase of life where [that song] really hits home for me,” she says. “I think people in the same phase of life that I’m going through will also really relate to it.”
Porter’s most vulnerable track on the project, “Nightingale,” was a song she wrote for herself about her journey in the industry.
“When I first moved to Nashville, I was so confident in myself, my story and my ability to write. I would just go up to anybody and say, ‘You should give me a record deal because I’m awesome,'” she quips. “After years of hearing ‘no’ a million times, there were moments where I had lost that. I don’t want to be like that—I want to be the girl who is totally carefree and has no doubt in her mind. I wrote ‘Nightingale’ to myself to keep singing, keep writing your songs and have no fear in this industry.”
When looking at all the writing credits on the record, Lainey Wilson‘s name definitely pops out on “Chasing Tornadoes.”
“My producer Joey Moi sent me that song one day,” Porter shares. “It was before the record was finished, we were looking for the next single and I loved the energy of it. I didn’t really have anything that sounded like that or had that kind of energy. I’m a big fan of Lainey, but it felt like a song that felt like me too.”
The project wraps up with the title track “Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart.” Porter felt that it was a perfect way to wrap up the album because of the very last line of the song, “Maybe this love will put back the parts because nobody’s born with a broken heart.”
“It gives this hopeful outro to the entire thing. Even though the songs are about heartbreak, I’m a very positive person. I can be so upset about something and then the next day, I get back up and try again. That’s how I wanted to make sure I left the audience—knowing that I feel that way and that’s how they should feel in life in those situations too.”
Porter also shared that the meaning of the project changed during the creation process, when she found out she was pregnant with her first child.
“Now [the title] means another thing. My daughter [was] born so perfect and she’s going to experience a bunch of things in life that are probably going to chip away at her little heart,” Porter shares. “It will be good for her. It will show her that she went for it in life, she took risks and she loved people—and maybe they didn’t pan out the way she wanted, but that is a beautiful thing too because it’s always better to go for something and fail than not go at all.”
Porter is gearing up to take her new music out on the road this year, with scheduled festival appearances and headlining dates across the U.S. and Canada. She will also serve as support on select dates of Parker McCollum‘s “Burn It Down Tour.”
She is most excited to play up-tempo tracks “Rough Ride For A Cowboy,” “Have Your Beers” and more to amp up the crowd during her set. She also will share some acoustic, honest moments with the crowd with tracks such as “Pay Me Back In Change,” “Confession” and “Coming Home To You.” With her eyes on the road, Porter can’t wait to see how fans resonate with Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart.
Concord Label Group Elevates Jill Weindorf & Joe Dent
/by John Nix ArledgeConcord has promoted Jill Weindorf to Executive Vice President of Marketing and Joe Dent to Executive Vice President of Operations. The move, orchestrated by newly appointed Chief Executive of Concord Label Group Tom Becci, aims to modernize Concord’s structure to support and develop a growing roster of talent. Weindorf is based in Los Angeles and Dent in Concord’s Nashville headquarters.
Weindorf began her career at Elektra Records, leading marketing campaigns for stars such as Paul McCartney, Nathaniel Rateliff, Ghost and more. Over her 17 year tenure, she has demonstrated a passion for artists’ careers and a deep understanding of the marketing landscape. In her new role, she will lead marketing efforts across Concord’s eight active labels including radio promotion, sync marketing, digital marketing, brand management and creative/design.
“Music is about connection and Jill’s ability to devise a marketing strategy in concert with an artist, while considering their priorities, who they are, the place they want to be, and then work tirelessly in support of that plan is unparalleled. Having Jill in this role will certainly allow Concord to remain competitive in an increasingly complicated and global market,” says Becci.
“My focus has always been the artists and music,” explains Weindorf. “Concord has offered me the opportunity to build long-term trust with so many career artists, and I love being part of the journey with them. I’m also excited by our legacy recordings and the depth and historical relevance of our catalog. Many executives don’t get the chance to work across such a wide breadth of repertoire; I have been here for 17 years, and I am still excited by that opportunity every day.”
New Jersey native Dent brings a diverse background to his new role with 10 years at Fat Beats Distribution, eventually rising to General Manager. Since joining Concord, he has proven his ability to tackle challenges such as stabilizing Concord’s vinyl pipeline during the COVID-19 pandemic and enhancing the company’s spatial audio capacity. Dent’s responsibilities will now include overseeing all operations across Concord Label Group, focusing on areas such as physical sales, production, direct-to-consumer operations, A&R operations and digital operations.
“Joe has an incredible understanding of how to look at a classically messy system, identify areas for improvement and make real and lasting corrections,” says Becci. “I have no doubt that Joe will continue guiding Concord towards further operational efficiencies in support of our artists.”
“What I genuinely appreciate about Concord is that, despite our size, we are still incredibly nimble. If we believe there is a superior way that we can do things, there is a reasonable chance that we will do it that way. I’m incredibly grateful for the trust that so many amazing artists put in us, and I’m excited to continue finding ways we can better support them. This really is a dream come true for a punk from New Jersey,” says Dent.
Live In The Vineyard Goes Country Wraps 2024 Event
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Hailey Whitters, Larry Fleet, FF Entertainment & LITVGC’s Bobbii Jacobs, Ernest, MacKenzie Porter and Lily Rose. Photo: LITVGC/JetBlack/Ryan Waneka
Live In The Vineyard Goes Country (LITVGC), presented by Visit Napa Valley, wrapped its annual event last week. Intimate performances, dinners and tastings were held across local Napa Valley establishments and wineries throughout the three-day function.
Scotty McCreery performing at Live In The Vineyard Goes Country 2024. Photo: LITVGC/JetBlack/Alec Savig
Launched in 2017, LITVGC brings together music supervisors, radio programmers, DSP curators, label executives and more in the country format to celebrate and hear new music from most established artists as well as emerging stars in a stripped-down arrangement.
This year’s performers included Rodney Atkins, Sara Evans, Scotty McCreery, Ernest, Brittney Spencer, Lily Rose, Julia Cole, Runaway June, Larry Fleet, LoCash, Josh Ross, Kylie Morgan and Hailey Whitters. Other artists in attendance consisted of Drew Baldridge, Laura Bryna, Callista Clark, Wesley Dean, Diner, The Dryes, Scotty Hasting, Levi Hummon, Jet Jurgensmeyer, Rose Falcon, MacKenzie Porter, Ashley Ryan and Callie Twisselman, among others.
The Welcome Reception kicked off the event on Tuesday (April 23) at Peju Winery, followed by several industry dinners across Napa Valley. On Wednesday (April 24), The Tailgate Event at Raymond Vineyards featured savory food and wine before Uptown Theatre presented performances into the night. The final morning on Thursday (April 25) consisted of a Send-Off Brunch hosted by Carneros Resort.
Regions Bank Set To Expand Music Row Presence
/by John Nix ArledgeCourtesy of Regions Bank
Regions Bank is expanding its Music Row presence with the addition of modernized office space in the Roundabout Plaza building. In collaboration with Eakin Partners, Regions Bank will add over 27,000 square-feet of office space atop the Roundabout Plaza.
The bank has been operating its Music Row branch and Sports and Entertainment Division on the ground floor of Roundabout Plaza for several years. With this expansion, Commercial and Corporate Banking services along with Wealth Management solutions and more will now join their colleagues in the roundabout.
Courtesy of Regions Bank
Regions Bank market executive Lee Blank says the expansion is part of the bank’s plan to further build on its legacy as Nashville’s longest-serving bank.
“For over 140 years, our company has met the financial needs of people and businesses across Middle Tennessee, and as our city has grown, we’ve grown, too, offering customized services that set us apart in one of the nation’s most vibrant markets,” Blank shares. “Yet, despite our growth, we haven’t lost sight of what makes Nashville truly special, and we remain focused on delivering the services of a truly local bank, powered by the resources of one of America’s largest financial institutions. Our modernized office space will bring bankers from several departments together in a way that helps us build on our collaboration and, most importantly, build on our comprehensive services for local clients.”
John Eakin, Managing Member of Eakin Partners, emphasizes the positioning of Roundabout Plaza’s location, adjacent to both West End and downtown Nashville, with easy access to Interstates 40 and 65. “This opportunity provides a chance to bring more Regions colleagues together in ways that enhance teamwork, while welcoming more clients and associates to the thriving and convenient Music Row area,” he says.
The bank expects to begin renovating both the first and ninth floors at Roundabout Plaza in the second quarter of this year with plans to move in by early 2025.
“When renovations are complete in the next two months, the full suite of Roundabout Plaza amenities will include a newly renovated fitness facility, a new first floor cafe and a shared conference room and common meeting areas on the seventh floor,” adds Eakin.
Regions’ agreement with Eakin Partners includes crown signage rights, with the Regions logo set to reflect the bank’s pride in building on its investments in Nashville. “From consulting with local businesses on how to grow their companies, to helping individual consumers through in-person and digital services, we are Nashville’s bank,” Blank says. “And we’re excited to take this step forward in writing our next chapter of service to Middle Tennessee.”
Darius Rucker Announces Date For 15th Annual ‘Darius & Friends’ Benefit Concert
/by Liza AndersonDarius Rucker has announced that his 15th annual “Darius & Friends” concert benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will take place on Monday, June 3 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
Unofficially kicking off CMA Fest, the event features a star-studded lineup of surprise guests alongside Rucker each year. Past performers include Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Jelly Roll, Charles Kelley of Lady A, Ashley McBryde, AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys, Megan Moroney, Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers, Tommy Thayer of Kiss and more.
The 2023 CMA Foundation Humanitarian of the Year made a commitment to support St. Jude almost two decades ago after taking an inspiring tour of the hospital and learning how it’s leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
“You see these kids who are sick, and they’re so happy to be there, because their caregivers are so loving and giving to them. And then you find out that nobody ever gets a bill. That blew me away,” Rucker shared with The Tennessean. “I was just like, ‘We’ll figure out some way to help you guys as much as I can.'”
Now, a decade and a half later, “Darius & Friends” has raised over $3.6 million for St. Jude. Presale tickets for this year’s show are available now, with general sales starting this Friday (May 3) at 10 a.m. CT. For more information, click here.
Kat Higgins Extends Publishing Deal With BMG
/by Lorie HollabaughKat Higgins. Photo: Alysse Gafkjen
ACM Song of the Year-nominated songwriter Kat Higgins has renewed her publishing deal with BMG.
Higgins’ recent No. 1 single, “The Painter” by Cody Johnson, is nominated for Song of the Year at the upcoming 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards. She also penned the 2021 No. 1 “Knowing You” by Kenny Chesney.
Born and raised in Canada, Higgins grew up playing and touring full time with her family’s Irish folk band, which introduced her to the world of songwriting and eventually led to her settling in Nashville. Since landing in Music City, she has penned songs cut by Carrie Underwood, Runaway June, The Lone Bellow and more, and has also begun releasing her own music.
“BMG is thrilled to continue this creative journey with Kat Higgins,” says Amy Hendron Scott, BMG’s Director, Artists & Repertoire. “Kat is an amazing talent and we are honored to be on her team!
“I love that BMG has always fostered my authentic voice and encouraged me to step out, take risks and have fun in songwriting,” says Higgins. “Pat [Higdon], Chris [Oglesby] and Amy have been champions for me. I feel that warm homey feeling every time I’m around them and at the same time, I’m shocked that I get to work with these powerhouses. BMG and Pat Higdon together are my dream team. I’m so excited for this next chapter!”
“Kat’s such a great writer!” says Higdon of Patrick Joseph Music. “It’s an honor to continue working with her and the wonderful BMG team!”
Hannah McFarland Inks With Warner Chappell Music & The Core Entertainment
/by Madison HahnenPictured (L-R): Warner Chappell’s Bryce Sherlow, The Core Entertainment’s Bradley Kind, Hannah McFarland, The Core Entertainment’s Chief Zaruk, Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn and The Core Entertainment’s Simon Tikhman. Photo: Courtesy of Warner Chappell Music
Rising singer-songwriter Hannah McFarland has signed a joint global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music and The Core Entertainment.
“We are so excited to work with Hannah McFarland and represent her unique talent,” says Bryce Sherlow, Manager, A&R, Warner Chappell Music Nashville. “Hannah is an incredibly insightful and talented songwriter that has already accomplished numerous major milestones. Her storytelling and emotion drew me to her instantly and I’m looking forward to our journey together.”
McFarland moved to Nashville from Alabama in 2016 to pursue music. Her authentic and relatable lyrics often combine grassroots country with contemporary flair. She has opened for Kelsea Ballerini, Old Dominion, Travis Tritt and more. Last month, McFarland joined Zach Bryan on stage to perform his chart-topping hit with Kacey Musgraves “I Remember Everything.”
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Warner Chappell Music Nashville on an artist like Hannah whose star is so bright already,” share Chief Zaruk and Simon Tikhman, Co-Founders & CEOs, The Core Entertainment. “We’re so excited for what her future holds in Nashville and beyond.”
Koe Wetzel Reveals Details For New Album ‘9 Lives’
/by LB CantrellKoe Wetzel. Photo: Jody Domingue
Genre-disruptor Koe Wetzel will release his next album 9 Lives on July 19 via Columbia Records.
Photo: John Park / Design by Dalton Latham, Courtesy of Columbia Records
The 13-track project is set to take fans beyond the party animal stories Wetzel has become known for in his near-decade of combining his country roots in Texas with his rock, hip-hop and grunge sensibilities. 9 Lives was produced predominantly by Gabe Simon (Noah Kahan’s Stick Season) alongside a lineup of trusted collaborators like Josh Serrato, Carrie K and Sam Harris (X Ambassadors).
In addition to the already-released lead single “Damn Near Normal,” the album includes emotional ballads such as “Sweet Dreams” and “Hatchet,” rowdy singalongs like “Casamigos” and “Bar Song” and Wetzel’s signature wit with tunes like “Leigh.” Also featured is a cover of the late Keith Gattis‘ “Reconsider.”
“I want fans to know that there’s a different side of me, not just the sex, drugs, and rock & roll Koe that they may have heard about online,” Wetzel says. “I’ve grown up a little bit. I’m no longer the 20-year-old kid that’s partying down and getting thrown in jail all the time. 9 Lives reveals a vulnerable side that people may not be used to hearing.”
To introduce the new album, Wetzel released a funny album trailer of his nine personas. Fans can also take a quiz to discover which Wetzel character is most like them.
Wetzel will take all nine of his lives on the road this year on the recently announced “Damn Near Normal World Tour,” as well as prominent sets at Rock the Country, Hangout, Country Jam, Country Thunder Wisconsin, WE Fest, Watershed and more. He will also join Morgan Wallen on his “One Night At A Time World Tour” in Arlington, Texas this July.
9 Lives Track List:
1. “Continued” Skit
2. “9 Lives (Black Cat)” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Gabe Simon)
3. “Casamigos” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Sam Harris, Ben Burgess, Gabe Simon)
4. “Damn Near Normal” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Gabe Simon, Carrie Karpinen, Sam Harris)
5. “Leigh” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Gabe Simon)
6. “Twister” (Ropyr Wetzel, Steve Rusch, Ben Burgess, Josh Serrato)
7. “High Road” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Gabe Simon, Carrie Karpinen)
8. “Reconsider” (Charles John Brocco, Keith Quenton Gattis)
9. “Hatchet” (Gabe Simon, Mike Coogan)
10. “Sweet Dreams” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Josh Serrato, Gabe Simon, Sam Harris)
11. “Runnin’ Low” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Sam Harris, Gabe Simon, Ben Burgess)
12. “Bar Song” (Blake “Shy” Carter, Breyan Isaac, Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, Dave Gibson)
13. “Last Outlaw Alive” (Josh Serrato, Ben Burgess, Sam Harris)
Josh Phillips Tops MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by Madison HahnenJosh Phillips
Josh Phillips has claimed the No. 1 spot in this week’s MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. Phillips’ only entry on the chart, “Dirt Cheap,” is solo-penned and recorded by Cody Johnson.
Ashley Gorley is No. 2 this week with “Bulletproof,” “Cowgirls,” “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” “World On Fire” and “Young Love & Saturday Nights.” With “Bulletproof,” “Chevrolet” and “Take Her Home,” Hunter Phelps sits at No. 3 this week.
Jessie Jo Dillon (No. 4) and Rocky Block (No. 5) round out the top five this week.
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.
Country Creators Support Music Health Alliance At ‘Coulda Shoulda Woulda’ Event
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Aaron Raitiere, Natalie Hemby, Ashley McBryde and Vince Gill. Photo: Angela Talley
Ashley McBryde, Vince Gill, Natalie Hemby and Aaron Raitiere showed their support for Music Health Alliance (MHA) by headlining its third annual “Coulda Shoulda Woulda” fundraiser last week at Nashville’s Cannery Hall.
Pictured (L-R): Aaron Raitiere, Ashley McBryde, MHA’s Tatum Allsep, Vince Gill, Natalie Hemby and Lytle Management & MHA Board’s John Lytle. Photo: Angela Talley
Hosted by Ashley Eicher, the sold-out evening of songs and stories raised more than $100,000 for the Nashville nonprofit’s free healthcare programs and advocacy services that benefit the music industry nationwide.
“What a fun and emotional night of music as Ashley, Vince, Natalie and Aaron shared never-before heard songs alongside some of their biggest hits,” said Tatum Allsep, MHA Founder & CEO. “We could not be more grateful to these amazing artists for donating their talents as well as everyone who attended to support Music Health Alliance and our decade long commitment to ‘Heal The Music.'”
MHA’s team of 14 advocates work to help music industry professionals with all of their healthcare needs. The nonprofit’s services range from assistance with medical bills to physical and mental health guidance, including finding doctors or prescriptions, searching for financial grants to aid in recovery from serious health issues, affordable health insurance and answers to Medicare questions.
Since its inception in 2013, MHA has provided free advocacy and support to almost 25,000 music industry professionals, saving clients and their families over $127 million in healthcare costs.