Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Publisher of the Year/Capitol CMG Publishing Rep. Brad O’Donnell, BMI Songwriter of the Year Jeff Pardo, BMI’s Publisher of the Year/Capitol CMG Publishing Rep. Karrie Dawley, BMI’s Spotlight Award recipient Dottie Leonard Miller, BMI’s Leslie Roberts. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
The annual BMI Christian Awards took place Tuesday night (June 20) at the company’s Music Row office. BMI’s AVP of Creative, Nashville, Leslie Roberts and BMI’s VP of Creative, Nashville, Clay Bradley, hosted the invitation-only ceremony.
The evening celebrated BMI’s top Christian songwriters and music publishers as BMI’s Christian Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year winners were revealed. Additionally, the ceremony honored 15 first-time winners for their hand in writing some of the top 25 most-performed Christian songs of the previous year.
“Jireh,” written by BMI songwriters Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine, was named the 2023 Song of the Year. The Gold-certified track was recorded by contemporary worship bands, Elevation Worship and Maverick City. In addition to being the most-performed Christian Song of the Year, “Jireh” reached the top spot on the Hot Gospel Songs Chart and garnered multiple nominations from the Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards and GMA Dove Awards.
The coveted Songwriter of the Year award was presented to Jeff Pardo, who had a hand in writing five of this year’s award-winning songs. Pardo’s credits include “Come What May,” “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” “My Jesus,” “Yes He Can” and “Gospel Song,” which he serves as the sole writer.
Capitol CMG Publishing took home the accolade for Publisher of the Year. The company is responsible for 11 of the 25 most-performed songs of the year, including “Because He Lives,” “Child of Love,” “Come What May,” “Goodness of God,” “Gospel Song,” “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” “In the House,” “My Jesus,” “Promised Land,” “Promises” and “Yes He Can.”
Throughout the ceremony, BMI named the top 25 most-performed Christian songs such as “Because He Lives,” “Child of Love,” “Fires,” “Goodness of God,” “House of the Lord,” “I Choose Joy,” “My Jesus,” “Promised Land,” “What If” and more.
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Leslie Roberts with BMI’s Spotlight Award recipient Dottie Leonard Miller. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
This year’s BMI Christian Music Awards also paid special tribute to Dottie Leonard Miller. She took home the BMI Spotlight Award for her meaningful contributions to the genre, marking the first time this accolade was presented at this ceremony.
Miller is the CEO/Founder of Daywind Music Group and New Day Christian Distributors. She was treated to a surprise performance by contemporary southern gospel trio Southbound, as she played an instrumental role in their career. In receiving the BMI Spotlight Award, Miller joins an exclusive group of honorees including Randy Edelman, Frank Gari and Mike Post.
Additional performances included The Voice contestant Brennley Brown, who performed her new song “Miracle Story” as well as Jon Reddick, who shared a special rendition of his multi-week hit, “God Turn It Around.” Katy Nichole, a first-time winner last night, served as the final performer with “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” which became the fastest-rising debut single from any female artist in the history of the Billboard Christian Airplay chart.
For a complete list of 2022 BMI Christian Awards winners, visit bmi.com/christian2023.
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Leslie Roberts, BMI Songwriter of the Year Jeff Pardo, BMI Songwriter Anne Wilson, BMI’s Publisher of the Year/Capitol CMG Publishing’s Karrie Dawley and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen celebrate one of the Top 25 most-performed songs of the year, “My Jesus.” Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
Katy Nichole, who was a first-time winner, performed “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” which became the fastest-rising debut single from any female artist in the history of the Billboard Christian Airplay chart. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Maverick City Publishing’s Johnathan Jay, Heritage Worship Music Publishing’s Matt Lopez, BMI Songwriter Dante Bowe, BMI Songwriter Carrington Gaines, BMI’s Publisher of the Year/Capital CMG Publishing’s Raegan Corcoran, Be Essential Songs’ Josh Schiftman and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen celebrate one of the Top 25 most-performed songs of the year, “Promises.” Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
Austin Filengo Trio opened the BMI Christian Awards with instrumental music while attendees enjoyed dinner. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
Scott & Julie De Vos To Receive The 2023 CRB President’s Award
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. will recognize Scott and Julie De Vos of De Lux Productions with the 2023 CRB President’s Award.
Scott and Julie De Vos have been the driving force behind the scenes for 26 years, spearheading and managing production across the multitude of live music events over the three days during the Country Radio Seminar.
The presentation of the CRB President’s Award will take place during the 2023 Country Radio Hall of Fame event July 10 at the Virgin Hotel Nashville. Six radio professionals will be honored, including off-air broadcasters Pam Green, Charlie Morgan, Wade Jessen and John Willyard, and on-air personalities Trish Biondo and Dollar Bill Wilson.
The CRB President’s Award is bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and played a vital role in shaping the success of CRS and its mission to advance the country radio format. Previous recipients of the award include industry luminaries such as John Esposito, Beverlee Brannigan, Sarah Trahern, Mike Dungan, Charlie Morgan, Bob Kingsley, Joe Galante and Erica Farber, among others.
“If you’ve been to CRS, you have enjoyed the work of Scott and Julie,” says CRB/CRS Board President Kurt Johnson. “For many years, they’ve produced New Faces, the label luncheons…all our live music events. Now it’s time to put Scott and Julie in the spotlight. Joins us and raise a toast to two great people who make CRS go!”
Ian Munsick’s ‘The Buffalo Roams’ Tour Set For Fall
/by Lorie HollabaughIan Munsick performs. Photo: Raul Esparza
Ian Munsick has announced his 2023 fall headlining tour “The Buffalo Roams.”
Texas-based artists Giovannie & The Hired Guns, Randall King, Triston Marez, Catie Offerman, Tanner Usrey, Jake Worthington and fellow Wyoming native Chancey Williams will join Munsick as special guests on select dates of the fall leg.
The tour will visit Tulsa, Boston, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Chattanooga and more through Dec. 9, and tickets to the fall run go on sale this Friday, June 23. The tour name is inspired by Munsick’s recently released sophomore album White Buffalo, which includes the RIAA Gold-certified track “Long Live Cowgirls” featuring Cody Johnson that has racked up over 100 million global streams to date.
“This tour is filled with cities and even regions we’ve never played before. The northeast is a scary place for a Wyoming boy, but what better excuse to brave new territory than country music,” shares Munsick. “At the end of the day, my music is escapism. My goal is to always invite the audience to a place they can smell the Indian Paintbrush and cow shit. I’m sure even New Yorkers crave a taste of the Rocky Mountains.”
This summer, Munsick will hit stadiums again with Morgan Wallen at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 11 and PNC Park Aug. 30 on his “One Night At A Time World Tour.”
BMI 2023 Christian Music Awards Honors Top Creators
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): BMI’s Publisher of the Year/Capitol CMG Publishing Rep. Brad O’Donnell, BMI Songwriter of the Year Jeff Pardo, BMI’s Publisher of the Year/Capitol CMG Publishing Rep. Karrie Dawley, BMI’s Spotlight Award recipient Dottie Leonard Miller, BMI’s Leslie Roberts. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
The annual BMI Christian Awards took place Tuesday night (June 20) at the company’s Music Row office. BMI’s AVP of Creative, Nashville, Leslie Roberts and BMI’s VP of Creative, Nashville, Clay Bradley, hosted the invitation-only ceremony.
The evening celebrated BMI’s top Christian songwriters and music publishers as BMI’s Christian Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year winners were revealed. Additionally, the ceremony honored 15 first-time winners for their hand in writing some of the top 25 most-performed Christian songs of the previous year.
“Jireh,” written by BMI songwriters Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine, was named the 2023 Song of the Year. The Gold-certified track was recorded by contemporary worship bands, Elevation Worship and Maverick City. In addition to being the most-performed Christian Song of the Year, “Jireh” reached the top spot on the Hot Gospel Songs Chart and garnered multiple nominations from the Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards and GMA Dove Awards.
The coveted Songwriter of the Year award was presented to Jeff Pardo, who had a hand in writing five of this year’s award-winning songs. Pardo’s credits include “Come What May,” “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” “My Jesus,” “Yes He Can” and “Gospel Song,” which he serves as the sole writer.
Capitol CMG Publishing took home the accolade for Publisher of the Year. The company is responsible for 11 of the 25 most-performed songs of the year, including “Because He Lives,” “Child of Love,” “Come What May,” “Goodness of God,” “Gospel Song,” “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” “In the House,” “My Jesus,” “Promised Land,” “Promises” and “Yes He Can.”
Throughout the ceremony, BMI named the top 25 most-performed Christian songs such as “Because He Lives,” “Child of Love,” “Fires,” “Goodness of God,” “House of the Lord,” “I Choose Joy,” “My Jesus,” “Promised Land,” “What If” and more.
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Leslie Roberts with BMI’s Spotlight Award recipient Dottie Leonard Miller. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
This year’s BMI Christian Music Awards also paid special tribute to Dottie Leonard Miller. She took home the BMI Spotlight Award for her meaningful contributions to the genre, marking the first time this accolade was presented at this ceremony.
Miller is the CEO/Founder of Daywind Music Group and New Day Christian Distributors. She was treated to a surprise performance by contemporary southern gospel trio Southbound, as she played an instrumental role in their career. In receiving the BMI Spotlight Award, Miller joins an exclusive group of honorees including Randy Edelman, Frank Gari and Mike Post.
Additional performances included The Voice contestant Brennley Brown, who performed her new song “Miracle Story” as well as Jon Reddick, who shared a special rendition of his multi-week hit, “God Turn It Around.” Katy Nichole, a first-time winner last night, served as the final performer with “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” which became the fastest-rising debut single from any female artist in the history of the Billboard Christian Airplay chart.
For a complete list of 2022 BMI Christian Awards winners, visit bmi.com/christian2023.
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Leslie Roberts, BMI Songwriter of the Year Jeff Pardo, BMI Songwriter Anne Wilson, BMI’s Publisher of the Year/Capitol CMG Publishing’s Karrie Dawley and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen celebrate one of the Top 25 most-performed songs of the year, “My Jesus.” Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
Katy Nichole, who was a first-time winner, performed “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” which became the fastest-rising debut single from any female artist in the history of the Billboard Christian Airplay chart. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Maverick City Publishing’s Johnathan Jay, Heritage Worship Music Publishing’s Matt Lopez, BMI Songwriter Dante Bowe, BMI Songwriter Carrington Gaines, BMI’s Publisher of the Year/Capital CMG Publishing’s Raegan Corcoran, Be Essential Songs’ Josh Schiftman and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen celebrate one of the Top 25 most-performed songs of the year, “Promises.” Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
Austin Filengo Trio opened the BMI Christian Awards with instrumental music while attendees enjoyed dinner. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI
Dylan Wolfe Signs Publishing Deal With Riser House & Lyric Music Publishing
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R, back row): Michael Ransom, Kirby Smith, Lauren Spahn, Brandon Perdue; (L-R, front row): Jennifer Johnson, Dylan Wolfe, Drew Baldridge. Photo: Shannon Bradley
Riser House and Drew Baldridge’s Lyric Music Publishing have partnered to sign singer-songwriter Dylan Wolfe to an exclusive publishing agreement.
Wolfe is an independent country-rock artist from Illinois. He has garnered a large following on social media due to his TikTok presence, as well as over 10 million streams on his recent singles such as “Wasting My Time” and “Something To Talk About.” Wolfe also co-wrote Bailey Zimmerman’s “From The Fall” from his 2022 Leave The Light On EP.
“For 7 years I’ve been playing music, writing songs, working a job, traveling back and forth to Nashville from Illinois and I always prayed that someone would hear my stuff, see my hard work and be willing to take a chance with me,” says Wolfe. “That has finally happened and I couldn’t be more blessed! I’m so excited to be a part of the Riser House family and to have my mentor Drew as part of the team as well. My career has only just begun and the expectations are high for the future!”
“Dylan not only brings raw talent, but he is a self starter and has an incredible work ethic,” says Jennifer Johnson, President and Co-Founder of Riser House Entertainment. “I’m honored to be partnered with Baldridge in this publishing venture, and I am very excited for Dylan’s future!”
Established in 2023, Wolfe is the first artist to sign to Baldridge’s Lyric Music Publishing roster.
“I’ve watched Dylan since day 1 cut his teeth playing in the same dive bars that I started playing in back in southern IL,” says Baldridge. “His work ethic is unmatched and he continues to grow everyday in his artistry and songwriting. I’m so excited to be partnering with Jennifer Johnson and her incredible team at Riser House to give Dylan’s music the light it deserves!”
“Dylan has a truly unique voice, both as an artist and a writer, that feels ripe for the current wave of emerging artists,” says Brandon Perdue, Riser House’s SVP A&R + Publishing. “From the first meeting, his work ethic and character really impressed us and he comes in with some impressive relationships already established as well. We’re truly excited to dive in with he and Drew on this partnership!”
Jelly Roll Enters Top 10 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellJelly Roll. Photo: Ashley Osborn
Jelly Roll jumps from No. 26 to No. 10 this week on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Jelly Roll, whose legal name is Jason DeFord, is a co-writer on three of his climbing hits, “Need A Favor,” “Halfway To Hell” and “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson. All appear on his recently released debut country album, Whitsitt Chapel.
Ashley Gorley spends another week at No. 1 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week. Tracy Chapman (No. 2), Zach Bryan (No. 3) Ryan Vojtesak (No. 4) and John Byron (No. 5) complete the 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.
Weekly Register: Luke Combs Ascends The Country Charts
/by Liza AndersonLuke Combs. Photo: Jeremy Cowart
Luke Combs‘ Gettin’ Old has reclaimed the No. 3 slot on the country albums chart with 32K in total consumption (2.1K album only/37 million song streams), and his “Fast Car” cover remains No. 2 on the country streaming songs chart this week with 16 million new streams, adding to 170 million RTD according to Luminate data.
Elsewhere on the country albums chart, Morgan Wallen‘s One Thing At A Time extends its No. 1 reign with 111K (4.6K album only/135 million song streams). His Dangerous: The Double Album returns to No. 2 with 45K (953 album only/57 million song streams). Zach Bryan‘s American Heartbreak persists at No. 4 with 30K (1.7K album only/36 million song streams), while Jelly Roll‘s Whitsitt Chapel moves to No. 5 with 28K (7.1K album only/24 million song streams).
On the top country streaming songs chart, Wallen’s “Last Night” continues to take No. 1 with 24 million streams, adding to 541 million RTD. Bryan’s “Something In The Orange” takes No. 3 with 13 million new streams, adding to 711 million RTD. Wallen’s “Thinkin’ Bout Me” rests at No. 4 with 11 million streams, adding to 204 million RTD, and “You Proof” prevails at No. 5 with 11 million new streams, adding to 638 million RTD.
In This Issue: MusicRow’s Artist Roster Issue Highlights Strategic Executives
/by LB CantrellMusicRow‘s recently released 2023 Artist Roster includes a myriad of resources for industry professionals.
This annual edition contains a six-part company directory, complete with client rosters and up-to-date contact information in the categories: Label, Management, Talent Agents, Publicity, Artist Services (Banking, Business Management/Financial/Insurance, Digital Music, Legal, Marketing, Radio Promotion and Media) and Organizations (Trade & Professional Development, Performing & Mechanical Rights and Unions).
This issue also offers a summarizing Artist Grid, which has become an indispensable tool connecting artists to their team members in Label, Management, Talent Agency and Publicity categories.
In addition to those resources, MusicRow taps several industry experts for exclusive interviews regarding their work.
Inside is a celebration of Kane Brown’s elevation into a genre-leading artist, shared by members of Brown’s team Martha Earls (Neon Coast), Braeden Rountree (WME), Dennis Reese (Sony Music Nashville) and Alex Alvga (Brown’s Creative Director).
Brown’s team speaks about his recently completed monumental tour of the nation’s 29 NBA arenas, which made him the first country artist in history to complete the trek. MusicRow also walks through other recent career wins for Brown, including his hit single “Thank God” released with his wife, Katelyn, and his first television appearance on the drama Fire Country.
When asked about Brown’s next steps, Earls shares, “Thinking about all the different verticals, we are definitely focused on new music and not waiting so long to release another album. We’re playing Fenway Park this year, which is crazy and amazing, so I’d like to do maybe four or five of those. There’s different tactics but for us, we’re easing in and doing some more stadiums.”
Elsewhere, leading music managers Brad Belanger, Blythe Scokin, Mandelyn Monchick and Zach Sutton join together for a round-table about working in this fast-paced industry with its dynamic social media and technological climates. In a Q&A, the four discuss AI, making collaborations work, feeding fans’ veracious appetite for new music, TikTok and more.
When talking about the current trend of country and western aesthetics in pop culture, Sutton shares, “You have this interest in country music in this new way, but I also feel like it’s only with a specific age bracket that is already conditioned to listen to all kinds of music.” He adds, “There’s a unique thing happening with a subset of the population where people can understand and appreciate the nuances between each artist, but I do think as a whole on the ground floor, we’re seeing this melting pot where people are into all kinds of things.”
In another editorial feature, Music Health Alliance’s Founder and CEO Tatum Hauck Allsep and CFO and Certified Senior Advisor Shelia Shipley Biddy celebrate a decade of “healing the music.” MHA has provided healthcare access through advocacy services since its launch in 2013.
Allsep and Biddy walk MusicRow through MHA’s inception and speak about their services and goals for the next 10 years.
“I think there’s a lot of things [within] a senior program that need to be developed,” Biddy says about one of MHA’s goals. “Part of that is education. There needs to be something for the younger people in the music industry to understand the impact of [aging].”
For the Artist Roster issue, MusicRow also spoke with RECORDS Nashville’s Executive Vice President Joe Fisher and Vice President of Promotion and Commercial Strategy Josh Easler, as well as RECORDS Founder Barry Weiss. Now with a robust country roster, the men discussed their unique approach and strategies with each artist.
Easler shares, “There’s nothing about what we do that’s cookie cutter at all. We’re very intentional and strategic about the marketing plan around each individual artist and their releases.”
ASCAP songwriter and MCA Nashville recording artist Jordan Davis graces the cover of the 2023 Artist Roster issue.
Single copies of MusicRow’s 2023 Artist Roster print issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $45, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.
Eric Church Is Country Music Hall Of Fame’s Latest Artist-In-Residence
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has invited Eric Church to be its 18th artist-in-residence.
The annual artist-in-residence series spotlights an artist with an exemplary body of work and features one-of-a-kind performances over multiple evenings. The museum offers its intimate CMA Theater as a blank canvas for the artist to curate shows incorporating different themes and special guests.
Church will produce and perform two shows on Aug. 29 and 30, and tickets range from $75 to $500 with all proceeds benefiting the nonprofit museum’s educational mission. Museum members and Church’s “Church Choir” fan club will have access to a special pre-sale June 22 at 10 a.m. Tickets to both shows will be available to the public June 23, at 10 a.m. on the museum’s website. Sales are limited to four tickets per transaction on a first-come, first-served basis and are non-refundable.
Past participants of the prestigious artist-in-residence program include Cowboy Jack Clement (who opened the series in 2003), Earl Scruggs, Tom T. Hall, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Douglas, Vince Gill, Buddy Miller, Connie Smith, Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, Alan Jackson, Rosanne Cash, Jason Isbell, Miranda Lambert, Marty Stuart and John Prine.
“As a student of the rich history of country music’s most prolific artists, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a shrine of reverence for this songwriter’s heart,” shares Church. “I’m honored and humbled to be included in such esteemed company.”
“Throughout his career, Eric has constantly stretched boundaries with his music and challenged long-standing conventions in his recordings and his live performances,” says Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “Our artist-in-residence series offers him the freedom to showcase his ever-evolving creative vision. We’re grateful to him for volunteering his time and fierce individualism to the series, which benefits the museum and its nonprofit mission.”
Church is also the subject of a new exhibition at the museum, Eric Church: Country Heart, Restless Soul, presented by Gibson, which opens July 13 and chronicles his unique path to stardom.
Megan Moroney Hits No. 1 With ‘Tennessee Orange’
/by Lorie HollabaughMegan Moroney. Photo: David McClister
Megan Moroney’s debut hit single “Tennessee Orange” reached No. 1 this week on the Country Aircheck/Mediabase Country Airplay chart.
The first single from her debut album Lucky, the Platinum-certified track fueled Moroney’s rise. Within just five days of its premiere, the viral sensation surpassed a million streams and catapulted the 25-year-old into the spotlight, paving the way for her to sign with Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records.
First released last September, “Tennessee Orange” is the story of a love so strong it even defies loyalty to a beloved home team. Moroney won Breakthrough Female Video of the Year at the recent CMT Music Awards for the single, and made history as the fifth solo country female artist ever to hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart.
Moroney will kick off “The Lucky Tour” with her New York City debut at The Bowery Ballroom on Sept. 20.
Old Crow Medicine Show Slates New Album ‘Jubilee’ For August
/by Lorie HollabaughOld Crow Medicine Show will release their latest album Jubilee via ATO Records on Aug. 25.
The band shared the project’s debut single, “Miles Away,” today. The reflective track was co-written by band leader Ketch Secor and bluegrass virtuoso Molly Tuttle with guest vocals from Old Crow Medicine Show co-founder Willie Watson. “Miles Away”marks the first time Watson has recorded with the group in over 10 years. He plans to hit the road with them this fall, performing as an opening act in addition to joining them on stage.
“This is one of those rearview songs where objects in the mirror are closer than they appear,” says Secor. “Twenty-five years of making music on the road means you’re always coming back to the same places as a different person; there’s a reminder of your past self and the choices you made back when. Molly Tuttle and I wrote this one together and when it was through, I asked my Old Crow co-founder Willie Watson to make his first appearance on an Old Crow record in years. After all, this is a song about amends, of bygones being bygones, and of renewal.”
Arriving as the Grammy-winning band gears up to celebrate their 25th anniversary, Jubilee finds the group once again co-producing with Matt Ross-Spang and features appearances from legendary soul singer Mavis Staples and singer-songwriter Sierra Ferrell. Their eighth studio album serves as somewhat of a companion piece to their acclaimed 2022 release Paint This Town, which hit No. 1 on the Americana Radio Albums Chart and debuted at the top of Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums chart.
Jubilee harnesses the wild exuberance that Old Crow Medicine Show channels in their live show, and finds the band doubling down on their commitment to creating roots music that encompasses everything from jug-band tunes and Irish folk songs to gospel jams. The project showcases the musicality and storytelling that has made Old Crow Medicine Show an influential force in American roots music for more than two decades.