Submissions For The 58th Annual ACM Awards Now Open

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The Academy of Country Music (ACM) has opened submissions for the 58th ACM Awards. Submissions will be accepted through Friday, Jan. 27, with first-round voting set to begin on Feb. 27. All submission and voting windows will close at 7 p.m. CT.

The eligibility period for the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards’ submissions is Nov. 16, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2022.

Key dates for Academy professional members for the 2022 ACM Awards cycle are as follows:
Submissions Period: Jan. 9, 2023 – Jan. 27, 2023
First Round Voting Main Awards: Feb. 27, 2023 – March 6, 2023
First Round Voting Radio Awards: Feb. 27, 2023 – March 13, 2023
Second Round Voting Main Awards: March 27, 2023 – April 3, 2023
Final Round Voting Radio Awards: March 27, 2023 – April 10, 2023
Final Round Voting Main Awards: April 17, 2023 – April 24, 2023

Multiple award categories were modified in 2022 following the 57th ACM Awards. Those modifications will be reflected in this year’s submissions and voting for the 2023 Awards.

The ACM Board of Directors approved changes to the Entertainer of the Year category, expanding the final round nominees from five to seven. The Songwriter of the Year category will be split into two categories: Songwriter of the Year and Artist-Songwriter of the Year.

Criteria for the Album of the Year category have also been changed to increase the required amount of previously unreleased content from 51 percent to 75 percent, and the release window has been updated to better accommodate gradual release schedules. The Video of the Year category has expanded to Visual Media of the Year to include additional formats of content.

Additionally, the ACM’s Radio Award criteria for National Personality of the Year has been updated to require that submitted shows are distributed across all continental U.S. time zones. This impacts both National Weekly On-Air Personality of the Year as well as National Daily On-Air Personality of the Year.

The 58th ACM Awards will livestream exclusively on Prime Video on Thursday, May 11, live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Tickets are currently available on SeatGeek.

Ernest Launches New Publishing Company, Ern’s Cadillac Music, In Partnership With Big Loud

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Pictured (L-R): Chandler Walters, ERNEST, Cody Lohden and Rafe Tenpenny. Photo: Delaney Royer

Big Loud singer-songwriter Ernest has launched his own publishing venture, Ern’s Cadillac Music, in partnership with his record label.

Named with his prized 1975 Coupe DeVille in mind, Ernest’s inaugural signings include steel guitar player and songwriter Chandler Walters and Kentucky born, artist-writer Cody Lohden. Additionally, the company is partnering with Big Loud Mountain Music and Mitchell Tenpenny‘s High Dime to sign Nashville native Rafe Tenpenny.

“I met Ern a week before my first day of fifth grade at football practice. He came up to me and said ‘I bet I can pick you up’ then decided to show me. We have been best friends ever since,” Rafe recalls. “I respect him not only as a friend, but as one of the best writers in the game right now, so for him to show faith in signing me means the world. I’ve learned plenty from Ern, but the biggest thing is to be true to yourself. When you listen to Ern’s music, or see him on social media, podcasts, TV, etc., that’s what he’s like in real life.”

“Ern and I met on TikTok,” Walters shares. “He hit me up asking where I lived and if I could join his band. Over the past year we’ve traveled all over the country together and I have gotten to know him as a brother. Ern picking me to be in Cadillac Music is super humbling. He is one of the most accomplished songwriters in Nashville and him seeing something in me means more than anything.”

Lohden adds, “[This is] crazy. Not too long ago I was riding on a firetruck and an ambulance, and now I’m getting to write songs. Ern is the GOAT. He’s a good dude. And it’s cool to know that someone like him who’s been in the business believes in me. It’s very cool to have him on my side and I’m very grateful!”

Along with his new publishing venture, the new year looks to be Ernest’s biggest year yet with the release of Flower Shops (The Album): Two Dozen Roses on Feb. 10–the deluxe edition of his 2022 album Flower Shops (The Album).

CMA Launches Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship, Opens Applications

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The Country Music Association (CMA) has unveiled details behind its inaugural Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship. The new program is designed to provide BIPOC students with an immersive experience in the country music industry.

In partnership with the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations and The University of Alabama, with additional collegiate partners such as The University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Belmont University, the program is set to launch spring 2023.

In its first offering, the Fellowship will provide students with an insider look into CMA’s Communications team leading into the 50th anniversary of CMA Fest (June 8-11). Participants will begin working remotely with CMA’s Communications team in April, taking part in various planning meetings with cross-departmental teams and industry partners before joining CMA team members in Nashville. Following CMA Fest, each participant will take part in a six-week assignment with a country music publicity partner. CMA has tapped PR executive and co-founder of My Publicist Is Black, Trell Thomas, to match each participant with an industry expert who will serve as a mentor throughout the fellowship. Students will also participate in sessions and various programming with leading voices in the field as well as Nashville-based media and talent partners.

“We recognize that in order for our industry to further build an inclusive future, we have to create a multitude of pipelines for diverse talent to reach us,” says Tiffany Kerns, CMA Vice President, Industry Relations & Philanthropy. “Through our work with our collegiate development program, CMA EDU, we have had the opportunity to work with some incredible partners at universities across the country, and I am thrilled to have been able to develop this truly special program alongside Dr. Kenon Brown. While this inaugural fellowship will focus on the public relations field, our goal is to develop future programs that highlight even more professions within the country music industry.”

“PR professionals in the country music industry carry a significant amount of influence, which makes it increasingly important that the professionals recruited to fill these positions reflect not only the diverse talent and audiences they represent, but also the growing diversity of the U.S. population,” notes Mia McNeal, CMA Senior Director, Industry Relations & Inclusion. “We know that having diverse candidates will bring different perspectives to strategies that will ultimately strengthen the country music industry. By partnering with several companies and individuals within our business, we aim to build widespread engagement and future opportunity within country music.”

“In my years of collaborating alongside CMA, I’ve known the organization to be incredibly intentional around the need for diversity and inclusion behind the scenes,” adds Dr. Brown, The University of Alabama Associate Professor, Advertising and Public Relations and the fellowship’s managing faculty member. “This fellowship is just one of the many ways that the organization is providing resources to continue making change happen. I know first-hand the impact a program like this can have on students from underrepresented backgrounds, and I’m excited to watch the participants begin their journeys to becoming future leaders in country music. My deepest gratitude to CMA for locking arms with myself and our additional collegiate partners to create such a rewarding experience for students.”

Applications can be submitted now through Feb. 24. Eligible students must be an incoming junior or senior majoring in public relations, advertising, journalism, business or a related field at The University of Alabama; The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; or Belmont University.

All participants will receive compensation for their work in addition to a stipend to cover living expenses while in Nashville. An advisory committee comprised of Dr. Brown, faculty representatives from the university partners and CMA staff members will review all applications.

Jayne Hamblin Joins Creative Nation Staff

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Jayne Hamblin

Jayne Hamblin has joined Creative Nation as Manager, Management and Records. In her new position, she will oversee the day-to-day responsibilities for Creative Nation artist clients and serve as a liaison between them and all outside partners.

Hamblin received her MBA and undergraduate degree in Music Business from Belmont University. The Kentucky native previously held roles at Wortman Works Media & Marketing and SSM Nashville Records after internships at MV2 Entertainment and Smallbone Management.

“With Jayne’s past experience and her infectious passion for artists, I’m excited to add her to our Creative Nation Management and Records team. She is a key addition to our continued commitment of serving our artists and writers,” shares Creative Nation SVP of Management and Records Brandon Gill.

“I am so excited to be a part of the Creative Nation team; it feels like a family. Every person here brings so much passion and energy to what they do and I am honored to be a part of it,” Hamblin adds.

Comedians Henry Cho, Gary Mule Deer To Become Grand Ole Opry Members

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Connie Smith, Henry Cho, Gary Mule Deer and Marty Stuart. Photo by Chris Hollo

Comedians Henry Cho and Gary Mule Deer were each invited over the weekend to become members of the Grand Ole Opry by longtime friend Marty Stuart.

Cho and Mule Deer were surprised backstage during a Facebook Live interview with Stuart discussing the storied history of comedy on the Opry. The two comedians have each played the Opry more than 100 times, and will be the first comedians inducted as members of the Opry since Jerry Clower became an Opry member 49 years ago.

Cho’s TV credits include appearances on NBC’s The Tonight Show, CBS’s The Late, Late, Show, and NBC’s Young Comedians Special. He served two years as host of NBC’s Friday Night Videos and guested on various network sitcoms and was co-creator, co- producer and co-writer of The Henry Cho Show on GAC. Cho’s one-hour Comedy Central Special, What’s That Clickin’ Noise? is currently running and is also on Netflix. He can also be heard daily on SiriusXM, Blue Collar Radio and Pandora.

Mule Deer has made over 350 TV appearances, including many on both The Tonight Show and The Late Show With David Letterman and has entertained everywhere from the Grand Ole Opry to Royal Albert Hall in London. He was one of six comedians, along with Jay Leno, to star on the very first HBO comedy special, and was the comedy host of Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert on NBC.

“Marty, Henry, and Gary said it best themselves when they were talking before tonight’s invitation,” said Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers. “Comedy has been an integral—and more importantly, FUN—part of the Opry for decades. It’s going to be fabulous to have both Henry and Gary as Opry members and for many of their fellow comedians on Opry shows to keep ratcheting up the fun factor every night.”

Cho and Mule Deer’s induction dates will be announced soon.

Singer-Songwriter Stephen Allen Davis Dies

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Award-winning Nashville songwriter Stephen Allen Davis has passed away at age 73.

During his career, Davis won more than a dozen BMI Awards for writing such hits as “Only a Lonely Heart Knows” (Barbara Mandrell), “Sleepin’ With the Radio On” (Charly McClain), “One of a Kind” (Tammy Wynette), “Beautiful Woman” (Charlie Rich), “Hello Mexico” (Johnny Duncan), “Amy’s Back in Austin” (Little Texas) and “North of the Border” (Johnny Rodriguez). “Stand Beside Me,” recorded by Jo Dee Messina, was a three-week No. 1 hit in 1999.

Davis was also a performer on Music City’s pop-rock nightclub scene for 30+ years. He recorded for RCA, Epic, PolyGram, Apple, Barclay and other labels in both the U.S. and Europe.

Born in 1949, Stephen Allen Davis was a Nashville native. He was the nephew of Country Music Hall of Fame members Harold Bradley and Owen Bradley. But after seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan TV show in 1964, Davis became enthralled with pop sounds. He began playing in area rock bands as a teenager.

Harold Bradley introduced him to Norro Wilson, who signed the youngster to Al Gallico Music. Davis wrote his first hit when he was only 17. It was “Take Time to Know Her,” which became an R&B smash for Percy Sledge in 1968. The song was subsequently recorded by David Allan Coe, Joe Stampley, O.C. Smith and others.

The works of Stephen Allen Davis were also recorded by such pop and soul stylists as Diana Ross, Joe Cocker, Meatloaf, Tom Jones, John Hiatt, The DiVinyls, Engelbert Humperdinck, Memphis Slim, Johnny Mathis and Glenn Shorrock of the Little River Band. But his greatest successes as a songwriter were with country artists, eight of which are listed above.

In addition, McEntire scored with his “Just a Little Love” (1984). Ty Herndon had a hit with Davis’ “No Mercy” (2000). Mandrell returned to the songwriter’s catalog for “There’s No Love in Tennessee” (1985), as did Rodriguez for “I Want You Tonight” (1981) and “He’s Not Entitled to Your Love” (1982). Stampley had a top-10 hit with Davis’s “Put Your Clothes Back On” (1979).

McClain, whom Davis co-produced, recorded the chart-topping “Radio Heart” (1985), plus a number of other Davis songs, including “With Just One Look in Your Eyes,” “When It’s Down to Me and You” (with Wayne Massey) and “So This Is Love.”

Stephen Allen Davis songs were also sung by such country stars as Johnny Paycheck, Kenny Rogers, Easton Corbin, Trace Adkins, Mac Davis, Eddie Rabbitt, Alabama, Neal McCoy, B.J. Thomas, George Jones, Faith Hill, Lonestar, Tanya Tucker, Lacy J. Dalton and Charlie Daniels. More than 400 of his songs have been recorded. Many were credited as being by “Steve Davis.”

As a performer, he rocked such Music City nightspots as Douglas Corner, The Sutler, The Bluebird Cafe and The Goldrush. He also sang in showcase venues in New York and Los Angeles. Overseas, he released albums in England, Sweden and South Africa.

In 1995, Stephen Allen Davis released his first U.S. solo CD, The Light Pink Album. In 2011, he starred in the PBS-TV concert special, The Desert Sessions. In addition to songs, he also wrote a novel and three screenplays.

Stephen Allen Davis was diagnosed with an undisclosed illness in 2021 and died on Tuesday evening, Dec. 26, in Nashville. Funeral arrangements are unknown.

Griffen Palmer Signs With Big Loud Records

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Kris Wiatr (President, Wiatr & Associates), Stacy Blythe (SVP of Promotion, Big Loud Records), Patch Culbertson (GM/SVP, Big Loud Records), Griffen Palmer, Shannon McNevan (CEO, Starseed Entertainment), Candice Watkins (SVP of Marketing, Big Loud Records), Greg Thompson (Partner/President, Big Loud Management), Joey Moi (Partner/Producer/President of A&R, Big Loud); (L-R, front row): Seth England (Partner/CEO, Big Loud) and Austen Adams (COO, Big Loud). Photo: Brayln Kelly

Singer-songwriter and NBC’s Songland winner Griffen Palmer has signed with Big Loud Records.

An Ontario native, Palmer grew up in a musical family, with early influences including John Mayer, Kings of Leon, Elton John, The Eagles and Bruce Hornsby. His father bought him a drum kit in elementary school and soon after, the Palmer found himself writing originals of his own.

Discovering a love for country music during college at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, Palmer played dive bars around campus, refining his performing and writing skills. Shortly after graduation, he was introduced to songwriter Geoff Warburton at a house party, and the two formed a creative partnership.

Palmer signed a publishing deal with Big Loud Publishing in 2019, shortly after relocating to Nashville. He soon began landing cuts with Florida Georgia Line, Keith Urban, The Band Camino, Chelsea Cutler, Jade Eagleson, and more.

“Griffen is an incredible talent, and we couldn’t be more proud to keep him in the Big Loud family as a recording artist,” says Big Loud Partner/CEO Seth England. “His music is representative of who he is: thoughtful, strong, complex, nuanced. We can’t wait for everyone to get to know and love him the same way we do.”

“Big Loud has been my home in Nashville since day one,” shares Palmer. “Everyone in the building has been so supportive of me these past few years as I’ve been developing my songwriting and figuring out my next steps as an artist. Waking up every day in this town and creating with a team like this behind me is an absolute dream, and I can’t wait to start this new chapter by rolling out the music.”

In 2020, Palmer won his episode of NBC’s Songland after collaborating with Shane McAnally, Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard on the romantic ballad, “Second Guessing.” The rising wordsmith is releasing his solo version of the song as his Big Loud Records debut single this Friday (Jan. 13). His full-length debut album will arrive later this year.

Mandy McCormack Named EVP Of Marketing & Partner Strategy For Trisha Yearwood, Inc.

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Mandy McCormack

Industry veteran Mandy McCormack has been named Executive Vice President of Marketing & Partner Strategy for Trisha Yearwood, Inc.

In this role, the Nashville-based executive will be tasked with managing brand partnerships, overseeing marketing plans, seeking new business ventures and providing strategic consultation in all lanes of Yearwood’s business.

McCormack’s more than 25-year career began in the 1990s with programming roles at After Midnite with Blair Garner, Premiere Radio Networks and KZLA/Los Angeles. She later shifted to records with a regional promotion position for Vivaton! Records.

In 2005, McCormack joined the inaugural promotion team that launched Big Machine Records, and while there, she served as Director/Midwest Regional Promotion and Director/West Coast Regional Promotion. In 2011, she was promoted to National Director/Promotion Strategy for the entire label group, overseeing syndication and radio marketing. During her decade-long tenure at BMLG, her success was recognized with Country Aircheck/CRS Awards for Regional Promotion Director of the Year (2010) and National Promotion Director of the Year (2012).

Most recently, McCormack spent eight years as Sr. VP of Radio Promotion & Marketing | Artist Strategy for Garth Brooks’ Pearl Records and TeamTY. From 2016-22 she also served as Executive Producer for SiriusXM’s The Garth Channel as an extension of her Pearl Records duties.

“I have been so blessed to have had the opportunity to expand my experience since 2015, working with Garth, Trisha, and their affiliated teams,” notes McCormack. “Now, I am excited to be able to laser focus on Trisha’s business goals as it relates to music, television, entertainment, lifestyle and more. Knowing the opportunities currently on the table, I am looking forward to bringing new dreams to life with Trisha, her team at WME and our entire amazing TeamTY!”

“Mandy has been an integral part of TeamTY since we formed in 2018,” Yearwood adds. “We named ourselves TeamTY because that’s really who we are. I love the collaborative nature of this group. With Mandy coming in full-time, it feels good to make official what she’s really been doing all along. TeamTY is thrilled to have her with us exclusively!”

Yearwood’s current portfolio includes Gwendolyn Records; her Emmy-winning Food Network TV series, Trisha’s Southern Kitchen; her Facebook Live series, Coffee Talk; her collection of New York Times best-selling cookbooks; a pet line; furniture line; rug line; and a multi-year partnership with Williams Sonoma.

Engineer Mark Capps Killed In Police-Involved Shooting

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Mark Capps, the Grammy-winning recording engineer, was shot and killed Thursday (Jan. 5) by a Nashville SWAT team member. He was 54.

According to multiple reports, Mark was killed when police responded to an incident in which he had allegedly held his wife and adult stepdaughter hostage.

Police said that Mark’s wife and stepdaughter escaped from the home Thursday morning and filed a report. The SWAT team showed up at the house and when Mark presented a gun in his doorway, he was shot.

Days before the incident, Mark lost his brother, Jeff Capps, another member of the music community in Nashville. Mark and Jeff are the sons of the late Jimmy Capps, a prolific studio guitarist and a member of the Grand Ole Opry’s house band for more than 50 years. Jimmy Capps died in June of 2020.

Mark Capps’ credit list includes a wide array of country greats, including Alabama, Brooks & Dunn, Chris Young, Aaron Tippin, Conway Twitty, Joe Diffie, the Oak Ridge Boys, Big & Rich, John Michael Montgomery, Kenny Rogers, and The Chicks. He is also credited on projects for Neil Diamond, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, the Gaither Vocal Band, Barry Manilow, Donna Summer, the Mavericks, Anita Cochran, Kenny Loggins, and Olivia Newton-John.

For the last 18 years, Mark Capps has been an integral employee of The Isaacs. In a social media post, the group shared that, “this conduct does not represent the Mark that [they] have known.”

Mark was a four-time Grammy winner for his work with Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra.

Mark is preceded in death by his father, Jimmy Capps; mother, Anne Bridges Capps; and brother, Jeffery Allen Capps.

He is survived by his wife Tara Solomon Capps, daughter Summer Capps, bonus daughter Mollie Mckenzie Acuff, stepmother Michele Voan Capps, his Isaacs family: Lily Isaacs, Ben Isaacs, Sonya Isaacs Yeary, Becky Isaacs Bowman; also “Poppa” Jimmy Fortune; along with aunts, uncles, cousins and many special friends.

A celebration of life service will be held for Mark on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 1:00 p.m. at Sellars Funeral Home at Mount Juliet, 2229 N. Mount Juliet Road, Mount Juliet, Tennessee. A gathering of family and friends will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 10 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., and on Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. until service begins.

Cheat Codes Reveals Details Behind New Country Collab Album, Out Jan. 27

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Cheat Codes

Cheat Codes has unveiled new details behind their upcoming country collaboration album, One Night in Nashville – Presented by Cheat Codes, which arrives Jan. 27. Ahead of the project’s release, the group has dropped a new single, “Bets On Us,” with Dolly Parton.

“Having Dolly on this album is so surreal and a full circle moment for me, personally,” shares the trio’s Matthew Russell. “As someone who grew up in the midwest, my family and I would go to her event in the Great Smokey Mountains. Her larger than life photos were everywhere and now having a song with one of the biggest music legends of all time and especially in the country space is incredible.”

“I love how ‘Bets on Us’ turned out with Cheat Codes,” adds Parton. “When I heard this song, I felt like I could contribute something special.”

Parton’s track record of working with DJs from the dance/ EDM space includes 2021’s “Jolene (Destructo Remix),” 2019’s No. 1 Gold-certified hit “Faith” featuring Galantis & Mr. Probz, 1997’s top 5 “Peace Train” remix and more.

Five singles have been released thus far, including the current top 40 hit “I Remember” featuring Russell Dickerson. Additional advance tracks include “One Night Left” with MacKenzie Porter, “Lose You” featuring Jimmie Allen, “How Do You Love” featuring Lee Brice & Lindsay Ell, and “Never Love You Again” featuring Little Big Town and Bryn Christopher.

The new country collaboration project is an entirely new endeavor for Cheat Codes, who have put out many records in the electronic dance, pop, and alt rock genres.

“Going to the coolest city ever after making one song turned into fourteen and we wanted to make an entire album. We knew it was a different world musically from the one we lived in, but we knew we wanted to be a part of it,” the trio share. “We felt so comforted and welcomed by this incredible community of creators. The journey that began two years ago, now gets to be heard around the world, and we could not be more excited about this collection of songs.”

One Night in Nashville – Presented by Cheat Codes Track List:
1. Cheat Codes & Lady A – Something’s Coming (Lawrent, Colton Avery)
2. Cheat Codes & Russell Dickerson – I Remember (Matt McGinn, Russell Dickerson, Alysa Vanderheym, Chris Ryan, Logan Turner, Cheat Codes)
3. Cheat Codes & MacKenzie Porter – One Night Left (Matt McGinn, Josh Kerr, Parker Welling, Cheat Codes)
4. Cheat Codes & Brett Young – Hurt That You Gave Me (Ross Copperman, Tommy Lee James, Michael Matosic, Cheat Codes)
5. Cheat Codes & Mitchell Tenpenny – What’s It Gonna Take (Mitchell Tenpenny, Aaron Gillespie, Nick Bailey, Kyle Fishman, Andy Albert, Cheat Codes)
6. Cheat Codes & Lee Brice & Lindsay Ell – How Do You Love (Lee Brice, Lindsay Ell, Eric Aukoustics, Corey Blount, Saint Fleur, Celeste, Jordi & Jan – Bail Bandits, Danielle Alisa Poppitt, Sam James, Thom Bridges, Orianthi, Ernest Osei, Cheat Codes)
7. Cheat Codes & Dolly Parton – Bets On Us (Cleo Tighe, James Newman, Ubizz, Cutfather)
8. Cheat Codes & Nate Smith – You Ain’t Been In Love (Nate Smith, Zach Abend, Andy Albert, Blake Pendergrass)
9. Cheat Codes – Sippin’ (Douglas Andrew, Henry Panton, Philip Peter, Dudley Panton, Oliver David, Hugh Daldry)
10. Cheat Codes & Little Big Town & Bryn Christopher – Never Love You Again (Duck Blackwell, Bryn Christopher, Andrew Jackson, Cheat Codes)
11. Cheat Codes & Maddie & Tae – Already Hungover (Nicolle Galyon, David Garcia, Amy Allen, Cheat Codes)
12. Cheat Codes & Adam Doleac – We’ll Break Up (Adam Doleac, Trevor Dahl, Kevin Bard, Aukoustics, Embody, Fred Wilhelm)
13. Cheat Codes & Matt Stell – When You Know (Matt Stell, Michael Jade, Pete Good, Cheat Codes)
14. Cheat Codes & Jimmie Allen – Lose You (Jimmie Allen, Josh Hoge, Nick Bailey, Kyle Fishman, Levon Grey, Cheat Codes)
BONUS: Cheat Codes & Russell Dickerson & Dixie D’Amelio – I Remember (Matt McGinn, Russell Dickerson, Alysa Vanderheym, Chris Ryan, Logan Turner, Cheat Codes)
*All tracks produced by Cheat Codes