The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (NaSHOF) has announced its class of 2022.
Shania Twain, Steve Wariner, Hillary Lindsey, Gary Nicholson and David Malloy will join the iconic 223-member Hall in October, according to an announcement made on Tuesday (Aug. 2) by Sarah Cates, chair of the organization’s board of directors, and Mark Ford, the NaSHOF executive director.
Pictured (L-R): Mark Ford (NaSHOF executive director); inductees Steve Wariner, Hillary Lindsey, David Malloy and Gary Nicholson; Sarah Cates (chair of NaSHOF Board of Directors). Not pictured, inductee Shania Twain. Photo: Bev Moser
“This is always one of my favorite days of the year—when we announce our incoming class and begin their journey to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala in October,” shared Cates at the 2022 inductee announcement. “I’m especially gratified to note that—for the first time since 2009—two of our inductees-elect are women.”
Ford introduced each member of the new class to make remarks. Lindsey and Nicholson represent the contemporary songwriter category, Malloy is in the veteran songwriter category, Twain is the contemporary songwriter/artist and Wariner is the veteran songwriter/artist.
The talented songwriters will be officially inducted during the 52nd annual Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala on Sunday, October 30, at the Music City Center.
Hillary Lindsey’s songwriter credits include “Jesus Take The Wheel” (Carrie Underwood), “Girl Crush” (Little Big Town) and “Blue Ain’t Your Color” (Keith Urban). Gary Nicholson’s resume is known for “That’s The Thing About Love” (Don Williams), “One More Last Chance” (Vince Gill) and “She Couldn’t Change Me” (Montgomery-Gentry). David Malloy’s hits include “Drivin’ My Life Away” (Eddie Rabbitt), “Suspicions” (Eddie Rabbitt; also Tim McGraw) and “Love Will Turn You Around” (Kenny Rogers).
Shania Twain recorded many of her self-penned hits, including “You’re Still The One,” “Come On Over” and “Forever And For Always.” Steve Wariner popularized many of his own compositions, including “You Can Dream Of Me,” “Where Did I Go Wrong” and “Holes In The Floor Of Heaven.”
“This is just absolutely mind-blowing to me. It truly is,” Lindsey shared when giving her remarks. “I am extremely humbled to be a part of this year’s class of nominees. The thought of my name even being thrown in the hat is mind-blowing to me. I want everyone to know I am so grateful and thankful for this honor.”
“I came here in 1980 and I’ve attended many Hall of Fame inductions through the years. I never imagined things would evolve and, after these 42 years, this would actually occur,” said Nicholson. “I am a product of this environment, this community of amazing songwriters and publishers. It was that synergy and that community that shaped me and gave me a way.”
“I never really thought I would be in here,” said Malloy. “To be here with these great talents who I admire so much, I’m so grateful and so thankful to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.”
Wariner told the story of forming his publishing company and of his training as a writer. “There’s so many other writers who probably deserve this more than I do, but none that will appreciate it any more, I can guarantee you that,” he said.
Twain wasn’t able to attend.
Sheryl Crow, Yola, More Among Lightning 100’s Live On The Green 2022 Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughSheryl Crow, Coin, Moon Taxi, Yola, Arrested Development, Devon Gilfillian and more are set to perform at this year’s Lightning 100 Live On The Green Festival in downtown Nashville. The festivities are slated for Labor Day weekend (Sept. 1-5).
Also performing at this year’s festival are Nikki Lane, Patrick Droney, Ruby Amanfu, Stephen Day, The Wild Feathers, Danielle Ponder, Seratones, Strung Like A Horse, Susto, The 502s, Bre Kennedy, *repeat repeat, The Brummies, The Criticals, The Foxies, Daisha McBride, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, The Shindellas, The Watson Twins, Cecilia Castleman, LadyCouch, Los Colognes, Sweet Lizzy Project, Tayls and Phillip-Michael Scales.
Joining the 2022 lineup are Lightning 100’s Music City Mayhem champions Fulton Lee (2020), Nordista Freeze (2021) and Taylor Bickett (2022), who have garnered tens of thousands of votes and will now finally take the Live On The Green stage.
“Lightning 100 has been serving Nashville with the best independent radio in the country since we began in 1990,” shares Lt. Dan Buckley, Program Director for Lightning 100. “Even with all we’ve done for the community, charities we’ve helped, local bands we’ve supported, and national bands we’ve broken, Live On The Green is what put us on the map in Music City. You won’t see billboards on the side of the road advertising our station because we’d rather spend that money on you! Party with us on the steps of City Hall in Public Square Park with our free music festival this Labor Day weekend!”
Live On The Green is free and open to the public. Fans can elevate the festival experience by purchasing five-day premium packages including Reserved Seating, Lightning 100 Lounge, or VIP Plaza at LiveOnTheGreen.com. Single day passes will go on sale this Friday (Aug. 5).
BMI & Third Man Partner For Showcase At The Blue Room
/by Lorie HollabaughBMI is partnering with Third Man Records for “BMI At The Blue Room,” a first-ever showcase featuring BMI songwriters and multi-genre, up-and-coming talent. The event is slated for Aug. 10 at Third Man Records’ headquarters in Nashville.
Beginning at 5 p.m. CT, the show will feature performances from Belmont alums and five-piece band of creatives Future Crib, former SUSTO bandmates and synth pop group Babe Club, and Australian indie songwriter Jo Schornikow.
Audiences of all ages are encouraged to attend.
Jake Owen Notches 10th Career Chart-Topper With ‘Best Thing Since Backroads’
/by Lorie HollabaughJake Owen. Photo: Matt Paskert
Jake Owen has racked up his tenth No. 1 with “Best Thing Since Backroads,” which landed in the top spot on the Country Aircheck/Mediabase chart.
The single, written by Ben Johnson, Jordan Minton, Hunter Phelps, and Geoff Warburton, was followed up by recent releases “Fishin’ On A River,” “Up There Down Here,” and the latest “1×1.”
“Let’s go! Boys and girls, the No. 1 song in all the land of country music,” Owen shared on social media. “Thank you so much, holy frickin’ cow. It’s a Monday and having the No. 1 song in America is unbelievable.
“I could not do this first and foremost without the songwriters; you guys wrote an incredible song that’s only elevating my career,” he continued. “I have 10 No. 1 songs–I can’t even wrap my head around that. It took me seven years to get my first No. 1, and to think all these summers later we’re still cranking them out. To the fans– oh my gosh, the fans. You are the best thing since backroads, you have given me this life, I love you guys. You make country music what it is and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Owen has been taking his hits to fans on his headlining “Up There Down Here Tour,” and will head to Canada on Friday (Aug,. 5) for an appearance at the Boots and Hearts Music Festival.
Corey Kent Sells Out First Headlining Show In Music City
/by LB CantrellCorey Kent performs to a packed Basement East. Photo: Templin Hammack
Newly signed RCA Nashville artist Corey Kent packed out the Basement East on Friday night (July 29) for a high-energy show.
Following an entertaining set by opener Faren Rachels, Kent started his show with a fan-favorite, “Feels A Lot Like This.” His talent was evident from the moment he opened his mouth as he effortlessly combined Justin Timberlake-esque runs and gravely hollers throughout the night.
Kent often spoke about his journey to becoming a breakout country artist. The Oklahoma native told the story of his move to Nashville, saying that he was able to land a publishing deal and started writing songs for other artists, but didn’t find that to be fulfilling.
“I found myself with what I thought was my dream job. I was writing songs for a publishing company here in town, but I was writing songs for other people. I found out that my dream job wasn’t writing songs for other people, it was writing my songs and playing them for the good people of Nashville, Tennessee like you tonight.
“I was so busy with ‘chasing the dream’ when I lived here that I was taking for granted the things in life that really matter,” Kent said. “One day I woke up and realized that the dream I was chasing I had right in the palm of my hands. I just wasn’t even paying attention.”
In a standout moment, Kent then sang an unreleased song, a coming-of-age tune likely called “How You Know You Made It,” that references the dream he was always chasing: happiness.
Throughout the evening, Kent thrilled concert-goers with fan-favorites “Same Thing,” “Highway,” “There’s Always Next Year,” and “Gold.” He also took on some classic covers, too, putting his own spin on The Marshall Tucker Band‘s “Can’t You See,” Kenny Chesney‘s “Keg In The Closet,” and The Beatles‘ “Come Together.” His rocking band more than kept up.
In another standout moment, he sang an acoustic version of Travis Tritt‘s “Great Day To Be Alive,” smiling into the raucous crowd.
When it came time for him to perform his wildly successful debut single, “Wild As Her,” the crowd was amped up. Every hand in The Basement East went up as the talented singer delivered the TikTok trendy bridge, “I don’t wanna fix her, I just wanna kiss her / Fuel a little fire in her soul.”
“This song is changing our lives,” he said. “[When we released it], we had no big team behind us or a bunch of money promoting what we were doing. We relied on the every day person to listen to our music and if they liked it, to tell their friends about it.
“That’s exactly what happened with this song. For over two straight weeks, this was the most streamed country song in the entire world!” Kent said with a grin. “We’d love it if you sang it along with us.”
The Basement East obliged, singing every word.
Applications Now Open: MusicRow’s 2022 Publisher Issue Directory
/by LB CantrellNew applicants for inclusion in the Publisher company directory for the upcoming MusicRow Publisher Issue print magazine are now being accepted through Aug. 12. Along with the directory with contact information for Nashville’s publishing community, the issue also features exclusive editorial content focused on this essential segment of our business.
To submit your company for consideration, complete and submit this form.
For questions, please contact LB Cantrell at lbcantrell@musicrow.com. To reserve ad space in the 2022 Publisher issue, contact srobertson@musicrow.com. Rate card information is available here.
Become a subscribed member of MusicRow here to make sure you don’t miss the annual Publisher Issue.
Mark Your Calendar—August 2022
/by Lorie HollabaughSingle/Track Releases
August 1
Morgan Wallen/You Proof/Big Loud
Walker Hayes/Y’all Life/Monument
Cody Jinks/Loud and Heavy/True Grit/16 Camino
Chance Tomke/Rock You Country/Pine Ridge Records
August 5
Ben Rector feat. Thomas Rhett/What Makes A Man
Craig Campbell feat. Trea Landon/Things You Do In A Truck/Grindstone Records
Jennifer Hart/18/Records Nashville
Jesse Labelle/My Last Broken Heart
Matt Jordan/One More Round/MJ Music
August 8
Tyler Braden/Try Losing One/Warner
Tiera Kennedy/Found It In You/Valory
Jarrod Turner/Love Ain’t Got No Time To Waste/SSM Nashville
August 12
Karen Waldrup/Just Ain’t Love
August 15
David Seering/The Vow/PCG Records
August 16
Ginnie Terry/Talking Dirty/MC1 Nashville
August 19
Liddy Clark/Potential
August 22
Brooke Moriber/Savior/Reviver Records
Lauren Reno/Bottle’s Worth a Dime/Majestic Ape Records
Kaylee Bell/Keith
August 26
Caroline Kid/Wyoming
Album/EP Releases
August 5
Travis Denning/Might As Well Be Me/Mercury
Dylan Scott/Livin’ My Best Life/Curb Records
CJ Solar/The Future’s Neon/Raining Bacon Records
August 12
Steve Moakler/Make A Little Room
Wade Bowen/Somewhere Between The Secret And The Truth/Thirty Tigers
Mitch Bradford/Close
August 12
Frank Ray/Getcha Some/BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records
Gretchen Peters/The Show: Live From The UK/Proper Music Group
Stefanie Joyce/Marlboro Reds & Motel Rooms/ONErpm
August 19
Tyler Hubbard/Dancin’ In The Country/EMI Records Nashville
Kolby Cooper/Boy From Anderson County To The Moon/BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records/Combustion Music
August 26
Charlie Daniels/Charlie Daniels & Friends: Volunteer Jam 1 – 1974 – The Legend Begins/Blue Hat Records/BFD/Audium Nashville
Ingrid Andress/Good Person/Warner Music Nashville/Atlantic Records
Kameron Marlowe/We Were Cowboys/Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville
Alexander Ludwig/Highway 99/BBR Music Group/BMG
Jim Lauderdale/Game Changer/Sky Crunch Records
Bri Bagwell/Corazón y Cabeza
Industry Events
August 15
Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament
August 23
ACM Party for a Cause
SOURCE Awards
August 24
ACM Honors
August 30
MusicRow Awards (online)
Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Announces Class Of 2022
/by LB CantrellThe Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (NaSHOF) has announced its class of 2022.
Shania Twain, Steve Wariner, Hillary Lindsey, Gary Nicholson and David Malloy will join the iconic 223-member Hall in October, according to an announcement made on Tuesday (Aug. 2) by Sarah Cates, chair of the organization’s board of directors, and Mark Ford, the NaSHOF executive director.
Pictured (L-R): Mark Ford (NaSHOF executive director); inductees Steve Wariner, Hillary Lindsey, David Malloy and Gary Nicholson; Sarah Cates (chair of NaSHOF Board of Directors). Not pictured, inductee Shania Twain. Photo: Bev Moser
“This is always one of my favorite days of the year—when we announce our incoming class and begin their journey to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala in October,” shared Cates at the 2022 inductee announcement. “I’m especially gratified to note that—for the first time since 2009—two of our inductees-elect are women.”
Ford introduced each member of the new class to make remarks. Lindsey and Nicholson represent the contemporary songwriter category, Malloy is in the veteran songwriter category, Twain is the contemporary songwriter/artist and Wariner is the veteran songwriter/artist.
The talented songwriters will be officially inducted during the 52nd annual Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala on Sunday, October 30, at the Music City Center.
Hillary Lindsey’s songwriter credits include “Jesus Take The Wheel” (Carrie Underwood), “Girl Crush” (Little Big Town) and “Blue Ain’t Your Color” (Keith Urban). Gary Nicholson’s resume is known for “That’s The Thing About Love” (Don Williams), “One More Last Chance” (Vince Gill) and “She Couldn’t Change Me” (Montgomery-Gentry). David Malloy’s hits include “Drivin’ My Life Away” (Eddie Rabbitt), “Suspicions” (Eddie Rabbitt; also Tim McGraw) and “Love Will Turn You Around” (Kenny Rogers).
Shania Twain recorded many of her self-penned hits, including “You’re Still The One,” “Come On Over” and “Forever And For Always.” Steve Wariner popularized many of his own compositions, including “You Can Dream Of Me,” “Where Did I Go Wrong” and “Holes In The Floor Of Heaven.”
“This is just absolutely mind-blowing to me. It truly is,” Lindsey shared when giving her remarks. “I am extremely humbled to be a part of this year’s class of nominees. The thought of my name even being thrown in the hat is mind-blowing to me. I want everyone to know I am so grateful and thankful for this honor.”
“I came here in 1980 and I’ve attended many Hall of Fame inductions through the years. I never imagined things would evolve and, after these 42 years, this would actually occur,” said Nicholson. “I am a product of this environment, this community of amazing songwriters and publishers. It was that synergy and that community that shaped me and gave me a way.”
“I never really thought I would be in here,” said Malloy. “To be here with these great talents who I admire so much, I’m so grateful and so thankful to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.”
Wariner told the story of forming his publishing company and of his training as a writer. “There’s so many other writers who probably deserve this more than I do, but none that will appreciate it any more, I can guarantee you that,” he said.
Twain wasn’t able to attend.
Erin Burr Named VP Of Media Relations At RIAA
/by Lorie HollabaughErin D.D. Burr. Photo: Katie Kauss
Erin Burr has joined the RIAA as VP of Media Relations.
In her new position, Burr will lead the Association’s press and media outreach. The industry veteran spent over a dozen years in the communications department at Big Machine Label Group in Nashville and previously worked at the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Burr is a past “Next Big Thing” honoree by MusicRow Magazine and was nominated for the CMA’s Touring Awards “Publicist of the Year” in 2018. Her work at Big Machine also led to past nominations for PR Week’s Campaign of the Year and In-House PR Team of the Year.
“Erin Burr has built a career helping artists break through and tell their stories on the biggest media stages in the world,” said RIAA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mitch Glazier. “And now at RIAA she can expand on that incredible track record advocating for smart policies that support all music creators and strengthen the foundation for the entire recorded music industry for years to come. We are thrilled Erin is joining the RIAA team.”
“As I celebrate my first year as a DC resident, it’s exciting and serendipitous to begin this new professional adventure. I am grateful to Mitch, Michele [Ballantyne] and the incredible RIAA community for the warm welcome and look forward to amplifying and advocating for fellow creators in the recorded music industry,” said Burr.
Burr can be reached at eburr@riaa.com.
The RIAA also added Jonathan Mancera as Digital Strategist and Ashley Donald as Studio and Stage Manager.
Zach Bryan Enters Top Five On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellZach Bryan
With three solely-written songs currently rising on the country charts, breakout artist Zach Bryan hits No. 4 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week. He is propelled by his songs “Something In The Orange,” “Quittin’ Time,” and “Summertime Blues.”
Ernest Keith Smith remains at the top of the chart for the seventh consecutive week. He is a co-writer on four charting songs, including Wallen’s “Wasted On You” and “You Proof,” Jelly Roll’s “Son Of A Sinner,” and his own “Flower Shops.”
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.
Stone Country Records Adds Tara Shayne To Team, Ron Bradley Moves To Quartz Hill Records
/by Lydia FarthingRon Bradley & Tara Shayne
Stone Country Records has added Tara Shayne as Director of Promotion. She will take over west coast promotion duties for the label, which includes Easton Corbin and Ben Gallaher.
Shayne has over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry, most recently working the west coast region for Riser House and Blue Mountain Records. She will report directly to Stone Country Records’ VP of Promotion & Marketing, Jim Malito.
“Tara comes highly recommended to us by radio programmers, and we are excited to have her join our Stone Country Records family!” Malito shares.
Shayne can be reached at Tara@stonecountryrecords.com.
Additionally, Stone Country Records Director of Promotion Ron Bradley has joined sister label Quartz Hill Records in the same role. He will take over west coast promotion duties for multi-Platinum selling entertainer Joe Nichols, as well as Thompson Square and Nate Barnes.
Bradley will report directly to Quartz Hill’s VP of Promotion & Marketing, Will Robinson. Bradley’s former email (Ron@stonecountryrecords.com) will continue to work for the near future, and his new email will be Ron@quartzhillrecords.com.