Kane Brown Leads Nominations For 2022 CMT Music Awards

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The nominees for the 2022 CMT Music Awards have been unveiled. Each winner is selected by fans, with voting now open at vote.cmt.com.

Kane Brown leads this year’s nominees with four nods, including Video of the Year, Male Video of the Year and two entries for CMT Performance of the Year. Artists with three nominations this year include female powerhouses Kelsea Ballerini and Mickey Guyton, plus Breland and Cody Johnson as first-time nominees.

The first round of nominations for the Video of the Year award includes 12 acts, including Carrie Underwood, who continues to reign as the most awarded artist in CMT history with 23 wins. She is nominated twice this year for her collaboration with Jason Aldean. Also facing off for the night’s biggest award are Brandi Carlile, Cody Johnson, Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson, Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini feat. Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs, Maren Morris, Miranda Lambert, and Taylor Swift feat. Chris Stapleton.

The CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year category has been added to this year’s show, recognizing artist performances created for CMT Digital throughout the year, with Brittney Spencer, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Jon Pardi, Josh Turner and Lainey Wilson competing for the inaugural award.

Hosted by Ballerini and Anthony Mackie, the show will broadcast live from Nashville on Monday, April 11 from 7-10 p.m. CT. This year’s show marks the inaugural broadcast of the awards on CBS, which will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Performers, presenters and additional details about the 2022 CMT Music Awards will be announced in the coming weeks.

The nominees for the 2022 CMT Music Awards are:
Video of the Year*
Brandi Carlile – “Right On Time”
Cody Johnson – “‘Til You Can’t”
Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson – “Never Say Never”
Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood – “If I Didn’t Love You”
Kacey Musgraves – “Justified”
Kane Brown – “One Mississippi”
Kelsea Ballerini feat. Kenny Chesney – “half of my hometown”
Luke Combs – “Forever After All”
Maren Morris – “Circles Around This Town”
Mickey Guyton – “Remember Her Name”
Miranda Lambert – “If I Was A Cowboy”
Taylor Swift feat. Chris Stapleton – “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)”

Female Video of the Year
Brandi Carlile – “Right On Time”
Gabby Barrett – “Footprints On The Moon”
Kacey Musgraves – “Justified”
Maren Morris – “Circles Around This Town”
Mickey Guyton – “Remember Her Name”
Miranda Lambert – “If I Was A Cowboy”
Tenille Arts – “Back Then, Right Now”

Male Video of the Year
Cody Johnson – “’Til You Can’t”
Eric Church – “Heart On Fire”
Kane Brown – “One Mississippi”
Luke Bryan – “Waves”
Luke Combs – “Forever After All”
Thomas Rhett – “Country Again”
Walker Hayes – “Fancy Like”

Group/Duo Video of the Year
Brothers Osborne – “I’m Not For Everyone”
Dan + Shay – “Steal My Love”
Maddie & Tae – “Woman You Got”
Old Dominion – “I Was On a Boat That Day”
Parmalee – “Take My Name”
Zac Brown Band – “Same Boat”

Breakthrough Video of the Year, Presented by Sonic
Breland – “Cross Country”
Caitlyn Smith feat. Old Dominion – “I Can’t”
Elvie Shane – “My Boy”
Parker McCollum – “To Be Loved By You”
Priscilla Block – “Just About Over You”
Tenille Arts – “Back Then, Right Now”

Collaborative Video of the Year
Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde – “Never Wanted To Be That Girl”
Dustin Lynch feat. MacKenzie Porter – “Thinking ‘Bout You”
Nelly & Florida Georgia Line – “Lil Bit”
Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood – “If I Didn’t Love You”
Jimmie Allen & Brad Paisley – “Freedom Was A Highway”
Jordan Davis feat. Luke Bryan – “Buy Dirt”
Kelsea Ballerini feat. Kenny Chesney – “Half of My Hometown”

CMT Performance of the Year
Brothers Osborne – “Muskrat Greene/Dead Man’s Curve Medley (from CMT Campfire Sessions)”
George Strait – “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone (from CMT Giants: Charley Pride)”
H.E.R. feat. Chris Stapleton – “Hold On (from 2021 CMT Music Awards)”
Kane Brown – “Three Wooden Crosses (from 2021 CMT Artists of the Year)”
Kelsea Ballerini feat. Paul Klein of Lany – “I Quit Drinking (from 2021 CMT Music Awards)”
Mickey Guyton feat. Gladys Knight & Breland – “Friendship Train (from 2021 CMT Music Awards)”
Nelly feat. Kane Brown, Blanco Brown & Breland – “Ride Wit Me (from CMT Crossroads: Nelly & Friends)”

CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year
Brittney Spencer – “Sober & Skinny” (from CMT Campfire Sessions)
Carly Pearce – “Dear Miss Loretta” (from CMT :60 Songs)
Cody Johnson – “Dear Rodeo” (from CMT Campfire Sessions)
Jon Pardi – “On The Other Hand / Forever and Ever, Amen” (in honor of 2021 CMT Artist of a Lifetime Randy Travis)
Josh Turner – Live (from CMT KickBack)
Lainey Wilson – “Things A Man Oughta Know” (from the CMT Studio)

*Top nominees, from the first round of voting, will be announced on April 4. Final nominees, from the second round of voting, will be announced on show day, April 11. Final voting will be determined via social media and announced as the final category during the live show.

Jack White Charges Major Labels To Build Their Own Pressing Plants Amid Supply Chain Issues

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Jack White. Photo: Courtesy of Big Hassle

In light of recent supply chain issues and manufacturing bottlenecks, Jack White has called upon major labels to build their own vinyl record pressing plants.

White’s Third Man Records began focusing on vinyl production in 2009, taking the effort a step further when he opened Third Man Pressing in 2017. The pressing print has since been available to anyone to press a record.

In the past year, partly due to the supply chain issues triggered by COVID-19, White has invested in more record presses, more employees, and more shifts to accommodate the growing demand for vinyl products.

“At least once a week, without fail, someone will reach out asking me to help expedite their vinyl record manufacturing. It’s a natural thought… knowing that I own a pressing plant and have my own record label,” White says in a statement. “With industry-wide turnaround times for vinyl currently leaning towards the length of a human pregnancy, it’s obvious, in a world so contingent on being of-the-moment and timed just right (a single, an album, a tour etc.), these timelines are the killers of momentum, soul, artistic expression, and far too often, livelihoods.”

He continues, “While the entirety of vinyl investment and framework in the past decade has originated from independent companies and investors, the bigger problems we now see require major solutions. In this spirit, I turn to our collegial big brothers in the music world, Sony, Universal, and Warner, and politely implore them to help alleviate this unfortunate backlog and start dedicating resources to build pressing plants themselves.

“The issue is, simply, we have ALL created an environment where the unprecedented demand for vinyl records cannot keep up with the rudimentary supply of them,” White adds.

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White goes on to explain that it has never been easier to purchase a vinyl press in the past four decades, signaling that major labels have no excuse not to join in.

“We’re all on the same team with the same goals. I truly believe that with a good faith investment in the infrastructure that got us here, we can continue on this upward trajectory and further inspire the worlds around us. Now is the time,” White sums.

White also announced the special guests for his upcoming, aptly-named “Supply Chain Issues Tour.” North American guests include Sugar Tradition, Olivia Jean, Geese, July Talk, Men I Trust, Starcrawler, JD McPherson, Be Your Own Pet, Briston Marone, Chicano Batman, Natalie Bergman, The Afghan Whigs, The Kills, The Backseat Lovers, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Ezra Furman, Cautious Clay, and Glove. UK and European dates will see White supported by Chubby & The Gang, Yard Act, SONS, Doctor Victor, Ko Ko Mo, Larkin Poe, Equal Idiots, and Mdou Moctar.

The tour, which features White’s first headlining shows in four years, begins with two sold out album release shows on April 8 and 9 at Detroit’s Masonic Temple Theatre, and continues through late August. For a full list of upcoming shows, click here.

Amazon Music Announces Documentary Following A New Generation Of Black Country Artists

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Jimmie Allen. Photo: Joshua Kissi

Amazon Music has announced it will release a new feature-length documentary, For Love & Country, which examines country music’s evolution through the lens of a new generation of Black country artists.

Directed by acclaimed photographer and director Joshua Kissi, the Amazon Music Original documentary will features interviews and performances from Jimmie Allen, Blanco Brown, Breland, Shy Carter, Mickey Guyton, Willie Jones, Valerie June, Amythyst Kiah, Reyna Roberts, Allison Russell, Brittney Spencer, and Frankie Staton.

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“What I’ve come to realize is country music as a genre is just as complex as this country itself,” says Kissi. “Now is the moment to stand up for the voices that have always mattered throughout time, especially the musicians who didn’t get the credit when it was due.”

“I’ve always believed in the old saying, ‘if you can see it, you can be it,’” adds Mickey Guyton. “However, it’s no secret there has been a lack of representation of Black artists in mainstream country music for years. That’s why I hope little Black girls growing up now can see us, artists like Brittney, Reyna, Amythyst, Allison, Valerie, Frankie and me, and know they have a place here in country music. We all do.”

For Love & Country will highlight a new rising class of Black artists that are seeking to change country’s long-held identity as music by-and-for white audiences. Local Nashville residents will also be featured, including journalist and New York Times bestselling author Andrea Williams, Davidson County criminal court clerk and former vice mayor Howard Gentry, academic and author Amanda Marie Martínez, and rapper Mike Floss.

“This film is our collective story, in our own words,” adds Brittney Spencer. “We’re all carving our own unique paths. We’ve all got our own dreams and challenges, and our own ways of navigating them. I hope when people see this film, they better understand the conversation of race in country music. I hope it humanizes the discussed issues and puts a crowd of Black, beautiful faces to a topic the public has heavily engaged & debated, particularly over the last two years. I’m happy to be a part and share my story.”

In tandem with the trailer, Amazon Music has released “Black Myself,” an Amazon Original acoustic version of Amythyst Kiah’s song. Additional Amazon Original songs by artists featured in the film will roll out over the coming weeks.

For Love & Country will release on April 7 on Amazon Music and Prime Video globally.

Music Health Alliance To Host 1st Annual ‘Coulda Shoulda Woulda’ Benefit

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Music Health Alliance (MHA) is holding its first annual “Coulda Shoulda Woulda” event to benefit the Nashville-based non-profit on April 19 at Nashville’s City Winery. Songwriters Hardy, Randy Montana, Hunter Phelps and Jameson Rodgers are set to join in an evening of stories and songs at 6:30 p.m. CT with SiriusXM’s Storme Warren hosting.

The night of music will showcase the artists in the round performing songs that “coulda, shoulda, woulda” been a smash, along with their biggest hits. Additionally, a rare autographed vinyl collection will be available for silent auction at the event.

“So many songs are truly remarkable but end up forgotten in the back of a drawer or placed on hold and never recorded,” shares Grammy-winning songwriter and MHA board member, Liz Rose. “Guests will get to hear some never-heard-before songs and ones that got away… the ‘coulda, shoulda, woulda’ songs from some of today’s biggest hitmakers.”

Tables start at $1,000 and are available now by contacting events@musichealthalliance.com.

For every $1 donation, MHA is able to provide $30 in life-saving healthcare resources to Heal The Music. The team assists music industry professionals with the entire spectrum of their healthcare needs, ranging from assistance with medical bills or physical and mental health guidance including finding doctors or medicine, finding financial grants while recovering from a serious health issue, affordable health insurance, or answers to Medicare questions.

Nominees Announced For Seventh Annual AIMP Awards

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The Nashville Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) has announced the nominees for its seventh annual AIMP Awards, which will take place on April 19 from 4 – 6 p.m. CT at The Listening Room Café.

The awards event will open to nominees only, in person, but will be available for livestream at no cost to local members. Access to the livestream will be available for purchase for $6.00 to non-members and AIMP members in chapters outside of the Nashville community.

This year’s categories consist of Rising Songwriter of the Year, Rising Artist-Writer of the Year, Artist-Writer of the Year, Song Champion of the Year, Publisher’s Pick of the Year, Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Publisher of the Year.

The most nominated independent publisher this year is SMACKSongs, who takes home nine nominations. Big Machine Music follows with six, and Round Hill Music and Curb | Word Music Publishing both have four. Michael Hardy, who was just named ACM Songwriter of the Year, leads as most nominated individual with four nominations.

Voting for all AIMP Nashville Chapter members will begin today (March 15) and ballots will close at 5 p.m. CT on March 21. See the full list of nominees below:

AIMP Rising Songwriter Of The Year
– Brinley Addington (Spirit Music)
– Sara Davis (Big Machine Music)
– Josh Jenkins (SMACKSongs)
– John Morgan (Play It Again Music Group)
– Brett Tyler (Combustion Music)
– Dallas Wilson (Riser House Entertainment)

AIMP Rising Artist-Writer Of The Year
– Tenille Arts (Noble Vision Music)
– Callista Clark (Big Machine Music)
– Hannah Ellis (Curb | Word Music Publishing)
– Dylan Marlowe (Play It Again Music Group)
– Kylie Morgan (SMACKSongs)
– CJ Solar (Edgehill Music)

AIMP Artist-Writer Of The Year
– Jimmie Allen (Endurance Music)
– Lee Brice (Play It Again Music Group)
– HARDY (Relative Music)
– Walker Hayes (SMACKSongs/Rare Spark Media Group)
– Ryan Hurd (Big Machine Music)
– Morgan Wallen (Big Loud)

Song Champion Of The Year
– Jake Gear (Hang Your Hat Music)
– Lee Krabel (SMACKSongs)
– Cris Lacy (Warner Music)
– Colt Murski (Curb | Word Music Publishing)
– Ciara Shortridge (Curb | Word Records)
– Trina Smith-Dort (MeGusta Music)

AIMP Songwriter Of The Year
– Corey Crowder
– Jesse Frasure
– Ashley Gorley
– Michael Hardy
– Hunter Phelps
– Jonathan Singleton

AIMP Publisher Of The Year
– Big Loud Publishing
– Big Machine Music
– Kobalt Music
– Round Hill Music
– SMACKSongs
– Spirit Music

AIMP Publisher’s Pick Of The Year
– “Bigger Man” written by Joy Oladokun, Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz – Prescription Songs/Heroes and Halos Music/JRM Publishing/Round Hill Music/Big Machine Music – recorded by Joy Oladokun and Maren Morris

– “Briefcase” written by Walker Hayes, Lori McKenna – SMACKSongs/Rare Spark Media Group /Concord Music Publishing/Creative Nation – recorded by Walker Hayes

– “Miles” written by Luke Preston, Elvie Shane, John Sherwood – Anthem Entertainment/Little Louder Publishing/Rome Phrey Publishing – recorded by Elvie Shane

– “Over You is You” written by Tenille Arts, Matt Stell, Ben Stennis, Alex Kline – Young Guns Publishing/Kobalt Music /Noble Vision Music/Endurance Music/Sheltered Music Publishing – recorded by Matt Stell and Tenille Arts

– “Truth About You” written by Matt Alderman, Mitchell Tenpenny, Thomas Archer – Curb | Word Music Publishing/MV2 Entertainment/Riser House Entertainment – recorded by Mitchell Tenpenny

– “Younger Me” written by TJ Osborne, John Osborne, Kendell Marvel – King Pen Music/Concord Music Publishing- recorded by Brothers Osborne

AIMP Song Of The Year
– “Abcdefu” written by GAYLE, Dave Pittenger, Sara Davis – Big Yellow Dog/Art House Entertainment/Big Machine Music – recorded by GAYLE

– “Buy Dirt” written by Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins, Jacob Davis – Anthem Entertainment/SMACKSongs/Combustion Music – recorded by Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan

– “Chasing After You” written by Brinley Addington and Jerry Flowers – Mojo Music/Anthem Entertainment- recorded by Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd

– “half of my hometown” written by Kelsea Ballerini, Shane McAnally, Jimmy Robbins, Nicolle Galyon, Ross Copperman – SMACKSongs/Tempo Investments/JRM Publishing/Round Hill Music

– “Sand In My Boots” written by Michael Hardy, Josh Osborne, Ashley Gorley – Relative Music/SMACKSongs/Round Hill Music – recorded by Morgan Wallen

– “Til You Can’t” written by Ben Stennis and Matt Rogers – Young Guns Publishing/Anthem Entertainment – recorded by Cody Johnson

CMHOF Promotes Five Staff Members, Adds Historian

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Pictured (L-R, top row): Joe Bridges, Grace Cavanaugh, and Patrick Huber; (L-R, bottom row): Paige Maillet, Aubrey Miller, and Kayla Zabosek

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has promoted five staff members to associate director or director roles across five departments. The museum also recently welcomed Patrick Huber as historian-editor.

Huber recently joined the museum as Historian and Editor in the museum services department. In this role, he will contribute to exhibitions, museum publications, public programs and other educational initiatives that document and interpret the history of country music and the genre’s contributions to American culture. Huber is professor emeritus of Missouri University of Science and Technology, where he taught U.S. history for more than 20 years and won more than a dozen campus teaching and research awards. He is the author or editor of six books and has earned numerous awards and national recognition for research and documentation of country, blues and bluegrass history.

Grace Cavanaugh has been promoted to Associate Director of Event Services and Catering. She oversees the event services team, which manages more than 1,000 private and internal events annually. Since joining the museum in 2015, Cavanaugh has served as Event Services and Catering Manager and, most recently, Senior Event Services and Catering Manager. With more than 13 years of experience in the event industry, she previously worked with Sodexo.

Paige Maillet has been named Associate Director of Guest Relations. She oversees all aspects of the visitor experience for the museum, Hatch Show Print and Historic RCA Studio B tours, as well as other publicly ticketed events and programs. Her oversight includes box office sales, information and membership desks, greeters, tour guides, reservationists and ushers. During her seven-year tenure with the museum, Maillet has served as Guest Relations Specialist, Guest Relations Coordinator, Assistant Reservations Manager, Reservations Manager and most recently Ticketing Services and Reservations Manager.

Aubrey Miller has been promoted to Director of Public Relations. In this role, she develops and implements public relations and media relations strategies, as well as executes external communications campaigns for museum initiatives, including exhibitions, public and family programming, education programs, development and community outreach efforts, along with museum-operated Hatch Show Print and Historic RCA Studio B. Miller previously served as Public Relations Manager and most recently Senior Manager of Public Relations. Prior to joining the museum staff in 2019, she served as Senior Manager of Public Relations and Video/Photo Production for the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Kayla Zakosek has been named Associate Director of Retail. In her new role, she helps oversee the retail stores and develop strategies to drive sales that provide key operating revenue for the museum. Her oversight includes operation of four stores featuring merchandise for the museum and Hatch Show Print. Zakosek joined the museum in 2019 as Store Manager. She previously held the position of Retail Store Manager at the United Center in Chicago.

Joe Bridges has been promoted to Associate Director of Security. He is responsible for a safe working environment for staff, visitors and guests during all hours and events. His job entails maintaining and enforcing security policies and procedures; providing security for the buildings, artifacts and other company assets; and overseeing daily security operations, among other duties. Bridges previously served as Senior Security Manager.

Kristian Bush Explores Parallels Across His Musical Career On ’52 – The Podcast’

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Kristian Bush

Grammy-winning entertainer Kristian Bush and country music journalist Cindy Watts have teamed up to present 52 – The Podcast.

The pair will explore the parallels between popular songs from Bush’s back catalog and the new tracks from his four-volume release 52, whose first installment 52 – ATL X BNA lands March 25 via Big Machine Records.

The multi-instrumentalist offers insight into the songwriting process, his day-to-day life and the journey that took him from his hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee, to Atlanta, Nashville, and around the world as part of his various bands, including Sugarland.

“The only thing better than listening to music is listening to music with someone else,” Bush shares. “I met Cindy years ago–me writing songs and her writing about songs. Somewhere along the way, we discovered we were both from the same tiny hometown and have been friends ever since. This podcast is like the liner notes I always wish I had, with the person that I always wished had written them.”

The first episode of 52 – The Podcast is available now on all podcast platforms. Original episodes will be released for free every week for 52 weeks as a companion to his upcoming 52-song project.

Parker McCollum Scores Second No. 1 With ‘To Be Loved By You’

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Parker McCollum. Photo: Chris Kleinmeier

Parker McCollum, the freshly crowned ACM New Male Artist of the Year, has landed his second consecutive No. 1 on both the Billboard and Mediabase charts with “To Be Loved By You.”

McCollum’s major label debut Hollywood Gold, which was released last fall, became the top-selling debut country EP of 2020, and earned the Texas native his first No. 1 with the Platinum-selling debut single, “Pretty Heart.”

He also recently made a childhood dream come true by performing to a sold-out crowd at the famed RodeoHouston, selling over 73,000 tickets.

“It’ll be years before I truly look back and realize what happened this week,” shares McCollum. “I was nervous that all my hard work and sacrifice wouldn’t be worth it in the long run. Well, after selling out RodeoHouston and having my second No. 1 I can assure you all–it was damn worth it. Every single last bit of it was worth it.”

Gable Bradley Signs With Big Yellow Dog Music

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Gable Bradley. Photo: Courtesy of Shore Fire Media

Gable Bradley has signed with Big Yellow Dog Music. The singer-songwriter’s upcoming EP, Born Ready, is due out May 6, with the project’s lead single, “Spade,” available now.

“Sometimes things are only meant for a little while, and that’s okay,” shares Bradley. “This song is about soaking up the journey… two runaway hearts looking for love. I think everyone can relate to that.”

Growing up in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Bradley developed an early love for playing music when his mom enrolled him in piano lessons in third grade. At 17, he began teaching himself guitar, and later began playing bars at colleges across the southeast.

In 2016, he moved to Nashville and worked blue collar jobs while immersing himself in the creative community, eventually landing at Big Yellow Dog.

Born Ready Track List:
1. “Just Another Night” (Gable Bradley, Daniel Agee, Blake Chaffin)
2. You Always Do” (Bradley, Daniel Agee, Jason Nix)
3. “Muscle Car” (Bradley, Danny Myrick)
4. “Spade” (Bradley, Jon Stark, Lydia Vaughan)
5. “Born Ready” (Bradley, Will Bundy, Josh Miller)
Produced by Daniel Agee

Mike Whelan Joins Round Hill As Sr. VP / General Manager [Exclusive]

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Mike Whelan

Music publishing veteran Mike Whelan has joined Round Hill Music as Sr. VP / General Manager. The news follows publishing executive Mark Brown‘s exit from the same role.

Whelan brings with him 35 years of publishing experience, including stints with Polygram Music, Acuff-Rose Publishing, Sony/ATV Publishing and Ole Music. He most recently served as Sr. Creative Director at MV2 Entertainment.

Whelan has worked with writers Bob McDill, Dean Dillon, Tony Martin, Skip Ewing, Casey Beathard, Jordan Davis, Adam Hambrick and more. As a plugger he has had over 85 BMI and ASCAP award-winning songs—40 of which have topped the charts.

Now at Round Hill, Whelan will work alongside Bob Squance, Sr. Director A&R, and Lindsay Will, Manager of A&R. The company’s roster includes a diverse group of writers, including hitmaker Jimmy Robbins.

“Round Hill has been here for 10 years. We’ve come a long way in a short time. I want to help Round Hill grow and continue the success that they’ve already had,” Whelan tells MusicRow. “Get ready for Round Hill 2.0. We’ve got some incredible plans and some great things coming in the future.”

Reach Whelan at mwhelan@roundhillmusic.com.