Pictured (L-R, top row): Jennifer Davis, Rebecca Fisher, Jesse Knutson; (L-R, bottom row): Lori Kraft, Steve Mekler, and Kristan Pridgen
The Academy of Country Music has announced new hires across several departments. Lori Kraft has joined the staff as Director, Brand Creative & Design; Steve Mekler has joined as Director, Brand Marketing & Partnerships; Jennifer Davis has joined as Manager, Events; Rebecca Fisher has joined as Manager, Strategic Partnerships; Jesse Knutson has joined as Manager, Publicity & Media Relations and Kristan Pridgen has joined as Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer Damon Whiteside.
“With the ACM Awards just weeks away, there couldn’t be a better time to continue expanding our team with the additions of Lori, Steve, Jennifer, Becca, Jesse, and Kristan,” shares Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “Every new member of our team is already making an impact and bringing a unique set of skills to the Academy. Their passion and enthusiasm will no doubt help the Academy reach new levels of success for our members and the country music community as a whole.”
Kraft’s background in design includes US Weekly, Field & Stream and Better Home & Gardens, among other national magazines. Most recently, she served as a freelance Art Director for clients including Ryman Hospitality and Big Machine Music, as well as several creative agencies. In her new role, she will steer the overall visual branding and identity of the organization, as well as major programmatic and live event tentpoles such as the ACM Awards, Academy of Country Music Honors, and ACM Party for a Cause. She will also work closely with the Director of Content and Manager of Digital and Social Media to strategize support media and content strategies. Reporting to Rory Levine, VP, Marketing and Digital Strategy & Engagement, Kraft and can be reached at lkraft@acmcountry.com.
Mekler joins the Academy after more than three years with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum where he served as Senior Digital Manager, overseeing creative and marketing for owned properties and assisting with content strategies for multi-platform marketing campaigns. While there, he simultaneously founded and served as Creative Director at Stove Creative, collaborating with clients in a global marketplace. Previous stops include L3 Entertainment and BBR Music Group. In his role, Mekler will lead and manage the Academy’s organic promotional reach and collaborate with the marketing and creative departments to develop and maintain a clear brand identity. Also reporting to Levine, he can be reached at steve.mekler@acmcountry.com.
Davis has worked in the events industry, planning various non-profit and corporate galas throughout New York City with event firm Buckley Hall Events. She then shifted to the venue side of the business and was on the special events team at Madison Square Garden, coordinating a portfolio of network television upfronts at MSG venues, including Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, Hulu Theater at MSG, Chicago Theatre, and MSG Arena. Prior to joining the Academy, she led VIP & Fan Experience and Events for FirstBank Amphitheater’s inaugural concert season in Franklin, Tennessee. In her role, Davis will manage venue logistics and event operations for the ACM Awards, Academy of Country Music Honors, and ACM Party for a Cause events, including red carpet, credentials, health and safety, budgets, décor, partnership fulfillment, talent details, and more. She will also manage additional meetings, ancillary events and activations throughout the year. She reports to Lanni (Gagnon) Niggli, Director, Events, and can be reached at jennifer.davis@acmcountry.com.
Fisher has worked with innovative companies, such as Workday and Experian, where she managed client relations and customer marketing for Fortune 500 companies. In 2017, she joined Taillight in Nashville, a production company specializing in commercials, branded content, live television programming, and music videos. Fisher created campaigns for major brands including Kleenex, Cottonelle, Ram Trucks, Camping World, and many more. During her time at Taillight, she worked on ACM Party for a Cause, producing a one-hour musical countdown to the awards show on Facebook Live. In her new role, Fisher will manage and activate partnerships for the Academy and manage relationships with key strategic partners, communicate sponsorship needs internally, and secure new partners. She will also oversee brand activations and sponsorship at the upcoming 57th ACM Awards. She reports to Jen Heaton, VP, Strategic Partnerships, and can be reached at rebecca@acmcountry.com.
Knutson is a multi-Emmy Award winning journalist who has worked in both producing and reporting roles for TV stations in Los Angeles, Seattle, Harrisburg, and Nashville. In Nashville, he covered the entertainment industry while reporting for NewsChannel 5, bringing the latest industry news to Tennessee through broadcast, social media, and online avenues, as well as covered numerous Academy events, including the ACM Awards, Academy of Country Music Honors, and ACM Lifting Lives. In his role, Knutson will support publicity and media relations efforts for the Academy, including publicity, media plans, promotional efforts, and strategies for raising awareness and coverage of the ACM Awards, ACM Party for a Cause events, ACM Lifting Lives events and red carpets. He will draft press materials and work closely with the marketing and events teams on logistics of red carpets and liaising with photographers, as well as organizational and programmatic priorities. Reporting to to Melissa Moldovan, Director, Communications, Media Relations & Radio, he can be reached at jesse@acmcountry.com.
A Nashville native and 25-year veteran of the country music business, Pridgen recently joined the Academy after a 12-year stint at William Morris Endeavor where she served in a number of roles. She has also worked at a number of esteemed entertainment companies including Capital Christian Music Group, Country Music Association, Country Music Media Group, Viacom’s CMT, and Spectra Presents. Boasting collaborations with acclaimed artists and performers in the format, Pridgen aims to continue the growth efforts of the Academy to expand the global reach of the brand. In her role, she will provide administrative support to the CEO, Board of Directors and Executive Team. She reports directly to Whiteside, and can be reached at kristan@acmcountry.com.
Dylan Scott Announces New Album Slated For August
/by Lorie HollabaughDylan Scott. Photo: Robby Klein
Dylan Scott has announced his upcoming album, Livin’ My Best Life. The full-length project will arrive Aug. 5 and, leading up to the official release date, Scott has debuted the viral hit “Can’t Have Mine.”
After co-writing “Can’t Have Mine” with Matt Alderman, Josh Melton and Dallas Wilson, Scott posted a clip of the song online. The track quickly went viral on TikTok, generating over 5 million views across his socials in just a few weeks, and instantly went Top 5 on the iTunes Country Chart upon release. Patterned after his real-life romance with his high school sweetheart and now wife, Blair, the ballad finds the husband and father of two counseling every country boy on the type of woman to look for.
In support of the new LP, Scott will launch his headlining “Livin’ My Best Life Tour” this week with guest Dylan Marlowe. The 22-city coast-to-coast trek begins Feb. 24 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and runs through Apr. 29 in Silver Spring, Maryland.
“Livin’ My Best Life Tour” Dates:
Feb. 24 — Grand Rapids, MI
Feb. 25 — Rosemont, IL
Feb. 26 — Detroit, MI
March 3 — Cleveland, OH
March 4 — Louisville, KY
March 5 — Cincinnati, OH
March 10 — Charlotte, NC
March 11 — Chattanooga, TN
March 12 — Atlanta, GA
March 17 — Philadelphia, PA
March 18 — New Haven, CT
March 19 — Huntington, NY
March 24 — North Myrtle Beach, SC
March 25 — Raleigh, NC
March 26 — Isle of Palms, SC
March 31 — Garden City, ID
Apr. 1 — Salt Lake City, UT
Apr. 7 — Sacramento, CA
Apr. 8 — San Diego, CA
Apr. 9 — Anaheim, CA
Apr. 28 — Boston, MA
Apr. 29 — Silver Spring, MD
ACM Radio Award Winners Revealed
/by Lorie HollabaughThe ACM has announced the Radio Award winners for the upcoming 57th Academy of Country Music Awards set for March 7 in Las Vegas. The winners were revealed by ACM Award nominee Chris Young in a special video today.
On-Air Personality of the Year winners include KYGO’s Tracy Dixon (Major Market On-Air Personality of the Year); Jerry Broadway, Tim Wall, Mitch English and Becca Walls of The Bud and Broadway Show (National Daily On-Air Personality of the Year); and Bryan “B-Dub” Washington of B-Dub Radio (National Weekly On-Air Personality of the Year).
Additional On-Air Personality winners include Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt and Kevin Freeman of Jim, Deb, and Kevin in the Morning on WFMS-FM in Indianapolis, Indiana for Large Market; Melissa “Mo” Wagner and Greg “StyckMan” Owens of Mo & StyckMan on WUSY-FM in Chattanooga, Tennessee in the Medium Market Category; and Liz DelGrosso and Scotty Cox of Liz and Scotty in the Morning on KCLR-FM in Columbia, Missouri for Small Market On-Air Personality of the Year.
Radio Station of the Year honors went to KYGO-FM in Denver (Major Market Radio Station of the Year); WUBE-FM in Cincinnati, Ohio (Large Market Radio Station of the Year); WHKO-FM in Dayton, Ohio (Medium Market Radio Station of the Year); and WXBQ-FM in Bristol, Virginia (Small Market Radio Station of the Year).
“The Academy proudly congratulates all of our 57th ACM Awards radio winners for the stellar work they’ve done lifting up the genre of country music. Through good times and challenging ones, it’s never been clearer the essential role these stations and personalities play in our country community, connecting with their listeners and bringing them the latest and greatest music, stories, and news from our genre,” shares Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “To see so many first-time winners perfectly highlights that everyone is welcome in our country music family, whether you’re a long-time veteran or a new arrival, coast-to-coast. We’re proud to celebrate and shine a spotlight on particularly exceptional work this year, and we look forward to celebrating this well-deserved recognition in Las Vegas next month.”
Hosted by Dolly Parton with Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett, the awards will stream live exclusively on Amazon Prime at 7 p.m. CT from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on March 7. For a full list of nominees for the upcoming 57th ACM Awards, click here.
Radio Award Winners for the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards:
On-Air Personality Of The Year Winners:
National Daily – The Bud and Broadway Show – Jerry Broadway, Tim Wall, Mitch English, Becca Walls
National Weekly – B-Dub Radio – Bryan “B-Dub” Washington
Major Market – Tracy Dixon – KYGO-FM – Denver, CO
Large Market – Jim, Deb, and Kevin In the Morning – Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt and Kevin Freeman – WFMS-FM – Indianapolis, IN
Medium Market – Mo & Styckman – Melissa “Mo” Wagner, Greg “Styckman” Owens – WUSY-FM – Chattanooga, TN
Small Market – Liz and Scotty In the Morning – Liz Delgrosso and Scotty Cox – KCLR-FM – Columbia, MO
Radio Station Of The Year Winners:
Major Market – KYGO-FM – Denver, CO
Large Market – WUBE-FM – Cincinnati, OH
Medium Market – WHKO-FM – Dayton, OH
Small Market – WXBQ-FM – Bristol, VA
Nashville Celebrates Premiere Of Tom Douglas’ Documentary, ‘Love, Tom’
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Jason Owen, Co-President, Monument Records / President & CEO, Sandbox Entertainment; Tim McGraw; Faith Hill; Kelsea Ballerini; Morgan Evans. Photo: Jason Kempin / Getty Images
The music community gathered this week at the Regal Green Hills Theater to celebrate the premiere of Love, Tom—a film from legendary songwriter Tom Douglas.
Douglas, a renowned wordsmith who has crafted such enduring country hits as “I Run to You” (Lady A), “Southern Voice” (Tim McGraw) and “The House That Built Me” (Miranda Lambert), lets viewers in on the stories of his hit songs, tips of the trade, and many lessons learned along the way with Love, Tom. The film features Douglas walking and driving around Nashville in a single night, sitting at random pianos to play his hits and tell viewers his story.
Pictured (L-R): Tom Douglas and Tim McGraw. Photo: Jason Kempin / Getty Images
From executive producers Tom Douglas, Tommy Douglas, Austin Fish, Jason Owen and Michael Lennox, Love, Tom is produced in association with Sandbox Productions in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment’s Premium Content Division. The film will release exclusively on Paramount+ on Thursday, Feb. 24.
In addition to premiering the film, Douglas sat down with friend and co-writer Tim McGraw for a Q&A after the viewing.
“The thing that attracts me to stories is the brokenness,” Douglas said of the film. “I want to know how you overcome failure. I want to know what you do in the desperate times. That’s what I wanted to show. You know, the struggle is really evidence that you’re probably on the right path.”
McGraw added, “There’s been plenty of songs in my career–and most of them you have written–that I don’t really even feel like it’s my song. I feel like I’m just the vessel that it comes through, and the song’s really for everyone else. As a songwriter and a singer, that’s what you try to do. You try to open up a door for people to walk through and express themselves.”
“This is a love letter to songwriters, but it’s also a love letter to Nashville and to the world. It’s a letter of hope,” Douglas said. “If there’s any inspiration or hope that somebody gets out of this, it was worth doing it.”
Academy Of Country Music Adds Six Across Departments
/by Lydia FarthingPictured (L-R, top row): Jennifer Davis, Rebecca Fisher, Jesse Knutson; (L-R, bottom row): Lori Kraft, Steve Mekler, and Kristan Pridgen
The Academy of Country Music has announced new hires across several departments. Lori Kraft has joined the staff as Director, Brand Creative & Design; Steve Mekler has joined as Director, Brand Marketing & Partnerships; Jennifer Davis has joined as Manager, Events; Rebecca Fisher has joined as Manager, Strategic Partnerships; Jesse Knutson has joined as Manager, Publicity & Media Relations and Kristan Pridgen has joined as Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer Damon Whiteside.
“With the ACM Awards just weeks away, there couldn’t be a better time to continue expanding our team with the additions of Lori, Steve, Jennifer, Becca, Jesse, and Kristan,” shares Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “Every new member of our team is already making an impact and bringing a unique set of skills to the Academy. Their passion and enthusiasm will no doubt help the Academy reach new levels of success for our members and the country music community as a whole.”
Kraft’s background in design includes US Weekly, Field & Stream and Better Home & Gardens, among other national magazines. Most recently, she served as a freelance Art Director for clients including Ryman Hospitality and Big Machine Music, as well as several creative agencies. In her new role, she will steer the overall visual branding and identity of the organization, as well as major programmatic and live event tentpoles such as the ACM Awards, Academy of Country Music Honors, and ACM Party for a Cause. She will also work closely with the Director of Content and Manager of Digital and Social Media to strategize support media and content strategies. Reporting to Rory Levine, VP, Marketing and Digital Strategy & Engagement, Kraft and can be reached at lkraft@acmcountry.com.
Mekler joins the Academy after more than three years with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum where he served as Senior Digital Manager, overseeing creative and marketing for owned properties and assisting with content strategies for multi-platform marketing campaigns. While there, he simultaneously founded and served as Creative Director at Stove Creative, collaborating with clients in a global marketplace. Previous stops include L3 Entertainment and BBR Music Group. In his role, Mekler will lead and manage the Academy’s organic promotional reach and collaborate with the marketing and creative departments to develop and maintain a clear brand identity. Also reporting to Levine, he can be reached at steve.mekler@acmcountry.com.
Davis has worked in the events industry, planning various non-profit and corporate galas throughout New York City with event firm Buckley Hall Events. She then shifted to the venue side of the business and was on the special events team at Madison Square Garden, coordinating a portfolio of network television upfronts at MSG venues, including Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, Hulu Theater at MSG, Chicago Theatre, and MSG Arena. Prior to joining the Academy, she led VIP & Fan Experience and Events for FirstBank Amphitheater’s inaugural concert season in Franklin, Tennessee. In her role, Davis will manage venue logistics and event operations for the ACM Awards, Academy of Country Music Honors, and ACM Party for a Cause events, including red carpet, credentials, health and safety, budgets, décor, partnership fulfillment, talent details, and more. She will also manage additional meetings, ancillary events and activations throughout the year. She reports to Lanni (Gagnon) Niggli, Director, Events, and can be reached at jennifer.davis@acmcountry.com.
Fisher has worked with innovative companies, such as Workday and Experian, where she managed client relations and customer marketing for Fortune 500 companies. In 2017, she joined Taillight in Nashville, a production company specializing in commercials, branded content, live television programming, and music videos. Fisher created campaigns for major brands including Kleenex, Cottonelle, Ram Trucks, Camping World, and many more. During her time at Taillight, she worked on ACM Party for a Cause, producing a one-hour musical countdown to the awards show on Facebook Live. In her new role, Fisher will manage and activate partnerships for the Academy and manage relationships with key strategic partners, communicate sponsorship needs internally, and secure new partners. She will also oversee brand activations and sponsorship at the upcoming 57th ACM Awards. She reports to Jen Heaton, VP, Strategic Partnerships, and can be reached at rebecca@acmcountry.com.
Knutson is a multi-Emmy Award winning journalist who has worked in both producing and reporting roles for TV stations in Los Angeles, Seattle, Harrisburg, and Nashville. In Nashville, he covered the entertainment industry while reporting for NewsChannel 5, bringing the latest industry news to Tennessee through broadcast, social media, and online avenues, as well as covered numerous Academy events, including the ACM Awards, Academy of Country Music Honors, and ACM Lifting Lives. In his role, Knutson will support publicity and media relations efforts for the Academy, including publicity, media plans, promotional efforts, and strategies for raising awareness and coverage of the ACM Awards, ACM Party for a Cause events, ACM Lifting Lives events and red carpets. He will draft press materials and work closely with the marketing and events teams on logistics of red carpets and liaising with photographers, as well as organizational and programmatic priorities. Reporting to to Melissa Moldovan, Director, Communications, Media Relations & Radio, he can be reached at jesse@acmcountry.com.
A Nashville native and 25-year veteran of the country music business, Pridgen recently joined the Academy after a 12-year stint at William Morris Endeavor where she served in a number of roles. She has also worked at a number of esteemed entertainment companies including Capital Christian Music Group, Country Music Association, Country Music Media Group, Viacom’s CMT, and Spectra Presents. Boasting collaborations with acclaimed artists and performers in the format, Pridgen aims to continue the growth efforts of the Academy to expand the global reach of the brand. In her role, she will provide administrative support to the CEO, Board of Directors and Executive Team. She reports directly to Whiteside, and can be reached at kristan@acmcountry.com.
Amy Jackson Moore Named Senior Product Manager For Country Music At ONErpm
/by Lorie HollabaughAmy Jackson Moore
Amy Jackson Moore has joined ONErpm as the company’s new Senior Product Manager for Country Music.
Moore began her career in radio promotions and marketing before moving to Nashville to work for startup digital marketing company, Entertainment Media Works. She continued her marketing career with Echo/Ticketmaster Entertainment as a product manager where she supervised web design, e-commerce marketing and analytics, fan communication, tour launches, and social media campaigns.
After relocating to LA in 2009, she worked building artist brands with A2Z Entertainment Marketing before returning to Nashville in 2012.
In 2014, Moore joined Universal Music Group Nashville as a Digital Marketing Manager/Director, overseeing a roster of 12-15 artists. She successfully launched influencer marketing campaigns, and grew email and SMS via digital activations, as well as in-venue promotions, livestreams and more.
“Amy will be a tremendous asset to our marketing team, particularly given her expertise in digital and social marketing, as well as her deep knowledge and experience in country music,” comments Jenna LoMonaco, head of U.S. marketing for ONErpm.
“I am very excited to join the ONErpm marketing team and work with their country artists and I’m looking forward to being a part of their future success,” adds Moore.
Willie Jones Visits Nashville Middle School As Part Of CMA Foundation Initiative
/by Lorie HollabaughWillie Jones visits Margaret Allen Middle School in Nashville, TN on Monday, Feb. 14 to speak with students as a part of the school’s Black History Month programming. Photo: Courtesy of CMA
Willie Jones, a member of MusicRow‘s Next Big Thing Class of 2022, enjoyed a special Valentine’s Day this year, meeting with students from Margaret Allen Middle School in Nashville on Feb. 14 as a part of the school’s Black History Month programming. The visit happened through a partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools and the CMA Foundation.
During the visit, the Sony Music Nashville/The Penthouse artist participated in a Q&A session discussing his path to country music, offering students insight and inspiration regarding the business. He also performed his new song, “Get Low, Get High,” which delivers a lesson in navigating life’s ups and downs.
Willie Jones (middle) with Dr. Monica Bryant, Principal (left) and Dr. Rhonda Bledsoe, Assistant Principal (right) during his visit to Margaret Allen Middle School in Nashville, TN on Monday, Feb. 14 to speak with students as a part of the school’s Black History Month programming. Photo: Courtesy of CMA
The visit is the result of the CMA Foundation’s effort to support larger initiatives aimed at providing a pipeline for individuals and students to learn about and get involved in the music industry.
“We want to use our platform, resources and information as a portal for people, especially students, looking to make their way in the music business,” says Tiffany Kerns, Executive Director, CMA Foundation and CMA Vice President, Community Outreach. “By providing equitable opportunities to educate, guide and equip young people with the tools and information they need to be successful in this business, we can invest in the future of our industry and our students. Willie’s school visit is a great example of these efforts, and we are thankful for his voice, offering insight into his own path in the music industry, and sharing the life changing and healing power of music.”
“Music is a universal language that everybody speaks,” adds Jones. “It’s so complex but easy to understand. I think it’s one of the most important tools that anybody (including kids) can have.”
Since its inception in 2011, the CMA Foundation has been committed to improving and sustaining music programs throughout the U.S. so all students have equitable opportunities to participate in music education. The CMA Foundation has invested $27 million to support these efforts over the last 10 years.
Nashville Writers Sara Davis & Dave Pittenger Share Story Behind TikTok Mega-Hit, ‘abcdefu’ [Interview]
/by Lydia FarthingOver the years, the ways in which artists are discovered has been an endless evolution. This process has been further expedited through the internet and various social media platforms. From YouTube and MySpace, to Facebook and Vine, the digital pipeline for artists has become increasingly prevalent over the last decade.
However, due in part to the pandemic, TikTok is king when it comes to going viral with original music in 2022. Of the countless success stories of TikTok artists, one that has deep roots in Nashville is that of Gayle‘s “abcdefu.”
The track, which includes the clever use of the alphabet song coupled with a strong outpouring of rage, quickly caught the attention of TikTok users due its catchy hook: “A-B-C-D-E, F-U / And your mom and your sister and your job / And your broke-a** car and that s*** you call art / F*** you and your friends that I’ll never see again / Everybody but your dog, you can all f*** off.”
Sara Davis. Photo: Courtesy Big Machine Music
Written by three of Nashville’s rising songwriters—Taylor Gayle Rutherford (known professionally as Gayle), Sara Davis, and Dave Pittenger—the track was originally released in August of 2021 as the 17-year-old’s major label debut single through Atlantic and Arthouse Records. The track took on its own meteoric life on TikTok, and has since been used in over 1.7 million user-generated videos on the platform and earned more than 100 million streams by December of 2021.
However, as is the story goes for most songs, the story of “abcdefu” began long before then.
Davis, who signed with Big Machine Music in May of 2021, first moved to Nashville from Phoenix in 2015 before starting high school. Growing up writing songs and with dreams of playing at Nashville’s historic Bluebird Cafe, she spent the next four years co-writing songs and attending networking events at night and on weekends. In 2016, she met Gayle and the two bonded over their love of pop music.
“We would have weekend sleepovers writing songs until she met her publisher, Kara DioGuardi, who introduced us to producers and started setting us up in sessions,” Davis shares with MusicRow. “So much of the trust we have in each other as friends and co-writers comes from the years of writing hundreds of songs together, dreaming of someday when people might get to hear them.”
David Pittenger. Photo: Jason Myers
While the two young songwriters began building their friendship, Pittenger was finding his own patch of success in Nashville’s writing scene. After relocating from New York City, he landed a publishing deal with Big Yellow Dog and earned cuts with major label artists, including AJ Mitchell and Jessie James Decker, among others.
“Things went well for me very early on which eventually led to signing a publishing deal with Big Yellow Dog,” Pittenger explains. “Steve Robertson at Atlantic mentioned Gayle to my day-to-day, Jacee Badeaux. From there, Jacee and [Gayle’s day-to-day] Kristina Russo set up some sessions. I’ll forever be grateful for that, not just because of the success of [“abcdefu”], but also because Gayle and Sara are two of the best freaking writers I’ve ever been in the room with and amazing friends as well!”
Over a year before the the track’s August 2021 release, the three met up in a room to comb through song ideas when Pittenger offered the first one: “ABCDEF*** off.”
“Gayle and I loved it immediately and were like, ‘We have to write that! There is no better idea you could throw out!’ Gayle was going through a breakup, so this was one of the first songs we got to write about the type of anger where no one is off limits—except the dog,” Davis offers cheekily. “We knew that we wanted it to be anthemic so we just started singing what would end up being the chorus, naming anyone and everyone we could. From there, it was just about telling the story [of the breakup and] how it happened.”
Throughout the production process and leading up to the song’s official release, Gayle posted an array of teasers of “abcdefu” on TikTok, which gained the attention of users across the platform. Upon its release, the song went viral on TikTok with users eventually starting a trend where people would take a sharpie, write onto plates everything they were angry about or wanted to emotionally let go of, and then smash them on the ground.
“We knew when we wrote ‘abcdefu’ that we loved it and thought it was really special. For almost a year, I would sing along to the demo and I knew that it helped me, so all I could do is hope that it would help other people through their own breakups or hard times,” Davis admits. “It’s been surreal seeing so many people react and relate to a song we wrote on a guitar in a room on Music Row. I’ve been able to see so many people respond to it, from the TikTok videos people have posted to the messages they’ve sent with their own stories of how they relate to it. That has, without a doubt, been the best part of all of this.”
“It was so cool and rewarding to see our song help people take back their power!” Pittenger gushes. “Honestly, I still don’t think I understand the scope of how huge this song has become. We have a group chat with Sara, Gayle and Kristina that has ended up serving as a chronicle of all of the song’s achievements as they’ve happened. It’s fun to go back and see our excitement from release day, to the first million streams, to radio add day, all the way to being a multi-week global No. 1. I am just so thankful for every moment!”
So far in 2022, the song has spent five weeks at the top of the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart, and has broken into the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with no sign of stopping soon. The feisty track has also made waves overseas, topping the charts in Austria, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, among others.
Gayle released her follow up single, “ur just horny,” on Jan. 19, which Davis also had a hand in writing.
Chart Action: Dustin Lynch Brings The Party To Country Radio
/by Alex ParryDustin Lynch. Photo: The Dwyers
Broken Bow Records recording artist Dustin Lynch has country radio buzzing, as his brand-new swaying single, “Party Mode,” marks his biggest add week and highest career debut.
The singer-songwriter claimed his sixth time in the most-added position with 170 total adds across the Billboard, Mediabase, and MusicRow charts.
Jerry Flowers, Ryan Beaver, Roman Alexander, Jared Keim, and Matt McGinn receive writing credit on “Party Mode,” which appears on Lynch’s recently released fifth studio album, Blue In The Sky.
“What a release week it’s been! Just when I think that we adequately partied, country radio goes and makes ‘Party Mode’ most-added,” shares Lynch. “All of the support that we’re seeing is incredible, and we can really feel this thing bubbling. I’m excited to celebrate with y’all out on the road this year!”
Lynch will embark on his 17-city “Party Mode Tour” next month with rising artist Sean Stemaly as support.
For more chart data, view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly.
Celebration Of Life Set For Former Opryland Exec. Ed Stone
/by LB CantrellEd Stone
A celebration of life will be held for former Opryland USA VP of Marketing & PR, Ed Stone, who passed away on Feb. 11 at the age of 81. Stone’s life and legacy will be honored at the Country Music Hall of Fame Ford Theater on March 25 at 1 p.m.
Stone, a native of Greensboro, Georgia, enjoyed an accomplished career in the travel and tourism industry. After graduating from the University of Georgia’s Journalism and Mass Communication School, his career began at Callaway Gardens where he met his wife, Fran. Their family moved to Nashville with Opryland USA in 1974 where he became VP of Marketing and Public Relations for the park, hotel and the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1990, Stone started his own communications company with regional and national accounts. During his career, he served in leadership roles with Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), SATW Foundation, Travel Industry Association of America (TIAA), Southeast Tourism Society (STS), International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), University of Georgia College of Mass Communications, and Sequoyah Birthplace Museum.
He was known for his love of golf, having played over 500 courses throughout the world.
Stone is the father of music industry executive Lori Badgett of City National Bank. He also leaves behind his wife of 53 years, Fran Grainger Stone, daughter Robyn Isaacs, and his four grandchildren: Stone and Dylan Isaacs, and Ellie and Anna Badgett. He is proceeded in death by his parents and five siblings.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Girls Give or Fairfield Glade United Methodist Church.
Whiskey Myers Shares Plans For A Busy 2022 With New Album, Tour
/by Lydia FarthingWhiskey Myers. Photo: Khris Poage
Whiskey Myers have unveiled their newest project, Tornillo, is set for release on July 29 via their own Wiggy Thump Records with distribution by Thirty Tigers. Along with the announcement, the album’s lead single, “John Wayne,” and album intro, “Tornillo,” are available everywhere now.
The six-piece band has taken their over a decade in-the-making foundation and pushed themself to explore new sonic landscapes.
To create the record, the group spent 21 days isolated at the 2,300-acre Sonic Ranch studio in the heart of Texas, just miles from the U.S./Mexico border. The Gold-certified entertainers spent the time sharing honest truths with no-holds-barred instrumentation on the self-produced album which is named for the border town that is home to the recording complex.
Tornillo draws inspiration from an array of artists from Nirvana to Waylon, even adding the McCrary Sisters’ gospel influence on background vocals. With lead singer Cody Cannon leading the way on songwriting, the album also features writes from lead guitarist John Jeffers and fellow band members Jamey Gleaves and Tony Kent, as well as rising singer-songwriter Aaron Raitiere.
Whiskey Myers has also announced plans for their 41-date “Tornillo Tour,” launching in April and running through August. The tour will offer capacities upwards of 5,000 – 10,000 fans in cities such as Indianapolis, Oklahoma City and more. The band will also make their debut at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival this fall.
Tickets to all headlining dates are on sale to the general public beginning Thursday, Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. local time, with various presale access available beginning Feb. 21. For a full list of upcoming dates, click here.
Tornillo
John Wayne (Cody Cannon, Jamey Gleaves, Tony Kent)
Antioch (Cody Cannon)
Feet’s (Cody Cannon)
Whole World Gone Crazy (John Jeffers)
For The Kids (Cody Cannon)
The Wolf (Cody Cannon)
Mission To Mars (Cody Cannon, Aaron Raitiere)
Bad Medicine (Cody Cannon)
Heavy On Me (John Jeffers)
Other Side (Cody Cannon)
Heart Of Stone (Cody Cannon)