Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 33rd MusicRow Awards, we take a look at the MusicRow Discovery Artist of the Year category. The award will honor a Nashville developing artist who demonstrates significant talent and potential to rise.

The MusicRow Awards will be announced virtually among multiple MusicRow platforms on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. Presenting Sponsor of the 2021 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribed members. Voting is now open and closes on July 23 at 5 p.m.

To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscribed member here.

Priscilla Block makes music on her own terms offering fans an unfiltered, honest point of view. Her twangy vocals have a unique lilt as she veers from the vulnerability of “Just About Over You” and “Wish You Were The Whiskey,” to the sass, self-love and humor of songs like “Thick Thighs” and “PMS.” She boosted her fanbase by posting videos on TikTok during quarantine, with fans rallying together to fund her recording of “Just About Over You.” (The song’s radio version was produced by Producer of the Year nominee Ross Copperman.) Block is a North Carolina native who released her major label EP in April and recently brought her self-described “Block Party” sound to her Grand Ole Opry debut.

Tyler Braden is a songwriter and storyteller with a voice to be reckoned with and a commanding sound ready for an arena-sized audience. His latest release, “Ways To Miss You,” is co-produced by Male Songwriter of the Year nominee Randy Montana and Mark Holman. This follows popular streaming releases including the solo-penned “Secret,” a testament to this newcomer’s songwriting talent. Braden is an Alabama native who spent seven years as a firefighter and first responder. His first major label release was a cover of Needtobreathe’s “Brother” which paid tribute to those on the front lines and quickly racked up more than two million views on YouTube.

Ian Munsick is a much-needed creative, adventurous addition to the country music landscape. Growing up on a ranch in Wyoming, Munsick played in a family band and his appreciation for the wide open west bleeds into his music. A multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, he spent the last decade honing his craft in Nashville. He co-wrote and co-produced his debut album Coyote Cry which he describes as a “handshake of the cowboy and the hippie, the traditional and the contemporary.” It is a varied project ranging from the roots/acoustic single “Long Haul,” to bluegrass territory, and even to a reimagined version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.”

Drew Parker is a country music traditionalist, offering a laid back song about heartbreak on his debut single “While You’re Gone,” which is already a fan favorite. (While his girl is gone he’ll be on a tailgate by the lake with a Lucky Strike, “kicking it with a BP PBR.”) He co-wrote the song with Jameson Rodgers, who is nominated for MusicRow Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Parker has a knack for balancing heartbreak with imagery and humor throughout his EP, like the clever “Party In The Back” and the more vulnerable “The Runway.” His unique perspective is found on hits he’s co-written for Luke Combs (“Forever After All”) and Jake Owen (“Homemade”). The Georgia native will be on tour with Combs later this summer.

Lily Rose has a stand-out voice rich with texture and made for radio. Her strong songwriting chops are found on viral hit “Villain” and “Overnight Sensation,” which describes her success as being 13 years in the making. Her most recent track “Remind Me of You,” is the first outside song she has released, because she says it struck her as the “perfect combination of swag and country.” Rose grew up in Atlanta as a self-taught drummer, guitarist and singer. She continued performing while attending college in Athens, Georgia which led to sold out shows and prompted her move to Nashville in 2017. “Remind Me of You” is co-produced by Matt Morrisey and Producer of the Year nominee Joey Moi, and co-written by Sam Hunt, Ryan Vojtesak, and MusicRow Awards nominees Corey Crowder and Ernest Keith Smith.

Lainey Wilson is a tough-as-nails singer-songwriter who offers honesty with every lyric. Her debut album Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ is an aptly titled introduction for the twangy songstress with the long tresses. The highly-listenable project portrays her self-described brand of “bell bottom country” and is home to current single “Things A Man Oughta Know,” and songs including “WWDD,” which stands for “What would Dolly do?” The Louisiana native has co-written songs recorded by Luke Combs and others, has had placements in the television series Yellowstone, and graced the Grand Ole Opry stage. Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’ is produced by Producer of the Year nominee Jay Joyce.

Pictured (L-R): Joe Haydel, Martin McDaniel, and Jessie Pitts. Photos: Courtesy Wide Open Music Publishing/Sean Hagwell

Wide Open Music Publishing has announced new additions to its staff and songwriting roster. Jessie Pitts has been named Catalog Manager/Creative Assistant for the company, while Joe Haydel and Martin McDaniel have joined Wide Open’s songwriter roster.

Pitts, a Tennessee native, debuted as an artist in 2015 as a top 12 finalist on NBC’s The Voice. Now, she aims to offer her own artist experience and business savvy to help advise, develop, and market other artists. Pitts has interned with The Recording Academy and Wide Open Music Management under Ash Bowers. She graduated with honors from Belmont University in 2021, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in music business.

Louisiana native, Haydel possesses an original style inspired by the alternative rock of the late 90s and early 2000s. He released his debut self-titled EP in 2019 and landed his first outside cut, “Even Now” for Chase Bryant in April of 2021.

McDaniel made the move to Nashville from his Alabama hometown in 2008 and started playing in a local house band at the Cadillac Ranch on Broadway. Booking his own shows, co-writing, and producing his own music, Martin landed an opening slot for Alan Jackson in 2019 and his song “Loving Me Lonely” landed on Spotify’s New Boots playlist.

“We’re adding three rock stars to our already incredible team,” says VP/General Manager of Wide Open Music Publishing Victoria Goodvin. “Joe and Martin are both extremely hardworking and talented writers, artists, and musicians… I’m looking forward to watching both of their careers take off.” She continues, “Jessie started out as our intern in 2019 and has been an amazing addition to the team, so we’re excited to bring her on full-time. I love her passion for this industry and that she’s not afraid to go after what she wants.”

Brandi Carlile. Photo: Neil Krug

Six-time Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, performer, producer and New York Times best selling author Brandi Carlile will be releasing her new album In These Silent Days on Oct. 1 via Low Country Sound/Elektra Records. Ahead of the release, the album’s first single “Right On Time,” featuring a music video directed by Courteney Cox, has been unveiled today (July 21).

Inspired by the mining of her own history while writing her No. 1 New York Times best selling memoir, Broken Horses (Crown), In These Silent Days was born while Carlile was quarantined at home with longtime collaborators and bandmates Tim and Phil Hanseroth. The ten songs depict acceptance, faith, loss, and love, while channeling icons like David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Elton John and Joni Mitchell. The project was once again recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A with producers Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings.

“Never before have the twins and I written an album during a time of such uncertainty and quiet solitude. I never imagined that I’d feel so exposed and weird as an artist without the armor of a costume, the thrill of an applause and the platform of the sacred stage. Despite all this, the songs flowed through—pure and unperformed, loud and proud, joyful and mournful.” Carlile continues, “[It was] written in my barn during a time of deep and personal reckoning. There’s plenty of reflection… but mostly it’s a celebration. This album is what drama mixed with joy sounds like. It’s resistance and gratitude, righteous anger and radical forgiveness. It’s the sound of these silent days.”

Carlile will perform select headline shows this year, including an upcoming concert at NYC’s Forest Hills Stadium on July 23, as well as two nights at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Sept. 11 and 12. Additionally, her Girls Just Wanna Weekend festival will return to the Hard Rock Hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico next February, featuring performances by Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Tanya Tucker, Indigo Girls, Lucius, Margo Price, Yola, KT Tunstall, Allison Russell, Amythyst Kiah, Katie Pruitt, and more.

In These Silent Days Track List:
1. Right On Time
2. You And Me On The Rock
3. This Time Tomorrow
4. Broken Horses
5. Letter To The Past
6. Mama Werewolf
7. When You’re Wrong
8. Stay Gentle
9. Sinners Saints And Fools
10.Throwing Good After Bad

Warner Chappell Production Music (WCPM), creative partner to content creators, technology platforms and the TV/film, streaming, broadcast, sports, and advertising industries, has unveiled a top-to-bottom rebrand, including a new logo and website. The effort was spearheaded by WCPM’s co-heads Alec Sharpe, Head of Business Development & Operations, and Pat Weaver, Head of Production.

Drawing creative inspiration from parent company Warner Chappell Music, the new logo pays homage to the publisher’s signature gold crown monogram, while the font’s distinctive script handwriting represents WCPM’s ingenuity and diversity of thought. The website includes new visual elements with sleek design choices, and serves as WCPM’s flagship licensing tool – offering 135,000+ unique tracks – and features a number of elements including a recommendation engine that references streaming links and MP3s.

“We’re thrilled for the bright future ahead for WCPM and the opportunity to better serve our clients through unmatched service and a much-improved music search experience,” says Sharpe. “With a new look and feel and the support of Warner Chappell’s SVP of Creative Services, Ashley Winton, along with Co-Chairs Guy Moot and Carianne Marshall, this is the start of a dynamic new era in our evolution.”

WCPM has also appointed Julia Sassi, an experienced production music executive, as its new Head of WCPM France. Sassi’s primary focus is on expanding WCPM France’s custom music footprint and uncovering new opportunities with advertising clients and television and film production companies. Additionally, Sinéad Hartmann has been named VP of Licensing & Music Creative, based in LA, where she oversees the U.S. sync and creative teams in Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York, as well as Canada and Latin America. Gavin Carroll has also joined as the company’s new Sr. Creative Director, Licensing in New York, where he works primarily with advertising clients.

“It’s an exciting time to be with WCPM as we expand our custom music services, grow our production music catalog, and kick off the first projects in our new recording facilities,” shares Weaver. “We’ve greatly expanded our music talent pool over the past year and are thrilled to have fresh leadership perspectives from Julia and Sinéad. We’re looking forward to this next chapter.”

The announcement follows the openings of SkyLight Studios in Hollywood and Sandtrack Sound in Nashville. Both locations are already being used for music projects from top brands, TV shows, and companies.