MusicRow, Nashville’s leading music industry publication, has released its 2026 MusicRow Awards print issue, with Warner Records Nashville’s Dan + Shay gracing its cover.
As the first and only artists to win the GRAMMY Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance three times consecutively, Dan + Shay have entered one of the most prolific seasons of their 13-year career. The global superstars have amassed more than 14 billion streams and 141 worldwide career multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold sales certifications to date, including 60 U.S. RIAA and 81 international awards. The duo has also won ten ACM Awards, eight American Music Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, three GRAMMY Awards, two CMA Awards and two People’s Choice Awards. Additionally, in 2024, they became the first-ever coaching duo on NBC’s Emmy-winning program The Voice.
The celebrated hitmakers continue their musical legacy with their new album, Young, out now. Dan + Shay offered the world a message of hope with the album’s lead single, “Say So,” garnering attention from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The song was followed by new releases, “Marry You Again” and the title track “Young.”
The MusicRow Awards print issue highlights the 2026 MusicRow Awards nominees in a range of categories, including Producer of the Year, Studio of the Year, Label Group of the Year, Talent Agency of the Year, Publishing Company of the Year, Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year, Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year, Male Songwriter of the Year, Female Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year, Discovery Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Group/Duo Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.
“Turning the pages of this issue puts the reader in awe of how much talent moves through this town in a single year,” shares MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson. “So to everyone in this issue, from the ones with a shelf full of trophies to the ones holding their first nomination, this spotlight is well deserved. It’s our privilege to shine this well-deserved spotlight on all of these outstanding talents.”
The winners of the 38th annual MusicRow Awards will be announced virtually across all MusicRow platforms on Wednesday, Sept. 2. The Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank. This print issue also honors the Top 10 Album All-Star Musicians Award winners, recognizing the studio players who played on the most albums reaching the Top 10 of Billboard’s Country Albums Chart during the eligibility period.
The 2026 MusicRow Awards print issue also explores how independent labels handle awards season in a conversation with Leo33, and features insights from Frank Liddell, Tofer Brown and Joey Moi on the art of making impactful records.
Single copies of the 2026 MusicRow Awards print issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $25, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.
Conner Moye Inks With Concord Music Publishing
/by Madison HahnenPictured (L-R, back row): Ellie Gray, Matt Turner, Courtney Allen, Shaugnessy Elsroth and Claire Buchanan. (L-R, front row): Brad Kennard, Connor Moye and Melissa Spillman. Photo: Audrey Spillman for Concord
Singer-songwriter Conner Moye has signed a global publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing.
Based in Nashville, Moye grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he developed an early love for storytelling and country music. He graduated from Belmont University and has since collaborated with artists including Brandon Wisham, Nightly, Georgia Webster and Faith Hopkins.
Moye combines traditional country storytelling with a contemporary indie-acoustic sound, writing about complex subjects including loss, alcoholism and romantic devotion. This past year, he released “Feel Twice” and is teasing more new music on social media. Moye performed at this year’s CMA Fest in Nashville during STEM and Concord Music Publishing’s Rooftop Roundup showcase on Broadway.
“I’m incredibly grateful and honored to join the Concord Publishing family,” says Moye. “Songwriting, for me has always been about connection and writing honest stories. I can already tell that the family-like environment Concord provides is the right place for me to dive deeper into my development as a songwriter and artist. I’m especially grateful to Melissa Spillman and the entire Concord team for believing in me. I’m excited for what’s ahead and can’t wait to see what we create together.”
“It’s rare to find an artist and songwriter with such musical qualities as Conner,” adds Spillman, VP A&R at Concord Music Publishing. “He has that star factor, that intangible quality that we all strive to find in our business, and the trajectory of his music is equally exciting. I am so happy to welcome Conner to the Concord family of artists and songwriters. He is exactly the kind of person we feel blessed to work with!”
Duetti Opens New Music Row Office
/by Lauryn SinkPhoto: Courtesy of Duetti
Duetti has opened its first Nashville office, located at 1604 16th Ave. S., in the heart of Music Row.
Founded in 2022 by CEO Lior Tibon and COO Christopher Nolte, the company partners with independent artists and songwriters to buy, manage and market their catalogs. The company’s local roster includes Spencer Crandall, Parson James, Molly Grace, Dave Fenley, Jessie Villa and Ryder Johnson.
“The address is deliberate. Music Row has been the working center of Nashville songwriting for more than half a century,” says Tibon. “Putting our first Nashville office here says something about how we intend to operate in this city — close to the artists, writers, and publishers we work with.”
“In this industry, you encounter so many companies that are simply transactional. Duetti has proven to be anything but that,” shares Dave Fenley, a Nashville recording artist and Duetti partner. “They’ve invested in my career, celebrated my wins, and given me a peace of mind that’s very hard to find in the music business.”
Duetti marked the opening with a launch dinner at Geist for artists, managers and industry friends, and an office tour and breakfast for local music publishers. The company recently partnered with The Other Nashville Society (TONS) for a panel titled “Leveraging Your Catalog as an Independent Artist.”
Red Bull Jukebox Makes Texas Debut
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto: Courtesy of Red Bull Jukebox
Red Bull Jukebox made its Texas debut last week in Dallas at the Bomb Factory. The event included a live voting feature that let attendees pick part of the setlist in real time.
Sammy Arriaga opened the unique live music experience, performing fan favorites and songs celebrating Texas heritage including a Spanish language rendition of George Strait’s “The Chair,” “Selena” and “Left My Heart in Texas.” Danielle Bradbery debuted her new single “Poetic” and performed “Stop Draggin’ Your Boots,” “Never Have I Ever” and a cover of Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”
Headliner Jordan Davis rocked the crowd with hits from his catalog including “Damn Good Time” performed with members of the Texas Rangers Six Shooters and an EDM remix of “Take It From Me,” performed with special guest Cheat Codes. Mariachi Las Alteñas, a 10-piece all-female mariachi ensemble, joined him for “Singles You Up.” His set also included other chart-topping singles backed by members of the Orpheus Chamber Singers.
“Red Bull Jukebox is nothing like I’ve ever done before. It was such a cool experience to see what songs the fans wanted to hear in real time. The crowd, the energy, and the music made for a great night,” says Davis.
Max McNown will headline the third annual Red Bull Jukebox Nashville concert at The Pinnacle on Nov. 7.
Amazon Music To Present ‘Off To College Show With Kane Brown’ At University Of Wisconsin-Madison
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“Amazon Music Presents Off To College With Kane Brown,” an exclusive concert and livestream, is set to take place Sept. 5 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The one-of-a-kind concert and block party will bring the ultimate back-to-school bash to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Brown will take the stage to perform recent hits alongside fan favorites. DJ D-Nice will kick off the event with a high-energy opening set for students, and his set will be exclusive to the in-person event and will not be included in the livestream.
The student-only event will take place on the Library Mall starting at 5:30 p.m. CT with a block party, followed by the concert featuring Brown. The concert livestream will begin at 7:30 p.m. CT on the Amazon Music app, the Amazon Music channels on Twitch and Prime Video, and the Amazon Live channel on Fire TV and Samsung TV.
“I am so ready to bring our show for an incredible night at the University of Wisconsin-Madison,” says Brown. “We’re going to have a high energy, big party of a show at the campus. I’m excited to work with Amazon Music to share this concert with fans all over the world. It’s going to be a night we’ll never forget!”
The concert will serve as the finale of the First Day Ready campus block party, part of Amazon Ads’ back-to-school campaign. Built around the concept of “one street, many storefronts,” the event will bring together sponsors including Michael Kors, SharkNinja, and Gatorade for a series of immersive campus experiences that reimagine familiar elements of college life. Throughout the block party, students can explore interactive storefronts alongside games, product sampling, creator moments, and more before the evening culminates with Brown’s live performance.
Dan + Shay Grace Cover Of 2026 MusicRow Awards Issue
/by MusicRow StaffMusicRow, Nashville’s leading music industry publication, has released its 2026 MusicRow Awards print issue, with Warner Records Nashville’s Dan + Shay gracing its cover.
As the first and only artists to win the GRAMMY Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance three times consecutively, Dan + Shay have entered one of the most prolific seasons of their 13-year career. The global superstars have amassed more than 14 billion streams and 141 worldwide career multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold sales certifications to date, including 60 U.S. RIAA and 81 international awards. The duo has also won ten ACM Awards, eight American Music Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, three GRAMMY Awards, two CMA Awards and two People’s Choice Awards. Additionally, in 2024, they became the first-ever coaching duo on NBC’s Emmy-winning program The Voice.
The celebrated hitmakers continue their musical legacy with their new album, Young, out now. Dan + Shay offered the world a message of hope with the album’s lead single, “Say So,” garnering attention from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The song was followed by new releases, “Marry You Again” and the title track “Young.”
The MusicRow Awards print issue highlights the 2026 MusicRow Awards nominees in a range of categories, including Producer of the Year, Studio of the Year, Label Group of the Year, Talent Agency of the Year, Publishing Company of the Year, Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year, Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year, Male Songwriter of the Year, Female Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year, Discovery Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Group/Duo Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.
“Turning the pages of this issue puts the reader in awe of how much talent moves through this town in a single year,” shares MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson. “So to everyone in this issue, from the ones with a shelf full of trophies to the ones holding their first nomination, this spotlight is well deserved. It’s our privilege to shine this well-deserved spotlight on all of these outstanding talents.”
The winners of the 38th annual MusicRow Awards will be announced virtually across all MusicRow platforms on Wednesday, Sept. 2. The Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank. This print issue also honors the Top 10 Album All-Star Musicians Award winners, recognizing the studio players who played on the most albums reaching the Top 10 of Billboard’s Country Albums Chart during the eligibility period.
The 2026 MusicRow Awards print issue also explores how independent labels handle awards season in a conversation with Leo33, and features insights from Frank Liddell, Tofer Brown and Joey Moi on the art of making impactful records.
Single copies of the 2026 MusicRow Awards print issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $25, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.
Capitol Christian Music Group Celebrates 50 Year Anniversary
/by Lauryn SinkSpeakers at the CCMG Partner Summit. Photo: Aaron Bean
Capitol Christian Music Group celebrated its 50 year anniversary last week during the annual Partner Summit at the company’s Nashville headquarters.
Highlights of the afternoon’s program included a conversation between CCMG President Brad O’Donnell, Interscope Capitol Chairman and CEO John Janick, and Capitol Music Group Chairman and CEO Tom March, as well as a presentation from Universal Music Group EVP of Digital Business Development and Strategy, Jonathan Dworkin. Lauren Daigle joined Onsite founder Miles Adcox for a conversation about mental health. Cam DeArmond, President of the television series The Chosen, spoke about the company’s involvement in the show as the exclusive music partner.
“A lot has changed in 50 years—really a lot has changed since we got together 12 months ago,” shared O’Donnell in welcoming the assembled audience. “There were early signs then about the Christian and Gospel market getting ‘hot.’ Things that we would never have imagined before have happened, including how young our fanbase is getting. Christian and Gospel is now one of the most frontline-focused genres, ahead of Latin, Pop, Hip Hop and Rock. Even more impressive, streaming in our genre grew by 18.5 points in 2025. We are entering an amazing period for faith-based music globally.”
Lauren Daigle and Miles Adcox. Photo: Aaron Bean
Brad O’Donnell, Chris Tomlin, Tom March and Anthony Piedmonte.
Tom March, John Janick and Brad O’Donnell. Photo: Aaron Bean
Brad O’Donnell, John Janick, Anne Wilson, Matthew West and Candice Watkins. Photo: Raymond Alston
Country Music Journalist & Author Vernell Hackett Passes
/by LB CantrellVernell Hackett
Vernell Hackett, a beloved journalist and author, passed away on Aug. 14 after going into cardiac arrest at the Chicago airport en route to Mexico for vacation. She was 77.
Hackett’s legacy as a country music writer included time as editor of Country News, Country Rhythms and American Songwriter magazines. She was a founder of American Songwriter, and helmed the publication as editor-in-chief for more than a decade. Hackett also freelanced for many other publications and syndicators throughout her career, and mentored many young reporters.
A native of Riesel, Texas, Hackett has originally planned to be a crime reporter, inspired by her brother Bubba, a Houston police office. After college, she and her husband Ken moved to Buffalo, New York before relocating to Nashville, where her career as a music journalist began. Hackett took a job at Top Billing International, working for legendary booking agent Tandy Rice, who represented Dolly Parton, Jim Ed Brown, Jerry Clower, Porter Wagoner, Jeannie C. Riley, Tom T. Hall and more. She later worked in the communications department at the Country Music Association.
Hackett also spent time in public relations, representing artists such as country star Chris LeDoux, award-winning bluegrass artist Dale Ann Bradley, singer-songwriter Ryan Murphey, western singer-songwriter Joni Harms, Americana duo Jesse & Noah, John McEuen and cowboy singer-songwriter/rancher Randy Huston.
As an author, Hackett wrote Ghosts, Gangsters and Gamblers of Las Vegas with longtime friends Liz Cavanaugh and Michelle Honick. She also wrote a biography of Carrie Underwood.
Hackett was known as a gifted writer whose integrity earned the trust of country music’s elite, and a noted philanthropist who was particularly passionate about animal rights. She worked with animal rescues and was a major supporter of the Robyn’s Nest shelter
Hackett is survived by her nephew Glen Boswank of Nashville and niece Katy Prewitt of Kaufman, Texas.
Services have not yet been announced.
Megan Moroney Takes Nashville To ‘Cloud 9’ [Recap]
/by Lauryn SinkMegan Moroney. Photo: John Shearer/Getty
Megan Moroney brought her “The Cloud 9 Tour” to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Friday (Aug. 21) and Saturday (Aug. 22).
After the crowd warmed up by singing along to Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me” and Hannah Montana’s “Best of Both Worlds,” Moroney made her entrance with the fiery “Stupid,” followed by fan-favorites “Medicine” and “Bless Your Heart.” After slowing down for “Convincing,” she quickly picked the energy back up with “I’m Not Pretty,” “Lucky” and “Change of Heart.”
Photo: John Shearer/Getty
“I’m a Georgia girl, but I call Nashville home now,” she told the crowd. “Getting to play Bridgestone not once but twice is beyond me. It’s hard to comprehend at this moment in time. Thank you so much. What a dream come true.”
Moroney’s two-hour set pulled heavily from her third LP, Cloud 9, including “Table For Two,” “Who Hurt You?,” “Liars & Tigers & Bears,” “Waitin’ On The Rain,” “Wedding Dress” and “Bells & Whistles.” She mixed in a few fan-favorites from her catalog, including “No Caller ID” and “Wonder,” sending love on the latter to her friend Natalie in the crowd, who inspired the track. She brought JP Saxe, who opened the show alongside Solon Holt, to the stage for “I Only Miss You.”
For the first surprise of the night, Moroney called out Lady A for “Need You Now,” noting how a younger version of herself never could have even dreamed of that moment.
Photo: John Shearer/Getty
As she made her way off the stage, appropriately shaped in a 9 with pink clouds floating overhead, she handed a bouquet of flowers to a young fan before passing through the fans to the back of the arena. Perched in an open window levitating above the crowd, Moroney leaned into her self-described “emo cowgirl” persona with the surprise song of the night, “I Know You,” noting it was a fan-favorite on last year’s “Am I Okay? Tour.” Fans erupted in a singalong of the five-times Platinum “Tennessee Orange” and her most recent chart-topper, “Beautiful Things.”
As she made her way back to the main stage, she continued the self-described “group therapy session” with “Wish I Didn’t,” “Break It Right Back” and “Traitor.”
In the final surprise of the night, she called former tour mate Kenny Chesney to the stage for a duet on “You Had To Be There.”
She ended the set with “Am I Okay?” before returning for an encore with “6 Months Later.”
Moroney will end the U.S. leg of the tour on Thursday (Aug. 27) in Colorado before the international run begins on Sept. 13.
Photo: John Shearer/Getty
Photo: John Shearer/Getty
Brothers Osborne Slate Fifth Studio Album ‘Watertown’ For October
/by Madison HahnenBrothers Osborne will release their fifth studio album, Watertown, on Oct. 23 via MCA.
Named for their hometown of Deale, MD (Population: 5,333), Watertown draws from the coastal, blue-collar community where Brothers Osborne got their start. On the project, the duo are at their most personal and vulnerable. Across 11 tracks, the Platinum-certified duo explores family, love and loss, life’s different stages and changes, and other experiences that have shaped them.
“We’re not just getting back to where we were born and raised, but to the roots of where we started musically,” shares TJ Osborne. “A time when music wasn’t dictated by anything other than what our hearts and souls wanted to say.”
Produced by longtime collaborator Jay Joyce, Watertown brings several firsts to the brother’s catalog. The album features their first full-length collaborations with other artists, including “Born and Raised Hell” with Cody Johnson, and “Tough Kid” with Stephen Wilson Jr.
Brothers Osborne are currently on the road for a slew of fairs, festivals, and headline dates, before joining Zac Brown Band on the “Love & Fear Tour.” They will then head overseas to support The Darkness on the “UK Bands of Brothers Arena Tour 2026.”
Watertown Tracklist:
1. “Born and Raised Hell (feat. Cody Johnson)” (John Osborne, Lee Miller, Kendell Marvel)
2. “R.I.P.” (TJ Osborne, Hunter Phelps, Alysa Vanderheym)
3. “Family Business” (John Osborne)
4. “High” (John Osborne, Lucie Silvas)
5. “Bottle It Up” (Dan Isbell, Josh Kear, Paul Sikes)
6. “Ain’t Killed Me Yet” (TJ Osborne, Jesse Frasure, Jacob Hackworth)
7. “Doors” (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Jesse Frasure, Lee Miller, Chris Pixton)
8. “Stubborn” (Devin Dawson, Josh Kerr, Matt Roy, Lydia Vaughan)
9. “Tough Kid (feat. Stephen Wilson Jr.)” (John Osborne, Pete Good, Lee Miller)
10. “Same Ol’ Different Story” (John Osborne, TJ Osborne, Kendell Marvel)
11. “Watertown” (John Osborne)
ERNEST Leaps Into Top 10 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by Madison HahnenERNEST. Photo: Delaney Royer
ERNEST has moved into the top 10 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. Koe Wetzel and Ella Langley‘s “Jaded,” Langley’s “Loving Life Again” and Gavin Adcock’s “Wannabe” push the singer-songwriter to No. 10 this week.
Langley remains at No. 1 for the 18th consecutive week with “Be Her,” “Bottom Of Your Boots,” “Choosin’ Texas,” “I Can’t Love You Anymore,” “Jaded” and “Loving Life Again.” Chase McGill stays at No. 2 with “Carry On,” “Hands Up,” “McArthur” and “Water At A Wedding.”
Jordan Schmidt (No. 3), Joybeth Taylor (No. 4), and Austin Goodloe (No. 5) round out this week’s top five.
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.