Following Monday’s (May 13) announcement of this year’s nominees for the 31st annual MusicRow Awards, we take a look at a newly-added category for this year’s awards, the Discovery Artist of the Year category. The MusicRow Awards will be presented at a private ceremony on June 26.
See the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting closes on May 21 at 5 p.m. If you do not have a subscription, you may subscribe to receive a ballot.
2019 Discovery Artist of the Year nominees:
Caylee Hammack‘s debut single “Family Tree” is an upbeat invitation to her upbringing in Georgia, where she felt like a “hippie in a hillbilly town.” She co-wrote and co-produced the song that is flying up the charts. It was the most-added debut song by a female artist upon impact at country radio in over three years. Coming up, Hammack will share her unique flair and killer voice on tour with Miranda Lambert.
HARDY dropped his first name and released his debut single, “Rednecker,” the latest chapter in his evolution from songwriter to artist. His songwriting credits include “Simple” (Florida Georgia Line) and “Up Down” (Morgan Wallen ft. FGL)—which yielded an additional nomination for Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year. As a recording artist, HARDY works with Producer of the Year nominee Joey Moi.
Tyler Rich‘s debut single “The Difference” reached No. 1 on SiriusXM and he’s following that with new track “Leave Her Wild.” The Northern California native offers a pop-laden version of country on his self-titled EP, so his slot on CMT On Tour: Here Tonight alongside headliner Brett Young is a perfect fit. Rich is also a co-writer on the single “Night Visions,” recorded by AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys.
Seaforth is gearing up for the impact date of their debut single “Love That” later this month. The song is the title track of the EP they duo co-produced with 2019 MusicRow Awards nominee Dann Huff. Seaforth is comprised of Tom Jordan and Mitch Thompson, who named their group after the suburb of Sydney, Australia where they grew up. They co-wrote all four songs on the EP and have honed their performance skills on the road with Kane Brown, Brett Young, and Mitchell Tenpenny.
Tenille Townes is an artist with perspective. Her debut single “Somebody’s Daughter,” about a homeless woman, isn’t a likely choice for an introduction to radio, but her unapologetic viewpoint attracts fans longing for songs of substance. Raves MusicRow’s Robert K. Oermann, “The lyric is simply brilliant, and her delivery of it is superbly heart tugging. Sign me up for the fan club.” Townes teamed with Producer of the Year nominee Jay Joyce for her debut album, due out later this year. In the meantime, the Canadian-born artist will be on tour with Miranda Lambert, following jaunts with Maren Morris and Dierks Bentley.
Hailey Whitters’ artist career has been bubbling since the release of her debut album four years ago. Today she is ready to boil—with new music and a spot on Maren Morris’ tour as well as Brent Cobb’s. Whitters tells the story of her journey on new single “Ten Year Town.” MusicRow critic Robert K. Oermann says, “Eloquence and truth in every perfectly crafted line. If there’s a better song about being an aspiring country female artist, I’ve never heard it.” As a renowned songwriter, Whitters has cuts by Little Big Town (“Happy People”), Alan Jackson (“The Older I Get”), and Martina McBride (“Low All Afternoon” and “The Real Thing”). Whitters’ album The Dream will be released later this year.
ACM Announces Industry Award And Studio Recording Award Winners
/by Jessica NicholsonBelow is a complete list of the Industry Awards and Studio Recording Award winners for the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards:
Industry Award Winners:
• Casino Of The Year – Small Capacity: Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant, OK
• Casino Of The Year – Large Capacity: Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
• Don Romeo Talent Buyer Of The Year: Nicole More – Wilson Events, Inc.
• Festival Of The Year: Faster Horses – Brooklyn, MI
• Nightclub Of The Year: Joe’s On Weed St – Chicago, IL
• Promoter Of The Year: Ed Warm – Joe’s Bar
• Venue Of The Year – Small Capacity: Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
• Venue Of The Year – Medium Capacity: Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN
• Venue Of The Year – Large Capacity: Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
Studio Recording Award Winners:
• Bass Player Of The Year – Glenn Worf
• Drummer Of The Year – Matt Chamberlain
• Guitar Player Of The Year – Derek Wells
• Piano/Keyboards Player Of The Year – Dave Cohen
• Specialty Instrument(S) Player Of The Year – Ilyatoshinskiy
• Steel Guitar Player Of The Year – Mike Johnson
• Audio Engineer Of The Year – F Reid Shippen
• Producer Of The Year – Jay Joyce
The Academy of Country Music Industry Awards are voted on by all professional members of the Academy. The Studio Recording Awards are voted on by professional members of the Academy classified in the artist-entertainer/musician-
ACM Announces Industry Award And Studio Recording Award Winners
/by Jessica NicholsonToday, the Academy of Country Music announced the Industry Award and Studio Recording Award winners for the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards. Industry Award, Studio Recording Award and soon to be announced Special Award recipients will be honored during the 13th Annual ACM Honors, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 54th ACM Awards. ACM Honors will take place on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at the Ryman Auditorium. Ticket information will be available in the coming weeks.
Below is a complete list of the Industry Awards and Studio Recording Award winners for the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards:
Industry Award Winners:
• Casino Of The Year – Small Capacity: Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant, OK
• Casino Of The Year – Large Capacity: Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
• Don Romeo Talent Buyer Of The Year: Nicole More – Wilson Events, Inc.
• Festival Of The Year: Faster Horses – Brooklyn, MI
• Nightclub Of The Year: Joe’s On Weed St – Chicago, IL
• Promoter Of The Year: Ed Warm – Joe’s Bar
• Venue Of The Year – Small Capacity: Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
• Venue Of The Year – Medium Capacity: Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN
• Venue Of The Year – Large Capacity: Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
Studio Recording Award Winners:
• Bass Player Of The Year – Glenn Worf
• Drummer Of The Year – Matt Chamberlain
• Guitar Player Of The Year – Derek Wells
• Piano/Keyboards Player Of The Year – Dave Cohen
• Specialty Instrument(S) Player Of The Year – Ilyatoshinskiy
• Steel Guitar Player Of The Year – Mike Johnson
• Audio Engineer Of The Year – F Reid Shippen
• Producer Of The Year – Jay Joyce
The Academy of Country Music Industry Awards are voted on by all professional members of the Academy. The Studio Recording Awards are voted on by professional members of the Academy classified in the artist-entertainer/musician-
George Strait Adds Second ‘Strait To The Heartland’ Show
/by Lorie HollabaughGeorge Strait has added a second “Strait to the Heartland” show at Sprint Center in Kansas City due to an overwhelming demand by the fans. The second show is slated for Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, and both shows will feature special guest Asleep at the Wheel.
“Hosting George Strait for two incredible nights at Sprint Center is amazing,” said Brenda Tinnen, General Manager and Senior Vice President. “The entire region will roll out the red carpet for King George and his fans as they come to Kansas City from all corners of the nation.”
Tickets start at $75 and go on sale to the general public on Friday, May 31 at 10 a.m. at sprintcenter.com. A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase by George Strait Fan Club members during a pre-sale period beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28.
2019 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Breakthrough Artist of the Year
/by Sarah SkatesFollowing the recent announcement of this year’s nominees for the 31st annual MusicRow Awards, we take a look at the Breakthrough Artist of the Year category. This category is voted on by MusicRow’s subscribed members to honor a Nashville artist who achieved significant career progress for the first time.
The MusicRow Awards will be presented at a private ceremony on June 26. See the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting closes on May 21 at 5 p.m. If you do not have a subscription, you may subscribe to receive a ballot.
2019 Breakthrough Artist of the Year Nominees:
Jimmie Allen is nominated for MusicRow Breakthrough Artist for his success as a recording artist, and Breakthrough Artist-Writer as a co-writer of his single “Best Shot.” The song made history as the first time a black artist took their first-ever single to No. 1 at country radio, and the first time since 2012 a debut single spent three weeks at No. 1. Allen’s follow up, “Make Me Want To,” is now making its way up the charts. He will spend the summer on the road with major tours headlined by Chris Young and Rascal Flatts.
Jordan Davis took his debut track, “Singles You Up,” all the way to No. 1 and followed that hit with another chart-topper, “Take It From Me.” The Louisiana native co-wrote all 12 tracks on his album Home State. He is currently on the road with Old Dominion and will then join Rascal Flatts on tour in July. In 2018, Davis was nominated for MusicRow Breakthrough Artist-Writer for co-writing “Singles You Up.”
Russell Dickerson has earned two No. 1s with his hits “Yours,” and “Blue Tacoma,” both of which he co-wrote. He is following that success with his latest single “Every Little Thing,” which is climbing country radio charts. He was a 2018 nominee for Breakthrough Artist-Writer for co-writing “Yours.” Dickerson joins Thomas Rhett on the road for the Very Hot Summer Tour, kicking off this month.
Cody Johnson‘s traditional sound has been attracting fans in his home state of Texas for years. Now he’s made the jump to the national stage via his partnership with CoJo Music/Warner Music Nashville. Johnson’s first major label single “On My Way To You,” is climbing at radio and earned a nomination this year for MusicRow Awards Song of the Year for co-writers Brett James and Tony Lane.
Ashley McBryde had an incredible year, driven by her album Girl Going Nowhere, and single of the same name. She earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album with the only debut album in the category. McBryde is also nominated for MusicRow Awards Song of the Year as a co-writer of “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” and her collaborator Jay Joyce is up for Producer of the Year. Coming up, McBryde will tour with Miranda Lambert.
Morgan Wallen scored his first No. 1 as an artist with “Up Down,” and followed that with current hit “Whiskey Glasses.” Up next for the Tennessee native is a nationwide stint on Florida Georgia Line’s summer tour, followed by a fall run as direct support for Luke Combs. Wallen was a 2018 nominee for MusicRow’s Breakthrough ArtistWriter as a co-writer of “You Make It Easy,” recorded by Jason Aldean.
2019 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Breakthrough Artist of the Year
/by Jessica NicholsonFollowing the recent announcement of this year’s nominees for the 31st annual MusicRow Awards, we take a look at the Breakthrough Artist of the Year category. This category is voted on by MusicRow’s subscribed members to honor a Nashville artist who achieved significant career progress for the first time.
The MusicRow Awards will be presented at a private ceremony on June 26. See the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting closes on May 21 at 5 p.m. If you do not have a subscription, you may subscribe to receive a ballot.
2019 Breakthrough Artist of the Year Nominees:
Jimmie Allen is nominated for MusicRow Breakthrough Artist for his success as a recording artist, and Breakthrough Artist-Writer as a co-writer of his single “Best Shot.” The song made history as the first time a black artist took their first-ever single to No. 1 at country radio, and the first time since 2012 a debut single spent three weeks at No. 1. Allen’s follow up, “Make Me Want To,” is now making its way up the charts. He will spend the summer on the road with major tours headlined by Chris Young and Rascal Flatts.
Jordan Davis took his debut track, “Singles You Up,” all the way to No. 1 and followed that hit with another chart-topper, “Take It From Me.” The Louisiana native co-wrote all 12 tracks on his album Home State. He is currently on the road with Old Dominion and will then join Rascal Flatts on tour in July. In 2018, Davis was nominated for MusicRow Breakthrough Artist-Writer for co-writing “Singles You Up.”
Russell Dickerson has earned two No. 1s with his hits “Yours,” and “Blue Tacoma,” both of which he co-wrote. He is following that success with his latest single “Every Little Thing,” which is climbing country radio charts. He was a 2018 nominee for Breakthrough Artist-Writer for co-writing “Yours.” Dickerson joins Thomas Rhett on the road for the Very Hot Summer Tour, kicking off this month.
Cody Johnson‘s traditional sound has been attracting fans in his home state of Texas for years. Now he’s made the jump to the national stage via his partnership with CoJo Music/Warner Music Nashville. Johnson’s first major label single “On My Way To You,” is climbing at radio and earned a nomination this year for MusicRow Awards Song of the Year for co-writers Brett James and Tony Lane.
Ashley McBryde had an incredible year, driven by her album Girl Going Nowhere, and single of the same name. She earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album with the only debut album in the category. McBryde is also nominated for MusicRow Awards Song of the Year as a co-writer of “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” and her collaborator Jay Joyce is up for Producer of the Year. Coming up, McBryde will tour with Miranda Lambert.
Morgan Wallen scored his first No. 1 as an artist with “Up Down,” and followed that with current hit “Whiskey Glasses.” Up next for the Tennessee native is a nationwide stint on Florida Georgia Line’s summer tour, followed by a fall run as direct support for Luke Combs. Wallen was a 2018 nominee for MusicRow’s Breakthrough ArtistWriter as a co-writer of “You Make It Easy,” recorded by Jason Aldean.
Michael Jordan Named Brand Coordinator For iHeartCountry
/by Lorie HollabaughMichael Jordan, Regional Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia’s Kentucky-Indiana region, has been named Brand Coordinator for iHeartCountry, effective immediately.
Within this role, he will report to Rod Phillips, Executive Vice President of Programming for iHeartCountry, and will be responsible for overseeing the growth, roll-out and execution for all local and live country music-based events for iHeartMedia’s country stations. Jordan will continue his role as Regional Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia’s Kentucky-Indiana Region.
Jordan has held several positions at iHeartMedia Lexington and Louisville, including Senior Vice President of Programming, Program Director for WMAZ and WBUL, Director of NTR and Promotions for iHeartMedia Lexington, and began his career at WTKT-FM. Community involvement has always been an integral part of Jordan’s career as well through his involvement with organizations such as University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital, University of Kentucky Barnstable-Brown, Diabetes Center and Lexington Cancer Foundation.
Michael Jordan Named Brand Coordinator For iHeartCountry
/by Lorie HollabaughMichael Jordan, Regional Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia’s Kentucky-Indiana region, has been named Brand Coordinator for iHeartCountry, effective immediately.
Within this role, he will report to Rod Phillips, Executive Vice President of Programming for iHeartCountry, and will be responsible for overseeing the growth, roll-out and execution for all local and live country music-based events for iHeartMedia’s country stations. Jordan will continue his role as Regional Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia’s Kentucky-Indiana Region.
Jordan has held several positions at iHeartMedia Lexington and Louisville, including Senior Vice President of Programming, Program Director for WMAZ and WBUL, Director of NTR and Promotions for iHeartMedia Lexington, and began his career at WTKT-FM. Community involvement has always been an integral part of Jordan’s career as well through his involvement with organizations such as University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital, University of Kentucky Barnstable-Brown, Diabetes Center and Lexington Cancer Foundation.
2019 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Discovery Artist of the Year
/by Jessica NicholsonFollowing Monday’s (May 13) announcement of this year’s nominees for the 31st annual MusicRow Awards, we take a look at a newly-added category for this year’s awards, the Discovery Artist of the Year category. The MusicRow Awards will be presented at a private ceremony on June 26.
See the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting closes on May 21 at 5 p.m. If you do not have a subscription, you may subscribe to receive a ballot.
2019 Discovery Artist of the Year nominees:
Caylee Hammack‘s debut single “Family Tree” is an upbeat invitation to her upbringing in Georgia, where she felt like a “hippie in a hillbilly town.” She co-wrote and co-produced the song that is flying up the charts. It was the most-added debut song by a female artist upon impact at country radio in over three years. Coming up, Hammack will share her unique flair and killer voice on tour with Miranda Lambert.
HARDY dropped his first name and released his debut single, “Rednecker,” the latest chapter in his evolution from songwriter to artist. His songwriting credits include “Simple” (Florida Georgia Line) and “Up Down” (Morgan Wallen ft. FGL)—which yielded an additional nomination for Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year. As a recording artist, HARDY works with Producer of the Year nominee Joey Moi.
Tyler Rich‘s debut single “The Difference” reached No. 1 on SiriusXM and he’s following that with new track “Leave Her Wild.” The Northern California native offers a pop-laden version of country on his self-titled EP, so his slot on CMT On Tour: Here Tonight alongside headliner Brett Young is a perfect fit. Rich is also a co-writer on the single “Night Visions,” recorded by AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys.
Seaforth is gearing up for the impact date of their debut single “Love That” later this month. The song is the title track of the EP they duo co-produced with 2019 MusicRow Awards nominee Dann Huff. Seaforth is comprised of Tom Jordan and Mitch Thompson, who named their group after the suburb of Sydney, Australia where they grew up. They co-wrote all four songs on the EP and have honed their performance skills on the road with Kane Brown, Brett Young, and Mitchell Tenpenny.
Tenille Townes is an artist with perspective. Her debut single “Somebody’s Daughter,” about a homeless woman, isn’t a likely choice for an introduction to radio, but her unapologetic viewpoint attracts fans longing for songs of substance. Raves MusicRow’s Robert K. Oermann, “The lyric is simply brilliant, and her delivery of it is superbly heart tugging. Sign me up for the fan club.” Townes teamed with Producer of the Year nominee Jay Joyce for her debut album, due out later this year. In the meantime, the Canadian-born artist will be on tour with Miranda Lambert, following jaunts with Maren Morris and Dierks Bentley.
Hailey Whitters’ artist career has been bubbling since the release of her debut album four years ago. Today she is ready to boil—with new music and a spot on Maren Morris’ tour as well as Brent Cobb’s. Whitters tells the story of her journey on new single “Ten Year Town.” MusicRow critic Robert K. Oermann says, “Eloquence and truth in every perfectly crafted line. If there’s a better song about being an aspiring country female artist, I’ve never heard it.” As a renowned songwriter, Whitters has cuts by Little Big Town (“Happy People”), Alan Jackson (“The Older I Get”), and Martina McBride (“Low All Afternoon” and “The Real Thing”). Whitters’ album The Dream will be released later this year.
2019 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Discovery Artist of the Year
/by Sarah SkatesFollowing Monday’s (May 13) announcement of this year’s nominees for the 31st annual MusicRow Awards, we take a look at a newly-added category for this year’s awards, the Discovery Artist of the Year category. The MusicRow Awards will be presented at a private ceremony on June 26.
See the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting closes on May 21 at 5 p.m. If you do not have a subscription, you may subscribe to receive a ballot.
2019 Discovery Artist of the Year nominees:
Caylee Hammack‘s debut single “Family Tree” is an upbeat invitation to her upbringing in Georgia, where she felt like a “hippie in a hillbilly town.” She co-wrote and co-produced the song that is flying up the charts. It was the most-added debut song by a female artist upon impact at country radio in over three years. Coming up, Hammack will share her unique flair and killer voice on tour with Miranda Lambert.
HARDY dropped his first name and released his debut single, “Rednecker,” the latest chapter in his evolution from songwriter to artist. His songwriting credits include “Simple” (Florida Georgia Line) and “Up Down” (Morgan Wallen ft. FGL)—which yielded an additional nomination for Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year. As a recording artist, HARDY works with Producer of the Year nominee Joey Moi.
Tyler Rich‘s debut single “The Difference” reached No. 1 on SiriusXM and he’s following that with new track “Leave Her Wild.” The Northern California native offers a pop-laden version of country on his self-titled EP, so his slot on CMT On Tour: Here Tonight alongside headliner Brett Young is a perfect fit. Rich is also a co-writer on the single “Night Visions,” recorded by AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys.
Seaforth is gearing up for the impact date of their debut single “Love That” later this month. The song is the title track of the EP they duo co-produced with 2019 MusicRow Awards nominee Dann Huff. Seaforth is comprised of Tom Jordan and Mitch Thompson, who named their group after the suburb of Sydney, Australia where they grew up. They co-wrote all four songs on the EP and have honed their performance skills on the road with Kane Brown, Brett Young, and Mitchell Tenpenny.
Tenille Townes is an artist with perspective. Her debut single “Somebody’s Daughter,” about a homeless woman, isn’t a likely choice for an introduction to radio, but her unapologetic viewpoint attracts fans longing for songs of substance. Raves MusicRow’s Robert K. Oermann, “The lyric is simply brilliant, and her delivery of it is superbly heart tugging. Sign me up for the fan club.” Townes teamed with Producer of the Year nominee Jay Joyce for her debut album, due out later this year. In the meantime, the Canadian-born artist will be on tour with Miranda Lambert, following jaunts with Maren Morris and Dierks Bentley.
Hailey Whitters’ artist career has been bubbling since the release of her debut album four years ago. Today she is ready to boil—with new music and a spot on Maren Morris’ tour as well as Brent Cobb’s. Whitters tells the story of her journey on new single “Ten Year Town.” MusicRow critic Robert K. Oermann says, “Eloquence and truth in every perfectly crafted line. If there’s a better song about being an aspiring country female artist, I’ve never heard it.” As a renowned songwriter, Whitters has cuts by Little Big Town (“Happy People”), Alan Jackson (“The Older I Get”), and Martina McBride (“Low All Afternoon” and “The Real Thing”). Whitters’ album The Dream will be released later this year.
On The Row: Cody Webb Shares Music
/by LB CantrellCody Webb. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
Country singer-songwriter Cody Webb dropped by the MusicRow offices this week to play some music, following his feature on the NFL Draft introduction video.
Best known for co-writing the track “Memories Are Made Of” from Luke Combs’ double-Platinum debut album, Webb released his own debut single “Gettin’ Somewhere” in March.
Webb and his wife Hayley welcomed their first child, Josie Layne Webb, on April 14, which inspired his tune”Girl Changes Everything.” Written with Jason Matthews and Eric Varnell, the heartfelt song journeys through meeting a girl out on the town, to things getting serious and “the next thing you know there’s a toothbrush right next to your toothbrush, and seven throw pillows on your full sized bed,” to a new addition to the family.
“I wrote this song when I found out my wife was pregnant, it kind of turned my world upside down,” Webb said. Webb hopes to release the song soon.
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s LB Rogers, Eric Parker, Haley Crow; Cody Webb; MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson, Alex Kobrick, Jessica Nicholson. Photo: Justin Mayotte
“Does anyone know what a jon boat is?” Webb asked. “We’re trying to figure out who knows what a jon boat is. The definition we’ve made up is a boat I can afford,” he quipped.
“I was on the lake five or six years ago and we were on a tiny little boat. This big cabin cruiser yacht floats by us—and we wave at everybody on the lake, so we waved over at them. They kind of gave us the ‘go to the ice cream store’ look. A friend of mine had a little bit to drink and he went off on telling them ‘Y’all’s boat may cost more money but this boat has more fun!’ So that’s what inspired this song,” he said as he went into the appropriately-titled, fun-times diddy, “Jon Boat.”
Pictured (L-R): Cody Webb and MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow