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 Male Songwriter 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 Male Songwriter of the Year nominees:
Ross Copperman
“Born To Love You,” recorded by LANCO
“Get Along,” recorded by Kenny Chesney
“I’d Be Jealous Too,” recorded by Dustin Lynch
“Love Ain’t,” recorded by Eli Young Band
“Love Someone,” recorded by Brett Eldredge
“Living,” recorded by Dierks Bentley
“Woman, Amen,” recorded by Dierks Bentley
“World For Two,” recorded by King Calaway
Ashley Gorley
“Born To Love You,” recorded by LANCO
“Eyes On You,” recorded by Chase Rice
“Good Vibes,” recorded by Chris Janson
“I Don’t Know About You,” recorded by Chris Lane
“Life Changes,” recorded by Thomas Rhett
“Living,” recorded by Dierks Bentley
“Love Ain’t,” recorded by Eli Young Band
“Ridin’ Roads,” recorded by Dustin Lynch
“Rumor,” recorded by Lee Brice
Shane McAnally
“Burn Out,” recorded by Midland
“Down To The Honky Tonk,” recorded by Jake Owen
“Downtown’s Dead,” recorded by Sam Hunt
“Get Along,” recorded by Kenny Chesney
“I Don’t Remember Me (Before You),” recorded by Brothers Osborne
“Love Ain’t,” recorded by Eli Young Band
“Make It Sweet,” recorded by Old Dominion
“Mr. Lonely,” recorded by Midland
“Rainbow,” recorded by Kacey Musgraves
“Really Shouldn’t Drink Around You,” recorded by Teddy Robb
“Space Cowboy,” recorded by Kacey Musgraves
Chase McGill
“Break Up In The End,” recorded by Cole Swindell
“Dad’s Old Number,” recorded by Cole Swindell
“Lose It,” recorded by Kane Brown
“Short Skirt Weather,” recorded by Kane Brown
“Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset,” recorded by Luke Bryan
“The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home,” recorded by Justin Moore
“When Someone Stops Loving You,” recorded by Little Big Town
Josh Osborne
“Born To Love You,” recorded by LANCO
“Burn Out,” recorded by Midland
“Downtown’s Dead,” recorded by Sam Hunt
“Get Along,” recorded by Kenny Chesney
“Hotel Key,” recorded by Old Dominion
“Kiss Somebody,” recorded by Morgan Evans
“Mr. Lonely,” recorded by Midland
“One Man Band,” recorded by Old Dominion
“One That Got Away,” recorded by Michael Ray
“Really Shouldn’t Drink Around You,” recorded by Teddy Robb
“Things That We Drink To,” recorded by Morgan Evans
“Turnin’ Me On,” recorded by Blake Shelton
“World For Two,” recorded by King Calaway
Kevin Welch
“Millionaire,” recorded by Chris Stapleton
Luke Bryan Announces Crash My Playa 2020
/by LB CantrellLuke Bryan photo by Jim Wright; Jason Aldean photo by Miller Mobley
After five consecutive sold-out years, Platinum selling artist and American Idol judge Luke Bryan, along with CID Presents, announces the Crash My Playa 2020 destination event is taking place January 22-25, 2020 in the Riviera Cancun region of Mexico. The Caribbean beach vacation will feature Bryan headlining two nights. Jason Aldean will be making his debut Crash My Playa appearance headlining one of the four nightly concerts. An additional headliner and all special guests will be announced soon.
“I’m so appreciative that the fans have shown up and supported this destination concert weekend,” shared Bryan. “To have one of my best friends Jason join us this year means it’s about to be epic!”
“We are so excited to introduce you to our new home, the Moon Palace,” said CID CEO, Dan Berkowitz. “We are so grateful to the Crash My Playa community for the five years of magic we’ve created together, and with our new home comes new opportunities to take it to the next level for year six. We will see you on the beach at the Moon Palace!
Play MPE Releases Digital Music Promo App
/by Lorie HollabaughPlay MPE has launched the latest version of its full-service mobile app. The app, available now for iOS and Android, gives promotional professionals and other tastemakers access to releases from the industry’s largest major labels as well as countless independent labels and artists.
“Play MPE has become synonymous with providing tastemakers with the means to discover new, interesting music from around the world,” explains Play MPE’s Fred Vandenberg. “Our position in our industry is unique, in that we have remained focused on furthering our product, adding new features that improve efficiencies. We are shaping how our customers think of digital distribution.”
Extending its successful web-based service, Play MPE’s app will bring all the functionality radio and other music professions need to do their jobs, right to their smartphones. Features include:
• Google Chromecast / Airplay capabilities: Play MPE can stream tracks onto large screens during meetings or other group discussions of content
• Fast streaming: Play MPE has optimized streaming speeds for a frictionless listening experience
• Format-based search: Search customized for the way radio programmers and station managers think about music
• Collections: Flag favorites, create custom playlists, and create custom libraries of tracks in the app
• Easy access to promo-material links: Artist information, from tour dates to album art, linked directly in the app
Play MPE Releases Digital Music Promo App
/by Lorie HollabaughPlay MPE has launched the latest version of its full-service mobile app. The app, available now for iOS and Android, gives promotional professionals and other tastemakers access to releases from the industry’s largest major labels as well as countless independent labels and artists.
“Play MPE has become synonymous with providing tastemakers with the means to discover new, interesting music from around the world,” explains Play MPE’s Fred Vandenberg. “Our position in our industry is unique, in that we have remained focused on furthering our product, adding new features that improve efficiencies. We are shaping how our customers think of digital distribution.”
Extending its successful web-based service, Play MPE’s app will bring all the functionality radio and other music professions need to do their jobs, right to their smartphones. Features include:
• Google Chromecast / Airplay capabilities: Play MPE can stream tracks onto large screens during meetings or other group discussions of content
• Fast streaming: Play MPE has optimized streaming speeds for a frictionless listening experience
• Format-based search: Search customized for the way radio programmers and station managers think about music
• Collections: Flag favorites, create custom playlists, and create custom libraries of tracks in the app
• Easy access to promo-material links: Artist information, from tour dates to album art, linked directly in the app
Ethan Hawke And Alessandro Nivola To Portray Louvin Brothers In New Film, ‘Satan Is Real’
/by LB CantrellActors Ethan Hawke and Alessandro Nivola will be starring in a Louvin Brothers depiction named after a notorious Louvin Brothers album, Satan Is Real, as reported by Variety.
Long-time friends Hawke and Nivola will play Country Music Hall of Fame members Charlie and Ira Louvin in the film directed by Phil Morrison. Using Charlie Louvin’s adaptation, Jon Raymond and Shelby Gaines are writing the screenplay. The film will be presented to buyers at the Cannes Film Festival.
The two actors have even recorded some of the Louvin Brothers’ work—who were known for their tight ‘blood harmonies’—to drum up interest for the film. In an interview with Variety, Hawke said of the Louvin Brothers’ musical style, “It’s such an important expression to us. It sounds both violent and beautiful and the music should be that. It’s aggressive, it’s electric, it’s strange. It’s not Brooklyn folk rock. It’s not wannabe cool guy country. It’s hillbilly gospel music.”
Ethan Hawke And Alessandro Nivola To Portray Louvin Brothers In New Film, ‘Satan Is Real’
/by LB CantrellActors Ethan Hawke and Alessandro Nivola will be starring in a Louvin Brothers depiction named after a notorious Louvin Brothers album, Satan Is Real, as reported by Variety.
Long-time friends Hawke and Nivola will play Country Music Hall of Fame members Charlie and Ira Louvin in the film directed by Phil Morrison. Using Charlie Louvin’s adaptation, Jon Raymond and Shelby Gaines are writing the screenplay. The film will be presented to buyers at the Cannes Film Festival.
The two actors have even recorded some of the Louvin Brothers’ work—who were known for their tight ‘blood harmonies’—to drum up interest for the film. In an interview with Variety, Hawke said of the Louvin Brothers’ musical style, “It’s such an important expression to us. It sounds both violent and beautiful and the music should be that. It’s aggressive, it’s electric, it’s strange. It’s not Brooklyn folk rock. It’s not wannabe cool guy country. It’s hillbilly gospel music.”
2019 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Male Songwriter 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 Male Songwriter 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 Male Songwriter of the Year nominees:
Ross Copperman
“Born To Love You,” recorded by LANCO
“Get Along,” recorded by Kenny Chesney
“I’d Be Jealous Too,” recorded by Dustin Lynch
“Love Ain’t,” recorded by Eli Young Band
“Love Someone,” recorded by Brett Eldredge
“Living,” recorded by Dierks Bentley
“Woman, Amen,” recorded by Dierks Bentley
“World For Two,” recorded by King Calaway
Ashley Gorley
“Born To Love You,” recorded by LANCO
“Eyes On You,” recorded by Chase Rice
“Good Vibes,” recorded by Chris Janson
“I Don’t Know About You,” recorded by Chris Lane
“Life Changes,” recorded by Thomas Rhett
“Living,” recorded by Dierks Bentley
“Love Ain’t,” recorded by Eli Young Band
“Ridin’ Roads,” recorded by Dustin Lynch
“Rumor,” recorded by Lee Brice
Shane McAnally
“Burn Out,” recorded by Midland
“Down To The Honky Tonk,” recorded by Jake Owen
“Downtown’s Dead,” recorded by Sam Hunt
“Get Along,” recorded by Kenny Chesney
“I Don’t Remember Me (Before You),” recorded by Brothers Osborne
“Love Ain’t,” recorded by Eli Young Band
“Make It Sweet,” recorded by Old Dominion
“Mr. Lonely,” recorded by Midland
“Rainbow,” recorded by Kacey Musgraves
“Really Shouldn’t Drink Around You,” recorded by Teddy Robb
“Space Cowboy,” recorded by Kacey Musgraves
Chase McGill
“Break Up In The End,” recorded by Cole Swindell
“Dad’s Old Number,” recorded by Cole Swindell
“Lose It,” recorded by Kane Brown
“Short Skirt Weather,” recorded by Kane Brown
“Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset,” recorded by Luke Bryan
“The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home,” recorded by Justin Moore
“When Someone Stops Loving You,” recorded by Little Big Town
Josh Osborne
“Born To Love You,” recorded by LANCO
“Burn Out,” recorded by Midland
“Downtown’s Dead,” recorded by Sam Hunt
“Get Along,” recorded by Kenny Chesney
“Hotel Key,” recorded by Old Dominion
“Kiss Somebody,” recorded by Morgan Evans
“Mr. Lonely,” recorded by Midland
“One Man Band,” recorded by Old Dominion
“One That Got Away,” recorded by Michael Ray
“Really Shouldn’t Drink Around You,” recorded by Teddy Robb
“Things That We Drink To,” recorded by Morgan Evans
“Turnin’ Me On,” recorded by Blake Shelton
“World For Two,” recorded by King Calaway
Kevin Welch
“Millionaire,” recorded by Chris Stapleton
2019 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Male Songwriter of the Year
/by Sarah SkatesSee 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 Male Songwriter of the Year nominees:
Ross Copperman
“Born To Love You,” recorded by LANCO
“Get Along,” recorded by Kenny Chesney
“I’d Be Jealous Too,” recorded by Dustin Lynch
“Love Ain’t,” recorded by Eli Young Band
“Love Someone,” recorded by Brett Eldredge
“Living,” recorded by Dierks Bentley
“Woman, Amen,” recorded by Dierks Bentley
“World For Two,” recorded by King Calaway
Ashley Gorley
“Born To Love You,” recorded by LANCO
“Eyes On You,” recorded by Chase Rice
“Good Vibes,” recorded by Chris Janson
“I Don’t Know About You,” recorded by Chris Lane
“Life Changes,” recorded by Thomas Rhett
“Living,” recorded by Dierks Bentley
“Love Ain’t,” recorded by Eli Young Band
“Ridin’ Roads,” recorded by Dustin Lynch
“Rumor,” recorded by Lee Brice
Shane McAnally
“Burn Out,” recorded by Midland
“Down To The Honky Tonk,” recorded by Jake Owen
“Downtown’s Dead,” recorded by Sam Hunt
“Get Along,” recorded by Kenny Chesney
“I Don’t Remember Me (Before You),” recorded by Brothers Osborne
“Love Ain’t,” recorded by Eli Young Band
“Make It Sweet,” recorded by Old Dominion
“Mr. Lonely,” recorded by Midland
“Rainbow,” recorded by Kacey Musgraves
“Really Shouldn’t Drink Around You,” recorded by Teddy Robb
“Space Cowboy,” recorded by Kacey Musgraves
Chase McGill
“Break Up In The End,” recorded by Cole Swindell
“Dad’s Old Number,” recorded by Cole Swindell
“Lose It,” recorded by Kane Brown
“Short Skirt Weather,” recorded by Kane Brown
“Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset,” recorded by Luke Bryan
“The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home,” recorded by Justin Moore
“When Someone Stops Loving You,” recorded by Little Big Town
Josh Osborne
“Born To Love You,” recorded by LANCO
“Burn Out,” recorded by Midland
“Downtown’s Dead,” recorded by Sam Hunt
“Get Along,” recorded by Kenny Chesney
“Hotel Key,” recorded by Old Dominion
“Kiss Somebody,” recorded by Morgan Evans
“Mr. Lonely,” recorded by Midland
“One Man Band,” recorded by Old Dominion
“One That Got Away,” recorded by Michael Ray
“Really Shouldn’t Drink Around You,” recorded by Teddy Robb
“Things That We Drink To,” recorded by Morgan Evans
“Turnin’ Me On,” recorded by Blake Shelton
“World For Two,” recorded by King Calaway
Kevin Welch
“Millionaire,” recorded by Chris Stapleton
Tyler Childers Premieres New Track From Upcoming RCA Album ‘Country Squire’
/by Lorie HollabaughTyler Childers has partnered with RCA Records for his upcoming new album, Country Squire, due out Aug. 2 (Hickman Holler Records/RCA). The album is available for pre-order, and the lead track from the project, “House Fire” premieres today. Produced by Sturgill Simpson and David Ferguson, the album was recorded at The Butcher Shoppe in Nashville and features nine new songs penned by Childers.
“I hope that people in the area that I grew up in find something they can relate to,” said Childers of the new project. “I hope that I’m doing my people justice and I hope that maybe someone from somewhere else can get a glimpse of the life of a Kentucky boy.”
In celebration of the release, Childers will embark on his extensive “Country Squire Run” headlining tour this Fall which will include stops at Los Angeles’ The Wiltern, Boston’s House of Blues, Washington D.C.’s The Anthem, Seattle’s Paramount Theatre, Atlanta’s The Tabernacle and Philadelphia’s The Fillmore, among several others. Tickets for the newly confirmed shows go on sale Thursday, May 23.
Since the release of his debut album Purgatory in 2017, Childers has been named “Emerging Artist of the Year” at the 2018 Americana Music Association Honors & Awards and has been featured on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert series and Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. Additionally, he’s toured extensively across the world including over 130 sold-out headline shows as well as multiple dates supporting John Prine. He has also performed at several major festivals including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Newport Folk Festival, Austin City Limits and Stagecoach.
Tyler Childers Premieres New Track From Upcoming RCA Album ‘Country Squire’
/by Lorie HollabaughTyler Childers has partnered with RCA Records for his upcoming new album, Country Squire, due out Aug. 2 (Hickman Holler Records/RCA). The album is available for pre-order, and the lead track from the project, “House Fire” premieres today. Produced by Sturgill Simpson and David Ferguson, the album was recorded at The Butcher Shoppe in Nashville and features nine new songs penned by Childers.
“I hope that people in the area that I grew up in find something they can relate to,” said Childers of the new project. “I hope that I’m doing my people justice and I hope that maybe someone from somewhere else can get a glimpse of the life of a Kentucky boy.”
In celebration of the release, Childers will embark on his extensive “Country Squire Run” headlining tour this Fall which will include stops at Los Angeles’ The Wiltern, Boston’s House of Blues, Washington D.C.’s The Anthem, Seattle’s Paramount Theatre, Atlanta’s The Tabernacle and Philadelphia’s The Fillmore, among several others. Tickets for the newly confirmed shows go on sale Thursday, May 23.
Since the release of his debut album Purgatory in 2017, Childers has been named “Emerging Artist of the Year” at the 2018 Americana Music Association Honors & Awards and has been featured on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert series and Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. Additionally, he’s toured extensively across the world including over 130 sold-out headline shows as well as multiple dates supporting John Prine. He has also performed at several major festivals including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Newport Folk Festival, Austin City Limits and Stagecoach.
Clare Bowen Readies Self-Titled Solo Debut For Summer
/by Lorie HollabaughClare Bowen, known for her role as Scarlett O’Connor on CMT/Hulu’s Nashville, is releasing her self-titled debut solo album on July 12 on BMG.
Produced and partially co-written by Josh Kaufman, the album includes contributions from Amy Wadge, Wyatt Durrette, Nathan Chapman, Lori McKenna, and more. Bowen also worked on the album with husband and longtime collaborator Brandon Robert Young, who co-wrote the majority of the album with her.
Album opener “Let It Rain” is a triumphant, soulful anthem about surviving life’s hardships and letting go of fear. “All The Beds I’ve Made” is a tender tribute to husband Young, and “Tide Rolls In” featuring Buddy Miller is a driving song about the inevitability of change, but the emotional peak of the record is gut-wrenching ballad “Warrior.”
“I grew up in a children’s hospital. A ways into writing the album, I realized I’d never written a song about the children that I lived with, most of whom didn’t get to grow up because we were in a terminal ward,” says Bowen of the inspiration for the song. “One of us passed away every single day. I watched a lot of children fight through hardships that no person should ever have to endure, and yet they were so incredibly brave. No matter what your troubles are, I want the ones who are still here to know they are not alone, and the ones that had to go on the next adventure early, that they will never, ever be forgotten.”
Bowen will embark on her own headlining tour this summer, including stops in NYC and Chicago, in addition to a special hometown show at Nashville’s City Winery. Clare will also be hosting a pre-show VIP Experience which will include an up close and personal Q&A, acoustic set, Meet & Greet photo and a signed item. Tickets & VIP Upgrades go on sale this Friday, May 17th at clarebowenofficial.com.