Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 30th annual MusicRow Awards, we take a closer look at the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year nominees.
CATEGORY 2: BREAKTHROUGH SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Voted by MusicRow’s subscribed members to honor a Nashville songwriter who wrote or co-wrote a Top 10 song for the first time. In addition, the qualifying song was not recorded by the nominated songwriter.
The MusicRow Awards will be presented at a private ceremony. See the full list of nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow subscribers. Voting closes on May 25 at 5 p.m. If you do not have a subscription, you may subscribe to receive a ballot.
Kevin Bard soared to his first No. 1 hit with “How Not To,” co-written with fellow MusicRow Breakthrough Songwriter nominee Adam Hambrick, and established hitmaker Paul DiGiovanni. The track was recorded by Dan + Shay and helmed by Producer of the Year nominee Scott Hendricks.
Casey Brown teamed with Parker Welling and Russell Dickerson to co-write “Yours,” which would eventually become Dickerson’s first No. 1 as an artist, earning all three songwriters MusicRow Awards nominations in 2018.
Andrew DeRoberts scored his first Top 10 hit as a cowriter of “The Weekend,” recorded by Brantley Gilbert. The rocking track was produced by MusicRow Awards nominee Dann Huff.
Luke Dick boosted his career with his first No. 1, “Round Here Buzz.” This song and his previous hit “Kill A Word” were both co-written with Jeff Hyde and Eric Church. The songs were recorded by Church with MusicRow Producer of the Year nominee Jay Joyce.
Jacob Durrett and twin brother Devin Dawson have been collaborating for years, and their hard work came to fruition with Dawson’s Top 10 hit “All On Me,” which they co-wrote with fellow MusicRow Awards nominee Austin Taylor Smith.
Kyle Fishman notched his first No. 1 as co-writer of Dustin Lynch’s “Small Town Boy.” The Platinum-certified track is Lynch’s fifth consecutive No. 1 and spent four weeks at the top of the charts.
Ray Fulcher’s fortune went into overdrive when he cowrote “When It Rains It Pours,” with fellow MusicRow Awards nominees Jordan Walker and Luke Combs. The catchy song about good luck was the first No. 1 for Fulcher and Walker.
Adam Hambrick scored two No. 1 hits during the last year. He is co-writer of Justin Moore’s “Somebody Else Will” and Dan + Shay’s “How Not To,” the latter of which was tracked by MusicRow Producer of the Year nominee Scott Hendricks.
Matt McGinn was instrumental in Kane Brown’s backto-back hits. McGinn scored his first No. 1 as co-writer of “What Ifs” (ft. Lauren Alaina). McGinn and fellow Breakthrough Songwriter nominee Lindsay Rimes teamed for Brown’s current single “Heaven.”
Josh Miller scored his first No. 1 as co-writer of KipMoore’s “More Girls Like You.” Miller followed that with the monster chart-topper “Meant To Be,” recorded by Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line. Miller also has writing credits on the currently climbing hit “Take Back Home Girl,” recorded by Chris Lane ft. Tori Kelly.
Sammy Mitchell, Rob Williford, Steven Andre Battey and Luke Combs co-wrote “One Number Away,” which became Combs’ third consecutive hit. Williford is also nominated for MusicRow Breakthrough Songwriter and Combs is up for Breakthrough Artist.
Lindsay Rimes scored his first hit with “Heaven,” co-written with fellow MusicRow Awards nominee Matt McGinn and veteran hitmaker Shy Carter. The song was recorded by Kane Brown and produced by Dann Huff, who are also 2018 nominees.
Mitch Rossell’s “Ask Me How I Know,” was his first major cut and first No. 1, recorded by one of the biggest artists of all time—Garth Brooks. Rossell is the only nominee in this category to earn his nomination with a solo-written song.
Emily Shackelton and Carly Pearce brought female perspectives to the ballad of lost love, “Every Little Thing,” which they co-wrote with MusicRow Producer of the Year nominee busbee. Breakthrough Artist nominee Pearce recorded the No. 1 hit.
Austin Taylor Smith co-wrote “All On Me,” alongside Jacob Durrett and Devin Dawson, the latter of which recorded the song and turned it into a cool radio Top 10 hit. All three are 2018 MusicRow Awards nominees.
Parker Welling, Casey Brown and Russell Dickerson cowrote “Yours,” which became the first No. 1 for all three singer-songwriters, earning them each MusicRow Awards nominations. The same trio collaborated for Dickerson’s new single “Blue Tacoma.”
Rob Williford is Luke Combs’ guitarist and band leader. They teamed with co-writers Sammy Mitchell and Steven Andre Battey to craft Combs’ latest Top 10-and-climbing hit “One Number Away.”

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BMI Artists Light Up Hangout Stage
/by Lorie HollabaughBMI’s Nina Carter poses for a photo with Caroline Rose and her band during Hangout Music Festival on May 18, 2018, in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Photo: Erika Goldring
BMI returned to its original location at Hangout Music Festival over the weekend to showcase 15 talented up-and-coming acts on the Mermaid stage in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
The weekend started strong with a funk-filled set from Luthi and never slowed down with performances from Welshly Arms, R.LUM.R, BONES and more over the course of the weekend. BMI wrapped this year’s festival on Sunday with massive crowds packing the centrally-located stage for high-energy sets from MAX, rock-quartet Greta Van Fleet and singer-songwriter Anderson East.
Since 2013, BMI has hosted a number of rising stars on the Hangout stage, including Halsey, The Revivalists, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Daya, A R I Z O N A, Elle King, St. Paul and the Broken Bones and Shakey Graves.
Mobley performs during Hangout Music Festival on May 20, 2018, in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Photo: Erika Goldring Photo
Red Light Management’s Jessi Tichenor, BMI’s Brandon Haas and Nina Carter, and Portugal the Man’s Zach Carothers gather for a photo during Hangout Music Festival on May 18, 2018, in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Photo: Erika Goldring
Sony Acquires Stake In EMI For $2.3 Billion
/by Jessica NicholsonEntertainment and electronics business Sony Corp. is set to purchase a 60 percent stake in EMI Music Publishing for $2.3 billion, from a group of investors led by Mubadala, according to a statement from Sony.
Sony already held a minority stake in EMI, but the new deal will result in Sony owning an estimated 90 percent of EMI, with a music library of around 4.5 million songs, including classics such as “Over The Rainbow” and more current hits such as Pharrell Williams’ “Happy.”
“The music business has enjoyed a resurgence over the past couple of years, driven largely by the rise of paid subscription-based streaming services,” Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said in a statement.
Earlier this month, Sony announced a deal to acquire a stake in Peanuts Holdings, the organization behind classics including Snoopy and Charlie Brown.
Maddie Poppe Is Latest ‘American Idol’ Winner
/by Lorie HollabaughPoppe performed three songs, including “Landslide,” which she dedicated to her hometown, and also repeated her original, “Don’t Ever Let Your Children Grow Up.” She wrapped her three songs with “Going Going Gone” as the winner of the ABC reboot, which will return for a second season it was just announced. During the show it was also revealed that Poppe and Hutchinson are officially a couple.
During Poppe’s American Idol run, she offered up renditions of gems made famous by Sheryl Crow and The Beach Boys, as well as Randy Travis’ 1988 hit “I Told You So” (which Carrie Underwood later recorded and released as a duet with Travis in 2009).
It’s Only Rock And Roll And We Like It – Stones Exhibit Extends Nashville Run Through August
/by Lorie HollabaughTo ensure as many visitors as possible can see The Rolling Stones Exhibit before it leaves North America, for the rest of its Nashville run, Stones Exhibit-only tickets will be $25 on Mondays and Tuesdays. Additionally, tickets purchased in advance online for Wednesday through Sunday at StonesExhibit.com are now discounted $5 and are available online through the end of August. Nashville is the exhibition’s last stop Stateside before heading to Sydney, Australia, marking the last chance for fans to view the expansive exhibit in North America.
The exhibit is a definite can’t-miss, full of rare memorabilia, vintage rock artifacts, amazing guitars, a complete recreation of the group’s earliest days in their UK flat, and over 190 original artworks including many of the band’s iconic album covers. Fashionistas will especially love the style and fashion gallery featuring many of Mick Jagger’s one-of-a-kind stage costumes spanning from the 1960’s to the present, with fashions from Alexander McQueen, Prada, Dior, Gucci, Jean Paul Gaultier, and many more, and contributions from Anna Sui, John Varvatos and Tommy Hilfiger. Interactive experiences like the sound mixing studio and a 3D concert film cap off the experience which extensively chronicles the legendary band’s 56-year career.
“We’re thrilled that Music City has fully embraced this once-in-a-lifetime, immersive and experiential Exhibit that tells the story of the most influential rock band in the world,” said Tim McGregor, Managing Director of TEG Live. “This extension allows for more lovers of music, art, fashion, and pop culture to experience The Rolling Stones Exhibit before it leaves North America.”
Fifth Annual Georgia On My Mind Concert To Feature Lauren Alaina, Chris Janson
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Peach Pickers hand-pick a star-studded group of friends to celebrate the music of their home state with proceeds benefiting the Georgia Music Foundation. Performers this year include Lauren Alaina, Travis Denning, Chris Janson, Michael Ray, songwriters Pat Alger and Tony Arata.
“For Ben, Rhett and I, it’s almost like organizing a bonfire party in South Georgia every year. We call our friends, they call their friends and we all get together, play the songs we love and tell stories,” said Davidson, who chairs the Georgia Music Foundation. “The fact that the last four concerts have allowed us to donate nearly $300,000 to the Georgia Music Foundation and support music education programs all over our home state is icing on the cake.”
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famers Alger and Arata will be on hand to perform and receive the Georgia Music Foundation Flamekeeper Award given since 2014 to individuals whose tireless work preserves and promotes Georgia’s musical roots and traditions.
This year, the Peach Pickers welcome Gretsch, the fourth-generation musical instruments company headquartered in Pooler, Georgia, as a presenting sponsor. Fred Gretsch, President of The Gretsch Company, noted, “As we celebrate our 135th anniversary as a family business run by Dinah Gretsch and me, we are honored to support the Peach Pickers and present ‘Georgia On My Mind.’ The Gretsch family’s goal is enriching lives through participation in music and we’ve seen how proceeds from previous years’ concerts have impacted music education programs around the state of Georgia.”
The Georgia Music Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 1994, has distributed nearly $300,000 in grants to deserving music education, preservation and outreach programs since the first “Georgia On My Mind” concert was held in 2014. Proceeds from the 2017 concert benefitted 17 schools and non-profit organizations.
Tickets are available now for $54.50 and $44.50 via Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, ryman.com,or by calling (800) 745-3000.
2018 MusicRow Awards: Breakthrough Songwriter Of The Year Nominees
/by Jessica NicholsonCATEGORY 2: BREAKTHROUGH SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Voted by MusicRow’s subscribed members to honor a Nashville songwriter who wrote or co-wrote a Top 10 song for the first time. In addition, the qualifying song was not recorded by the nominated songwriter.
The MusicRow Awards will be presented at a private ceremony. See the full list of nominees.
Winners are determined solely by MusicRow subscribers. Voting closes on May 25 at 5 p.m. If you do not have a subscription, you may subscribe to receive a ballot.
Kevin Bard soared to his first No. 1 hit with “How Not To,” co-written with fellow MusicRow Breakthrough Songwriter nominee Adam Hambrick, and established hitmaker Paul DiGiovanni. The track was recorded by Dan + Shay and helmed by Producer of the Year nominee Scott Hendricks.
Casey Brown teamed with Parker Welling and Russell Dickerson to co-write “Yours,” which would eventually become Dickerson’s first No. 1 as an artist, earning all three songwriters MusicRow Awards nominations in 2018.
Andrew DeRoberts scored his first Top 10 hit as a cowriter of “The Weekend,” recorded by Brantley Gilbert. The rocking track was produced by MusicRow Awards nominee Dann Huff.
Luke Dick boosted his career with his first No. 1, “Round Here Buzz.” This song and his previous hit “Kill A Word” were both co-written with Jeff Hyde and Eric Church. The songs were recorded by Church with MusicRow Producer of the Year nominee Jay Joyce.
Jacob Durrett and twin brother Devin Dawson have been collaborating for years, and their hard work came to fruition with Dawson’s Top 10 hit “All On Me,” which they co-wrote with fellow MusicRow Awards nominee Austin Taylor Smith.
Kyle Fishman notched his first No. 1 as co-writer of Dustin Lynch’s “Small Town Boy.” The Platinum-certified track is Lynch’s fifth consecutive No. 1 and spent four weeks at the top of the charts.
Ray Fulcher’s fortune went into overdrive when he cowrote “When It Rains It Pours,” with fellow MusicRow Awards nominees Jordan Walker and Luke Combs. The catchy song about good luck was the first No. 1 for Fulcher and Walker.
Adam Hambrick scored two No. 1 hits during the last year. He is co-writer of Justin Moore’s “Somebody Else Will” and Dan + Shay’s “How Not To,” the latter of which was tracked by MusicRow Producer of the Year nominee Scott Hendricks.
Matt McGinn was instrumental in Kane Brown’s backto-back hits. McGinn scored his first No. 1 as co-writer of “What Ifs” (ft. Lauren Alaina). McGinn and fellow Breakthrough Songwriter nominee Lindsay Rimes teamed for Brown’s current single “Heaven.”
Josh Miller scored his first No. 1 as co-writer of KipMoore’s “More Girls Like You.” Miller followed that with the monster chart-topper “Meant To Be,” recorded by Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line. Miller also has writing credits on the currently climbing hit “Take Back Home Girl,” recorded by Chris Lane ft. Tori Kelly.
Sammy Mitchell, Rob Williford, Steven Andre Battey and Luke Combs co-wrote “One Number Away,” which became Combs’ third consecutive hit. Williford is also nominated for MusicRow Breakthrough Songwriter and Combs is up for Breakthrough Artist.
Lindsay Rimes scored his first hit with “Heaven,” co-written with fellow MusicRow Awards nominee Matt McGinn and veteran hitmaker Shy Carter. The song was recorded by Kane Brown and produced by Dann Huff, who are also 2018 nominees.
Mitch Rossell’s “Ask Me How I Know,” was his first major cut and first No. 1, recorded by one of the biggest artists of all time—Garth Brooks. Rossell is the only nominee in this category to earn his nomination with a solo-written song.
Emily Shackelton and Carly Pearce brought female perspectives to the ballad of lost love, “Every Little Thing,” which they co-wrote with MusicRow Producer of the Year nominee busbee. Breakthrough Artist nominee Pearce recorded the No. 1 hit.
Austin Taylor Smith co-wrote “All On Me,” alongside Jacob Durrett and Devin Dawson, the latter of which recorded the song and turned it into a cool radio Top 10 hit. All three are 2018 MusicRow Awards nominees.
Parker Welling, Casey Brown and Russell Dickerson cowrote “Yours,” which became the first No. 1 for all three singer-songwriters, earning them each MusicRow Awards nominations. The same trio collaborated for Dickerson’s new single “Blue Tacoma.”
Rob Williford is Luke Combs’ guitarist and band leader. They teamed with co-writers Sammy Mitchell and Steven Andre Battey to craft Combs’ latest Top 10-and-climbing hit “One Number Away.”
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In Pictures: RaeLynn, Dolly Parton, Cold River Records
/by Jessica NicholsonRaeLynn Hosts Words & Music Night At Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum
Pictured (L-R): Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s VP of Development Lisa Purcell, Singer-Songwriter RaeLynn and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Director of Education Ali Tonn
On May 16, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum hosted its annual year-end celebration in honor of education program Words & Music. Middle Tennessee students and their families gathered in the museum’s Ford Theater for Words & Music Night along with the evening’s host, singer-songwriter RaeLynn.
Throughout the night, selected students performed songs they composed through the program alongside a professional songwriting partner. For 39 years, Words & Music has connected young people to Nashville’s music community by pairing classes with songwriters who transform student lyrics into finished songs which are then performed in an interactive workshop. More than 110,000 students have had the unique opportunity to learn from songwriters the core curriculum, lessons in musical composition and language skills.
Dolly Parton Dedicates Newly-Named Butterfly Garden At Vanderbilt
Pictured (L-R): Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Richard Dennison (Hannah’s father), Hannah Dennison (Dolly’s niece), Dolly Parton and Rachel George
(Hannah’s mother).
Dolly Parton and her niece Hannah Dennison were honored Thursday (May 17) at the dedication of the newly named Hannah Dennison Butterfly Garden at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The dedication came after Parton announced a $1 million gift to Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Cancer Program last October while visiting patients with her niece, Dennison, who was treated for leukemia as a child at Children’s Hospital for four years, beginning in 1993.
Parton said the gift was made “in honor of my niece Hannah, my sister Rachel, Hannah’s dad, Richard, and Dr. Naji Abumrad. It was important to me to make a donation to the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt because of Hannah’s care and just how well they do for everyone. It’s been a good hospital for us. This is just a great group of doctors and nurses that provide the best of care, and it was the least I could do.”
Music Industry Execs Gather For “Poor People’s Foursome”
Pictured (L-R): songwriter Nate Montgomery, Cold River/IMA’s John Ettinger, iHeart’s Jackie Tigue and Rod Phillips, artist manager Sean Pace, and Cold River’s Marie Wapelhorst and Taylor Eschbach.
A group of music industry friends gathered Friday (May 18) for a restart of “Poor People’s Foursome,” which features coffee, conversation and golf.
More Music Row Area Buildings Considered For Redevelopment
/by Jessica NicholsonA recent proposal from developer Panattoni has some in the Nashville music community concerned. The developer is considering five buildings on 16th Avenue, in the heart of Nashville’s Music Row area, with plans to demolish the buildings and replace them with a new office building.
The houses include several 16th Avenue addresses, including 1022 (formerly Ed Bruce Agency), 1024 (home to Big Spark Music, Classic Ax, Wolf Mastering and Krazy Pop Studio), 1026 (formerly Creative Soul Music Academy), 1028 (current home to Bobby’s Idle Hour Tavern), and 1030 (Warner/Chappell Production Music).
The area is zoned for buildings up to five stories in height. Panattoni previously developed the building at 35 Music Square East which houses the Country Music Association, SESAC, and Panattoni’s Nashville office. The company is also developing an office building at 1 Music Circle South that will be home to BMG’s new offices.
An open meeting for the local community to discuss the plans will be held Tuesday (May 22), beginning at 6 p.m. at Edgehill United Methodist Church (1502 Edgehill in Nashville).
Ashley McBryde To Bring The Girl Going Nowhere Tour To 30+ Cities
/by Jessica NicholsonAshley McBryde will soon take her soulful country voice and her realistic stories of small town life to cities across the U.S. and Europe when she embarks on her first headlining tour, dubbed The Girl Going Nowhere Tour (after her breakthrough album, Girl Going Nowhere). The tour will launch in Atlanta on Sept. 5, and will wrap on Dec. 15 in Rochester, New York. Several of the U.S. shows will feature opener Dee White.
In October, McBryde will head to the U.K. for several shows with Luke Combs, stopping in Birmingham, London, Manchester and more.
McBryde has opened shows for Eric Church and Chris Stapleton, and most recently was the opener for Combs’ Don’t Tempt Me With A Good Time Tour and Miranda Lambert’s Livin’ Like Hippies Tour.
Tickets for the tour go on sale Friday, May 25.
Ashley McBryde’s 2018 “The Girl Going Nowhere Tour” dates are as follows:
Sept. 5 – Terminal West, Atlanta, GA*
Sept. 6 – 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA*
Sept. 7 – Blind Horse Saloon, Greenville, S.C.*
Sept. 8 – Rome City Brewing Company, Rome, GA*
Sept. 11 – Mammy’s Kitchen, Bardstown, KY
Sept. 12 – Washington County Fair, Abington, VA
Sept. 13 – The Hamilton, Washington, D.C.*
Sept. 14 – Phase 2 Nightclub, Lynchburg, VA*
Sept. 20 – Red Rocks Amphitheater (w/Little Big Town), Morrison, CO
Sept. 22 – Arkansas State University, Mountain Home, AR
Sept. 27 – The Basement East, Nashville, TN*
Sept. 28 – Zydeco, Birmingham, AL*
(International Dates)
Oct. 3 – O2 Institute (w/ Luke Combs), Birmingham, U.K.
Oct. 4 – Shepherd’s Bush Empire (w/ Luke Combs), London, U.K.
Oct. 5 – Shepherd’s Bush Empire (w/ Luke Combs), London, U.K.
Oct. 7 – O2 ABC, Glasgow (w/ Luke Combs), Scotland
Oct. 8 – O2 Ritz Manchester (w/ Luke Combs), Manchester, U.K.
Oct. 10 – Islington Assembly Hall, London, U.K.
Oct. 13 – Mighty Mississippi Music Festival, Greenville, MS
Oct. 25 – Elevation, Grand Rapids, MI*
Nov. 1 – The Lyric Theatre, Oxford, MS*
Nov. 2 – The Barn at The Wicked Wheel (benefiting Girls Inc. of Bay County), Panama City, FL
Nov. 7 – Brick Street Bar, Oxford, OH*
Nov. 8 – The Bluestone, Columbus, OH*
Nov. 9 – Eight Seconds Saloon, Indianapolis, IN*
Nov. 10 – Dusty Armadillo, Rootstown, OH*
Nov. 29 – The Blue Note, Columbia, MO*
Nov. 30 – Revolution Music Room, Little Rock, AR*
Dec. 5 – Gramercy Theatre, New York, NY*
Dec. 7 – The Foundry at the Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA*
Dec. 8 – Chameleon Club, Lancaster, PA*
Dec. 12 – Jergel’s Rhythm and Grill, Warrendale, PA*
Dec. 13 – Iron Works, Buffalo, NY*
Dec. 14 – The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA*
Dec. 15 – Anthology, Rochester, NY*
* denotes a show with special guest Dee White
Industry Ink: ASCAP, Brickshore Media, SESAC
/by Jessica NicholsonASCAP Holds “We Write The Songs” Event In Washington, D.C.
Brandy Clark
The ASCAP Foundation and The Library of Congress jointly held the tenth annual “We Write the Songs” event at the historic Coolidge Auditorium in The Library of Congress in
Washington, D.C. As part of this special event, hosted by Librarian of Congress Carla D. Hayden and ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams, ASCAP songwriters donated manuscripts, lead sheets, lyrics sheets, photos and letters to the library.
Among those taking part were Sen. Lamar Alexander, Brandy Clark, Rep. Doug Collins, Johnta Austin, Rep. Lacy Clay, Michael McDonald, Rep. Joe Crowley, Suzanne Vega, Sen. Tim Kaine, Jason Mraz, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Mike Love, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senators Dean Heller, Mike Enzi, Pat Roberts and Rand Paul and Representatives Ted Lieu, Ami Bera, Billy Long, Bob Goodlatte, Lamar Smith, Martha Roby, Steve Cohen, Marsha Blackburn and more.
Brickshore Media Adds To Roster
SESAC Writers Perform At Bluebird Cafe
Pictured (L-R): SESAC songwriters Matt McGinn and Allison Veltz Cruz; Manager of Creative Services Lydia Schultz; songwriters Mitch Thompson and Tom Jordan of Seaforth; VP of Creative Services Shannan Hatch; and songwriter Michael Whitworth.
SESAC affiliate songwriters recently performed a stellar round at the legendary Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.