This week’s edition of The MusicRow Weekly covers a range of significant developments within the country music industry, from career shifts and artist signings to the honoring of songwriters and the loss of beloved figures. Click here to see the full edition.
In a notable departure, Candice Watkins has resigned from her position as Senior Vice President of Marketing at Big Loud Records, after more than six years with the label.
The industry mourned the loss of Lesly Simon, who passed away on March 27 after a battle with breast cancer. Simon was a respected figure in the music business, dedicating over 20 years to the industry. In 2016, Garth Brooks hired her as the General Manager of his label, Pearl Records, and she later played an instrumental role in the success of Trisha Yearwood’s Gwendolyn Records. The industry also bid farewell to Troy Seals, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Seals, who passed away at 86, was a prolific songwriter who co-wrote over 75 charted singles, including 30 top 10 hits and 11 No. 1 records. His timeless classics, like “Seven Spanish Angels” and “Lost in the Fifties Tonight,” have left a lasting imprint on country music.
Monument Records has undergone significant changes, with the exit of much of its staff. Going forward, select aspects of the company will be managed by Sony Music Nashville.
The Country Music Association (CMA) announced the 2025 recipients of its prestigious Triple Play Awards. This award recognizes songwriters who have penned three No. 1 hits within a 12-month period. This year’s winners include a diverse group of talented individuals such as Rocky Block, John Byron, Ashley Gorley, Jessie Jo Dillon, Ernest Keith Smith and Morgan Wallen, among others. They will be honored at a ceremony on April 29 in Nashville, hosted by composer and CMA Board member Jim Beavers.
Multiple-time Grammy winner Billie Eilish, along with her brother and collaborator Finneas, have joined the management roster at Jason Owen’s Sandbox Entertainment. Additionally, Kiley Donohoe launched her independent firm, Greenhouse Management, with a roster featuring Ernest, Chandler Walters, Cody Lohden and Rhys Rutherford.
FBMM promoted Laura Beth Hendricks, Ben Huddleston and Abby Lamb to Associate Business Manager roles in its Nashville office. Creative Nation made key hires, adding Alex Albanese as Creative Manager and promoting Abby Holcomb to Senior Director, Operations & Digital and Jayne Hamblin to Director, Management & Records.
There were multiple other signings this week, including country singer-songwriter Caroline Jones, known for her work with Zac Brown Band, signing with Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. Singer-songwriter Averie Bielski also signed a global publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing Nashville, while songwriters Olivia DaPonte and Chris McKenna inked with Warner Chappell Music Nashville & Group Projects. Producer Dom Martinez signed a global publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing. Finally, Matt Schuster partnered with new management, signing with Dillon Goldberg of FNGRPRNT.
Rising country star Maddox Batson made his Grand Ole Opry debut on March 26. Laci Kaye Booth followed suit, making her own Opry debut on March 29.
mtheory unveiled its four new participants selected for its Equal Access Development Program. This year’s cohort includes artists MŌRIAH and Michael Warren, alongside management professionals Tanner Davenport and Kohl Almire.
In addition, the latest MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart is included. Morgan Wallen notches the No. 1 spot again this week with “I’m The Problem.” Explore more chart data here.
MusicRow Weekly is delivered every Friday, featuring Nashville’s top music industry news, exclusive interviews, song reviews, radio and songwriter charts and more. Sign up for free here.
Folk & Bluegrass Great Tracy Schwarz Passes
/by Robert K OermannTracy Schwarz
Best known for his work in The New Lost City Ramblers, fiddler/singer Tracy Schwarz passed away on March 29 in Elkins, West Virginia at age 86.
Raised in New Jersey and Vermont, Schwarz took up the guitar as a pre-teen after listening to country radio stations. He mastered the fiddle in the 1950s, and immersed himself in the bluegrass scene in Washington, D.C. while attending college there.
After serving in the Army for two years, he joined Mike Seeger and John Cohen in forming The New Lost City Ramblers in 1962. The group began as old-time music revivalists, but soon absorbed the bluegrass, folk and Cajun influences that Schwarz brought to the band.
The New Lost City Ramblers became one of the mainstays of Folkways Records. The band recorded nine albums for the label between 1964 and 2009. The New Lost City Ramblers collaboration with country-music legend Cousin Emmy was a highlight in 1968.
Tracy Schwarz and Mike Seeger also recorded as members of The Strange Creek Singers in 1972. That group was the launchpad for the feminist old-time duo Hazel & Alice (Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard), who influenced The Judds.
During his career’s 50+ additional years, Tracy Schwarz also recorded four solo albums, four others with Cajun master Dewey Balfa and three with Schwarz’s musical family.
He was an enthusiastic educator of traditional music styles and made several fiddle instruction albums. The Folkways website printed this as a eulogy: “He fervently believed that anyone who was interested in learning how to play an instrument or sing, could.
His infectious enthusiasm and innovative methods helped generations of students around the world to develop their skills.”
Little Big Town Heads Into Summer On New 22-City Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughLittle Big Town. Photo: Blair Getz Mezibov
Little Big Town is set to embark on their “Summer Tour ’25,” which kicks off July 24 in Rogers, Arkansas.
The tour marks the band’s first full summer headline run since 2019, and will feature direct support from Wynonna Judd, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde and Russell Dickerson, with Carter Faith and Shelby Lynne opening select shows.
The 22-city tour will visit St. Louis, Saratoga Springs, Toronto, Cincinnati, Tampa, Salt Lake City and more through Sept. 13, and tickets will be available starting with the Little Big Town pre-sale April 8-10, with additional pre-sales running throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning April 11 at littlebigtown.com.
Little Big Town “Summer Tour ’25” Dates:
July 24 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP *
July 25 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater *
July 26 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre *
July 31 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC †
August 1 – Syracuse, NY – Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview †
August 2 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater †
August 7 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion ‡
August 8 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center *
August 9 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theatre *
August 14 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage †
August 15 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre †
August 16 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center †
August 21 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre §
August 22 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre ‡
August 23 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater §
August 28 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre †
August 29 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre †
August 30 – Colorado Springs, CO – Ford Amphitheatre †
September 4 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre #
September 5 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre #
September 6 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre #
September 11 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center †
September 12 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live †
September 13 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion †
*With support from Carly Pearce and Carter Faith
† With support from Wynonna Judd and Shelby Lynne
‡ With support from Carter Faith
§ With support from Ashley McBryde and Carter Faith
# With support from Russell Dickerson and Carter Faith
The Neal Agency Adds Michelle Bower As President, Strategic Partnerships
/by LB CantrellMichelle Bower. Photo: Kristina Moss
The Neal Agency has tapped Michelle Bower, an executive with 15 years of experience leading brand development and brokering innovative partnerships for products and artists alike, to its team as President, Strategic Partnerships. She is now based in Nashville.
Over the course of her career, Bower has been responsible for the creation and execution of integrated communications strategies for a diverse roster of brands, spanning Premium & Luxury Spirits, Fashion & Beauty, Jewelry, Consumer Packaged Goods, Tech and Corporate Communications verticals. She most recently served as Associate Senior Vice President at LaForce, leading campaigns for Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon, Madewell, YSL Beauty, Motorola and Tinder. Prior to joining LaForce, Bower held leadership roles at Jonesworks, Dittoe Public Relations and Fleishman-Hillard.
“The entire Neal Agency team exudes passion, energy and excellence when it comes to representing our roster of artists and building a company culture that fosters creativity and empowerment,” Bower shares. “It’s an honor to join such a well-respected group of individuals in the industry to usher in a new era of innovative partnerships and successes for our notable and emerging clients.”
TNA Co-Head and Founder Austin Neal adds, “We are excited to have Michelle join our team as the President of Strategic Partnerships. Her deep industry knowledge and proven ability to build meaningful relationships will be invaluable as we continue to expand our reach and create new opportunities for clients. We look forward to the impact she will make in shaping the future of the agency.”
Reach Bower at Michelle@TheNealAgency.com.
Sam Barber To Embark On Headline Tour This Summer
/by Madison HahnenSam Barber. Photo: Outlaw Foundry
Sam Barber will hit the road on his “Sam Barber North America Tour,” kicking off July 10 in Columbus, Ohio.
The 38-date trek will include stops at Tulsa’s Cain’s Ballroom, Los Angeles’ Fonda Theatre, New York City’s Webster Hall and more before wrapping up on Dec. 5 at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth. The journey also includes festival appearances at Windy City Smokeout, RedWest Fest and St. Pete Fest, among others.
Barber is currently on his “Restless Mind World Tour,” which includes headline shows and festival stops in the U.S, U.K., Europe and Australia. He will also perform at CMA Fest this June on the Chevy Riverfront Stage.
Last November, the Lockeland Springs/Atlantic Records artist released his debut album Restless Mind, which has helped the Missouri native hit 1.5 billion global streams to date. The project includes the 2x Platinum “Straight and Narrow,” his viral collaboration with Avery Anna “Indigo” and “Better Year,” which was featured on Yellowstone in December. Barber will release his new single “Man of the Year” next Friday (April 18).
Tickets for the “Sam Barber North America Tour” will be available beginning tomorrow (April 8) via artist presale at 10 a.m. local time. General on-sale will begin on Friday (April 11) at 10 a.m. local time.
Trace Adkins Celebrates 20 Years Of ‘Songs About Me’ With Special SiriusXM Session
/by Lorie HollabaughTrace Adkins performs hits from Songs About Me on Y2Kountry at SiriusXM in Nashville.
Trace Adkins is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his 2x Platinum album Songs About Me with a special SiriusXM Session performance and interview.
Adkins visited SiriusXM in Nashville appearing on Y2Kountry for the session and interview with host Danielle Peck. In front of a crowd of fans, he delivered renditions of tracks from Songs About Me such as “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and the emotional “Arlington,” and also performed his latest single “What Color’s Your Wild.”
Adkins originally released Songs About Me in March 2005. It peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top Country Albums Chart in addition to picking up a double Platinum certification. It includes the 3x Platinum anthem “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” Gold-certified “Songs About Me,” and “Arlington,” and has garnered hundreds of millions of streams.
SiriusXM and Pandora’s Johnny Chiang, Vice President of Music Programming – Country at SiriusXM and Pandora, also surprised Adkins with a Billionaire plaque in recognition of over 1 Billion streams for his music on Pandora. Only a handful of artists have reached this milestone, including Jason Aldean, Chris Stapleton, Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey, Ed Sheeran, and more.
“The incredible thing about Trace and his career is the consistency. Whether he has new music or not, Pandora fans are screaming for Trace,” shared Chiang during the milestone presentation. The event will air on on the SiriusXM app for two weeks.
Last week, Adkins dropped his new song “That Someday” via Verge Records to coincide with his role as “Big Buck” in the new film Day of Reckoning. He recently kicked off his headlining “What Color’s Your Wild Tour.”
MusicRow Weekly (News, Charts, More…)
/by Madison HahnenThis week’s edition of The MusicRow Weekly covers a range of significant developments within the country music industry, from career shifts and artist signings to the honoring of songwriters and the loss of beloved figures. Click here to see the full edition.
In a notable departure, Candice Watkins has resigned from her position as Senior Vice President of Marketing at Big Loud Records, after more than six years with the label.
The industry mourned the loss of Lesly Simon, who passed away on March 27 after a battle with breast cancer. Simon was a respected figure in the music business, dedicating over 20 years to the industry. In 2016, Garth Brooks hired her as the General Manager of his label, Pearl Records, and she later played an instrumental role in the success of Trisha Yearwood’s Gwendolyn Records. The industry also bid farewell to Troy Seals, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Seals, who passed away at 86, was a prolific songwriter who co-wrote over 75 charted singles, including 30 top 10 hits and 11 No. 1 records. His timeless classics, like “Seven Spanish Angels” and “Lost in the Fifties Tonight,” have left a lasting imprint on country music.
Monument Records has undergone significant changes, with the exit of much of its staff. Going forward, select aspects of the company will be managed by Sony Music Nashville.
The Country Music Association (CMA) announced the 2025 recipients of its prestigious Triple Play Awards. This award recognizes songwriters who have penned three No. 1 hits within a 12-month period. This year’s winners include a diverse group of talented individuals such as Rocky Block, John Byron, Ashley Gorley, Jessie Jo Dillon, Ernest Keith Smith and Morgan Wallen, among others. They will be honored at a ceremony on April 29 in Nashville, hosted by composer and CMA Board member Jim Beavers.
Multiple-time Grammy winner Billie Eilish, along with her brother and collaborator Finneas, have joined the management roster at Jason Owen’s Sandbox Entertainment. Additionally, Kiley Donohoe launched her independent firm, Greenhouse Management, with a roster featuring Ernest, Chandler Walters, Cody Lohden and Rhys Rutherford.
FBMM promoted Laura Beth Hendricks, Ben Huddleston and Abby Lamb to Associate Business Manager roles in its Nashville office. Creative Nation made key hires, adding Alex Albanese as Creative Manager and promoting Abby Holcomb to Senior Director, Operations & Digital and Jayne Hamblin to Director, Management & Records.
There were multiple other signings this week, including country singer-songwriter Caroline Jones, known for her work with Zac Brown Band, signing with Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. Singer-songwriter Averie Bielski also signed a global publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing Nashville, while songwriters Olivia DaPonte and Chris McKenna inked with Warner Chappell Music Nashville & Group Projects. Producer Dom Martinez signed a global publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing. Finally, Matt Schuster partnered with new management, signing with Dillon Goldberg of FNGRPRNT.
Rising country star Maddox Batson made his Grand Ole Opry debut on March 26. Laci Kaye Booth followed suit, making her own Opry debut on March 29.
mtheory unveiled its four new participants selected for its Equal Access Development Program. This year’s cohort includes artists MŌRIAH and Michael Warren, alongside management professionals Tanner Davenport and Kohl Almire.
In addition, the latest MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart is included. Morgan Wallen notches the No. 1 spot again this week with “I’m The Problem.” Explore more chart data here.
MusicRow Weekly is delivered every Friday, featuring Nashville’s top music industry news, exclusive interviews, song reviews, radio and songwriter charts and more. Sign up for free here.
Industry Ink: Big Loud, Old Dominion, Cody Johnson, Tucker Wetmore, Ty Myers
/by Lorie HollabaughBig Loud Execs Celebrate Their Artists’ ACM Nominations
Big Loud’s Michael Giangreco, Brianne Deslippe, Joey Moi, Seth England and Paul Logan
Big Loud is celebrating the recent announcement of the ACM Award nominees, which included artists Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, Hardy, Ashley Cooke and Ernest.
Old Dominion Plays Odies For Upcoming ‘CMT Stages’ Episode
Old Dominion appears on the upcoming latest episode of CMT Stages. The episode takes a deep dive into the band’s storied career and captures five of their biggest hits from their namesake bar, Odies, marking the first time they’ve ever played the space.
Cody Johnson Celebrates New Gold & Platinum Certs
Pictured (L-R, back row): Jack Clarke (Mix Engineer), Cody Johnson, Trent Willmon (Producer); (L-R, front row): Gregg Nadel (Co-Chair and Co-President Warner Music Group Nashville and Cris Lacy (Co-Chair and Co-President Warner Music Group Nashville). Photo: Courtesy of Warner Music Group
Cody Johnson has racked up some new heavy metal, adding several plaques to his official RIAA certifications as his No. 1 award-winning song “’Til You Can’t” reached five-times Platinum, and his CMA Album of the Year Leather is certified Gold. Johnson now boasts 44 Gold and Platinum certifications and nine billion career global streams with four No. 1 singles.
Tucker Wetmore Touts Debut Album On ‘CBS Mornings Plus’
Pictured (L-R): CBS Mornings Plus host Adriana Diaz, Tucker Wetmore and CBS Mornings Plus host Tony Dokoupil. Photo: Chase Foster
Tucker Wetmore kicked off his album release month with a special appearance on CBS Mornings Plus yesterday (April 3). Wetmore sat down with hosts Adriana Diaz and Tony Dokoupil to give an exclusive first look at his upcoming new album What Not To, out April 25. Last week, he hit a career milestone with his first-ever major nomination for ACM New Male Artist of the Year and is the only male nominee in the category without a debut album currently out. He also dropped one final preview of What Not To with the sleek, neon-lit track “Casino,” out now.
Ty Myers Celebrates ‘Ends Of The Earth’ Going Gold In The Big Apple
Ty Myers with his RECORDS Nashville/Columbia team in New York City
Rising artist Ty Myers recently celebrated his first RIAA certification for his Gold track “Ends of the Earth” from his debut album, The Select via RECORDS Nashville/Columbia with his label team in New York City.
Dan Wilson Resigns With Black River Publishing
/by Madison HahnenDan Wilson. Photo: Courtesy of Black River
Songwriter Dan Wilson has resigned his publishing deal with Black River Publishing.
“When thinking about the next chapter in my career, there was never a question in my mind of where I wanted to be,” shares Wilson. “The sky is the limit at Black River, and I’m grateful for Rebekah and the entire team’s belief in me as a writer. I’m excited to keep building and growing together!”
Hailing from Greenville, South Carolina, Wilson was surrounded by music from an early age. At just five years old, he taught himself how to play the drums, followed by learning how to play guitar on his father’s old Ovation guitar. Through these, songwriting naturally followed.
Wilson first inked with Black River in 2021, the same year he was named an AIMP Rising Songwriter. Since then, he has earned cuts with Tucker Wetmore (“Silverado Blue) and MaRynn Taylor (“Make You Mine), among others.
“We are beyond thrilled to continue our creative partnership with Dan for this next chapter,” says Black River Publishing VP Rebekah Gordon. “Dan’s work ethic, respect for the craft, and integrity-driven approach to songwriting make him a publisher’s dream to work with.”
BigXThaPlug Ventures Into Country Music With New Bailey Zimmerman Track
/by John Nix ArledgeBailey Zimmerman and BigXthaPlug
Today (April 4), Dallas’ multi-Platinum rap star BigXthaPlug released a new single titled “All The Way” with Bailey Zimmerman via 600 Entertainment/United Masters. Produced by Charley Cooks and Bandplay, the single marks BigXthaPlug’s first venture into the genre ahead of his country project slated for release later this year.
“All The Way” seeks to merge country emotion and Southern hip-hop intensity, opening with an acoustic guitar before building into Zimmerman’s chorus, “If you’re gonna leave me, leave me all the way.” BigXthaPlug follows with a verse reflecting on broken promises and lost love. The production blends country sounds like steel guitar with deep bass, creating a crossover sound that highlights both artists’ strengths.
The track’s accompanying video enhances the song’s emotional depth, showcasing two couples navigating tension and heartbreak. These scenes transition to shots of BigXthaPlug and Zimmerman performing in front of pickup trucks, a nod to their shared Southern roots. The blend of emotional struggle and bold visuals lends itself to the song’s theme of confronting love’s complexities head-on.
“All The Way” marks a pivotal moment in BigXThaPlug’s career and serves as a testament to his southern roots by highlighting the importance of these two genre’s unified culture and shared narrative. In his upcoming country project, BigXThaPlug fully leans into this idea, featuring performances and collaborations by some of country music’s most influential names.
This single comes in the middle of a standout year for the artist. BigXThaPlug has accrued several accolades recently such as his Best New Artist nomination at the 2025 iHeart Radio Music Awards, winning XXL’s Best New Artist of the Year and his album Take Care securing No. 12 on Rolling Stone’s Top 20 Hip-Hop Albums of 2024.
‘Opry 100 Honors’ Series Kicks Off May 13 With Loretta Lynn Tribute Show
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Grand Ole Opry is launching a series of “Opry 100 Honors” shows on May 13 as part of its ongoing Opry 100 celebration.
The shows will celebrate several icons who have played a key role in shaping the Opry’s first century. The series will kick off with a tribute to Loretta Lynn on May 13, followed by performances honoring Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash on June 18 and Charlie Daniels on July 8. More shows will be announced shortly.
The Loretta Lynn tribute show will include performances by Opry member Crystal Gayle (Lynn’s sister), granddaughter Emmy Russell, duo Twitty & Lynn (grandchildren of Lynn and Conway Twitty) and Opry members Martina McBride, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde and more.
The Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash show will feature performances by John Carter Cash and Ana Cristina Cash, The Tennessee Four (including Johnny Cash’s grandson Thomas Gabriel on vocals), Opry members The Gatlin Brothers, Lainey Wilson and more.
“As we continue our Opry 100 celebration, we’re excited to open the door to the Opry’s next century and to laud each of the Opry’s current members,” says Dan Rogers, Opry executive producer. “It’s also important to us to honor some of the iconic artists of the past who helped the Opry achieve worldwide acclaim and ensured the show’s longevity. We’re looking forward to this series featuring the music of artists who became household names and whose legacies the Opry will still be celebrating in another 100 years.”