RECORDS Nashville is entering 2025 with back-to-back chart-toppers, as Koe Wetzel‘s “High Road (feat. Jessie Murph)” reaches No. 1 at country radio shortly after George Birge‘s “Cowboy Songs.”

“Cowboy Songs” serves as the title track for Birge’s latest EP, and marks his second No. 1 on both the Billboard Country Airplay and Country Aircheck/Mediabase chart. The singer-songwriter scored his first with “Mind On You” in early 2024.

The RECORDS Nashville team promoted “High Road,” which marks both Wetzel and Murph’s first career No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay and Country Aircheck/Mediabase charts. The collaboration appears on Wetzel’s 9 Lives album.

“We are so excited for George Birge, Koe Wetzel and Jessie Murph as they all [mark] major career milestones,” says Josh Easler, Executive Vice President of Promotion & Commercial Strategy, RECORDS Nashville. “Each have spent the past year delivering incredible music and are truly deserving of their No. 1 spots, and the RECORDS Nashville team was proud to help bolster these artists on their journey to No. 1 at radio.”

The label is also currently preparing for the release of Ty Myers‘ debut album, The Select, on Jan. 24.

Martha Earls

Martha Earls will serve as the Keynote Speaker for Women in Music (WIM)’s annual Virtual Summit, taking place Jan. 15–17.

The global event is designed to educate, empower and advance women and gender-expansive individuals across all facets of the music industry. Featuring panels, workshops and breakout sessions, the summit seeks to provide a collaborative space to gain insight from industry leaders, foster meaningful connections and acquire tools for personal and professional growth.

Having spent over two decades in the music business, Earls is well-versed in music publishing and artist management. She gave up a full music scholarship playing piano to transfer to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). Earls started her career as a receptionist and song plugger at Warner Chappell Music before joining BMG to work with 100 songwriters. She then founded a publishing company with Mike Molinar, which is now Big Machine Label Group’s publishing arm, Big Machine Music. Earls moved on and launched her Nashville-based music and entertainment company, Neon Coast (formerly EFG Mgmt), in 2016. The Neon Coast roster includes Kane Brown, Restless Road, Dylan Schneider, Nightly and Kat Luna, among others. Earls also currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Academy of Country Music.

Additionally, the nonprofit organization has introduced WIM Safe(r) Spaces, a resource and training program that aims to create safer environments within the industry, which will be featured at the summit. A session focused on the WIM Workplace Initiative, which includes a survey to gather data for WIM’s “Best Places to Work” lists that will be published in March, will also be held during the event.

“We are delighted to kick off our 40th year in service to the music industry with our fourth annual WIM Summit as we bring together more of the brightest minds and boldest voices to inspire, educate, and create lasting change,” says Nicole Barsalona, WIM President. “Our goal is to create a transformative experience where attendees make meaningful connections, build their network and safety net, feel empowered in their leadership, and equipped to navigate and shape the future of our industry.”

WIM members can register for free, and non-members can purchase tickets and explore membership tiers. For more information, click here.

Luke Combs. Photo: Zack Massey

Luke Combs‘ “Fast Car” comes in at No. 4 on SoundExchange’s just-released list of 2024’s Top 20 Tracks and Breakout Creators.

Jack Harlow’s “Lovin on Me” leads the list, followed by Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” and Tate McRae’s “Greedy,” with Combs’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” and Hozier’s “Too Sweet” rounding out the top five. Swims notches a second cut on the list with “The Door” at No. 17. Doja Cat also earns two slots on the 2024 tracks list, with “Paint the Town Red” at No. 6 and “Agora Hills” at No. 9. Others scoring two tracks in the top 20 were Miley Cyrus at No. 10 with “Flowers” (last year’s No. 1 track) and “Used to Be Young” at No. 13, and SZA with “Snooze” (last year’s No. 13) landing at 14 and “Saturn” at No. 18.

The annual lists are based on 12 months (December 1, 2023-November 30, 2024) of non-interactive streaming data from more than 3,200 digital service providers operating under the statutory license for which SoundExchange collects and distributes royalties.

SoundExchange’s 2024 Top 20 Breakout Creators list is made up of artists who gained traction for their music and talent this year. This data-based set reflects these creators’ first significant streaming activity, fueled by strong debuts or career highlight releases that connected with wider audiences. Topping 2024’s Breakout Creators list is singer/songwriter/producer Kenya Grace with her single “Strangers,” which finishes out the SoundExchange 2024 Top Tracks list at No. 20.

Grace is followed on the list by Dasha, whose track “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’)” went viral on TikTok and reached No. 18 on The Billboard Hot 100. Florida-based rapper BossMan Dlow, whose single “Get in with Me” found its audience on TikTok and Instagram, clocks in at No. 3, followed by Virginia singer-songwriter Tommy Richman in the fourth position, fueled by his hit single “Million Dollar Baby” (which peaked at No. 2 on The Billboard Hot 100).

At No. 5 on the Top 20 Breakout Creators list is Chappell Roan, followed by Shaboozey. Roan has been riding a wave of popularity stemming from her live performances and popular tracks “Good Luck, Babe!,” “Pink Pony Club” and “Femininomenon,” while Shaboozey set a record for a solo artist topping the Billboard Hot 100 for 18 weeks with “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” and ties Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus) as the longest-running No. 1 in the chart’s history.

“The annual SoundExchange lists offer a fascinating look at the artists and tracks that have captivated audiences throughout the year – all based on data from satellite and internet radio outlets operating under the licenses we administer,” says Michael Huppe, President and CEO of SoundExchange. “I am always impressed with the wide-ranging styles that make up the Breakout Creators list – country, pop, hip-hop, regional Mexican, alt-rock and more. The diversity of these creators and their music speaks volumes about the ability of all genres to break through and find listeners.”

SOLID members during the 2024 Turkey Bowl. Photo: Morgan Jergens

Society of Leaders In Development (SOLID) hosted its annual Turkey Bowl, a flag football tournament featuring teams from across the music industry, in November. SMACKSongs won the tournament this year for the fourth time, and the event raised $17,521 for SOLID Shares partners.

Overall in 2024, SOLID raised $33,135 total for its SOLID Shares partners. SOLID Shares is a charitable initiative that enables the organization to fundraise for a select group of nonprofits. The 2024 SOLID Shares partners include Brooklyn Heights Community Garden, Hope On The Row, Musicians On Call (MOC), Nashville Launch Pad and Special Olympics Tennessee. Each year, SOLID raises money for SOLID Shares partners through two events, Music Row Madness and Turkey Bowl.

SOLID Community Outreach Chair Guy Evans reflected on his experience leading the SOLID Shares initiative with Co-Chair Becky Parsons, sharing “It has been a true joy working with our five 2024 SOLID Shares partners this year. The work these nonprofits are able to achieve is incredible, and I’m very grateful that we were able to contribute to their missions. Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, donated, and supported us this year.”

“We are incredibly proud of the impact our contributions and volunteer hours have had for both our SOLID Members and SOLID Shares partners year after year,” adds SOLID President Rio Van Risseghem. “2024 especially opened new opportunities for our members to engage, as we chose a diverse set of Shares partners Brooklyn Heights Community Garden, Hope On The Row, Musicians On Call, Nashville Launch Pad and Special Olympics of Tennessee. We’re constantly looking to find new ways to bring awareness to these organizations, and I think this year we were very intentional in our approach. Personally, it is such a joy to give back to our community, as it’s at the center of our mission as an organization.”