Dan + Shay Release First-Ever Holiday Album

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In spirit of the upcoming holiday season, Dan + Shay have released their first-ever holiday album titled It’s Officially Christmas: The Double Album via Warner Music Nashville.

Cris Lacy (Co-Chair/Co-President, Warner Music Nashville) with Dan + Shay. Photo: David Bradley

Out today (Oct. 18), the project features a total of 21 tracks, with Disc 1 offering 10 Christmas classics and Disc 2 featuring 11 original songs, all written or co-written by Dan + Shay. The album was produced by the duo’s own Dan Smyers, alongside Scott Hendricks.

“We are so excited to announce our very first Christmas album, and surprise, IT’S A DOUBLE ALBUM. This project has been a decade in the making, and we are so proud of every single note. We truly leaned into our love for the holiday season and think we found some magic in these songs,” shares Dan + Shay.

The duo adds, “Our hope is that you are able to enjoy + share that same magic with your loved ones for years to come. As always, thank you for continuing to believe in us and allowing us to live our dream. We’re grateful for you, and we’re grateful for Christmas!”

Additionally, ahead of today’s release, Dan + Shay’s tracks “Take Me Home for Christmas” and “Pick Out a Christmas Tree” have already achieved RIAA Gold certification. The announcement came as a surprise from Warner Music Nashville’s Co-Chair/Co-President Cris Lacy, who shared the news with the duo at their Nashville office.

It’s Officially Christmas: The Double Album Track List:
DISC 1
1. “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” [written by Eddie Pola, George Wyle]
2. “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” [written by Johnny Marks]
3. “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” [written by Haven Gillespie, Fred J Coots]
4. “Let It Snow” [written by Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn]
5. “The Christmas Song” [written by Mel Torme, Robert Wells]
6. “Winter Wonderland” [written by Jeremy Stuart Smith]
7. “Jingle Bell Rock” [written by Jim Boothe, Joseph Carleton Beal]
8. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (written by Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin) [written by Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin]
9. “Christmas” (Baby Please Come Home) [written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phillip Spector]
10. “Silent Night” [public domain song]

DISC 2
1. “Officially Christmas” [written by Dan Smyers, Dave Barnes, Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds]
2. “Take Me Home For Christmas” [written by Dan Smyers, Andy Albert, Jordan Reynolds, Jordan Schmidt, Mitchell Tenpenny]
3. “Save The Snowman” [written by Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney]
4. “Holiday Party” [written by Dan Smyers, Andy Albert, Jordan Reynolds]
5. “The Cozy Song” [written by Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Jordan Reynolds]
6. “Pick Out A Christmas Tree” [written by Dan Smyers, Dave Barnes, Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds]
7. “Parson Brown” [written by Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Jordan Reynolds]
8.”Christmas Isn’t Christmas” [written by Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Andy Albert, Jordan Reynolds]
9. “Blame It On Santa” [written by Dan Smyers]

Prescription Songs Elevates Rachel Wein

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Rachel Wein

Prescription Songs has promoted Rachel Wein to Senior Director of A&R.

With over seven years at the company, Wein has grown the roster to include over 30 Nashville-based songwriters, artists and producers, totaling over 150 acts within the entire company. Under her guidance, Grammy-nominated songwriter Morgan Nagler has had recent releases with Mxmtoon, Astrid S, Stephen Dawes, Misterwives, Maddie Zahm, Willie Watson of Old Crow Medicine Show and more.

Wein has also excelled in artist development, playing an essential role in emerging acts like Maddie Zahm, Jordy, Greyson Chance and Parson James. Other key clients include James Droll and Tim Gent. Additionally, she oversees producers Sean Small, JT Daly, Jon Santana and Spellz, among others.

“It’s been an honor to watch Rachel grow into the executive she has become today,” says Katie Fagan, Prescription Songs’ Head of A&R, Nashville. “She has been an integral part of our growth as a team here in Nashville and I’m looking forward to seeing her win big in the coming years.”

“The company culture and clientele at Prescription is simply unmatched,” shares Wein. “We are encouraged to take risks and focus on quality, innovative art that pushes the boundaries. I look forward to many more years of working alongside the best in the business!”

A graduate of Boston University with a degree in Sociology & Special Education, Wein joined Prescription Songs in 2017 as the first hire in their Nashville office. She serves on leadership boards for Family Alliance in Music (FAM) and Salt Lick Incubator, and was recently invited to be on the steering committee for Belmont’s Center for Mental Health in Entertainment.

Anne Wilson Goes Home For ‘Rebel (Live From Lexington)’

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Anne Wilson will release new live album recorded in her hometown, Rebel (Live From Lexington), next Friday (Oct. 25).

The 10-track live album recorded in June at the Lexington Opera House features standouts from her genre-blending album Rebel, as well as her breakout hit “My Jesus.” The announcement of the record comes weeks after Wilson took home top honors with Rebel at the 55th annual GMA Dove Awards for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year and performed to a sold-out audience during her Ryman Auditorium headlining debut as part of “The Rebel Tour.”

Upon its release on April 19, Rebel secured the No. 1, 2 and 3 spots on the Christian, country and all-genre charts, respectively, and also hit No. 10 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and notched more than 10.3 million total global streams in its first week. The album includes collaborations with some of Christian and country’s biggest names, enlisting Lainey Wilson for “Praying Woman,” Chris Tomlin for “The Cross,” and Jordan Davis on “Country Gold.” Rebel also earned Wilson her first CMT Music Award nomination for Breakthrough Female Video of the Year for “Rain In The Rearview.”

To date, the Spotify Hot Country Artist to Watch has garnered over a billion career streams. Last month, Wilson released the first taste of new music with “Stand.” She will continue her nearly sold-out 28-stop “The Rebel Tour” with special guest Jordan Rowe throughout the fall.

Rebel (Live From Lexington) Track Listing:

  1. “REBEL (Live)”
  2. “Rain In The Rearview (Live)”
  3. “Strong (Live)”
  4. “God & Country (Live)”
  5. “Songs About Whiskey (Live)”
  6. “The Cross (Live)”
  7. “Red Flag (Live)”
  8. “Southern Gospel (Live)”
  9. “Out Of The Bluegrass (Live)”
  10. “My Jesus (Live)”

Ashley Gorley Inducted Into TICUA Hall Of Fame

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Ashley Gorley. Photo: Katie Kauss

Award-winning songwriter Ashley Gorley has been honored as a Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA) 2024 Hall of Fame inductee. The TICUA Hall of Fame recognizes alumni from its 34 member institutions, highlighting their contributions to the state, nation and world.

“As we welcome this new class of honorees, it’s inspiring to see the diverse ways TICUA institution alumni are shaping the world,” says TICUA President Dr. Cameron Conn. “Each inductee’s story underscores the profound impact private higher education can have, not only on personal success, but also on shaping communities and industries.”

Since graduating from Belmont University with a B.B.A. in music business in 1999, Gorley has become a legend in the music industry. His songwriting career spans more than two decades, resulting in a record-breaking 75+ No. 1 radio singles and over 400 songs recorded by artists across multiple genres.

His numerous accolades include NSAI’s Songwriter of the Decade for 2010–2019, 24 CMA Triple Play Awards, ACM Songwriter of the Year, Variety’s 2023 Songwriter of the Year (all-genre), among many others. His Grammy-nominated hit “Last Night” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-breaking 16 weeks in 2023, while Wallen’s collaboration with Post Malone, “I Had Some Help,” reigned for six weeks in 2024.

Gorley has also shaped new talent through his publishing and artist development company, Tape Room Music. The company has produced more than 50 No. 1 songs, including the 2018 ASCAP Country Song of the Year, “Body Like a Back Road” and 2021 ASCAP, BMI and SESAC Country Song of the Year, “One of Them Girls.”

His allegiance to the music industry is a direct pathway to his advocacy for songwriters’ rights. He has promoted legislation such as the Music Modernization Act, meeting with senators and the Library of Congress to advocate for fair compensation and intellectual property protection in the digital age.

At Belmont, Gorley continues to teach the next generation of music industry professionals, regularly returning to campus to mentor students and lead seminars.

He is among 22 other inductees in the 2024 TICUA Hall of Fame class, representing a plethora of professions and demonstrating the impact of Tennessee’s private institutions on forming global leaders.

Ringo Starr To Release New Country Project ‘Look Up’

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Ringo Starr has teamed with T Bone Burnett on a brand new country album, Look Up, due out Jan. 10 via UMG Nashville. A track from the project, “Time On My Hands,” is available to stream today (Oct. 18.)

T Bone Burnett and Ringo Starr. Photo: Dan Winters

The collection features 11 new originals, recorded this year in Nashville and L.A. Nine songs on Look Up were written or co-written by Burnett, one by Billy Swan and the other co-written by Starr and Bruce Sugar. Starr sang and played drums on all the tracks and co-wrote the album’s closer, “Thankful,” featuring Alison Krauss. Other talent contributing to the album include Billy Strings, Larkin Poe, Lucius and Molly Tuttle. Daniel Tashian is a co-producer on the album along with Sugar and Burnett.

Starr has had a lifelong love of country music and has celebrated it throughout his career, including during his years with the Beatles where he performed and wrote numerous country-tinged songs like “Act Naturally,” “What Goes On” and “Don’t Pass Me By,” as well as with the earlier Rory Storm and The Hurricanes. He also recorded a country album, Beaucoups of Blues, in 1970 as his second solo album. His love of country and the blues led him to try and emigrate from London to Texas while still a teen, after reading that Lightnin’ Hopkins lived in Houston.

The artist’s new album came out of a chance meeting with Burnett at an event in Los Angeles in 2022 (the two had first met in the 1970s), where Starr asked Burnett to write a song for an EP he was recording. Burnett returned with nine songs, which put Starr on the path to record Look Up, his first full-length project since 2019.

“I’ve always loved country music. And when I asked T Bone to write me a song, I didn’t even think at the time that it would be a country song—but of course it was, and it was so beautiful,” Ringo recalls. “I had been making EPs at the time and so I thought we would do a country EP—but when he brought me nine songs I knew we had to make an album! And I am so glad we did. I want to thank, and send Peace & Love, to T Bone and all the great musicians who helped make this record. It was a joy making it and I hope it is a joy to listen to.”

“I have loved Ringo Starr and his playing and his singing and his aesthetic for as long as I can (or care to) remember,” says Burnett. “He changed the way every drummer after him played, with his inventive approach to the instrument. And, he has always sung killer rockabilly, as well as being a heartbreaking ballad singer. To get to make this music with him was something like the realization of a 60-year dream I’ve been living. None of the work that I have done through a long life in music would have happened if not for him and his band. Among other things, this album is a way I can say thank you for all he has given me and us.”

Starr will bring the new music to Nashville when he headlines two Ryman shows Jan. 14-15. Starr and Burnett will also be featured on an episode of TalkShopLive on Oct. 22 at 7 pm ET.

Look Up Track List:
1. “Breathless” (featuring Billy Strings) (T Bone Burnett)
2. “Look Up” (featuring Molly Tuttle) (Daniel Tashian, T Bone Burnett)
3. “Time On My Hands” (Paul Kennerly, Daniel Tashian, T Bone Burnett)
4. “Never Let Me Go” (featuring Billy Strings) (T Bone Burnett)
5. “I Live For Your Love” (featuring Molly Tuttle) (Billy Swan, T Bone Burnett)
6. “Come Back” (featuring Lucius) (T Bone Burnett)
7. “Can You Hear Me Call” (featuring Molly Tuttle) (T Bone Burnett)
8. “Rosetta” (featuring Billy Strings and Larkin Poe) (T Bone Burnett)
9. “You Want Some” (Billy Swan)
10. “String Theory” (featuring Molly Tuttle) (Daniel Tashian, T Bone Burnett)
11. “Thankful” (featuring Alison Krauss) (Richard Starkey, Bruce Sugar)

Liz Rose Music To Host Live Song Pitch Round

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Liz Rose Music will host “Liz Rose Music & Friends Live Song Pitch” on Oct. 24 at The Listening Room Cafe in Nashville.

The round will feature hit songwriters Phil Barton, Joe Fox, Adam Sanders, Lauren McLamb, Eric Paslay and Joe Ragosta. During the event, each writer will play uncut songs in front of A&R and industry professionals, in addition to fans in the audience. The show will pull back the curtain on the Nashville songwriting scene, giving listeners the unique opportunity to hear a potential hit before its release.

Tickets to the event are available now.

Morgan Wallen Notches Third Week At No. 1 On MusicRow Radio Chart

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Morgan Wallen notches a third week at No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart with “Lies Lies Lies”.

The track was written by Jessie Jo Dillon, Josh Miller, Daniel Ross and Chris Tompkins.

In partnership with Hangout Music Festival and AEG Presents, Wallen has announced a three-day Sand In My Boots Festival coming to Gulf Shores, Alabama on May 16–18. The event coincides with the Hangout Festival’s 15 year anniversary and will feature Wallen’s closest friends, favorite artists and musical influences.

“Lies Lies Lies” currently sits at No. 9 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 5 on the Mediabase chart.

Click here to view the latest edition of the MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

Kenny Chesney Celebrates 36th No. 1 Hit ‘Take Her Home’

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Sony Music Publishing’s Josh Van Valkenburg, Relative Music Group’s Jesse Matkosky, ASCAP’s Kele Currier, BMI’s Clay Bradley, Warner Chappell’s Christina Wiltshire and Tape Room Music’s Caroline Hodson. (L-R, front row): Buddy Cannon, Zach Abend, Kenny Chesney, Michael Hardy and Hunter Phelps. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

Industry members gathered on the BMI rooftop earlier this week to celebrate Kenny Chesney‘s 36th No. 1 hit “Take Her Home,” written by Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps and Zach Abend, and co-produced by Buddy Cannon.

Kenny Chesney poses with his dog Poncho at “Take Her Home” No. 1 party. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

The lead single from the multi-Platinum entertainer’s Born album, “Take Her Home” makes Chesney the artist with the most Billboard Country chart-toppers. It also serves as Hardy’s 16th No. 1 as a songwriter, Phelps’ ninth and Abend’s first.

The event was hosted by BMI and ASCAP and emceed by BMI’s Clay Bradley. He shared the podium with ASCAP’s Kele Currier, Warner Music Nashville’s Cris Lacy, Sony Music Publishing’s Josh Van Valkenburg, Relative Music Group’s Jesse Matkosky, Warner Chappell’s Christina Wiltshire and Tape Room Music’s Caroline Hodson, who all spoke about Chesney’s commitment to songs and songwriters. Chesney’s dog Poncho was also in attendance for his first No. 1 party.

Sponsored by Studio Bank, the organization made a special donation on behalf of Chesney and the songwriters in support of the Red Cross, benefiting hurricane relief efforts in East Tennessee and North Carolina.

Abend was the first songwriter to take the mic, after he received his custom Taylor 210e DLX guitar from BMI for writing his first hit. He thanked his co-writers and support system.

“I’m extremely grateful to everyone here. Everyone in this room has been so nurturing to me, even if you didn’t know it.”

When Hardy spoke, he shared that it was special to watch the journey of the couple in “Take Her Home” emulate that of Phelps and his wife and daughter. He also shared some special news with the crowd.

“Hunter was really tapped in because of the big pay off in the bridge, where they have a baby girl,” Hardy said. “I think it’s a cool moment that Hunter was experiencing that last year and—I hope I don’t get in trouble for this—but Caleigh and I are pregnant.”

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s LB Cantrell, Buddy Cannon, Zach Abend, Kenny Chesney, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps and MusicRow’s John Nix Arledge. Photo: Larry McCormack for BMI

“Kenny is the top of the list for every songwriter in town,” Phelps said. “I was sitting in the kitchen when it was first released. I put my phone on the counter and hit play and started tearing up thinking about my journey as a songwriter to getting a Kenny Chesney cut. It’s such a real song from my life, so thank you for that moment.”

Chesney shared his experience of hearing “Take Her Home” as he was finishing his album and hurriedly getting into the studio to cut it.

“One of my favorite things about this town is that you can wake up one morning and hear a song that didn’t exist the day before. A song that could change lives and find commonality among people…and that’s exactly the way ‘Take Her Home’ happened,” he said. “I woke up and got a text from Hardy and I listened to it and it wasn’t a week later that Buddy and I were in the studio.”

Jess Anderson Exits Big Loud

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Jess Anderson. Photo: Brayln Kelly Smith

Jess Anderson is exiting her position as Sr. Director of Media at Big Loud for an undisclosed opportunity. Her last day was today (Oct. 17).

Working with the Big Loud roster since late 2018, Anderson came in-house with the label in 2021 and helped create its internal publicity department when she became Director, Media Relations in 2022. Over her tenure with Big Loud, she’s led and assisted on campaigns ranging from Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album, Hardy’s A Rock and The Mockingbird & The Crow, Ernest’s Flower Shops: The Album and Nashville, Tennessee, Stephen Wilson Jr.’s Søn Of Dad, Charles Wesley Godwin’s Family Ties, the Hixtape franchise to introductory campaigns for Dylan Gossett, MacKenzie Porter, Lauren Watkins, Kashus Culpepper and many more.

Prior to joining Big Loud, Anderson spent time at Sweet Talk Publicity, The Press House and Big Machine Label Group. The Tulsa native is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, part of The Nashville Briefing‘s 2024 30 Under 30 class and MusicRow‘s 2024 Next Big Thing Industry Directory.

Big Loud is now hiring for a VP-level media professional. Click here to see the application.

CRS 2025 Unveils Expanded Digital Music Summit Agenda

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The Digital Music Summit (DMS) will return to Country Radio Seminar (CRS), bringing an expanded lineup of panels and events aimed at integrating the digital and radio worlds to the 2025 installment, taking place Feb. 19–21.

This year, DMS content will pivot from a one-day program and will now be incorporated across the entire CRS schedule, featuring panels, networking opportunities and artist spotlights.

DMS will also bring back the “Cycle of A Song” series, which highlights tracks from three different artists spread over the three days of the seminar. This series showcases the journey of a song from creation to chart success, offering insights into the lifecycle of music.

For the second consecutive year, CRS will host the “Y’all Means All: Diversity Breakfast,” an event designed to inspire attendees to promote diversity within their organizations. The War And Treaty will appear as panelists, with more artist announcements to follow.

CRS 2025 will also debut an all-new morning session, “Ask Me Anything: Speed Dating with DSPs.” This breakfast event gives attendees the opportunity to ask representatives from major streaming platforms any questions they may have. Structured in a “speed dating” format, attendees will rotate through two-minute conversations to ensure a direct personal exchange of insights about data, back-end portals and more.

CRS 2025 DMS-Focused Panels:

“Streaming 101: Everything You Want To Know”: This session aims to be an evolution of past streaming discussions, diving deeper into the business structures of streaming platforms, free vs. premium tiers and demystifying key myths. The panel will cover the current state of country music streaming and share best practices for labels, managers and marketing teams.

“Teamwork Makes The Dream Work”: Capitalizing on the country moment in streaming, country music is experiencing unprecedented growth, with cross-genre collaborations, joint ventures, and major labels expanding into Nashville. This session will explore how the country genre reached this moment, how DSPs are handling the cross-genre boom as well as what the future holds for labels, artists and DSPs alike, with a focus on working together to sustain this momentum.

“Why Can’t We Be Friends? The Label, Radio, and Streaming Relationship”: In this conversation, panelists will examine the current relationship between streaming, radio and labels, addressing the challenges and opportunities for increased collaboration. Attendees will gain insights into the differences in timelines between streaming and radio as well as the strategies labels use to navigate both spaces.

“Sustaining Momentum: How To Turn Moments Into a Career”: This session will focus on the strategies and tools needed to maintain momentum for country artists, especially when working singles at country radio for extended periods as well as how to build a sustainable career in today’s music landscape.