Megan Moroney, Nate Smith and Zac Brown.
Summer is not singing its swan song in this Labor Day Weekend edition of DISClaimer.
Instead, the season is offering a soundtrack of remarkable vitality and quality. So much so, that picking winning sounds is really difficult. As a result, the Disc of the Day prized is divided in three. Our Female champ is the divine Megan Moroney. Capturing the Male prize is the steamrolling Nate Smith. For our Group/Duo winners, chalk another win up for the sunny Zac Brown Band.
It isn’t usually difficult to crown a DISCovery Award winner. But that choice, too, is a toughie. So I’m splitting it between The Band Loula and Mon Rovia. Happy listening.
CHARLIE PEACOCK / “Turtle In A Chinese Food Box”
Writer: Charlie Peacock; Producers: Charlie Peacock, Sam Ashworth; Label: Universal/Re-Think
– Charlie Peacock is and always has been a pop singer. But the lead track of his new LP sounds like skipping through a field of wildflowers, with Charlie McCoy’s harmonica, Dan Dugmore’s steel guitar and the rest of the light-hearted track giving it an undeniable country-music vibe. The lyric celebrates his innocent, youthful feelings at age 15, when he had the first date with his wife Andi. The rest of the album, titled Every Kind of Uh-Oh, showcases the brilliant producer/songwriter/keyboardist’s chops as a pop-jazz wizard. Peacock has produced more than 50 CCM albums and was behind the board for the Grammy-winning country-Americana records of The Civil Wars. BMI hosted a deluxe record-release party for the artist on Wednesday at RCA Studio A. His memoir, Roots & Rhythm: A Life in Music, will be published in February.
NATE SMITH / “Fix What You Didn’t Break”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Lindsay Rimes/Nate Smith/Taylor Phillips; Producer: Lindsay Rimes; Label: RCA Records Nashville
– His vocal and the track are very processed for country music, but this record is gorgeous however you label its sound. The uplifting, hopeful lyric is about the redemptive power of love, and Smith delivers it with heart.
BOOMTOWN SAINTS & SAM GROW / “Heart Breaks You”
Writers: Connie Harrington/Houston Phillips/Josh Dunne; Producers: Colt Ford, Gary Kraen, Noah Gordon; Label: 8 Track Entertainment/Average Joes Entertainment
– The handsome heartbreaker better watch out: Someday the heart that’s broken will belong to him. Soaring, melodic and oh-so listenable.
MEGAN MORONEY / “Am I Okay?”
Writers: Jessie Jo Dillon/Luke Laird/Megan Moroney; Producer: Kristian Bush; Label: Columbia Nashville/Columbia Records
– Ridiculously charming. She’s falling head over heels for a dreamboat who treats her right. So of course she thinks she’s going nuts. A bopper with a zillion smiles.
THE BAND LOULA / “Don’t Call Me”
Writers: Dave Barnes/Logan Simmons/Malachi Mills; Producer: John Osborne; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– It’s a smoldering, slow-burn, stately outing delivered by a pair of blue-eyed soul singers who really turn up the heat. Also check out their performance of “If I Never Stayed the Night.” Hailing from north Georgia, the male-female duo’s members are Malachi Mills and Logan Simmons. I hear stardom.
DYLAN SCOTT / “You’d Think I Was A Cowboy”
Writers: Dylan Scott/Jaxson Free/Michael Whitworth/Will Weatherly; Producers: Dylan Scott, Jaxson Free, Will Weatherly; Label: Curb Records
– Sorry. The lyric’s “western” metaphors all sound forced and phony.
MOORE & MOORE & JANIE FRICKE / “Dispatch The Angels”
Writer: Debbie Moore; Producer: Moore & Moore; Label: DOV Records
– The twin Moore sisters have been on the country scene for a good 20 years or so, and they have never sounded better than they do on their new Angels CD. The title is drawn from this touching ballad, a lovely swirl of trio harmony, thanks to the addition of the flawless Fricke to the sound. The song is penned by Debbie Moore, who co-wrote the Mark Wills hit “Wish You Were Here.” This fine country collection also features collaborations with Johnny Lee, David Frizzell, Marty Haggard and James Caruthers. How sweet the sound.
LAINEY WILSON / “4X4XU”
Writers: Aaron Raitiere/Jon Decious/Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: Broken Bow Records/BMG
– Romance in a pick-up truck sounds like a total delight when this woman sings it. Love the sizzling organ notes in this slow-burn banger.
TY MYERS / “Let ‘Em Talk”
Writers: Anderson East/Trent Dabbs/Ty Myers; Producer: Brandon Hood; Label: RECORDS Nashville/Columbia
– This 17-year-old Texas phenomenon takes it nice and easy on a languid ode to young love.
MICKEY GUYTON / “My Side Of The Country”
Writers: Corey Crowder/Mickey Guyton/Tyler Hubbard; Producers: Corey Crowder, Karen Kosowski, Tyler Hubbard; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– Guyton takes on a rhythm-happy number with this sunny celebration of country living. Vivacious, fun and winsome. It will be the kick-off track of her sophomore album, House on Fire, which drops on Sept. 27. She opened last week’s Democratic Convention in Chicago with her unifying anthem “All American.”
MON ROVIA / “Crooked On The Road”
Writers: Andrew Lowe/Cooper Holzman/Sam Hudgens; Producer: Cooper Holzman; Label: Nettwerk Music Group
– This newcomer bills his style as “Afro-Appalachian folk” music. Which makes sense since he was born in Liberia, lives in Tennessee and has an enchanting acoustic sound. This meditation on pain and hope is simply beautiful in its twinkling tapestry of guitars, echoed background singing and gently thumped percussion. It’s easy to hear why he has racked up half a billion TikTok views, garnered an international following, earned a booking at Bonnaroo and is slated for Austin City Limits this fall.
ZAC BROWN BAND / “Two Blue Chairs And You”
Writers: Ben Simonetti/Jonathan Singleton/Rob Snyder/Zac Brown; Producers: Ben Simonetti, Zac Brown; Label: Home Grown Music/Warner Music Nashville
– This bopper will make you instantly yearn for a Caribbean vacation. Loved the wordless, harmonized, a cappella vocal interlude. An absolutely perfect single.
Dylan Schneider Slates Debut Project ‘Puzzled’ For September
/by Lorie HollabaughDylan Schneider is gearing up for the release his debut album, Puzzled, on Sept. 27.
He’s giving fans a taste of the new record by unveiling his version of Dustin Lynch‘s Gold-certified hit “Momma’s House” that co-wrote alongside Michael Lotten, Rodney Clawson and Justin Wilson.
Schneider had a hand in penning all 16 of the album’s tracks, including “Carhartt,” “Next Big Thing” and viral TikTok viral tunes “Ain’t Missin’ You,” which has amassed 68 million streams, and “Bad Decisions,” which has accumulated 16 millions streams, as well as “Daddy Drinks Whiskey.”
“I’ve been working towards this debut album for my entire career,” he shares. “I can’t believe it’s finally here! I have worked so hard on these songs and believe this album truly shows who I am, where I’ve been and where I’m going, and I can’t wait to see everyone’s reaction to it out on the road.”
Schneider plans to share the new music on his “Bad Decisions Tour” this fall, which has already sold out shows in numerous cities.
Luke Bryan Secures No. 1 Spot On MusicRow Radio Chart
/by John Nix ArledgeLuke Bryan has secured the No. 1 spot atop the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart this week with “Love You, Miss You, Mean It.”
The track comes from his upcoming, eighth studio album Mind of a Country Boy, releasing on Sept. 27, and was written by Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Jacob Rice and Jordan Minton.
Bryan will bring his aptly-named “Mind Of A Country Boy Tour” to a close on Sept. 14 before immediately kicking off his “Farm Tour 2024” on Sept. 19.
“Love You, Miss You, Mean It” currently sits at No. 10 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 6 on the Mediabase chart.
Click here to view the latest edition of the MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
Russell Dickerson Welcomes ‘New Era’ With Reflective EP [Interview]
/by Liza AndersonMusic lovers have been rolling their windows down and blasting Russell Dickerson tunes, such as the triple-Platinum “Yours,” double-Platinum “Blue Tacoma” and Platinum singles “Every Little Thing,” “Love You Like I Used To” and “She Likes It (feat. Jake Scott),” for nearly a decade now.
After launching his career with four consecutive hit songs on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and earning multiple RIAA certifications, he has continued to mark milestones like notching his fifth No. 1 single with “God Gave Me A Girl” in 2023 and receiving 12 BMI Millionaire Certificates following the drop of “Good Day To Have A Great Day” in June.
As the days of summer began to dwindle, Dickerson found himself thinking about the feelings and festivities associated with fall while curating his new project, Bones The EP, which led him to reflect on the relationships and heartfelt moments that have made him who he is. Now, as he preps for its release tomorrow (Aug. 30), the Triple Tigers recording artist feels the collection’s five tracks, all of which he co-wrote, summarize that introspection and welcome not only a different season of weather, but a different sonic season of his artistry.
The title track, which was the most-added single at country radio upon its release last month, is what initially caused the leaves of Dickerson’s craft to change color. He recalls the word “Bones” really turning his wheels and throwing it out as title while writing with Chase McGill, Chris LaCorte and Parker Welling. The four focused on the different expressions and ways in which the word is used in everyday life and built the lyrics around those phrases, resulting in a sweet, sentimental number that exemplifies classic country storytelling with lines like “once the gold on my finger is wrapped around nothing but bones.” Dickerson says it excites him in the same way “Yours” and other hits have.
“There’s nothing in it that sticks out to me as distracting or wrong. When I listen to it I’m just so proud of what we created,” he tells MusicRow. “I’m willing to bet my career and put my neck on the line for this song.”
The success Dickerson has achieved thus far speaks to his dedication to and belief in his work. Staying true to himself and trusting his gut has allowed him to authentically connect with audiences across the nation, and that wasn’t going to change with “Bones.”
“There were some people who were unsure about it so I had to fight for it to be a single,” says Dickerson. “I’m always a team player and want everyone’s advice, but I just knew this was the single.”
That confidence in the tune deemed it the project name and ushered in the reflection that formed the rest of the EP and “the starting line of new era of Russell Dickerson,” according to the hitmaker.
With fall around the corner, the EP finds him reminiscing on significant memories and moments that took place during the season throughout the years, and looking for pieces that embody the cozy feeling of a bonfire and similar warm energy. “Those Nights These Days,” a track about missing close friends which Dickerson co-penned with Seth Ennis and Jordan Reynolds, immediately stuck out along with “Cold Beer Conversation,” a tune inspired by chats with his grandfather that he, Casey Brown, Ryan Hurd and Brad Tursi brewed.
The other two, “Miss You So (Letters To You)” and “What A Life,” also travel back in time to elicit those appreciative and thoughtful vibes—something he plans to bring to his various “Good Day To Have A Great Tour” stops.
“With [Bones The EP], I want people to see another facet of me,” shares Dickerson. “We have the ‘RD Party’ and other things [that centers around having a good time], but this is a little more emo and introspective.”
Eric Church Announces One-Night-Only, Exclusive SiriusXM Show At Chief’s
/by Lorie HollabaughEric Church will perform a special concert for SiriusXM listeners live from his Nashville venue, Chief’s, on Sept. 30.
The full-band performance will feature Church on the stage of the Neon Steeple inside Chief’s, and aims to be reminiscent of the club shows that defined the early days of his career. He previously took the Neon Steeple stage for a series of 19 solo acoustic “To Beat the Devil” residency shows, making this one-night-only event the first time he will play the venue with a full band.
“Just as the residency shows were completely their own, different than anything we bring to the stage on our tours, we’ve designed this concert to be its own unique experience,” notes Church. “Since Outsiders Radio started as a segment on SiriusXM’s The Highway nearly a decade ago, it’s been all about the music I’m a fan of and the artists who inspire me, and how that all informs our music—I’m excited to commemorate this milestone with a show for all us outsiders.”
Church’s performance will air on Sept. 30 at 10 p.m. ET on SiriusXM’s Eric Church Outsiders Radio and will be available to stream on the SiriusXM app. Outsiders Radio will then takeover Y2Kountry and air the performance in its entirety on Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. CT, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. CT and Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. CT.
SiriusXM subscribers can enter for a chance to win a trip to the show beginning today (Aug. 29). Subscribers who live in the area and/or listen to relevant SiriusXM channels and are opted into marketing communications have a chance to win tickets and earn their entry by volunteering at local charities. A select number of tickets will also go to members of the Church Choir fan club.
Wyatt Flores To Drop Full-Length Debut Album In October
/by Liza AndersonWyatt Flores plans to drop his full-length debut album, Welcome To The Plains, on Oct. 18 via Island Records. Fans will get a taste of the collection tomorrow (Aug. 30) with the release of new single “Don’t Wanna Say Goodnight.”
Produced by Beau Bedford and recorded between Los Angeles and Asheville, Welcome To The Plains focuses on the Oklahoma native’s journey as he balances the struggle of leaving his hometown of Stillwater with the highs and lows of life on the road. Featuring songwriting collaborations with Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show and Aaron Raitiere, the 14-track project aims to accent Flores’ storytelling skills with traditional country and folk sounds.
“It’s an album about home and a search for happiness. It’s an album about Stillwater, Oklahoma, and all the other little towns that have raised people like you and me. It’s an album about my family, and the people and places in my life who have defined who I am today,” he shares. “This album is happy on one side and heartbreak on the other, and whoever you are, I hope you find something you love in here.”
To celebrate the new music, Flores will embark on his “Welcome To The Plains Tour” this fall, which includes two nights at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. He also currently up for Emerging Act of the Year at this year’s Americana Honors & Awards.
Welcome To The Plains Track Listing:
1. “Welcome To The Plains”
2. “When I Die”
3. “Oh Susannah”
4. “Only Thing Missing Is You”
5. “Don’t Wanna Say Goodnight”
6. “Habits”
7. “Right Here with You”
8. “The Truth”
9. “Forget Your Voice”
10. “Angels Over You”
11. “Little Town”
12. “Stillwater”
13. “Falling Sideways”
14. “The Good Ones”
Shaboozey’s ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ Named One Of Spotify’s 2024 Songs Of Summer
/by Lorie HollabaughShaboozey. Photo: Daniel Prakopcyk
Spotify has released its 2024 Global Songs of Summer list, and “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey is one of the five tracks on this year’s list of the various sounds and moments that defined summer 2024 for listeners.
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” soundtracked summer for fans listening across the globe, hitting No. 1 on Spotify Charts in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Ireland, Norway and Sweden since June. It has been in the top spot on Billboard for six weeks so far, and reached No. 1 on Spotify’s U.S. Chart for the first time on July 4, proving it to be the perfect summer holiday anthem.
“The global success of Shaboozey really exemplifies a shift in the sound reaching new audiences globally,” says Spotify’s Emma Vikström, Editorial Lead, Nordics. “It’s been incredible to see the growth of country music outside of the U.S. over the last few years.”
Spotify’s 2024 Songs of the Summer also include “Birds Of A Feather” by Billie Eilish, “Hot To Go!” by Chappell Roan, “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar and “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter.
DISClaimer Single Reviews: Star-Studded Lineup Share Disc Of The Day
/by Robert K OermannMegan Moroney, Nate Smith and Zac Brown.
Summer is not singing its swan song in this Labor Day Weekend edition of DISClaimer.
Instead, the season is offering a soundtrack of remarkable vitality and quality. So much so, that picking winning sounds is really difficult. As a result, the Disc of the Day prized is divided in three. Our Female champ is the divine Megan Moroney. Capturing the Male prize is the steamrolling Nate Smith. For our Group/Duo winners, chalk another win up for the sunny Zac Brown Band.
It isn’t usually difficult to crown a DISCovery Award winner. But that choice, too, is a toughie. So I’m splitting it between The Band Loula and Mon Rovia. Happy listening.
CHARLIE PEACOCK / “Turtle In A Chinese Food Box”
Writer: Charlie Peacock; Producers: Charlie Peacock, Sam Ashworth; Label: Universal/Re-Think
– Charlie Peacock is and always has been a pop singer. But the lead track of his new LP sounds like skipping through a field of wildflowers, with Charlie McCoy’s harmonica, Dan Dugmore’s steel guitar and the rest of the light-hearted track giving it an undeniable country-music vibe. The lyric celebrates his innocent, youthful feelings at age 15, when he had the first date with his wife Andi. The rest of the album, titled Every Kind of Uh-Oh, showcases the brilliant producer/songwriter/
NATE SMITH / “Fix What You Didn’t Break”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Lindsay Rimes/Nate Smith/Taylor Phillips; Producer: Lindsay Rimes; Label: RCA Records Nashville
– His vocal and the track are very processed for country music, but this record is gorgeous however you label its sound. The uplifting, hopeful lyric is about the redemptive power of love, and Smith delivers it with heart.
BOOMTOWN SAINTS & SAM GROW / “Heart Breaks You”
Writers: Connie Harrington/Houston Phillips/Josh Dunne; Producers: Colt Ford, Gary Kraen, Noah Gordon; Label: 8 Track Entertainment/Average Joes Entertainment
– The handsome heartbreaker better watch out: Someday the heart that’s broken will belong to him. Soaring, melodic and oh-so listenable.
MEGAN MORONEY / “Am I Okay?”
Writers: Jessie Jo Dillon/Luke Laird/Megan Moroney; Producer: Kristian Bush; Label: Columbia Nashville/Columbia Records
– Ridiculously charming. She’s falling head over heels for a dreamboat who treats her right. So of course she thinks she’s going nuts. A bopper with a zillion smiles.
THE BAND LOULA / “Don’t Call Me”
Writers: Dave Barnes/Logan Simmons/Malachi Mills; Producer: John Osborne; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– It’s a smoldering, slow-burn, stately outing delivered by a pair of blue-eyed soul singers who really turn up the heat. Also check out their performance of “If I Never Stayed the Night.” Hailing from north Georgia, the male-female duo’s members are Malachi Mills and Logan Simmons. I hear stardom.
DYLAN SCOTT / “You’d Think I Was A Cowboy”
Writers: Dylan Scott/Jaxson Free/Michael Whitworth/Will Weatherly; Producers: Dylan Scott, Jaxson Free, Will Weatherly; Label: Curb Records
– Sorry. The lyric’s “western” metaphors all sound forced and phony.
MOORE & MOORE & JANIE FRICKE / “Dispatch The Angels”
Writer: Debbie Moore; Producer: Moore & Moore; Label: DOV Records
– The twin Moore sisters have been on the country scene for a good 20 years or so, and they have never sounded better than they do on their new Angels CD. The title is drawn from this touching ballad, a lovely swirl of trio harmony, thanks to the addition of the flawless Fricke to the sound. The song is penned by Debbie Moore, who co-wrote the Mark Wills hit “Wish You Were Here.” This fine country collection also features collaborations with Johnny Lee, David Frizzell, Marty Haggard and James Caruthers. How sweet the sound.
LAINEY WILSON / “4X4XU”
Writers: Aaron Raitiere/Jon Decious/Lainey Wilson; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: Broken Bow Records/BMG
– Romance in a pick-up truck sounds like a total delight when this woman sings it. Love the sizzling organ notes in this slow-burn banger.
TY MYERS / “Let ‘Em Talk”
Writers: Anderson East/Trent Dabbs/Ty Myers; Producer: Brandon Hood; Label: RECORDS Nashville/Columbia
– This 17-year-old Texas phenomenon takes it nice and easy on a languid ode to young love.
MICKEY GUYTON / “My Side Of The Country”
Writers: Corey Crowder/Mickey Guyton/Tyler Hubbard; Producers: Corey Crowder, Karen Kosowski, Tyler Hubbard; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– Guyton takes on a rhythm-happy number with this sunny celebration of country living. Vivacious, fun and winsome. It will be the kick-off track of her sophomore album, House on Fire, which drops on Sept. 27. She opened last week’s Democratic Convention in Chicago with her unifying anthem “All American.”
MON ROVIA / “Crooked On The Road”
Writers: Andrew Lowe/Cooper Holzman/Sam Hudgens; Producer: Cooper Holzman; Label: Nettwerk Music Group
– This newcomer bills his style as “Afro-Appalachian folk” music. Which makes sense since he was born in Liberia, lives in Tennessee and has an enchanting acoustic sound. This meditation on pain and hope is simply beautiful in its twinkling tapestry of guitars, echoed background singing and gently thumped percussion. It’s easy to hear why he has racked up half a billion TikTok views, garnered an international following, earned a booking at Bonnaroo and is slated for Austin City Limits this fall.
ZAC BROWN BAND / “Two Blue Chairs And You”
Writers: Ben Simonetti/Jonathan Singleton/Rob Snyder/Zac Brown; Producers: Ben Simonetti, Zac Brown; Label: Home Grown Music/Warner Music Nashville
– This bopper will make you instantly yearn for a Caribbean vacation. Loved the wordless, harmonized, a cappella vocal interlude. An absolutely perfect single.
NCVC Adds Six To Board Of Directors
/by John Nix ArledgePictured (L-R, top row): Becky Gardenhire, Mark Fioravanti and Ian Ayre; (L-R, bottom row): Tony Phillips, Linda Chambers and Shannon Sanders
The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC) has added six new members to its Board of Directors, with Ken Levitan, Founder and Co-President of Vector Management, serving another term as Chairman.
New members include Ian Ayre, CEO of Nashville Soccer Club; Linda Chambers, CEO and Co-Founder of the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum; Mark Fioravanti, President and CEO of Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.; Becky Gardenhire, Co-Head of the Nashville office of WME; Tony Phillips, General Manager at the Bobby Hotel and Shannon Sanders, Executive Director of Creative at BMI Nashville.
“We are grateful to these leaders who bring their deep expertise in the hospitality, entertainment and sports industries, along with their invaluable insights of our city,” Levitan says. “Their guidance will be crucial as we navigate this period of expansion in Nashville’s tourism industry, particularly with ongoing hotel construction and our bids for major events and conventions. Their leadership will help ensure that the industry remains a vital economic engine for the region.”
The NCVC Board includes 24 members who represent sectors from within and associated with Nashville’s hospitality industry, which represents over 72,900 jobs in Davidson County. In 2023, the industry generated record economic activity for the city with $10.56 billion in direct visitor spending and unprecedented hotel performance with the most room nights ever sold in a single year at over 10 million.
Nashville is currently ranked the third-best meetings destinations in North America and has been named a top destination to visit worldwide for 13 straight years. Events like CMA Fest, “Let Freedom Sing!” and stadium concerts continue to drive demand in the city. Inspiring travel for the upcoming year, Jack Daniel’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash will again be a free concert at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park and its accompanying five-hour special will air on CBS.
The NCVC Executive Committee for fiscal year 2025 is composed of Levitan as Chairman, Marcus Whitney as Chair-Elect, Kevin Lavender as Immediate Past Chairman, Claire Tucker as Finance and Audit Chair and Max Goldberg as Sales and Marketing Chair, as well as Deana Ivey, President and CEO, NCVC.
The FY 2025 NCVC Board of Directors also includes the following:
Dr. Robert Fisher, Past President, Belmont University
Sherry Franklin, Director of Hotel Sales, Renaissance Nashville
Eddie George, Head Football Coach, Tennessee State University
Dr. Alex Jahangir, Vice President of Business Development, Vanderbilt Medical Center
Doug Kreulen, President and CEO, Metro Nashville Airport Authority
Pat Martin, Founder and Chairman, Martin Investment Group
Burke Nihill, President and CEO, Tennessee Titans
Howie Nuchow, Co-Head, CAA Sports
Molly Shehan, Attorney, Milom Horsnell Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan
Marc Sternagel, General Manager, Grand Hyatt
Sarah Trahern, Executive Director, CMA
Ben Weprin, AJ Capital
In addition, the NCVC has added five new members to the Board of Directors of its foundation, Music City Inc. Members include Shawn McSpadden, Managing Partner of Range Media Partners; Ben Olin, General Manager of The Westin Nashville; Ellen Jones Pryor, Director of Communications at the Frist Art Museum; Amy Seigenthaler Pierce, Managing Partner of FINN Partners and Courtney Ross, Senior Manager of Community Engagement at Amazon.
The Music City Inc. Board, created to produce free, music-centric events for the public, is chaired by Doug Kreulen. Other members include Mignon Francios, Founder of The Cupcake Collection; Laura Hollingsworth, Chief Marketing Officer at Opry Entertainment Group; Seamus Ross, Founder and CEO of Castlerock Asset Management and Hugh Anderson, General Manager at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, along with NCVC’s Ivey, Andrea Arnold and Jeff Mefford.
Cody Johnson & Wrangler Partner For New Clothing Collection
/by Lorie HollabaughCody Johnson in Wrangler X Cody Johnson collection
Cody Johnson has launched a new clothing collection designed in partnership with Wrangler. A line of western dress shirts are the first pieces to debut from the collection, which will expand to include jeans and snap shirts in the fall of 2025.
Inspired by his experiences as a cowboy and performer, the pieces are tailored to meet the demands of Johnson’s lifestyle both on and offstage. He helped carefully select details of fabric, pattern and functionality with the brand’s design team for the collection, which features a classic, tailored fit, mitered cuffs and hidden button-down collars as well as signature Johnson details like cuff embroidery, logo’d buttons and grosgrain neck ribbon.
“These shirts are designed to make you feel like a cowboy and look like a million bucks,” the artist shares. “I put a lot of time and heart into every detail and trusted Wrangler to help build something authentically western and effortlessly stylish.”
“Cody has been with the brand for many years. He wears Wrangler day in and day out,” says Allen Montgomery, Vice President & General Manager of Wrangler Western. “With his authentic background in ranching and rodeo, partnering with him on this classic shirt collection was the natural next step. His signature style and genuine connection to the western lifestyle makes this collection stand out in a market where we’re already receiving a lot of buzz and excitement.”
Wrangler x Cody Johnson is now available for purchase online at Wrangler.com and in select retailers nationwide.
RIAA Mid-Year 2024 Recorded Music Revenue Report Shows Record Highs
/by Liza AndersonThe Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has released its Mid-Year 2024 Recorded Music Revenue Report, which features data from the largest number of sources ever tabulated in the association’s history.
The report indicates that recorded music revenues grew by 4% to $8.7 billion in estimated retail value and streaming subscriptions were up 3% to 99 million throughout the first half of 2024—both record highs. Streaming has now contributed approximately 84% of total revenues for the fifth straight year, with paid subscription services growing by 4% to $5.7 billion—accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total mid-year revenue. Showing a growth rate of 17%, vinyl tracked $740 million at mid-year, accounting for three-quarters of physical revenues, and outsold CDs in units for the fourth consecutive year. At wholesale value, total revenues increased by 3% to a record high of $5.5 billion. To read the full analysis, click here.
“This report marks a landmark moment in recorded music with revenues hitting a record $8.7 billion for the first half of 2024 as the music ecosystem continues to grow and evolve to deliver for even more fans. Spanning multiple licensing avenues from fitness apps to short-form video, artists and labels are embracing innovation with responsible partners so more Americans can engage with their favorite music however, whenever and wherever they choose,” says Mitch Glazier, RIAA Chairman & CEO. “This sustained growth fuels innovation and reflects music’s incredible value, laying the foundation for a healthy creative ecosystem where artists’ and songwriters’ visions can flourish over generations.”
“[This] snapshot of recorded music revenues reflects consistent growth and a hard-won sustainability in our industry as we continue hitting new record highs year after year,” states Matt Bass, RIAA VP of Research. “As we push to further strengthen and widen the foundation of rights these revenue streams are built on, we look forward to continued success and more opportunities for fans to engage with their favorite music.”
Chart Graphic: Courtesy of RIAA