Pictured (L–R, back row): UMG Nashville’s Lori Christian, Rob Femia and Chelsea Blythe; (L–R, middle row): MMG’s Gary Marella, Bluestone Publishing’s Eric Spence and UMG Nashville’s Mike Harris; (L–R, front row): UMG Nashville’s Cindy Mabe, Timbaland and UMG Nashville’s Charlene Bryant. Photo: Courtesy of UMG Nashville

UMG Nashville has teamed up with Timbaland‘s independent record label Mosley Music to explore rising talent and new discoveries in the music space.

“Over the past year, we have been working with Timbaland on the shared goal of developing great artists together as well as bridging the gaps in sound and culture in country music,” says Cindy Mabe, Chair & CEO, UMG Nashville. “I am so happy to finally announce our collaboration with Mosley Music on the heels of his prestigious induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Timbaland is one of the most iconic producers, songwriters and artists in the last 30 years—merging genres and opening the doors to magnify cultural impact across genres.

“Hailing from Norfolk, Virginia, Timbaland’s reach and impact have been felt across pop, hip-hop and country music including working with and bridging sounds for artists like Bubba Sparxxx, For King & Country and Brad Paisley,” she adds. “Timbaland continues to push open the doors making innovative cultural impact by pushing boundaries and I am excited to join forces in breaking barriers in country music.”

Timbaland shares, “I’ve been aligned with Universal Music Group the majority of my career as an artist and with my label Mosley Music, so UMG Nashville felt like the right place to partner for us in country. I love their mission of taking chances on special artists to meet culture. Cindy, Chelsea [Blythe], Charlene [Bryant], Rob [Femia], Lori [Christian], Mike [Harris] and the rest of the team at UMG Nashville understand our vision and I know will be a great partner for us to continue to break artists.”

Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 36th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank, we take a closer look at the Entertainer of the Year category. This category is voted on by MusicRow’s subscribers to honor outstanding achievements by a Nashville artist during the eligibility period.

This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Aug. 27.

Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting is now open and closes on Aug. 9 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, becoming a MusicRow subscriber here.

Two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs recently kicked off another stadium tour, setting attendance records in Milwaukee, Buffalo and University Park. The Asheville, North Carolina native led the 2024 ACM Award nominations with eight nods and performed an unforgettable duet of “Fast Car” with Tracy Chapman during the 2024 Grammy Awards. Combs’ cover of the track won Single of the Year at the 2023 CMA Awards, spent five consecutive weeks on top of Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart and reached No. 1 on the Hot AC chart, becoming the first song by a male solo artist to ever top both the Hot AC and Country chart. The song has been streamed over 1.1 billion times, has been certified double-Platinum and spent 18 weeks in the top five of Billboard‘s all-genre Hot 100 chart, eight of which were spent at No. 2. His Gettin’ Old album has further established Combs as one of music’s most authentic and powerful voices. He also recently released his Fathers & Sons collection celebrating the journey of parenthood.

Platinum artist Cody Johnson has built a following of passionately loyal fans, selling out shows across the country. To date, Johnson has garnered 46 career RIM certifications, a Pandora Billionaire Award, seven billion global streams and two No. 1 singles. He has earned multiple industry honors including CMT Artist of the Year, three CMT Music Awards, two CMA Awards and Best New Country Artist at the iHeart Music Awards. The Texas native’s latest studio album, Leather, features the No. 1 Gold-certified hit single “The Painter,” and top-10-and-climbing emotional tune, “Dirt Cheap.” His feature-length documentary, Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story, has notched Telly Awards and honors at The Wild Bunch Film Festival and the Wild West Film Festival. He has made television appearances on Today, The Kelly Clarkson Show and more, in addition to live performances at the iHeart Music Awards, ACM Awards, CMA Awards, CMT Music Awards, CMT Giants honoring Vince Gill and more. He recently wrapped his arena tour, including a sold-out stop at Bridgestone Arena.

Award winning singer-songwriter Jelly Roll burst into the country music scene with his debut country album, Whitsitt Chapel. The project debuted in the top three on the Billboard 200 all-genre chart and at No. 2 on the Top Country Album chart, earning the biggest country debut album in Billboard consumption chart history. In 2023, the Nashville native won four People‘s Choice Country Awards, three CMT Music Awards, Billboard‘s 2023 Breakthrough Award and the CMA Award for New Artist of the Year. He is also one of three artists to have scored three Country Airplay No. 1s in 2023 and the first to do it with his first three singles. The two-time Grammy nominee shares confessional, vulnerable expressions of self­ doubt through his tunes, including smash hit “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson and “Need A Favor.” His documentary Save Me became the most watched music documentary on ABC News. On the heels of his new release “I Am Not Okay,” he is gearing up for his headlining arena tour this fall.

10-time Grammy winner Chris Stapleton is one of country’s most respected and beloved musicians. At the 2024 ACM Awards, he brought home another four trophies, bringing his total to 19, while also holding 16 CMA Award wins. The release of his latest album, Higher, was met with overwhelming critical acclaim, including two Grammy wins for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song with “White Horse.” The project also includes top-35-and-climbing “Think I’m In Love With You.” With his reputation for delivering electric live performances, the Kentucky native recently appeared on Saturday Night Live for the third time. Stapleton has also had recent collaborations with Dua Lipa, Slash and George Strait, and appeared on the Tom Petty tribute album. He will continue his global headlining amphitheater tour throughout the year, while also playing stadiums with George Strait and Little Big Town.

With 11 Billboard Music Award wins in 2023, Morgan Wallen continues to push his fame to the top. His third studio album, One Thing At A Time, has remained atop the all-genre Billboard 200 chart for 19 non-consecutive weeks, taking the record for most weeks at No. 1 for a country album, and was the most­ streamed album of the year on Spotify. The six-time Platinum hit “Last Night” was streamed over 1.5 billion times, becoming the most-streamed song of any genre in the U.S. across Apple Music and Spotify and the longest-running No. 1 solo song in the Hot 100 chart’s history at 16 weeks total. His recent history­ making collaboration with Post Malone, “I Had Some Help,” impacted at country radio with 167 first-week adds, debuting at No. 15 on the Media base charts. The track has become the longest-running No. 1 of 2024. His 2023 stadium tour took the Tennessee native to five countries, playing for over 2.4 million fans. Wallen was also honored with the distinction of Billboard and Pollstar Country Tour of the Year.

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson has become a force in the music industry. As the reigning ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year, her unique sound and spirit has led her to earn numerous accolades and develop a diehard fan base. Nearly 10 years after leaving her small town in Louisiana, she earned her first Platinum No. 1 hit with “Things A Man Oughta Know.” She’s built on that success, scoring six more No. 1 smashes and becoming the lead female artist with the most No. 1 hits this decade. Wilson has earned two Grammy nominations, nine ACM Awards, seven CMA Awards and became an official member of the Grand Ole Opry. Thus far, her music has taken her worldwide. Wilson also made her acting debut in season five of Paramount’s smash hit series Yellowstone. She is currently gearing up for the release of her next album, Whirlwind, containing previously-released tracks “Country’s Cool Again,” “4x4xU” and top-15-and-rising single “Hang Tight Honey.” Wilson is also in the middle of her “Country’s Cool Again Tour” across North America.

Vince Gill

Vince Gill has been added to the “Concert for Cumberland Heights: A Night of Stories & Song” lineup.

Taking place next Thursday (Aug. 15) at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, the event will also feature performances by Charles Kelley, Bob DiPiero, Victoria Shaw, Randy Montana, Ernest, Eric Paslay, Dylan Altman and The Warren Brothers as well as an appearance by Cumberland Height’s music therapist John McAndrew.

Since 1996, the “Concert for Cumberland Heights” has raised over $3.6 million for the John Hiatt Fund for Adolescent and Young Adult Treatment, which provides support for the nonprofit’s programs and patient scholarships dedicated to transforming lives through addiction recovery.

“I feel a strong connection to the work that Cumberland Heights does,” says Kelley, who is two years into his sobriety journey. “It’s an honor to be part of an event that helps others on their path to recovery.”

Tickets are on sale now. For more information, click here.