Pictured (L–R, back row): Dave Pacula, Gracie Glass, Jonathan Craig and Scott Ponce; (L–R, front row): Kate Shirley, Chris Ryan and Liz Rose

Warner Music Nashville artist Chris Ryan has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with Liz Rose Music as well as a management deal with its new venture, Laguna Madre Management, in partnership with Left Right Management.

The Helotes, Texas native made the move to Nashville to pursue a career in music in 2018. With influences ranging from Eric Church to The Smashing Pumpkins and Kings of Leon, Ryan has been writing with a tight-knit crew, including Liz Rose herself, to craft a handful of songs that authentically represent who he is as an artist and person. He is set to release his new single, “Edge Of Town,” tomorrow (Aug. 2).

“Chris joining the team was such a natural fit. He is such a visionary artist, and his songwriting comes from the heart,” says Scott Ponce, Partner, Liz Rose Music. “Chris has an exciting journey ahead of him, and I am thrilled that we get to be a part of making his vision come to life.”

“Having known Liz well and loving our writing sessions together, Liz Rose Music was the perfect publishing fit,” shares Ryan. “I’m also thrilled to be working with Laguna Madre and Left Right for my management, and can’t imagine a better team to move forward with.”

“I love working with passionate artists—Chris Ryan is 100 percent genuine, and is bringing something refreshing to country music that it needs right now,” adds Jonathan Craig, Artist Manager, Left Right Management.

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 Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year category.

The Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year is voted by MusicRow’s subscribers to honor a Nashville songwriter and recording artist who, for the first time, wrote or co-wrote a top 10 song during the eligibility period of June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024. Outside nominations from Nashville’s publishing community are considered for this award.

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, become a MusicRow subscriber here.

Since becoming the only winner in American Idol history to claim the crown by singing his own songs, Chayce Beckham has been proving how his music can make an impact. The California native earned his first Platinum certification with his solo-penned “23,” which also gave him his first CMT Music Award nomination. Amassing over 406 million streams with “23” alone, the rising singer-songwriter found his stride with the release of his debut album, Bad For Me. Beckham wrote three of the 13 tracks solo, with an additional six co-written. The project features a timeless country-rock sound defined by fiddles, steel guitar and plenty of against-the-grain attitude. Beckham has been named an “Artist to Watch” by CMT, Amazon Music, MusicRow and more. He is currently on the road for his headlining tour and supporting Luke Bryan this summer before joining Parker McCollum in the fall.

After climbing the charts with his first country radio No. 1 “Mind On You,” George Birge is delivering another smash with his top-40-and-climbing “Cowboy Songs.” Hailing from Austin, Texas, Birge made a splash with the release of his debut album, George Birge: Mind On You, landing the title track on the Billboard all-genre Hot 100 chart. He also collaborated with Charlieonafriday and Kidd G for a remix of the song. To date, Birge’s catalog boasts over 67 million streams. He recently made his television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and is currently on the road with fellow Texas native Parker McCollum and supporting Sam Hunt and Luke Bryan on their respective tours this summer. Birge has also previously shared the stage with Brantley Gilbert, Jake Owen, Matt Stell, Gary Allan and Scotty Mccreery, among others, and was part of the CRS New Faces Class of 2024.

Reigning CMT Music Awards Breakthrough Female Video of the Year winner Ashley Cooke is known for her skillfully-crafted lyrics, a knack for unforgettable performances, effortless vocal beauty, a bold sense of internal grit and a passion for capturing the magic between heartbeats. The Florida native has already been streamed over 270 million times globally, with hits such as “Never Til’ Now” with Brett Young and her first country radio No. 1 “Your Place.” The singer-songwriter has been on tour with Luke Bryan, Jordan Davis, Cole Swindell and Brett Young and made appearances on some of music’s most iconic stages such as the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium. With the release of her debut album, Shot In The Dark, Cooke shared her sun-kissed blend of two-lane pop country in the project’s 24 tracks, inspired by true tales of love, heartbreak and all the moments in between. Cooke has also already seen her first ACM nomination for New Female Artist of the Year.

Platinum singer-songwriter Bryan Martin uses his tales of past struggles to tell a compelling story of survival. Martin began singing in church in his hometown of Logansport, Louisiana, giving him the influence of hymns, while later discovering a passion for country music. Before moving to Music City, he faced personal challenges, including drugs and a suicide attempt at 19. After sustaining a brain injury from a near-fatal car accident, he used music to address his struggles and started to unapologetically embrace his scars. Now, with over 700 million streams, Martin has shared the stage with Morgan Wallen and Jason Aldean, and has made his Grand Ole Opry debut. In 2023, Martin released his sophomore album Poets & Old Souls, which includes his smash hit “We Ride.” He recently released his newest track, “Wishbone,” which dives into his battle against the allure of stardom and the rigors of touring life. Despite the challenges, Martin’s indomitable spirit perseveres, infusing his music with raw emotion and seeking refuge in art.

Nashville native Conner Smith has always had songwriting in his bones. The singer spent 15 years matching his honeyed vocal to propulsive hints of bluegrass and the warmth of ’90s country. Now, Smith’s mix of prime-of-life passion with old­ soul perspective can be heard on his debut album, Smoky Mountains. Featuring his Gold-certified “Take It Slow,” viral hit “I Hate Alabama” and radio smashes “Creek Will Rise” and “Roulette On The Heart” featuring Hailey Whitters, the 12-track project lays an artistic foundation for Smith to root himself in the depths of the industry. Named a part of the CRS New Faces Class of 2024, Smith has already earned an ACM nomination for New Male Artist of the Year. His fans resonate with his authentic storytelling and rich, soulful voice while on tour with Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Chase Rice and Jordan Davis. Smith is set to embark on his own headlining tour this fall, while also joining Luke Bryan on the road.

While playing lacrosse at Frostburg State University, Warren Zeiders released his debut single, “Ride The Lightning,” launching the Pennsylvania native’s career. The Platinum­-certified single showcased Zeiders’ country storytelling, heartland twang and larger-than-life rock & roll. He maintained his momentum with the release of his smash hit “Pretty Little Poison,” which then became the title track of his latest album. Following the release of the project, Zeiders sold out his first headlining tour in just 72 hours. He also made his television debut on The Kelly Clarkson Show, his Grand Ole Opry debut and has been seen on the bill for several festivals including the iconic Stagecoach. To date, Zeiders has accumulated over 1.4 billion TikTok views and 895 million streams. He is busy on the road this summer at more festivals before joining Jelly Roll on tour this fall.

Pictured (L–R): Jeremy Groves, Robin Palmer, Mark Irwin, Carly Sater, Lee Krabel and Sam Sarno. Photo: Courtesy of SMACK

Mark Irwin has signed a publishing deal with SMACKSongs.

Over the past four decades, Irwin has amassed a catalog that includes chart-topping hits “Here In The Real World” by Alan Jackson, “Redneck Crazy” by Tyler Farr, “Highway Don’t Care” by Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban and “Neon Light” by Blake Shelton. His songs have also been recorded by George Jones, Randy Travis, Faith Hill, Thomas Rhett, Lee Brice, Patty Loveless and more.

“Mark has always been one of the most talented, versatile, positive and hardworking songwriters in this town,” says Robin Palmer, Chief Creative Officer at SMACK. “We are all very happy to welcome him to our SMACK team!”

“At this point in my songwriting career, to get to work with the amazing team at SMACK…I’m over the moon!” shares Irwin. “I’ve had the privilege of working with Robin in the past, and to have the chance to work with her again as well as with Lee [Krabel], Jeremy [Groves], Carly [Sater], Sam [Sarno], the incredible writers and the rest of the SMACK family, is truly an honor. I feel like I’m just getting started!”

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 Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year category.

The Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year is voted by MusicRow’s subscribers to honor a Nashville songwriter who wrote or co-wrote a top 10 song for the first time during the eligibility period of June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024. Outside nominations from Nashville’s publishing community are considered for this award.

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, become a MusicRow subscriber here.

Zach Abend co-wrote the smash hit “Take Her Home,” recorded by Kenny Chesney, alongside Hunter Phelps and Michael Hardy. His credits also include cuts with Morgan Wallen, Hardy, Dylan Marlowe, Chris Lane, Nate Smith, Larry Fleet and more.

Ryan Beaver earned his first No. 1 with “Pretty Little Poison,” recorded by and co-written with Warren Zeiders and Jared Keim. He co-wrote two songs on Zeiders’ latest album, and has landed additional cuts with Dustin Lynch, Maddie & Tae, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Catie Offerman, Alana Springsteen, Parker McCollum and Larry Fleet.

Gabe Foust scored his first No. 1 this year with Kane Brown’s “I Can Feel It,” an interpolation of the Phil Collins hit “In the Air Tonight” written with Brown and Jaxson Free. Foust has also written songs recorded by Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith, Tucker Wetmore, Brantley Gilbert, Dylan Schneider, CharlieonaFriday, HunterGirl, Austin Snell, Kidd G and more.

Pete Good earned his first top 10 hit with Carly Pearce and Chris Stapleton’s “We Don’t Fight Anymore,” which he co-wrote with Pearce and Shane McAnally. Tigirlily Gold, Brothers Osborne, Walker Hayes, Ingrid Andress, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and more have cut Good’s songs.

Jared Keim hit the top of the charts for the first time with “Pretty Little Poison,” which he co-wrote with Warren Zeiders and Ryan Beaver, and Zeiders recorded. Keim has also penned songs recorded by Dustin Lynch and Kassi Ashton.

Ryan Larkins scored his first No. 1 hit with Cody Johnson’s “The Painter.” He co-wrote the tune with Benjy Davis and Kat Higgins. Larkins’ songs have also been recorded by Tim McGraw.

Josh Melton hit the top of the charts for the first time with “Can’t Have Mine (Find You A Girl),” recorded by Dylan Scott. He co-wrote the song with Scott, Dallas Wilson and Matt Alderman. Melton has also written tunes recorded by Mitchell Tenpenny.

Patrick Murphy topped the charts with Tim McGraw’s “Standing Room Only,” which he co-wrote alongside Craig Wiseman and Tommy Cecil. The song also marked Murphy’s first cut.

Austin Nivarel celebrated his first No. 1 with “Need A Favor,” recorded by Jelly Roll. He wrote the tune with Jelly Roll, Joe Ragosta and Rob Ragosta. Nivarel has also had cuts with Jake Owen, Austin Snell and Jon Langston.

Joe Ragosta scored a big hit with Jelly Roll’s “Need A Favor,” which he co-wrote with Jelly Roll, Austin Nivarel and his brother Rob Ragosta. His songs have also been recorded by Jon Pardi, Austin Snell, Colt Ford and more.

Rob Ragosta hit the top of the charts with Jelly Roll’s “Need A Favor,” which he co-wrote with Jelly Roll, Austin Nivarel and his brother Joe Ragosta. He has also had a cut with Dustin Lynch.

Jonathan Sherwood earned his first top 10 hit with Jackson Dean’s “Fearless (The Echo).” He co-wrote the tune with Dean and Luke Dick.

Chandler Walters scored a big hit with Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s “I Had Some Help,” which he co-wrote with Post, Wallen, Ernest, Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Hoskins and Charlie Handsome. Walters’ songs have also been recorded by Bailey Zimmerman, Ernest and Jelly Roll.

Micah Wilshire notched his first top 10 track with Jason Aldean’s “Let Your Boys Be Country.” He co-wrote the song with Allison Veltz Cruz and Jaron Boyer.

Travis Wood hit the top of the charts for the first time with Parmalee’s “Girl In Mine,” which he co-wrote with Ashley Gorley, Casey Brown, David Fanning and Matt Thomas. Wood has also penned songs recorded by Morgan Wallen, Jordan Davis, Jake Owen, Ella Langley, Kassi Ashton and more.