Jordan Davis, AIMP Artist-Writer of the Year. Photo: Hunter Berry for AIMP
The Association for Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) held its ninth annual AIMP Nashville Country Awards on Monday night (April 1) at the Ryman Auditorium, honoring the best of Nashville’s independent songwriters and publishers. Presented by Spotify, the evening was emceed by Storme Warren.
Tim Hunze, AIMP Song Champion Award of the Year. Photo: Hunter Berry for AIMP
This year’s Song of the Year was “Next Thing You Know,” performed by Jordan Davis who co-wrote the song with Josh Osborne, Chase McGill and Greylan James. Davis also took home Artist-Writer of the Year.
“I moved here in 2012 and dreamed about getting in the room to write songs with some of these people sitting in the front rows,” Davis said. “I never dreamed I would find the community and family that I have here in Nashville. I’m blessed to get to do this for a living—we all are.”
Morgan Wallen was awarded with the Songwriter of the Year honor. Big Loud Publishing was named Publisher of the Year, and the company’s Rocky Block took home the 2024 Rising Songwriter of the Year. Mae Estes won the Rising Artist-Writer of the Year.
John Byron, Josh Miller and Travis Wood, the writers of AIMP’s Publisher Pick of the Year “’98 Braves.” Photo: Hunter Berry for AIMP
“I’ve been independently published my whole career,” Block said when he took to the mic stand. “I want to thank Bob DiPiero for taking a chance on me a long time ago and Big Loud for doing such a great job with me the last few years.”
“This is unreal,” Estes said. “I’ve got to thank Kendall Warren and Stephanie Cox at Plaid Flag Music and Kobalt Music for believing in me.”
Wallen’s “’98 Braves,” written by Travis Wood, John Byron and Josh Miller, was selected as this year’s Publisher Pick. “Last Night,” written by Byron, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome and Jacob “JKash” Kasher Hindlin, was recognized as the Most Streamed Country Song of the Year.
Big Loud Publishing team, AIMP’s Publisher of the Year. Photo: Hunter Berry for AIMP
Big Machine Music’s Tim Hunze was presented with the coveted 2024 AIMP Song Champion Award for his enduring and significant contributions to the independent publishing and songwriting community.
“[Early in my career] Tom Shapiro told me, ‘Take care of the creatives and writers and you’ll always have a job.’ That is the best part of what I get to do,” Hunze says. “One of the greatest thing about our industry is that we’re a community.”
As is tradition, awards presentations were flanked by past and present Rising Artist-Writer of the Year and Artist-Writer of the Year nominees performing the songs nominated in the Song of the Year category. “Next Thing You Know” was performed by Russell Dickerson, “’98 Braves” was sung by George Birge, Davis performed “Fast Car” and “Human” was sung by Dylan Marlowe. Dylan Scott and songwriters Trannie Anderson and Dallas Wilson took on “Heart Like A Truck,” while Estes brought the house down with “Tennessee Orange.”
“The awards are always a magical night with artist nominees performing Song of the Year-nominated songs,” shared Ree Guyer, Owner of Wrensong Entertainment and President of AIMP Nashville. “It is always fun seeing our indie publishers come together to celebrate one another in a laid-back, intimate setting.”
AIMP Honors Indie Songwriters & Publishers At 2024 Nashville Country Awards
/by LB CantrellJordan Davis, AIMP Artist-Writer of the Year. Photo: Hunter Berry for AIMP
The Association for Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) held its ninth annual AIMP Nashville Country Awards on Monday night (April 1) at the Ryman Auditorium, honoring the best of Nashville’s independent songwriters and publishers. Presented by Spotify, the evening was emceed by Storme Warren.
Tim Hunze, AIMP Song Champion Award of the Year. Photo: Hunter Berry for AIMP
This year’s Song of the Year was “Next Thing You Know,” performed by Jordan Davis who co-wrote the song with Josh Osborne, Chase McGill and Greylan James. Davis also took home Artist-Writer of the Year.
“I moved here in 2012 and dreamed about getting in the room to write songs with some of these people sitting in the front rows,” Davis said. “I never dreamed I would find the community and family that I have here in Nashville. I’m blessed to get to do this for a living—we all are.”
Morgan Wallen was awarded with the Songwriter of the Year honor. Big Loud Publishing was named Publisher of the Year, and the company’s Rocky Block took home the 2024 Rising Songwriter of the Year. Mae Estes won the Rising Artist-Writer of the Year.
John Byron, Josh Miller and Travis Wood, the writers of AIMP’s Publisher Pick of the Year “’98 Braves.” Photo: Hunter Berry for AIMP
“I’ve been independently published my whole career,” Block said when he took to the mic stand. “I want to thank Bob DiPiero for taking a chance on me a long time ago and Big Loud for doing such a great job with me the last few years.”
“This is unreal,” Estes said. “I’ve got to thank Kendall Warren and Stephanie Cox at Plaid Flag Music and Kobalt Music for believing in me.”
Wallen’s “’98 Braves,” written by Travis Wood, John Byron and Josh Miller, was selected as this year’s Publisher Pick. “Last Night,” written by Byron, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome and Jacob “JKash” Kasher Hindlin, was recognized as the Most Streamed Country Song of the Year.
Big Loud Publishing team, AIMP’s Publisher of the Year. Photo: Hunter Berry for AIMP
Big Machine Music’s Tim Hunze was presented with the coveted 2024 AIMP Song Champion Award for his enduring and significant contributions to the independent publishing and songwriting community.
“[Early in my career] Tom Shapiro told me, ‘Take care of the creatives and writers and you’ll always have a job.’ That is the best part of what I get to do,” Hunze says. “One of the greatest thing about our industry is that we’re a community.”
As is tradition, awards presentations were flanked by past and present Rising Artist-Writer of the Year and Artist-Writer of the Year nominees performing the songs nominated in the Song of the Year category. “Next Thing You Know” was performed by Russell Dickerson, “’98 Braves” was sung by George Birge, Davis performed “Fast Car” and “Human” was sung by Dylan Marlowe. Dylan Scott and songwriters Trannie Anderson and Dallas Wilson took on “Heart Like A Truck,” while Estes brought the house down with “Tennessee Orange.”
“The awards are always a magical night with artist nominees performing Song of the Year-nominated songs,” shared Ree Guyer, Owner of Wrensong Entertainment and President of AIMP Nashville. “It is always fun seeing our indie publishers come together to celebrate one another in a laid-back, intimate setting.”
Tape Room Music Expands Team With Two New Members
/by Liza AndersonNoelle Peters. Photo: Miranda Musgrave. Luke Collins. Photo: Luke Hutcherson
Nashville publishing company Tape Room Music has expanded its team by adding Noelle Peters as Catalog Manager and Luke Collins as Creative Coordinator.
Founded by hit songwriter Ashley Gorley, who recently notched his 75th No. 1, the company’s roster of writers includes Andy Sheridan, Beau Bailey, Ben Johnson, Brad Clawson, Casey Brown, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Rowe, Ned Cameron, Savana Santos, Taylor Phillips, Will Weatherly, Wyatt McCubbin and Zach Crowell.
Hailing from the suburbs of Illinois, Peters is a Belmont University graduate and holds a degree in the creative & entertainment industries with a minor in music business. She brings experience and skills developed from her latest internship at Red Light Management to her new role at Tape Room Music, which includes catalog management and general company assistance. Peters can be reached at noelle@taperoommusic.com.
Collins is a Nashville native and grew up around the country music community. After spending two years the University of Chattanooga, he moved back home and worked as Tour Manager/Merchandise Manager for artists such as Conner Smith, Jonathan Hutcherson and Payton Smith. In his new position at the publishing company, Collins assists with calendar management and contributes to creative tasks and projects. He can be reached at luke@taperoommusic.com.
“Luke and Noelle have a bright future in the music business,” shares Blain Rhodes, Tape Room Music President. “They both have a great work ethic and a strong passion for helping songwriters. We are lucky to have them join the team at Tape Room.”
Jarrod Walker Inks With River House Artists & Sony Music Publishing
/by Lorie HollabaughJarrod Walker. Photo: Jesse Faatz
Jarrod Walker has inked a worldwide publishing deal with River House Artists and Sony Music Publishing.
A mandolin player rooted in traditional bluegrass, Walker first played the Grand Ole Opry alongside his brother Cory in 2004, and has since played with acts including Missy Raines & The New Hip, Claire Lynch Band and most recently, Billy Strings.
He co-wrote the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) 2022 Song of the Year, “Red Daisy,” and has co-penned several songs with Strings such as “Everything’s The Same” from the Grammy-winning album Home as well as “Show Me The Door” and “Fire Line” from the Grammy-nominated Renewal album.
“We are super proud to be working with Jarrod as he is one of the most talented people I have ever met,” says Lynn Oliver-Cline, Owner & Founder of River House Artists. “We look forward to seeing where Jarrod’s creative journey takes him with playing and writing and being there to represent and support his songs along the way.”
Red Street Records Hires Michael Steele & Bridget Herrmann
/by LB CantrellMichael Steele and Bridget Herrmann
Red Street Records has added two new team members, with Michael Steele joining as VP of Streaming and Playlist Strategy and Bridget Herrmann as Regional Director of Country Promotion.
Steele joins Red Street from Warner Music Group, where he was most recently Director of Playlist Programming Development. He brings proficiency across digital streaming platforms, strategic playlisting and developing and executing marketing plans aimed at driving consumption to his new role.
Chicago resident Herrmann brings nearly 15 years of radio promotion experience to Red Street, which includes time at A&M/Octone Records and Crush Music Management representing bands like Maroon 5, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, Weezer and more until moving to the country format in 2018 to join Warner Music Nashville as the Regional Manager, North. Herrmann will report to the radio department’s SVP Andy Elliot.
Of the hirings, Red Street Records CEO Jay DeMarcus shares, “It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come in such a short time, and I am thrilled to welcome Michael and Bridget to this already extraordinary team.”
Red Street Records’ roster includes Chris Lane, Jason Crabb, Ryan Larkins, Ryan Griffin and more.
T.J. Martell Foundation Hosts 22nd Annual Nashville’s Best Cellars Dinner
/by Lorie HollabaughGuests enjoy the 22nd annual Nashville’s Best Cellars Dinner at Loews Vanderbilt Nashville. Photo: Catherine Powell
The T.J. Martell Foundation hosted its 22nd annual Nashville’s Best Cellars Dinner at Loews Vanderbilt Nashville on Monday night (April 1), featuring a four-course gourmet dinner and rare wines sourced from some of the nation’s most exclusive collections.
Nashville’s Best Cellars Dinner Chair and Chairman of the Board of Trustees John Esposito. Photo: Catherine Powell
Artists attending the intimate evening included Kelsea Ballerini; Kix Brooks; Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild; Martina McBride; John Oates; Old Dominion’s Trevor Rosen, Geoff Sprung and Brad Tursi; Barbara and Louise Mandrell and more.
Nashville’s Best Cellars Dinner Chair and Chairman of the Board of Trustees John Esposito kicked off the event, welcoming the room with a toast. Also in attendance were other Trustees, Steve Gawley of Universal Music Group, Greg Thompson of Big Loud Records and Scott Borchetta of Big Machine Label Group. Guests were treated to a luxurious gourmet dinner prepared by chef Dean Fearing, which was expertly paired with prestigious Grand Crus and exceptional, rare wines.
An auction was held at the dinner, featuring a lavish array of items and experiences such as a private jet experience, Best Cellars wine collection, a Pappy Van Winkle whiskey package, a “Grand Cru” private dinner and more. The proceeds from the event, which was sponsored by Secure Air Charter, contribute to the T.J. Martell Foundation’s medical research, aimed at discovering treatments and cures for cancer at NCI-Designated Cancer Centers throughout the U.S.
Trustee, Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta. Photo: Catherine Powell
Trustee, Universal Music Group’s Steve Gawley. Photo: Catherine Powell
First Horizon Ups Bryan Bolton To Managing Director Of Nashville’s Music, Sports & Entertainment Group
/by LB CantrellAndrew Kintz, Bryan Bolton
First Horizon has promoted Bryan Bolton to the Music, Sports & Entertainment (MSE) Group’s Managing Director.
Reporting to MSE leading Executive Andrew Kintz, Bolton will lead the Nashville MSE Team as it continues to grow its client roster while delivering customized financial solutions to meet the unique needs of clients in the Music, Sports and Entertainment industries.
“I am pleased to announce Bryan’s promotion to lead this great Music Sports and Entertainment Team,” shares Kintz. “His 20 plus years of banking experience combined with his passion for music and commitment to service make Bryan an ideal fit to lead our flagship Nashville MSE Office.”
An active community member, Bolton served on the ALS Association’s TN Chapter for many years. Currently, he serves as Secretary of the Board of Trustees for the Covenant School.
Orville Peck Signs With Warner Records & Announces North American Tour
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L-R): Jeff Sosnow, Tom Corson, Orville Peck, Aaron Bay-Schuck, Brandon Creed, Dani Russin and Anika Capooza
Newly-signed Warner Records artist Orville Peck has announced his North American “Stampede Tour,” which includes rescheduled dates from his summer trek last year.
“I am incredibly happy to be joining the Warner family and getting back on the road this year,” shares Peck. “I feel happier and healthier than I’ve ever been, and I’m excited to start this new chapter.”
Kicking off in Asheville on May 28, the journey will visit Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and more before wrapping with back-to-back shows in New York in October. Durand Jones, Debbii Dawson, The War And Treaty, Goldie Boutilier, Jaime Wyatt, Gold Star, Nikki Lane, Emily Nenni and Vincent Neil Emerson will join Peck on various dates.
With Citi is the official card of the “Stampede Tour,” Citi cardmembers have access to presale tickets now until 10 p.m. local time on Thursday (April 4) through the Citi Entertainment program. The Artist Presale begins at 10 a.m. local time tomorrow (April 3), with general sales starting 10 a.m. local time this Friday (April 5)—the same day Peck plans to release a version of “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond Of Each Other” with Willie Nelson. For more information, click here.
Weekly Register: Kenny Chesney Earns Top Country Album Debut
/by Liza AndersonKenny Chesney‘s Born earns the top debut on the country albums chart this week, ranking No. 5 with 27K in total consumption (18K album only/9.6 million song streams) according to Luminate data.
Morgan Wallen‘s One Thing At A Time returns to No. 1 with 68K (1.6K album only/85 million song streams), and Zach Bryan‘s self-titled album reclaims No. 2 with 39K (3.2K album only/47 million song streams). Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album takes the third slot with 37K (352 album only/48 million song streams), while Bryan’s American Heartbreak notches the fourth slot with 29K (803 album only/37 million song streams).
Based on audio streams on the country streaming songs chart, Bryan and Kacey Musgraves‘ “I Remember Everything” rules at the top with 17 million new streams, adding to 618 million ATD. Beyoncé‘s “Texas Hold ‘Em” continues at No. 2 with 12 million streams, adding to 138 million ATD, while Bryan’s “Something In The Orange” lands the third slot with 11.7 million new streams, adding to 1.31 billion ATD. Wallen’s “Last Night” snags the fourth slot with 11.6 million streams, adding to 1.29 billion ATD, and his “Thinkin’ Bout Me” stays at No. 5 with 10 million new streams, adding to 686 million ATD.
Dan + Shay Celebrate 10th Anniversary Of Debut Album With Special Vinyl Release
/by Lorie HollabaughDan + Shay are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their debut album, Where It All Began, with a special vinyl release.
In honor of every milestone moment the duo has experienced over the past decade, Where It All Began is now available on autographed, limited edition, blue splatter vinyl online, with a standard physical version arriving at retail stores everywhere on April 26. For more information, click here.
In the last decade, Dan + Shay has amassed 10 billion global career streams, 10 No.1’s at country radio and more than 120 total multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold certifications worldwide. They are also among only a handful of artists to join the Spotify Billionaires Club, a feat they accomplished by reaching a billion streams on the platform with their Justin Bieber collaboration, “10,000 Hours.” The tune also made them the first country duo or group to ever debut in the top five on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart, and earned the biggest first-week streaming total in country music history.
With their latest project, Bigger Houses, the pair became the first act in the streaming era to have a country album already certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) at release. Currently the first-ever coaching duo on NBC’s The Voice, they are also the first and only creators to win the Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance three consecutive times since the category’s inception, and the first country act ever to win the American Music Award (AMA) for Collaboration of the Year.
Additionally, Dan + Shay recently sold out Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena while on “The Heartbreak On The Map Tour,” which they extended with 30 new dates.
Blake Shelton & Friends Celebrate ‘All For The Hall’ Oklahoma Style
/by Lorie HollabaughBlake Shelton performs at “Oklahoma Is All for the Hall” fundraiser for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Courtesy of Phil Clarkin Photography for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Blake Shelton celebrated his final tour stop of his 2024 “Back to the Honky Tonk Tour” on March 30 with “Oklahoma Is All for the Hall,” a star-studded fundraiser for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum at Tulsa’s BOK Center.
The event raised nearly $800,000 for the nonprofit museum’s education programs, making it the most successful “All for the Hall” benefit offered outside of Nashville to date. Performers included Justin Adams, Kristin Chenoweth, Wade Hayes, Gwen Stefani, the Swon Brothers and Country Music Hall of Fame members Ronnie Dunn and Vince Gill.
Pictured (L-R): Musuem CEO Kyle Young, Blake Shelton, Museum Board Chair Mary Ann McCready and Museum Board President Vince Gill. Photo: Courtesy of Phil Clarkin Photography for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Shelton performed more than 20 of his songs during the course of the evening, interspersed with appearances from his special guests. Stefani joined her husband for a trio of songs midway through Shelton’s set, including their two country chart-toppers, “Nobody But You” and “Happy Anywhere,” as well as “Purple Irises,” a recently released duet from Stefani’s next album. Dunn’s mini-set was warmly received, with the Brooks & Dunn member sharing memories of local honky-tonks Duke’s Country and Tulsa City Limits.
That theme emerged once more during Gill’s set, when he shared an unreleased song, “Heroes.” He and guitarist Jack Schneider also performed “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” dedicating the song to Shelton’s brother Richie, who died in a car accident in 1990, and fellow Oklahoman and Country Music Hall of Fame member-elect Toby Keith, who died of cancer in February.
Gill began the “All for the Hall” series of fundraising concerts in 2005 by suggesting that country music artists donate the proceeds from one annual performance to the nonprofit Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Proceeds from Shelton’s show support the museum’s educational initiatives, including its flagship Words & Music program, which allows students to tell their stories by writing original song lyrics while developing language-arts skills. The museum’s educational offerings directly served more than 230,000 people last year though in-person and virtual programs.