MusicRow Releases 2025 InCharge Issue, Riley Green Graces The Cover

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MusicRow Magazine, Nashville’s leading music industry trade publication, is proud to announce the 2025 release of its flagship print directory, InCharge.

This annual guide highlights some of the most influential industry executives in the Nashville music business. This year’s edition includes 370 profiles which are accompanied by contact information, career biographies and detailed board and organizational membership affiliations.

The guide also includes a record label staff index, a company appendix and a professional categories appendix, which lists executives by their areas of expertise, including label, talent agency, management, music publishing, legal, finance, performing rights organizations and more.

“Since its inception in 1987, MusicRow’s annual InCharge issue has served as a trusted resource and compass for the entertainment community. Often referred to as the ‘bible’ of Nashville’s music industry, it provides an essential snapshot of who’s leading today—and who’s helping to build what’s next,” says MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. “From label heads and agents to producers, publicists, publishers and beyond, these are the professionals whose impact reverberates far beyond The Row.”

Award-winning singer-songwriter Riley Green graces the cover of the 2025 InCharge issue.

CMA and ACM award winner Riley Green has been capturing the hearts of country music fans since his 2018 self-titled EP debut with Big Machine Label Group. With hits like the double-Platinum “There Was This Girl,” the triple-Platinum “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” (performed at the 55th ACM Awards), and the No. 1 duet “Half of Me” with Thomas Rhett, Green has become known for his authentic, relatable songwriting and classic country sound.

A former Jacksonville State University quarterback and avid outdoorsman, Green was named ACM’s 2020 New Male Artist of the Year and has earned recognition as a CMT “Listen Up Artist” and one of the CRS 2020 New Faces. In 2023, he opened for Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs, playing to crowds of 65,000+ each night. He also headlined his own “Ain’t My Last Rodeo Tour,” joined by Tracy Lawrence and Ella Langley.

Green teamed up with Combs again for his third No. 1 hit, “Different ‘Round Here,” and with Ella Langley for his fourth No. 1 “You Look Like You Love Me.” His third studio album Don’t Mind If I Do, produced by Dann Huff, dropped on Green’s birthday–October 18–and showcases the no-frills, heartfelt style fans love. The 18-track project features four songs solely written by Green, including “Jesus Saves,” “Worst Way” and the title track–a duet with Ella Langley, his former tourmate and “You Look Like You Love Me” collaborator.

Still calling Jacksonville, Alabama home, Riley Green continues to ride a wave of success with an unmistakable blend of tradition and honesty.

Single copies of MusicRow’s 2025 InCharge issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $115, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.

Photo: David Higgs

Milestone Publicity Rebrands To Milestone Collective; Adds Digital Marketing Division

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Caylie Landerville

Nashville-based PR firm Milestone Publicity has rebranded into Milestone Collective. In addition to the rebrand, the company has also added a digital marketing division, which will be spearheaded by Caylie Landerville.

Landerville’s experience includes previous marketing work with Diplo, Slightly Stoopid, Marshmello and more. Her most recent career stop was with Red Light Management/Silverback Music.

“My entire career has been about helping artists cut through the noise, capture attention, and tell their stories in impactful, lasting ways,” shares Milestone Collective Founder and CEO Mike Gowen. “With the launch of our digital marketing division, we’re bringing together the power of cutting-edge marketing and trusted publicity strategies under one roof to create a more unified, modern approach. Milestone Collective represents our commitment to evolving alongside the industry — and offering our clients the tools they need to elevate their presence and thrive.”

Since its inception in 2019, Gowen and the team have worked with Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, Grammy Award-winners, CMA Award-winners, multi-platinum selling artists, Bluegrass Music Hall of Famers, Songwriter Hall of Famers and Emmy and Golden Globe Award winners including Blues Traveler, Bryan Martin, Colt Ford, Dave Stewart, Eurythmics, Gaby Moreno, Gin Blossoms, Jerry Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Leftover Salmon, Lonestar, Michael Cleveland, Phil Vassar, Shaylen, Sierra Hull, Sugar Ray, Theo Kandel and Uncle Kracker, among others.

The MLC Seeking Songwriter Candidates For Board Of Directors & Advisory Committees

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The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) is accepting songwriter candidates suggestions for its Board of Directors, Dispute Resolution Committee, and Unclaimed Royalties Oversight Committee.

Under the Music Modernization Act, certain governance positions at The MLC are reserved for representatives of songwriters. The terms of several songwriter seats on the Board and the organization’s advisory committees are slated to end later this year, including:

  • One (1) songwriter seat on the Board of Directors;
  • Two (2) songwriter seats on the Dispute Resolution Committee, which recommends policies and procedures to The MLC’s Board for the processing of royalties related to works that are subject to disputes over ownership; and
  • One (1) songwriter seat on the Unclaimed Royalties Oversight Committee, which recommends policies and procedures to The MLC’s Board related to the distribution of unclaimed accrued royalties.

The MLC will submit all recommendations it receives to the Board’s Songwriter Nominating Committee for consideration. Board and committee members sit for three-year terms and may be re-elected, and seats are filled according to The MLC’s Bylaws. The MLC’s Board of Directors and committees meet regularly, and all meetings allow for virtual participation so travel is not generally required. Members are expected to devote sufficient time to prepare for and participate fully in all meetings. Candidates for the Board of Directors must be professional songwriters who retain and license mechanical rights for songs they have written. More information on The MLC’s Board of Directors and advisory committees can be found here.

Suggestions should be made no later than June 12. To suggest a candidate for a songwriter representative seat to The MLC’s Board or advisory committees, complete the suggestion form available here.

Crowe Boys Plot 15-Date ‘Roaming Europe Tour’

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Crowe Boys. Photo: Nick Swift

The New Orleans-based Crowe Boys, comprised of brothers Ocie and Wes Crowe, have revealed their overseas “Roaming Europe Tour,” which will kick off this summer.

The 15-date run starts in London on Aug. 20 and will visit Germany, Norway, Denmark, Paris, Scotland and Ireland, wrapping on Sept. 20 in Dublin. Tickets for all dates are on sale here.

“We’ve been wanting to visit all of these countries for so long; we kind of can’t believe it’s finally happening,” says Ocie. “Wes and I are looking forward to connecting with new friends and sharing the songs and stories from Made To Wander.”

The tour will follow the duo’s CMA Fest performance, and the release of their upcoming EMI Records Nashville debut album, Made to Wander on June 6.

“Roaming Europe Tour” Dates:
Aug. 20 – The Lexington, London, United Kingdom
Aug. 22 – The Long Road Festival, Lutterworth, United Kingdom
Aug. 23 – The Long Road Festival, Lutterworth, United Kingdom
Aug. 24 – Sounds of Open Air Nashville, Cologne, Germany
Aug. 26 – Belleville, Oslo, Norway
Aug. 27 – Bar Brooklyn, Stockholm, Stockholm County
Aug. 29 – Tonder Festival, Tønder, Denmark
Aug. 30 – Tonder Festival, Tønder, Denmark
Aug. 31 – Once in a Blue Moon Festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Sept. 3 – Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Sept. 4 – La Maroquinerie, Paris, France
Sept. 5 – Electric Brixton, London, United Kingdom
Sept. 7 – Band on the Wall, Manchester, England
Sept. 8 – SWG3 Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
Sept. 10 – The Workman’s Club, Dublin, County Dublin

BREAKING: Capitol Music Group Reorganizes, Taps Candice Watkins As President

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Candice Watkins. Photo: Cedrick Jones

Capitol Music Group is bringing Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) and its country division Capitol Records Nashville, under the Capitol Music Group Nashville banner. The move seeks to fortify its commitment to Music City as a key creative and commercial hub for the label group.

Artists that were previously signed to Capitol Records Nashville will remain at the newly-formed Music Corporation of America (MCA) Nashville label.

To serve as President of Capitol Records Nashville, the company has tapped the highly respected industry veteran, Candice Watkins. She will also serve as Executive Vice President of Capitol Christian Music Group.

“This reorganization reflects our commitment to growing our Nashville operations as a core creative hub in Christian, gospel and country music,” says Capitol Music Group CEO, Tom March. “We’re looking forward to signing and developing the next generation of country artists on Capitol Records Nashville and are thrilled to have an executive of the caliber of Candice Watkins to lead our ambitious plans in country music while also bringing her expertise to our gospel and christian music operations.”

Watkins joins CMG from Big Loud Records, where she most recently served as Senior Vice President of Marketing, overseeing the label’s Marketing, Digital, Creative, PR and Streaming departments. During her tenure at Big Loud she worked closely with artists such as Morgan Wallen, Hardy, Hailey Whitters, Stephen Wilson Jr., Lauren Alaina, Ernest, Kashus Culpepper and others. Prior to joining Big Loud, Watkins worked in Marketing and Artist Development at Universal Music Group Nashville, and held positions at Red Light Management, Mozes Inc., Borman Entertainment and Cross Point Church. She serves on the boards of CMA and ACM.

Capitol Christian Music Group, which includes Motown Gospel and Tamla and distribution operations, will continue to be led by its longtime President Brad O’Donnell in Nashville. CCMG is the world’s leading faith-based music company and is home to such superstars as Anne Wilson, Josiah Queen, Chris Tomlin and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, to name a few. CCMG also publishes the song catalog of industry icon Kirk Franklin. O’Donnell will continue to report to March.

“This new structure will empower our Nashville executives to better serve the incredible artists on our roster. Candice is a brilliant music marketing executive who has an amazing track record in developing career artists,” says John Janick, Chairman of Interscope Capitol. “Having her lead our country music business in Nashville and also add her extensive artist development expertise to our CCMG team is going to be great for our artists and for the entire executive team.”

Watkins shares, “It’s a true honor to step into the role of President of Capitol Records Nashville and EVP of Capitol Christian. These labels have a rich legacy in partnering with some of the most brilliant artists of our industry and I look forward to contributing to its continued success and cultural impact. Excited to collaborate with John, Tom, Lillia and Brad in boldly championing creatives and visionaries.”

Capitol Music Group Nashville’s office is located in the emerging Wedgewood Houston area of Nashville, featuring 40,000 square feet of office space which includes state-of-the-art recording studios, a live performance space and creative content studios. As Capitol Nashville builds locally, it will have the full support of the Capitol Tower in Los Angeles for all label services.

BREAKING: Date Announced For 59th CMA Awards

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Brooks & Dunn accepts the award for Vocal Duo of the Year at The 58th Annual CMA Awards, live from Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, November 20, 2024 on ABC.

The Country Music Association and ABC have announced that the 59th annual CMA Awards will return to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19, airing live on ABC at 7 p.m. central. The show will also be available to stream next day on Hulu.

As previously announced, the eligibility period for the 2025 CMA Awards is July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. Prospective members must apply by Sunday, June 1 to qualify for full voting eligibility this year. The Nomination Ballot will open for voting Monday, July 7. Click here to see more ballot details.

Robert Deaton is Executive Producer, Alan Carter is the Director, and Jon Macks is the Head Writer for the 59th annual CMA Awards. Details on the show’s host and ticket on-sale will be shared in the coming weeks.

2025 ACM Winners Celebrate Wins With Trophies [See Photos]

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Whale Tale Music, Ella Langley & Riley Green celebrate their win for ACM Visual Media of the Year.

The 2025 ACM Awards crowned new and returning winners last Thursday (May 8), sparking celebratory pictures from the winners.

Denise & Alan Jackson with his Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award. Photo: Rand Smith

Riley Green with his ACM trophies for Visual Media of the Year, Single of the Year & Music Event of the Year.

Lainey Wilson with her trophies for Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year & Artist-Songwriter of the Year. Photo: Gilbert Flores / Penske Media

Old Dominion with the Group of the Year trophy.

On The Row: Tanner Adell Steps Into A Bold New Era

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Tanner Adell. Photo: Chase Foster

Tanner Adell recently stopped by the MusicRow office to share a few songs and give insight into her fast-rising career. The boundary-breaking artist impressed the team with her powerhouse vocals, confident stage presence and sharp, thoughtful perspective.

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow’s John Nix Arledge and Madison Hahnen, Tanner Adell, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson and LB Cantrell

Raised between California and Wyoming and now based in Nashville, Adell fuses country storytelling with the swagger of hip-hop and the shimmer of pop and R&B. A bi-racial artist adopted at birth, she’s been candid about how identity, loss and strength shape her work—particularly on her new single “Going Blonde.” Written solo on a Nashville barstool, the song reflects on the emotional impact of her adoption and serves as a tribute to the birth mother she never met.

The UMPG songwriter performed “Going Blonde” along with several unreleased tracks, including “Snake Skin,” a self-aware reflection on her relationship patterns, and “Boys Team,” her first outside cut that tackles gender inequities in the music business. She also played “Do Angels Drink Whiskey,” a fan-demanded song she first teased on TikTok, and ended with the fiery and fun “You Ain’t In Love.”

“This year I’ve hit a lot of different chords and emotions,” Adell shared. “I have a fan base who likes to party, but they’re also ready to cry with me. For this debut album, I want them to see a lot of new sides of me.”

From her headline “Buckle Bunny Tour” to a standout appearance on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, Adell continues to push boundaries while owning every part of her story, cementing her place as one of country music’s most compelling new voices.

BREAKING: The Academy Of Country Music Strikes New Multi-Year Deal With Prime Video

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Chris Stapleton at the 60th Academy Of Country Music Awards held at the Ford Center at The Star on May 8, 2025 in Frisco, Texas

Following its landmark 60th anniversary show last week, the Academy of Country Music and producer Dick Clark Productions (DCP) have announced that the ACM Awards will remain on Prime Video for the next three years, taking the show through its 63rd ceremony in 2028.

Last week’s ACM Awards, which took place on May 8 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, streamed live for an international audience across 240+ countries and territories exclusively on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch. Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon Reba McEntire, the evening featured 16 performances and appearances from 40 artists including Alan Jackson, Backstreet Boys, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn, Chris Stapleton, Ella Langley, Eric Church, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, LeAnn Rimes, Lionel Richie, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Shaboozey, Wynonna Judd and more.

The show is currently available to stream on demand on Prime Video and can be found at amazon.com/ACMawards.

“Our ongoing partnership with the Academy of Country Music and Dick Clark Productions has been an amazing experience for everyone involved,” says Vernon Sanders, Global Head of Television, Amazon MGM Studios. “With the tremendous success of this year’s 60th anniversary show hosted by the legendary Reba McEntire, we are overjoyed to continue our relationship with the Academy and DCP for the next three years. We look forward to maintaining this success and bringing even more star-studded and captivating shows to our global Prime Video customers.”

“Our powerful partnership with Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video has expanded the reach and accessibility of our show and the country music genre to viewers anytime, anywhere around the world and has redefined what an awards show experience can and should be in today’s environment,” shares Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “The synergies between Prime Video, Amazon Music, Twitch, and the other divisions of Amazon bring exponential value to our artists, our genre, and our fans through an immersive 360 music experience they can’t get from any other platform. I am so proud of our pioneering first four years in the streaming space, and we are excited to continue to deliver the future of country music and the ACM Awards to fans everywhere over the next three years.”

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Prime Video through 2028,” adds Jay Penske, CEO, Dick Clark Productions. “The Academy of Country Music Awards made history in 2022 as the first major awards show to exclusively livestream and continues to break new ground, creating a world-class music event and providing dynamic, unparalleled reach through Prime Video, connecting country music with a global audience.”

“I feel like it’s just another way for us to get country music out there to the world,” shares the Academy’s winningest artist of all time, Miranda Lambert, of the partnership between the ACM Awards and Prime Video. “Country music is really popular right now, and I’m so glad more people are understanding what we’re about, and I’m so happy to be part of the ACM history, and that it’s gonna continue for three more years is really exciting.”

The 60th Academy of Country Music Awards was produced by Dick Clark Productions. Raj Kapoor served as Executive Producer and Showrunner, with Patrick Menton as Co-Executive Producer. Whiteside served as Executive Producer for the Academy of Country Music, and Penske and Barry Adelman served as Executive Producers for DCP. John Saade served as Consulting Producer for Amazon MGM Studios.

Dillon Carmichael Is ‘Keepin’ Country Alive’ On Latest Album Due In June

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Dillon Carmichael is gearing up for the release of his third studio album, Keepin’ Country Alive, on June 13 via Riser House Records.

The 14-track collection pays homage to Carmichael’s small-town roots, the hardworking spirit of rural America and the enduring power of community, and builds on the success of previously released singles “Keepin’ Country Alive” and “No Matter How Hard I Try.”

A brand new single from the project, “Raised Up Wrong,” is out now on all streaming platforms. Co-written by Carmichael with Devin Dawson, Josh Phillips and Jared Conrad, the defiant and gritty anthem flips the script on Southern stereotypes and proudly reclaims the rural values that shaped the rising singer.

Keepin’ Country Alive Track List:
1. “Raised Up Wrong” (Dillon Carmichael, Jared Conrad, Devin Dawson, Josh Phillips)
2. “Good Ol’ Day”
3. “When She’s Drinkin’”
4. “She Gone” (Dillon Carmichael, Rhett Akins, Michael Whitworth)
5. “Home” (Dillon Carmichael, Trent Willmon, Phil O’Donnell)
6. “No Matter How Hard I Try” (Jonathan Singleton, Jim Beavers)
7. “Someone Like You” (Dan Wilson, Adele Adkins)
8. “Tiny Little Fiddle” (Dillon Carmichael, Brett Tyler, Brent Anderson)
9. “Keepin’ Country Alive” (Dillon Carmichael, Matt Roy, Paul Sykes)
10. “Hell Freezes Over” (Jonathan Singleton, Josh Dunne, Rob Snyder)
11. “I’d Call Grandpa”
12. “She Likes Me This Way” (Dillon Carmichael, Jimmy Melton, Neal Coty)
13. “Heartbreak Waitin’ To Happen” (Dillon Carmichael, Lindsay Rimes, Neil Medley, Matt Rogers)
14. “Goin’ Places” (Joey Hendricks, Andy Skib, Brett James)