Darius Rucker Recognized With Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

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Darius Rucker with his Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Photo: Imagery By Oscar/HCC

Multi-Platinum artist Darius Rucker was recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday (Dec. 4).

Pictured (L-R): Sarah Zurrell (Sr. Vice Chair, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce) Mike Dungan (Former UMG Nashville Chairman/CEO), Darius Rucker, Kit Hoover (Access Hollywood & Access Daily with Mario + Kit Co-Host) and Steve Nissen (President & CEO, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce). Photo: Imagery by Oscar/HCC

After he was introduced by former UMG Nashville Chairman/CEO Mike Dungan, Rucker shared, “This is stuff you don’t even dream about when you’re from South Carolina…all I ever wanted was to be a singer, but you never dream that this stuff is going to happen.”

The Charleston native first entered the music world as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for Grammy-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish. He has continued to succeed with the group as well as on his own as a solo act with 10 No. 1 singles at country radio and numerous RIAA Platinum and Gold certifications, among other accolades.

In October, Rucker was honored with a star on the Music City Walk of Fame and released his first solo album in six years, Carolyn’s Boy. He was also presented with the 2023 CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award, which goes to an individual who has served as a humanitarian through community leadership, financial support, personal volunteerism and advocacy.

Rucker has raised more than $3.6 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through his annual “Darius & Friends” benefit, and has advocated for over 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation while also serving as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) in Nashville.

Bob Squance & Michael Thomas Partner With CTM To Launch Withrow Street Music

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Pictured (L-R): Withrow Street Music’s Bob Squance, CTM’s Jitze de Raaff, Withrow Street Music’s Michael Thomas, CTM’s André de Raaff, CTM’s Thomas Deelder

Bob Squance and Michael Thomas have launched a new publishing company, Withrow Street Music, in a joint venture with global independent company CTM Publishing.

Squance, a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, recently joined the team as Creative Director at Lady Luck Songs. His previous experience includes positions at Round Hill Music, Big Yellow Dog Music and Ten Ten Music Group. The list of songwriters Squance has worked with through the years includes Meghan Trainor, Ashley Gorley, Zach Crowell, Josh Kear, Valerie Broussard, Daniel Tashian, Renee Blair and Kevin Griffin.

Thomas has spent the last decade in the entertainment industry, beginning as an actor and musician before moving behind the camera. This experience led to Thomas being asked to manage a select group of artists and writers through his company, Stable Mgmt.

“Michael and I are incredibly excited to partner with CTM in this exciting new venture,” says Squance. “Their success speaks for itself and we look forward to serving and expanding the music community together.”

“Our mission is to cultivate and foster a creative atmosphere backed by global resources,” adds Thomas. “Bob’s experience and reputation coupled with CTM’s knowledge and track record give us a unique opportunity to offer something truly different and beneficial for our writers.”

CTM publishing has headquarters in The Netherlands and international offices in Nashville, London, Miami and Brussels. The company represents world famous writers and catalogs and is active as a record label and a TV and Film producer. CTM is owned by André de Raaff and Jitze de Raaff.

Squance and Thomas can be reached at bob.squance@withrowstreetmusic.com and michael.thomas@withrowstreetmusic.com.

Jelly Roll & Lainey Wilson’s ‘Save Me’ Tops The Country Charts

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Jelly Roll & Lainey Wilson

Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson are putting the bow on a monumental year of career highs with their hit “Save Me,” which has reached No. 1 on the Billboard and Country Aircheck/Mediabase charts.

The monster collaboration flew up the charts, marking Jelly Roll’s third consecutive chart-topping single in 2023 with “Son Of A Sinner” reaching that position in January, followed by “Need A Favor” in August. Written by Jelly (Jason DeFord), “Save Me” was released as part of his debut country album, Whitsitt Chapel.

The track marks Wilson’s sixth chart-topper and, with just a six-week gap since she last peaked at No.1 with “Watermelon Moonshine,” she now holds the Billboard chart history record for the shortest break between No. 1 singles by a female country artist.

2023 has been a career-defining year for both singer-songwriters as they each recently earned two Grammy nominations, including a joint nomination for the smash single in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance category. In the general categories, Jelly Roll earned a Best New Artist nomination and Wilson’s Bell Bottom Country landed a nomination for Best Country Album.

Jelly is rolling right into the new year after earning a 2023 CMA Award for Best New Artist of the Year, recently wrapping his sold-out, 44-city “Backroad Baptism Tour” and celebrating multi-format success with “Need A Favor.” He’s currently spearheading Nashville’s largest toy drive through Dec. 15 with donation bins located at eight Walmart locations around the metro area.

Wilson has won five CMA Awards including the top honor of Entertainer of the Year, four ACM Awards, two CMT Music Awards, three People’s Choice Country Awards, completed a sold-out headlining tour and made her Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Lollapalooza debut. Fans can catch her closing out Hardy’s “The Mockingbird & The Crow Tour” and at her four sold-out “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” shows at NFR this month before she embarks on the “Country’s Cool Again Tour” and the “Lainey Wilson: Live” international tour in 2024.

Gunnar Latham Signs With Bob Doyle & Associates

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Bob Doyle & Associates’ Kane Wayne and Patrick Belinson; (L-R, middle row): Major Bob’s Graham Kotham, Gunnar Latham and Bob Doyle & Associates/Major Bob’s Bob Doyle; (L-R, front row): Bob Doyle & Associates’ Michael Doyle and Major Bob’s Andy Friday. Photo: PESCA Media

Gunnar Latham has signed with Bob Doyle & Associates for management.

A former rodeo cowboy, Latham was born on a ranch outside of San Marcos, Texas where his dad, a bull-riding Southern Baptist minister, influenced his love for both music and the cowboy lifestyle at an early age. He took up rodeo, and as a standout team roper and steer-wrestler, he earned a scholarship to Sul Ross State University, where he competed nationally for over four years and earned his permit card at age 21. The broken bones, broken hearts and broken dreams experienced on the circuit eventually led him back to his true passion—music making and storytelling.

It was during his formative years in his father’s church that Latham developed his love for music. He learned piano, guitar, drums and sang in the church choir. In late 2019, Latham felt called to leave rodeo behind and spent 2020 focusing all of his attention and energy to developing his craft as a songwriter, singer and musician. His influences span from George Strait to the innovative beats of Mac Miller, reflecting a blend of traditional and modern sounds.

“As an entertainer, Gunnar got our attention quickly,” says Bob Doyle & Associates’ Michael Doyle. “Working in Texas has given him the opportunity to grow and carve out a show that is exciting and fun to see. We are honored to be a part of his journey.”

Corey Kent Slates New Stripped-Down Project For Late December

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Corey Kent. Photo: Dayna White

Corey Kent is giving fans a belated Christmas gift with his new, one-take, stripped-down project, ’23, out Dec. 28.

Kent released a track from the album, “Southeast Oklahoma Pines,” on Friday (Dec. 1). The song serves as a love letter that pays homage to his hometown of Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Telling the tales of generations and expressing the comfort in returning home, Kent is reminded that even when life seems to be against him, nothing can get to him when he’s surrounded by the Oklahoma pines. The fan-driven ’23 will also feature the highly personal song about Kent’s wife, “You Know.”

“’23. No producer. No band. Just a man, his guitar, and wooden chair in a studio down the road from his home in Texas,” says Kent about the project. “Nothing to hide behind. Just one shot at a raw performance. Imperfections and all. A collection of nine songs for the fans that brought him this far. A thank you to those who believed before anyone else. This is ’23.”

Earlier this year, Kent released his major label debut album, Blacktop. The project features his Platinum No. 1 single “Wild As Her,” which has amassed nearly 400 million on-demand streams and helped garner a nomination for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year at the 2023 CMT Awards, as well as a People’s Country Choice Award nomination for New Artist of 2023.  The follow up single, “Something’s Gonna Kill Me” is currently shooting up the radio charts and has nearly 70 million on-demand streams.

Kent was recently named part of MusicRow‘s Next Big Thing Class of 2024. He will kick off 2024 in the UK on shows with Ashley McBryde before joining Parker McCollum for 39 dates in the states beginning in February.

‘23 Tracklist:
1. Southeast Oklahoma Pines
2. Love Someone Else
3. Drown ‘Em
4. You Know
5. Highways
6. Start a Fire
7. Don’t Tell Her I Told You
8. Boys Growing Up
9. Hits Like a Girl

Weekly Register: Taylor Swift Scales The Country Albums Chart

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Taylor Swift. Photo: Beth Garrabrant

Taylor Swift scales the country albums chart this week, according to Luminate data, as Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) ascends to No. 2 with 46K in total consumption (28K album only/23 million song streams) and Red (Taylor’s Version) rises to No. 4 with 35K (18K album only/22 million song streams).

After two weeks, Morgan Wallen‘s One Thing At Time returns to the top with 63K (4.7K album only/75 million song streams). Elsewhere on the chart, Zach Bryan‘s self-titled project stays at No. 3 with 40K (4.8K album only/46 million song streams), and Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album holds No. 5 with 33K (741 album only/41 million song streams).

On the country streaming songs chart, the top songs remain the same, as Bryan and Kacey Musgraves‘ “I Remember Everything” dominates at No. 1 with 16 million new streams, adding to 309 million ATD. Wallen’s “Last Night” rests at No. 2 with 11 million streams, adding to 1.065 billion ATD, followed by Bryan’s “Something In The Orange” at No. 3 with 11 million new streams, adding to 1.092 billion ATD. Wallen’s “Thinkin’ Bout Me” takes No. 4 again with nine million streams, adding 493 million ATD, and Luke Combs‘ cover of “Fast Car” continues at No. 5 with 7.5 million new streams, adding to 529 million ATD.

MusicRow’s 2024 N.B.T. Industry Directory Highlights The Next Generation Of Leaders

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MusicRow has revealed its 2024 N.B.T. Industry Directory list, highlighting a rising class of music industry leaders.

Now in its fifth year, MusicRow’s N.B.T. Industry Directory is the first and only list of its kind, showcasing Nashville music business professionals who occupy important roles at their respective companies. This class of professionals are on a trajectory of excellence to successfully lead the Nashville music industry into the future.

All members of the 2024 N.B.T. Industry Directory are featured in MusicRow’s current Touring & Next Big Thing Issue, which releases today (Dec. 5). Single copies of MusicRow’s 2024 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $45, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.

The members of MusicRow Magazine’s 2024 N.B.T. Industry Directory are:

Kayla Adkins, Creative Mgr./Publishing – River House Artists
Courtney Allen, Sr. Dir., A&R – Concord Music Publishing
Benji Amaefule, A&R Mgr. – Warner Chappell Nashville
Jess Anderson, Dir., Media Relations – Big Loud Records
Tatiana Angulo, Dir., Streaming Marketing – Universal Music Group Nashville
Kristen Ashley, Manager – Red Light Management
Joel Beaver, Assoc. Dir., Marketing – Monument Records
Bennett Beckner, Music Agent – CAA
Courtney Beebe, Assoc. Dir., Media – Sony Music Nashville
Art Benson, Vice President – The Kinkead Entertainment Agency
Preston Berger, Creative Mgr. – Black River Publishing
Molly Bouchon, Dir., Marketing & Artist Development – SMACK
Raffaella Braun, VP, National Promotion – Triple Tigers Records
Amy Buck, Sr. Dir., Marketing, Global Touring – AEG Presents
Rachel Burleson, Dir., Streaming – Big Machine Label Group
Nina Carter, Sr. Dir., Creative | Events & Partnerships – BMI
Kodi Chandler, Dir. of Business & Client Development – Hill Entertainment Group
Keena Cheatham, Promoter Rep. – Messina Touring Group
Adam Cohen, VP – Global Touring – AEG Presents
Nick Coulson, Producer, SiriusXM – Highway Mornings with Cody Alan & Macie Banks – SiriusXM
Lauren Crawford, Dir., Marketing – BMG Nashville
Courtney Daly, Dir., Streaming – Big Machine Label Group
Jodi Dawes, Dir., Media Marketing – Universal Music Group Nashville
David DeVaul, Sr. VP Music Sports and Entertainment – Pinnacle Financial Partners
Noah Dewey, VP Creative Nashville – Anthem Entertainment
Crystal Dishmon, Artist Manager – ShopKeeper Management
Andrea Evenson, Director – Shore Fire Media
Becca Fisher, Mgr., Strategic Partnerships – Academy Of Country Music
Nina Jenkins Fisher, Sr. Dir., Creative – Jody Williams Songs
Andy Friday, Head of Creative/Publishing – Major Bob Music, Inc.
Lauren Funk, Sr. Creative Dir. – Endurance Music Group
Ashley Gaskin, Publicist – Essential Broadcast Media, LLC
Katie Germano, Music Agent – CAA
Jamie Graves, Dir., Streaming – Warner Music Nashville
Jeremy Groves, Sr. Creative Dir. – SMACK
Stephanie Hagerty, National Dir., Radio – Warner Music Nashville
Hannah Haggerty, Assoc. Business Mgr. – Farris, Self & Moore
Duane Hobson, Assoc. Dir., Membership – ASCAP
Chris Hrovat, Agent, Country – WME
Kara Jackson, Sr. Creative Dir. – Spirit Music Nashville
Evyn Mustoe Johnston, Sr. Dir. of Membership – ASCAP
Candice N. Jones, Dir., Marketing & Communications – National Museum of African American Music
Nicole Judd, Marketing Mgr. – Grand Ole Opry
MaryAnn Keen, Assoc. Dir. Nashville Creative – BMI
Colleen Kelley, Associate – Loeb & Loeb LLP
Erin Kidd, Creative Dir. – WinSongs Music
Dan Killian, Business Mgr. – FBMM
Heather Kinder, Chief Of Staff – Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group
Basak Kizilisik, Owner & Artist Mgr. – Eighteen Company
Harrison Klein, Sr. Artist Mgr. – Why&How
Anna Kolander, Artist Mgr. & Sr. Dir. A&R/Creative – Activist Artists Management
Aubrey Landon, Creative Dir. – Sony Music Publishing
Rummy Le Guevel, Accounting Mgr., Business Management – Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group
Betsy Lee, Business Manager – FBMM
Darby Leiber, Manager – Make Wake Artists/Range Media Partners
Jason Leiss, Business Mgr. – FBMM
Zach Lund, Dir., A&R – Universal Music Publishing Group
Drew Magid, Artist Mgr. – Big Loud Management
Chris Martignago, A&R Executive – Prescription Songs
Ritz McCain, Sr. Editor, Christian & Gospel – Spotify
Jason McColl, Sr. Dir., A&R – Sony Music Nashville
Marissa Messer, Dir., Digital Marketing – BMG Nashville
Marisa Mineo, Head of Tour Marketing – The Neal Agency
Jill Moody, National Membership Dir. – Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI)
Vanna Moua, Creative Dir. – Rhythm House
Mark Noel, VP Artist Management – Triple 8 Management
Kayla Ott, Sr. Dir., Marketing – Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC)
Emily Peacock, Sr. Creative Dir. – Jonas Group Publishing
Megan Pekar, Associate – Loeb & Loeb, LLP
Brandon Perdue, Sr. VP, A&R + Publishing – Riser House Entertainment
Gator Pizer, Assoc. Business Mgr. – Farris, Self & Moore
Jason Plum, VP Senior Relationship Mgr. – City National Bank
JT Pratt, GM – Otter Creek Entertainment
Cade Price, GM/Mgr. – Play It Again Music
Lizzy Rector, Publishing Mgr. – Big Machine Music
Hayley Riddle, Agent, Country – WME
Carter Robinson, Sr. VP, Music Entertainment and Sports Group – Pinnacle Financial Partners
Joey Russ, Artist Manager – Neon Coast
Bryce Sherlow, A&R Mgr. – Warner Chappell Nashville
Brianna (Bri) Small, Dir., Digital Content & Partnerships – Warner Music Nashville
Jenna Smith, Marketing Communications Mgr. – SESAC Music Group
Marissa Smith, Music Agent – UTA
Catherine Snead, Director – Sacks & Co
Grace Stern, Agent, Contemporary – WME
Ben Strain, Sr. Creative Dir. – MV2 Entertainment
Carly Strickland, A&R Dir. – Big Machine Label Group
Alex Strong, Vice President – First Horizon Music Industry Group
Conley Sweeney, Account Dir. – Girlilla Marketing
Alex Tamashunas, Creative Dir. – Creative Nation
Jenni Tay, Artist Relations Mgr. – Amazon Music
Josh Tomlinson, Dir. of Creative – BMI Nashville
Elisa Vazzana, Music Agent – UTA
Kelli Wasilauski, Dir. of Operations, Nashville – The Oriel Company
Abbey Watson, Creative Services Coord. – SESAC
Grace Watson, Sr. Dir., Streaming & Revenue – Black River Entertainment
Kate Watson, Sr. Mgr. of Industry Relations – Country Music Association
Sarah Beth Watson, Dir. of Publicity – Sweet Talk Publicity
Austin Wells, Attorney – Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
Max Wiebrecht, VP, Corporate & Special Events – Wasserman Music
Lindsay Will, Sr. Dir., A&R – Round Hill Music
Hannah Wilson, Dir., A&R – Universal Music Group Nashville
Kelsey Worley, Sr. Creative Dir. – BMG
Patrick Worstell, Mgr., Artist Development – Warner Music Nashville
Melodie Zack, Vice President – Regions Bank Entertainment Division
Lauren Zimmerman, Assoc. Dir., Digital Marketing – Sony Music Nashville

Cody Jinks To ‘Change The Game’ With Forthcoming Album

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Cody Jinks is set to release his new album, Change The Game, on March 22 via his own label, Late August Records, in partnership with The Orchard. Ahead of the release, he has unveiled new track “Sober Thing.”

“I wrote ‘Sober Thing’ right after we finished the Mercy album,” says Jinks. “I was giving up a twenty-plus year affair with whiskey and every word of that song is true. I don’t remember writing some of my biggest songs but I damn sure remember writing that one.”

Produced by Ryan Hewitt and Jinks’ longtime bassist Joshua Thompson, Change The Game marks a new chapter for Jinks both personally and professionally, as he is now self-managed with a completely independent team. Across the twelve tracks, Jinks puts forth his signature outlaw country spirit with a new level of artistic maturity, diving into topics like his journey with sobriety, life on the road and the need for redemption and accountability.

In addition to “Sober Thing,” the album features a new version of Faith No More’s “Take This Bottle,” featuring special guest Pearl Aday, as well as lead single “Outlaws & Mustangs,” which debuted earlier this fall.

Throughout his career, Jinks has sold over two million tickets, released 10 studio albums, sold more than two million equivalent units and garnered over 3.5 billion streams across platforms with more than a billion streams on Spotify and 1.7 billion streams on Pandora, earning him a Pandora Radio Billions Award. He was also named Music Row’s 2023 Independent Artist of the Year—his second time receiving the honor—and earned RIAA certifications for his songs “Loud and Heavy” (double Platinum), “Hippies & Cowboys” (Platinum), “Must Be The Whiskey” (Platinum), “Mamma Song” (Gold), “I’m Not The Devil” (Gold) and “Cast No Stones” (Gold) as well as for his album Adobe Sessions (Gold).

Jinks will continue to tour through 2024, headlining shows at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater, Los Angeles’ Greek Theater, Dallas’ Dos Equis Pavilion, Minneapolis’ The Armory and San Diego’s Rady Shell at Jacobs Park as well as select co-headlining dates with Turnpike Troubadours. He will also join Luke Combs as part of his “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour,” starting next spring.

Change The Game Track Listing:
1. “Sober Thing”
2. “Outlaws and Mustangs”
3. “I Can’t Complain”
4. “Take This Bottle (feat. Pearl Aday)”
5. “Deceiver’s Blues”
6. “A Few More Ghosts”
7. “Change The Game”
8. “I Would”
9. “The Working Man”
10. “Wasted”
11. “Always Running”
12. “What You Love”

MusicRow Reveals Next Big Thing Artists Class Of 2024

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MusicRow is proud to reveal its list of artists who are predicted to become the Next Big Thing (NBT) in 2024. The 10th annual NBT list features 11 artists, who are each profiled in MusicRow‘s latest 2024 Touring & Next Big Thing print issue, which releases today (Dec. 5).

Boasting a stand-out group of rising stars in the country music industry, MusicRow’s Next Big Thing Class of 2024 includes a wide range of talent, diverse in sound, style and level of success. What each artist has in common, though, is extraordinary talent and a passion for today’s ever-evolving country music format. These future superstars will expand the boundaries of country music, carrying the torch of the format both to its loyal fans and into the mainstream.

Single copies of MusicRow’s Touring & Next Big Thing print issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $45, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.

MusicRow Magazine’s 2024 Next Big Thing Artists:

AVERY ANNA
Warner Music Nashville | 33 Creative | WME | self-published | BMI

Singer-songwriter Avery Anna grew up in picturesque Arizona. She started singing at 10 years old, quickly picking up the guitar and piano, but it was via TikTok that Anna began to realize her full potential. Hopping in a bathtub for acoustics, Anna’s videos of her singing blew up overnight. Now with 1.6 million followers and more than 36 million likes, Anna is sharing her own music with the world. She recently released her debut EP Mood Swings, and her Gold-certified “Narcissist” has made a major statement, reaching No. 1 on SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown and garnering more than 166 million global streams. Anna has also made an impact with releases such as “Self Love,” “Worst In Me” and “I Will (When You Do)” alongside Dylan Marlowe. The rising star, who has been featured on multiple artists-to-watch lists, is wrapping up her headlining “Treat Yourself Nice Tour,” and has supported Jordan Davis, Cole Swindell and Breland out on the road. Her ear-worm pop-country sound and mastery of vulnerability and connection will undoubtedly bring Avery Anna’s music to more and more fans as time goes on.

 

ASHLEY COOKE
Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music | Big Loud Management/Back Blocks Music | WME | Big Loud/Back Blocks Music Publishing | BMI

Ashley Cooke has built her fanbase by being unapologetically herself. The Parkland, Florida native wrote her first song at age 11 and moved to Nashville at 18 to attend Belmont University. Unlike many others, however, she did not study music, but after entering the school’s revered Country Showcase on a whim and winning, Cooke decided to give music a real shot for a year. When the pandemic had other plans, Cooke took her pop country sound to TikTok, where her music and bubbly personality began to find a big audience. She has since garnered over 200 million global streams with chart climbing hits like “Never Til Now” with Brett Young and “It’s Been A Year.” Cooke released her debut album Shot In The Dark in July, containing 24 tracks inspired by true tales of love, heartbreak and all the moments in between, such as “Mean Girl” featuring Colbie Caillat and her new radio single “Your Place.” Cooke, who was also voted MusicRow’s 2023 Discovery Artist of the Year at the MusicRow Awards this summer, took on her first-ever headlining tour this fall and will join Jordan Davis on the road in early 2024. Her authentic songwriting chops and hooky country sound will allow Cooke to continue on her rise in the coming year.

 

JACKSON DEAN
Big Machine Label Group (Big Machine Records) | TKO Artist Management | WME | Little Louder | BMI

Country singer-songwriter Jackson Dean is rising quickly with his lyric-driven, outlaw style of country music. The Maryland native burst on the scene with his atmospheric debut album Greenbroke. Dean’s breakthrough single “Don’t Come Lookin’” was the fastest debut to reach No. 1 in 2022 and cemented him as the youngest solo male country artist to reach the top of the charts with a debut. The rugged music video for the track also earned a nomination at the 2023 CMT Music Awards for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year. Dean’s follow-up single, “Fearless (The Echo),” is currently climbing the top 25 at country radio after being most added upon impact. Dean released his Live At The Ryman album in April, including the fan-favorite track “Heavens to Betsy.” He recently spent time on the road with Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Parker McCollum and Jon Pardi and was nominated for New Male Artist of the Year at the 2023 ACM Awards. Dean will hit the road on his first headlining tour in January on the “Head Full of Noise Tour,” and will also join Lainey Wilson’s “Country Is Cool Again Tour.” Dean’s focus on building fans with his unique artistry will serve him well as he continues blazing his own trail.

 

COREY KENT
Sony Music Nashville (RCA Nashville) | Triple 8 Management | WME | Combustion Music | BMI

You can find rising singer-songwriter Corey Kent’s music at the intersection of rock infused country, heartland values and red dirt grit. The road warrior has been developing his show for 15 years, but broke out in a big way with the single “Wild As Her.” With nearly 400 million global streams, the exciting track became a Platinum-certified No. 1 hit and garnered Kent a nomination for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year at the 2023 CMT Awards as well as a People’s Country Choice Award nomination for New Artist of 2023. He released his major label debut album, Blacktop, in June. The 10-track album features “Wild As Her,” fan-favorites “Gone as You” and “How You Know You Made It” and current single “Something’s Gonna Kill Me.” Throughout 2023, Kent supported Parker McCollum, Jason Aldean and Ashley McBryde’s tours, as well as played some headlining shows of his own. He will join McCollum again in February. With over 600 million on-demand career streams, Kent has been named to multiple artist-to-watch lists. The hunger from Kent’s growing fanbase will only propel him further into country music stardom.

 

KAMERON MARLOWE
Sony Music Nashville (Columbia Nashville) | Red Light Management | WME | Sony Music Publishing | BMI

With a sound built around edgy electric twang, smoldering gritty rock and bluesy tenderness, Kameron Marlowe is quickly becoming one of country music’s most exciting new acts. The North Carolina native launched onto the scene with his now Platinum-certified debut “Giving You Up,” which has garnered more than 680 million streams to date. In 2022, Marlowe released his debut album We Were Cowboys, produced by Dann Huff. With “Giving You Up” and his Gold-certified hit “Burn ‘Em All” on the tracklist, the project was one of 2022’s top streaming country albums on Spotify. The country crooner’s talent and rabid fanbase have landed him on multiple artist-to-watch lists. Now Marlowe is beginning his sophomore chapter of music with recent release “Tennessee Don’t Mind,” an ode to his life on the road. He is currently out on his headlining “I Can Lie Tour,” following recent tours with Luke Bryan and Jordan Davis earlier this year. Next year, Marlowe will join Lainey Wilson for the Australian leg of her “Country’s Cool Again Tour.” With his authentically cool niche and powerful voice, Marlowe is undoubtedly one of country music’s next big things.

 

BRYAN MARTIN
Average Joes Entertainment | Arcade Management | WME | Average ZJS Music Publishing | BMI

Bryan Martin’s story thus far is that of a blue-collared man whose raw talent was finally uncovered. Hailing from the oil fields of Louisiana, Martin lives the stories he writes, and his authenticity is paying off. Released in late 2022, Martin first captured the music industry’s attention with “We Ride,” an outlaw country tune that resonated so well with fans that it now boast over 80 million streams. He’s followed that up with other succesful releases like “Goin For Broke,” “Memory To Drown” and more. Building on albums If It Was Easy and Self Inflicted Scars, Martin dropped his newest album Poets & Old Souls in March, containing the everyman anthem “We Ride.” He made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2023, and after opening for artists such as Jason Aldean, Brantley Gilbert and Warren Zeiders, Martin will join Morgan Wallen for 10 dates on his “One Night At A Time Tour” in 2024. With over 426 million cumulative streams and 750K social media followers, Martin’s true-to-life lyrics and his raw, expressive delivery will continue to earn him more and more fans as he heads into a new year.

 

CHASE MATTHEW
Warner Music Nashville | Ignition Management | UTA | Ignition/Warner Chappell | BMI

Chase Matthew is on the fast track to becoming one of Nashville’s hottest newcomers. A rare native of Music City, Matthew independently built his career with his infectious personality, rowdy live performances and relatable music. After reaching more than 360 million global career streams with tunes such as the Gold-certified “County Line” and “She Loves Jesus,” Matthew released his 25-track, major-label debut album, Come Get Your Memory, in June. As the follow-up to his breakout project Born For This, Come Get Your Memory includes multiple fan-favorites such as “Make a Memory,” “Moonlight,” “Where There’s Smoke” and “Outlaw Gospel,” as well as Matthew’s steamy single “Love You Again,” which is climbing at country radio and was the most-added debut single release upon impact. On the live front, Matthew recently wrapped his headlining “Come Get Your Memory Tour” following his “Love You Again Tour,” and he made his Grand Ole Opry debut in March. Now with more than 600 million global career streams and more than two million followers across social media, Matthew continues to make waves as one of country music’s buzziest new acts.

 

MEGAN MORONEY
Sony Music Nashville/Columbia NY (Columbia Nashville) | Punch Bowl Entertainment | UTA | Sony Music Publishing | SESAC

Megan Moroney has become a force to be reckoned with as she has begun to make her mark on country music. The Georgia native’s career took on warp speed with her breakout single “Tennessee Orange.” The song became Moroney’s first No. 1 hit at country radio and was certified Platinum by the RIAA. In 2023, Moroney–who refers to herself as an “emo cowgirl”–released her debut album Lucky, including wry, clever tunes like “Traitor Joe” and “Sleep On My Side” alongside truth-tellers like “Girl In The Mirror.” The project quickly drew major acclaim by the industry and fans alike, and spurred Moroney’s currently-rising single “I’m Not Pretty.” In September, she released a deluxe edition of the album, delivering three new songs to her engaged and hungry fanbase. Moroney was nominated for New Female Artist Of The Year at the 2023 ACM Awards as well as New Artist of the Year and Song of the Year at the CMA Awards. Currently on her sold-out “The Lucky Tour,” Moroney will join Kenny Chesney’s “Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour” next spring. Her sharp penmanship, close attention to aesthetics and undeniable talent have fueled Moroney’s meteoric rise, and her star will only continue to ascend.

 

JOSH ROSS
Universal Canada/UMG Nashville/The Core Records | The Core Entertainment | The Neal Agency | Warner Chappell | BMI

Canadian-born and Nashville-based singer-songwriter Josh Ross focuses his music on the primary themes of country infused with a fresh, modern sound. Debuting with his independently released ballad “First Taste of Gone,” Ross has built a reputation for writing from personal experiences, causing him to tally more than 240 million streams across his collection of songs. Some fan-favorites of Ross’ include “On A Different Night” and “First Taste of Gone,” as well as his country-rock anthem “Ain’t Doin’ Jack” and the emotional track “Red Flags.” In 2023, Ross garnered his second Top 5 Canadian radio hit with “On A Different Night.” After hitting No. 1 in Canada, Ross is currently climbing the U.S. country radio charts with “Trouble.” On the live front, Ross spent a lot of 2023 on the road with Nickelback and Brantley Gilbert for the “Get Rollin’ Tour,” and he will support Bailey Zimmerman on “Religiously. The Tour.” in 2024. He also made his Grand Ole Opry debut, won Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year at the 2023 Canadian Country Music Association Awards and landed on multiple artist-to-watch lists. Ross’ unique sound will undoubtedly continue to pull fans in across genres as he heads into the next year.

 

DYLAN SCHNEIDER
BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records | Neon Coast | WME | Verse 2 Music/Sony Music Publishing | BMI

Dylan Schneider started performing and writing songs at the age of 14. He began to build an audience for his talent when he began posting videos to his Facebook page. When Schneider began to make his own music, he developed his own unique blend of country that merges modern pop sensibilities with a down-home feel. Schneider’s fans and over 1.2 million social media followers have enjoyed popular releases such as “How Does It Sound” and “Right Girl” as well as multiple EPs, banking an upwards of 303 million on-demand streams. After a snippet of Schneider’s newest tune “Ain’t Missin’ You” went viral on social media, the sound racked up more than 119 million TikTok views, 118K user-generated TikTok videos and 30 million on-demand streams, before climbing to No. 3 on TikTok’s Country playlist. Giving into fan demand, the rising country star’s “Ain’t Missin’ You” is currently climbing the country radio charts. To name a few other career highlights, Schneider has toured with Florida Georgia Line, Kane Brown, Morgan Wallen, Dan + Shay, Granger Smith, Mitchell Tenpenny and more, co-wrote Dustin Lynch’s Top 5 hit song “Momma’s House” and scored two RIAA-certified Gold records. With a fanbase with a voracious appetite, Schneider’s star will only continue to rise in 2024.

 

THE WAR AND TREATY
UMG Nashville (Mercury Nashville) | Strong World Management | UTA | Concord | BMI

The War And Treaty was formed in 2014 by the enormously talented husband and wife Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter. While the electrifying duo has long been respected by their peers in country and Americana music alike, country music fans at large took notice of them with the release of their major label debut album Lover’s Game. Garnering both fan and critical acclaim, Lover’s Game featured The War And Treaty showing off their penmanship, soulful harmonies and unmatched vocal ability on tunes such as “That’s How Love Is Made,” “Blank Page” and the title track. The singers have become in-demand collaborators, including featuring on “Hey Driver” with Zach Bryan. The War And Treaty has been recognized by the Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association, Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry and Americana Music Association, and recently earned a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. They have dominated stages across the globe including North America, Europe and Australia, headlining their own shows and opening for a diverse group of living legends. As time goes on, more and more music fans will undoubtedly discover the unmatched talent of The War And Treaty as they continue to impact the country genre.

Dustin Lynch Graces The Cover Of MusicRow’s 2024 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue

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MusicRow Magazine has released its 2024 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue, with Broken Bow Records’ Dustin Lynch on the cover.

Lynch has “built one of the most consistent recording careers in modern country music” (Billboard), achieving nine No. 1 hits; four top five albums; 10 Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certified singles and tallying over 5.4 billion cumulative global streams. His sixth studio album, Killed The Cowboy, is boldly making a statement. The follow-up to Blue In The Sky, which delivered the history-making, double-Platinum, six-week No. 1 “Thinking ‘Bout You (feat. MacKenzie Porter)”—the most-played song at country radio in 2022, landing at No. 1 on the Mediabase and No. 2 on the Billboard Year-End Country Airplay charts—also featured hit singles including the No. 1 “Stars Like Confetti” and “Party Mode.”

Launching the “Killed The Cowboy Tour” in 2024, Lynch has headlined packed venues and toured with country’s biggest names such as Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley and Kane Brown, and is next on deck to support Blake Shelton’s “Back To The Honky Tonk Tour.” Since his Platinum breakout “Cowboys and Angels” in 2012, the Tennessee native has earned industry recognition as a Grand Ole Opry member as well as high-profile nominations for the Academy of Country Music Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards and CMT Music Awards.

Inside MusicRow‘s Touring & Next Big Thing Issue is the 10th annual Next Big Thing class of artists, consisting of Avery Anna (Warner Music Nashville), Ashley Cooke (Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music), Jackson Dean (Big Machine Label Group), Corey Kent (Sony Music Nashville), Kameron Marlowe (Sony Music Nashville), Bryan Martin (Average Joes Entertainment), Chase Matthew (Warner Music Nashville), Megan Moroney (Sony Music Nashville/Columbia NY), Josh Ross (Universal Canada/UMG Nashville/The Core Records), Dylan Schneider (BBR Music Group) and The War And Treaty (UMG Nashville).

This issue also features the N.B.T. Industry Directory Class of 2024, which highlights rising Nashville music business professionals who are having a major impact on the industry. MusicRow’s N.B.T. Industry Directory is the first and only list of its kind. These industry members occupy important roles at their respective companies, and are on a trajectory of excellence to successfully lead the Nashville music industry into the future.

“Being labeled as the ‘Next Big Thing’ is a term that is often used in the entertainment industry. It refers to someone who has shown immense potential and talent, and is predicted to have a significant impact in their field in the near future,” shares MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson. “This moniker is more than a label—it’s what we all strive for in our pursuit of success in the Nashville music industry. Regardless of age, experience or level of success, claiming the title of ‘Next Big Thing’ is always a worthy endeavor. Cheers to those that have been anointed this much-lauded epithet.”

The 2024 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue features top agents including WME’s Nate Towne, CAA’s Chad Kudelka and UTA’s Matthew Morgan in a round table discussion about the issues and opportunities facing our business. AEG Presents’ Adam Weiser spoke to MusicRow about cultivating connection at live events for this issue, and KultureCity’s Uma Srivastava talked about her work to create concerts more inclusive for those with sensory issues.

MusicRow highlights Mtheory’s Equal Access program and its participants in this issue, and The Oak Ridge Boys talk about their 50 years on the road. This issue also includes a look at Mint House’s new boutique hotel in Nashville. Additionally, the 2024 Touring Directory is included in this issue, featuring contact information for touring transportation, production companies, rehearsal spaces and insurance firms.

Single copies of MusicRow’s 2024 Touring & Next Big Thing Issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $45, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.