TidalWave Music Festival hosted its three-day event this past weekend. Fans returned to the beaches of Atlantic City, New Jersey to “Roar on the Shore” with a star-studded lineup, including headliners Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean and Brooks & Dunn.

To kick off the weekend, fans headed to the shore on Friday (Aug.11) to catch energetic sets from Nate Smith, Jo Dee Messina, Cole Swindell and more while the sun shined down the boardwalk. The night ended with headliner Rhett’s action-packed set, featuring his most iconic singles and full display of stage pyrotechnics.

The crowd returned for Saturday’s (Aug. 12) summer fun with memorable sets across both stages. Fans sang along to Peytan Porter, Jake Worthington, Hailey Whitters, Mitchell Tenpenny, Dylan Scott and more, keeping the festivities flowing on the main stage until headliner Aldean closed out the festival’s second night.

Sunday (Aug. 13) closed out the weekend with performances from Priscilla Block, Lindsay Ell, Randy Houser, Jelly Roll and more. As the sun set on Atlantic City Beach, country legends Brooks & Dunn took the stage to sing some of the biggest hits of their lengthy discography, ending the second annual TidalWave Music Festival on a high note.

TidalWave also introduced fans to the genre’s most exciting new acts, bringing a stacked lineup to Next From Nashville Stage where the crowds gathered to catch performances buzz-worthy newcomers, including Megan Moroney, Ben Burgess, Madeline Edwards, MacKenzie Porter, Jake Worthington, Lauren Watkins and more. In the past the stage has hosted Chris Stapleton, Hardy, Sam Hunt, Cole Swindell, Kelsea Ballerini and more, marking it as a launchpad of country music.

Kameron Marlowe’s “Giving You Up” Goes Platinum

Breakout talent Kameron Marlowe was surprised with the news that his autobiographical debut release “Giving You Up” is RIAA-certified Platinum, signifying over 1 million units sold in the U.S.

The self-penned track was originally released independently and tells the story of a life-changing breakup. The experience sparked Marlowe’s commitment to songwriting and making music his way of life, giving way to one of country music’s most recognizable new voices and entertainers.

“Giving You Up” was produced by Brad Hill and appears on Marlowe’s debut album We Were Cowboys.

 

CMHOF Recognizes Lorianne Crook In Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum recognized acclaimed radio and television host Lorianne Cook at its 15th annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum in the museum’s Ford Theater. During an in-depth interview with museum writer-editor Angela Stefano Zimmer, Crook discussed her more than 40 years in media.

Crook is one half of the hosting duo Crook & Chase, as well as a television and radio producer and writer. She began her television career at Wichita Falls, Texas’ KAUZ-TV and Nashville’s WKRN-TV where she wrote, produced and hosted two national award-winning health and medical documentaries as well as the nightly entertainment news program PM Magazine.

In 1983, country music television producer Jim Owens (whom Crook married in 1985) enlisted Crook and fellow television personality Charlie Chase to co-host a weekly country music entertainment television show, This Week In Country Music, first syndicated and then on The Nashville Network. Crook and Chase currently co-host and produce a weekly radio show for iHeart Media/Premiere Networks and a podcast. Crook is the president of Jim Owens Entertainment, Inc. which owns and manages the Crook & Chase programming and archives, as well as the TNN brand and more than 10,000 hours of its historic country music television and radio programming.

The program at CMHOF and museum was filmed and will be available to stream on the museum’s website later this year.

The Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum is supported by Gibson Gives. The philanthropic arm of Gibson, the iconic American instrument brand, Gibson Gives has a strong focus on supporting the global music community.

 

UTA Takes Over Whiskey Jam For Summer Concert Series

With a lineup featuring Tyler Hubbard, Megan Moroney, Matt Stell and more, UTA’s takeover of Whiskey Jam brought out one of summer’s biggest crowds to the free show Tuesday night (Aug. 14).

Kidd G, Alana Springsteen, Chrase Wright and Graham Barham rounded out the night’s performers for a fan-packed parking lot concert hosted by John Crist to help close out the summer.

 

McBride & The Ride Celebrate Their Record Release at Ole Red

McBride & The Ride celebrated the release of their new record Marlboros & Avon at Ole Red in Nashville. The band returned to the scene with three part harmonies on their five song project, and thrilled fans with an hour set of their hits.

The reunited trio—Terry McBride, Ray Herndon and Billy Thomas—beamed about how much fun they are having writing, recording and touring together, and were joined onstage by Bruce Boutin on steel.

The night became a reunion party for some of the MCA Records ’90s team with producer Tony Brown introducing the band and Renee Bell, Rhonda Adkins and Rosey Fitchpatrick reminiscing. Other industry members at the party included Patrick Clifford, Wade Hayes, Dylan Altman, Mark Harris, Marla CAnnon Goodman, Bill Vaughn, Brian Mansfield, Sloan Shore, Dolly Chandler, Brice Long and Jennifer Oldham.

 

CMHOF Hosts A Conversation With Rhiannon Giddens

This weekend, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted a conversation with Rhiannon Giddens. The museum historian-editor Patrick Huber led the conversation which was interspersed with musical performances.

Giddens is a Grammy-winning singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist. She is the recipient of a MacArthur “Genius Grant” and won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Music in Omar, the opera she co-wrote about a Senagalese Muslim enslaved in antebellum Charleston. Her latest album, You’re The One, will be released this month.

She first gained fame as member of the acclaimed stringband Carolina Chocolate Drops. Since 2014, she has pursued a variety of musical projects, including as a member of Our Native Daughters and as a collaborator with Italian musician Francesco Turrisi on They’re Calling Me Home, winner of the 2021 Grammy for Best Folk Album.

Giddens composed the score for Lucy Negro Redux, a ballet about the “Dark Lady” in Shakespeare’s sonnets which toured nationwide and was featured on PBS’s Great Performances. 

The program was offered in support of the museum’s exhibition American Currents: State of the Music. It was filmed and will premiere at a later date as part of the museum’s Live at the Hall digital program series, available to stream on the museum’s’ website.

SoundExchange has filed a lawsuit against SiriusXM, in order to “recover substantial unpaid royalties and late fees owed under the Copyright Act for the use of sound recordings on the satellite streaming service,” according to an announcement from the organization. SoundExchange alleges that SiriusXM has withheld more than $150 million in unpaid royalties over the past several years, in their estimation.

SoundExchange is also seeking other unpaid royalties that they claim were revealed in an audit showing that SiriusXM had taken certain “improper deductions to reduce its calculation of satellite radio royalties.”

“It is extremely unfortunate that we must bring this action on behalf of creators against SiriusXM,” says Michael Huppe, President & CEO of SoundExchange. “In recent years we have viewed SiriusXM as a willingly lawful and compliant company that shares our desire for a robust streaming marketplace. But SiriusXM has and continues to wrongfully exploit the rules to significantly underpay the satellite royalties that it owes. It is only because our repeated efforts to resolve this dispute have failed that we are forced to litigate on behalf of artists and rights owners upon whose hard work SiriusXM has built its business.”

To view the official filing, click here.

In a statement shared with MusicRow, SiriusXM shared, We were surprised to see the press release from SoundExchange that it had filed a suit against SiriusXM this morning in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. SiriusXM has always respected the rights of creators and artists, and over the past ten years has paid SoundExchange royalties of over $5 billion dollars. Today, royalty payments from SiriusXM represent over 80% the statutory royalties that SoundExchange distributes to record labels and performers.

At the heart of today’s suit by SoundExchange are ordinary course disputes – an audit matter and an allocation of revenue from bundled products, specifically where subscribers pay for a package providing both our satellite radio product and the ability to stream our service. The regulations issued by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) governing SiriusXM’s royalty payments for satellite radio are carefully tailored with respect to such packages. The CRB requires SiriusXM to only pay royalties on revenue it earns for performances of sound recordings on its satellite service. Those same regulations require the Company to exclude from the royalty base revenue earned for activities that are covered by other licenses, including streaming.

SiriusXM has simply adhered to that clear regulatory framework, using a rigorous, tested and fair methodology to identify and allocate revenue for the streaming component of its bundled packages—a methodology completely consistent with precedent from the CRB. Furthermore, SiriusXM has been transparent with SoundExchange from the start on its methodology.

While we are disappointed with the actions taken by SoundExchange today, we remain committed to paying artists fairly for their work, and will continue to work collaboratively with SoundExchange, as we have for decades, to ensure they are paid properly under the governing regulations.”

Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top will be presented with BMI’s coveted Troubadour Award during a private reception at BMI’s Nashville office on Monday, Sept. 18.

The prestigious accolade recognizes Gibbons as a songwriter who has made a profound impact on the creative community and set the pace for generations to follow. As the chief songwriter for ZZ Top, Gibbons’ credits include iconic hits such as “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” “Cheap Sunglasses” and “La Grange,” the lead single from ZZ Top’s Tres Hombres album that catapulted the trio into mainstream success 50 years ago.

“With a career spanning several decades, Billy has penned an array of timeless hits that have left an indelible mark on the music industry,” says BMI’s VP of Creative Nashville Clay Bradley. “His ability to craft lyrics that resonate with audiences across generations is a testament to his songwriting prowess and he is the epitome of what the BMI Troubadour Award represents.”

The night will include unforgettable tribute performances and commemorative speeches by special guests during a cocktail reception and dinner. Gibbons joins the ranks of past Troubadour Award recipients including John Hiatt, John Prine, Robert Earl Keen and Lucinda Williams. Falling on the eve of AmericanaFest, the night serves as a homecoming for BMI’s Americana family of artists.

Gibbons has been an essential part of the American musical landscape since ZZ Top formed back in 1969. Regarded as one of the world’s finest guitarist players, Gibbons’ distinct style helped form ZZ Top’s signature sound and has resonated throughout all genres. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band has released 15 studio albums, and sold more than 50 million records worldwide.

Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 35th annual MusicRow Awards, we take a closer look at the Female Artist of the Year category. This category is voted on by MusicRow’s subscribers to honor outstanding achievements by a Nashville female artist during the eligibility period.

This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Presenting Sponsor of the 2023 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

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. 18 at 5:00 p.m.

To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscriber here.

Kelsea Ballerini broke new ground this past year with the released of her fourth album, Subject To Change. The first single “Heartfirst,” quickly took over airwaves as the most added song at country radio, was certified Gold by the RIAA and earned Ballerini a Grammy nomination for Best Country Solo Performance. Soon after releasing Subject To Change, Ballerini surprised fans with the release of her intimate sixsong EP Rolling Up the Welcome Mat. The EP, along with an accompanying short film written and directed by Ballerini, became an instant hit with fans and debuted to universal acclaim from critics. On the heels of the EP’s success, Ballerini made her Saturday Night Live debut on March 4, 2023. After the Grand Ole Opry member wrapped a stint as special guest on Kenny Chesney’s “I Go Back 2023 Tour.” She sold-out three legs of her exclusive headlining “Heartfirst Tour.” Her tune “If You Go Down (I’m Going Down Too)” continues to climb at country radio.

Miranda Lambert is the most-awarded artist in ACM history and has notched 11 No. 1 hit radio singles, more than 70 prestigious awards and countless sales certifications. Her eighth solo album, Palomino, arrived in 2022 as the largest female country album debut of the year and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album. Lambert also became a New York Times best-selling author this year with her first book, Y’all Eat Yet. With her headlining “Velvet Rodeo Las Vegas” residency extended through late 2023 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino’s Bakkt Theater, the top streaming female country artist of 2022 was also named to the TIME100 list honoring the world’s most influential people. She is also the first female artist to have her own venue on Broadway in Nashville with her Casa Rosa Tex-Mex cantina. An avid animal lover, Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation has raised over $8 million since its inception in 2009.

Grammy, CMA and ACM award winner Ashley McBryde elevated her artistry this year with the release of her collaborative project Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville. The album earned McBryde a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album, making her a six-time nominee. She will release her next studio album The Devil I Know in September, which features the chart-climbing lead single “Light On In The Kitchen.” The now Grand Ole Opry member hit the scene with her 2018 major label debut Girl Going Nowhere. Her follow-up, Never Will, was the only album nominated for Country Album of the Year by the ACMs, CMAs and the Recording Academy in the same award season. Her Grammy-winning duet with Carly Pearce, “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” went all the way to No. 1 and earned McBryde and Pearce a CMA, ACM and Grammy award. McBryde is currently on the road with Jelly Roll and recently announced “The Devil I Know” tour.

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Carly Pearce raised the bar industry-wide with her critically acclaimed and commercially lauded third studio album 29: Written in Stone, which earned her third and fourth No. 1 hits with “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” featuring Ashley McBryde and “What He Didn’t Do.” Her duet with McBryde went on to win both the ACM and CMA Music Event of the Year, Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the Grammys and it became the third duet between two solo women to top Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. The Grand Ole Opry and Kentucky Music Hall of Fame member recently started her next musical chapter with “We Don’t Fight Anymore,” featuring Chris Stapleton, which earned her the biggest add date of her career thus far. Pearce will hit the road in October on her “Country Music Made Me Do It Tour.”

Carrie Underwood is a multi-format, multi-media superstar, spanning achievements in music, television and film, and as a New York Times bestselling author and successful entrepreneur. She has sold more than 85 million records worldwide and recorded 28 No. 1 singles–14 of which she co-wrote. She is the most-awarded female country artist for singles in RIAA history and has seven albums that are certified multi-Platinum or Platinum by the RIAA, with over 72 million total RIAA certifications to date, all while continuing to sell out arena tours across North America and the UK. Underwood released her most recent album, Denim & Rhinestones, in 2022, and she also recently completed her 43-city U.S. arena tour, “The Denim & Rhinestones Tour.” In addition to becoming the first artist to perform at the new Resorts World Theatre with her ongoing “Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency,” Underwood just launched her exclusive year-round SiriusXM channel, Carrie’s Country. Her deluxe edition of Denim & Rhinestones, featuring six new tracks, will be out on Sept. 22.

Breakout star Lainey Wilson was the leading female nominee and winner at the 2023 ACM awards with Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of The Year, Visual Media and Musical Event of the Year. She’s also the reigning CMA 2022 Female Vocalist and New Artist of the Year. After landing her first No. 1 with her Platinum-certified ACM Song of the Year, “Things A Man Oughta Know,” Wilson has revisited the top of the charts with the two-week No. 1 hit “Never Say Never” with Cole Swindell, as well as her third and fourth No. 1 songs with “Heart Like a Truck” and collaboration with Hardy, “Wait In The Truck.” Her critically acclaimed album, Bell Bottom Country, reached No. 9 on Billboard’s Country Albums Chart, quickly rose to No. 1 on iTunes charts and has amassed over 350 million streams to date. Most recently, she made her acting debut in Season 5 of the smash hit series Yellowstone as a musician character named Abby.