DISClaimer Single Reviews: Carly Pearce Proves Again That She Was ‘Born To Wear A Country Crown’

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Photo: Courtesy of Big Machine Records

The most noteworthy country music tracks in this edition of DISClaimer are collaborations.

They’re all pretty unusual. Hip-hopper Flo Rida is with Russell Dickerson, Will Hoge is joined by his fellow country “outsiders” of the Black Opry. Billy Ray Cyrus is singing along with pop singer Firerose. Old Dominion has forged an audio partnership with Megan Moroney. Old Crow Medicine show is making merry with Sierra Ferrell, and Morgan Wade is steaming things up with her hot girlfriend. 

Carly Pearce is known as a willing collaborator (Lee Brice, Ashley McBryde, Matthew West, Patty Loveless, Chris Stapleton), but she’s flying solo on the Disc of the Day, “Country Music Made Me Do It.” Kasey Tyndall, also a solo, wins the DISCovery Award.

KYLIE MORGAN / “A Few Hearts Ago”
Writers: Kylie Morgan/Casey Brown/James McNair; Producer: Casey Brown; Label: EMI Nashville
– Pop-ish, pretty and lively. There’s a lot of audio compression and electronics going on here, but her vocal still cuts through. Despite missteps and past failures, she finds romance with a hopeful heart.

CHASE RICE / “Bench Seat”
Writer: Chase Rice; Producer: Oscar Charles; Label: Broken Bow Records
– This is a touching ballad about a man and his dog. Its video is a cautionary tale about suicide that is becoming a film-festival favorite. As usual, Rice sings with conviction.

KASEY TYNDALL / “Dirt Road to Hell”
Writers: Kasey Tyndall/Faren Rachels/Gary Garris/Josh Mirenda/Nick Columbia/Reid Haughton; Producer: Derek Wells; Label: River House Artists
– He’s been fooling around, and boy is she pissed off. The country rocker blazes with fiery attitude. The track is thunderous and overwhelming.

CARLY PEARCE / “Country Music Made Me Do It”
Writers: Carly Pearce/Josh Osborne/Shane McAnally; Producers: Carly Pearce/Josh Osborne/Shane McAnally; Label: Big Machine Records
– Charming. This lilting, endearing performance is an ode to the soundtrack of her life, and Pearce sings every note with truth and authenticity. She was born to wear a country crown.

RHIANNON GIDDENS / “Too Little, Too Late, Too Bad”
Writers: Rhiannon Giddens/Dirk Powell; Producer: Jack Splash; Label: Nonesuch
– Giddens takes a left turn and attempts Aretha-style soul music. She doesn’t really have the voice for it. Pass.

OLD DOMINION & MEGAN MORONEY / “Can’t Break Up Now”
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Nicely done. The voices blend well on this well-crafted power ballad about how two souls are too intertwined to separate. It might not be hit material, but it’s smooth listening all the way.

HEARTLAND / “No Tomorrow”
Writers: Brett Beavers/Adam Sanders/Jordan Schmidt; Producer: Jimmy Ritchie; Label: Yellowhammer
– Since the heyday of “I Loved Her First,” the group has acquired a new lead singer. This live-for-today anthem is their first new single in more than 10 years. On it, the band’s harmonies are still potent, and the production is just as polished as ever. Well worth your spins.

JESSI COLTER / “Standing on the Edge of Forever”
Writer: Jessi Colter; Producer: Margo Price; Label: Appalachia Record Co.
– This is a snappy, gospel-ish country rocker with cool wah-wah guitar, soul-sister backing vocals, organ-piano underpinning and an echoey lead vocal. A welcome return for the legendary, outlaw-country queen.

MORGAN WADE / “Fall In Love With Me”
Writer: Morgan Wade; Producer: Sadler Vaden; Label: Ladylike Records/RCA Nashville
– Bopping and cheerful. It makes falling in love sound like the easiest, most pleasant thing in the world. The video is a smiling, erotic outing featuring Wade as a seductress.

RUSSELL DICKERSON & FLO RIDA / “Beauty and the Beach”
Writers: Russell Dickerson/Ashley Gorley/Jon Nite/Ben Johnson; Producers: Ben Johnson/Johnny Reno; Label: Triple Tigers
– Dickerson’s current single is the ultra-country romance tune “God Gave Me A Girl.” This new tempo track has a hip-hop collaborator, but you can’t take the country outta this guy. A summertime good time.

BILLY RAY CYRUS & FIREROSE / “Plans”
Writer: Diane Warren; Producer: Justin Morgan; Label: Kind Music Group
– This wooshy, romantic pop ballad is pretty much a female solo performance with barely-there vocal backing by the Nashville star.

WILL HOGE & BLACK OPRY / “Can I Be Country Too?”
Writer: Will Hoge; Producer: Will Hoge; Label: EDLO Records
– Hoge’s chorus collaborators here are The Kentucky Gentlemen, Michael Allen, Cheryl Deseree, Carmen Dianne and the Any Way Collective. Everyone takes a turn on the lyric, which asks for inclusion and tolerance. If you read literature, don’t drive a pickup truck, can’t watch college football, aren’t a practicing Christian, vote Democratic, believe that Black Lives Matter, don’t drink beer on a tailgate, eat sushi rather than steak and are okay with gay marriage, can you still be “country?” Very catchy and very jolly. Proceeds benefit MusiCares.

OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW & SIERRA FERRELL / “Belle Meade Cockfight”
Writers: Ketch Secor/Mason Via/Matt Ross-Spang; Producers: Old Crow Medicine Show/Matt Ross-Spang/Sally Williams; Label: ATO Records
– Old Crow had a blow-out album-release party at the new Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery this week. The collection is titled Jubilee. This fabulously hillbilly track from it features dynamic show-woman Ferrell kicking up her heels on a winking, hilarious hoedown with the Opry’s star string band. A bluegrassy, old-timey delight.

Leo33 Adds Tracy Gibson As Director Of Promotion & Marketing

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Tracy Gibson

Nashville-based independent record label Leo33 has hired radio veteran Tracy Gibson as Director of Promotion and Marketing.

With an impressive career spanning over a decade in marketing, artist relations and more, the North Carolina native brings a unique perspective and proven track record of success to the Leo33 family. She began her entertainment career at Clear Channel and eventually became Promotions Director for WHQC and WKKT in Charlotte as part of iHeartRadio. From there she joined the Audacy Radio Cluster in Houston, Texas as Marketing and Promotions Director.

Her marketing campaigns and event execution played a pivotal role in expanding the station’s reach and enhancing its brand presence garnering Gibson accolades such as the prestigious Houston Employee of the Year award in 2018. Most recently, Gibson served as Director, Regional Promotion for Big Machine Records working with artists like Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Carly Pearce, Midland, Jackson Dean and Callista Clark.

“I am absolutely thrilled and honored to join Leo33,” says Gibson. “My journey has been fueled by a deep-rooted passion for marketing, promotions and driving artist exposure. I am so excited to be on the Leo33 team and help contribute to its vibrant future.”

“Tracy’s experience in radio and marketing coupled with her unwavering passion and strategic acumen perfectly align with our label’s innovative spirit,” shares Katie Dean, Head of Leo33. “We are confident that Tracy will play a vital role in shaping the future of Leo33.”

Hardy, Lori McKenna, More Join Lineup For 6th Annual Nashville Songwriter Awards

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Ernest, Nicolle Galyon, Hardy and Lori McKenna are set to perform at the upcoming 6th annual Nashville Songwriter Awards presented by City National Bank on Sept. 26 at the Ryman Auditorium.

Honoring the top songs and songwriters of 2022, the night is dedicated to the creation of song, and will be packed with performances and feature segments sharing stories behind each of the songs and honorees celebrated.

Previously announced performers include Trannie Anderson, Renee Blair, Ben Johnson, Tracy Lawrence, Megan Moroney, Hunter Phelps, Emily Shackelton, Blake Shelton, Cole Swindell, and Dallas Wilson.

Each year NSAI also honors a few individuals who have immensely impacted the songwriting community or profession as a whole, and this year three individuals have been announced as recipients. Legendary songwriter Bobby Braddock will be presented with the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award, Tim McGraw will be honored with the NSAI President’s Keystone Award, and NMPA President and CEO, David Israelite, will receive NSAI’s Advocacy Award. Additional awards of the night go to the ‘Songwriter’ and ‘Songwriter-Artist of the Year,’ as well as the peer-voted ‘Song of the Year’ and ’10 Songs I Wish I’d Written’ awards.

Tickets are currently available for purchase at ryman.com.

Nashville Festivals & Stadium Shows Generate Millions In Visitor Spending For Summer 2023

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Fireworks from the Let Freedom Sing! 2023 celebration. Photo: Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp/Alan Poizner

Nashville’s live music events this year elevated the local economy and generated millions of dollars in visitor spending for the city.

Events like CMA Fest and Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th and giant stadium shows from Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and George Strait all served as catalysts for strong leisure demand and bolstered the city’s tourism numbers.

Additionally, the NHL Draft and the NHL Awards in June and SEC Media Days in July continued to expand Nashville’s stature as a sports city and both brought national TV coverage on ESPN, TNT, the SEC Network and more – with the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville being the most viewed on record. Both CMA Fest and Let Freedom Sing! were nationally broadcasted as well.

“The summer was chock-full of live music and brought visitors from all over the world to Music City, helping bolster the city’s economic activity,” says Deana Ivey, President & CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC). “The city welcomed stadium tours and music events that drove hotel demand to new heights, along with visitation and exposure for the city.”

Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th generated $11.6 million in estimated direct visitor spending for the city. An estimated 250,000 attendees came to Nashville for the free downtown concert and fireworks show, and the event drove hotel room demand on July 4th with an eight percent increase over last year.

Swift’s three-night stand at Nissan Stadium for “The Eras Tour” in May amassed nearly 212,000 people in total. At the time of her performance, Swift set a record for most attendees at Nissan Stadium for a single event each night with 71,000 attendees on Sunday, May 7. Hotel occupancy was through the roof all three nights, notably 96 percent on Saturday, May 6, which was 26 percent higher year over year. The three days combined brought in an estimated $2.2 million in hotel taxes alone.

In July, Sheeran performed at the Ryman Auditorium before setting an attendance record at Nissan Stadium with 73,874 fans on Saturday, July 22, breaking Swift’s recent record. Daily hotel occupancy in the county was 91 percent, up 15 percent year over year.

When Strait performed with Chris Stapleton for two nights in front of sold-out crowds at Nissan Stadium, hotel room demand for these two nights was just as strong as the Swift weekend.

CMA Fest produces the highest level of direct spending of any annual tourism event held in Nashville, with estimated Director Visitor Spend at $74.7 million, an increase from the previous year. The festival saw the number of hotel rooms sold increase three percent from last year and hotel revenue increased by 7.4 percent with an average length of stay of 4.9 nights. 61 percent of visitors said this was their first-time attending CMA Fest, an increase from 2022. The event also saw an increase in international visitors at nine percent.

More highlights from the Nashville CVC’s CMA Fest survey results:

  • Average spend in the city’s economy per traveling party: $3,244
  • Average size of traveling party: 3.3
  • Average length of stay: 4.9 nights
  • First-time attendees: 61%
  • Likely to attend next year: 94%
  • International visitors: 9%
  • Accommodations: 69% chose hotels; 15% chose short-term home rentals
  • Top five feeder states of visitors: Florida, New York, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio
  • Attendees likely to recommend to others from a scale of 0 (not likely) to 10 (very likely): 9.5

Brett Eldredge To Release 10th Anniversary Edition Of ‘Bring You Back’

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Brett Eldredge is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his 2013 debut album, Bring You Back, by releasing a special edition of the project. The collection is currently available for preorder.

In honor of the anniversary, a new song from the vault, “Adios Old Friend – 10 Year Anniversary Bonus Track,” has been unveiled today (Aug. 17). Written by Eldredge and Jon Randall, the song was recorded in 2013, but was never released. Bring You Back was the breakout album for the crooner and yielded three No. 1s, including “Don’t Ya,” “Beat of the Music” and “Mean To Me.”

In addition to the new track, fans can experience From The Vault: Bring You Back (10 Year Anniversary Concert), available now. The mini- concert features a mix of hits and album cuts including the powerful “One Mississippi.”

CRS360 To Explore Country’s Mid-Year Surge

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Country Radio Seminar will hold the latest installment of its CRS360 webinar series, “Moment-Us: Leveraging Country’s Growth,” on Wednesday, Aug. 23, at 1 p.m. CT.

The session will provide a comprehensive mid-year analysis of the country industry’s surge in 2023. Moderated by Chuck Aly from Country Aircheck, the panel will feature industry members including Bruce Logan from WIRK/West Palm Beach, Fla., Marc Dennis from CAA and Rachel Whitney from Spotify.

The event will feature an engaging discussion with industry leaders exploring the strategies, trends and opportunities that have contributed to the current growth of the country format. Industry professionals are invited to join the informative session where experts from various sectors—radio, touring and streaming—will delve into the factors driving the genre’s success. The panelists will discuss the strategies that have been effective, areas that have shown remarkable growth and the potential avenues that lie ahead for continued expansion.

“As we reach the midway point of 2023, the surge in country music’s popularity and influence is undeniable,” says CRS Executive Director RJ Curtis. “This edition of CRS360 will provide a platform for experts to dissect this growth, share insights, and inspire collaborative efforts that will shape the genre’s future trajectory.”

Participation in the webinar is free, but registration is mandatory. Interested attendees can secure their spot by registering here.

Early Bird Registration for CRS 2024 officially opens on Aug. 29, and individuals interested in attending are encouraged to take advantage of the One-Day Only Early Bird Rate of just $599, available only on Tuesday, Aug. 29. After August 29, the registration rate will increase to $699. Registration will be accessible via the official CRS website.

2023 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Group/Duo Artist Of The Year

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Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 35th annual MusicRow Awards, we take a closer look at the Group/Duo Artist of the Year category. This category is voted on by MusicRow’s subscribers to honor outstanding achievements by a Nashville Group or Duo 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.

The reigning CMA and ACM Duo of the Year winners, Brothers Osborne are connected by not just blood, but also a lifetime of performing together. The siblings, John and TJ, took home their first Grammy in 2022, winning Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their song “Younger Me,” inspired by TJ’s recent coming out. The song is featured on the deluxe version of their Grammy-nominated album, Skeletons. The band has been nominated for 10 Grammys in total, standing as a five-time CMA Vocal Duo of the Year and a four-time ACM Duo of the Year. Their critically acclaimed hit songs have tallied multiple RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications, while surpassing more than 2.7 billion global streams. Brothers Osborne’s upcoming, self-titled fourth studio album is set to release in September and features the chart-climbing single “Nobody’s Nobody.” The duo’s latest headlining “We’re Not For Everyone Tour” hit more than 50 markets.

Award-winning group, Little Big Town first entered the music scene over 20 years ago. Comprised of Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook, the band has celebrated multiple No. 1 singles, including “Pontoon,” “Tornado” and “Day Drinking,” as well as the history-making, best-selling country single of 2015 “Girl Crush” and the Grammy-winning, multi-week No. 1 single “Better Man.” The band’s self-produced ninth studio album Nightfall was released January 2020 and hit the top of the Billboard Country Charts. The record included critically acclaimed and Grammy nominated “The Daughters,” “Over Drinking” and “Wine, Beer, Whiskey.” Little Big Town has earned more than 45 award show nominations and has taken home nearly 20 awards, including multiple Grammy, AMA, People’s Choice, CMA and ACM Awards, in addition to an Emmy Award. Their 10th studio album Mr. Sun debuted as the Top Country Album by a group in 2022.

Since Maddie & Tae broke onto the scene in 2013 with their Platinum-selling smash, “Girl In A Country Song,” the duo’s Maddie Font and Tae Kerr have charmed fans with their tight harmonies, unbreakable bond and honest songwriting. In 2022, the two released volumes 1 and 2 of their Through The Madness projects, which follows their No. 1 debuting The Way It Feels album, including the 3-times Platinum-certified No. 1 hit, “Die From A Broken Heart.” With “Die From A Broken Heart” topping the country airplay charts, Maddie & Tae became the first and only female twosome with multiple No. 1s. They took home Group/Duo Video of the Year at the 2022 CMT Music Awards and were nominated an eighth time for Vocal Duo of the Year at the 56th CMA Awards. Maddie & Tae’s headlining “All Song No Static Tour” sold out major markets coast-to-coast in 2022, with additional shows extending through spring of 2023. The duo recently started a new chapter of music with the release of their new track, “Heart They Didn’t Break.

Old Dominion has carved out a space for themselves at the forefront of country music with their clever lyrics and an infectious sound created by members Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi, Whit Sellers and Geoff Sprung. Since breaking onto the music scene, the band has notched nine No. 1 singles at country radio, surpassed five billion ondemand streams, earned a dozen RIAA Platinum and Gold single certifications and headlined arenas and amphitheaters around the globe. The band are currently the reigning sixtime Academy of Country Music and five-time Country Music Association Group of the Year. Old Dominion’s 8-song Memory Lane EP was released in June, and its title track recently topped the charts. They are currently out on the road on their “No Bad Vibes Tour,” which has sold out multiple dates and spread the joy found in Old Dominion hits.

The last few years for Parmalee have been nothing short of career years. The band—comprised of brothers Matt Thomas and Scott Thomas, along with their cousin Barry Knox and friend Josh McSwain—first topped the charts in 2013 with “Carolina.” The band didn’t return to the chart pinnacle until 2021 with their Platinum-certified “Just The Way” with Blanco Brown. They followed its massive success with “Take My Name,” which was Billboard’s Most Played Country Song of 2022. Their latest single “Girl In Mine” is Top 10 and climbing. Back in radio’s good graces, Parmalee recently announced they will release a new album, For You 2, in September. With a full slate of summer festivals and amphitheaters, Parmalee will take their hit-packed set on tour with Grammy Award winners Train, later this summer. In July, the band celebrated the tenth anniversary of their Grand Ole Opry debut.

Founded in 2014 by the husband-and-wife duo Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, The War And Treaty have emerged as one of the most electrifying new acts in American music. Earning respect, they’ve gone on to appear as top-flight collaborators, and have been recognized by the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry and the Americana Music Association as 2022 Duo/Group of the Year. The duo have dominated stages across the globe including North America, Europe, Italy, Australia, and Ireland, while headlining their own shows and opening for a diverse group of living legends such as Al Green, Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, John Legend, Lauren Daigle and Van Morrison among them. The War And Treaty released their major label debut album Lover’s Game in March. The Dave Cobb-produced project included fan-favorites “Dumb Luck,” “Blank Page,” “That’s How Love Is Made” and “Have You A Heart.”

Tape Room Partners With Red Light Ventures & Firebird Music

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Tape Room’s Ashley Gorley and Red Light’s Coran Capshaw

Ashley Gorley‘s Tape Room Music has established a strategic partnership with Red Light Ventures and Firebird Music, with the two purchasing over 350 exploited songs from various Tape Room Publishing catalogs as part of the transaction. Included in the catalog sale are hits such as “Body Like A Back Road” by Sam Hunt, “Do I Make You Wanna” by Billy Currington, “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset” by Luke Bryan, “One Of Them Girls” by Lee Brice, “Thinking ‘Bout You” by Dustin Lynch featuring MacKenzie Porter and more.

Since Tape Room’s inception, the award-winning publisher has celebrated nearly 40 No.1 radio hits and earned three Grammy nominations, three CMA Song of the Year nominations and numerous ASCAP and BMI awards. Most recently, “Buy Dirt” won the 2022 CMA Song of the Year and Zach Crowell, Hunter Phelps and Ben Johnson received CMA Triple Play awards, a coveted honor awarded to songwriters for penning three No. 1 country songs in a twelve month period. Phelps celebrated his first nominations for Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year with Hardy’s “Wait In The Truck” (featuring Lainey Wilson) at this year’s ACM Awards.

Going forward, the companies will work together to build on Tape Room’s success.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with two of the most successful, forward-thinking companies in our industry,” shares Blain Rhodes, President at Tape Room.

“We are excited to partner with Ashley and the world-class team at Tape Room,” adds Coran Capshaw, Founder at Red Light.

Tape Room was represented by Loeb & Loeb LLC, with Loeb attorneys Derek Crownover, John Rolfe, Megan Pekar and Willie Jones handling the transaction. Red Light and Firebird were represented by Elliot Groffman of Carroll Guido Groffman Cohen Bar & Karalian, LLP.

In Pictures: TidalWave Music Festival Rocks Out Atlantic City

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TidalWave Music Festival. Photo: FlyHi Films

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.

Thomas Rhett performing at TidalWave Music Festival. Photo: Alive Coverage

Cole Swindell performing at TidalWave Music Festival. Photo: Alive Coverage

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.

Jason Aldean performing at TidalWave Music Festival. Photo: Alive Coverage

Hailey Whitters performing at TidalWave Music Festival. Photo: Alive Coverage

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.

Brooks & Dunn performing at TidalWave Music Festival. Photo: Braden Carney

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.

Jelly Roll performing at TidalWave Music Festival. Photo: Alive Coverage

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.

Megan Moroney performing at TidalWave Music Festival. Photo: Alive Coverage

2023 MusicRow Awards Category Profile: Male Artist Of The Year

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

Since the arrival of his self-titled, 2x Platinum debut album in December 2016, Kane Brown has continued to expand the perception of country music and break musical boundaries. Named to the Time100 list of the most influential people in the world, five time American Music Award winner Brown has over 13 billion streams, multiple multi-Platinum certifications, sold out arenas all across the world with more than four million tickets sold internationally, and made history as the first artist ever to lead all five of Billboard’s main country charts simultaneously. With the release of his most recent album, Different Man, Brown earned his ninth career No. 1 hit , the 3x ACM-nominated Platinum-selling single, “Thank God,” as well as hits with “Like I Love Country Music,” “One Mississippi” and “Bury Me in Georgia.” Brown earned his first-ever nomination for the ACM’s Entertainer of the Year this year and became the first Black artist to headline Boston’s iconic Fenway Park solo.

Reigning two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs has notched 16 consecutive No. 1 hits at country radio and over 337 million global streams to date. The Grand Ole Opry member is also an eight-time CMA, three-time ACM and threetime Billboard Music Award winner. He recently topped the charts with his version of Tracy Chapman’s Grammy Award-winning song, “Fast Car,” which was certified RIAA Platinum just 16 weeks after it was released. The track is from Combs’ fourth full-length album, Gettin’ Old, following Growin’ Up, 2019’s 3-time Platinum What You See is What You Get and his 4-time Platinum debut This One’s For You. Known for his electric live shows, Combs also recently expanded his massive sold-out “World Tour,” adding four new US stadium shows due to overwhelming demand. With 44 shows across three continents and 16 countries, the record-breaking run is the largest tour ever for a country artist. Partnered with Opry Entertainment Group, Combs plans to open a massive multilevel entertainment complex in downtown Nashville during summer of 2024.

Having just notched his sixth career No. 1 single and third multi-week No. 1 with “Next Thing You Know,” Jordan Davis is dominating the country scene. “Next Thing You Know” was Davis’ third consecutive multi-week No. 1 off of his Goldcertified sophomore album, Bluebird Days. His previous two singles from Bluebird Days, “What My World Spins Around” and “Buy Dirt” ft. Luke Bryan, were 3-week and 2-week No. 1s, respectively. This year, Davis has tallied multiple awards nominations and wins, including his first ACM Male Vocalist of the Year nomination. He was a finalist for Top Country Song at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards and earned a nomination for Musical Event of the Year at the 55th CMA Awards, as well as nominations for Music Event, Single and Song of the Year at the 57th ACM Awards, and AMA Award and iHeart Award nominations. He is the reigning winner for CMA Song of Year and earned a win for NSAI Song of the Year. Davis is currently out on the road on his headlining “Damn Good Time Tour.”

One of the country’s most respected and beloved musicians, Chris Stapleton celebrated a year full of achievements this past year. He was named Entertainer of the Year at the 58th ACM Awards, resulting in a prestigious ACM Triple Crown Award, an elite honor that has been presented to only seven country acts in the history of the Academy of Country Music Awards. He also won his sixth Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2022 CMA Awards, setting the record for most wins ever in the category, and gave a rousing performance of the National Anthem at Super Bowl LVII. Currently in the midst of his extensive “All American Road Show” tour, Stapleton recently announced his new album, Higher, will release in November. The new album follows 2020’s acclaimed Starting Over, which went on to win three awards at the 67th Annual Grammys–Best Country Album, Best Country Solo Performance (“You Should Probably Leave”) and Best Country Song (“Cold”) – in addition to earning Album of the Year honors at both the CMA and ACM Awards.

In the spring of 2022, Cole Swindell released his fourth studio album, Stereotype, to massive success. The project charted three back-to-back, Platinum-certified, multi-week No. 1 hits, including “Single Saturday Night,” “Never Say Never” (with Lainey Wilson) and, most recently, his five-week chart-topper “She Had Me At Heads Carolina.” The latter garnered three ACM Awards and an iHeart Music Award for Country Song of the Year. In 2022, Swindell spent a total of 27 weeks in the Top 5 of the country singles chart with “Never Say Never” (8 weeks) and “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” (21 weeks). In the 10 years since his debut on Warner Music Nashville, Swindell has racked up an impressive 12 No. 1 singles as an artist–13 as a songwriter–as well as 12 certified Platinum singles, two Platinum-certified albums and a Gold-certified album. He is currently out on the road on Thomas Rhett’s “Home Team Tour” and will headline again this fall on his “Twelve Tour.”

With over 18 billion on-demand streams and nine chart-toppers at country radio, Morgan Wallen has had unparalleled success since his debut in 2016. His second full-length project, Dangerous: The Double Album, topped 2021’s all-genre Billboard 200 Albums year-end chart and notched historical chart status as Billboard’s longest running Top 10 album in history for a solo artist. Wallen followed the 5-time Platinum, ACM Album of the Year with 2023’s 36-song, deeply personal third studio album, One Thing At A Time, which reigned atop the all-genre Billboard 200 chart for 12 consecutive weeks, the most weeks at No. 1 for a country album in over 30 years. Wallen recently became first artist to have three singles simultaneously in the top 10 on country radio with “Last Night,” “One Thing At A Time” and “Thought You Should Know.” He is currently on his “One Night At A Time World Tour,” crisscrossing the globe and breaking attendance records in his wake.