Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 38th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank, we take a closer look at the Group/Duo Artist of the Year category.
This category honors the achievements of a Nashville group or duo during the eligibility period.
This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
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. 14 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscriber here.
49 Winchester has continued its rise with the release of its sixth studio album, Change of Plans, its first project for Lucille Records/MCA. Produced by Dave Cobb, the album earned praise from Billboard, Rolling Stone, People and NPR while helping the band surpass 500 million career streams, 2 million monthly listeners and more than 10 million streams of the project. The Virginia-based six-piece recently joined Eric Church at Red Rocks Amphitheatre before kicking off their North American run with Tim McGraw. Later this year, 49 Winchester will headline its first-ever show at Freedom Hall Civic Center Arena in Johnson City, Tennessee, marking the band’s only homecoming performance of 2026. Formed by childhood friends Isaac Gibson and Chase Chafin, the ACM-nominated group has steadily grown from regional venues across Appalachia to sold-out headline shows and international touring, building one of country music’s strongest grassroots followings while remaining rooted in the songwriting and musicianship that first defined the band.
Brothers Osborne are building on one of the most decorated careers of any duo in country music. The duo has earned seven CMA Awards, seven ACM Awards and 13 Grammy nominations, including a nomination for Best Country Duo/ Group Performance in 2025. Brothers Osborne also received the ASCAP Vanguard Award in 2019. Their catalog has surpassed 3.4 billion global streams while producing multiple Gold and Platinum-certified hits. Last year, the duo released the four-song Break Mine EP before returning with their latest single, “Finish This Drink.” Beyond performing, John Osborne has become one of Nashville’s most sought-after producers, producing Ashley McBryde’s Lindeville along with recent projects for Grace Bowers and Caylee Hammack. On the road, the duo’s latest headlining tour “We’re Not For Everyone” hit more than 50 markets. Brothers Osborne are currently in the studio working on new music and they recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of their breakthrough album, Pawn Shop, the project that launched the duo’s career.
Dan + Shay have built one of the most commercially successful catalogs in modern country music. The duo has garnered more than 14 billion global streams and 139 worldwide Multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold certifications, including 60 RIAA awards in the US. Dan + Shay recently celebrated their 11th country radio No. 1 with the Grammy-nominated title track from their fifth studio album, Bigger Houses. The pair has collected 10 ACM Awards, eight American Music Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, three Grammy Awards, two CMA Awards and two People’s Choice Awards. In 2024, they also became the first coaching duo in the history of NBC’s The Voice. Their catalog includes the 5x Platinum Justin Bieber collaboration “10,000 Hours,” which spent 21 weeks atop the Hot Country Songs chart and surpassed 1 billion Spotify streams, along with “Speechless” and “Tequila,” certified 7x and 8x Platinum, respectively. The duo is gearing up for the release of their new album, Young, this month, and will embark on “The Young Tour” across North America in September.
Flatland Cavalry has expanded its reach from the Americana and country radio circuits to stages across the country. The six-piece recently released its fifth studio album, Work of Heart, while sending its debut country radio single, “Never Comin’ Back,” to stations across the country. The group has earned three consecutive ACM Group of the Year nominations, reached 1 billion global streams and notched seven No. 1 singles at Texas country radio. Flatland Cavalry’s music has also appeared across television and film, including Twisters, Paramount’s Yellowstone and Landman, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and Netflix’s The Ranch. On the road, the band has headlined months-long tours while also joining Willie Nelson, Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson. With vocals by Cleto Cordero, the group includes Jason Albers, Jonathan Saenz, Reid Dillon, Wesley Hall and Adam Gallegos.
Old Dominion added another major chapter to its career over the past year with the release of its sixth studio album, Barbara, and the band’s massive “How Good Is That – World Tour,” which included arena and amphitheater performances across the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Following the tour, Old Dominion returned to Las Vegas for a two-night “OLD DOMINION. HITS. VEGAS.” engagement at Planet Hollywood, celebrating the band’s career-spanning catalog. The group recently earned its 11th consecutive ACM Group of the Year nomination with eight ACM Group of the Year and seven CMA Group of the Year wins already under its belt. Between the ACM and CMA Awards, Old Dominion has earned more Group of the Year honors than any other group in country music history. Earlier this year, the band completed a seven-show residency at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, raising more than $1.25 million for seven charities. Since breaking onto the country music scene, Old Dominion has garnered nine No. 1 singles at country radio, more than six billion on-demand streams and a dozen RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications.
The Red Clay Strays reached another career milestone this year with the release of their third studio album, Grateful. Produced by Dave Cobb, the 11-track project follows the success of Made By These Moments and includes “Demons In Your Choir,” “People Hatin’” and “If I Didn’t Know You.” At the 61st ACM Awards, the Alabama band was crowned Group of the Year for the first time after earning New Duo or Group of the Year honors in 2025. The group also performed “Demons In Your Choir” during the awards show alongside a full gospel choir. The Red Clay Strays then launched their largest headline run to date with the “Grateful Tour ’26,” featuring arena stops at Madison Square Garden, TD Garden, Rogers Arena, Bridgestone Arena, State Farm Arena and MGM Grand Garden Arena. The band also performed at Stagecoach and CMA Fest and hosted a Grateful album release concert at Nashville’s Pinnacle benefiting Thistle Farms. Since breaking through with the 3x Platinum “Wondering Why,” The Red Clay Strays have continued to expand their audience.
2026 MusicRow Awards Nominees For Entertainer Of The Year
/by MusicRow StaffFollowing the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 38th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank, we take a closer look at the Entertainer of the Year category.
This category honors outstanding achievements by a Nashville artist during the eligibility period.
This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
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. 14 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscriber here.
Luke Combs added another historic year to his career. Last year, Combs became the first country artist to headline both Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, in addition to topping the bills at Austin City Limits, Newport Folk Festival and New Orleans JazzFest. He became the first country artist with two songs earning one billion streams on Spotify and, with the release of his recent album The Way I Am, became the highest-certified country artist in history with 168 certified tracks. He also became the first country artist to earn four RIAA Diamond-certified singles, adding another milestone to one of the genre’s most decorated commercial careers. The Grand Ole Opry member and 11x CMA, 4x ACM and 6x Billboard Music Award winner also partnered with Opry Entertainment Group to open Category 10 in downtown Nashville, with new locations planned for Las Vegas and Orlando. Combs has also collaborated with Post Malone, Bailey Zimmerman and Jon Bellion, and joined Alex Warren for a live performance of “Ordinary” at Lollapalooza.
Cody Johnson added several major career milestones over the past year. At the 2026 ACM Awards, Johnson was crowned Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year, bringing his career total to four ACM wins. Johnson’s catalog now spans six albums, including the 2024 CMA Album of the Year-winning Leather. The project also contained the ACM Song of the Year winner “Dirt Cheap.” He sold more than 400,000 concert tickets in 2025 and landed on Billboard’s Top 100 Tours list. Throughout his career, Johnson has also been recognized as a CMT Artist of the Year, won four CMA Awards and three CMT Music Awards, and was named Best New Country Artist at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. Johnson has also appeared on Today, The Kelly Clarkson Show and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Last summer, he co-hosted the threehour CMA Fest Presented by SoFi alongside Ashley McBryde.
Before moving to Nashville in 2019, Columbia Records’ Ella Langley cut her teeth playing bars and festivals throughout her home state of Alabama. After a few years in Music City, her 2023 debut EP Excuse the Mess introduced fan-favorite songs before she released her debut album, hungover, in 2024. She followed it with her 2026 sophomore album, Dandelion, which debuted at No. 1 and was executive produced by Langley alongside Miranda Lambert and Ben West. The album includes the 4× Platinum single “Choosin’ Texas” and the Platinum-certified “Be Her.” “Choosin’ Texas” spent 11 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the longest-running No. 1 by a woman with a country hit on the chart. The song also recorded six separate runs at No. 1 during a single release cycle while spending 29 weeks atop Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Langley is currently on her headlining “Dandelion Tour” after earning seven ACM Awards in 2026, including Female Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year and Musical Event of the Year alongside Riley Green for “Don’t Mind If I Do.”
Chris Stapleton has continued one of the most dominant runs in music with a landmark year. In 2026, he won the Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance for “Bad As I Used To Be,” earned six ACM Award nominations, the most of any male artist, and made history as the first country artist to achieve an RIAA Double Diamond certification when “Tennessee Whiskey” surpassed 20 million units sold. Stapleton is currently headlining his expansive “All-American Road Show”, playing major stadiums and iconic venues across North America while sharing the stage with an acclaimed lineup of special guests. Over the past year, he released “Heart Letting Go” for Netflix’s Nobody Wants This, “A Song To Sing” with Miranda Lambert, and “Bad As I Used To Be” from F1 The Album, while celebrating the 10th anniversary of his landmark debut, Traveller. He also recently made a television appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert where he covered Willie Nelson’s “Living in the Promiseland.”
Morgan Wallen added another record-breaking chapter to his career in 2026. His fourth studio album, I’m The Problem, debuted at No. 1 globally across seven countries and spent 13 non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard 200. At release, all 37 tracks charted on the Billboard Hot 100, allowing Wallen to break his own record for the most simultaneous entries in the chart’s history. The project has already produced six No. 1 singles at country radio, including the title track, which spent eight weeks atop the chart. Wallen’s previous albums, Dangerous: The Double Album and One Thing At A Time, have each spent more than 100 weeks in the Billboard 200 Top 10, making him the first artist to accomplish the feat. He recently concluded his 23-stadium “Still The Problem Tour 2026.” A portion of every ticket sold continues to benefit the Morgan Wallen Foundation, supporting youth music and athletic programs.
Lainey Wilson continued the Whirlwind era in 2025 with the release of the album’s deluxe edition, featuring five additional tracks, including her No. 1 single “Somewhere Over Laredo.” The Louisiana native carried that momentum into 2026 by headlining Stagecoach, launching a run of stadium shows with Chris Stapleton and becoming the subject of the Netflix documentary Lainey Wilson: Keepin’ Country Cool. At the 2025 CMA Awards, Wilson became the first solo female host since Reba McEntire in 1991 while winning Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for Whirlwind. A member of the Grand Ole Opry, Wilson has earned nine No. 1 singles, including “Heart Like a Truck,” “Watermelon Moonshine,” “Wildflowers and Wild Horses,” “4x4xU” and “Somewhere Over Laredo,” and more. She also earned three nominations at the 2026 Grammy Awards for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance for “Somewhere Over Laredo,” as well as Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Trailblazer,” her collaboration with Reba McEntire and Miranda Lambert. Wilson recently released her latest single, “Phone Keys Wallet,” featuring John Mayer.
Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, More Among 2026 Global Citizen Festival Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughThe festival will take place on Central Park’s Great Lawn, and will be hosted by Hugh Jackman, and feature appearances by Rachel Brosnahan and Gayle King, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.
Following the success of the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show, which was produced by Global Citizen and helped raise $60 million for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, this year’s festival will help solve three core issues perpetuating cycles of extreme poverty across the world: create opportunities for 2 million children to go to school, support 1.5 million smallholder farmers, and provide electricity for 2.5 million homes.
Tickets to the Global Citizen Festival are free and can be earned by taking action on these issues on the Global Citizen app or at globalcitizenfestival.com. This year, global citizens have a new way to take action and secure tickets to the Global Citizen Festival. After completing their action journeys on the Global Citizen app and earning enough points, users can now choose between two ways to redeem them: enter the free ticket lottery, or make a $25 charitable donation to instantly secure their ticket.
Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum Elevates Two
/by Lauryn SinkKelly Campbell & Becca D’Hilly. Photo: Courtesy of CMHOFM
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has elevated two staff members.
Kelly Campbell has been elevated to Associate Director of Brand Marketing. In this role, she oversees marketing strategy, paid media, brand-focused marketing campaigns including exhibitions, digital content, public programs and educational initiatives. Campbell joined the museum’s marketing team in 2021 and most recently served as Senior Marketing Manager. Her prior experience includes media buying at Nashville area advertising agencies and market research at Sinclair Broadcast Group. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and information from the University of Tennessee.
Becca D’Hilly has been elevated to Associate Director of Revenue Marketing. In this role, D’Hilly oversees revenue-generating marketing initiatives that support the museum’s nonprofit mission, including admissions, dining and events, membership and retail, as well as the CMA Theater, Haley Gallery, Hatch Show Print and Historic RCA Studio B. D’Hilly joined the museum in 2025 as a marketing manager, supporting revenue-focused campaigns across paid and owned media. Prior to joining the museum, she worked for eight years at a digital marketing agency in Buffalo, New York. D’Hilly holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the State University of New York at Fredonia.
2026 MusicRow Awards Nominees For Group/Duo Artist Of The Year
/by MusicRow StaffFollowing the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 38th annual MusicRow Awards, presented by City National Bank, we take a closer look at the Group/Duo Artist of the Year category.
This category honors the achievements of a Nashville group or duo during the eligibility period.
This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
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. 14 at 5:00 p.m. To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscriber here.
49 Winchester has continued its rise with the release of its sixth studio album, Change of Plans, its first project for Lucille Records/MCA. Produced by Dave Cobb, the album earned praise from Billboard, Rolling Stone, People and NPR while helping the band surpass 500 million career streams, 2 million monthly listeners and more than 10 million streams of the project. The Virginia-based six-piece recently joined Eric Church at Red Rocks Amphitheatre before kicking off their North American run with Tim McGraw. Later this year, 49 Winchester will headline its first-ever show at Freedom Hall Civic Center Arena in Johnson City, Tennessee, marking the band’s only homecoming performance of 2026. Formed by childhood friends Isaac Gibson and Chase Chafin, the ACM-nominated group has steadily grown from regional venues across Appalachia to sold-out headline shows and international touring, building one of country music’s strongest grassroots followings while remaining rooted in the songwriting and musicianship that first defined the band.
Brothers Osborne are building on one of the most decorated careers of any duo in country music. The duo has earned seven CMA Awards, seven ACM Awards and 13 Grammy nominations, including a nomination for Best Country Duo/ Group Performance in 2025. Brothers Osborne also received the ASCAP Vanguard Award in 2019. Their catalog has surpassed 3.4 billion global streams while producing multiple Gold and Platinum-certified hits. Last year, the duo released the four-song Break Mine EP before returning with their latest single, “Finish This Drink.” Beyond performing, John Osborne has become one of Nashville’s most sought-after producers, producing Ashley McBryde’s Lindeville along with recent projects for Grace Bowers and Caylee Hammack. On the road, the duo’s latest headlining tour “We’re Not For Everyone” hit more than 50 markets. Brothers Osborne are currently in the studio working on new music and they recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of their breakthrough album, Pawn Shop, the project that launched the duo’s career.
Dan + Shay have built one of the most commercially successful catalogs in modern country music. The duo has garnered more than 14 billion global streams and 139 worldwide Multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold certifications, including 60 RIAA awards in the US. Dan + Shay recently celebrated their 11th country radio No. 1 with the Grammy-nominated title track from their fifth studio album, Bigger Houses. The pair has collected 10 ACM Awards, eight American Music Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, three Grammy Awards, two CMA Awards and two People’s Choice Awards. In 2024, they also became the first coaching duo in the history of NBC’s The Voice. Their catalog includes the 5x Platinum Justin Bieber collaboration “10,000 Hours,” which spent 21 weeks atop the Hot Country Songs chart and surpassed 1 billion Spotify streams, along with “Speechless” and “Tequila,” certified 7x and 8x Platinum, respectively. The duo is gearing up for the release of their new album, Young, this month, and will embark on “The Young Tour” across North America in September.
Flatland Cavalry has expanded its reach from the Americana and country radio circuits to stages across the country. The six-piece recently released its fifth studio album, Work of Heart, while sending its debut country radio single, “Never Comin’ Back,” to stations across the country. The group has earned three consecutive ACM Group of the Year nominations, reached 1 billion global streams and notched seven No. 1 singles at Texas country radio. Flatland Cavalry’s music has also appeared across television and film, including Twisters, Paramount’s Yellowstone and Landman, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and Netflix’s The Ranch. On the road, the band has headlined months-long tours while also joining Willie Nelson, Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson. With vocals by Cleto Cordero, the group includes Jason Albers, Jonathan Saenz, Reid Dillon, Wesley Hall and Adam Gallegos.
Old Dominion added another major chapter to its career over the past year with the release of its sixth studio album, Barbara, and the band’s massive “How Good Is That – World Tour,” which included arena and amphitheater performances across the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Following the tour, Old Dominion returned to Las Vegas for a two-night “OLD DOMINION. HITS. VEGAS.” engagement at Planet Hollywood, celebrating the band’s career-spanning catalog. The group recently earned its 11th consecutive ACM Group of the Year nomination with eight ACM Group of the Year and seven CMA Group of the Year wins already under its belt. Between the ACM and CMA Awards, Old Dominion has earned more Group of the Year honors than any other group in country music history. Earlier this year, the band completed a seven-show residency at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, raising more than $1.25 million for seven charities. Since breaking onto the country music scene, Old Dominion has garnered nine No. 1 singles at country radio, more than six billion on-demand streams and a dozen RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications.
The Red Clay Strays reached another career milestone this year with the release of their third studio album, Grateful. Produced by Dave Cobb, the 11-track project follows the success of Made By These Moments and includes “Demons In Your Choir,” “People Hatin’” and “If I Didn’t Know You.” At the 61st ACM Awards, the Alabama band was crowned Group of the Year for the first time after earning New Duo or Group of the Year honors in 2025. The group also performed “Demons In Your Choir” during the awards show alongside a full gospel choir. The Red Clay Strays then launched their largest headline run to date with the “Grateful Tour ’26,” featuring arena stops at Madison Square Garden, TD Garden, Rogers Arena, Bridgestone Arena, State Farm Arena and MGM Grand Garden Arena. The band also performed at Stagecoach and CMA Fest and hosted a Grateful album release concert at Nashville’s Pinnacle benefiting Thistle Farms. Since breaking through with the 3x Platinum “Wondering Why,” The Red Clay Strays have continued to expand their audience.
Grand Ole Opry Film ‘Songs From The Circle’ To Debut At Nashville Film Festival
/by Lorie HollabaughSongs from the Circle, a film about the Grand Ole Opry’s Centennial concert overseas, is among the Nashville Film Festival’s initial lineup of feature films, shorts, and music videos slated to air during its 57th edition taking place Sept. 24–30.
This year’s festival will present over 150 films from more than 25 countries, including 24 World Premieres. Songs from the Circle is making its North American debut at the Nashville Film Festival, and follows the Grand Ole Opry as it crosses the Atlantic for the first time in its century-long history, bringing Luke Combs, Mumford & Sons, Darius Rucker, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde and Marty Stuart from the rehearsal rooms of Abbey Road to a centennial concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
“We’re excited to bring such a multifaceted lineup of films to Nashville,” says Programming Director Lauren Thelen. “Our programming for 2026 reflects a wide range of genres, themes and perspectives, giving our audiences a global and local view of independent filmmaking. This year’s program reflects the music, creativity and character that sets Nashville apart.”
Originally founded in 1969, the Nashville Film Festival is one of the first film festivals in the U.S. Additional feature titles, including the closing night feature, screening schedules and guest appearances, will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Warner Records Nashville Reshapes Marketing Team
/by Lauryn SinkPictured (Top Row, L-R): Addison Nunes, Anna Pittman, Jackson Ammons and Jennipher Miller. (Bottom Row, L-R): Samantha Nepsa, Justin Luffman, Allyson Kim and Alyssa Cohen. Photo: Courtesy of Warner Records Nashville
Warner Records Nashville has reshaped their marketing team structure with the announcement of several staff promotions and newly created roles.
Addison Nunes is being promoted to VP Marketing where she will oversee marketing duties for one half of the WRN roster alongside Anna Pittman who will lead marketing efforts for one half as well, continuing her role as VP Marketing.
Pittman will be supported by Jackson Ammons, who moves into his new role as Marketing Manager. Nunes is supported by new WRN hire, Jennipher Miller, who begins her new role as Marketing Manager, while Samantha Nepsa assumes Nunes’ previous duties with her promotion to Sr. Analyst, Data & Analytics.
Justin Luffman will move into the newly created, specialized role of VP Culture & Creative Marketing. In this role, he will act as a driving force behind our artists’ identities and cultural relevance.
Allyson Kim will move into the role of Manager, Touring & Fan Activations, where she will continue to run point on all industry and fan events, while also managing the label’s ticketing needs. Alyssa Cohen joins the WRN Marketing team as Marketing Coordinator, reporting to EVP Marketing, Victoria Mason.
Lainey Wilson To Host ‘All For The Hall’ Los Angeles Benefit For CMHOFM
/by Lorie HollabaughLainey Wilson is set to host a benefit for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum supporting the museum’s education programs, “All for the Hall Los Angeles,” on Sept. 17 at The Novo in the L.A. Live complex.
Presented by the Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation, “All for the Hall Los Angeles,” will feature a guitar pull with Wilson and others to be announced. Tickets for this year’s benefit concert go on sale tomorrow (Aug. 14). Proceeds from the event support the museum’s educational programs, including Words & Music, which promotes language arts and music by pairing professional songwriters with school classrooms to create original song
“I’m so excited to host ‘All for the Hall’ this fall,” says Wilson. “The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum does incredible work preserving the music we love and sharing it with the next generation, and it means a lot to me to support that mission. It’s going to be a special night, and I’m honored to be part of it.”
Launched in 2007, the “All for the Hall” campaign began with Country Music Hall of Fame member and Museum Board President Vince Gill challenging himself and his fellow artists to donate proceeds of one annual performance to the nonprofit museum. The concert series has rotated between New York, Los Angeles and Dallas. Keith Urban has hosted recurring “All for the Hall” benefits in Nashville since 2009. In 2024, Blake Shelton hosted an “All for the Hall” concert in Oklahoma. Funds raised from the events support the museum’s educational initiatives, which directly served more than 125,000 people last year through in-person and virtual programs.
Ethan Burdick Signs With UTA
/by Lauryn SinkRakiyah Marshall (Back Blocks Music), Ethan Burdick and Jbeau Lewis (UTA). Photo: Grant Guillot
Ethan Burdick has signed with UTA.
“So excited to officially be joining UTA! Huge thank you to Jbeau and Marissa for believing in me, and for being in my corner,” Burdick shares. “Grateful for this next chapter and can’t wait to see where it takes us!”
Hailing from Vancouver, Washington, Burdick moved to Music City last year after Back Blocks Founder & CEO Rakiyah Marshall found him on TikTok Live. Inspired by the sounds of Lizzy McAlpine, Noah Kahan, Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber, Burdick got his musical start by playing drums in marching band and jazz band.
In April, Burdick released his debut single, “I Get The Picture,” which quickly gained traction, generating more than five million views on TikTok ahead of its release. The momentum propelled the track onto SiriusXM Hits 1’s playlist, earned Burdick recognition as one of the channel’s coveted Hits 1 To Watch artists, and landed him on a billboard in Times Square. Last month, Burdick released his second single “Hold You.” He spent the summer opening for Jelly Roll on his “Little Ass Shed Tour.”
“Ethan is the future! He writes from the heart yet his songs are as catchy as they are substantive,” adds Jbeau Lewis. “We are so excited to be on this journey with Ethan, Rakiyah and the entire team.”
Burdick will join Hudson Westbrook on his “Hits Me Tour” this fall.
Tape Room Music Elevates Caroline Hodson
/by Madison HahnenCaroline Hodson. Photo: Paul Wesolowski
Tape Room Music has elevated Caroline Hodson to Vice President, A&R.
“Caroline is one of the best young executives in our business,” shares Tape Room Music COO and President, Business Affairs Blain Rhodes. “She is a fierce champion of songwriters and the ultimate teammate. She has been vital in the success of our writers and entirely deserving of this promotion.
“Tape Room is home to me. I’ve grown up with this team and our writers since they took a chance on me on day one,” adds Hodson. “I’m so proud that we’ve maintained a culture of consistent success paired with consistent personal support; our roster is truly like a family. Grateful to keep the train going and see where the tracks take us next.”
A Belmont University graduate, Hodson joined Tape Room Music as an intern in 2020 and has since worked her way up through the company’s A&R department, focusing on songwriter development.
During her time at Tape Room, Hodson has worked closely with the company’s songwriters to create and develop creative opportunities, contributing to the company’s success, including 60 No. 1 songs. She has also supported founder Ashley Gorley in his songwriting and creative work. In addition, Hodson oversees creative and marketing for Tape Room Records, helping support its artists and release strategies.
Tucker Wetmore & Crew Celebrate No. 1 Hit ‘Brunette’
/by Lauryn SinkPictured (Back Row, L-R): MCA’s Damon Moberly, BMI’s Leslie Roberts, UMPG’s Missy Roberts, Hang Your Hat’s Jake Gear, Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart, Back Blocks Music’s Rakiyah Marshall and Concord’s Matt Turner. (Front Row, L-R): Chase McGill (BMI), Josh Miller (BMI), Tucker Wetmore (BMI) and Blake Pendergrass (BMI). Photo: Katie Mathis for BMI
Tucker Wetmore celebrated his third consecutive chart-topper, “Brunette” yesterday (Aug. 11) at the BMI Nashville office.
Written by Chase McGill, Josh Miller, Blake Pendergrass and producer Chris LaCorte, the hit stems from the ACM New Male Artist of the Year’s debut album, What Not To. The track marked Wetmore’s third No. 1, McGill’s 18th No. 1, Miller’s 9th No. 1, Pendergrass’s 7th No. 1 and LaCorte’s 6th No. 1 as a songwriter.
Emceed by BMI’s Leslie Roberts, the event featured remarks by MCA’s Damon Moberly, UMPG’s Missy Roberts, Hang Your Hat’s Jake Gear, Back Blocks Music’s Rakiyah Marshall and Concord’s Matt Turner who each stepped to the mic to offer congratulations. Studio Bank’s Kari Barnhart announced that, in honor of the No. 1, Studio Bank made a donation to Face The Fight, an organization focused on preventing veteran suicide and providing essential support to those in need.
“Every time I see you guys [have a write] on the calendar I get butterflies because we just don’t know what’s going to happen,” Marshall said of the songwriters. “It’s always something that makes you stop in your tracks. Each one of you has your own individual talent that comes out in the songs. You guys are all hitmakers.”
Each of the writers also took the microphone to share their praises for each other and for Wetmore.
“Tucker, [we] appreciate you taking chances on outside songs,” Miller shared. “You’re a good writer and you don’t have to cut outside songs, but we appreciate it as songwriters. When you hear something and have a conviction and believe in it, you go for it. I’ve gotten to know you a little bit over the past year and you have a good heart.”
“It’s pretty difficult for songwriters to get a No. 1 without an artist, so thank you for believing in it,” Pendergrass added. “I was one of the earliest people to write with you, so to see your career go as it has and to watch it from the beginning has been super exciting. I know you’re going to have tons more No. 1 parties, and I’m grateful we all get to celebrate one with you at the beginning.”
Wetmore took the microphone to close out the evening, thanking everyone behind the song’s success.
“I’ve never heard another song like this one and I think that’s why I love it so much,” he shared. “Music is a weird thing. I think there should be no rules behind what we are able to create or what we think is good. There should be no parameters on music, and I think this song is a huge testament of that exactly. Thank you for trusting me with this song.”