MusicRow‘s recently released 2023 Artist Roster includes a myriad of resources for industry professionals.
This annual edition contains a six-part company directory, complete with client rosters and up-to-date contact information in the categories: Label, Management, Talent Agents, Publicity, Artist Services (Banking, Business Management/Financial/Insurance, Digital Music, Legal, Marketing, Radio Promotion and Media) and Organizations (Trade & Professional Development, Performing & Mechanical Rights and Unions).
This issue also offers a summarizing Artist Grid, which has become an indispensable tool connecting artists to their team members in Label, Management, Talent Agency and Publicity categories.
In addition to those resources, MusicRow taps several industry experts for exclusive interviews regarding their work.
Inside is a celebration of Kane Brown’s elevation into a genre-leading artist, shared by members of Brown’s team Martha Earls (Neon Coast), Braeden Rountree (WME), Dennis Reese (Sony Music Nashville) and Alex Alvga (Brown’s Creative Director).
Brown’s team speaks about his recently completed monumental tour of the nation’s 29 NBA arenas, which made him the first country artist in history to complete the trek. MusicRow also walks through other recent career wins for Brown, including his hit single “Thank God” released with his wife, Katelyn, and his first television appearance on the drama Fire Country.
When asked about Brown’s next steps, Earls shares, “Thinking about all the different verticals, we are definitely focused on new music and not waiting so long to release another album. We’re playing Fenway Park this year, which is crazy and amazing, so I’d like to do maybe four or five of those. There’s different tactics but for us, we’re easing in and doing some more stadiums.”
Elsewhere, leading music managers Brad Belanger, Blythe Scokin, Mandelyn Monchick and Zach Sutton join together for a round-table about working in this fast-paced industry with its dynamic social media and technological climates. In a Q&A, the four discuss AI, making collaborations work, feeding fans’ veracious appetite for new music, TikTok and more.
When talking about the current trend of country and western aesthetics in pop culture, Sutton shares, “You have this interest in country music in this new way, but I also feel like it’s only with a specific age bracket that is already conditioned to listen to all kinds of music.” He adds, “There’s a unique thing happening with a subset of the population where people can understand and appreciate the nuances between each artist, but I do think as a whole on the ground floor, we’re seeing this melting pot where people are into all kinds of things.”
In another editorial feature, Music Health Alliance’s Founder and CEO Tatum Hauck Allsep and CFO and Certified Senior Advisor Shelia Shipley Biddy celebrate a decade of “healing the music.” MHA has provided healthcare access through advocacy services since its launch in 2013.
Allsep and Biddy walk MusicRow through MHA’s inception and speak about their services and goals for the next 10 years.
“I think there’s a lot of things [within] a senior program that need to be developed,” Biddy says about one of MHA’s goals. “Part of that is education. There needs to be something for the younger people in the music industry to understand the impact of [aging].”
For the Artist Roster issue, MusicRow also spoke with RECORDS Nashville’s Executive Vice President Joe Fisher and Vice President of Promotion and Commercial Strategy Josh Easler, as well as RECORDS Founder Barry Weiss. Now with a robust country roster, the men discussed their unique approach and strategies with each artist.
Easler shares, “There’s nothing about what we do that’s cookie cutter at all. We’re very intentional and strategic about the marketing plan around each individual artist and their releases.”
ASCAP songwriter and MCA Nashville recording artist Jordan Davis graces the cover of the 2023 Artist Roster issue.
Single copies of MusicRow’s 2023 Artist Roster print issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $45, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.
Dylan Wolfe Signs Publishing Deal With Riser House & Lyric Music Publishing
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R, back row): Michael Ransom, Kirby Smith, Lauren Spahn, Brandon Perdue; (L-R, front row): Jennifer Johnson, Dylan Wolfe, Drew Baldridge. Photo: Shannon Bradley
Riser House and Drew Baldridge’s Lyric Music Publishing have partnered to sign singer-songwriter Dylan Wolfe to an exclusive publishing agreement.
Wolfe is an independent country-rock artist from Illinois. He has garnered a large following on social media due to his TikTok presence, as well as over 10 million streams on his recent singles such as “Wasting My Time” and “Something To Talk About.” Wolfe also co-wrote Bailey Zimmerman’s “From The Fall” from his 2022 Leave The Light On EP.
“For 7 years I’ve been playing music, writing songs, working a job, traveling back and forth to Nashville from Illinois and I always prayed that someone would hear my stuff, see my hard work and be willing to take a chance with me,” says Wolfe. “That has finally happened and I couldn’t be more blessed! I’m so excited to be a part of the Riser House family and to have my mentor Drew as part of the team as well. My career has only just begun and the expectations are high for the future!”
“Dylan not only brings raw talent, but he is a self starter and has an incredible work ethic,” says Jennifer Johnson, President and Co-Founder of Riser House Entertainment. “I’m honored to be partnered with Baldridge in this publishing venture, and I am very excited for Dylan’s future!”
Established in 2023, Wolfe is the first artist to sign to Baldridge’s Lyric Music Publishing roster.
“I’ve watched Dylan since day 1 cut his teeth playing in the same dive bars that I started playing in back in southern IL,” says Baldridge. “His work ethic is unmatched and he continues to grow everyday in his artistry and songwriting. I’m so excited to be partnering with Jennifer Johnson and her incredible team at Riser House to give Dylan’s music the light it deserves!”
“Dylan has a truly unique voice, both as an artist and a writer, that feels ripe for the current wave of emerging artists,” says Brandon Perdue, Riser House’s SVP A&R + Publishing. “From the first meeting, his work ethic and character really impressed us and he comes in with some impressive relationships already established as well. We’re truly excited to dive in with he and Drew on this partnership!”
Jelly Roll Enters Top 10 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellJelly Roll. Photo: Ashley Osborn
Jelly Roll jumps from No. 26 to No. 10 this week on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Jelly Roll, whose legal name is Jason DeFord, is a co-writer on three of his climbing hits, “Need A Favor,” “Halfway To Hell” and “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson. All appear on his recently released debut country album, Whitsitt Chapel.
Ashley Gorley spends another week at No. 1 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week. Tracy Chapman (No. 2), Zach Bryan (No. 3) Ryan Vojtesak (No. 4) and John Byron (No. 5) complete the top five.
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Weekly Register: Luke Combs Ascends The Country Charts
/by Liza AndersonLuke Combs. Photo: Jeremy Cowart
Luke Combs‘ Gettin’ Old has reclaimed the No. 3 slot on the country albums chart with 32K in total consumption (2.1K album only/37 million song streams), and his “Fast Car” cover remains No. 2 on the country streaming songs chart this week with 16 million new streams, adding to 170 million RTD according to Luminate data.
Elsewhere on the country albums chart, Morgan Wallen‘s One Thing At A Time extends its No. 1 reign with 111K (4.6K album only/135 million song streams). His Dangerous: The Double Album returns to No. 2 with 45K (953 album only/57 million song streams). Zach Bryan‘s American Heartbreak persists at No. 4 with 30K (1.7K album only/36 million song streams), while Jelly Roll‘s Whitsitt Chapel moves to No. 5 with 28K (7.1K album only/24 million song streams).
On the top country streaming songs chart, Wallen’s “Last Night” continues to take No. 1 with 24 million streams, adding to 541 million RTD. Bryan’s “Something In The Orange” takes No. 3 with 13 million new streams, adding to 711 million RTD. Wallen’s “Thinkin’ Bout Me” rests at No. 4 with 11 million streams, adding to 204 million RTD, and “You Proof” prevails at No. 5 with 11 million new streams, adding to 638 million RTD.
In This Issue: MusicRow’s Artist Roster Issue Highlights Strategic Executives
/by LB CantrellMusicRow‘s recently released 2023 Artist Roster includes a myriad of resources for industry professionals.
This annual edition contains a six-part company directory, complete with client rosters and up-to-date contact information in the categories: Label, Management, Talent Agents, Publicity, Artist Services (Banking, Business Management/Financial/Insurance, Digital Music, Legal, Marketing, Radio Promotion and Media) and Organizations (Trade & Professional Development, Performing & Mechanical Rights and Unions).
This issue also offers a summarizing Artist Grid, which has become an indispensable tool connecting artists to their team members in Label, Management, Talent Agency and Publicity categories.
In addition to those resources, MusicRow taps several industry experts for exclusive interviews regarding their work.
Inside is a celebration of Kane Brown’s elevation into a genre-leading artist, shared by members of Brown’s team Martha Earls (Neon Coast), Braeden Rountree (WME), Dennis Reese (Sony Music Nashville) and Alex Alvga (Brown’s Creative Director).
Brown’s team speaks about his recently completed monumental tour of the nation’s 29 NBA arenas, which made him the first country artist in history to complete the trek. MusicRow also walks through other recent career wins for Brown, including his hit single “Thank God” released with his wife, Katelyn, and his first television appearance on the drama Fire Country.
When asked about Brown’s next steps, Earls shares, “Thinking about all the different verticals, we are definitely focused on new music and not waiting so long to release another album. We’re playing Fenway Park this year, which is crazy and amazing, so I’d like to do maybe four or five of those. There’s different tactics but for us, we’re easing in and doing some more stadiums.”
Elsewhere, leading music managers Brad Belanger, Blythe Scokin, Mandelyn Monchick and Zach Sutton join together for a round-table about working in this fast-paced industry with its dynamic social media and technological climates. In a Q&A, the four discuss AI, making collaborations work, feeding fans’ veracious appetite for new music, TikTok and more.
When talking about the current trend of country and western aesthetics in pop culture, Sutton shares, “You have this interest in country music in this new way, but I also feel like it’s only with a specific age bracket that is already conditioned to listen to all kinds of music.” He adds, “There’s a unique thing happening with a subset of the population where people can understand and appreciate the nuances between each artist, but I do think as a whole on the ground floor, we’re seeing this melting pot where people are into all kinds of things.”
In another editorial feature, Music Health Alliance’s Founder and CEO Tatum Hauck Allsep and CFO and Certified Senior Advisor Shelia Shipley Biddy celebrate a decade of “healing the music.” MHA has provided healthcare access through advocacy services since its launch in 2013.
Allsep and Biddy walk MusicRow through MHA’s inception and speak about their services and goals for the next 10 years.
“I think there’s a lot of things [within] a senior program that need to be developed,” Biddy says about one of MHA’s goals. “Part of that is education. There needs to be something for the younger people in the music industry to understand the impact of [aging].”
For the Artist Roster issue, MusicRow also spoke with RECORDS Nashville’s Executive Vice President Joe Fisher and Vice President of Promotion and Commercial Strategy Josh Easler, as well as RECORDS Founder Barry Weiss. Now with a robust country roster, the men discussed their unique approach and strategies with each artist.
Easler shares, “There’s nothing about what we do that’s cookie cutter at all. We’re very intentional and strategic about the marketing plan around each individual artist and their releases.”
ASCAP songwriter and MCA Nashville recording artist Jordan Davis graces the cover of the 2023 Artist Roster issue.
Single copies of MusicRow’s 2023 Artist Roster print issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $45, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.
Eric Church Is Country Music Hall Of Fame’s Latest Artist-In-Residence
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has invited Eric Church to be its 18th artist-in-residence.
The annual artist-in-residence series spotlights an artist with an exemplary body of work and features one-of-a-kind performances over multiple evenings. The museum offers its intimate CMA Theater as a blank canvas for the artist to curate shows incorporating different themes and special guests.
Church will produce and perform two shows on Aug. 29 and 30, and tickets range from $75 to $500 with all proceeds benefiting the nonprofit museum’s educational mission. Museum members and Church’s “Church Choir” fan club will have access to a special pre-sale June 22 at 10 a.m. Tickets to both shows will be available to the public June 23, at 10 a.m. on the museum’s website. Sales are limited to four tickets per transaction on a first-come, first-served basis and are non-refundable.
Past participants of the prestigious artist-in-residence program include Cowboy Jack Clement (who opened the series in 2003), Earl Scruggs, Tom T. Hall, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Douglas, Vince Gill, Buddy Miller, Connie Smith, Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, Alan Jackson, Rosanne Cash, Jason Isbell, Miranda Lambert, Marty Stuart and John Prine.
“As a student of the rich history of country music’s most prolific artists, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a shrine of reverence for this songwriter’s heart,” shares Church. “I’m honored and humbled to be included in such esteemed company.”
“Throughout his career, Eric has constantly stretched boundaries with his music and challenged long-standing conventions in his recordings and his live performances,” says Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “Our artist-in-residence series offers him the freedom to showcase his ever-evolving creative vision. We’re grateful to him for volunteering his time and fierce individualism to the series, which benefits the museum and its nonprofit mission.”
Church is also the subject of a new exhibition at the museum, Eric Church: Country Heart, Restless Soul, presented by Gibson, which opens July 13 and chronicles his unique path to stardom.
Megan Moroney Hits No. 1 With ‘Tennessee Orange’
/by Lorie HollabaughMegan Moroney. Photo: David McClister
Megan Moroney’s debut hit single “Tennessee Orange” reached No. 1 this week on the Country Aircheck/Mediabase Country Airplay chart.
The first single from her debut album Lucky, the Platinum-certified track fueled Moroney’s rise. Within just five days of its premiere, the viral sensation surpassed a million streams and catapulted the 25-year-old into the spotlight, paving the way for her to sign with Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records.
First released last September, “Tennessee Orange” is the story of a love so strong it even defies loyalty to a beloved home team. Moroney won Breakthrough Female Video of the Year at the recent CMT Music Awards for the single, and made history as the fifth solo country female artist ever to hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart.
Moroney will kick off “The Lucky Tour” with her New York City debut at The Bowery Ballroom on Sept. 20.
Old Crow Medicine Show Slates New Album ‘Jubilee’ For August
/by Lorie HollabaughOld Crow Medicine Show will release their latest album Jubilee via ATO Records on Aug. 25.
The band shared the project’s debut single, “Miles Away,” today. The reflective track was co-written by band leader Ketch Secor and bluegrass virtuoso Molly Tuttle with guest vocals from Old Crow Medicine Show co-founder Willie Watson. “Miles Away”marks the first time Watson has recorded with the group in over 10 years. He plans to hit the road with them this fall, performing as an opening act in addition to joining them on stage.
“This is one of those rearview songs where objects in the mirror are closer than they appear,” says Secor. “Twenty-five years of making music on the road means you’re always coming back to the same places as a different person; there’s a reminder of your past self and the choices you made back when. Molly Tuttle and I wrote this one together and when it was through, I asked my Old Crow co-founder Willie Watson to make his first appearance on an Old Crow record in years. After all, this is a song about amends, of bygones being bygones, and of renewal.”
Arriving as the Grammy-winning band gears up to celebrate their 25th anniversary, Jubilee finds the group once again co-producing with Matt Ross-Spang and features appearances from legendary soul singer Mavis Staples and singer-songwriter Sierra Ferrell. Their eighth studio album serves as somewhat of a companion piece to their acclaimed 2022 release Paint This Town, which hit No. 1 on the Americana Radio Albums Chart and debuted at the top of Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums chart.
Jubilee harnesses the wild exuberance that Old Crow Medicine Show channels in their live show, and finds the band doubling down on their commitment to creating roots music that encompasses everything from jug-band tunes and Irish folk songs to gospel jams. The project showcases the musicality and storytelling that has made Old Crow Medicine Show an influential force in American roots music for more than two decades.
Bobby Bones Gets ‘Comedically Inspirational’ On Upcoming Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughNational media personality Bobby Bones has announced the dates for his upcoming “Comedically Inspirational On Tour” shows.
The new tour will visit Nashville, Wichita, Tampa, Las Vegas and more through Nov. 17, and tickets to the tour will go on sale Friday, June 23 here. VIP tickets will also be available and include access to sound check, a Q&A session, meet and greet and photo opportunity with Bones. A portion of each ticket sold will also benefit Wags & Walks Nashville.
During his “Comedically
Peermusic Acquires Entire Earl Scruggs Song Catalog, Majority Of Gary Scruggs Catalog
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Kara Blankinship, Director, Clearance & Catalog Management, Peermusic; Patrick Smith, Manager, Legal and Business Affairs; Jesse Scruggs; Jaime Scruggs; Kathy Spanberger, President & Chief Operating Officer, Peermusic; Michael Knox, President, Peermusic Nashville
Peermusic has acquired the entire music publishing catalog of bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs, as well as the majority of his son Gary Scruggs‘ song catalog.
During his lifetime, Earl was a collaborator with Peermusic founder Ralph S. Peer. The company has served as the publishers of the Earl Scruggs song catalog from the time the songs were written. Through this deal, Peermusic acquires the U.S. rights it was previously administering for Earl, as well as some of the songs that were previously controlled by the Scruggs estate.
The deal also includes the acquisition of the majority of the song catalog of the late Gary Scruggs, a Grammy award-winning songwriter, musician and eldest son of Earl and Louise Scruggs.
“It’s a rare opportunity to acquire these incredible catalogs of songs in this competitive music rights landscape, but what makes this most meaningful to us is the decades-long relationship that Peermusic has enjoyed with Earl Scruggs and Gary Scruggs,” says Kathy Spanberger, President & COO of Peermusic Anglo American Region. “This deal really exemplifies everything a relationship between a songwriter and a publisher should be. Earl and Peermusic worked together successfully for decades to share his music with the world, and Peermusic continues that tradition with the songs of Gary Scruggs. We thank Jesse, Jaime, and the Scruggs family for this opportunity—the entire team at Peermusic is honored to continue championing and protecting Earl and Gary’s incredible legacy of music so that these songs can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
“The Scruggs are multi-generational music royalty who have worked with the Peers, a multi-generational family of music publishers since Day 1. The history here is incredible. There are few artists that have defined an entire genre the way that Earl Scruggs and Gary Scruggs have with bluegrass or that so popularized a single instrument across genres as Earl did with the banjo—we’re delighted to continue our work with the Scruggs family and to represent their interest in some of country music’s most beloved songs,” adds Michael Knox, President, Peermusic Nashville.
“We are now the third generation of the Scruggs family to be working alongside the team at Peermusic. Our grandfather trusted Peermusic as his music publisher from the beginning of his career and the team at Peermusic has been like a family to us throughout these many years. Keeping these song catalogs with Peermusic is an easy decision for us because we know how much they have done to support The Scruggs family—and they know these song catalogs inside and out. We’re thrilled to have these songs looked after by Kathy, Knox and the Peermusic team,” share Jesse and Jaime Scruggs, the grandsons of Earl Scruggs and the sons of Gary Scruggs, in a joint statement.
Earl Scruggs revolutionized bluegrass with a unique three-fingered picking style that has since become a hallmark of bluegrass banjo. He began his career in 1945, when he joined Bill Monroe’s band and met Lester Flatt. The two were mainstays of Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys for a little over two years before striking out on their own.
Performing as Flatt & Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, the band became one of most well-known bluegrass band in the nation. Among their most famous recordings are “Earl’s Breakdown,” “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” and “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.”
In 1969, Scruggs began pursuing a solo career by enlisting his sons Gary and Randy to perform with him as the Earl Scruggs Revue. The group found success recording for Columbia Records throughout the 1970s.
The bluegrass icon was recognized with numerous accolades for his contributions to bluegrass and country music throughout his lifetime. Scruggs is in both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Hall of Fame. He was also a recipient of four Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a National Medal of Arts.
Gary Scruggs played alongside his legendary bluegrass father as well as in a duo with his brother Randy called The Scruggs Brothers,. He and Randy released two projects together—1970’s All the Way Home and 1972’s The Scruggs Brothers. Together with their father, the two brothers then formed The Scruggs Revue, touring extensively under that billing and forming connections with other country and rock acts of the day.
Gary was part of the genesis of the 1972 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-led Will the Circle Be Unbroken album, which has since been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Library of Congress. He retired from touring in the mid-’80s, but continued his work as a songwriter until his death in 2021.
Kyle Clark Builds Team With Daschent, WME & Stem
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Jake Moss (Daschent), Christine Iyoha (STEM), Dane Schmidt (Daschent), Kyle Clark, Morgan Kenney (WME), Jeff Tobias (STEM)
Rising singer-songwriter Kyle Clark has signed with Daschent for management, WME for booking and Stem for distribution. The news comes on the heels of his sophomore EP release, I Hope It’s Hot Out…Again.
Clark, a Georgia native, moved to Nashville in 2019 and has since garnered cuts from Jon Pardi, Lily Rose, Mitchell Tenpenny, Restless Road and Filmore. Despite the difficulties of starting his music career during the pandemic, Clark found viral success with “Hope It’s Hot Out” in 2022. The track has amassed nearly 30 million collective streams since its release.
His new seven-track EP, I Hope It’s Hot Out…Again, includes previously released tunes “You Don’t Think About That,” “Bad Day to Be a Beer” and the title track, as well as three new songs “Hair Down,” “Tonight I Do” and “Waitin’ All Day.” Notably, in an effort to compensate his co-writers fairly, Clark gives a portion of the master to them.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with KC since he arrived on Music Row, and have no doubt that what he has accomplished in such a short amount of time in town (and despite a global pandemic) is just the tip of the iceberg,” says Dane Schmidt, Founder and Owner of Daschent. “There are so many positive things to be said about Kyle as a songwriter and artist, but it’s who he is as a human being, his values, work ethic, and love for his family and fiance we’re most proud to represent. We look forward to continuing our journey together with Morgan, Jeff and the amazing folks at WME and STEM joining us on what’s going to be a fun ride.”
“Kyle Clark’s brand of country music is one that audiences can’t help but love,” adds STEM’s Country Head of Artist Relations Jeff Tobias. “STEM is thrilled to be working alongside Kyle and the daschent team as they roll out this next wave of exciting new music.”
Clark ended 2022 on tour with Matt Stell and Cooper Alan, and kicked off 2023 on the road with Tyler Farr, Spencer Crandall and Tyler Braden.
“Kyle is one of the most genuine artists out there,” says WME’s Morgan Kenney. “You cannot catch him without a smile. That translates to his touring. His sets not only bring a smile, but upbeat and fun as well. I’m looking forward to his future ahead with WME.”
“I am so excited to announce my partnership with Daschent, STEM, and WME,” says Clark of the signings. “It’s an incredible feeling to know I’m working with people who believe in what I’m building. In this industry, it’s not just about making great music, it’s also about surrounding yourself with great people too. I truly feel like I am surrounding myself with the right pieces that will help continue the growth of my career.”