Since making the move from Phoenix, Arizona to Music City, Dierks Bentley has made waves within the country music space. He signed his first publishing deal in 2001 and released his self-titled debut album in 2003 after inking with Capitol Records/UMG Nashville, earning an immediate No. 1 hit. He has built on that success with eight more studio records and 21 No. 1s, three CMA Awards and 14 Grammy nominations as well as a loyal fanbase. Now, Bentley is sharing the gift of Gravel & Gold, his 10th studio album, with his fans and music lovers everywhere.
Released on Friday, Feb. 24, the 14-track record puts the Grand Ole Opry member’s range on full display, as he beautifully blends bluegrass with contemporary country. From songs about drinking to songs about taking it all in on a mountain top, his wholesome core and smooth vocals continue to scratch that itch for a constructive country sound.
Prior to this latest release, Bentley wrote and recorded two albums but he innately felt that they weren’t right. When it came to curating this collection, he found himself trusting the process and letting his heart, mind and muses speak for themselves. He served as a first-time producer on the project, and shared a little bit of the album’s development and what Gravel & Gold means to him with MusicRow.
“The biggest part of this process for me was not recording anything and just being off the road, and being in Colorado for the pandemic. I’ve heard people say it’s the space between the notes that makes a great guitar solo, that’s what builds the tension. So for me, the space between the albums is what really gave this album the life that it needed,” Bentley confesses.
“Being free to explore, live and make new memories, my brain would just come up with ideas. So when I came back to Nashville after living in [Colorado] for a year, I had a lot of ideas. This third time around, it was about taking all of the experiences from being off the road and taking the experiences from those first two times in the studio. Everything came together and [I] knew right away this was feeling like the right vibe for the album.”
Dierks Bentley and Ashley McBryde perform “Cowboy Boots.”
Over the years, the superstar has learned that making music is about showing up and putting actions behind those ideas. He notes that trust is heavily involved as well, when handing the music over to bands and production teams. But at the end of the day, nothing happens unless you show up. The concept and title of Gravel & Gold was derived from Bentley’s “attitude for gratitude,” which he notes became more apparent to him after the pandemic and being away from Nashville.
“The idea that, ‘It might be gravel but it feels like gold’—that it’s all about your perspective—is something that I wouldn’t have gotten had I not left for a year.”
The first single from the album, “Gold,” epitomizes just that, reminding us that it’s all about our outlook on life and our approach to situations with its uplifting beat and purely southern instrumentation.
The album features collaborations with many creators, including “Cowboy Boots” with Ashley McBryde, which is an ode to the shoe Bentley has walked in throughout his career. The tune “High Note” features Bentley picking with bluegrass star Billy Strings alongside Jerry Douglas on dobro, Sam Bush on mandolin, Charlie Worsham on guitar and Bryan Sutton on guitar and banjo, humorously depicting lighting up before kicking the bucket.
“Walking Each Other Home” is a heartfelt song about human connection that Bentley wrote with Luke Dick that creates a lovely image eliciting the message that we are all in this together. Then there’s “Still,” the song Bentley deems one of his favorite and most personal tracks, which talks about peaceful reflection while atop a mountain where everything seems to be calm.
“Gravel & Gold is a step forward but it’s also a look back at everything I’ve done. It’s my 10th album and I wanted it to reflect the music that made me who I am, so there’s some bluegrass and traditional country as well as some commercial country. It’s about pushing the music forward with songs that have a new sound, but also putting an arm around the songs and styles that have made me who I am,” he states.
“If someone were to ask me ‘Who are you?’ I’d give them [this album].”
Dierks Bentley performs during An Evening with Dierks Bentley: The Road to Gravel & Gold.
On Thursday, Feb. 23, the entertainer hosted An Evening with Dierks Bentley: The Road to Gravel & Gold at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater, showcasing music from the new project as well as a few of his older hits. Throughout the show, Bentley consistently took time to thank multiple contributors to his career—ranging from friends from his Broadway performing days and his family to co-writers and members of the UMG Nashville team. Multiple guests joined him on stage as his genuine demeanor drew in the crowd.
Bluegrass Hall of Fame and founding New Grass Revival member Sam Bush joined him for “Sunsets in Colorado,” which earned the night’s first standing ovation.
“You can’t change the world with one song, but it feels good to try,” Bentley noted as Dick joined him for “Walking Each Other Home.” During his set, he vulnerably restarted playing “Still” so has to execute it just right because, “the song means so much to [him].”
The War And Treaty also joined Bentley alongside Ronnie and Del McCoury, Jason Carter and Bush for an incredible, chill-inducing rendition of U2’s “Pride (In the Name of Love).” Then, joined by as many of the special guests that the stage could fit, he performed his classic fan-favorite “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go).”
Additionally, the well-known hit will be featured alongside “Gold” tomorrow (Feb. 28) during Bentley’s appearance on Today at 8:00 a.m. local time, after he performs “Sun Sets in Colorado” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight (Feb. 27) at 10:35 p.m. CT.
Bentley will also celebrate Gravel & Gold with a special show at the Grand Ole Opry this Friday, March 3.
Nate Smith Signs With WME
/by Lorie HollabaughNate Smith. Photo: Matthew Berinato
Nate Smith has signed with WME for global representation in all areas. The breakout country star will be represented by the agency’s Joey Lee, Sloane Cavitt Logue and Braeden Rountree.
Smith’s Platinum, multi-week No. 1 “Whiskey On You” has amassed over 240 million total global on-demand streams to date. He recently made his late-night television debut performing the chart-topping hit on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and has appeared on multiple 2023 Artist to Watch lists including Amazon’s Breakthrough Artists to Watch, MusicRow’s Next Big Thing and CMT’s Listen Up, among others.
This summer, Smith will be joining Thomas Rhett on his “Home Team Tour.” He is also set to perform at several major country festivals including Stagecoach, Country Thunder Arizona and Country Jam Colorado. His debut, self-titled album will be released on April 28.
Neon Union Inks Pub Deal With Warner Chappell Music & JAB Entertainment
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Warner Chappell’s Christina Wiltshire, Spencer Nohe, Sara Lattimer and Ben Vaughn, Neon Union’s Leo Brooks, Warner Chappell’s Phil May, Neon Union’s Andrew Milsaps, JAB’s Jimmie Allen, Warner Chappell’s BJ Hill and Alex Cheatam, JAB’s Aaron Benward and Warner Chappell’s Kayce Russell.
Neon Union‘s Leo Brooks and Andrew Millsaps have signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music and JAB Entertainment.
Neon Union is managed by Jimmie Allen and business partner Aaron Benward as JAB Entertainment’s inaugural act. Brooks grew up in Miami and has collaborated with artists such as Pitbull, Lauryn Hill, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Cee Lo Green and John Legend. Millsaps grew up in North Carolina and has been writing songs since the age of 13. When Allen heard the two perform separately, he was convinced they would make the perfect duo and introduced the two.
Together as Neon Union, Brooks and Millsaps are bringing a new sound to country with 808 kick drums married to a traditional lyric and anthemic pop melodies. Their debut single, “Bout Damn Time,” on Red Street Records, is out at country radio now. More new more music is slated to come from the pair later this year.
On The Cover: MusicRow’s 2023 Country Radio & Streaming Issue Features Tyler Hubbard
/by MusicRow StaffMusicRow Magazine has released its 2023 Country Radio & Streaming Issue, with EMI Records/Universal Music Group Nashville’s Tyler Hubbard gracing its cover.
Hubbard’s face and name are familiar—and his voice is a staple on country radio. With 20 No. 1 singles including his debut solo single, countless awards and sold-out tours, Hubbard has already had a remarkable career as a performer and songwriter as one half of multi-Platinum duo Florida Georgia Line. This January, Hubbard released his debut solo album, Tyler Hubbard.
The Georgia-native and prolific songwriter has over 60 cuts from a diverse set of stars such as Jason Aldean and Kane Brown, among others. For the new 18-track album on EMI Nashville, Hubbard wrote on every song and teamed up with some of Nashville’s most prominent hitmakers. Co-produced with Jordan Schmidt, Hubbard’s album showcases his unique talents as well as continues to establish him as a powerhouse in country music. Hubbard’s debut solo single, “5 Foot 9,” hit No. 1 at radio in just six months, was recently certified Platinum by the RIAA, and has 315 million global streams to date.
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Hubbard is dedicated to healthy living and is passionate about travel and charity, supporting various Nashville charities, as well as global conservation organizations.
Inside the Country Radio & Streaming Issue, readers will find profiles of the 2023 CountryBreakout Award winners, which were also revealed today. Now in its 21st year, the CountryBreakout Awards honors the artists who earned the most spins on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart in 2022. The 2023 winners include Male Artist of the Year Morgan Wallen (Big Loud/Mercury/Republic), Female Artist of the Year Miranda Lambert (Vanner Records/RCA Nashville), Group/Duo of the Year Old Dominion (Arista Nashville/Sony Music Nashville), Breakout Artist of the Year Jackson Dean (Big Machine Records) and Independent Artist of the Year Cody Jinks (Late August Records). Warner Music Nashville was honored with Label of the Year for the first time, while Ashley Gorley was named Songwriter of the Year for the fourth time. This year’s Reporter of the Year is WVNW’s Erik Lane.
Additionally, the Country Radio & Streaming Issue includes a look inside BBR Music Group’s successes and strategies with President of BMG Nashville, Jon Loba, and Executive Vice President Recorded Music – Nashville, JoJamie Hahr. Warner Music Nashville’s SVP of Radio, Kristen Williams, and SVP of Streaming, Tim Foisset, talk with MusicRow about the success of new chart-breaker Bailey Zimmerman, while Sony Music Nashville’s Exec. VP, Promotion & Artist Development, Steve Hodges, discusses the rise of Megan Moroney in this issue. Also featured is a compelling profile on Pandora’s Sr. Director of Country Programming, Johnny Chiang, who began his tenure with the company in July.
This issue also includes a look at ONErpm’s expansion to Nashville in a conversation with Tim Wipperman, who serves as the Managing Director of ONErpm’s Nashville Office. Elsewhere, MusicRow highlights the community growth aspects of secondary market radio with KAIR’s Program Director Neil Wieland. In a special feature, MusicRow Publisher/Owner, Sherod Robertson, shares his adventurous journey to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the tallest mountains in the world.
Single copies of MusicRow’s 2023 Country Radio & Streaming Issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $20, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.
ACM’s LEVel Up Presents Marketing & Business Management Workshop
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Academy of Country Music’s LEVel Up: Lift Every Voice program has announced the third workshop in their series for undergraduate students interested in careers in the music industry.
The workshop focusing on marketing and business management will take place on March 3 from 3-5 p.m., and will include panelists from AristoPR, FBMM and ACM. Panelists will discuss the marketing efforts that help propel artists and organizations in the music industry, as well as the business aspects of helping artists achieve their career and financial goals.
Panelists include Duane Clark, Vice President, FBMM; Rory Levine, Vice President, Marketing, Digital Strategy & Engagement, ACM; and Christy Walker-Watkins, President, AristoPR; Co-Owner, The AristoMedia Group; Co-Founder, Nashville Meets London.
The workshop will be moderated by Daniel Killian, Manager, FBMM; and Kortney Toney, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Nashville Music Equality.
All participants must register to attend in-person or virtually, with sessions being filled first-come, first-served. The location for the workshop will be sent to those selected to attend in-person upon confirmed registration. Sign-ups for the workshop on Friday, March 3 can be found here. Future installments will be announced in the coming weeks and months.
CRS Happy Hour Opening Reception To Feature CMT’s Next Women Of Country
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Happy Hour CMT Next Women of Country Takeover showcase will highlight the four up-and-coming female artists representing CMT’s Next Women of Country, and celebrate the 10th anniversary of the CMT Next Women of Country program, a leading industry platform for rising female artists to display their talent. Sponsors of the takeover include BMI, CMT and Visionary Media Group.
“CRS is thrilled to partner with CMT, BMI and Visionary Media Group to celebrate CMT’s decade of support, promotion and development of female talent in our genre,” says CRS Executive Director RJ Curtis. “The commitment of Leslie Fram and her team at CMT to provide a platform for the Next Women of Country and all nine classes is impressive, important and ongoing. CRS is honored to be part of this process in 2023.”
CRS 2023 will take place March 13 -15 at the Omni Nashville Hotel.
Steven Curtis Chapman Makes History With 50th No. 1 ‘Don’t Lose Heart’
/by Lorie HollabaughChapman is the first artist to achieve the feat in the Christian industry, and shares the historic achievement with just a few select artists including Madonna, George Strait and Conway Twitty. His single “His Eyes” from 1988’s Real Life Conversations album first put Chapman on the course to his plethora of No. 1s, a list that also includes “I Will Be Here,” “The Great Adventure,” “Dive,” “Live Out Loud” and “For The Sake Of The Call.”
“We are so honored and excited to be a part of Steven’s 50th No. 1 song with ‘Don’t Lose Heart,'” says Holly Zabka, President, Provident Entertainment/Sony Music. “This unprecedented and monumental achievement for Steven is a testament to the incredible artist and songwriter he is and can only be outshined by the countless lives that have been changed by his music.”
“I’m completely blown away by the support for this song and for my music, even after so many years,” Chapman exclaims. “To ever have a No. 1 song at radio as an artist/songwriter is a dream come true, and to have fifty is simply unbelievable! This only happens because of an amazing team and a community of friends around me who have believed in the unbelievable. I’m grateful and humbled beyond words.”
Chapman’s single “Don’t Lose Heart” was released in late 2022 and was the most-added song at radio for three straight weeks. As the first single from his most recent album, Still, Chapman was inspired to write the song through the journey of grief and loss he and his family have traveled. He released a new version of the tune earlier this month featuring Mitchell Tenpenny.
Chapman is the most-awarded artist in Christian music history. With 59 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, five Grammys and an American Music Award, he has sold more than 11 million albums with 10 RIAA-Certified Gold or Platinum albums to his credit.
Fans will get the chance to hear many of his 50 chart-toppers when he hits the road on his new “Still Tour” this Friday, March 3. The new tour will visit 24 markets throughout the spring.
John Carter Cash & Ana Cristina Cash Pay Tribute To The Man In Black At Nashville SC Opener
/by Steven BoeroJohn Carter Cash, Ana Cristina Cash and band at GEODIS Park. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC
On Saturday (Feb. 25), John Carter Cash and his wife Ana Cristina Cash performed at Nashville SC’s ‘Man In Black’ home opener at GEODIS Park to honor the life and legacy of his father Johnny Cash.
Ana Cristina Cash & John Carter Cash. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC
In front of a near sold-out crowd on the eve of Johnny Cash’s 91st birthday, John Carter performed the Nashville SC Guitar Riff to kick off the match, which was then followed by a touching halftime performance tribute alongside Ana Cristina, which included a medley of Johnny Cash hits including “I Walk The Line” and “Ring of Fire.”
John Carter Cash. Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC
The game—which resulted in a 2-0 win over New York City FC—marked the first time that Nashville SC donned their new ‘Man in Black’ Kit. Designed to honor the legacy and life of one of the most influential singer-songwriters of all time—and created in collaboration with the estate of Johnny Cash, Sandbox Succession, and Wasserman Music—the jersey is embellished by dark graphite and iron metallic accents including a jocktag of Johnny Cash’s iconic photo at Folsom Prison and Cash’s autograph on the back-of-the-neck.
Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC
In the spirit of the Man in Black Match, Nashville SC player Walker Zimmerman celebrated his opening goal—and first Nashville SC goal of the season—by using the corner flag as a mic to sing “Ring Of Fire.” The match also included performances from country singer-songwriter Abbey Cone, sister duo Tigirlily Gold, Walker Montgomery and DJ-Wooddrowe.
MusicRow’s 2023 CountryBreakout Award Winners [Full List]
/by LB CantrellMusicRow virtually announced the winners of the 21st annual CountryBreakout Awards throughout the day today (Feb. 28). Winners were spotlighted across all of MusicRow’s online platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
The MusicRow CountryBreakout Awards celebrate those who have dominated country radio’s secondary market. Winners in eight categories are determined by spins on the secondary market stations that report to the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart panel each week.
Each winner is featured in MusicRow’s Country Radio & Streaming Issue, also out today (Feb. 28).
The winners for the 2023 CountryBreakout Awards will be updated live below:
Reporter of the Year – WVNW’s Erik Lane
Songwriter of the Year – Ashley Gorley
Label of the Year – Warner Music Nashville
Independent Artist of the Year – Cody Jinks
Breakout Artist of the Year – Jackson Dean
Group/Duo of the Year – Old Dominion
Female Artist of the Year – Miranda Lambert
Male Artist of the Year – Morgan Wallen
Weekly Register: Jordan Davis Lands Top Country Album Debut
/by Liza AndersonJordan Davis claims the top debut on the country albums chart this week with his latest collection, Bluebird Days, landing at No. 3 and No. 19 overall with 19K in total consumption (3.5K album only/19 million song streams) according to Luminate data.
Morgan Wallen‘s Dangerous: The Double Album continues to live atop the country albums chart at No. 1 with 44K in total consumption (1.2K album only/54 million song streams). Zach Bryan‘s American Heartbreak remains at No. 2 with 28K (1.7K album only/54 million song streams). Bailey Zimmerman‘s Leave The Light On stays at No. 4 with 19K (675/23 million song streams) and Luke Combs‘ Growin’ Up moves down to No. 5 with 18K (1.3K album only/20 million song streams).
Wallen, Bryan, Zimmerman and Combs remain at the top of the country streaming songs chart as well.
Wallen’s “Last Night” maintains its position as the No. 1 country streaming song with 24 million streams, landing at No. 5 overall. Bryan’s “Something In The Orange” rises to No. 2 with 12 million. Zimmerman’s “Rock and A Hard Place” reclaims the No. 3 slot with 11 million. Wallen’s “You Proof” moves back up to No. 4 with 10 million, putting Combs’ “Love You Anyway” at No. 5.
Dierks Bentley Finds ‘Gravel & Gold’ With 10th Studio Album [Interview]
/by Liza AndersonSince making the move from Phoenix, Arizona to Music City, Dierks Bentley has made waves within the country music space. He signed his first publishing deal in 2001 and released his self-titled debut album in 2003 after inking with Capitol Records/UMG Nashville, earning an immediate No. 1 hit. He has built on that success with eight more studio records and 21 No. 1s, three CMA Awards and 14 Grammy nominations as well as a loyal fanbase. Now, Bentley is sharing the gift of Gravel & Gold, his 10th studio album, with his fans and music lovers everywhere.
Released on Friday, Feb. 24, the 14-track record puts the Grand Ole Opry member’s range on full display, as he beautifully blends bluegrass with contemporary country. From songs about drinking to songs about taking it all in on a mountain top, his wholesome core and smooth vocals continue to scratch that itch for a constructive country sound.
Prior to this latest release, Bentley wrote and recorded two albums but he innately felt that they weren’t right. When it came to curating this collection, he found himself trusting the process and letting his heart, mind and muses speak for themselves. He served as a first-time producer on the project, and shared a little bit of the album’s development and what Gravel & Gold means to him with MusicRow.
“The biggest part of this process for me was not recording anything and just being off the road, and being in Colorado for the pandemic. I’ve heard people say it’s the space between the notes that makes a great guitar solo, that’s what builds the tension. So for me, the space between the albums is what really gave this album the life that it needed,” Bentley confesses.
“Being free to explore, live and make new memories, my brain would just come up with ideas. So when I came back to Nashville after living in [Colorado] for a year, I had a lot of ideas. This third time around, it was about taking all of the experiences from being off the road and taking the experiences from those first two times in the studio. Everything came together and [I] knew right away this was feeling like the right vibe for the album.”
Dierks Bentley and Ashley McBryde perform “Cowboy Boots.”
Over the years, the superstar has learned that making music is about showing up and putting actions behind those ideas. He notes that trust is heavily involved as well, when handing the music over to bands and production teams. But at the end of the day, nothing happens unless you show up. The concept and title of Gravel & Gold was derived from Bentley’s “attitude for gratitude,” which he notes became more apparent to him after the pandemic and being away from Nashville.
“The idea that, ‘It might be gravel but it feels like gold’—that it’s all about your perspective—is something that I wouldn’t have gotten had I not left for a year.”
The first single from the album, “Gold,” epitomizes just that, reminding us that it’s all about our outlook on life and our approach to situations with its uplifting beat and purely southern instrumentation.
The album features collaborations with many creators, including “Cowboy Boots” with Ashley McBryde, which is an ode to the shoe Bentley has walked in throughout his career. The tune “High Note” features Bentley picking with bluegrass star Billy Strings alongside Jerry Douglas on dobro, Sam Bush on mandolin, Charlie Worsham on guitar and Bryan Sutton on guitar and banjo, humorously depicting lighting up before kicking the bucket.
“Walking Each Other Home” is a heartfelt song about human connection that Bentley wrote with Luke Dick that creates a lovely image eliciting the message that we are all in this together. Then there’s “Still,” the song Bentley deems one of his favorite and most personal tracks, which talks about peaceful reflection while atop a mountain where everything seems to be calm.
“Gravel & Gold is a step forward but it’s also a look back at everything I’ve done. It’s my 10th album and I wanted it to reflect the music that made me who I am, so there’s some bluegrass and traditional country as well as some commercial country. It’s about pushing the music forward with songs that have a new sound, but also putting an arm around the songs and styles that have made me who I am,” he states.
“If someone were to ask me ‘Who are you?’ I’d give them [this album].”
Dierks Bentley performs during An Evening with Dierks Bentley: The Road to Gravel & Gold.
On Thursday, Feb. 23, the entertainer hosted An Evening with Dierks Bentley: The Road to Gravel & Gold at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater, showcasing music from the new project as well as a few of his older hits. Throughout the show, Bentley consistently took time to thank multiple contributors to his career—ranging from friends from his Broadway performing days and his family to co-writers and members of the UMG Nashville team. Multiple guests joined him on stage as his genuine demeanor drew in the crowd.
Bluegrass Hall of Fame and founding New Grass Revival member Sam Bush joined him for “Sunsets in Colorado,” which earned the night’s first standing ovation.
“You can’t change the world with one song, but it feels good to try,” Bentley noted as Dick joined him for “Walking Each Other Home.” During his set, he vulnerably restarted playing “Still” so has to execute it just right because, “the song means so much to [him].”
The War And Treaty also joined Bentley alongside Ronnie and Del McCoury, Jason Carter and Bush for an incredible, chill-inducing rendition of U2’s “Pride (In the Name of Love).” Then, joined by as many of the special guests that the stage could fit, he performed his classic fan-favorite “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go).”
Additionally, the well-known hit will be featured alongside “Gold” tomorrow (Feb. 28) during Bentley’s appearance on Today at 8:00 a.m. local time, after he performs “Sun Sets in Colorado” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight (Feb. 27) at 10:35 p.m. CT.
Bentley will also celebrate Gravel & Gold with a special show at the Grand Ole Opry this Friday, March 3.