Bobby Young
Capitol Records Nashville VP of Promotion, Bobby Young, has announced his retirement. His last day will be Dec. 16.
Young joined Capitol Records Nashville in 2011 as southeast regional before being elevated to VP in 2016. During his tenure, he and the Capitol team successfully landed 76 No. 1s, which spent 101 weeks in the top spot, as well as garnered 98 top 10 songs. Young helped bolster the careers of artists such as Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, and many more.
The industry veteran also lead the Capitol promotion team to accolades including Country Aircheck’s Platinum Label of the Year and continued the streak of 13 years as Country Aircheck’s Label of the Year. The company has also been named Billboard’s Top Country Airplay Label since the trade’s inception of the honor in 2017, recently earning the sixth straight in 2022.
Capitol Records Nashville has also been named MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout Label of the Year 18 times—17 of which were consecutive.
Young’s career spans four decades and includes time at Republic Nashville, Big Machine Records, Jeff McClusky & Associates and Mercury Records Nashville, as well as his own indie promotion companies: Bobby Young Promotions; The Promotion Group; Young, Massey, and Hunter; and Young-Olsen and Associates.
Over the years, he has promoted some of country music’s most prominent talent, including Lynn Anderson, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Kenny Chesney, Billy Ray Cyrus, John Fogerty, Mickey Gilley, Sammy Kershaw, Toby Keith, Kris Kristofferson, Kathy Mattea, Tim McGraw, John Mellencamp, Ronnie Milsap, Brad Paisley, Johnny Paycheck, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Randy Travis, Shania Twain, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams Jr., Brooks & Dunn, The Judds, The Kentucky Headhunters, The Marshall Tucker Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Statler Brothers, and more.
“I’ve been fortunate to have worked for and alongside so many of Nashville’s music industry legends,” Young recalls. “I’d like to thank legends Mike Dungan and Royce Risser for believing in me and for trusting me the last seven years to lead this kick ass promotion team. Working alongside Royce, David Friedman, Donna Hughes, Nick Kaper, Louie Newman, and Chris Schuler has been a perfect storm and the pinnacle of my career, and I’m so proud to have represented the biggest names in the format during my stint at Capitol.” He continues, “I’d like to thank everyone at UMG and especially the Capitol promotion team—Megan Youngblood, Mara Sidweber, Ashley Knight, Annie Sandor, Katie Bright, and Megan Kleinschmidt, all rockstars! I’d also like to extend my appreciation to my many friends over the years in country radio.”
“We are going to miss Bobby around here,” adds EVP Promotion Royce Risser. “I have had the honor of working with him since the UMG/EMI merger and during that time, learned his long and storied history in radio promotion. The artists and executives he has worked for and alongside are legendary and his impact on their careers is simply not calculable. He is absolutely loved by his coworkers and to me, that is the greatest testament to his character. We are excited for him and his family to enjoy some much deserved rest and relaxation. But we will truly miss his presence around UMG. Hopefully, he will come visit us or take us to lunch at Brown’s Diner.”
CRS Unveils Its New Faces Of 2023 Lineup
/by Lydia FarthingCountry Radio Broadcasters (CRB) has unveiled the artists to be featured at the CRS 2023 New Faces of Country Music Show. The sold out show, taking place March 15 at Omni Nashville Hotel, will include performances by Priscilla Block, Jackson Dean, Frank Ray, Jelly Roll and Nate Smith.
“The radio and streaming partner constituencies of CRS have spoken and, word is, the future of country music is bright,” says CRB New Faces Committee Chairman Chuck Aly. “This year’s New Faces class comprises artists with admirable creative depth and burgeoning commercial impact. Translation: Don’t miss it!”
Formed in 1970, the annual New Faces of Country Music Show showcases five emerging artists who have achieved significant success at country radio during the qualification period. A complete list of past New Faces performers can be found here.
CRS 2023 will feature educational panels, virtual networking, and workshops designed to provide instant, actionable takeaways. Country Radio Seminar will take place Monday, March 13 – Wednesday, March 15 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Registration for CRS 2023 is open now.
Ashley McBryde Officially Becomes A Member Of The Grand Ole Opry
/by Lorie HollabaughAshley McBryde & Terri Clark. Photo: Chris Hollo
Ashley McBryde was officially inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry family on Saturday night (Dec. 10) by fellow member Terri Clark.
Ashley McBryde. Photo: Chris Hollo
The induction moment came after Clark and McBryde collaborated on the tune “Girl Goin’ Nowhere,” which earned McBryde a standing ovation on the night of her Opry debut on June 16, 2017. Clark recalled that McBryde knelt to kiss the Opry circle on that debut evening.
“Right then we all knew you belonged here,” Clark noted. “The Opry is a family and my sister, you have earned your spot at the table.”
“This moment is the biggest of my life,” McBryde shared. “And if it’s your first time to be at the Opry, this is what it feels like every time you are here. It looks like it’s made of brick and mortar, but it is pure, pure love. That is what you are experiencing. Thank you. I know what this means. I know what my responsibilities are, and I take this very seriously. And God Bless country music.”
McBryde’s induction was followed by a collaboration with another surprise guest, Eric Church. The pair sang fan-favorite, “Bible and a .44,” and Church concluded the evening’s first show with a solo acoustic set.
“What a great night for country music and what a great addition to the Opry,” said Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers. “Watching Ashley on stage tonight, I think almost everyone in the room as well as those tuned in could feel a collective approving nod from those who have come before as well as the sense that the future is wide open for this new member and for this show edging closer to its landmark 100th year.”
Ashley McBryde hanging her Opry member plaque. Photo: Chris Hollo
Walker Hayes Plots ‘Duck Buck Tour’ For 2023
/by Lorie HollabaughWalker Hayes. Photo: Robert Chavers
Walker Hayes will kick off spring of 2023 with his headlining “Duck Buck Tour.” Ingrid Andress, Breland, and Ray Fulcher will join him on select dates.
The 23-date tour will kick off on April 13 in Rosemont, Illinois, and will visit Oklahoma City, Wichita, Boston, Jacksonville and Charlotte, with a Music City stop on June 23 at Ascend Amphitheater. Additionally, Chris Lane and Nicolle Galyon will make a special appearance with Hayes during his performance at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre on May 5. Tickets for the dates go on sale Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. CT.
“I can’t wait to get back out on tour,” says Hayes. “Headlining an arena tour for the first time this past year was a dream come true. The whole family was able to come out and the road has become our new home away from home. All the fans that have come out or will come out are making this dream a reality. I owe it all to them, and this next tour will be the biggest and best. I don’t take for granted that they spent their hard-earned money on my shows, and I plan to make it well worth it!”
Hayes’ single, “Y’all Life,” is currently sitting in the top 30 on the Mediabase chart. His most recent release, “Face In The Crowd,” is an ode to his biggest fan, his wife Laney. The song is especially meaningful to Hayes after his breakthrough year, which saw him earn a Grammy nomination, six Billboard Music Awards nods, five ACM nominations, a nod at both the CMT Awards and CMA Awards, and his first No. 1 at country radio.
Scotty McCreery Revs Up For His ‘2023 Damn Strait Tour’
/by Lydia FarthingFollowing a successful 2022, Scotty McCreery will embark on his “2023 Damn Strait Tour,” boasting over 20 dates and running through the end of April.
The trek will see the American Idol alum visit cities all across the country, including stops in San Antonio, Knoxville, Milwaukee, Tulsa, Scottsdale, and more. McCreery’s fan club pre-sale will begin Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. local time, followed by the general on sale on Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. local time.
“Looking forward to hitting the road in 2023 with the ‘Damn Strait Tour,’” McCreery notes. “I’ve enjoyed my time at home learning to be a dad to Avery, but I’ve missed being onstage with the band and performing for the fans. Can’t wait to see everyone in the new year!”
The namesake of the tour and McCreery’s fifth consecutive chart-topper, the RIAA Gold-certified “Damn Strait,” also landed at No. 4 on the Billboard Year End Country Airplay chart along with being named among Billboard’s 10 Best Country Songs of 2022. McCreery’s current single, “It Matters To Her,” currently sits at No. 32 on the Mediabase chart.
Ranking No. 13 on the Top 50 list of 2022 Country Airplay Artists by Billboard, McCreery was a co-writer on all but four of the 18 tracks on the recently released Same Truck: The Deluxe Album. Produced by Frank Rogers, Derek Wells, and Aaron Eshuis, the project features six new songs, including “On It,” co-written with Jessi Alexander, Jonathan Singleton, and Rogers.
Chase Matthew To Kick Off ‘Love You Again Tour’ In January
/by Lorie HollabaughChase Matthew. Photo: Justin Mayotte
Recent Warner Music Nashville signee Chase Matthew is set to kick off his headlining “Love You Again Tour” on Jan. 27.
The 12-date trek will visit Charleston, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Kansas City and more through April, alongside a previously-announced co-headline run with Kidd G. For ticket information, click here.
Matthew’s headline “Born For This Tour” criss-crossed the nation earlier this year. The Tennessee native has earned a growing fanbase that includes more than 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify and 900,000 followers across social media platforms.
Last week, Matthew released his steamy new single, “Love You Again,”which rapidly went viral after he posted a snippet of the track on social media last month.
Amy Grant To Be Featured On ‘CBS Mornings’ Following 2022 Kennedy Center Honors
/by Lydia FarthingAmy Grant. Photo: Tracey Salazar
Contemporary Christian and pop singer-songwriter Amy Grant will be featured on CBS Mornings on Monday (Dec. 12) after becoming one of the 2022 Kennedy Center Honorees.
Pictured (L-R, top row): U2 members Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr., The Edge, and Bono; (L-R, bottom row): Amy Grant, Gladys Knight, George Clooney, and Tania León. Photo: Gail Schulman
During the segment, Grant will give an in-depth interview with Vlad Duthiers, marking the first in a series of profiles on the Kennedy Center Honorees, including acclaimed actor and filmmaker George Clooney; legendary singer of soul, gospel, R&B, and pop Gladys Knight; Cuban-born American composer, conductor, and educator Tania León; and iconic Irish rock band U2, comprised of band members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.
Grant, who became the first contemporary Christian music star to receive a Kennedy Center Honor, accepted her honor last weekend during the taping of the annual broadcast and events filled with family and friends. The taping of the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors will air Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. CT on CBS and will be available to stream on Paramount+.
Country Music Hall Of Fame To Feature Herb Pedersen In Next Installment Of ‘Nashville Cats’
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will feature multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter Herb Pedersen in its in-depth interview series “Nashville Cats” on Feb. 4 in the museum’s Ford Theater.
An accomplished guitarist, banjo player, singer and songwriter, Pedersen is a founding member of the Desert Rose Band and was a member of the Dillards from 1969 to 1971. He has recorded solo albums and performed and recorded with Jackson Browne, John Denver, the Doobie Brothers, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Dan Fogelberg, John Fogerty, Chris Hillman, Gordon Lightfoot, Lyle Lovett, Gram Parsons, John Prine, Tony Rice, Johnny Rivers, Linda Ronstadt, Ringo Starr, James Taylor, Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson and Earl Scruggs, among many others.
The interview will be illustrated with archival photos, recordings and film clips. The conversation is in support of the “Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock” exhibit presented by City National Bank, and made possible in part by the Academy of Country Music.
The ongoing “Nashville Cats” series showcases musicians and session singers who have played important roles in support of artists in either the recording studio or on concert tours.
The program is included with museum admission and is free to museum members. Seating is limited, and a program ticket is required for admittance.
Cassadee Pope Moves Away From Country Genre, Exits Fusion Music
/by LB CantrellCassadee Pope. Photo: John Shearer
Singer-songwriter Cassadee Pope is shifting from the country music genre back into the pop-rock scene.
The genre change will be a homecoming for Pope, who got her start in the pop-punk band Hey Monday. The group had success with singles “Homecoming” and “How You Love Me Now” before Pope ventured out on her own in 2012.
She competed on season three of The Voice, becoming its first female winner. As a member of Voice coach Blake Shelton‘s team, the Florida native sang many country songs throughout the competition. Pope released her debut country album Frame by Frame in 2013 via Republic Nashville, and had a hit with “Wasting All These Tears.”
Pope went on to release another country album and tour with artists such as Maren Morris and Tim McGraw, among other accomplishments. She had another hit alongside Chris Young for their 2015 duet “Think Of You.”
For her 2021 album Thrive, Pope combined her pop-punk roots and country sensibilities. According to an interview with People, Pope’s collaboration with Levi Hummon for his new song “RSVP” serves as a “bridge for [her] between what [she] did before and where [she’s] headed with [her] next solo project.”
The genre-shift also means that Pope is no longer on the roster of Nashville-based management firm Fusion Music, who represents Martina McBride, Riley Green, Lily Rose, and more.
Capitol Records Nashville’s Bobby Young Announces Retirement
/by Lydia FarthingBobby Young
Capitol Records Nashville VP of Promotion, Bobby Young, has announced his retirement. His last day will be Dec. 16.
Young joined Capitol Records Nashville in 2011 as southeast regional before being elevated to VP in 2016. During his tenure, he and the Capitol team successfully landed 76 No. 1s, which spent 101 weeks in the top spot, as well as garnered 98 top 10 songs. Young helped bolster the careers of artists such as Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, and many more.
The industry veteran also lead the Capitol promotion team to accolades including Country Aircheck’s Platinum Label of the Year and continued the streak of 13 years as Country Aircheck’s Label of the Year. The company has also been named Billboard’s Top Country Airplay Label since the trade’s inception of the honor in 2017, recently earning the sixth straight in 2022.
Capitol Records Nashville has also been named MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout Label of the Year 18 times—17 of which were consecutive.
Young’s career spans four decades and includes time at Republic Nashville, Big Machine Records, Jeff McClusky & Associates and Mercury Records Nashville, as well as his own indie promotion companies: Bobby Young Promotions; The Promotion Group; Young, Massey, and Hunter; and Young-Olsen and Associates.
Over the years, he has promoted some of country music’s most prominent talent, including Lynn Anderson, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Kenny Chesney, Billy Ray Cyrus, John Fogerty, Mickey Gilley, Sammy Kershaw, Toby Keith, Kris Kristofferson, Kathy Mattea, Tim McGraw, John Mellencamp, Ronnie Milsap, Brad Paisley, Johnny Paycheck, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Randy Travis, Shania Twain, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams Jr., Brooks & Dunn, The Judds, The Kentucky Headhunters, The Marshall Tucker Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Statler Brothers, and more.
“I’ve been fortunate to have worked for and alongside so many of Nashville’s music industry legends,” Young recalls. “I’d like to thank legends Mike Dungan and Royce Risser for believing in me and for trusting me the last seven years to lead this kick ass promotion team. Working alongside Royce, David Friedman, Donna Hughes, Nick Kaper, Louie Newman, and Chris Schuler has been a perfect storm and the pinnacle of my career, and I’m so proud to have represented the biggest names in the format during my stint at Capitol.” He continues, “I’d like to thank everyone at UMG and especially the Capitol promotion team—Megan Youngblood, Mara Sidweber, Ashley Knight, Annie Sandor, Katie Bright, and Megan Kleinschmidt, all rockstars! I’d also like to extend my appreciation to my many friends over the years in country radio.”
“We are going to miss Bobby around here,” adds EVP Promotion Royce Risser. “I have had the honor of working with him since the UMG/EMI merger and during that time, learned his long and storied history in radio promotion. The artists and executives he has worked for and alongside are legendary and his impact on their careers is simply not calculable. He is absolutely loved by his coworkers and to me, that is the greatest testament to his character. We are excited for him and his family to enjoy some much deserved rest and relaxation. But we will truly miss his presence around UMG. Hopefully, he will come visit us or take us to lunch at Brown’s Diner.”
Chart Action: Tyler Hubbard Scores Most Added With Follow-Up Single
/by Alex ParryTyler Hubbard follows his solo debut No. 1 single, “5 Foot 9,” with “Dancin’ In The Country,” which is the most added single on the Mediabase and MusicRow radio charts.
The single, written by Hubbard, Jon Nite, Ross Copperman and Keith Urban, earned 60 first week adds. “Dancin’ In The Country” appears on his first solo record, Tyler Hubbard, set for release Jan. 27 via EMI Records Nashville. Hubbard co-wrote and co-produced all 18 tracks on the album.
“I’m really proud of this music, and first and foremost excited for everyone to get to know me,” says Hubbard.
For more chart data, click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly.