Pandora, the subsidiary streaming service of SiriusXM, has revealed its Country Artists to Watch 2023 list. The list is determined by Pandora programmers, who have combined sophisticated analysis of listener data with their insights to select the acts they believe are destined for greatness in the coming year.
Pandora’s Country Artists to Watch in 2023 are Avery Anna, Catie Offerman, Chase Wright, Corey Kent, Dalton Dover, Drake Milligan, Georgia Webster, Jackson Dean, Madeline Edwards, and Megan Moroney.
Anna started filming videos of herself singing in her mom’s bathroom – where, she says, the acoustics were best — during the pandemic. Since then, she’s performed on the historic Grand Ole Opry stage and gone viral with Gold-certified single “Narcissist.”
Offerman toured across Texas in a polka band before graduating from Berklee College of Music at age 19 and signing a publishing deal with Universal Music Group Publishing. Earlier this year, she released her debut single “Happyland Trailer Park.”
Wright was recently recognized by SiriusXM as part of their 2022 “Highway Finds” artist class, and headlined a stretch of shows this past year. He released his latest single “Hurt No More,” which he co-wrote with Kane Brown, in October.
Kent, who draws inspiration from The Eagles, Keith Richards, Turnpike Troubadours, among others, finds himself musically at the intersection of rock-infused country. His single “Wild As Her” captured the attention of audiences everywhere, building the foundation of his fanbase.
Dover achieved prominence after appearing on season sixteen of The Voice. He has since earned millions of views with his popular series of cover song mashups.
Milligan has packed country fans into clubs night after night on tour. He recently made his Grand Ole Opry debut, and his debut radio single “Sounds Like Something I’d Do” is currently climbing the country radio chart.
Webster released her new EP, Chapter 1: Things We’re Not Saying, in the fall, which included her previously released single “X’s.” The song caught the attention of Kelsea Ballerini, who invited Webster to join her as direct support on her intimate 10-night-only “Heartfirst Tour.”
Dean is known for his old-school, gritty style of country music. His single “Don’t Come Lookin’” made waves after it was featured on the soundtrack for Netflix’s The Ice Road, Paramount Network’s hit series Yellowstone, and The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Edwards infuses country music with elements of jazz, soul and gospel, creating a unique sound. In addition to opening for Chris Stapleton’s “All American Road Show Tour” this summer, she was featured alongside The Highwomen on Lady Gaga’s Born This Way tribute record.
Moroney has created a presence in the industry through talent, hard work, and marketing brilliance. Her single “Tennessee Orange,” recently impacted country radio and has been heard across the world.
To listen to Pandora’s Country Artists to Watch 2023 Playlist, click here.
Breland Releases New Amazon Live Album From Inaugural Benefit Show
/by Lorie HollabaughBreland and Amazon Music have released an exclusive new album, Breland & Friends: Amazon Music Live (Breakthrough Live), available now.
The collection features six songs recorded live at the inaugural Amazon Music Breakthrough Spotlight Artist charity concert “Breland & Friends,” held on April 12 at the Ryman to benefit the Oasis Center. Friends Nelly, Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Charles Kelley, Thomas Rhett, and Seaforth, all lent a hand to Breland during the special night to give back to the Nashville community. Breland also doubled as a host for his first headlining show at the historic Ryman.
Among the tracks captured from the show are Breland’s infectiously joyous “Praise The Lord” with Thomas Rhett, and the fun-filled “Beers On Me” with Dierks Bentley. The evening raised $140,000 for one of Middle Tennessee’s most comprehensive youth development agencies, Oasis Center, which is at the forefront of helping young people and their families navigate the complex challenges of today with over 20 programs and services responding to the area’s diverse needs.
“Breland & Friends was the most special night of my year for several reasons,” Breland explains. “First, we were able to raise $140,000 for the Oasis Center in Nashville, an organization that helps teens in crisis in the greater Nashville community. Second, it was my first time headlining the Ryman, which is one of my favorite and one of the most historic venues in America. Lastly, I was able to bring out so many of my friends and collaborators in country music, and for a great cause. To be able to package those unforgettable moments and release them on Amazon Music is incredible, and I’m hoping listeners feel the same magic I did on that stage.”
Breland & Friends: Amazon Music Live (Breakthrough Live) Track List:
1. Praise The Lord (feat. Thomas Rhett)
2. High Horse (feat. Nelly)
3. Told You I Could Drink (feat. Charles Kelley)
4. Beers On Me (feat. Dierks Bentley)
5. My Truck (feat. Sam Hunt)
6. Alone At The Ranch (feat. Seaforth)
Shania Twain Announces Second Leg Of 2023 ‘Queen Of Me Tour’
/by Lorie HollabaughShania Twain. Photo: Louie Banks
Shania Twain has announced a second leg of her 2023 “Queen of Me Tour,” which will kick off Oct. 12 in San Antonio.
Due to increased fan demand following the announcement of the initial shows, Twain has added 19 new fall dates to the trek, including stops in Louisville, Milwaukee, Toronto, Buffalo, Edmonton, and more before wrapping Nov. 14 in Vancouver, BC. Tickets for the newly-added dates go on sale starting Dec. 16 at LiveNation.com.
The tour is in support of Shania’s upcoming new album Queen of Me, out Feb. 3, and is her first tour in nearly five years following a residency run in Las Vegas.
Tonight, Twain will receive the Music Icon award at the 2022 People’s Choice Awards. As the top-selling female country pop artist of all time, Twain is being honored for her record-breaking career spanning over four decades that yielded massive hits like “That Don’t Impress Me Much” and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” In addition to receiving the award, she’ll perform a medley of her greatest hits as well as her new song “Waking Up Dreaming” from her upcoming new album. The appearance marks her first return to the PCAs stage since 2005, when she took home the award for Favorite Country Female Singer.
Bailey Zimmerman Achieves Fastest Chart-Topping Debut Single Since 2015
/by Lorie HollabaughBailey Zimmerman. Photo: Chris Ashlee
Bailey Zimmerman‘s Platinum-certified hit “Fall In Love” has raced to the top of the charts, becoming the fastest debut single to reach No. 1 at country radio since 2015.
The track was co-written by Zimmerman alongside frequent collaborators Gavin Lucas and Austin Shawn, and marks the first debut to make it all the way to No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart this year.
Along with the record-making No. 1, Zimmerman has already soared past the milestone of racking up more than 1 billion career streams since he first began releasing music less than two years ago.
In October, Zimmerman shattered records with his first full-length release, Leave The Light On, which became not only the most-streamed all-genre debut of the year, but also the biggest streaming country debut of all time. He also joined Zach Bryan and Luke Combs as the only country artists this year to earn more than 1 million streams on each track during street week alone. The EP arrived at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and No. 9 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. The EP also debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Canadian Country Albums chart and No. 8 on the all-genre Canadian Albums Chart.
Zimmerman’s new single, “Rock And A Hard Place,” has already been certified Platinum, and he’ll perform the new track on Good Morning America Dec. 27. He has a big New Year in store as well, heading out on the road with Morgan Wallen on his 2023 “One Night At A Time World Tour,” which kicks off overseas in New Zealand and Australia next March before returning stateside in April.
Zimmerman was recently named part of MusicRow‘s Next Big Thing Class of 2023.
Riser House Publishing Renews Partnership With Dallas Wilson
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L-R): Brandon Perdue, Kirby Smith, Dallas Wilson, Jennifer Johnson, and Matt Swanson. Photo: Courtesy of Shore Fire Media.
Riser House Publishing has renewed its partnership with hit songwriter Dallas Wilson.
With cuts from Dylan Scott, Jimmie Allen, Lainey Wilson, LoCash, Mitchell Tenpenny, Teddy Swims, and more, Wilson’s work has garnered over 450 million on-demand streams along with multiple sync placements.
“Dallas has been here since the beginning of Riser House,” says Riser House Entertainment President and Co-Founder Jennifer Johnson. “His music has helped shape our company, and his positive spirit has shaped our culture. He is an immensely, talented and versatile songwriter, and I am truly honored to be his partner.”
Wilson recently received his first BMI Award for co-penning Scott’s Platinum No. 1 hit “Nobody,” and currently has two songs charting at country radio, including Wilson’s “Heart Like A Truck” and Scott’s “Can’t Have Mine.”
“Dallas is the epitome of what we look for in a creative,” adds Riser House SVP of A&R Brandon Perdue. “He is literally a dream to work alongside, as he is always thinking ahead, showing up prepared, and bringing a positive vibe into every session and meeting. We are beyond excited to keep building on the momentum he has created and look forward to celebrating many more milestones in his career.”
“I’m so excited to continue working with Riser House Publishing,” says Wilson. “I signed my first publishing deal with them six years ago, and since then, it has been a blast working with the team. I’m so pumped about this next season as I continue working alongside Riser House!”
Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers To Headline Lexington Railbird Festival 2023
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Railbird Festival in Lexington, Kentucky will take place June 3 and 4 at the Infield at Red Mile, with headliners Tyler Childers and Zach Bryan set to perform.
Weezer, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Marcus Mumford, Sheryl Crow, Whiskey Myers, and many more are also slated to perform during the two-day festival, which will feature more than 30 artists performing across three stages, offering an unparalleled bourbon and equine experience.
On Saturday, June 3, the lineup also features Charley Crockett, Jenny Lewis, Lucius, Morgan Wade, Valerie June, Dehd, Neal Francis, The Heavy Heavy, Madeline Edwards, The Local Honeys, and Wayne Graham.
The lineup on Sunday, June 4 also includes The Head and the Heart, Goose, Nickel Creek, Amos Lee, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Sierra Ferrell, Charles Wesley Godwin, Molly Tuttle, 49 Winchester, Town Mountain, Cole Chaney, flipturn, Calder Allen, and Brit Taylor.
In addition to music, Railbird celebrates the spirit of Kentucky with highly-curated bourbon experiences in The Rickhouse. Fans can experience an impressive lineup of hand-selected barrels from Kentucky’s finest distilleries chosen in collaboration with Lexington’s Justin’s House of Bourbon.
One-day and two-day General Admission (GA), GA+, VIP and Platinum tickets will be available via pre-sale beginning December 8 with a general on-sale to follow. Fans can visit railbirdfest.com/tickets to sign up for presale access.
Pandora Predicts Country Artists To Watch In 2023
/by Liza AndersonPandora, the subsidiary streaming service of SiriusXM, has revealed its Country Artists to Watch 2023 list. The list is determined by Pandora programmers, who have combined sophisticated analysis of listener data with their insights to select the acts they believe are destined for greatness in the coming year.
Pandora’s Country Artists to Watch in 2023 are Avery Anna, Catie Offerman, Chase Wright, Corey Kent, Dalton Dover, Drake Milligan, Georgia Webster, Jackson Dean, Madeline Edwards, and Megan Moroney.
Anna started filming videos of herself singing in her mom’s bathroom – where, she says, the acoustics were best — during the pandemic. Since then, she’s performed on the historic Grand Ole Opry stage and gone viral with Gold-certified single “Narcissist.”
Offerman toured across Texas in a polka band before graduating from Berklee College of Music at age 19 and signing a publishing deal with Universal Music Group Publishing. Earlier this year, she released her debut single “Happyland Trailer Park.”
Wright was recently recognized by SiriusXM as part of their 2022 “Highway Finds” artist class, and headlined a stretch of shows this past year. He released his latest single “Hurt No More,” which he co-wrote with Kane Brown, in October.
Kent, who draws inspiration from The Eagles, Keith Richards, Turnpike Troubadours, among others, finds himself musically at the intersection of rock-infused country. His single “Wild As Her” captured the attention of audiences everywhere, building the foundation of his fanbase.
Dover achieved prominence after appearing on season sixteen of The Voice. He has since earned millions of views with his popular series of cover song mashups.
Milligan has packed country fans into clubs night after night on tour. He recently made his Grand Ole Opry debut, and his debut radio single “Sounds Like Something I’d Do” is currently climbing the country radio chart.
Webster released her new EP, Chapter 1: Things We’re Not Saying, in the fall, which included her previously released single “X’s.” The song caught the attention of Kelsea Ballerini, who invited Webster to join her as direct support on her intimate 10-night-only “Heartfirst Tour.”
Dean is known for his old-school, gritty style of country music. His single “Don’t Come Lookin’” made waves after it was featured on the soundtrack for Netflix’s The Ice Road, Paramount Network’s hit series Yellowstone, and The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Edwards infuses country music with elements of jazz, soul and gospel, creating a unique sound. In addition to opening for Chris Stapleton’s “All American Road Show Tour” this summer, she was featured alongside The Highwomen on Lady Gaga’s Born This Way tribute record.
Moroney has created a presence in the industry through talent, hard work, and marketing brilliance. Her single “Tennessee Orange,” recently impacted country radio and has been heard across the world.
To listen to Pandora’s Country Artists to Watch 2023 Playlist, click here.
Sony Music Nashville Adds Jason McColl As Senior Director, A&R
/by LB CantrellJason McColl
Sony Music Nashville has announced the hiring of Jason McColl as Senior Director, A&R.
McColl is a Belmont University graduate who spent three years in radio promotions at Universal Music Group before joining the Warner Music Nashville A&R team in 2018. His most recent position at WMN was as Director, A&R, where he worked with Bailey Zimmerman and Avery Anna, among others.
Now at SMN, McColl will be responsible for the A&R on a number of artists, signing and developing new talent, and maintaining publisher relationships. He will report to Senior Vice President, A&R, Taylor Lindsey.
Morgan Wallen Adds 14 Shows To ‘One Night At A Time World Tour’
/by Liza AndersonMorgan Wallen. Photo: David Lehr
Morgan Wallen has announced the addition of 14 new shows across 13 cities, with back-to-back nights at 10 stadiums, to his “One Night At A Time World Tour.”
One of the largest tours of 2023 and Wallen’s biggest yet, the “One Night At A Time World Tour” will consist of 58 shows—26 of those being stadium shows—and will travel to arenas, amphitheaters, and festivals across four countries and two continents.
The trek, produced by Live Nation in North America and Frontier Touring for Australia/New Zealand, is set to kick off overseas Mar. 15 – 24 with performances in New Zealand and Australia featuring Hardy, before returning stateside on April 14 at Milwaukee’s American Family Field with Hardy. The journey will then hit New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Chicago’s Wrigley Field, and Boston’s Fenway Park with Parker McCollum, before wrapping on Oct. 7 at Tacoma Dome in Washington. Ernest and Bailey Zimmerman will serve as support across all U.S. and international dates.
All tickets for the added dates will be sold through the verified fan sale beginning Wednesday, Dec. 7. Times vary per market. Verified Fans will automatically be rolled into the added dates for the same city they initially requested as the previously announced dates sell out. For more information, click here.
Liz Rose Music Expands Reach Through New Partnership With Open On Sunday Music
/by Lorie HollabaughLiz Rose and Open On Sunday Music have joined forces in a new creative partnership. The first signing under the new venture is Lauren McLamb.
The partnership between Liz Rose Music and Open On Sunday was forged after a successful catalog acquisition. Since entering the industry in 2018, Open On Sunday has purchased more than 60 music catalogs of all sizes across all genres of music.
With the financial backing of Open On Sunday, Liz Rose Music will be able to discover and break even more talent into the industry, providing songwriters with the resources and support needed to hone their skills and extend their success.
“Liz Rose Music has all the ingredients for continued success—20 years of songwriting excellence, an envious track record of supporting great songwriting talent and a deeply committed management team. Our job is to support Liz, Scott, Dave, Kate and the rest of the Liz Rose Music team in being Nashville’s front porch of choice for songwriters with heart, soul and dedication,” shares Elliot Hayes, Co-Founder and CEO, Open On Sunday, LLC.
Farris, Self & Moore Promotes Gator Pizer, Hannah Haggerty, & Elaina Riggs
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L-R): Hannah Haggerty, Gator Pizer, and Elaina Riggs. Photo: Courtesy of Farris, Self & Moore.
Boutique business management firm Farris, Self & Moore (FSM) has announced the promotion of Gator Pizer and Hannah Haggerty—both previously Client Managers—to Associate Business Managers, and Elaina Riggs—previously Operations, Contracts and Royalty Manager—to Director of Operations, effective immediately.
“Gator, Hannah and Elaina are strong leaders and are passionate about their work, clients and FSM as a whole,” says Stephanie Self, FSM Partner. “They fully encompass our firm’s core values of being all-in and innovative, while providing a boutique feel to their clients. We are thrilled to recognize these individuals and their well-deserved promotions. We are grateful to have them as a part of our team at FSM.”
Pizer can be reached at gator@fsmnash.com, Haggerty can be reached at hannah@fsmnash.com, and Riggs can be reached at elaina@fsmnash.com.