sign in sign up
<<
Home , Ashley Gorley, Ashley McBryde, BBR Music Group, Brett James, Cary Barlowe, Charles Esten

April 30, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly Friday, April 30, 2021

2021 AIMP Awards Winners SIGN UP HERE (FREE!) Announced at 6th Annual Event If you were forwarded this newsletter and would like to receive it, sign up here.

THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES

2021 AIMP Nashville Awards

Shannan Hatch Exits Fourward Music

MusicRow Parent Company Launches New Sports Publication

Warner Music Nashville Welcomes The Nashville Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) announced the winners of its 6th Annual AIMP Nashville Awards at Big Machine Music Adds Tim a special socially distanced event hosted by Charles Esten at The Listening Hunze As VP Of Publishing Room Café in Nashville on Tuesday, April 27. The ceremony was also livestreamed to AIMP members. Launches Play It Again Music Group During the ceremony, Big Machine Music was named Publisher of the Year, with of the Year going to (Concord Music Publishing) and Artist-Writer of the Year to Ashley McBryde (Jody Williams Tenille Arts Celebrates Songs). Historic No. 1

In addition, Song of the Year went to ’s “One of Them BBR Music Group Names Girls” (written by , Ben Johnson, Dallas Davidson, and Jay Jones Sr. VP Of Publicity Lee Brice). Hardy’s “Give Heaven Some Hell” (written by Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps, and Hardy) was named Publisher’s Josh Hoge Signs With Kane Pick. Brown’s Verse 2 Music

AIMP Nashville also recognized Matt Alderman (Curb | Word Music Veteran And Contemporary Publishing) as Rising Songwriter of the Year and Ruston Kelly (Concord Agents Launch Reliant Talent Music Publishing) as Rising Artist-Writer of the Year. The Song Champion award was presented to Ward Guenther (Whiskey Jam). Agency [Exclusive]

The event featured live performances of many of the Song of the Year and DISClaimer Singles Reviews Publisher’s Pick nominees, including Ashley McBryde performing ’s “Ain’t Always the Cowboy,” Carly Pearce performing Maddie & And much more… Tae’s “Die from a Broken Heart,” Hardy performing Jameson Rodgers’

Page 1 of 16 April 30, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

“Some Girls” (which he co-wrote), Pardi performing ’s “Bluebird,” Maddie & Tae performing McBryde’s “” (with McBryde accompanying on Pardi’s guitar), and Tenille Arts and Adam Hambrick performing Pearce and Brice’s “I Hope You’re Happy Now.”

Video performances of Brice playing “Give Heaven Some Hell” and playing “” were also presented.

“Last night was a reaffirmation of the Nashville independent music community and the powerful work they have done to get us through this past year,” said Ree Guyer, Vice President of the AIMP Nashville Chapter and Co-Chair of the AIMP Nashville Awards. “As we approach the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are excited about the return of in- person songwriting sessions, writers’ rounds, and live performances, and know our winners and nominees will continue to create amazing music to the hopefully joyous year ahead.”

“Congratulations to all the independent publishers and who won or were nominated for AIMP Nashville Awards this year!” said John Ozier, AIMP National Chair and President of the AIMP Nashville Chapter. “In an unprecedented and dark time, their songs provided a light for so many. It is a testament to the power of music, which would not exist without those who do the difficult and sometimes unheralded work of songwriting. We are happy to shine a light on them today.”

The full list of winners and nominees by category can be found here.

Shannan Hatch Exits Fourward Music

Shannan Hatch has exited her position as President of Fourward Music. She can be reached via email at [email protected].

Fourward, the management, production and business development company, formed its music publishing venture, Fourward Music, in the summer of 2019 with offices in both Nashville and Los Angeles.

Prior to her post at Fourward, Hatch served as Vice President of Creative Services for SESAC, where she led the Nashville-based Creative Services team in supporting SESAC-affiliated songwriters and publishers.

Her honors include MusicRow’s Rising Women on the Row and Nashville Business Journal Women in Music City Award. With two decades of experience as a respected member of the Nashville , she’s a member of the Academy of and prior board member, as well as a member of Americana Music Association, Country Music Association, , SOURCE, NSAI, and a board member of AIMP’s Nashville chapter. MR

Page 2 of 16 April 30, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly MusicRow Parent Company Launches New Sports Publication

Music Row Enterprises, LLC, the parent company of MusicRow magazine is launching a new Nashville sports industry trade publication, The Sports Credential.

MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson says, “Last year I asked myself, ‘What if there was a MusicRow- type trade publication for the exploding Nashville sports industry?’ and that idea proved to be one I could never shake off.”

Robertson adds, “After a lot of hard work and planning the last few months, I am pumped to have our new sister publication, The Sports Credential, come to fruition. I personally know that I want to be part of the growing Nashville sports industry and I think many others do to. It’s a natural fit for us because we can use our incredibly successful MusicRow model and apply it to the sports industry here in Nashville and do so successfully. We’ve added great talent to our team who will be laser focused on this venture and my excitement is honestly, hard to contain. Come join The Sports Credential. It’s going to be a fun ride!”

With sports being a dynamic and growing industry, The Sports Credential serves as a helpful resource, the kind of publication that focuses on the sports industry and its decision makers, in order to connect and inform those of who want to be ‘in the know’ and on the front row as Nashville inevitably becomes a national sports hub.

Whether it’s joining the effort to bring Major League Baseball to Nashville, Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine becoming title sponsor for IndyCar Music City Grand Prix, or the Nashville Sounds affiliating with Milwaukee Brewers, there’s no doubt Nashville’s explosive growth in sports is just beginning.

Since The Sports Credential is a separate publication from MusicRow, those wishing to receive information and news will need to sign up directly to receive its FREE weekly and breaking news emails. Click here to sign up.

The new publication’s website and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) are live now. MR

Page 3 of 16 Friday, April 30, 2021

CHART ACTION NO. 1 SONG New On The Chart —Debuting This Week song/artist/label—Chart Position Not Yet/Brett Young/BMLG — 61 That Ain't Me No More/Matt Stell/RECORDS/ — 74 Found My Home/Lucie Tiger/2120 Music — 75 I'm Not For Everyone//EMI Records Nashville — 77 It's Cause I Am//Big Machine — 78 Hot Beer/Dillon Carmichael/Riser House Records — 79 Got Me This Far/Donny Lee/Donny Lee Music — 80

Greatest Spin Increase song/artist/label—Spin Increase //Valory — 326 Waves//Capitol — 244 "Forever After All” by remains the No. 1 single on the Not Yet/Brett Young/BMLG — 228 MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart for its second consecutive Half Of My Hometown/ Ballerini/Black River week. The single was penned by Combs, Drew Parker, and Robert Entertainment — 146 Williford. It appears on Combs’ deluxe , What You See Ain’t Is It Me And You/Lisa Brokop/Amersong — 143 Always What You Get.

Most Added Comb’s teamed with bluegrass star Billy Strings for his latest release song/artist/label—No. of Adds called “The Great Divide.” Combs shares, “Something that I’ve always Not Yet/Brett Young/BMLG — 19 wanted to do is write and put out a bluegrass album. This is a song Is It Me And You/Lisa Brokop/Amersong — 14 that was supposed to be a part of that project. It’s not a lead single or a lead-in to that project yet, because that is not done. But it felt like the Half Of My Hometown//Black River right time to put this song out. When we wrote it, there were a lot of Entertainment — 9 crazy things going on in the world. There’s still a lot of crazy things Waves/Luke Bryan/Capitol — 8 going on in the world. And I just felt like I had some stuff to say. It’s not I'm Not For Everyone/Brothers Osborne/EMI Records meant to be political. It’s not meant to try and tell you what to think or Nashville — 8 tell you how to believe. That’s not my job. It’s just a guy kinda saying Country Again/Thomas Rhett/Valory — 8 the way he was feeling when he wrote it.”

On Deck—Soon To Be Charting Each songwriter and artist earning No. 1 song/artist/label—No. of Spins credit on the MusicRow Chart receives a Is It Me And You/Lisa Brokop/Amersong — 143 MusicRow Challenge Coin. Click here to Woman You Got/Maddie & Tae/Mercury — 140 view a full list of recipients. How You Make Me Feel/Jeff Bates/Skydancer Entertainment — 127 MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart Reporting Stations WHMA Anniston, AL WMCI Mattoon, IL KYSM Mankato, MN KWEY Weatherford, OK KMRK Odessa, TX WXFL Florence, AL WYOT Rochelle, IL KZPK St. Cloud, MN KWOX Woodward, OK KYYK Palestine, TX KQUS Hot Springs, AR WRTB Rockford, IL KWWR Mexico, MO KRKT Albany, OR KXOX Sweetwater, TX KDXY Jonesboro, AR WCCI Savanna, IL KFAV Warrenton, MO WNBT Mansfield, PA WAKG Danville, VA KWCK Searcy, AR WIFE Connersville, IN KZZY Devils Lake, ND WCFT Selinsgrove, PA WAXX Altoona, WI KRAZ Santa Barbara, CA KAIR Atchison, KS KRVN Lexington, NE WFGE State College, PA WJVL Janesville, WI WPAP Panama City, FL WKDZ Cadiz, KY Jersey Shore Country WMIR Myrtle Beach, SC WGLR Platteville, WI WUBB Savannah, GA WBKR Owensboro, KY KQBA Santa Fe, NM KMOM Aberdeen, SD WQPC Prairie du Chien, WI KXIA Marshalltown, IA WDHR Pikeville, KY WDNB Monticello, NY WUCZ Carthage, TN WCOW Sparta, WI KIAI Mason City, IA KRRV Alexandria, LA WOLF Syracuse, NY WDKN Dickson, TN WTNJ Beckley, WV KBOE Oskaloosa, IA WUUU Covington, LA WCJW Warsaw, NY WLLX Lawrenceburg, TN WDGG Huntington ,WV KTHK Idaho Falls, ID WKPE Hyannis, MA WFRY Watertown, NY KAYD Beaumont, TX WOOZ Carterville, IL WVMD Cumberland, MD KWHW Altus, OK KFTX Corpus Christi, TX WAAG Galesburg, IL WTCM Traverse City, MI KITX Hugo, OK KYKX Longview, TX Friday, April 30, 2021

Weeks Last This Spins / % Spin Song / Artist / Label Spins +/- On Chart Week Week Reports Power

10 1 1 Forever After All / Luke Combs / River House Artists/Columbia Nashville 1914/55 1 20 17 3 2 / & / RCA Nashville 1799/58 8 127 29 2 3 Next Girl / Carly Pearce / Big Machine 1772/64 3 48 26 5 4 We Didn’t Have Much / / Valory 1674/65 4 64 23 4 5 Blame It On You / / Broken Bow 1668/56 2 27 61 6 6 Nobody / / Curb 1560/48 1 23 24 11 7 Memory I Don’t Mess With / Lee Brice / Curb 1287/60 4 50 12 10 8 Glad You Exist / Dan + Shay / Warner Music Nashville/WAR 1280/50 3 36 67 8 9 / Tenille Arts / 19th & Grand 1256/37 -12 -177 16 12 10 Tequila Little Time / Jon Pardi / Capitol 1166/57 5 60 11 18 11 Things A Man Oughta Know / Lainey Wilson / Broken Bow 1086/51 13 121 35 13 12 / / Warner Music Nashville 1078/44 4 43 19 19 13 Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen. / feat. / Broken Bow/Dack 1064/52 11 104 Janiels 7 16 14 Like A Lady / / BMLG 1054/56 8 76 9 17 15 Knowing You / / Blue Chair Records/Warner Music Nashville 1031/52 5 53 44 14 16 Wine, Beer, Whiskey / / Capitol 1009/44 0 4 25 20 17 Just About Over You / Priscilla Block / Mercury Nashville 1001/48 6 58 27 15 18 If It Wasn’t For Trucks / Riley Green / BMLG 989/45 -1 -9 3 32 19 Country Again / Thomas Rhett / Valory 959/52 52 326 16 21 20 My Boy / Elvie Shane / Wheelhouse Records 950/50 4 35 16 22 21 Give Heaven Some Hell / HARDY / Records 946/49 6 51 3 29 22 Waves / Luke Bryan / Capitol 918/55 36 244 20 23 23 Cold Beer Calling My Name / Jameson Rodgers feat. Luke Combs / River House Artists/ 879/49 0 1 Columbia Nashville 27 24 24 Where I Find God / Larry Fleet / Big Loud Records 781/39 -9 -74 12 31 25 Okfuskee Whiskey / James Robert Webb / Bison Creek Records 748/46 14 91 14 27 26 To Be Loved By You / Parker McCollum / MCA Nashville 743/42 5 35 11 28 27 Lonely Drum / Aaron Goodvin / Reviver Records/Warner Music Canada 722/44 2 16 10 30 28 Getting Over Him / feat. Jon Pardi / Mercury Nashville 697/40 6 37 17 37 29 Chain Breaker / Zach Williams / 580/35 10 51 13 33 30 Freedom Was A Highway / Jimmie Allen & / Stoney Creek Records 560/31 -1 -5 9 38 31 I Can’t / Caitlyn Smith feat. Old Dominion / Monument Records 552/36 7 36 21 34 32 Heartland / Hailey Whitters / Big Loud Records/S&D 547/29 0 1 24 36 33 You Time / Scotty McCreery / Triple Tigers Records 546/33 2 13 6 39 34 My Masterpiece / Darius Rucker / Capitol 529/33 8 41 5 42 35 ABBY / / Mercury Nashville 520/34 11 52 10 43 36 Gettin’ Her Over You / Bobby Wills / Willing 504/32 12 52 5 48 37 Then A Girl Walks In / Shenandoah & / Foundry Records 490/36 21 85 8 46 38 Under It With You Tonight / Smith & Wesley / Dream Walkin/Audium Nashville 478/30 12 52 15 41 39 Right Place Now / Hudson Valley / Hudson Valley 475/24 1 6 Weeks Last This Spins / % Spin Song / Artist / Label Spins +/- On Chart Week Week Reports Power

12 44 40 What The Whiskey’s For / Tom Sexton / Lots To Do Music 467/32 6 27 12 47 41 Together / for KING & COUNTRY feat. Hannah Ellis, Jackson Michelson / Curb|Word 462/28 14 55 Entertainment 5 49 42 / Ryan Hurd w/ / Arista Nashville 442/28 14 55 13 45 43 Shallow / and / Pearl Records 428/24 0 0 22 50 44 / Kane Brown / RCA Nashville 399/20 5 20 4 52 45 Might As Well Be Me / Dew Pendleton / HippieRedneckGospeLove/GrassRoots 345/32 7 22 15 58 46 I Do Thing / Kylie Frey / Deep Frey’d Music Group 328/23 16 46 14 51 47 Can’t Stop / Chloe Collins / Collins House Music 327/20 0 1 9 53 48 It’s All Yours / Dave Wilbert / Wilbilly Records 321/22 1 3 6 54 49 God Save The World / feat. Lisa Brokop / MCC/Curb 319/18 5 15

6 56 50 Treasure / Mary Heather Hickman / Rolling River Records 314/25 7 21 2 78 51 Half Of My Hometown / Kelsea Ballerini / Black River Entertainment 303/25 93 146 13 55 52 Head Over Wheels / Joe Hanson / 294/17 0 0 8 57 53 Good Day / / Warner Music Nashville 292/20 2 7 7 60 54 Homesick / Veronika / Whattaguy Music 285/24 7 19 13 64 55 He Looks Good On Her / Michael McCall / MDM Entertainment 279/14 13 32 4 65 56 Villain / Lily Rose / Big Loud Records 277/22 13 31 9 63 57 Home Sweet / Russell Dickerson / Triple Tigers Records 271/19 7 18 19 59 58 Whiskey And Rain / Michael Ray / Warner Music Nashville 270/15 -3 -9 9 61 59 Same Dirt Road / Eric Lee / Blue Hill Records 269/21 1 3 9 62 60 Gotta Go Rodeo / Darlinghurst / Helium 259/20 1 3 1 0 61 Not Yet / Brett Young / BMLG 228/19 0 228 4 67 62 Lonely Girl / Danny Kensy / Rad Records 223/16 7 14 3 76 63 Show Off / Queeva / CMD Music 218/19 26 45 4 70 64 If I Wanted Your Opinion / Michaela Anne / Yep Roc Records 218/15 10 19 4 69 65 It Goes So Fast / Dwain Messer / N Crowd Music 214/14 4 9 5 68 66 Old School’s In / Heath Sanders / Valory 206/14 0 0 5 66 67 / Ingrid Andress / Warner Music Nashville 197/14 -11 -25 6 71 68 Camp Jackson / Michael B. Whit / 195/13 1 2 4 73 69 Why Can’t It Be Tonight / Mercy Shine / CCB Nashville 194/13 3 6 3 75 70 Anybody But Me / Hannah Belle / Cherry Picker Music South/Freedom Entertainment 191/14 10 18 8 72 71 Let It Flow / Dave McElroy / Greg Stevens Promotions/Tatum Town LLC 188/10 -1 -2 28 40 72 I Can Tell By The Way You Dance / / MCA Nashville 187/10 -62 -299 3 77 73 You Weren’t Made For Me / Royal South / Circle S Records 168/11 1 1 1 83 74 That Ain’t Me No More / Matt Stell / RECORDS/Arista Nashville 161/14 18 25 1 81 75 Found My Home / Lucie Tiger / 2120 Music 161/14 14 20 2 80 76 Quittin’ You / Frankie Justin / SMG Records 156/12 10 14 1 111 77 I’m Not For Everyone / Brothers Osborne / EMI Records Nashville 153/13 127 96 1 82 78 It’s Cause I Am / Callista Clark / Big Machine 151/14 9 13 1 92 79 Hot Beer / Dillon Carmichael / Riser House Records 149/13 39 42 1 87 80 Got Me This Far / Donny Lee / Donny Lee Music 148/14 28 32 No. 1 Song Greatest Spin Increase Highest Debut April 30, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

Warner Music Nashville Big Machine Music Adds Tim Welcomes Zac Brown Band Hunze As VP Of Publishing

Warner Music Nashville has signed Zac Brown Band via a deal with Warner Music Nashville / Home Grown Big Machine Music announced the addition of Tim Hunze as Vice President of Publishing. Hunze's Music. New music is expected soon from the band that career spans nearly three decades in Nashville’s has tallied more than nine billion streams and 15 No. 1 music publishing community. radio singles over the course of more than a decade. His experience includes work with current hitmakers “Warner Music Nashville and Zac Brown Band share a and hall of fame inductees such as Jordan Davis, Kip fundamental value: forging connections through Moore, , Joey Hendricks, Justin Wilson, amazing and heartfelt music,” says Warner Music Tom Shapiro and Tony Martin, among others. Notably, Nashville Chairman & CEO John Esposito. “Their songs have ceaselessly fed our hearts and souls, and I Hunze managed (2009 BMI Songwriter am so proud to welcome them to our label home as we of the Year) and (2009 ASCAP Songwriter journey together into this new chapter.” of the Year). His previous stops include Anthem Entertainment, Parallel Entertainment, Stage Three Warner joins the band’s team which includes managers Music and legendary publisher Hamstein Music. David Plyler and Dirk Lemmenes at Home Grown Music, Scott Clayton and Matthew Morgan at WME, “Tim’s name is synonymous with the best of Nashville Cameo Carlson and Michael Corcoran at mtheory, music publishing,” says BMM General Manager Mike Stephanie Jones at JONESWORKS and Reid Hunter Molinar. “Not only does he fit our work ethic, vision at Serling Rooks Hunter McKoy Worob & Averill LLP. and advocacy for songwriters, his addition complements Big Machine Music’s stellar team and “We couldn’t be more excited to become part of the allows us to stay service-minded to our songwriters as Warner Music Nashville family,” says Zac Brown. “We we continue to grow.” feel incredibly blessed to be working with John Esposito, Cris Lacy, Ben Kline and their talented team. A graduate of MTSU’s Recording Industry program We’ve been hard at work in the studio and can’t wait to and a member of Leadership Music’s Class of 2013, share our new music with our fans!” Hunze currently serves on the board of the Association of Independent Music Publishers and as Adds WMN EVP A&R Cris Lacy: “Zac Brown Band is the host for their AIMP Nashville: Pubcast. known worldwide for their consummate musicianship, litany of timeless hits and incomparable live shows. Hunze shares, “when Mike approached me about the From the moment they stepped onto the scene, they possibility of working together at Big Machine Music, I were grinding out this game-changing vision. When we was honored that he’d consider me to join his already heard the new music our only question was, ‘How amazing team. I feel like I’m joining the all-star team! I quickly can we get this to the fans?’ It was absolutely, can’t wait to see what we can do joining forces.” positively undeniable. Enough said. It feels good to have them back in the Warner family, and we’re excited Reach Hunze at [email protected]. MR to make some new history together.” MR

Page 7 of 16 April 30, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly Dallas Davidson Doubles Down, Launches Play It Again Music Group

Hit songwriter and publisher Dallas Davidson has established Play It Again Music Group as a full-service music company housing his longtime PIA Publishing and label/artist management and development division PIA Entertainment, established in 2020. In conjunction, Davidson is also launching a new publishing company, Double Down Music, as a division of PIA Music Group.

Industry veteran Ryan Dokke will serve as CEO of PIA Music Group, overseeing daily operations of each division. Erin Kidd and Lauren Lieu have been tapped to serve as Creative Directors for Double Down Music, and Cade Price will move from his role at PIA Publishing to Director, Streaming & Creative Content at PIA Entertainment.

Pictured top row (L-R): Ryan Dokke, CEO, Play It Again PIA Publishing’s roster includes Davidson, Kyle Fishman, Music Group; Erin Kidd, Creative Dir., Double Down Music; Bottom row (L-R): Lauren Lieu, Creative Dir., Double Down Warner Music Nashville recording artist Trea Landon, Justin Music; Cade Price, Dir., Streaming & Creative Content at Wilson, and Tommy Cecil. Play It Again Entertainment is home PIA Entertainment to Walker Montgomery and Dylan Marlowe. The songwriting roster for Double Down Music has not been announced.

“The creativity and culture at PIA Music Group is incredible right now!” says Dokke. “I’m extremely excited to turn Erin, Lauren and Cade loose with their ideas and passion for our songwriters and artists! We place a high priority on service to creative talent.”

Adds Davidson, “Launching Double Down Music and aligning everything under the PIA Music Group allows us to work with even more incredible artists and songwriters and provide high level creative resources to the top talent in music. With the addition of Double Down Music, the PIA Music Group reaffirms our commitment to the songwriting and artist community!” MR

Tenille Arts Celebrates Historic No. 1 At Country Radio With ‘Somebody Like That’

Tenille Arts is celebrating a historic milestone, with her single “Somebody Like That” hitting No. 1 on the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart and becoming the first song in country music that was written, performed, and produced by all females to hit No. 1.

Arts co-wrote “Somebody Like That” with Allison Cruz and Alex Kline; Kline also produced the track which makes her the first solo female producer to have a No. 1 single at country radio.

“Words cannot describe how I feel right now,” says the 19th & Grand Records artist. “Thank you country radio and the DSPs for believing in and supporting this song, thank you to everyone who wrote about this journey, thank you to all of the fans who listened, requested and streamed this song, and thank you to my amazing team who have supported me from the beginning. You’ve changed my life forever.” MR

Page 8 of 16 April 30, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly BBR Music Group Names Jay Jones Sr. VP Of Publicity

BBR Music Group announced the promotion of Jay Jones to Senior Vice President of Publicity.

His responsibilities include strategy and oversight of publicity campaigns for BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s recording artists across the label’s imprints, including Broken Bow Records, Stoney Creek Records, and Wheelhouse Records. Additionally, he directs corporate communications and messaging for all three imprints. Jones will continue reporting to President of BMG Nashville, Jon Loba.

As the first executive hire at BBR Music Group following its acquisition by BMG, Jones has led publicity campaigns including the debut of Blanco Brown and his triple “The Git Up,” Jimmie Allen’s breakout as he became the first Black artist to launch his career with two consecutive No. 1 singles at country radio, and ’s debut album The Project and powerful sophomore concept album . He has also been in recent campaigns for Granger Smith, Lainey Wilson, Elvie Shane, and Brooke Eden.

“Jay was the perfect addition to the BBR Music Group at the perfect time,” says Loba. “His previous experience as both an independent publicist and working for the CMA served him well as the BBR Music Group transformed from a family-owned domestic country label to a strong and diverse music entity with global reach. Jay’s track record of securing significant media and press speaks for itself and we look forward to he and his team continuing their strong role telling our artists’ stories.” MR

Josh Hoge Signs With Kane Brown’s Verse 2 Music

Josh Hoge has signed a global publishing deal with Kane Brown‘s Verse 2 Music.

Hoge has penned chart-topping hits including Chris Young’s “I’m Comin’ Over” and “Think of You,” and Kane Brown’s “,” “,” and “” with Marshmello. He has received numerous honors for his songwriting, including SESAC’s Songwriter of the Year award in 2016; Grammy and CMA Awards nominations, and several RIAA multi-Platinum certifications.

Hoge is the first songwriter to sign with the new venture, which was recently launched in partnership with Music Publishing Pictured (top row): Josh Hoge; (L-R, middle row): by Brown and music industry veteran Kent Earls. With the Rusty Gaston, Kent Earls; (bottom row): Kane Brown establishment of Verse 2 Music, Kane and Earls aim to discover and develop emerging country hitmakers.

“Josh is just a great guy and an incredible songwriter,” says Brown. “He is one of the first songwriters I ever wrote with in Nashville and I’m really excited he’s part of the team.”

Earls adds, “Josh has been involved in Kane’s writing career with great success from the beginning, and he has only scratched the surface of his career as a hitmaker. When the opportunity arose for him to become our first signed writer, the answer was a resounding YES. Welcome to the V2 family, Josh!” MR

Page 9 of 16 April 30, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly Veteran And Contemporary Agents Launch Reliant Talent Agency [Exclusive]

Talent agents Steve Lassiter, Matt McGuire, and Heath Baumhor have announced the launch of the full-service entertainment company Reliant Talent Agency.

Headquartered in Nashville, Reliant Talent is comprised of a growing team of veteran and contemporary agents with decades of experience spanning major talent agencies. Lassiter, who got his start in the music business at age 19, most recently served as Co-Head of Worldwide Music at APA Nashville. Baumhor worked in a few different areas of the music industry before landing at APA, where he spent the last 15 years and was part of their contemporary music department. McGuire spent time at Steve Lassiter, Matt McGuire, Heath Baumhor Buddy Lee Attractions before joining APA in 2013 to help form their club and small theatre department and rose to line agent just a few years after joining the company.

“Unfortunately COVID took out a lot of companies, and a lot of companies just had to make do with what they had. Fortunately for us, it created an opportunity for some of us to regroup and start our own thing,” Lassiter tells MusicRow. “We wanted to start an independent boutique operation instead of a corporate operation. We all spent many years at APA, and still have a lot of respect for those people as they were always really good to us through the years, but we just saw this opportunity and felt it was the right thing to do.”

Since its inception, Reliant has brought on other agents and expanded its artist roster to include talent representing Americana, comedy, country, rock, , and more. Reliant’s roster currently includes , Kenny Loggins, Everclear, Rodney Carrington, Phil Vassar, Yacht Rock Revue, Take 6, Average White Band, Sister Hazel, and more. Additional artists continue to be added to the roster, and more will be announced in the coming weeks.

Reliant artist Travis Tritt says, “Steve Lassiter has been in my corner for many years as a loyal agent and friend. I look forward to what’s on the horizon for Steve and the entire team at Reliant Talent Agency.”

In addition to its fundamental base of booking and live event services, Reliant continues to expand into a full-service agency, offering representation in TV/Film, commercials, voiceovers, and endorsements. They have formed strategic alliances with other global branding agencies to maximize opportunities and deals for the clients they represent.

Lassiter says, “The staff is about one quarter of the staff that we had. With a smaller staff, it creates more of an opportunity to focus more on the clients and not have to deal with a lot of the corporate agency minutia. It frees up a lot of time to act independently and be a smaller shop where the result is more focused on the clients, better routing for the clients, being able to work on each deal a little bit more and maybe squeeze in a little bit more money out of it.”

Additional agents that make up the Reliant Talent team include Chris Burke, Chris Gaulke, Fred Hansen, Jeff Howard, Chris Looney, and Frank Wing.

“Through the pandemic, there’s been quite a few independent boutique agencies to spring up that consists of agents from Paradigm, WME or CAA. For the last many years, they’ve all been competitors and now they found themselves working together. They’re starting from scratch. Whereas in this situation, all of us have already been working together for 10 to 20 years. So we were able to hit the ground running and really just blast out of the gate.”

Reliant continues to add partners, agents, and staff, who will be announced in the coming months. MR

Page 10 of 16 April 30, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly DISClaimer Single Reviews: , Reba McEntire, Lauren Alaina & Jon Pardi

It’s country stars old and new in today’s DISClaimer column.

Despite the presence of such hot “today” acts as , Lauren Alaina, Jon Pardi, Brett Young, Justin Moore and Jameson Rodgers, it’s the established legends who carry the day.

Ruling the roost are Reba McEntire, , , Terri Clark and our Disc of the Day winner—and new Country Music Hall of Fame inductee—Marty Stuart. Singing a song, no less.

Everyone here has been making records for years, Marty Stuart so we have no DISCovery Award to give.

Click here to read Robert K. Oermann's reviews of Marty Stuart, Kip Moore, Lauren Alaina, Reba McEntire, Jon Pardi, Joe Nichols, and more.

MORE TOP STORIES

Craig Wiseman, John Titta, Gadi Oron Set For Luke Bryan Announces ‘Proud To Be Right Here’ AIMP Global Music Publishing Summit Tour

Pilgrimage Line-Up Includes Dave Matthews Brett Young Explores Big Life Changes On New Band, Maren Morris, The Black Keys Album Due June 4

‘Billboard’ Announces Finalists For This Year’s Downtown Music Lays Off Nashville Employees BBMAs Eclipse Music Group Adds Jordan James To Hit Songwriter Pam Belford Passes Songwriting Roster

Matt Houser Elevated To Partner At Taillight Lorraine D. Miller Named CFO Of Studio Bank

Country Radio Broadcasters Announces 2022 Loeb & Loeb Expands Nashville Office With CRS Agenda Committee Members Attorneys John Rolfe, Megan Keelan

Pat Morris Named IBMA Executive Director Nate Barnes’ Debut EP ‘You Ain’t Pretty’ Slated For Summer Country Songwriting Great Charlie Black Passes Unveils City Charts To Showcase Local Music Scenes

Page 11 of 16 April 30, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly ‘Shady Ladies’ Susan Nadler And Evelyn Shriver Talk Business, Friendship, And Hilarity [Interview]

Susan Nadler and Evelyn Shriver, also known as the ‘Shady Ladies of Music City,’ have been forging their own paths through the Nashville music business since the 1980s.

The close friends and industry stalwarts have always demanded a seat at the table that was largely made up of men, and eventually became first women ever to helm a major Nashville . They’ve both led a fascinating career, which they talk about in their hilarious podcast, Shady Ladies of Music City.

The recently announced second season of the podcast is available to stream now–and Susan and Evelyn just revealed more guest stars for the second season, including Clint Higham, Bonnie Garner, Michael Campbell, Shane McAnally and the late Connie Bradley. They join previously announced episodes featuring Martina McBride, , Joel Katz, Raul Malo and Tony Conway.

Evelyn came to Nashville after having started her career in PR in New York, where her husband had a record deal. While in New York Evelyn worked with actors Cary Grant, Bette Davis, and Joan Crawford, and musicians , Diana Ross, and more. She was part of the team that launched People magazine, Entertainment Tonight and MTV.

Eventually she and her husband grew tired of New York and moved to Nashville. Once in Music City, her first management client in Nashville was a young, handsome country newcomer from North Carolina: .

“A girl named Susan Niles who used to work at Warner Brothers, she was my assistant in New York at one time, and she was a huge country music fan,” Evelyn said. “One day I said to her, ‘You should really move to Nashville,’ and she did. So when I came down here, she was the only person I knew and she took me and my husband out to the Nashville Palace to meet Randy.

“They wanted to have somebody outside of Nashville, he had been rejected by so many people in Nashville that they wanted somebody that didn’t have that attitude—and it turned out to be me.”

Susan grew up in Pittsburg and was a music lover from birth. She started her college degree in Wisconsin, and finished in Jerusalem. Susan returned to the United States, but got involved in smuggling hashish through Mexico. She and her partners were caught and she ended up spending time in prison in Mexico. Susan later published a book about the experience called, The Butterfly Convention.

Susan then moved to Key West, where she owned and operated a popcorn stand and started writing books. She briefly married a songwriter, which got her to Nashville and eventually led her to a career in PR.

“I couldn’t make a dime as a writer, so I decided to get into the music business,” Susan said. “I had just done a series of interviews for my book and I went to talk to a woman named Liz Thiels who had a Evelyn Shriver, Susan Nadler. Photo: Courtesy great PR company called Network Inc. I told her what my Shriver & Nadler background was, I had just had a second book come out, and she

Page 12 of 16 April 30, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly hired me right away. So I started off doing PR. I had never worked before, I had never even operated a fax machine.”

After cutting her teeth in PR working with country and artists, Susan went to work for manager Stan Moress, doing PR for his artist list that included names such as Lorrie Morgan, Eddie Rabbit, Ronnie Milsap, Roger Miller, KT Oslin, Restless Heart and more. “He was the only management company in town that was going to have an in-house press person, and that was me.”

Eventually Susan became Lorrie Morgan’s manager. Susan Nadler, Lorrie Morgan, Evelyn Shriver. Photo: Courtesy Shriver “We still are very good friends. We had a long history & Nadler together and we made a lot of money together, Susan said. “I went on the road a lot with her, she’s an incredible talent. She really has the most authentic country voice.”

Evelyn and Susan’s paths crossed in 1988. The two were fast friends.

“We both came from different backgrounds than most people in Nashville,” Evelyn said. “I came from New York, and she thought I was Jewish and that I was more sophisticated, so she was hell-bent on becoming friends. She called me all the time, we would have breakfast or lunch or whatever. We ended up becoming really good friends.”

“Evelyn was fantastic. She was so intelligent and from New York, she knew everybody,” Susan said. “She was representing Randy Travis and I was representing . We just became really good friends and that was the beginning of a long and very productive friendship. We have done a lot together.”

Evelyn earned the title of the first female president of a major country label when she took over Asylum Records in 1998; Susan served as Asylum’s Exec. VP/A&R. They released the critically-acclaimed projects Cold Hard Truth () and Trio II (/Dolly Parton/Linda Ronstadt) until Asylum was folded into Nashville- based Warner Bros. Records in 2002.

“We were unbelievably busy. We were overwhelmed with how much work there was,” Susan said. “When we came in [to Asylum] the first day they had fired everybody and we couldn’t even open the door. We had to rehire people back to figure out how to work the switchboard. It was an incredible time in the business. There were some very powerful women in the business, and we really didn’t realize it that much.”

Susan and Evelyn continued working together, forming Bandit Records in 2003 and adding Jones on the roster. In 2009, they launched Country Crossings Records, with artists and Lorrie Morgan. By 2015, Susan and Evelyn were serving as a talent managers for the TV show Soundstage.

Over the years, Evelyn and Susan have seen the Nashville music business grow and change, which they often discuss in their podcast.

“I think country music has more pride in itself now, even though it’s gotten so far away from country music. When I came to town, there was like this step-bastard child mentality. Nashville didn’t see itself as being competitive [to other genres],” Evelyn said. “But there was more of a sense of community. It was before everyone became a brand. I remember when people would have No. 1 records, everybody on the Row came. It was a big open family and that was the thing that really appealed to me. Though they had this bastard child mentality, they had a great sense of community. If one person had success, it felt like everybody had it.”

With all the adventures they shared through the ups and downs, the podcast is a perfect media for sharing the good, the , the ugly and the hilarious. Click here to stream the Shady Ladies of Music City, and hear about all the fun. MR

Page 13 of 16 Sunday, April 25, 2021

This Last Songwriter’s Name Song(s) Artist Week Week

1 4 Mr. Perfectly Fine Taylor Swift Love Story Taylor Swift Forever & Always Taylor Swift Fearless Taylor Swift Taylor Swift Taylor Swift Fifteen Taylor Swift The Way I Loved You Taylor Swift Hey Stephen Taylor Swift White Horse Taylor Swift That's When Taylor Swift feat. Breathe Taylor Swift feat. Colbie Caillat You're Not Sorry Taylor Swift Tell Me Why Taylor Swift Don't You Taylor Swift Taylor Swift The Best Day Taylor Swift Bye Bye Baby Taylor Swift 2 1 Whiskey And Rain Michael Ray What's Your Country Song Thomas Rhett Almost Maybes Jordan Davis Minimum Wage Blake Shelton 3 Fearless Taylor Swift You Belong With Me Taylor Swift White Horse Taylor Swift Tell Me Why Taylor Swift We Were Happy Taylor Swift Bye Bye Baby Taylor Swift 4 3 Next Girl Carly Pearce Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s How They Remember You Sand In My Boots 5 8 Ashley Gorley Country Again Thomas Rhett What's Your Country Song Thomas Rhett Single Saturday Night Cole Swindell Sand In My Boots Morgan Wallen 6 2 Corey Crowder Famous Friends Chris Young + Kane Brown Minimum Wage Blake Shelton Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen Chase Rice feat. Florida Georgia Line 7 9 Luke Combs Forever After All Luke Combs Better Together Luke Combs 8 6 Starting Over Chris Stapleton 9 7 Mike Henderson Starting Over Chris Stapleton 10 37 Country Again Thomas Rhett Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s Sam Hunt Waves Luke Bryan 11 38 Hillary Lindsey Fearless Taylor Swift Almost Maybes Jordan Davis 12 10 Gone Minimum Wage Blake Shelton 13 16 Neil Medley Made For You 14 17 Benjy Davis Made For You Jake Owen 15 18 Joey Hyde Made For You Jake Owen 16 19 Allison Veltz Cruz Somebody Like That Tenille Arts 17 20 Tenille Arts Somebody Like That Tenille Arts 18 21 Alex Kline Somebody Like That Tenille Arts This Last Songwriter’s Name Song(s) Artist Week Week

19 5 Lil Bit Nelly & Florida Georgia Line Undivided Tim McGraw & Tyler Hubbard 20 22 Drew Parker Forever After All Luke Combs 21 23 Robert Williford Forever After All Luke Combs 22 27 Hell Of A View Eric Church 23 28 Monty Criswell Hell Of A View Eric Church 24 29 C. Beathard Hell Of A View Eric Church 25 54 Thomas Rhett Country Again Thomas Rhett What's Your Country Song Thomas Rhett 26 30 Gabby Barrett Gabby Barrett 27 31 Zachary Kale The Good Ones Gabby Barrett 28 32 Emily Landis The Good Ones Gabby Barrett 29 33 J. McCormick The Good Ones Gabby Barrett 30 34 Luke Dick Settling Down Miranda Lambert 31 35 Miranda Lambert Settling Down Miranda Lambert 32 36 Settling Down Miranda Lambert 33 41 Dallas Wilson Nobody Dylan Scott 34 42 Dylan Scott Nobody Dylan Scott 35 43 Matt Alderman Nobody Dylan Scott 36 24 Randy Montana We Didn't Have Much Justin Moore Better Together Luke Combs 37 39 Jordan Davis Almost Maybes Jordan Davis 38 40 Tequila Little Time Jon Pardi To Be Loved By You Parker McCollum Beers To Catch Up On LOCASH What's Your Country Song Thomas Rhett 39 11 Ernest Keith Smith Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s Sam Hunt Wasted On You Morgan Wallen 40 25 Chris Loocke Undivided Tim McGraw & Tyler Hubbard 41 51 Famous Friends Chris Young + Kane Brown 42 52 Chris Young Famous Friends Chris Young + Kane Brown 43 15 Michael Hardy Single Saturday Night Cole Swindell Sand In My Boots Morgan Wallen 44 49 Niko Moon Gone Dierks Bentley 45 50 Ben Johnson Gone Dierks Bentley 46 47 Allen Shamblin How They Remember You Rascal Flatts 47 48 M. Beeson How They Remember You Rascal Flatts 48 55 Parker Welling What's Your Country Song Thomas Rhett 49 96 Scooter Carusoe You All Over Me Taylor Swift 50 61 Chris LaCorte Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s Sam Hunt 51 62 Sam Hunt Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s Sam Hunt 52 56 Mark Holman Single Saturday Night Cole Swindell 53 12 Lady Brett Young 54 13 Lady Brett Young 55 14 Brett Young Lady Brett Young 56 64 Kevin Bard Just The Way Parmalee x Blanco Brown 57 65 N.W. Sipe Just The Way Parmalee x Blanco Brown 58 66 Matt Thomas Just The Way Parmalee x Blanco Brown 59 63 Dan Isbell Better Together Luke Combs 60 — John Rich The Way I Loved You Taylor Swift April 30, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

CALENDAR

Singles

April 30 Sarah Reeves/Not My Style (R3HAB Remix)/Curb|Word Entertainment Sam Grow/Better Than Me/Average Joes Entertainment Hunter Phelps/Whiskey Mode/Tape Room Music The Dryes/Whites Creek

May 3 feat. Mackenzie Porter/Thinking ‘Bout You/Broken Bow Sammy Kershaw/Evangeline/Aria Tree Music Juna N Joey/Something Good To Miss/River Run Records South 62/Talk of the Town/Graphite Sound

May 5 Brady Lee/I Can Do This All Day

May 6 Carvin Walls/3 In The Morning

Albums

April 30 Thomas Rhett/Country Again: Side A/The Valory Music Co. Ronnie Milsap/A Better Word for Love/Black River Priscilla Block/Priscilla Block EP/Mercury Nashville Jackson Dean/Jackson Dean/Big Machine Records Strong Armed Robbers/Room 18/Fish Fisher Productions

May 7 Miranda Lambert, , Jon Randall/The Marfa Tapes/Vanner Records/RCA Nashville Kenny Chesney/Here And Now Deluxe/Warner Music Nashville/Blue Chair Records Travis Tritt/Set In Stone/Big Noise Label Group Cody Jinks/Adobe Sessions Unplugged/Late August Records Jordana Bryant/Last First (EP)/FCM Records

Industry Events

May 5-9 25th Annual Key West Songwriters Festival

Page 16 of 16 Jimmie Allen, Charley Pride. Photo: Courtesy of CMA Brothers Osborne. Photo: Courtesy of CMA