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August 20, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly Friday, August 20, 2021

MusicRow Honors Recipients SIGN UP HERE (FREE!) “Virtually” At 33rd Annual Industry- Voted MusicRow Awards If you were forwarded this newsletter and would like to receive it, sign up here.

THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES

MusicRow Honors Recipients “Virtually” At 33rd Annual MusicRow Awards

ACM Awards To Be Livestreamed Exclusively On Prime Video In 2022

The Judds, , Eddie Bayers, Pete Drake To MusicRow, Nashville’s leading publication, virtually Be Inducted Into CMHOF presented its 33rd annual MusicRow Awards on Thursday, Aug. 19 via a series of videos on all online MusicRow platforms. Cancels Next MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson and respected television Five Shows On Stadium Tour host, entertainment journalist, writer and producer, Alecia Davis, served Due To Threat Of COVID-19 once again as "hosts" on each winner's video. Stephen Wilson Jr. Signs “Our enthusiasm and commitment to highlighting the artists, , With River House Artists, producers, and industry team members has never been higher,” UTA says Robertson. “It’s our privilege to honor these deserving talents with these accolades. Congratulations to all of the 2021 MusicRow Awards Publicist Darlene Bieber nominees and winners!" Announces Retirement Country hitmaker is the reigning MusicRow Award Artist of Renowned Singer- the Year, after winning the category every year since its inception in 2019. Passes Ashley McBryde received the award for Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year, which honors a Nashville songwriter and recording artist who for the Concord Elevates Kayle first time wrote or co-wrote a Top 10 song during the eligibility period. Kiener To VP, Recorded McBryde co-wrote her hit “One Night Standards” with Shane McAnally and Music Royalties Nicolette Hayford. The tune was also Hayford's first Top 10 song, which earned her the MusicRow Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year award. DISClaimer Singles Reviews

Tenille Arts, whose single “” became the first No. 1 And much more… song in written, performed and produced by all females, took home the honor of MusicRow’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

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August 20, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

The Discovery Artist of the Year Award honors a Nashville developing artist who demonstrates significant talent and potential to rise. Nominated this year were Priscilla Block, Tyler Braden, Lainey Wilson, Ian Munsick, Lily Rose, and Drew Parker. Spitfire singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson took home the 2021 honor.

The Song of the Year category is awarded to honor Nashville writers and publishers on the craft of songwriting, not necessarily sales or chart performance. This year’s winner was ’s “,” which was penned by Church, , and Monty Criswell.

For the second consecutive year, was awarded the Male Songwriter of the Year honor, which recognizes a Nashville songwriter based on data from MusicRow’s Top Songwriter Chart. Meanwhile, Natalie Hemby notched her first Female Songwriter of the Year award.

The virtual celebration also included a presentation of the Top 10 All-Star Awards, recognizing session musicians achieving the most marks on that charted in the top 10 of Billboard’s albums sales chart during the eligibility period. Steel player continues his reign as the highest-earning Top 10 Album All-Star this year, earning his 25th MusicRow Award. See full winner list below.

Presenting Sponsor for the 33rd Annual MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

All the 2021 nominees are featured in the MusicRow Awards print magazine, which released ahead of the awards and includes exclusive editorial. The annual issue highlights acclaimed photographer John Shearer, celebrates 20 years of Nashville’s indie label Dualtone Records, and catches up with John Zarling and Jackie Campbell on their newest marketing and brand partnership company 615 Leverage + Strategy. This year’s issue also reassesses the state of independent venues and the touring industry as a whole as it begins to reopen amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and contains an informative roundup of music industry awards

Gracing the cover of MusicRow’s August/September print magazine is Warner Music Nashville recording artist . The alum has had a groundbreaking year, being named the ACM New Female Artist of the Year & achieving 5x Platinum success with her single "I Hope."

LIST OF 33rd ANNUAL 2021 MUSICROW AWARDS WINNERS

Category 1—Producer Of The Year Dann Huff

Category 2—Label Group Of The Year UMG Nashville

Category 3—Talent Agency Of The Year WME

Category 4—Breakthrough Songwriter Of The Year Nicolette Hayford

Category 5—Breakthrough Artist-Writer Of The Year Ashley McBryde

Category 6—Male Songwriter Of The Year Ashley Gorley

Category 7—Female Songwriter Of The Year Natalie Hemby

Category 8—Song Of The Year "Hell Of A View" Songwriters: Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell

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August 20, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

Category 9—Discovery Artist Of The Year Lainey Wilson

Category 10—Breakthrough Artist Of The Year Tenille Arts

Category 11—Artist Of The Year Luke Combs

LIST OF MUSICROW'S 2021 TOP 10 ALBUM ALL-STAR MUSICIANS

Bass Jimmie Lee Sloas

Drums Jerry Roe

Engineer Justin Niebank

Fiddle Stuart Duncan

Guitar Ilya Toshinskiy

Keyboards Dave Cohen

Steel Paul Franklin

Vocals Russell Terrell

ACM Awards To Be Livestreamed Exclusively On Amazon Prime Video In 2022

Amazon Prime Video will be the home of the 57th Awards, which will be exclusively livestreamed on the platform in 2022. Produced by MRC’s dick clark productions, the 2022 ACM Awards marks the first time a major awards show will be livestreamed exclusively.

“We are thrilled that the Academy of Country Music Awards are first to take this giant step toward the future of awards shows with Amazon Prime Video. This partnership, which reinforces our position as an innovative, progressive awards show, will deliver the broadest possible audience and, simultaneously, deliver massive value to our artists whose music lives inside this ecosystem, enabling fans to discover and stream music as they watch,” shares Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music.

First held in 1966, the Academy of Country Music Awards has honored the biggest names and emerging talent in the industry. The date, location, collaborations, and performances for the 2022 show will be confirmed in months. MR

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Friday, August 20, 2021

CHART ACTION NO. 1 SONG New On The Chart —Debuting This Week song/artist/label—Chart Position Record High/Randall King/Warner Music Nashville — 75 These Boots Were Made To Dance/Timothy Baker & Clayton Smalley/YN Records — 79

Greatest Spin Increase song/artist/label—Spin Increase If I Didn't Love You/ & /Broken Bow/Macon Music/Capitol — 334 Best Thing Since Backroads//Big Loud Records — 192 Fancy Like/Walker Hayes/Monument — 170 Heart On /Eric Church/EMI Records Nashville — 165 Cold As You/Luke Combs/Columbia/River House Artists — 145 Steal My Love/Dan + Shay/Warner Music Nashville — 139 7500 OBO/Tim McGraw/Big Machine — 137

Most Added song/artist/label—No. of Adds In a tight race to No. 1 this week, Priscilla Block makes her debut at Best Thing Since Backroads/Jake Owen/Big Loud the top of the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart having just two Records — 15 spins over Lainey Wilson and five spins over Jameson Rodgers. I Know A Girl/MaRynn Taylor/Black River Entertainment — 11 “Just About Over You” was written by Block, Emily Kroll, and Sarah Steal My Love/Dan + Shay/Warner Music Nashville — 10 Jones. It appears on her debut self-titled EP released earlier this year 7500 OBO/Tim McGraw/Big Machine — 8 via Mercury Nashville. Buy Dirt/Jordan Davis feat. /MCA Nashville — 6 If I Didn't Love You/Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood/Broken “This EP is such a vulnerable side of who I am and where I’ve been,” Bow/Macon Music/Capitol — 6 says Block. “It’s my story of falling apart in order to find myself again. I New Truck//Curb — 6 hope that when you hear these songs, they make you feel that it’s ok to not be perfect and realize that sometimes we need the lows to value On Deck—Soon To Be Charting the highs… And once you regain that confidence… Let it show baby!” song/artist/label—No. of Spins The American Face/The Isaacs/House of Isaacs — 179 Each songwriter and artist earning No. 1 I Don't/Tiffany Woys feat. Jordan Fletcher — 168 credit on the MusicRow Chart receives a Hit Me Up/Josh Kinney/Birmingham Entertainment — 157 MusicRow Challenge Coin. Click here to Wilder Days/Morgan Wade/Ladylike Records — 157 view a full list of recipients. New Truck/Dylan Scott/Curb — 151

MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart Reporting Stations WHMA Anniston, AL WMCI Mattoon, IL KYSM Mankato, MN KITX Hugo, OK KYKX Longview, TX WXFL Florence, AL WYOT Rochelle, IL KZPK St. Cloud, MN KWEY Weatherford, OK KYYK Palestine, TX KQUS Hot Springs, AR WRTB Rockford, IL KWWR Mexico, MO KWOX Woodward, OK KXOX Sweetwater, TX KDXY Jonesboro, AR WCCI Savanna, IL KFAV Warrenton, MO KRKT Albany, OR WAKG Danville, VA KWCK Searcy, AR WIFE Connersville, IN KZZY Devils Lake, ND WVNW Lewistown, PA WAXX Altoona, WI KRAZ Santa Barbara, CA KAIR Atchison, KS KRVN Lexington, NE WNBT Mansfield, PA WJVL Janesville, WI WPAP Panama City, FL WKDZ Cadiz, KY KBRX O’Neill, NE WCFT Selinsgrove, PA WGLR Platteville, WI WUBB Savannah, GA WBKR Owensboro, KY Jersey Shore Country WFGE State College, PA WQPC Prairie du Chien, WI KXIA Marshalltown, IA WDHR Pikeville, KY KQBA Santa Fe, NM WMIR Myrtle Beach, SC WCOW Sparta, WI KIAI Mason City, IA KRRV Alexandria, LA WDNB Monticello, NY KMOM Aberdeen, SD WTNJ Beckley, WV KBOE Oskaloosa, IA WUUU Covington, LA WOLF Syracuse, NY WUCZ Carthage, TN WDGG Huntington ,WV KTHK Idaho Falls, ID WKPE Hyannis, MA WCJW Warsaw, NY WDKN Dickson, TN WOOZ Carterville, IL WVMD Cumberland, MD WFRY Watertown, NY WLLX Lawrenceburg, TN WAAG Galesburg, IL WTCM Traverse City, MI KWHW Altus, OK KFTX Corpus Christi, TX Friday, August 20, 2021

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

41 4 1 Just About Over You / Priscilla Block / Mercury Nashville 1518/60 6 81 27 1 2 Things A Man Oughta Know / Lainey Wilson / Broken Bow 1516/44 -17 -315 36 3 3 Cold Beer Calling My Name / Jameson Rodgers feat. Luke Combs / River House Artists/ 1513/44 2 27 Columbia Nashville 7 7 4 Cold As You / Luke Combs / Columbia/River House Artists 1501/59 11 145 25 2 5 Knowing You / / Blue Chair Records/Warner Music Nashville 1459/49 -3 -41 32 6 6 My Boy / Elvie Shane / Wheelhouse Records 1438/48 3 44 14 5 7 You Should Probably Leave / / Mercury Nashville 1435/63 2 27 29 8 8 Freedom Was A Highway / & / Stoney Creek Records 1365/49 5 69 21 11 9 Chasing After You / Ryan Hurd w/ / Arista Nashville 1344/49 7 88 10 13 10 Same Boat / Zac Brown / Home Grown Music/Warner Music Nashville 1329/58 9 112 18 12 11 / Ballerini / Black River Entertainment 1324/58 5 68 4 20 12 If I Didn’t Love You / Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood / Broken Bow/Macon Music/Capitol 1311/56 34 334 32 10 13 Give Heaven Some Hell / HARDY / Big Loud Records 1293/58 1 19 17 14 14 It’s Cause I Am / Callista Clark / Big Machine 1244/58 8 93 7 18 15 Heart On Fire / Eric Church / EMI Records Nashville 1200/59 16 165 30 16 16 / Parker McCollum / MCA Nashville 1122/56 7 72 40 17 17 You Time / Scotty McCreery / Triple Tigers Records 1107/39 6 61 26 19 18 Getting Over Him / feat. / Mercury Nashville 1057/52 6 56 43 15 19 If It Wasn’t For Trucks / Riley Green / BMLG 1017/45 -5 -52 24 21 20 Under It With You Tonight / Smith & Wesley / Dream Walkin/Audium Nashville 927/43 0 -4 15 23 21 Tip Jar / Jackson Michelson / Curb 915/47 8 67 5 31 22 Buy Dirt / Jordan Davis feat. Luke Bryan / MCA Nashville 834/49 15 106 22 22 23 My Masterpiece / / Capitol 832/38 -3 -25 17 25 24 I’m Not For Everyone / / EMI Records Nashville 827/45 4 30 16 24 25 Fill Them Boots / / Big Loud Records 820/43 -1 -10 15 28 26 Thinking ‘Bout You / feat. MacKenzie Porter / Broken Bow 813/45 7 50 17 27 27 Not Yet / Brett Young / BMLG 808/42 6 43 35 26 28 Whiskey And Rain / Michael Ray / Warner Music Nashville 800/41 3 20 10 29 29 Never Mine / Craig Campbell / Grindstone Records 775/47 2 15 25 30 30 I Can’t / Caitlyn Smith feat. Old Dominion / Monument Records 720/42 -5 -35 5 38 31 Fancy Like / Walker Hayes / Monument 695/35 32 170 21 32 32 ABBY / Travis Denning / Mercury Nashville 680/35 -3 -21 13 34 33 Back Then, Right Now / Tenille Arts / 19th & Grand Records 656/42 7 45 6 36 34 That’s What Cowboys Do / Garth Brooks / Pearl Records 628/37 8 44 8 35 35 Old School / / Show Dog Nashville 617/37 4 25 11 37 36 Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home) / Elle King & / RCA Nashville 579/32 -1 -5 15 39 37 Pretend He’s You / Ashley Barron / SSM Nashville 558/39 7 36 20 40 38 Villain / Lily Rose / Big Loud Records 542/27 8 38 25 41 39 Gotta Go Rodeo / Darlinghurst / Helium 538/23 9 44 10 42 40 Fine / Mira Goto / ArtistMax 512/28 7 34 Weeks Last This Spins / % Spin Song / Artist / Label Spins +/- On Chart Week Week Reports Power

2 61 41 Best Thing Since Backroads / Jake Owen / Big Loud Records 471/37 69 192 4 53 42 7500 OBO / Tim McGraw / Big Machine 464/32 42 137 12 44 43 Local Honey / Mo Pitney / Curb 460/26 3 15 16 43 44 Woman You Got / Maddie & Tae / Mercury 454/32 -2 -9 3 47 45 Beers On Me / feat. BRELAND & HARDY / Capitol 450/33 19 72 25 45 46 Home Sweet / Russell Dickerson / Triple Tigers Records 439/28 7 29 11 46 47 Get Lost / Lucas Hoge / Forge Entertainment Group 422/27 4 16 9 33 48 The Worst Country Song Of All Time / feat. Toby Keith and HARDY / Valory 418/28 -40 -280 7 48 49 How Far Can It Go? / Hailey Whitters feat. / Big Loud/S&D/Pigasus 394/29 6 21 11 49 50 Dirt / Elise Harper / Skyfall Music 380/22 5 17 14 50 51 Something Good To Miss / Juna N Joey / River Run Records 365/25 4 13 12 51 52 Princess / Dallas Remington / RoadWarrior Records 360/26 3 9 9 54 53 American Summer / Kylie Trout / Kylie Trout Music 343/23 5 17 5 58 54 Grow Up / Ian Flanigan feat. / Reviver Records 337/29 9 29 17 52 55 That Ain’t Me No More / Matt Stell / RECORDS/Arista Nashville 337/21 -3 -12 4 55 56 Am I The Only One / Aaron Lewis / Valory 327/22 1 2 17 56 57 Got Me This Far / Donny Lee / Donny Lee Music 324/23 2 6 4 64 58 Get To Work Whiskey / Ward Davis / Ward Davis/Thirty Tigers Records 305/26 15 39 16 59 59 Is It Me And You / Lisa Brokop / Amersong 305/21 4 13 7 60 60 Rub A Little Dirt On It / Chase Likens / On The Green 297/20 2 7 9 62 61 You’ll Always Be My Baby / / EMI Records Nashville 286/21 3 8 7 63 62 Better Than You’re Used To / Tyler Rich / Valory 265/21 -4 -12 17 57 63 Hot Beer / Dillon Carmichael / Riser House Records 264/19 -17 -53 9 68 64 Evangeline / Sammy Kershaw / White Mustang Records 261/19 12 28 13 66 65 Growing Up Too Fast / Jon Wayne Hatfield / Soundstage Music 261/18 1 2 13 65 66 Old School / Lance Wade Thomas / Shady Grove Records 259/15 0 -1 8 69 67 Make It To Memphis / Shelley Lynch / Lynch Records 243/14 6 13 10 67 68 Summer Song / Chris Kroeze / 240/15 2 4 5 70 69 Walking In Your Wonderful Light / Rhonda Towns / Dawn Records 239/14 5 12 6 71 70 Hillbilly Shake / AC Thomas / Birmingham Entertainment 228/21 1 2 3 75 71 Feel Good Again / RT Johnson / CCB Nashville 224/20 8 16 4 72 72 Talk Of The Town / South 62 / Graphite Sound 222/18 0 -1 3 76 73 American Made / Dakota Poorman / Ten Inch Vinyl Entertainment, LLC 214/16 6 12 9 74 74 Lil Bit / Nelly & Florida Line / RECORDS/Columbia 213/15 2 4 1 81 75 Record High / Randall King / Warner Music Nashville 204/17 19 33 2 79 76 Hometown In My Headlights / JD Shelburne / JD Shelburne Music LLC 197/15 12 21 2 77 77 22 Red Flags / Presley & Taylor / White Mustang Records 194/16 8 15 2 80 78 You and Sunscreen / Runnin’ Shine / Great Heights Recording 190/15 9 16 1 90 79 These Boots Were Made To Dance / Timothy Baker & Clayton Smalley / YN Records 189/19 41 55 3 78 80 Please Don’t Let Me / Dylan Gerard / SSM Nashville 180/17 1 2

No. 1 Song Greatest Spin Increase Highest Debut August 20, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly , Ray Charles, Eddie Bayers, Pete Drake To Be Inducted Into Country Music Hall Of Fame

The Judds, Ray Charles, Eddie Bayers, and Pete Drake will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, it was announced this week (Monday, Aug. 16) via a virtual press conference. Hall of Famer Reba McEntire announced the honorees.

Five-time Grammy, nine-time CMA and seven-time ACM Award-winning iconic duo, The Judds were announced as the inductees in the Modern Era Artist category.

“When we moved to Nashville in the late 70s, still struggling to make ends meet and dressing Wy and Ashley in thrift store dresses, I could’ve never imagined the success we achieved as The Judds,” says . “I am beyond thrilled and humbled for this incredible recognition. There’s no greater pinnacle in country music than the Country Music Hall of Fame.”

“This moment takes me back to 1983 when Mom and I first started,” says . “We would get in the car and visit multiple radio stations a day. It kind of feels like I’ve hit the lottery. It is so surreal. John Lennon always said that he just wanted to be remembered, and now we’re truly part of history, or I should say HERstory. What an honor.”

R&B, pop, and country icon Ray Charles was selected to be inducted in the Veteran Era Artist category.

“I’d like to thank everyone who voted to induct Ray Charles into the Country Music Hall of Fame,” says Valerie Ervin, Ray Charles Foundation President. “Needless to say, Ray Charles loved country music. As a matter of fact, he risked a lot in 1962 when he decided to record Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. I cannot express enough how happy and honored Ray Charles would be at this moment in time, as I am for him. Congratulations to all the fellow inductees and as Ray Charles would say, ‘That is so nice.’”

Eddie Bayers was selected for the honor in the Recording or Touring Musician category. Bayers is the first drummer inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“My heartfelt thanks to those who voted for me,” says Bayers. “I’ve been blessed to be a recording musician for 58 years, and it continues. I’ve been in the Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Band for 18 years, and it continues. I’ve been in the Opry Band for 18 years, and it continues. Now I’m blessed to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, which will be everlasting.”

There was a tie in the Recording or Touring Musician category, and the late steel guitar player Pete Drake was also selected. Drake is the first pedal steel player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, as well.

“I am so happy for Pete to receive this well-deserved honor,” says Drake’s widow, Rose Drake, on behalf of the family. “We are deeply touched and honored for the great recognition of this unique and talented icon that enriched so many illustrious recordings with his special steel guitar tone and sound that distinguished itself, in hundreds of successful recordings.”

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A formal induction ceremony for Bayers, Charles, Drake and The Judds will take place at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in the CMA Theater at a to-be-determined date. The induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame Class of 2020, which includes , Marty Stuart and Hank Williams Jr., is scheduled for this November, pending public health guidance and the state of the pandemic. Since 2007, the Museum’s Medallion Ceremony, a reunion of the Hall of Fame membership, has served as the official rite of induction for new members.

“The works of this year’s inductees span crucial timestamps of country music history,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “This impressive career landmark is the pinnacle of accomplishment in country music and I’m so proud to see Eddie, Ray, Pete, Naomi and Wynonna getting their much-deserved plaques on the wall of the Rotunda. Today’s fans and generations to come will forever be reminded of the distinct impact each made on this genre.”

“These people saw through artificial divisions, moved beyond rigid stylistic restrictions, and connected with worldwide audiences,” says Kyle Young, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Chief Executive Officer. “In revealing their individuality, they taught us about commonality. Lately, we’ve lived through a time of division and a time of isolation. But in the music of these greats, we find connection and inclusion.”

Click here for bios for each of the inductees.

Garth Brooks Cancels Next Five Shows On Stadium Tour Due To Threat Of COVID-19

After announcing that he will be reassessing the remainder of his stadium tour due to the most recent onslaught of COVID-19, Garth Brooks has shared the news that he will be cancelling his next five dates as well as refunding the approximately 350,000 tickets sold.

The five locations being cancelled are Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, scheduled for Sept. 18, Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, scheduled for Sept. 25, M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, scheduled for Oct. 2, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, scheduled for Oct 9, and Nissan Stadium in Nashville which has not yet been rescheduled.

“In July, I sincerely thought the pandemic was falling behind us. Now, watching this new wave, I realize we are still in the fight and I must do my part,” Brooks shares. “I have asked the wonderful cities of Cincinnati and Charlotte to wait too long and I don’t want to now do that same thing to the great folks in Boston and Baltimore. As far as Nashville, we are looking for a makeup date from the July rain out and though this is not COVID related, to make them wait makes me sad, as well. So, it is with a heavy heart we announce the decision to cancel all five shows but with a hopeful heart, we will reschedule and start over when this wave seems to be behind us.”

A spokesperson for the tour said the team will continue to monitor the virus’ impact and watch how schools, sports, and other entertainment entities are handling this stage of the pandemic.

No action from ticket holders is required to obtain a refund. will issue a refund to the original method of payment used at time of purchase. MR

Page 11 of 19 August 20, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

Stephen Wilson Jr. Signs With Publicist Darlene Bieber River House Artists For Announces Retirement Management, UTA For Representation

Darlene Bieber of Bieber Public Relations has Pictured (L-R): UTA’s Brett Saliba, River House Artists’ Alicia Jones, announced she will be retiring, effective Sept. 1. Stephen Wilson Jr., UTA’s Lance Roberts. Photo: Jake Moore Prior to opening her own company, Bieber was Singer-songwriter Stephen Wilson Jr. has signed formerly with Schmidt Relations and Starstruck with River House Artists for management and UTA for Entertainment, and worked with many stars over the representation. years including Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, the , Montgomery An accomplished songwriter and rising artist, Wilson Gentry, , Reba McEntire and many Jr. has secured cuts with Caitlyn Smith and Old more. Dominion, Brothers Osborne and Tim McGraw, among others. The Indiana native and BMG Nashville Bieber has handled publicity for Brad Paisley since songwriter was recently featured on the single “Made 2005, and since the inception of her company in For This” in collaboration with his wife Leigh Nash 2014 has worked exclusively with Paisley. Her (Sixpence None The Richer). Wilson Jr. also released retirement after nearly 30 years as publicist will two singles in 2020, including “Year To Be Young commence Sept. 1. Paisley will transition to Schmidt 1994” and “The Beginning.” Relations for publicity. MR

In 2020, Wilson Jr. served as a co-writer on the title track for ’ EP Ain’t That Kinda Cowboy. Recently in the studio with producer Ben West, Wilson Jr. plans to release new music by the end of the year and will join Brothers Osborne on a European tour in 2022.

“I’m so happy to have found a management home at River House as well as adding an agency like UTA to be part of my team. As a former boxer and fan of the sport, I understand the importance of having the right people in my corner,” shares Wilson Jr. “I am thrilled and honored to be part of the River House and UTA organizations who both bring a unique and exciting set of talents.” MR

Page 12 of 19 August 20, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

Renowned Singer-Songwriter Nanci Griffith Passes

American singer, guitarist, and songwriter Nanci Griffith passed away on Friday, Aug. 13. She was 68.

Born Nanci Caroline Griffith in Austin, , Griffith became known for her unique version of country-.

She released over 20 albums, perhaps most notably her 1993 project Other Voices, Other Rooms, which consisted entirely of cover songs, in tribute to songwriters who influenced her own songwriting. Other Voices, Other Rooms earned a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 1994.

As a songwriter, some of Griffith’s greatest hits include ’s cover of “Love at the Five and Dime” and ’s hit with “.”

Griffith was awarded the Memorial Award by the World Folk Music Association in 1995, and in 2008 the Americana Music Association awarded her its Lifetime Achievement Trailblazer Award. Most recently Griffith was invited to be a member of the Texas Heritage Songwriters’ Association’s Hall of Fame. She was to be inducted in February of 2022.

“Nanci Griffith was a master songwriter who took every opportunity to champion kindred spirits, including , Elizabeth Cook, Iris DeMent, , , , and ,” said Kyle Young, CEO, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “Her voice was a clarion call, at once gentle and insistent. Her brilliant album The Last of the True Believers is a template for what is now called Americana music, and her Grammy-winning Other Voices, Other Rooms is a compelling guide to 20th-century folk songs. Nanci offered gifts that no one else could give.” MR

Concord Elevates Kayle Kiener To VP, Recorded Music Royalties

Kayle Kiener has been promoted to VP, Recorded Music Royalties at Concord. Formerly Director, Artists Royalties, Kiener will be based in Concord’s Nashville headquarters and will report to Concord’s GM of Global Administration, Jeff Van Driel.

After starting his career as a professional musician, Kiener studied accounting at University of South Florida. His introduction to the music business came at Naxos of America where he led the Global Royalty department and eventually became product manager of business intelligence. Following a brief stint as a royalty auditor for a CPA firm, he most recently worked as the senior manager of Frontline Artist Royalties at ’s newly created Center of Excellence in Nashville.

“I had the pleasure of working with Kayle in a previous lifetime and am so pleased to have him now heading up Concord’s Recorded Music Royalties,” says Van Driel. “He has shown remarkable adaptability, leadership and innovation in the short time he has been at Concord and I look forward to continued success as we prioritize reporting and paying our valued partners in the artist and songwriting communities.”

Kiener comments, “Concord’s ability to manage a diverse catalog and promote an incredible corporate culture is unrivaled and I am proud to be a member of its team. The department is made up of some of the most talented and dedicated people in the business and I am lucky and excited to work alongside them.” MR

Page 13 of 19 August 20, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly DISClaimer Single Reviews: & , Larkin Poe, The War And Treaty

The duos have the goods in Americana-land this week.

All four of our contenders for Disc of the Day are from twosomes. They are The War and Treaty, David Olney & Anana Kaye, Larkin Poe, and our winners Robert Plant & Alison Krauss.

The Americana DisCovery Award goes to AHI. He initially didn’t put his face on his records because he wanted his music to speak without visual cues. He also doesn’t use his full name, which is Ahkinoah Habah Izarh. He might be somewhat mysterious, but there is no disguising his talent, which is immense.

Read Robert K. Oermann's weekly single reviews column here. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss. Photo: Frank Melfi

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Page 14 of 19 August 20, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly On The Row: Southerland Shares Their Journey From Cover Band To Center Stage

The origin story of Southerland reads like one from a country music fairytale. The duo of Matt Chase and Chris Rogers spent years cutting their teeth playing hours on hours at bars, frequenting many–if not all–of the spots on Nashville’s Broadway. Having met through singer-songwriter Ray Fulcher, the two decided to “give the duo thing a try.” With no name or songs to offer at the time, they set off to figure out their direction.

“We figured out going to be a duo, but the immediate next question was, ‘What kind of music are we going to make?’ At gigs we would play the Top 40 stuff, but our roots and what’s true to us is what artists like Brooks & Dunn, , Alan Jackson, Shenandoah, , and so on were doing,” Chase explains. “We decided that we were just going to make country stuff, because if we didn’t, then we were already off to a bad start because that isn’t true to who we are.”

It wasn’t until a few years later that their namesake surfaced. After drowning in a sea of name contenders–like Palmetto Peaches, to pay homage to Chase’s South Carolina and Rogers’ Georgia roots, or Chase & Rogers like that of past iconic country duos–it took an 18-hour drive to Bath, Maine for the pieces to fit together.

“It was the first time that we were playing three nights at this place called Erik’s Church in Maine, opening for Ray. We had never been to Maine before so we were Googling what to do there, and we came across a Wikipedia page and started reading random facts about the place,” Rogers remembers. “In Bath, Maine there’s a place called Bath Iron Works. It’s where the U.S.S. Southerland battleship is.”

Chase sums it simply, “We landed on Southerland because it sounded cool and we had known the whole time that we wanted a name that paid tribute to both of us being from the south.”

Since that fateful trip to Bath, Maine and Erik’s Church, the River House Artists duo have released their recent Boot Up EP which features seven songs and acts as the introduction to Southerland.

“ to put this EP together and we knew that most people had never heard of us or listened to our music before,” Chase admits. “We looked at all of our songs and found the ones that we thought would really give people a good idea of who we are. We wanted to put together a catalogue of songs so that if you’d never known Southerland, you could listen to tracks 1-7 and get a good idea of who we are.”

Among the seven tracks is their blue-collar anthem,

Page 15 of 19 August 20, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

“Came Out of Nowhere,” which was penned by Rogers, Chase, and Jessi Alexander. In a truly unapologetically country manner, the song goes out to the many people working the often overlooked blue collar jobs that make the world go round. Also found on the project is “Along Those Lines,” the track that Chase calls “the story of us.” Written with Greg Bates and Driver Williams, the duo recounted their southern upbringing and started to compare notes. Finding an uncanny amount of similarities, they put it all together and wrapped it in a three-minute package.

However, the pair shift the tone and the tempo with the EP’s title track. Penned with Austin Taylor Smith and Bates, “Boot Up” puts a catchy spin on an old phrase. “We were on Zoom and we were waiting on Greg to come into the meeting room. He texted us and and said, ‘Sorry, guys. I’m running a little late because I’m waiting on my computer to boot up.’” Rogers jokes, “As soon as he came in and we said, ‘You’re such an old man. Who says boot up?’” And the rest is history.

With an arsenal of original material, Southerland is ready to take their songs to the stage in a different fashion than that of their early days.

“Chris and I essentially started as a cover band, but we also did multiple years on Broadway playing four or five nights, and eight hours a day sometimes,” they explain. “That’s where we learned how to be entertainers, how to get people who just happen to walk into a bar to hear our voices together, and learn what makes them want to hear us play our songs.”

Though thankful for those experiences and where they came from, Southerland is ready and hopeful for what is to come–never taking any moment on stage for granted.

“Playing in front of people is where we feel the most comfortable,” Chase sums. “To be on any stage or to open for any artist is always a pinch ourselves moment because we know where we started and where we’re going.” MR

Gary Reamey Releases Album, Things She Did To Me

Gary Reamey, Managing Partner for the Nashville-based independent music publishing company SNG Music, has released his debut album, Things She Did To Me.

Reamy co-wrote all 12 songs on the project, along with hit songwriters Mark Nesler, Dan Couch, Marty Dodson, and more. He dedicates the album to his wife Joanne, and all his friends in Nashville who helped to make the project possible.

Things She Did To Me is available on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon and most all streaming services. MR

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

1 1 Ashley Gorley You Should Probably Leave Chris Stapleton Sand In My Boots Beers On Me Dierks Bentley, Hardy & Breland Give Heaven Some Hell HARDY Good Things Dan + Shay 2 3 Hunter Phelps That Ain't Me No More Matt Stell The Worst Country Song Of All Time Brantley Gilbert, HARDY, Toby Keith Best Thing Since Backroads Jake Owen Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen feat. Cold Beer Calling My Name Jameson Rodgers feat. Luke Combs Thinking ‘Bout You Dustin Lynch feat. MacKenzie Porter Give Heaven Some Hell HARDY 3 4 Waves Luke Bryan Country Again Thomas Rhett 4 6 Things A Man Oughta Know Lainey Wilson Cold as You Luke Combs Same Boat 5 5 Michael Hardy That Ain't Me No More Matt Stell The Worst Country Song Of All Time Brantley Gilbert, HARDY, Toby Keith Single Saturday Night Cole Swindell Sand In My Boots Morgan Wallen Beers On Me Dierks Bentley, Hardy & Breland Give Heaven Some Hell HARDY 6 2 Corey Crowder Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen Chase Rice feat. Florida Georgia Line Famous Friends + Kane Brown 7 7 Luke Combs Forever After All Luke Combs Cold as You Luke Combs 8 8 Randy Montana We Didn't Have Much Justin Moore Cold as You Luke Combs If It Wasn't For Trucks Riley Green 9 9 I Was On A Boat That Day Old Dominion Next Girl Carly Pearce Sand In My Boots Morgan Wallen 10 10 Shane McAnally I Was On A Boat That Day Old Dominion Next Girl Carly Pearce Half Of My Hometown feat. Kenny Chesney 11 11 J. Flowers Chasing After You Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris 12 12 Brinley Addington Chasing After You Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris 13 13 Martin Johnson Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home) Elle King and Miranda Lambert Like A Lady 14 20 To Be Loved By You Parker McCollum Tequila Little Time Jon Pardi 15 15 Drew Parker Forever After All Luke Combs 16 16 Robert Williford Forever After All Luke Combs 17 22 Ryan Hurd Old School Toby Keith Waves Luke Bryan 18 14 Mark Holman Single Saturday Night Cole Swindell 19 17 Cary Barlowe Famous Friends Chris Young + Kane Brown 20 18 Chris Young Famous Friends Chris Young + Kane Brown 21 23 Chase McGill Waves Luke Bryan 22 21 Paul DiGiovanni Getting Over Him Lauren Alaina with Jon Pardi We Didn't Have Much Justin Moore This Last Songwriter’s Name Song(s) Artist Week Week

23 27 Josh Jenkins Fancy Like Walker Hayes Buy Dirt Jordan Davis feat. Luke Bryan 24 25 Lainey Wilson Things A Man Oughta Know Lainey Wilson 25 26 Jason Nix Things A Man Oughta Know Lainey Wilson 26 24 Thomas Rhett Country Again Thomas Rhett 27 28 We Didn't Have Much Justin Moore 28 29 Elle King Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home) Elle King and Miranda Lambert 29 32 C. Dodds Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen Chase Rice feat. Florida Georgia Line 30 33 Chase Rice Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen Chase Rice feat. Florida Georgia Line 31 19 Whiskey And Rain Michael Ray 32 40 Josh Thompson Whiskey And Rain Michael Ray 33 34 A. Eshuis You Time Scotty McCreery 34 35 Frank Rogers You Time Scotty McCreery 35 36 Scotty McCreery You Time Scotty McCreery 36 37 Brian Davis Memory I Don’t Mess With 37 38 Lee Brice Memory I Don’t Mess With Lee Brice 38 39 Billy Montana Memory I Don’t Mess With Lee Brice 39 42 Dan Smyers Glad You Exist Dan + Shay Good Things Dan + Shay 40 41 Carly Pearce Next Girl Carly Pearce 41 83 Parker McCollum To Be Loved By You Parker McCollum 42 43 Kat Higgins Knowing You Kenny Chesney 43 44 Adam James Knowing You Kenny Chesney 44 45 Knowing You Kenny Chesney 45 54 Brett Tyler Old School Toby Keith Cold Beer Calling My Name Jameson Rodgers feat. Luke Combs 46 46 Jordan Reynolds Glad You Exist Dan + Shay 47 47 Tayla Parx Glad You Exist Dan + Shay 48 48 Ryan Lewis Glad You Exist Dan + Shay 49 49 Shay Mooney Glad You Exist Dan + Shay 50 52 Jameson Rodgers Cold Beer Calling My Name Jameson Rodgers feat. Luke Combs 51 53 Alysa Vanderheym Cold Beer Calling My Name Jameson Rodgers feat. Luke Combs 52 30 Kurt Allison If I Didn't Love You Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood 53 31 Tully Kennedy If I Didn't Love You Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood 54 50 Lydia Vaughan If I Didn't Love You Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood 55 51 John Morgan If I Didn't Love You Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood 56 57 Walker Hayes Fancy Like Walker Hayes 57 58 Shane Stevens Fancy Like Walker Hayes 58 59 Cameron Bartolini Fancy Like Walker Hayes 59 55 Chris Stapleton You Should Probably Leave Chris Stapleton 60 56 Chris DuBois You Should Probably Leave Chris Stapleton August 20, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly

CALENDAR

Singles

August 20 Sam Grow/You Ain’t Gone/Average Joes Entertainment Caroline Kasay/Our Own World/Sincerely Music Group

August 23 Frank Ray/Country’d Look Good On You/Stoney Creek Records Ray Fulcher/Girl In It/Black River Tom Sexton/The /Lot’s To Do Music, LLC Lucie Tiger/Midnight Goodbye/2120 Music Bobby & Teddi Cyrus with /Roll That Rock/Pinecastle Frankie Justin/Chaser/SMG Nashville

Albums

August 20 Wanda Jackson/Encore/Big Machine Records/Blackheart Records Maggie Rose/Have A Seat/Starstruck Records /Backstory/BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records Tyler Booth/Grab The Reins EP/ Nashville Connie Smith/The Cry of The Heart/Fat Possum Records Sam Williams/Glasshouse Children/Mercury Nashville Anderson East/Maybe We Never Die/Elektra/ James McMurtry/The Horses and The Hounds/ Manny Blue/Devil

August 27 Trace Adkins/The Way I Wanna Go/Verge Records Michael Ray/Higher Education EP/Warner Music Nashville Nelly/Heartland/RECORDS/Columbia Niko Moon/Good Time/RCA Nashville Boy Named Banjo/Circles EP/Mercury Nashville King Calaway/Midnight EP/Stoney Creek Records Ashley Cooke/Already Drank That Beer EP/Back Blocks Music

Industry Events

August 25 14th Annual ACM Honors

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