January 8, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly Friday, January 8, 2021
Top Songwriter Chart: MusicRow’s Top 100 Songwriters Of 2020 SIGN UP HERE (FREE!)
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THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES
MusicRow’s Top 100 Songwriters Of 2020
2020 Year-End Sales
Carrie Underwood To Release Gospel Album
Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley To Release Solo Music
Chris Young and Kane Brown’s “Famous Friends” Most-Added At Country Radio
The Recording Academy Josh Osborne Postpones Grammy Awards
While the past year was difficult for all, 2020 saw these elite songwriters John Ozier Named AIMP garner ample chart success on the weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. National Chair
Using algorithms based on song activity according to airplay, digital Jimmy Wheeler Joins Story downloaded track sales and streams, these songwriters prevailed in 2020. House Collective As General Notably, there are 19 female songwriters in the top 100 this year—which is Manager made up of 112 songwriters because of tied scores. This is a continued increase from last year’s 13 female songwriters within the top 100, and 2018’s Loretta Lynn Announces New 11. Hillary Lindsey is the highest ranking female on this year’s list, at No. 11. Album, Still Woman Enough
The songs that propelled Lindsey to No. 11 include Luke Bryan’s “What She DISClaimer Singles Reviews Wants Tonight,” HARDY’s “One Beer,” Kelsea Ballerini’s “Hole In The Bottle,” and Jordan Davis’ “Almost Maybes.” Among her 2020 honors were Songwriter of the Year at the ACM Awards and Female Songwriter of the Year at the And much more… MusicRow Awards.
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January 8, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly
Country Song” (LOCASH), “Remember You Young” (Thomas Rhett), “Hole In The Bottle” (Kelsea Ballerini), “Hard To Forget” (Sam Hunt), “One Of Them Girls” (Lee Brice), and more.
Gorley also won his eighth consecutive ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year award in November, and was MusicRow's Male Songwriter of the Year at the 32nd annual MusicRow Awards. He was also named as NSAI’s Songwriter of the Year.
The fifth songwriter on the MusicRow Top 100 Songwriters chart is Luke Combs. Combs garnered massive amounts of airplay, sales and streams this year, Hillary Lindsey. Photo: Becky Fluke releasing the deluxe version of What You See Is What You Get. Songs that drove Combs were his own “1, 2 Many,” “Better Together,” “Does To Me,” “Lovin’ On You,” For the second time in the MusicRow Top Songwriter “Six Feet Apart,” and “Forever After All,” as well as Carly Chart’s history, Josh Osborne takes the top position. Pearce and Lee Brice’s hit duet, “I Hope You’re Happy Songs of his that were hits in 2020 include Sam Hunt’s Now.” “Kinfolks,” “Hard To Forget,” and “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s,” Morgan Wallen’s “7 Summers,” Darius Rucker’s In 2020, Combs won Male Artist and Album of the Year at “Beers And Sunshine,” both Blake Shelton and Gwen the ACM Awards; Male Vocalist and Album of the Year at Stefani hit duets “Nobody But You” and “Happy Anywhere,” the CMA Awards; and was named Artist of the Year at the and more. 32nd annual MusicRow Awards. He was also named as NSAI’s Songwriter-Artist of the Year. Osborne ended 2020 in the No. 1 position on the weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter chart for the sixth consecutive View the full list of MusicRow‘s Top Songwriters of 2020 week. Osborne won Song of the Year at the ACM Awards here. MR this year for “One Man Band,” recorded by Old Dominion.
HARDY comes in at No. 2 on the MusicRow Top 100 Songwriters chart this year. As an artist, his self-penned songs that had high activity this past year were “Give Heaven Some Hell” and “One Beer,” his first No. 1 song as an artist. Songs HARDY co-wrote for other artists that were hits in 2020 were LOCASH’s “One Big Country Song,” Jameson Rodgers’ “Some Girls,” Morgan Wallen’s “This Bar” and “More Than My Hometown,” and more.
HARDY released his debut album, A ROCK, in September, and it peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. He was also named the AIMP Nashville Songwriter of the Year.
Ross Copperman takes the No. 3 position. Tops songs for Copperman in 2020 were “Tip Of My Tongue” (Kenny Cheseney), “What She Wants Tonight” (Luke Bryan), “The Other Girl” (Kelsea Ballerini with Halsey), “Lady” (Brett Young), “Beers And Sunshine” (Darius Rucker), as well as “Nobody But You” and “Happy Anywhere” (Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani).
Copperman was named Songwriter of the Year for the fourth time at the BMI Country Awards in November.
Ashley Gorley, who notched his record-breaking 50th No. 1 song in 2020, is at No. 4 on the MusicRow Top 100 Songwriters chart. The hits that fueled him were “One Big HARDY. Photo: Tanner Gallagher
Page 3 of 15 January 8, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly Who Ruled 2020 Year-End Sales? Luke Barrett’s remix of “I Hope” that included Charlie Puth went to Combs, Gabby Barrett, Morgan Wallen, Maren No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 all-genre chart and No. 1 on Morris, Dan + Shay their Adult Top 40. Morris’ remix of “The Bones” with Hozier was a No. 1 Adult Top 40 song. Diplo and Wallen’s “Heartless” has been certified 3x-Platinum.
Dan + Shay and Bieber’s “10,000 Hours” made history on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart by becoming the highest- charting non-holiday country song in the history of the chart.
As far as albums, there were 19 country titles in the top 200 overall for 2020. Luke Combs‘ What You See Is What You Get is the highest ranking country album at No. 10 in the top 200. His This One’s For You is the second highest title, at No. 25.
Other country albums in the top 200 for 2020 include: Morgan Wallen’s If I Know Me (No. 27) Sam Hunt’s SOUTHSIDE (No. 62) Chris Stapleton’s Traveller (No. 65) Blake Shelton’s Fully Loaded: God’s Country (No. 71) Gabby Barrett’s Goldmine (No. 100) According to Nielsen, Gabby Barrett tops the Top 5 on- Maren Morris’ Girl (No. 106) demand audio Streaming Country Songs for 2020, with Luke Bryan’s Born Here Live Here Die Here (No. 107) her breakout single, “I Hope,” garnering 409 million Kenny Chesney’s Here And Now (No. 112) streams. Dan + Shay’s Dan + Shay (No. 125) Kane Brown’s Experiment (No. 133) Maren Morris follows Barrett, with “The Bones” earning Carrie Underwood’s My Gift (No. 137) 342 million streams. Morgan Wallen‘s collaboration with Jason Aldean’s 9 (No. 138) Diplo and Julia Michaels on “Heartless” comes in at No. Zac Brown Band’s Greatest Hits So Far… (No. 141) 3 with 340 million; and his “Chasin’ You” is at No. 4 with Kane Brown’s Kane Brown (No. 156) 303 million streams. Dan + Shay‘s collaboration with Old Dominion’s Old Dominion (No. 159) Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours,” rounds out the Top 5 on- Kane Brown’s Mixtape Vol. 1 (No. 168) demand audio Streaming Country Songs for 2020 with Lee Brice’s Hey World (No. 175) 281 million streams.
Notably, each song in the top five—apart from Wallen’s “Chasin’ You”—has a pop radio remix or collaboration.
Carrie Underwood To Follow Up My Gift With Companion Gospel Album, My Savior
Carrie Underwood announced on social media in a Christmas day video message that she plans to release a new gospel companion album, My Savior, which follows her recent Christmas album My Gift.
The new project is slated to arrive in time for Easter in early April, and of recording the companion album she told fans that she was inspired to make My Savior from her experience of putting out My Gift.
“I basically didn’t want all of that to end when I was making this music. I felt like my soul was in such a great place, I wanted to keep making music like the music off of My Gift. This album is full of gospel hymns that I grew up singing. It’s been such a blessing making music like this that is near and dear to my heart, and I hope you guys enjoy listening to it as much as I loved making it,” she said in her video. MR
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CHART ACTION NO. 1 SONG New On The Chart —Debuting This Week song/artist/label—Chart Position Famous Friends/Chris Young & Kane Brown/RCA Records — 47 You're Gonna Love Me/Tim Dugger/Curb — 71 Love Like Crazy/TJ Ashley/Music Train Records — 72 Just Friends/Caylee Hammack/Capitol — 74 Invent A T-Shirt/Jenny Tolman/Old Sol Records — 77 What Would Dolly Do?/Tori Martin/Lucky Sky Music — 78 Freedom And Wings/Heather Smith — 79 Chain Breaker/Zach Williams/Provident Label Group — 80
Greatest Spin Increase song/artist/label—Spin Increase What's Your Country Song/Thomas Rhett/Valory — 296 Famous Friends/Chris Young & Kane Brown/RCA Records — 229 Hell Of A View/Eric Church/EMI — 189 Blame It On You/Jason Aldean/Broken Bow — 162 Jordan Davis moves two positions climbing to No. 1 on the MusicRow Next Girl/Carly Pearce/Big Machine — 117 CountryBreakout Radio Chart this week with his single “Almost Gone/Dierks Bentley/Capitol — 116 Maybes.” The single appears on Davis’ self-title EP and was written by Davis, Hillary Lindsey, and Jesse Frasure. Most Added song/artist/label—No. of Adds Davis sat down with MusicRow to discuss “Almost Maybes” and his Famous Friends/Chris Young & Kane Brown/RCA Records — 17 latest project. “It’s just looking back at past relationships and not just taking the negatives from them, since they didn’t work out,” Davis Tequila Little Time/Jon Pardi/Capitol — 12 says. “For me it led to me findin’ my wife and now we have a six- Blame It On You/Jason Aldean/Broken Bow — 9 month-old daughter. But looking back on those relationships and not Give Heaven Some Hell/HARDY/Big Loud Records — 9 thinking about them in a bad light, it’s just realizing that I learned a lot Ain't Gonna Be Today/Ward Davis/Ward Davis Music/Thirty about myself. With the good and the bad, I’m a better person because Tigers — 7 of it. We Didn't Have Much/Justin Moore/Valory — 6 You Time/Scotty McCreery/Triple Tigers Records — 6 Visit musicrow.com to read more.
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 More With Less/Frank Vieira/Frank Vieira Music — 141 MusicRow Challenge Coin. Click here to I Do Thing/Kylie Frey/Deep Frey'd Music Group — 139 view a full list of recipients. Pushing Up Daisies/Lana Gail/Gail Force Entertainment — 138 My Boy/Elvie Shane/Wheelhouse Records — 136 MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart Reporting Stations WHMA Anniston, AL WAAG Galesburg, IL WTCM Traverse City, MI KWHW Altus, OK KFTX Corpus Christi, TX WXFL Florence, AL WMCI Mattoon, IL KYSM Mankato, MN KITX Hugo, OK KYKX Longview, TX KHBZ Harrison, AR WYOT Rochelle, IL KZPK St. Cloud, MN KWEY Weatherford, OK KMRK Odessa, TX KQUS Hot Springs, AR WRTB Rockford, IL KWWR Mexico, MO KWOX Woodward, OK KYYK Palestine, TX KDXY Jonesboro, AR WCCI Savanna, IL KFAV Warrenton, MO KRKT Albany, OR KXOX Sweetwater, TX KWCK Searcy, AR WIFE Connersville, IN WQNZ Natchez, MS WNBT Mansfield, PA WAKG Danville, VA KRAZ Santa Barbara, CA KAIR Atchison, KS KZZY Devils Lake, ND WCFT Selinsgrove, PA WAXX Altoona, WI WPAP Panama City, FL WKDZ Cadiz, KY KRVN Lexington, NE WFGE State College, PA WJVL Janesville, WI WUBB Savannah, GA WBKR Owensboro, KY Jersey Shore Country WMIR Myrtle Beach, SC WGLR Platteville, WI KXIA Marshalltown, IA WDHR Pikeville, KY KQBA Santa Fe, NM KIQK Rapid City, SD WQPC Prairie du Chien, WI KIAI Mason City, IA KRRV Alexandria, LA WDNB Monticello, NY WUCZ Carthage, TN WCOW Sparta, WI KBOE Oskaloosa, IA WUUU Covington, LA WOLF Syracuse, NY WDKN Dickson, TN WTNJ Beckley, WV KTHK Idaho Falls, ID WKPE Hyannis, MA WCJW Warsaw, NY WLLX Lawrenceburg, TN WDGG Huntington ,WV WOOZ Carterville, IL WVMD Cumberland, MD WFRY Watertown, NY KAYD Beaumont, TX Friday, January 8, 2021
Weeks Last This Spins / % Spin Song / Artist / Label Spins +/- On Chart Week Week Reports Power
30 3 1 Almost Maybes / Jordan Davis / MCA Nashville 1836/63 3 61 7 7 2 What’s Your Country Song / Thomas Rhett / Valory 1822/65 19 296 17 1 3 Starting Over / Chris Stapleton / Mercury Nashville 1790/54 -4 -76 12 4 4 Better Together / Luke Combs / Columbia 1718/49 4 73 17 5 5 7 Summers / Morgan Wallen / Big Loud Records 1713/63 6 103 34 6 6 Lady / Brett Young / BMLG 1624/62 4 58 9 10 7 Gone / Dierks Bentley / Capitol 1520/65 8 116 45 8 8 Nobody / Dylan Scott / Curb 1489/56 0 4 16 12 9 Settling Down / Miranda Lambert / Vanner Records/RCA Records 1439/62 6 83 8 14 10 Hell Of A View / Eric Church / EMI 1438/66 15 189 21 9 11 I Should Probably Go To Bed / Dan + Shay / Warner Music Nashville 1382/41 -2 -30 35 11 12 Made For You / Jake Owen / Big Loud Records 1378/58 0 0 13 13 13 One Too Many / Keith Urban & P!nk / Capitol 1355/56 1 12 13 15 14 Next Girl / Carly Pearce / Big Machine 1185/58 11 117 18 17 15 Good Time / Niko Moon / RCA Nashville 1078/38 8 83 11 18 16 Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s / Sam Hunt / MCA Nashville 989/46 8 72 26 19 17 The Good Ones / Gabby Barrett / Warner Music Nashville 967/45 7 65 29 16 18 Hard Days / Brantley Gilbert / Valory 952/44 -5 -45 51 20 19 Somebody Like That / Tenille Arts / 19th & Grand 937/39 4 36 18 23 20 Good Time Waitin’ To Happen / James Robert Webb / Bison Creek Records 920/46 10 80 47 22 21 Momma’s House / Dustin Lynch / Broken Bow 919/37 4 39 28 21 22 Wine, Beer, Whiskey / Little Big Town / Capitol 862/41 -2 -18 10 27 23 We Didn’t Have Much / Justin Moore / Valory 842/50 15 110 26 24 24 Grew Up On That / High Valley / Warner Music Nashville 793/41 -3 -21 8 29 25 Memory I Don’t Mess With / Lee Brice / Curb 755/48 16 106 7 36 26 Blame It On You / Jason Aldean / Broken Bow 735/46 28 162 9 38 27 Heaven On Dirt / Teddy Robb / Monument 653/48 18 100 11 35 28 If It Wasn’t For Trucks / Riley Green / BMLG 649/38 12 69 18 30 29 Wash My Truck / Bobby Wills / MDM Recordings 634/35 0 2 11 39 30 Where I Find God / Larry Fleet / Big Loud Records 614/33 12 66 12 37 31 Everybody Dies But Not Everybody Lives / Shane Owens / Amerimonte Records 601/39 8 45 10 40 32 Just The Way / Parmalee x Blanco Brown / Stoney Creek 593/27 16 82 17 31 33 Waitin’ On 5 / Chris Janson / Warner Music Nashville 583/31 -2 -14 13 32 34 Waste Of A Whiskey Drink / Gary Allan / EMI 567/34 -4 -23 14 42 35 Sometimes Late At Night / Eric Burgett / Bow To Stern Records 540/37 7 37 37 33 36 To Hell & Back / Maren Morris / Columbia 526/31 -10 -61 19 47 37 Simple Things / Dylan Gerard / SSM Nashville 475/27 19 75 13 48 38 The Mountain / Calamity Jane / Mountain Records 449/30 13 50 3 52 39 Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen. / Chase Rice feat. Florida Georgia Line / Broken Bow/Dack 438/33 26 89 Janiels 9 44 40 Just About Over You / Priscilla Block / Mercury Nashville 433/33 4 17
DEBUTED #72 TJ ASHLEY “LOVE LIKE CRAZY” Available Now on PlayMPE and iTunes www.facebook.com/tjashley www.instagram.com/tjashley
Already playing on: KFAV, KWCK, KWHW, KXOX, KYKX, KYYK, Jersey Shore Country, WAKG, WCCI, WDKN, WDHR, WGLR, WLLX, WMCI, KCNY Weeks Last This Spins / % Spin Song / Artist / Label Spins +/- On Chart Week Week Reports Power
21 43 41 We Were Rich / Runaway June / Wheelhouse Records 431/27 0 1 11 49 42 Comin’ Home / The Desert City Ramblers / Crane Kick Records 426/26 9 34 25 28 43 Mix ‘Em With Whiskey / Drake White / Reverend White 425/19 -38 -264 12 46 44 Bad Guy / Casey Donahew / Almost Country Records 415/25 0 2 13 50 45 Sometimes Always Never / Brandon Ratcliff / Monument 402/30 9 33 5 58 46 Ain’t Gonna Be Today / Ward Davis / Ward Davis Music/Thirty Tigers 383/33 35 100 1 90 47 Famous Friends / Chris Young & Kane Brown / RCA Records 362/27 127 229 6 57 48 Anybody Else / Mira Goto / ArtistMax/Copperline 335/22 16 47 15 54 49 Never Be Sorry / Old Dominion / RCA Nashville 333/18 5 16 15 53 50 Dear Rodeo / Cody Johnson / CoJo Music/Warner Bros. 327/19 -5 -18 4 64 51 Cold Beer Calling My Name / Jameson Rodgers feat. Luke Combs / River House Artists/ 308/24 24 59 Columbia Nashville 8 72 52 You Time / Scotty McCreery / Triple Tigers Records 306/22 42 90 23 26 53 Land Of Y’all / Smith & Wesley / Dream Walkin/Audium Nashville 299/15 -62 -480 12 59 54 Bad Decision / Emily Jean / SSM Evolution 298/19 12 32 12 56 55 I Can Tell By The Way You Dance / Josh Turner / MCA Nashville 292/20 -5 -16 6 61 56 God Save The World / Jeff Carson / MC1 Nashville 290/18 12 30 5 68 57 Heartland / Hailey Whitters / Big Loud Records/S&D 289/21 30 67 6 60 58 Meghan / Brecken Miles / Rhyme Partners 284/20 8 22 19 65 59 Single Saturday Night / Cole Swindell / Warner Music Nashville 282/20 16 38 6 62 60 Worship You / Kane Brown / RCA Nashville 281/17 9 24 8 63 61 Calling All The Angels / Brooke Lee / Brooke Lee Music 279/17 12 29 3 70 62 Extra / Kylie Trout / Kylie Trout Music 260/23 19 42 4 69 63 Just Like You / Paige King Johnson / PCG Artist Development 249/22 14 30 3 77 64 Whiskey And Rain / Michael Ray / Warner Music Nashville 246/18 32 59 4 73 65 River Bent / Caleb Kelley / River Bend Entertainment 245/18 14 30 8 66 66 Same Ole / Chris Kroeze / 242/18 0 1 8 71 67 Your Love Won’t Let Me Cheat / RT Johnson / CCB Nashville 234/16 8 17 7 67 68 Ghost Town Nation / Travis Tritt / Big Noise 230/14 2 5 8 78 69 Martha Devine / Ashley McBryde / Atlantic Records/WMN/WAR 212/16 15 28 4 74 70 Radio Back / Danny Kensy / Rad Records 209/14 5 10 1 86 71 You’re Gonna Love Me / Tim Dugger / Curb 199/16 28 44 1 82 72 Love Like Crazy / TJ Ashley / Music Train Records 190/14 16 26 9 80 73 Beers To Catch Up On / LOCASH / Wheelhouse Records 188/13 10 17 1 84 74 Just Friends / Caylee Hammack / Capitol 187/13 19 30 2 79 75 Time Changes / Stephanie Nash / 184/14 8 13 5 75 76 Won’t Forget / Rusty Gear / Chickahominy Marsh Records 182/15 -6 -11 1 83 77 Invent A T-Shirt / Jenny Tolman / Old Sol Records 176/14 12 19 1 85 78 What Would Dolly Do? / Tori Martin / Lucky Sky Music 173/13 12 18 1 81 79 Freedom And Wings / Heather Smith / 173/11 4 6 1 96 80 Chain Breaker / Zach Williams / Provident Label Group 170/18 45 53
No. 1 Song Greatest Spin Increase Highest Debut January 8, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley To Release Solo Music
Florida Georgia Line members Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley announced on social media that they will be releasing their own music, as individuals, in the near future. The duo also assured fans that they are not splitting up; with their fifth studio album, Life Rolls On, due out in February and a tour to follow once it is safe to do so.
Florida Georgia Line started their hit-filled career in 2010. Their breakout single “Cruise” was certified 11x multi- Platinum, making them the first country act to achieve RIAA’s Diamond certification. They hold the longest reign on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart of 50 consecutive weeks with another Diamond, No. 1 single, “Meant to Be” with Bebe Rexha. They’ve tallied 17 career No. 1 singles. Florida Georgia Line. Photo: John Shearer
In an effort to be “transparent and real” with their fans, started writing an album once I started writing again. I had a Kelley and Hubbard uploaded a nearly 10-minute video couple songs that I was writing and I thought, ‘I think I’m explaining that while they will still be making music and supposed to sing these and have a project or an outlet for touring as FGL, they will also be working on music these to come out on.'” individually, with Kelley announcing an album he’s planning for the summer. Hubbard mentioned some Kelley said that he approached Hubbard in September with collaborations to be released soon. the idea for a solo project., to which Hubbard gave him his blessing as a collaborator. “I did a lot of soul-searching,” said Kelley. “I took some time off from writing songs. I didn’t know what I was “We’re really creating some freedom for ourselves in searching for. I got my arm back in shape and thought I addition to what we do with FGL” Kelley said. was going to start pitching again, I fished as much as I could, and did pretty much anything I could do to get a lot “There’s a lot going on,” Hubbard said. “We want to make of energy out and kill some time. sure that our truth is out there for you guys, and our genuine excitement and support of each other for the next “Where I landed was really falling in love with my guitar chapter of our career, of our music, of our journey, of our and writing songs again, more than ever,” Kelley touring, and everything. We’re really excited.” MR continued. “This has been a lifelong dream of mine, but I
Chris Young and Kane Brown’s “Famous Chris Young and RCA Nashville label-mate Kane Brown are Friends” Most-Added At Country Radio starting off 2021 with the most-added single at country radio, as “Famous Friends” tallies a total 53 combined Billboard and Country Aircheck/Mediabase stations.
“Famous Friends” was also most added on MusicRow‘s most recent CountryBreakout Radio Chart.
Written by Young with Cary Barlowe and Corey Crowder from a tour stop in Tampa in 2018, the autobiographical song mentions Rutherford County, where Young grew up in Tennessee, and Brown’s hometown of Hamilton County, along with Nashville’s Davidson County.
“Famous Friends” is Young and Brown’s first collaboration since working together on Brown’s 2017 song “Setting the Night On Fire.” Additionally, the song reunites the former tour mates from Young’s 2018 Losing Sleep Headlining Tour—which included a sold-out hometown show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena— and is a full-circle moment for Brown, since his first live concert experience as a young country fan was a Brad Paisley and Chris Young tour stop. MR
Page 8 of 15 January 8, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly
The Recording Academy Postpones Grammy John Ozier Named AIMP National Chair; Awards To March Initial 2021 Events Announced
The Executive Committee of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) has named The Recording Academy has postponed the Grammy John Ozier as its new National Chair. Awards to March 14, 2021. The show’s postponement is due to health concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic. On Ozier, EVP Creative at Reservoir Media Monday (Jan. 4), California set a new single-day record of Management, has been President of the Nashville 74,000 new cases. Chapter since 2015. He succeeds Teri Nelson- Carpenter, who remains the President of the Los The 63rd Grammy Awards were to broadcast from Los Angeles Chapter. AIMP National Chairs are selected Angeles on the CBS network on Sunday, Jan. 31. from the three chapter presidents by the Executive Committee, and serve one two-year term. In a joint statement, Chair & Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy, Harvey Mason jr.; Executive Vice “Teri did a fabulous job especially this past year President, Specials, Music, Live Events and Alternative leading us through some of the biggest changes that Programming, CBS, Jack Sussman; GRAMMY Awards our industry—and the world—have seen in a hundred Executive Producer, Fulwell 73 Productions, Ben Winston, years,” said Ozier. “I am so glad she will continue to said: serve on our executive Board as the Los Angeles Chapter President, and I look forward to working with “After thoughtful conversations with health experts, our her and our New York Chapter President Michael host and artists scheduled to appear, we are rescheduling Lau as together we navigate this new terrain.” the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards to be broadcast Sunday, March 14, 2021. The deteriorating COVID situation in Los The organization will continue to have its events as Angeles, with hospital services being overwhelmed, ICUs webinars in the coming months, starting on Tuesday, having reached capacity, and new guidance from state and Jan. 12, “AIMP & IMPF present: The State Of The local governments have all led us to conclude that Music Publishing Industry Post-Covid. How Are We postponing our show was the right thing to do. Nothing is Going To Do In 2021?” Moderated by Emmanuel more important than the health and safety of those in our Legrand, editor of the Creative Industries Newsletter, music community and the hundreds of people who work the discussion will dive into the report that the IMPF tirelessly on producing the show. (Independent Music Publishers International Forum) released last year, which for the first time detailed the We want to thank all of the talented artists, the staff, our economic importance of indie music publishers on a vendors and especially this year’s nominees for their global scale. The panelists include Ender Atis, COO understanding, patience and willingness to work with us as Budde Music Publishing; Michael Lau, CTO Round we navigate these unprecedented times.” Hill Music Publishing & AIMP NY Chapter President; Michelle Lewis, Co-Founder SONA & award-winning Nominees for the 63rd Grammy Awards were announced in songwriter; and Mary Jo Mennella, Founder & CEO November of 2020. Jan. 4 was the last day for Recording Music Asset Management. This special event will be Academy members to vote for the winners. Grammy- held at 9 a.m. PT/ noon ET / 5 p.m. GMT. nominated comedian Trevor Noah was slated to be the host of the 2021 Grammys, but it is unclear if he will still Read more details on this and other upcoming events host this year’s show. MR here. MR
Page 9 of 15 January 8, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly
Jimmy Wheeler Joins Story House from Casting Crowns and Third Day, along with Collective As General Manager working projects from Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jars of Clay, Matt Maher, and many more.
“I am thrilled to introduce Jimmy as the newest addition to our Story House Collective team! He comes with years of record industry experience and will serve as GM as our company seeks to grow in some exciting ways in 2021 and beyond,” said Story House Collective Founder Matthew West. “The vision of Story House Collective represents the core of everything I do. I’m passionate about seeing people’s stories impact lives, and I want to utilize the resources and platform I’ve been given to pave the way for even more stories to be told and lives changed for the Kingdom of God for years to come.”
“By joining Story House Collective, I can honestly say I am in my dream job,” Wheeler said. “I’m so excited to partner with Matthew and this amazing team. There Pictured (L-R): Story House Collective’s Jacy Gibbs, artist Leanna Crawford, Story House GM Jimmy Wheeler, founder are so many things to look forward to in this new year Matthew West, Story House staffer Lyndsay Crawford and beyond!”
West formed Story House Collective four years ago, Jimmy Wheeler has been named General Manager of and since its opening, the multifaceted company now Story House Collective. houses a variety of entities, including artist management for West and singer/songwriter Leanna Before joining Story House Collective, Wheeler worked Crawford. Story House Collective also manages the within the Sony Music system for 30 years, the last 25 nonprofit ministry popwe and the Matthew West with Provident Entertainment/Sony Music. He has Podcast. MR years of experience in sales, marketing, radio, and distribution, and has been part of every album released
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Page 10 of 15 January 8, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly
Loretta Lynn To Celebrate Women Of Country On Soundstripe Names Drew Weaver Chief Upcoming New Album, Still Woman Enough Operating Officer
Soundstripe has hired music, tech, and entertainment industry veteran Drew Weaver as Chief Operating Officer. In the newly-created COO role, he will be responsible for overseeing Loretta Lynn is releasing her 50th studio album, Still Woman day-to-day operations at Soundstripe, reporting Enough, a celebration of women in country music, on March 19. to Co-Founders and Co-CEOs Travis Terrell and Micah Sannan. Produced by Patsy Lynn Russell and John Carter Cash at the Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee, the icon’s As COO, Weaver will help manage the rapid fourth project for Legacy Recordings features a host of guest growth and continued business-line expansion at artists including Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Margo Soundstripe, a leader in the stock media industry Price and Tanya Tucker. The album includes a career-spanning that provides a catalog of royalty-free music, selection of 13 new recordings illuminating different aspects of stock video, and sound effects to creators who Lynn’s repertoire. need affordable, hassle-free access to media assets for their videos, podcasts, and other The collection is centered around Loretta’s original compositions, projects. from songs like “Still Woman Enough” (which shares its title and attitude with her 2002 autobiography, and was co-written with her Prior to joining Soundstripe, Weaver was SVP daughter, Patsy Lynn Russell) through fresh interpretations of and Head of Product for Pantaya, the fast- classics including “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl” (her first single, growing Spanish-language streaming service originally released March 1960), “You Ain’t Woman Enough” (the backed by Lionsgate and Hemisphere Media. He title track for her first No. 1 Billboard Hot Country Album in 1966), also supported product and international and an emotional “Coal Miner’s Daughter Recitation,” business operations at Starz, the global media commemorating the 50th anniversary of the release of her and entertainment company and OTT streaming signature song (October 5, 1970) and album (January 4, 1971). service acquired by Lionsgate in 2016. Before Lionsgate, Weaver was SVP of Product In addition to her original compositions, Still Woman Enough Management at TouchTunes, the country’s includes Loretta’s take on American traditional music, with “I Don’t largest in-venue interactive music and Feel at Home Any More,” Stephen Foster’s “Old Kentucky Home; entertainment platform, where he led the product gospel, with The Carter Family-popularized “Keep On The Sunny and design teams behind the company’s digital Side,” “Where No One Stands Alone,” “I’ll Be All Smiles Tonight,” jukebox network and popular mobile app, used in and Hank Williams’ “I Saw the Light;” and contemporary over 60,000 locations in North America. songwriting with Shel Silverstein’s satirical view of motherhood, Previously, he held executive product and “One’s On The Way,” a hit for Loretta in 1971. operational roles at AOL and SiriusXM, where he innovated, launched, and ran various consumer “I am just so thankful to have some of my friends join me on my products used by millions of users and supported new album. We girl singers gotta stick together,” said Lynn. “It’s by various business models including SiriusXM’s amazing how much has happened in the fifty years since Coal streaming mobile apps and personalization for Miner’s Daughter first came out and I’m extremely grateful to be AOL Instant Messenger. MR given a part to play in the history of American music.”
Celebrating 50 years of Lynn’s landmark album, Coal Miner’s Daughter will be reissued on black vinyl by MCA Nashville/UMe on February 12. MR
Page 11 of 15 January 8, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly
Nashville’s Station Inn Spotlighted In New Country Music Hall Of Fame Exhibit
The history of Nashville’s legendary bluegrass gem The Station Inn is being chronicled in a brand new exhibit at the Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum beginning this month. The Station Inn: Bluegrass Beacon opens Friday, Jan. 15, and will run through Jan. 2, 2022.
“The Station Inn has done so much more than simply provide a venue where musicians and fans alike can gather to play and hear music. The Station Inn has built and nurtured a community,” said Kyle Young, CEO, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “The camaraderie, the joy and the sounds that greet patrons entering the club are an experience like no other. We are happy to share the story of a venue that continues to be a sanctuary and haven for some of the finest artists and their music.”
Items featured in the new exhibit include instruments, popping in for regular jam sessions. It moved from its photographs, posters and other unique items from the club’s original location near Nashville’s Centennial Park to its rich history. Highlights include seats from a tour bus used by current home at 402 12th Ave. S. in 1978. Lester Flatt, now serving as seating in the venue, the 1927 Gibson A-Jr. model mandolin used by Nashville Bluegrass Three years later, future Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Band member Mike Compton in performance and to create his member J.T. Gray purchased the Station Inn with a Grammy-winning contribution to the film O Brother, Where Art vision to make the club a venue that would draw Thou?, a poster covered with the autographs of musicians national recording acts and inspire local artistry. Over who played the club and well-known patrons, and more. the past 40 years, Country Music Hall of Fame members Vince Gill, Bill Monroe, Ricky Skaggs and The Station Inn was founded in 1974 by a group of bluegrass Mac Wiseman, as well as Richard Bailey, Dierks musicians and singers, Bob and Ingrid Fowler, Marty and Bentley, Mike Bub, the Fairfield Four, Alison Krauss, the Charmaine Lanham, Jim Bornstein and Red and Bird Lee McCrary Sisters, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, Molly Smith, who wanted to provide their fellow musicians and fans Tuttle and more have taken the stage at the legendary with a venue where they could play and hear bluegrass music. venue. MR The owners served as the house band, with other pickers
American Songwriter Taps Lisa Konicki American Songwriter announced the hiring of industry veteran For Editor in Chief Lisa Konicki as its Editor in Chief, effective immediately. Now with 20 years of press experience in the music industry, Konicki began her career as photo editor of Country Weekly magazine, eventually working her way up to Editor in Chief at the magazine. She then created and served as Editor in Chief for the website nashcountrydaily.com for Cumulus Media. Most recently, Konicki has been editor for onecountry.com.
“I’m thrilled to join the American Songwriter team as Editor in Chief,” says Konicki. “The Magazine’s 35+ year history exhibits an outstanding quality and has cemented its place as a staple in the music community. I look forward to being able to work with the incredible staff and bring my experience to such a prestigious publication.”
Konicki will be stepping into a role that was previously held by Dallas Jackson. Jackson will remain with American Songwriter as part of its ownership group, Savage Ventures, and will continue to be involved with the operations. MR
Page 12 of 15 January 8, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly DISClaimer Single Reviews: Tim McGraw, Tyler Hubbard, Dolly Parton, Barry Gibb, Mitchell Tenpenny, More As we begin 2021, we look at a landscape of rubble.
Music is a healing force, so let the healing begin. You can’t go wrong with Dolly, especially when she’s singing with Barry Gibb. Hailey Whitters is here with a good-time collaboration with LBT. Both the legendary John Fogerty and newcomer Mitchell Tenpenny are offering especially poignant songs for our troubled time.
But the Disc of the Day, and perhaps one of the most important country-music songs of our era, is “Undivided” by Tim McGraw & Tyler Hubbard. Be ready to blast this to listeners everywhere when it drops next week.
Our DisCovery Award goes to Helene Cronin, yet another example of how women are making some of our best music.
Read Robert K. Oermann's reviews of Tim McGraw & Tyler Hubbard, Hailey Whitters & Little Big Town, Barry Gibb & Dolly Parton, Jon Pardi, and more, here.
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Maggie Rose To Host New Podcast Highlighting January 2021 Installment Of CRS360 Announced Her Favorite Women In Music MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson Looks Back On Logan Mize Proves He’s ‘Still That Kid’ On New 10 Years As Publisher and Owner Album Due January 27 Rewind: MusicRow’s Top Engaging Stories Of Lee Greenwood And Soldier Valley Spirits 2020 Develop Signature Bourbon Whiskey Rewind: 2020 ‘MusicRow’ CountryBreakout Weekly Register: Luke Combs Finishes Out 2020 Radio Chart No. 1s On Top Nashville-Related Music Obituaries 2020 MusicRow’s 2020 Print Issues And Important 2021 Dates
Page 13 of 15 January 8, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly
Off The Record: What Is Your Word For 2021? I’ve never read a book in that genre that has guided me in a more positive way.
And I’m not alone.
Published in 1997, the book has reportedly been translated into 46 languages and sold over 8 million copies in the United States. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the book features four guiding principles to help create a life full of freedom, happiness and love and the first agreement is to be impeccable with your word. It’s appropriate that this is the first agreement because words matter. They really do! In this day of social media jabs and divisive political rhetoric, it can sometimes feel like our words have little consequence. But I have learned that a single word can change your life. It’s done so every year to mine since I started choosing a new word for each year. A word can be that powerful.
There aren’t any rules about what or how to pick your There are some people who make a list of resolutions for word. You do you. But for me, it seems like the word the new year and as the year progresses, they tick them picks me, not the other way around. I habitually take a off one by one with most, if not all of them, marked off at small amount of time out of the day to wander, to just be the end of the year. Perhaps you are one of those people. with my thoughts. It’s such an important part of my day. When I’m in that head space, my mind becomes a busy I am not. intersection of ideas, thoughts and dreams. It may happen during a walk, or a drive, or when I’m getting For years, I would keep my list of New Year’s Resolutions ready in the morning before I start my day. I let most of in my phone. Pretty smart, right? With easy access, I could those ideas, thoughts and dreams pass through my mind. read them at any time throughout the year and gauge how They may have value but aren’t worth stopping and I was doing. Unfortunately, I never reviewed them. Not hanging on to, so best to let them go. But occasionally, even once. The only time I even thought about them was there’s one that gets my attention and I grab it. It’s during during the Christmas holiday season when it was time to those recurring sessions when I usually receive my best start composing a new list of resolutions for the upcoming ideas– whether it’s for personal development or year. And I have to admit, the old list required very little enhancing something here at the magazine. And it’s editing. I was lucky if I had to make any edits at all, often during one of those sessions late in the year, when I pick finding none of the items on my list completed. Some my new word for the upcoming year. years, the only edit I made was to increase the amount of weight I needed to lose. 2021 will be the fifth consecutive year that I’ve chosen a word for the year. My prior words have included “Hustle,” After years of keeping that static list of resolutions, it “Strategic”, “Expansion,” and “Ready.” After spending a became so ridiculous and meaningless that I stopped year with a single word, it doesn’t go away after the clock doing New Year’s Resolutions altogether. It was too strikes midnight and you are propelled into the new year overwhelming and made me feel defeated. However, a few with a champagne flute in your hand. It becomes part of years ago, I decided to pick just one word that I would give the fabric of who you are, the way you make decisions, more attention and mindfulness to throughout the year. the way you set goals, the way you engage with others. It That changed everything. becomes a key ingredient in your life and it’s fascinating to look back and see how that word has manifested in I found having one word gave me a platform to help your life…. accomplish all the other goals. I was very surprised that something as simple as picking a single word could have Read more of this week’s Off The Record here. such an impact and lasting effect on what I wanted to accomplish during the year. I’m the type of person that can Off The Record is a new weekly column in 2021 from learn a life lesson in the morning and forget it by lunch, so MusicRow Owner and Publisher, Sherod Robertson. After having just one word gave me focus, clarity and something 10 years heading the publication, he shares some of the simple I could remember. The word gave me purpose and nuggets of wisdom he’s acquired throughout the years intent, and became the overall arc of my life for 365 days. that have helped him in his journey. The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author As I’ve written before, one of my favorite self-improvement and do not necessarily reflect the views of MusicRow books is The Four Agreements written by Don Miguel Magazine nor its team members. Ruiz. Actually, I should probably just say it is my favorite.
Page 14 of 15 January 8, 2021 The MusicRow Weekly
CALENDAR
Singles
January 8 Stephanie Quayle/By Heart
January 11 Russell Dickerson/Home Sweet/Triple Tigers Taylor Swift/No Body, No Crime/Republic/MCA Gary Burk III/Two Lane Airplane/MC1 Nashville
January 15 Cort Carpenter/Small Towners/Triple C Records|XXIII Music
Albums
January 8 Morgan Wallen/Dangerous:The Double Album/Big Loud/Republic Records Aaron Watson/American Soul/BIG Label Records Barry Gibb/Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook/Capitol Records
January 15 Devin Dawson/The Pink Slip EP/Warner Music Nashville/Atlantic Jake Hoot/Love Out Of Time
January 22 Willie Jones/Right Now/The Penthouse/Empire Nashville Moon Taxi/Silver Dream/BMG
January 27 Logan Mize/Still That Kid/Big Yellow Dog Music
Industry Events
February 17-19 Country Radio Seminar
March 14 The 63rd Grammy Awards
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Jimmie Allen, Charley Pride. Photo: Courtesy of CMA Brothers Osborne. Photo: Courtesy of CMA