2021 MUSIC ROW AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Congratulations to the following 2021 Music Row Award nominees. 

The industry-voted winners will be announced virtually on all MusicRow platforms on Aug. 19. Subscribed members of MusicRow will receive their ballots via email on Wednesday, July 14.

Producer of the Year

1.) Dave Cobb

2.) Ross Copperman

3.) Corey Crowder

4.) Dann Huff

5.) Jay Joyce

6.) Joey Moi

Label Group of the Year

1.) BBR Music Group

2. ) Big Loud Records

3.) Big Machine Label Group

4.) Sony Music Nashville

5. ) Universal Music Group Nashville

6.) Warner Music Nashville

Talent Agency of the Year

1.) Creative Artists Agency (CAA)

2.) Kinkead Entertainment Agency

3.) Reliant Talent Agency

4.) United Talent Agency

5.) Wasserman Music

6.) WME

Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year

1.) Matt Alderman (Curb | Word Entertainment / SESAC) - “Nobody” - Dylan Scott

2.) Benjy Davis (Plaid Flag / BMI) - “Made For You” - Jake Owen

3.) Nicolette Hayford (SMACK Songs / River House Artists / SESAC) - “One Night Standards” - Ashley McBryde

4.) Joey Hyde (Concord, BMI) - “Made For You” - Jake Owen

5.) Dan Isbell (Sony Music Publishing Nashville/ BMI) - “Better Together” - Luke Combs

6.) Greylan James (UMPG Nashville/ BMI) - “Happy Does” - Kenny Chesney

7.) Alex Kline (Reviver Music / SESAC) - “Somebody Like That” - Tenille Arts

8.) Chris La Corte (Concord/Hang Your Hat Music / SESAC) - “Breaking Up Was Easy in the ‘90s” - Sam Hunt


9.) Emily Landis (BMG, BMI) - ”The Good Ones” - Gabby Barrett

10.) Michael Lotten (Twelve6/Between The Pines / BMI) -  “Momma’s House” - Dustin Lynch


11.) James McNair (Sony Music Publishing Nashville / BMI) - “Lovin’ On You” - Luke Combs

12.) Neil Medley (Mojo Music Media / ASCAP) - "Made For You” - Jake Owen

13.) Jordan Minton (Boom Music/Kobalt / BMI) - “Good Time” - Niko Moon

14.) Jake Mitchell (Reservoir / BMI) - “One Beer” - Hardy featuring Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson / “Some Girls” - Jameson Rodgers

15.) Anna Moon (Warner Chappell Nashville / BMI) - “Good Time” - Niko Moon

16.) Joshua Murty (Warner Chappell Nashville / ASCAP) - “Good Time” - Niko Moon

17.) Mitch Oglesby (Warner Chappell Nashville / ASCAP) - “Done” - Chris Janson

18.) Matt Roy (BMG, BMI) - "Done” - Chris Janson

19.) Mark Trussell (Warner Chappell Nashville / ASCAP) - “Good Time” - Niko Moon

20.) Dallas Wilson (Riser House, BMI) - “Nobody” - Dylan Scott

Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year

1. ) Tenille Arts

2.) Ben Johnson

3.) Chris Lane

4.) Ashley McBryde

5.) Parker McCollum

6.) Ernest K. Smith

Male Songwriter of the Year

1.) Ross Copperman 

“Nobody But You” by Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani

“The Other Girl” by Kelsea Ballerini and Halsey

“Lady” by Lady A

“We Were Rich” by Runaway June

“Happy Anywhere” by Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani

“Beers And Sunshine” by Darius Rucker

“Half Of My Hometown” by Kelsea Ballerini ft. Kenny Chesney


2.) Jesse Frasure

“Some People Do” - Old Dominion

“Center Point Road” - Thomas Rhett

“Hole In The Bottle” - Kelsea Ballerini

“Almost Maybes” - Jordan Davis

“Whiskey And Rain” - Michael Ray

“What’s Your Country Song” - Thomas Rhett

“Minimum Wage” - Blake Shelton


3.) Ashley Gorley

“Catch” by Brett Young

“One Big Country Song” - LoCash

“Hole In The Bottle” - Kelsea Ballerini

“Hard To Forget” - Sam Hunt

“One Of Them Girls” - Lee Brice

“Single Saturday Night” - Cole Swindell

“We Were Rich” - Runaway June

“Give Heaven Some Hell” - Hardy

“What’s Your Country Song” - Thomas Rhett

“You Should Probably Leave” - Chris Stapleton

“Sand In My Boots” - Morgan Wallen

“Warning” -Morgan Wallen

“Country Again” - Thomas Rhett


4.) Randy Montana

“I Hope You’re Happy Now” - Carly Pearce and Lee Brice

“Better Together” - Luke Combs

“Pretty Heart” - Parker McCollum

“Young Man’s Blues” - Parker McCollum

“We Didn’t Have Much” - Justin Moore

“Cold As You” - Luke Combs

“If It Wasn’t For Trucks” - Riley Green

5.) Josh Osborne

“Never Be Sorry” - Old Dominion

“Nobody But You” - Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani

“Hard To Forget” - Sam Hunt

“Breaking Up Was Easy In The ‘90s” - Sam Hunt

“How They Remember You” - Rascal Flatts

“Happy Anywhere” - Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani

“Beers And Sunshine” - Darius Rucker

“7 Summers” - Morgan Wallen

“Next Girl” - Carly Pearce

“Sand In My Boots” - Morgan Wallen

6.) Josh Thompson

"One Margarita” - Luke Bryan

“Ain’t Always The Cowboy” - Jon Pardi

“Be A Light” - Thomas Rhett featuring Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Reba McEntire, Keith Urban

“Build Me A Daddy” - Luke Bryan

“Whiskey And Rain” - Michael Ray

“Wasted On You” - Morgan Wallen

Female Songwriter of the Year

1.) Allison Veltz Cruz

“Somebody Like That” - Tenille Arts

2.) Nicolle Galyon

“We Were Rich” - Runaway June
“Gone” - Dierks Bentley
“Minimum Wage” - Blake Shelton
“Half Of My Hometown” - Kelsea Ballerini featuring Kenny Chesney

3.) Natalie Hemby

“Bluebird” - Miranda Lambert
“Settling Down” - Miranda Lambert
“I’m Not For Everyone” - Brothers Osborne

4.) Alex Kline

“Somebody Like That” - Tenille Arts

5.) Emily Landis

“The Good Ones” - Gabby Barrett

6.) Hillary Lindsey

“One Beer” - Hardy featuring Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson
“Hole In The Bottle” - Kelsea Ballerini
“Almost Maybes” - Jordan Davis
“Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” - Taylor Swift

7.) Parker Welling

“Love You Like I Used To” - Russell Dickerson
“What’s Your Country Song” - Thomas Rhett

Song of the Year

1.) “Black Like Me” - Mickey Guyton

Songwriters: Mickey Guyton, Nathan Chapman, Emma Davidson-Dillon, Fraser Churchill

Publishers: Mickey’s Island Publishing/WarnerTamerlane Publishing Corp., admin. by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.; WarnerTamerlane Publishing Corp./Eighty Nine 89 Music; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./Fraser Churchill Publishing Designee; WarnerTamerlane Publishing Corp./ Emma Davidson-Dillon Publishing Designee, BMI

2.) “Give Heaven Some Hell” - Hardy

Songwriters: Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Ben Johnson, Ashley Gorley

Publishers: Relative Music Group, BMI/ Rednecker Music, BMI/Round Hill Songs II, ASCAP/Caleb’s College Fund, ASCAP/8 Minutes Twenty Seconds Publishing, BMI/Artist Publishing Group West, ASCAP/Big Blue Nation Music, ASCAP/Nontypical Music, ASCAP/Who Wants To Buy My Publishing, ASCAP/ WC Music Corp., ASCAP

3.) “Half Of My Hometown” - Kelsea Ballerini featuring Kenny Chesney

Songwriters: Kelsea Ballerini, Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins, Nicolle Galyon

Publishers: Sony Accent, ASCAP/Tempo Investments-Smack Hits, GMR/ Smackstreet Music, GMR/Warner Geo Met Ric Music, GMR/EMI Blackwood Music Inc., BMI/Iris In The Sky With Diamonds, BMI/Round Hill Songs II, ASCAP/JRM3, ASCAP/ Muse Magic, ASCAP/A Boy Named Ford, BMI/ WarnerTamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI

4.) "Hell of a View" - Eric Church

Songwriters: Eric Church, Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell

Publishers: Sony Tree Publishing, BMI/ Longer And Louder Music, BMI/ Seven Ring Circus Songs, BMI/ Little Louder Songs, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/Spirit Of Nashville One, BMI/Tunes Of Fluid, BMI/Rust And Chrome Music, BMI

5.) "My Boy" - Elvie Shane

Songwriters: Elvie Shane, Lee Starr, Nick Columbia, Russell Sutton
Publishers: Rome Phrey Songs, ASCAP/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP/Rome Phrey Publishing, BMI/Songs Of Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., BMI/Nick Columbia Publishing, ASCAP/Block Of Marble Music, BMI/Lee Starr Publishing, BMI/SNG Music, LLP, BMI/Sony Tree Publishing, BMI


6.) "Next Girl" - Carly Pearce

Songwriters: Carly Pearce, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne

Publishers: Smackborne Music, ASCAP/ Sony Accent, ASCAP/Warner Geo Met Ric Music, GMR/Tempo Investments-Smack Hits, GMR/ Smackwood Music, GMR/ For The Kids Gold, ASCAP/BMG Gold Songs, ASCAP

Discovery Artist of the Year

1. Priscilla Block

2.) Tyler Braden

3.) Ian Munsick

4.) Lainey Wilson

5.) Lily Rose

6.) Drew Parker

Breakthrough Artist of the Year

1.) Tenille Arts

2.) BRELAND

3.) Mickey Guyton

4.) Parker McCollum

5.) Niko Moon

6.) Jameson Rogers

Artist of the Year

1.) Luke Bryan

2.) Luke Combs

3.) Eric Church

4.) Miranda Lambert

5.) Chris Stapleton

6.) Thomas Rhett

VETERAN INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE LYNN OLIVER-CLINE LAUNCHES RIVER HOUSE ARTISTS

Veteran industry executive Lynn Oliver-Cline is excited to announce the launch of River House Artists, a new independent record label and publishing company that will allow her to pursue her passion for developing exciting new talent full time.

Her first recording artist is country newcomer Luke Combs. Combs’ long time friend and collaborator, Ray Fulcher, is the first songwriter to sign to the publishing division.  Combs just finished recording his debut album, which is set to be released this fall with at least 8 of the tracks being co-written with Fulcher.

“I find it most rewarding to build something from the ground up, so RHA will be a true artist development company to help new talent get to the next level,” Oliver-Cline says. "I’ve always believed in being a cheerleader and advocate for the artist, and I’m confident in my ability to discover and nurture talent."

River House Artists is partnering with Thirty Tigers for marketing and distribution. Oliver-Cline is a former Vice President of Marketing at the full-service entertainment company, and also served as the project manager for Lucinda Williams as well as Jason Isbell’s Grammy Award-winning album Something More Than Free.

“Lynn was a valued member of our team at Thirty Tigers, so it was an easy decision when she was starting her own label to ask if we could be of service in that venture,” Thirty Tigers founder David Macias said. “Fortunately for us, she said yes! She is someone that has a knack for recognizing special talent, and her first signing is no surprise. Luke Combs is a fantastic artist, and I think that we’re all going to be very successful together.”

Named one of the “Top 5 A&R Women in the World” in 2003, Oliver-Cline has charted an eclectic path in the music industry. She began as an intern for Hootie & The Blowfish and Fishco Management in 1994 – the year the band’s Cracked Rear View was released and went onto sell 20 million units. Over the next 10 years she served as a talent scout and A&R Director for producer Matt Serletic (Matchbox 20, Gloriana) in Los Angeles and New York.

In 2007 she joined Zac Brown Band's management company ROAR and worked with the Platinum-selling, GRAMMY Award-winning band as their day-to-day manager. Oliver-Cline toured with the band and supported the team in country radio, social media, merchandise, sales and publicity, as well as building a road crew that still travels with Brown today. She then became Vice President of Publishing and A&R for Brown’s Southern Ground Artists and moved to Nashville in 2013 where she lives with her husband, J and 18-month old son, Levi, on the Cumberland River.

BREAKING DOWN THE INDUSTRY TEAM PLAYER BY PLAYER - KNOW YOUR TEAM.

2/28/14 11:45pm
Author: Jennifer Smith
Twitter: @lovinlyrics

In order to even start to understand the music industry, you first need to get an understanding of who the major players are and what their position is in the game. You can't win if you don't know who you're playing with or against. We all hear the titles but does the average new artist or fan really know what they mean? Let's break it down:

WHO MAKES UP YOUR LABEL'S TEAM?

A&R Rep: This means "Artists and Repertoire".These are the people who find the new talent, sign new talent, match the singer with songs that they feel are suited best for them, match artists with the right producers, manage projects and assist new artists with creative thinking. These people are important, period. Be nice to these people and listen to what they tell you, they are your candle when you are in the dark.

Sales: They are exactly that, they are there to sell your talent, to get your music onto shelves, onto digital sales outlets.

Promotion: These are the people that try to talk sense into radio stations when it comes to playing your music. We hit 'em up hard. We brag on you, tell them why they should play your music. They schmooze and booze the radio station program directors and dj's, saying and doing what they have to in order to get air play. They are not afraid to kiss up and pull, as Steve Holy puts it, a "pucker punch".

Marketing: This is putting your image and music out to the public, promotional items like t-shirts, merchandise bundles, advertising campaigns, contests, promo videos, designing those awesome display units you see in stores like Target or Walmart, these are the creative ones coming up with new ways to visually stimulate your potential fan base and keep them coming back for more.

New Media: They're your nerds, your geeks, your techies. They are the ones who handle all things internet and world wide web. Social media, websites, etc. If it's digital, they're on it.

Production: This is your cd assembly line. They do everything from manufacturing, printing, putting them together and getting them shipped out.

Product Management: They are the cheerleaders, the motivation behind your team. They bring them all together, tell them to give a whoop whoop and a "you can do it" and get people excited about artists and their music. If your product manager sits on their ass in their office all day or doesn't have that enthusiasm they should, you need to rethink who you're working with. You need someone genuinely excited who believes in the product they push.

Finance: They are your best friend, your bread and butter, your bank. They keep track of and pay your royalties. These are people you should keep close contact with and make sure things are right. Don't be afraid to stick your nose in there once in awhile and get them to explain to you what's going on with your money. You have that right as an artist. Make sure your money is being handled by the right people and in the right way.

Legal/Business Affairs: I think this speaks for itself. They are the law when it comes to your career in music. They maintain legal contracts for the entire company, including any and all contracts where you're concerned as an artist. They handle licensing, negotiate deals, draft contracts and make sure things are on the up and up. They are the blue light in your rear view.

International: Well what do you think they do? They ensure proper distribution and the release of your music around the world. They also handle the other jobs listed above in foreign countries. Wow, that must be a whole other language!

All of the game players above report to the big guy, the one that sits in the high back leather chair smoking his cigar and scratching his beard as he instructs his assistant to "hold all calls". He is the big kahuna, the one you probably rarely see or hear from unless you are a hit on the way up or a miss on the way out. His office is the Oval Office of the label, his is the President.

So, there ya go, in a nutshell, the players in your game and the members of the team you'll be working with if you sign to a label. As always, when being approached to be "signed", do your research first. Read up on the label's background, their complaints, any legal issues, talk to other industry folk familiar with the label and those involved. If you do sign, make sure you are part of the process and that you aren't handing over your career just for the dream of overnight success and a quick buck. This rarely happens, just ask those major artists who paid their dues for years before being signed, ask those who are still in search of the ever elusive "sweet deal". This is YOUR career, putting food on YOUR table, taking time away from YOUR family and making or breaking you. You deserve and have the right to ask questions, to ask for certain clauses in your contract, to know what percentage you take away from each sale and who gets paid what percentage of your earnings. Never be afraid to question or ask. Be involved. Don't always hand the reigns to those who claim to be the "professionals", they might just take those reigns and let the horse (aka your career) go and you may never reign the horse back into the corral.

Reference: All You Need to Know About the Music Business 6th Edition by Donald S. Passman

BEST NEWS EVER! FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE SIGNS WITH REPUBLIC NASHVILLE!!!

We called it back around Christmas time, Florida-Georgia Line would be one of the top artists of 2012 and we hit the nail right on the head with a vengeance! In addition to everything else they've accomplished this year such as becoming official songwriters with Big Loud Shirt Publishing, being part of the Country Throwdown Tour, releasing a top selling new cd, "It'z Just What We Do", which includes the fast moving debut single, "Cruise" which has been added to regular rotation on SiriusXM radio's "The Highway", now they've signed a record deal with Republic Nashville. FINALLY! Someone hears what thousands of us have been hearing for awhile now. Thank you Republic Nashville for taking a chance on the guys and believing in what they have to offer. Guess we can add this to our list of "talking points" for the interview in Raleigh! Did I mention how crazy proud we are of them???

Attention Artists: Surfdog Records Accepting ALL Submissions

Surfdog Records
1126 South Coast Highway 101
Encinitas, CA 92024
Phone: (760) 944-8000
Fax: (760) 944-7808

ATTENTION ARTISTS:
ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONS - SURFDOG RECORDS

This label handles Glen Campbell, Joss Stone, Brian Setzer, Dave Stewart, and other artists. They accept unsolicited music submissions. Here's how to send yours in if you have music you're trying to get heard -

"We accept all unsolicited materials."
Please send all submissions to:
Attn: A&R
Surfdog Records
1126 South Coast Highway 101
Encinitas, CA 92024

http://surfdog.com/contact-us