JASON ALDEAN GRACES COVER OF MUSICROW MAGAZINE'S 2022 INCHARGE ISSUE - APRIL 22 PDF
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April 22, 2022 The MusicRow Weekly
Friday, April 22, 2022
Jason Aldean Graces Cover Of MusicRow SIGN UP HERE (FREE!)
Magazine’s 2022 InCharge Issue
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THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES
Jason Aldean Graces Cover
Of MusicRow Magazine’s
2022 InCharge Issue
John Esposito Reportedly
Transitioning To Chairman
Emeritus At Warner
MusicRow is proud to announce the 2022 release of its flagship print
directory, InCharge. Multi-Platinum entertainer and country mainstay, Sony Music Nashville’s Allen
Jason Aldean, graces its cover. Brown Announces
Retirement
Over the past 16 years, Aldean has released nine studio albums and
bolstered 26 No. 1s, 15 billion streams, and over 20 million albums sold. Warner Chappell Music
With his tenth studio project—a double-album titled Macon, Georgia— Nashville Ups Christina
releasing on April 22, Aldean is gearing up to take the road this summer on Wiltshire To Sr. Director, A&R
his “Rock N’ Roll Cowboy Tour.” The trek will launch on July 15 in Scranton,
Pennsylvania and will span 34 cities.
AIMP Holds Seventh Annual
MusicRow‘s InCharge issue highlights some of the most influential music Awards
industry executives in the Nashville entertainment community. This year’s
edition includes 381 profiles which are accompanied by contact Date Announced For 15th
information, career biographies, and detailed board and organizational Annual ACM Honors
membership affiliations.
Warner Chappell Opens The
This annual guide also includes a company appendix, record label staff Doors To Its New Office,
appendix, and a professional categories appendix, which lists executives Welcomes Industry
by their areas of expertise, including label, talent agency, management,
music publishing, legal, finance, performing rights organizations and more. My Music Row Story: Fusion
Music’s Daniel Miller
In this issue of InCharge, MusicRow also takes a deep dive into the world
of the metaverse as it becomes more and more buzzworthy in our culture.
Tracing the journey that its cutting-edge technology has taken so far, this DISClaimer Single Reviews
article also looks ahead to potential uses pertaining specifically to the
music industry and opportunities that the metaverse may offer in the years And much more…
to come.
Single copies of MusicRow’s 2022 InCharge issue are available for
purchase at musicrow.com for $110, and are included with yearly
MusicRow memberships. MR
Page 1 of 16
,,
, ,
. .,
JASON
LIMITED-EDITION
3 DISC VINYL OF THE DOUBLE ALBUM AlDEAN
MACON, GEORGIA
AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT WALMART
April 22, 2022 The MusicRow Weekly
My Music Row Story: Fusion Music’s Daniel Miller
The “My Music Row Story” weekly column features notable
members of the Nashville music industry selected by the
MusicRow editorial team. These individuals serve in key roles that
help advance and promote the success of our industry. This
column spotlights the invaluable people that keep the wheels
rolling and the music playing.
This edition of “My Music Row Story” is sponsored by Worldwide
Stages.
Daniel Miller is Managing Partner of Fusion Music where he and
his team guide the careers of Martina McBride, Riley Green,
Lily Rose, Cassadee Pope, Laine Hardy, and pop artist Jeffrey
James. Miller, who has 20-plus years of management experience,
opened Fusion Music in 2013 and aligned with Red Light in 2014.
In 2015, he was named to the MTSU College of Media and
Entertainment Wall of Fame, and has served as an adjunct
professor there.
MusicRow: Where did you grow up? How did you get into the music business?
It’s hard to believe that this August will mark 25 years from when I moved here. I grew up on a small family farm in
rural Missouri. My only exposure to the outside world was the local country radio station and the three or four TV
channels our antenna would pick up. I was a finance and banking major at the University of Missouri in the early ’90s
when I made friends with the owner of the local country nightclub who managed a band out of Nashville. I soon
transferred to MTSU for their Recording Industry Management program. On the day I moved, my mom took me to
lunch at the old Shoney’s on Demonbreun and said, “I have no idea what you’re about to do, but I know you’ll figure it
out.”
Take me through your career journey thus far.
I had only been at MTSU a few weeks when I had the chance to volunteer for the radio remotes at the 1997 CMA
Awards. I met Wes Vause, who eventually got tired of me badgering him over email and introduced me to Schatzi
Hageman. They ran their independent PR firms out of a shared office space and gave me my first opportunity to
learn the business. It’s hard to even remember how we got so much done without Internet access or cell phones
back then, but we did.
After graduating from MTSU, I took a position with Simon Renshaw’s management company handling ticketing for
the Dixie Chicks 2000 “Fly Tour.” Later that year, I moved over to Borman Entertainment in the middle of the first
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill “Soul2Soul Tour,” assisting the great, late Joni Foraker. I spent the next 13 years there
Page 3 of 16
APRIL 22, 2022
CHART ACTION NO. 1 SONG
New On The Chart —Debuting This Week
song/artist/label—Chart Position
Hell Yeah/Little Big Town/Capitol — 63
Son Of A Sinner/Jelly Roll/Broken Bow — 64
Truth About You/Mitchell Tenpenny/Riser House/Columbia — 76
Renaissance Lady/Katie Linendoll — 77
Good In A Small Town/Joe & Martina/Costa Gold Records — 79
Missing One/Jameson Rodgers/River House Artists/Columbia
Nashville — 80
Greatest Spin Increase
song/artist/label—Spin Increase
Hell Yeah/Little Big Town/Capitol — 151
Heartfirst/Kelsea Ballerini/Black River Entertainment — 148
Wasted On You/Morgan Wallen/Big Loud Records/
Republic — 140
Don't Come Lookin'/Jackson Dean/Big Machine — 136
At the End Of A Bar/Chris Young feat. Mitchell Tenpenny/RCA
Nashville — 130
Maren Morris climbs to the helm of the MusicRow CountryBreakout
Take My Name/Parmalee/Stoney Creek Records — 113 Chart with “Circles Around This Town,” the lead track to her latest
album, Humble Quest. The track broke Amazon Music’s record for
Most Added most streams for a country song debut by a female artist.
song/artist/label—No. of Adds
Hell Yeah/Little Big Town/Capitol — 12 Morris wrote the single with husband, Ryan Hurd, Julia Michaels and
Son Of A Sinner/Jelly Roll/Broken Bow — 7 Jimmy Robbins. She also launched a weekly radio series, Humble
Heartfirst/Kelsea Ballerini/Black River Entertainment — 7 Quest Radio, airing on Apple Music’s global live-streaming radio
All I Can Think About Lately/CJ Solar/Raining Bacon — 6 stations Apple Music 1 and Apple Music Country.
Don't Come Lookin'/Jackson Dean/Big Machine — 6
Her headlining tour will kick off in June and she will be joined by a
Humpty Dumpty Heart/The Isaacs/House of Isaacs — 5
variety of friends as direct support, including Brent Cobb, Ruston Kelly,
Joy Oladokun, Natalie Hemby, The Lone Bellow, and Brittney Spencer.
On Deck—Soon To Be Charting
song/artist/label—No. of Spins
Back Words/Jon Langston/EMI Records Nashville — 112 Each songwriter and artist earning No. 1
credit on the MusicRow Chart receives a
You're the Reason I Drink/Kelly Monrow/Summit Arts — 106
MusicRow Challenge Coin. Click here to
Stay For A While/Chris Darlington — 106
view a full list of recipients.
MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart Reporting Stations
WHMA Anniston, AL WMCI Mattoon, IL WTCM Traverse City, MI WCJW Warsaw, NY WLLX Lawrenceburg, TN
WXFL Florence, AL WYOT Rochelle, IL KYSM Mankato, MN WFRY Watertown, NY KFTX Corpus Christi, TX
KQUS Hot Springs, AR WRTB Rockford, IL KZPK St. Cloud, MN KITX Hugo, OK KYKX Longview, TX
KDXY Jonesboro, AR WCCI Savanna, IL KWWR Mexico, MO KWEY Weatherford, OK KXOX Sweetwater, TX
KWCK Searcy, AR WIFE Connersville, IN KFAV Warrenton, MO KWOX Woodward, OK WAKG Danville, VA
KRAZ Santa Barbara, CA KAIR Atchison, KS WFAY Fayetteville, NC KRKT Albany, OR WAXX Altoona, WI
WPAP Panama City, FL KQZQ Pratt, KS KZZY Devils Lake, ND WVNW Lewistown, PA WJVL Janesville, WI
WUBB Savannah, GA WKDZ Cadiz, KY KYCK Thompson, ND WNBT Mansfield, PA WGLR Platteville, WI
KXIA Marshalltown, IA WBKR Owensboro, KY KRVN Lexington, NE WCFT Selinsgrove, PA WQPC Prairie du Chien, WI
KIAI Mason City, IA WDHR Pikeville, KY KBRX O’Neill, NE WFGE State College, PA WCOW Sparta, WI
KBOE Oskaloosa, IA KRRV Alexandria, LA Jersey Shore Country KMOM Aberdeen, SD WDGG Huntington ,WV
KTHK Idaho Falls, ID WUUU Covington, LA KQBA Santa Fe, NM KZZI Spearfish, SD
WOOZ Carterville, IL WKPE Hyannis, MA WDNB Monticello, NY WUCZ Carthage, TN
WAAG Galesburg, IL WVMD Cumberland, MD WOLF Syracuse, NY WDKN Dickson, TN
APRIL 22, 2022
Weeks Last This Spins / % Spin
Song / Artist / Label Spins +/-
On Chart Week Week Reports Power
15 3 1 Circles Around This Town / Maren Morris / Columbia Nashville 1744/61 2 35
24 2 2 Damn Strait / Scotty McCreery / Triple Tigers Records 1707/60 -1 -20
8 6 3 Wasted On You / Morgan Wallen / Big Loud Records/Republic 1698/64 9 140
37 4 4 7500 OBO / Tim McGraw / Big Machine 1683/61 5 81
14 5 5 Flower Shops / ERNEST feat. Morgan Wallen / Big Loud Records 1650/65 4 64
32 7 6 New Truck / Dylan Scott / Curb 1454/59 6 76
17 1 7 AA / Walker Hayes / Monument 1405/45 -20 -344
12 8 8 Everyone She Knows / Kenny Chesney / Blue Chair Records/Warner Music Nashville 1385/61 2 30
25 9 9 With A Woman You Love / Justin Moore / Valory 1372/60 2 24
25 11 10 If I Was A Cowboy / Miranda Lambert / Vanner Records/RCA Records 1319/46 1 15
9 12 11 Last Night Lonely / Jon Pardi / Capitol 1307/64 4 56
20 13 12 Soul / Lee Brice / Curb 1217/57 4 42
15 16 13 Take My Name / Parmalee / Stoney Creek Records 1130/53 11 113
5 17 14 Ghost Story / Carrie Underwood / Capitol 1101/57 9 91
29 18 15 At the End Of A Bar / Chris Young feat. Mitchell Tenpenny / RCA Nashville 1071/51 14 130
65 15 16 Give Heaven Some Hell / HARDY / Big Loud Records 1047/34 -2 -20
17 19 17 No Hard Feelings / Old Dominion / RCA Nashville 974/51 7 61
10 21 18 Party Mode / Dustin Lynch / Broken Bow 930/51 8 65
15 23 19 What A Song Can Do / Lady A / BMLG 906/49 11 93
46 20 20 Back Then, Right Now / Tenille Arts / 19th & Grand Records 817/42 -11 -96
15 26 21 Out In The Middle / Zac Brown Band / Warner Music Nashville 782/44 6 47
22 25 22 Hypocrite / Ruthie Collins / MCC/Curb 780/46 4 29
20 24 23 You Didn’t / Brett Young / BMLG 762/42 -1 -4
9 27 24 Like A Hurricane / Cody Jinks / Late August Records 700/48 4 30
11 28 25 My Bar / Priscilla Block / Mercury Nashville 691/42 5 36
5 32 26 Don’t Come Lookin’ / Jackson Dean / Big Machine 646/45 27 136
11 29 27 Love Talking / Eli Young Band / Valory 628/37 1 6
6 33 28 Note To Self / Randy Houser / Magnolia Music Group 559/38 10 51
4 35 29 Joy Of My Life / Chris Stapleton / Mercury Nashville 556/36 18 86
10 31 30 Where I Learned To Live / Ward Davis / Ward Davis Music/Thirty Tigers 547/36 7 35
8 30 31 Pick Me Up / Gabby Barrett / Warner Music Nashville 546/36 1 5
12 34 32 Whatever It Takes / High Valley / Cage Free 542/35 9 45
5 39 33 Down Home / Jimmie Allen / Stoney Creek Records 540/34 21 92
17 36 34 Country’d Look Good On You / Frank Ray / Stoney Creek Records 526/31 14 64
2 44 35 Heartfirst / Kelsea Ballerini / Black River Entertainment 487/35 44 148
20 38 36 Learn From It / Conner Smith / Valory 470/31 4 17
32 22 37 Sunrise Tells The Story / Midland / Big Machine 455/23 -45 -367
10 37 38 Everybody Talks To God / Aaron Lewis / Valory 447/26 -2 -10
20 42 39 Son Of A / Dillon Carmichael / Riser House 410/25 19 65
12 41 40 Good Day For Living / Joe Nichols / Quartz Hill Records 388/24 8 29
Weeks Last This Spins / % Spin
Song / Artist / Label Spins +/-
On Chart Week Week Reports Power
9 43 41 Wishful Drinking / Ingrid Andress with Sam Hunt / Atlantic/Warner Music Nashville 385/24 12 41
10 40 42 Crazy One More Time / Kip Moore / MCA Nashville 367/27 2 7
9 51 43 Lucky / Tori Martin / LuckySky Music 345/28 17 49
4 48 44 Heart Of A Small Town / Tim Dugger / Curb Records 340/24 9 29
16 45 45 Us / Hannah Ellis / Curb 332/24 3 10
14 47 46 Small Town Spotlights / Jacob Johnson / AJG Music Group/Bow To Stern Records 331/26 6 18
22 49 47 Ain’t Doing Something Right / After Midtown / The Core/10th St. 301/19 0 1
5 53 48 Anything Like You Dance / Ray Fulcher / Black River Entertainment 290/25 6 16
3 54 49 Holy Water / Michael Ray / Warner Music Nashville 285/22 7 18
11 52 50 Country Girls Are Crazy / Shelley Lynch / Lynch Records 277/17 0 0
6 55 51 Every Single Summer / MaRynn Taylor / Black River Records 265/22 5 13
7 56 52 Thank You For Breaking My Heart / Ryan Trotti / red 39 Entertainment 261/18 5 12
17 46 53 When Love Comes Around / Wade Bowen / Bowen Sounds/Thirty Tigers 259/18 -19 -61
26 58 54 Bye Mom / Chris Janson / Warner Music Nashville 240/17 0 -1
12 57 55 Whisperin’ / North To Nashville / Game Changer Records 238/16 -2 -6
3 63 56 Prettiest Girl / Brian Callihan / Reviver Records 233/19 16 32
10 62 57 County Roads / Elvie Shane / Wheelhouse Records 227/17 11 22
32 60 58 Wilder Days / Morgan Wade / Ladylike Records 224/18 -4 -9
7 61 59 Baptist Parking Lot / Mary Heather Hickman / Moro Bay Music 223/20 3 7
2 74 60 All I Can Think About Lately / CJ Solar / Raining Bacon 211/18 48 68
18 65 61 Raining Hallelujah / Shannon LaBrie / Moraine Music Group 210/14 17 31
14 59 62 About Love / Tiffany Woys / Tiffany Woys 208/14 -11 -27
1 115 63 Hell Yeah / Little Big Town / Capitol 205/18 127 151
1 84 64 Son Of A Sinner / Jelly Roll / Broken Bow 199/14 105 102
5 64 65 Honky Tonk Boots / Sammy Kershaw / White Mustang Records 183/12 1 2
2 75 66 When It Rains / Chase Likens / On The Green Productions 177/15 42 52
3 67 67 Body First / Laura Bryna / LTD Entertainment LLC 165/15 -1 -2
3 69 68 Ghost Train / Tennessee Outlaw Country / Six Gun Records 162/11 6 9
7 68 69 This Town Made Us / Brooke Moriber / Reviver Records 156/15 -5 -9
6 70 70 Tonight’s Like That / Tom Sexton / Lot’s To Do Music 155/15 3 4
3 71 71 Broken Neon Hearts / Ronnie Dunn / LWR, LLC 151/10 1 2
5 73 72 While The Sun Still Shines (The Fishing Song) / Walter Finley / Chair 55 147/9 0 0
2 76 73 Gentle Man / Frankie Justin / SMG Records 139/10 11 14
3 80 74 ‘Til Your Heart Breaks / Juna N Joey / River Run Records 138/14 17 20
3 78 75 Dates In Pickup Trucks / Kassi Ashton / MCA Nashville 130/12 7 8
1 82 76 Truth About You / Mitchell Tenpenny / Riser House/Columbia 129/10 23 24
1 83 77 Renaissance Lady / Katie Linendoll / 123/9 18 19
4 77 78 Catching Up With An Ol’ Memory / Clay Walker / Show Dog Nashville 120/8 -2 -3
1 97 79 Good In A Small Town / Joe & Martina / Costa Gold Records 115/12 47 37
1 89 80 Missing One / Jameson Rodgers / River House Artists/Columbia Nashville 114/8 28 25
No. 1 Song Greatest Spin Increase Highest Debut
April 22, 2022 The MusicRow Weekly
working in various support positions. In 2007, Lady A
walked in the door and that was my first real shot at being
an overzealous day-to-day manager. Gary Borman was a
brilliant visionary to learn from.
When did you start your own company?
In the summer of 2013, I was convinced it was time to
step out on my own, so I created Fusion Music. It was the
wrong time, and I made every mistake imaginable, but no
one could have convinced me otherwise. I quickly found
out what I knew and mostly what I didn’t. Six months into
it, Coran Capshaw extended the opportunity to partner
with Red Light Management. His knowledge and intuition
are highly underrated and Red Light gave us a place to
incubate our business. We still work with them across all
our artist projects.
Today our roster includes Martina McBride, Riley Green,
Lily Rose, Cassadee Pope, Laine Hardy, and
developing pop artist, Jeffrey James. My original
business plan had a concept for content development but Pictured (L-R): Chris Ferren (Fusion Music), Martina McBride,
aside from a couple TV production credits, it didn’t pan out Daniel Miller at ACM Honors in 2019
as I had hoped…until now. We recently started consulting
on brand direction for The Morning Hangover, and have
begun looking at unscripted TV concepts. We’re also about to start construction on a content studio adjacent to our
new office in Berry Hill.
We’re not the biggest or flashiest—nor will we ever be—and I’m fiercely protective of our team and the culture we’ve
built. Chris Ferren was our first intern eight years ago, and he was recently elevated to VP of Artist & Business
Development. He, Nicholas Garvin, Danielle Broome, Dylan McGraw, our co-managers and the extended
management team we work with are relentless in finding the best opportunities we can to set our artists up for
success.
When did Martina join the roster? How did you two come together?
We met with Martina in the fall of 2015 and I told her, “I know your catalog. I know your career.” Working with an
iconic artist was a bucket list dream of mine and over the past six years, we have worked to build upon her incredible
catalog and touring history.
You have several artists who are owning their own lane such as Lily Rose and Riley Green. What would you
say is the ticket to developing a new artist who is different from your ordinary country artist?
It’s important to me that each of our artists have a unique career path and none are too similar or in direct
competition with another. We don’t commit to a client relationship unless we can make a significant difference. The
vision is ultimately theirs and we work to surround them with the resources needed to reach their goals. Then we
move the goalpost. The secret recipe lies within the artists themselves, whether they know it at first or not.
I don’t think this is unique to us, but we look closely at each artist’s life—from childhood to the present moment—and
try to understand their values and what motivates them. The superstar armor comes off at the door and we work as
partners to create the most authentic connection between who they are and what they sing about. That’s easier said
than done.
Page 7 of 16
April 22, 2022 The MusicRow Weekly
Riley Green knows his brand with laser-sharp
precision and is a natural-born entertainer. He
already had an incredibly passionate team around
him when we came on board a few years ago. Our
focus has been to show how who he is off stage
informs the lyrics in his songs.
WME brought Lily Rose to us. I was not familiar
with her music yet and until then had refused to
use TikTok or take artists emerging from the
platform seriously. She showed me how wrong I
was. Her progressive approach challenges us to
find a unique cross-section of fans influenced by a
completely different generation of music and her
fans are unconcerned with the genre confines.
What is something people might not know
Pictured (L-R): Dylan McGraw (Fusion Music), Daniel Miller, Lily Rose, Daira
about what you do?
Eamon (Lily Rose fiance), Lexi Howder (OH Creative) at the 2022 ACM
Awards Philanthropic work is required of the team and
expected of our artists. We owe our privilege and
success to society whenever possible. The
Academy of Country Music gave me an opportunity to serve on their board of directors a few years ago and I
quickly learned more about ACM Lifting Lives and the significant impact it makes on our community and countless
other benefactors. After witnessing the insurmountable reach of their COVID-19 Response Fund, I was honored to
accept a leadership position on Lifting Lives’ board of directors.
When do you feel most fulfilled in your role?
We encourage all our artists to be completely unrealistic with their dreams and then we try our damnedest to bring
them to life. Every big “first”—single release, album release, or tour—is uniquely special. Nothing is more magical
than standing at front of house for the top of a big show and
hearing the thunderous crowd respond to an artist’s
entrance onto the stage. That beats any amount of money
you could ever earn.
My other passion is mentoring people up. I had the great
privilege to be an adjunct professor for a few semesters at
MTSU and loved sharing our daily experience with excited
young students. After my time is done on Music Row, I hope
to bore students with my stories.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
Don’t go bankrupt buying your own hype.
Who are some of your mentors?
I was raised by strong, independent women so it’s not
surprising that my mentors are also. Schatzi Hageman,
Karen Krattinger, JoAnn Burnside, Joni Foraker, Donna
Jean Kisshauer, and Sandra Westerman gave me
opportunities I didn’t deserve and taught me the business. Pictured (L-R): Daniel Miller, Riley Green, RAC Clark, Zach
Ed Hardy, Joe Galante, Clarence Spalding and Paul Sutton (Red Light Management)
Page 8 of 16
April 22, 2022 The MusicRow Weekly
Worley have been incredible resources over the
years.
If you could change anything about the Nashville
music industry, what would it be?
We have a songwriting community in Nashville like
none other in the world but can’t find a way to properly
pay them for their works that fuel the entire industry.
What is one of your favorite experiences in the
industry that you will share for the rest of your
life?
Pictured (L-R): Daniel Miller, Cassadee Pope, Shannon Radel (Rising
This job isn’t real life. Most of the world works a whole
Star Travel) lot harder for much less money. We have been
fortunate enough to have artists tour the world and it is
overwhelming when an audience in a foreign country
sings back every word of their songs. MR
John Esposito Reportedly Transitioning To Chairman
Emeritus At Warner Music Nashville
According to reports, Warner Music Nashville’s John “Espo” Esposito will
be transitioning from Chairman/CEO to Chairman Emeritus beginning in
early 2023. The news was originally published by Billboard. Warner Music
Nashville has not confirmed with MusicRow despite multiple attempts.
In his emeritus role, Esposito will likely remain involved in strategy and
long-range planning, as well as serve in an advisory role.
As noted by Billboard, it is expected that either Ben Kline and Cris Lacy
will take over running the day-to-day running of the company in a phased
transition. In 2019, Kline was elevated to Executive VP/General Manager
and Lacy to Executive VP/A&R.
Esposito took over operations at WMN in 2009 after seven years at WEA
Corp. where he served as President/CEO of WMG’s sales and marketing
division. In 2019, Esposito also signed a new multi-year contract with the
company.
WMN’s roster includes Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Dan + Shay,
Chris Janson, Ashley McBryde, Cole Swindell, Brett Eldredge and
Gabby Barrett, among others.
This story is developing... MR
Page 9 of 16
April 22, 2022 The MusicRow Weekly
Sony Music Nashville’s Allen Warner Chappell Music
Brown Announces Retirement Nashville Ups Christina
Wiltshire To Sr. Director, A&R
Warner Chappell Music Nashville (WCM) has
Sony Music Nashville Sr. VP of Media and Corporate promoted Christina Wiltshire to Sr. Director, A&R. In
Communications, Allen Brown, has announced he her new role, she will continue to seek new and
will retire after 43 years in the music industry. established songwriters to add to WCM’s roster of
artists.
Brown worked for CBS Records and Sony Music
Nashville or directly with artists who were signed to Wiltshire joined WCM in 2019 as a Director, A&R,
these label groups for over 38 years. He first shared having previously served as Creative Director at Sea
the news of his retirement with the Sony Music Gayle Music. Prior to that, she served as Creative
Nashville staff at a dinner in the rotunda of the Coordinator at Patrick Joseph Music’s Nashville office.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, where She received a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality
Brown once served as a tour guide. Management from the University of South Carolina,
where she held internships at both Cornman Music
In an emailed statement, Brown said, “I could spend and Warner Music Nashville.
all my remaining time after retirement thanking
everyone who has helped, encouraged, mentored Ben Vaughn, President & CEO, WCM Nashville
and been there for me these past several years! I notes: “Christina has an infectious spirit that has led to
am so blessed to have worked with and known you!” great success in her career so far. Her passion and
enthusiasm for serving songwriters has brought her
It is not clear whether Brown’s position will be deep connections with our writers, and the whole
replaced. MR team, truly showcasing what the Warner Chappell
family is all about.”
“WCM and Ben Vaughn have set the standard for
prioritizing songwriters and developing a cohesive
company culture,” Wiltshire adds. “I’d like to take this
opportunity to thank Ben for his continued belief in me.
I am deeply passionate about songs and songwriters
and am inspired daily by the talent I have the pleasure
of representing.” MR
Page 10 of 16April 22, 2022 The MusicRow Weekly
AIMP Celebrates Independent Publishing
Community At Seventh Annual Awards
The Nashville Chapter of the Association of
Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) celebrated the
seventh annual AIMP Awards Tuesday night (April 19)
at The Listening Room Cafe. Co-hosted by AIMP
member Jackie Lee and comedian John Crist, the
evening honored the accomplishments of Nashville’s
independent publishers and writers over the last year.
AIMP nominees teamed up for unique performances
throughout the night. Matt Stell performed Gayle’s
“abcdefu,” Lee Brice took on Jordan Davis’ “Buy
Dirt,” Callista Clark and Jimmie Allen performed
Kelsea Ballerini’s “Half of My Hometown,” and
Hardy and Morgan Wallen performed Wallen’s
Pictured (L-R, back row): Lee Brice (winner of Artist-Writer of the “Sand In My Boots,” among other performances.
Year, Double Down Music), Alex Heddle (Big Machine Music), Ree
Guyer (Wrensong/Reynsong Entertainment), Courtney Crist (Anthem
Entertainment), Hannah Ellis (nominee, Rising Artist-Writer of the
Relative Music Group’s Hardy was the night’s most
Year, Curb | Word Music Publishing), Jake Gear (nominee, Song decorated winner. He won Songwriter of the Year, as
Champion of the Year, Hang Your Hat Music) and Sophie Moll well as Song of the Year with “Sand In My Boots,” co-
(Jimmy Robbins Music); (L-R, front row): Abbe Nameche (Wrensong/ written with Josh Osborne and Ashley Gorley and
Reynsong Entertainment), Courtney Allen (Concord Music recorded by Wallen. Publisher of the Year went to
Publishing), Aubrey Rupe (Young Guns Publishing); (floor): Ruston
Kelly (presenter, Concord Music Publishing). Photo: Katie Kauss
Kobalt Music. MeGusta Music’s Trina Smith-Dort
was recognized as Song Champion of the Year.
Click here to see the winners. MR
Date Announced For 15th Annual ACM Honors
The 15th Annual ACM Honors will take place at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday, Aug. 24.
The evening will celebrate the recipients of the ACM’s Special Awards, including the Songwriter of the Year Award,
Studio Recording Awards and Industry Awards from the 57th ACM Awards cycle, which are voted on by the
Academy’s Board of Directors.
This year’s ACM Honors will acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of this year’s Songwriter of the Year,
Hardy. Other Special Awards categories include the Cliffie Stone Icon Award, the Gene Weed Milestone Award, the
Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award, the Jim Reeves International Award, the Mae Boren Axton Service Award, the
Merle Haggard Spirit Award, the Poet’s Award, and the Tex Ritter Film Award.
The Academy’s Studio Recording Awards recognize the creators behind the music, with categories including Bass
Player of the Year, Drummer of the Year, Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year, Piano/Keys Player of the Year, Specialty
Instrument(s) Player of the Year, Electric Guitar Player of the Year, Audio Engineer of the Year, and Producer of the
Year. Finally, ACM Industry Awards recognize venues and talent buyers/promoters who have bought or promoted a
set number of country concerts, is in good standing with all agents/vendors, and helps promote country music ticket
sales.
Additional details including this year’s winners, host, performers, and general event information will be announced in
the coming weeks. MR
Page 11 of 16April 22, 2022 The MusicRow Weekly
DISClaimer Single Reviews: Mitchell Tenpenny
Shows His Star-Making Potential
The listening highlights were sparse today in
DISClaimer.
To be sure, there is a lot of competent music making
at play in this stack of sounds. But as for real
excitement, only a few created it.
The best of the batch are Jenny Tolman, Niko Moon,
Jake Hoot and our Disc of the Day winner, Mitchell
Tenpenny.
The DISCovery Award goes to the already TV-
famous Chayce Beckham.
Read Robert K. Oermann's weekly single reviews
column here.
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Page 12 of 16April 22, 2022 The MusicRow Weekly
Warner Chappell Opens The Doors To Its
New Office, Welcomes Industry
After extensive renovations, Warner Chappell has christened
its new space at 21 Music Square East on Music Row.
The two-story building includes state-of-the-art writer rooms,
bright and refreshed office spaces, a swanky bar, a snack
station, and plenty of gathering areas for writers and
publishers. The property has two areas that can house
performances, with a stage near the bar and an outdoor
gathering area—perfect for future No. 1 parties.
Perhaps most impressive is the mark that the Warner
Chappell songwriters made on the space. Not only are there
plaques on the walls to display the writers’ achievements, but
their favorite books are situated on shelves in a sitting area
and their hit song titles and lyrics are written on the walls.
Warner Chappell, along with designer Michael Cronin, even
included innovative features such as lockers for writers to use.
For entertainment, the Warner Chappell office has a
basketball hoop, a Led Zeppelin pinball machine, and WCM-
branded pool table layered into the design.
“We’re so grateful,” President & CEO, WCM Nashville, Ben
Vaughn tells MusicRow. “When we started this process, we
really wanted to do it with songwriters in mind. We asked
songwriters to be a part of the design process. They wanted a
warm, fun building.
“It’s great to have writers in the building just being creative,” he adds. “There’s a lot of people who put a lot of time
into this very specific type of building. To see the first reactions we get, especially from writers, that’s the best feeling.”
MR
Pictured (L-R): Songwriter Parker Welling; President & CEO, WCM Pictured (L-R): Vaughn, Red Light Management’s Shawn
Nashville, Ben Vaughn; Songwriter Nicolle Galyon McSpadden, songwriter Brett James, Co-Chair and Chief Executive
Officer of Warner Chappell Music, Guy Moot
Page 13 of 16Sunday, April 17, 2022
This Last
Songwriter’s Name Song(s) Artist
Week Week
1 2 Eric Church Heart On Fire Eric Church
2 1 Shane McAnally 23 Sam Hunt
Everyone She Knows Kenny Chesney
AA Walker Hayes
Never Wanted To Be That Girl Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde
No Hard Feelings Old Dominion
3 3 Ashley Gorley Holy Water Michael Ray
You Didn't Brett Young
Slow Down Summer Thomas Rhett
Beers On Me Dierks Bentley feat. Breland, Hardy
Give Heaven Some Hell HARDY
Take My Name Parmalee
Where We Started Thomas Rhett feat. Katy Perry
New Truck Dylan Scott
4 5 Ben Johnson Holy Water Michael Ray
Beers On Me Dierks Bentley feat. Breland, Hardy
Give Heaven Some Hell HARDY
Take My Name Parmalee
Best Thing Since Backroads Jake Owen
New Truck Dylan Scott
5 4 Michael Hardy Holy Water Michael Ray
Beers On Me Dierks Bentley feat. Breland, Hardy
Give Heaven Some Hell HARDY
Come Back As A Country Boy Blake Shelton
Praise The Lord Breland ft. Thomas Rhett
New Truck Dylan Scott
6 7 Jesse Frasure Slow Down Summer Thomas Rhett
If I Was A Cowboy Miranda Lambert
Where We Started Thomas Rhett feat. Katy Perry
7 6 Hunter Phelps Holy Water Michael Ray
Thinking ‘Bout You Dustin Lynch feat. MacKenzie Porter
Give Heaven Some Hell HARDY
Best Thing Since Backroads Jake Owen
New Truck Dylan Scott
8 8 Matt Rogers Til You Can't Cody Johnson
9 9 Ben Stennis Til You Can't Cody Johnson
10 10 Elle King Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home) Elle King and Miranda Lambert
11 11 Martin Johnson Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home) Elle King and Miranda Lambert
12 12 Ernest Keith Smith Wasted On You Morgan Wallen
Flower Shops Ernest ft. Morgan Wallen
Son Of A Sinner Jelly Roll
13 13 Josh Thompson Wasted On You Morgan Wallen
Come Back As A Country Boy Blake Shelton
14 14 Walker Hayes AA Walker Hayes
Fancy Like Walker Hayes
15 15 Chase McGill Never Say Never Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson
With A Woman You Love Justin Moore
16 16 Miranda Lambert If I Was A Cowboy Miranda Lambert
17 17 Jessi Alexander Sunrise Tells The Story Midland
Never Say Never Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson
18 18 Luke Combs Out In The Middle Zac Brown Band
Doin' This Luke Combs
19 19 Jordan M. Schmidt Come Back As A Country Boy Blake Shelton
Leave You Alone Kane Brown
20 20 Cole Swindell Never Say Never Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson
21 21 Drew Parker Doin' This Luke Combs
22 22 Robert Williford Doin' This Luke Combs
23 24 J. Collins Damn Strait Scotty McCreeryThis Last
Songwriter’s Name Song(s) Artist
Week Week
24 25 Trent Tomlinson Damn Strait Scotty McCreery
25 26 Luke Laird AA Walker Hayes
26 28 Ashley McBryde Never Wanted To Be That Girl Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde
27 29 Carly Pearce Never Wanted To Be That Girl Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde
28 31 Ross Copperman Everyone She Knows Kenny Chesney
Beers On Me Dierks Bentley feat. Breland, Hardy
Pick Me Up Gabby Barrett
29 46 Thomas Rhett Slow Down Summer Thomas Rhett
Praise The Lord Breland ft. Thomas Rhett
Where We Started Thomas Rhett feat. Katy Perry
30 35 Matt McGinn Party Mode Dustin Lynch
7500 OBO Tim McGraw
31 33 Morgan Wallen Wasted On You Morgan Wallen
Wild As Her Corey Kent
32 36 Jordan Minton Leave You Alone Kane Brown
Best Thing Since Backroads Jake Owen
Growing Old With You Restless Road
33 34 Josh Jenkins Fancy Like Walker Hayes
Buy Dirt Jordan Davis feat. Luke Bryan
34 41 Mark Holman Flower Shops Ernest ft. Morgan Wallen
35 42 Ben Burgess Flower Shops Ernest ft. Morgan Wallen
36 39 Mitchell Tenpenny Truth About You Mitchell Tenpenny
At The End Of A Bar Chris Young & Mitchell Tenpenny
37 43 Luke Dick Don't Come Lookin' Jackson Dean
Beers On Me Dierks Bentley feat. Breland, Hardy
38 27 Jimmy Robbins You Didn't Brett Young
Circles Around This Town Maren Morris
39 44 Jennifer Schott 7500 OBO Tim McGraw
40 45 Nathan Spicer 7500 OBO Tim McGraw
41 51 Brad Tursi Wild Hearts Keith Urban
No Hard Feelings Old Dominion
42 48 Ryan Hurd What A Song Can Do Lady A
Circles Around This Town Maren Morris
43 47 D. Fanning Take My Name Parmalee
Narcissist Avery Anna
44 50 Ryan Vojtesak Wasted On You Morgan Wallen
45 23 Josh Osborne 23 Sam Hunt
Everyone She Knows Kenny Chesney
46 32 Maren Morris Circles Around This Town Maren Morris
47 49 Julia Michaels Circles Around This Town Maren Morris
48 52 John Morgan Trouble With A Heartbreak Jason Aldean
49 53 Kurt Allison Trouble With A Heartbreak Jason Aldean
50 54 Tully Kennedy Trouble With A Heartbreak Jason Aldean
51 55 Brett Beavers Trouble With A Heartbreak Jason Aldean
52 56 Jennifer Wayne Wild Hearts Keith Urban
53 57 Keith Urban Wild Hearts Keith Urban
54 58 Eric Paslay Wild Hearts Keith Urban
55 62 David Garcia Praise The Lord Breland ft. Thomas Rhett
Ghost Story Carrie Underwood
56 60 Rhett Akins Slow Down Summer Thomas Rhett
57 61 Sean Douglas Slow Down Summer Thomas Rhett
58 63 Matt Thomas Take My Name Parmalee
59 59 Taylor Swift All Too Well Taylor Swift
60 68 Liz Rose All Too Well Taylor SwiftApril 22, 2022 The MusicRow Weekly
CALENDAR
Single/Track Releases
April 25
Charles J & The Conquistadors & The Bellamy Brothers/Like She’s Not Yours/MetaMundo Music
Darin Jones & The Last Man Standing/Lake Life Paradise
Joey Canyon/On Country Radio/Canyon Star
May 2
Jessie James Decker/Should Have Known Better/Warner/WMN
CJ Solar/All I Can Think About Lately
Kaleb Austin/Turn the Night On/Salty Mountain Music
Ashley Barron/The Wind/SSM Nashville
Rebel Hearts/Country Rockin’ Tonight/Rebel Hearts Records
Album/EP Releases
April 22
Jason Aldean/Macon, Georgia/Macon Music/Broken Bow Records
Tenille Townes/Masquerades/Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville/RCA Records
Old Crow Medicine Show/Paint This Town/ATO Records
Anne Wilson/My Jesus/Capitol CMG
Abbey Cone/Hate Me/The Valory Music Co.
Joshua Hedley/Neon Blue/New West Records
Charley Crockett/Lil’ G.L. Presents: Jukebox Charley/Son of Davy/Thirty Tigers
Austin Tolliver/Ride 4 Me/Average Joes Entertainment
April 29
Willie Nelson/A Beautiful Time/Legacy Recordings
Miranda Lambert/Palomino/Vanner Records/RCA Nashville
Chris Janson/All In/Warner Music Nashville
Tommy Townsend/Southern Man/BFD/Audium Nashville
Stars Go Dim/Grace In The Wilderness/Curb | Word Entertainment
Alex Miller/Miller Time/Billy Jam Records
Bryan Martin/Self Inflicted Scars/Average Joe’s Entertainment
Industry Events
May 4 – 8
Key West Songwriters Festival
May 9 – 12
Music Biz Conference
Page 16 of 16
Jimmie Allen, Charley Pride. Photo: Courtesy of CMA Brothers Osborne. Photo: Courtesy of CMAYou can also read
