Rewind: MusicRow’s Top Stories Of 2021

2021 was a historic year for country music and the Nashville music industry.

We saw movements towards acceptance for the genre with the success of Mickey Guyton and Jimmie Allen, and the community’s support of Brothers Osborne frontman TJ Osborne‘s coming out as gay. Meanwhile, we had some social setbacks as national media outlets turned their gaze on country music’s race problem.

Taylor Swift had wild success with her re-recorded versions of both her 2008 album Fearless and 2012 record Red. Walker Hayes arguably had the song of the year with his ode to the simple life, “Fancy Like.” Chris Stapleton, Carly Pearce, Morgan Wallen, Gabby Barrett, and Dan + Shay were among some of the year’s most buzz-worth entertainers.

There were also a handful of executive shifts on Music Row this year. Scott Clayton made headlines as he moves from WME to Co-Head of Global Music and Partner of UTA, starting a trail for other agents to join him at UTA.

John Marks exited his role at Spotify to launch a consulting firm and partner with Jimmie Allen on JAB Entertainment. Meanwhile at Amazon Music, Michelle Tigard Kammerer was tapped to be Head of Country Music after Kelly Rich left the position.

Shannan Hatch returned to SESAC, and Kelli Turner left her position as President and COO, among other leadership shifts. Taylor Lindsey stepped into the role of Sr. VP of A&R at Sony Music Nashville following the exit of Jim Catino. Catino went on to announce a publishing venture, Droptine Music Publishing.

Major acquisitions also took place in 2021, with Wasserman Music absorbing Paradigm’s live music roster and Concord acquiring Downtown Music Publishing’s catalog.

The live music segment of our industry came roaring back from the pitfalls of the COVID-19 pandemic, with what seemed like an endless stream of tour announcements for 2022.

Major country awards shows shook things up, with the CMT Music Awards moving to CBS in 2022 and the Academy of Country Music’s next show being streamed on Amazon Prime Video, the first time a major awards show will be livestreamed exclusively.

MusicRow launched a sports industry trade publication this year, The Sports Credential, for the growing sports industry in Nashville.

Remember these top stories and more as MusicRow rewinds through 2021 below.

Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard & Brian Kelley To Release Solo Music

[January 4, 2021] 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….

Lady A Invited To Become Members Of Grand Ole Opry

[January 21, 2021] Lady A has been invited to join the Grand Ole Opry. The award-winning group was surprised during a performance taping for the upcoming two-hour NBC special, Grand Ole Opry: 95 Years of Country Music. Opry member Darius Rucker extended the invitation to Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood on the Opry stage today (Jan. 21) and announced their membership is effective immediately…

Brothers Osborne Frontman T.J. Osborne: ‘I’m Very Comfortable Being Gay’

[Feb. 3, 2021] Brothers Osborne’s T.J. Osborne sat down with TIME Magazine recently to publicly discuss his sexuality for the first time. In the thoughtful article written by Sam Lansky and titled, “T.J. Osborne Is Ready to Tell His Story,” Osborne shares that he is gay, and has been out among close friends and family for years…

Video Surfaces Of Morgan Wallen Using N-Word, Issues Apology

[February 3, 2021] In a video obtained by TMZ and posted late Tuesday (Feb. 2) night, Morgan Wallen is seen coming home from a night out when he uses a racial slur while speaking to his friend. The video was reportedly shot Sunday (Jan. 31) night outside Wallen’s Nashville home by neighbors and shows him yelling profanities, including the N-word…

MusicRow’s 19th Annual CountryBreakout Awards Winners

[February 16, 2021] MusicRow Magazine revealed the winners of the 19th annual CountryBreakout Awards on all MusicRow online platforms. Awards given honor artists that had great success at MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout Radio Chart during the prior year…

Luke Combs, Maren Morris Have Timely Conversation About Racism In Country Music

[February 17, 2021] In an incredibly powerful conversation led by NPR Music’s Ann Powers, Luke Combs and Maren Morris acknowledged racism in the country music industry and spoke about their roles in helping to mend the genre’s complicated past and current issues…

Sony Music Publishing Signs Kane Brown; Launches Joint Venture With Brown & Kent Earls

[February 25, 2021] Sony Music Publishing Nashville has signed multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Kane Brown to a worldwide deal. Additionally the company has partnered with Brown and longtime publishing executive Kent Earls to launch Verse 2 Music, with Earls leading operations of the joint venture…

Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, John Prine Among Grammy Winners

[March 14, 2021] Nashville artists were well represented at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night (March 14). Miranda Lambert took home Best Country Album for her seventh studio album, Wildcard…

NSAI Promotes Jennifer Turnbow To Chief Operating Officer

[March 16, 2021] The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) announced staff hirings and promotions today (March 16), including the promotion of Jennifer Turnbow to Chief Operating Officer…

Taylor Lindsey Appointed Head Of A&R At Sony Music Nashville

[March 24, 2021] Sony Music Nashville has announced the appointment of Taylor Lindsey to oversee the company’s A&R Department as Senior Vice President, A&R. In her new post, Lindsey will work with the label’s roster, and she will continue to sign and develop talent…

Carrie Underwood Deepens Her Musical Legacy With My Savior [Interview]

[March 26, 2021] Country music mainstay Carrie Underwood goes back to her musical and spiritual roots on her album of gospel hymns, My Savior, that released today. The hymns honor the sacred music Underwood grew up singing in her rural Oklahoma church, and her incomparable voice and the diverse arrangements bring the collection to present day…

John Marks Exits Spotify

[March 31, 2021] John Marks is leaving his position as Global Director of Country Music at Spotify, effective March 31, 2021. Marks joined Spotify in 2015, as one of only two Nashville Spotify employees covering the country market…

BMI Elevates Leslie Roberts, Josh Tomlinson

[April 12, 2021] BMI announced the promotion of Leslie Roberts to Assistant Vice President, Creative, Nashville. Roberts, who has been at BMI for 11 years, provides guidance for BMI songwriters both creatively and administratively, and helps coordinate showcases, seminars, and other events in BMI’s stacked calendar…

Luke Bryan Wins Top Honor; Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson Shine At ACM Awards

[April 19, 2021] The Academy of Country Music Awards returned to Nashville on April 18 with Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton serving as hosts while performances and award presentations commenced at three iconic country music venues—the Grand Ole Opry House, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Bluebird Cafe…

Wasserman Music Acquires Paradigm’s Live Music Roster

[April 21, 2021] Wasserman Music has launched following the completion of the acquisition of Paradigm Talent Agency’s North American live music representation business. The announcement was made by Casey Wasserman, chairman and CEO of Wasserman…

Concord Acquires Downtown Music Publishing’s Owned Copyright Catalog

[April 26, 2021] Downtown Music Publishing has sold its portfolio of 145,000 owned and co-published music copyrights to a Concord affiliate. The copyrights included in the transaction were developed or acquired by Downtown over the past 14 years and bring Concord’s owned and controlled music assets to over 600,000 works…

MusicRow Parent Company Launches New Sports Publication

[April 28, 2021] Music Row Enterprises, LLC, the parent company of MusicRow magazine is launching a new Nashville sports industry trade publication, The Sports Credential. With sports being a dynamic and growing industry, The Sports Credential serves as a helpful resource, the kind of publication that focuses on the sports industry and its decision makers, in order to connect and inform those of who want to be ‘in the know’ and on the front row as Nashville inevitably becomes a national sports hub…

Vince Gill Signs Publishing/Writer Management Agreement With Jody Williams Songs

[June 15, 2021] 22-time Grammy Award winner Vince Gill has signed a publishing/writer management agreement with independent music publisher Jody Williams Songs. This agreement marks the first time the songwriter has engaged creatively with any publishing entity, as Gill has been self-published since the beginning of his career…

Kenny Chesney Announces ‘Here And Now 2022 Stadium Tour’

[June 17, 2021] Eight-time Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney will finally return to the road for his “Here And Now 2022 Stadium Tour.” After his 2020 tour was forced to pause because of the pandemic, Chesney held out on rescheduling due to concern about who would not be able to attend sold-out stadium shows, last minute changes in protocols and the challenges of mounting stadium-sized concerts week-after-week with shifting local crews…

Taylor Swift Announces Second Re-Recorded Album Will Be Red (Taylor’s Version)

[June 18, 2021] Taylor Swift has announced that the next phase of her re-release project will be Red (Taylor’s Version). The newest album will be available everywhere on Nov. 19…

Carly Pearce Invited To Join The Grand Ole Opry

[June 23, 2021] Carly Pearce has been invited to be the latest Grand Ole Opry Member by the iconic Opry Member Dolly Parton. The invite happened off the Opry stage late last week, and the public announcement was held until Pearce’s Opry appearance on June 22 so she could experience the moment on the hallowed stage…

Music Row Is Back: Gabby Barrett Celebrates Two Breakout Hits At No. 1 Party

[June 25, 2021] Wednesday afternoon, award-winning country artist Gabby Barrett was finally able to celebrate her two No. 1 breakout hits, “I Hope” and “The Good Ones.” After having a colossal year of success, the 21-year-old Barrett along with her co-writers Zach Kale (BMI), Jon Nite (SESAC), Emily Landis (BMI) and Jim McCormick (BMI) joined together on the patio at BMI for the first No. 1 party post-pandemic…

CMT Music Awards Moving To CBS In 2022

[June 28, 2021] ViacomCBS has announced that the CMT Music Awards will have its global premiere exclusively on the CBS network starting in 2022. The annual ViacomCBS owned event will broadcast live from Nashville on CBS on a date to be announced…

Scott Borchetta & Big Machine Take The Racing World By Storm [Interview]

[August 6, 2021] Big Machine Label Group has solidified itself as one of the top independent record labels in Nashville and in the country, discovering and signing artists like Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line and Lady A. Founder and CEO Scott Borchetta has become one of the top music executives in the industry, but this past year he and Big Machine made the leap beyond music…

33rd Annual MusicRow Awards Winners

[August 19, 2021] MusicRow Magazine revealed the winners of the 33rd annual MusicRow Awards in a series of videos on all MusicRow online platforms. Winners of the MusicRow Awards are voted on by MusicRow subscribers…

Kelli Turner Exits SESAC, Scott Jungmichel Appointed President/COO, Sam Kling Promoted, Shannan Hatch Returns

[September 8, 2021] John Josephson, Chairman and CEO of SESAC, announced Sept. 8 the departure of Kelli Turner, President and COO of SESAC, as well as several recent promotions within SESAC Performing Rights. Turner is leaving SESAC to pursue a new opportunity outside of the music industry…

CRB IV Proceedings: NSAI’s Bart Herbison On What You Need To Know [Interview]

[October 26, 2021] Copyright Royalty Board (CRB IV), or the Phonorecords IV proceedings, is currently underway to determine the new statutory streaming royalty rate paid to songwriters between the years of 2023 and 2027…

The Academy Of Country Music Leases Office Space In Nashville

[November 2, 2021] The Academy of Country Music (ACM) has leased office space at the Nashville Warehouse Company in Nashville, Tennessee, MusicRow has confirmed. This will be the first time the ACM has occupied a permanent presence in Music City. A spokesperson for the ACM says that more details will be revealed in the spring…

Yellowstone Music Supervisor Talks The Show’s Vibrant Country Music Landscape [Interview]

[November 2, 2021] Yellowstone, the Emmy-nominated Paramount Network television series about the chronicles of the Dutton family, has taken the nation by storm. With Oscar-winner Kevin Costner playing the lead character John Dutton, the patriarch of the family, Yellowstone captures the grit and drama the Dutton family face while controlling the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States…

Walker Hayes, Monument Records Snag First No. 1 At Country Radio

[November 9, 2021] Walker Hayes‘ blockbuster hit single “Fancy Like” has reached the top spot at country radio, officially earning the Monument Records recording artist his first radio No. 1, as well as the label’s first chart-topper…

CMA Awards Recap: Big Night For Stapleton, Combs, & Pearce, Among Others

[November 11, 2021] The Country Music Association returned to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 10 for its 55th Annual CMA Awards, after it was held for a limited audience at the Music City Center last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted by Luke Bryan for the first time, the evening was filled with several great performances, social statements, and lots of Chris Stapleton…

Scott Clayton Joins UTA As Co-Head Of Global Music, Partner

[November 15, 2021] Agent Scott Clayton has joined the ranks at UTA as Co-Head of its Global Music Division and as a Partner. Alongside UTA Global Music Co-Heads Sam Kirby Yoh and David Zedeck, the trio will lead UTA’s New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville hubs to further solidify the agency’s reach across all genres. Clayton will continue to be based in Nashville….

‘One Of Them Girls’ Makes History, Sweeps PRO Country Song Of The Year Honors

[November 17, 2021] Curb Records’ Lee Brice has made history this year as his smash hit “One Of Them Girls” won the award for Country Song Of The Year at the BMI Awards, the SESAC Awards, and the ASCAP Awards. This is the first time that the same song has taken Country Song of the Year from all three PROs in the same year…

Date & Location Announced For 57th ACM Awards

[November 18, 2021] After having held its last two awards ceremonies in Nashville, the Academy of Country Music will return to Las Vegas for The 57th Academy of Country Music Awards on Monday, March 7, 2022 at Allegiant Stadium…

Sony Music Publishing Nashville Ups Josh Van Valkenburg To EVP, Creative

[November 22, 2021] Sony Music Publishing Nashville has announced the promotion of Josh Van Valkenburg to Executive Vice President, Creative. In his new role, Van Valkenburg is responsible for leading the team’s A&R strategy, supporting SMP Nashville’s roster, developing new talent, and delivering new creative opportunities for the company’s songwriters…

Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Mickey Guyton, Jimmie Allen Among Grammy Nominees

[November 23, 2021] The nominees for The 64th Grammy Awards were revealed Tuesday (Nov. 23), with plenty of Nashville’s finest musicians well-represented. In the country categories, Mickey Guyton and Chris Stapleton dominate with three each…

MusicRow Highlights Music Industry Leaders On The Rise With 2022 N.B.T. Industry Directory

[November 30, 2021] Rising Nashville music industry leaders have been selected for MusicRow Magazine’s 2022 N.B.T. Industry Directory. Now in its third year, MusicRow’s N.B.T. Industry Directory is the first and only list of its kind, showcasing Nashville music business professionals who occupy important roles at their respective companies. This class of professionals are on a trajectory of excellence to successfully lead the Nashville music industry into the future…

MusicRow Unveils Next Big Thing Artists Class Of 2022

[November 30, 2021] MusicRow is proud to reveal its list of artists, who in 2022, are predicted to become the Next Big Thing (NBT). MusicRow‘s Next Big Thing Class of 2022 boasts a stand-out group of artists on the rise. They are diverse in sound, style, and level of success, but what they have in common is extraordinary talent and a passion for today’s ever-evolving country music format…

Jeff Krones Promoted To Co-Head Of CAA’s Nashville Music Office

[December 1, 2021] Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has announced that veteran agent Jeff Krones has been promoted to Co-Head of CAA Nashville Music. Krones works with some of CAA’s high-profile clients such as Dan + Shay, Twenty One Pilots, Brett Young, Needtobreathe, and NF, among many others…

Keith Urban To Embark On ‘The Speed Of Now World Tour’ In Summer 2022

[December 1, 2021] Four-time Grammy award winner Keith Urban will make his return to the road as he sets course on “The Speed Of Now World Tour” North American leg with special guest, three-time Grammy nominee, Ingrid Andress…

Matthew Morgan Joins UTA As Co-Head Of Nashville Office

[December 3, 2021] On Friday (Dec. 3) UTA announced that Matthew Morgan has joined the agency as Co-Head of its Nashville office, working alongside Co-Head Jeffrey Hasson, and simultaneously announced the addition of rock agent Buster Phillips to the agency’s Music City headquarters…

Lineup Revealed For CRS 2022 New Faces of Country Music Show

[December 6, 2021] Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) has announced the lineup for the CRS 2022 New Faces of Country Music Show. The artists selected include Gabby Barrett, Walker Hayes, Parker McCollum, Jameson Rodgers, and Lainey Wilson…

Jimmie Allen Talks His Banner Year, Building His Business, & Fostering Talent Early [Interview]

[December 15, 2021] 2021 was good to country star Jimmie Allen. This year the multi-Platinum singer-songwriter released his latest star-studded collaboration album, Bettie James Gold Edition, and currently has a top 10 single with Brad Paisley on “Freedom Was A Highway”…

Morgan Wallen, Dan + Shay Among RIAA Year-End Award Recipients

[December 16, 2021] The Recording Industry Association of America has released their year-end Gold and Platinum awards list for 2021. Only 16 albums and 98 singles released this year achieved RIAA certifications. Morgan Wallen‘s Dangerous: The Double Album, which released in January of 2021, was among the honors, taking top album of the year alongside Olivia Rodrigo‘s Sour…

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