Kelsey Ballerini gets surprise No. 1 news during Day Three
Day Three of the 2019 CMA Fest saw a trio of stars that had never before taken the festival stage together. Fans were surprised and delighted to see Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus and reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban take the Nissan Stadium stage to perform the No. 1 song in the country, “Old Town Road.”
Billy Ray Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Keith Urban at CMA Fest. Photo CMA
The surprised crowd roared as Cyrus, Nas X and Urban played the hit song, standing, dancing and singing along with the stars.
Backstage at Nissan Stadium, Metro Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson presented Cyrus with a 2019 MNPD coin commemorating Metro Nashville’s new headquarters building and acknowledging the sacrifices made by their officers. The coin bears Cyrus’ song “All Gave Some, Some Gave All.”
The MusicRow CountryBreakout Awards were once again the unofficial kickoff to the Country Radio Seminar (CRS). Air personalities, program directors, radio execs, recording artists and record label folks gathered at the Listening Room in Nashville, Wednesday, February 12 for the 17th annual MusicRow CountryBreakout Award show.
(L to R): Alex Kobrick MusicRow Chart Director, Kelsea Ballerini, Sherod Robertson, MusicRow Publisher. Photo: Preshias Harris
Each year, MusicRow magazine recognizes the artists and songwriters who have made the greatest impact on the secondary-market radio stations whose airplay reports provide the statistics for MusicRow’s weekly charts.
Attendees were treated to performances from CJ Solar, who opened the proceedings with an energetic and rockin’ full-band set, and Chase McKinney who closed the show with a cool acoustic set. In between, MusicRow owner and publisher Sherod Robertson announced the winners for 2018 and presented the awards.
CJ Solar
CJ Solar performs at the 2019 MusicRow Awards. Photo: Preshias Harris
CJ Solar was called back to the stage to receive the Independent Artist of the Year Award. CJ’s two singles, “Airplane” and “American Girls,” together totaled 38,689 spins. Both singles entered the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart, and appear on his five-song EP, Get Away With It (Sea Gayle Records). An accomplished songwriter, CJ scored his first No. 1 as a writer in 2018 with “Up Down,” recorded by Morgan Wallen featuring Florida Georgia Line. Continue reading “Aldean, Ballerini top MusicRow Awards”
(L-R): MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson, Ashley Gorley and MusicRow Chart Director Alex Kobrick. Photo: Preshias Harris
Ashley Gorley has received yet another honor. At the MusicRow Magazine’s 16th annual Country Breakout Awards, Gorley received the Songwriter of the Year Award. The award goes annually to the songwriter with “the most songs that commanded country radio in … secondary markets,” according to MusicRow Publisher and Owner, Sherod Robertson. It was Gorley’s second consecutive win.
The Awards ceremony was part of MusicRow’s annual ‘Country Radio Meet & Greet’ held at the Listening Room Café in Nashville. As before, it was held during the first day of the Country Radio Seminar (CRS). Although it is not part of the official CRS program, the event always attracts large numbers of radio air personalities and program directors, as well as members of Nashville’s music community.
Seven Number Ones in 2017
Ashley Gorley. Photo: Tape Room Music
Gorley was honored for the remarkable achievement of co-writing seven Number Ones on the 2017 MusicRow charts. Among those songs: Blake Shelton’s “A Guy With a Girl” that was Gorley’s 30th Number One as a writer.
Gorley’s other MusicRow Number Ones for 2017: Thomas Rhett’s “Unforgettable,” Jon Pardi’s “Dirt On My Boots,” Dierks Bentley’s “Black,” Chris Janson’s “Fix A Drink,” Brad Paisley’s “Today” and Billy Currington’s “Do I Make You Wanna.” Gorley is also the only songwriter to have received the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award five times, a record that he set in 2017.
A native of Danville, Kentucky, in 2011 Gorley partnered with Combustion Music and Warner/Chappell Music to start up Tape Room Music, his own music publishing company.
Blake, Kelsea Artists of the Year
Blake Shelton. Photo: MusicRow
At the Country Breakout Awards, Blake Shelton earned the Male Artist of the Year Award for more spins than any other male artist on the MusicRow Country Breakout Chart, achieving 83,208 spins reported by stations on MusicRow’s panel. His spin total included three No. 1 hits on the Country Breakout chart: “I’ll Name The Dogs,” “A Guy With A Girl” and “Every Time I Hear That Song.”
Kelsea Ballerini. Photo: Sara Barlow/MusicRow
Kelsea Ballerini was recognized as Female Artist of the Year with 80,928 reported spins. Kelsea had two No. 1s on the MusicRow Country Breakout chart with “Legends” and “Yeah Boy.” This was Kelsea’s second consecutive win in this category.
FGL nab 4th win; Combs, Owens honored
Florida Georgia Line
The Group/Duo of the Year Award went to Florida Georgia Line for the fourth consecutive year with 76,938 spins in 2017. FGL’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard topped MusicRow’s chart with “Smooth” and also with “God, Your Mama and Me,” a collaboration with Backstreet Boys.
Luke Combs. Photo: Louis Brown
Luke Combs received the Breakout Artist of the Year Award. Combs’ songs, including the Platinum-certified hit “Hurricane,” racked up 78,978 spins on reporting stations. His debut album, ‘This One’s For You,’ has already been certified Gold by RIAA.
Shane Owens
Shane Owens took home the Independent Artist of the Year Award, gaining more spins than any other indie artist in 2017 with a total of 33,428 spins. Owens’ songs, including “19” helped him lead the pack of independent artists.
Capitol Records Nashville locked in an unassailable 14th win as MusicRow’s Label of the Year. The UMG imprint scored 457,962 spins in 2017 with airplay from artists such as Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood.
The annual MusicRow Country Breakout Awards go to artists, songwriters and labels that have achieved the most spins as reported by secondary market radio stations that report to the MusicRow Country Breakout chart.
Full details and more can be found in the February/March issue of MusicRow magazine and online at musicrow.com.
