Ashley McBryde, Jimmie Allen, Luke Combs, Tenille Townes among top winners
by Preshias Harris
Hard to believe that the MusicRow Awards have been around for more than three decades. On the evening of Wednesday, June 26, 2019, an invitation-only crowd of enthusiastic music industry folks gathered to recognize the best of the best in Nashville.
Over the years, both MusicRow magazine and the MusicRow Awards have grown in stature and importance to the Nashville music industry. 2019 marked another milestone: The 31st Awards gala was held at Nashville’s historic War Memorial Auditorium for the first time.
The gala was co-hosted by MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson and popular TV personality Alecia Davis. Alecia is a ‘go to’ anchor on the red carpet and backstage at the CMA Awards, ACM Awards, the Grammys and many more telecasts.
The MusicRow Awards feel particularly special to those of us close to Nashville’s music scene because they go a little deeper than many other award shows. This is the one awards ceremony that also honors the studio players and engineers who are literally instrumental in creating the hits.
“In an industry where we all face a mountain of rejection and hear ‘No’ more often than ‘Yes,’ having support from your peers is sometimes the only thing that gets you though the day. It fuels you to keep fighting and keep believing in your talent and purpose.” – Sherod Robertson, MusicRow Publisher/Owner
‘Breakthrough’ defines MusicRow Awards
‘Breakthrough’ is a key word that sets the MusicRow Awards apart from the crowd. The Breakthrough Artist category honors artists who achieved significant career progress for the first time. The Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award went to Ashley McBryde. The other worthy nominees were Jimmie Allen, Jordan Davis, Russell Dickerson, Cody Johnson and Morgan Wollen.
Similarly, the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Award nominees are those songwriters who wrote or co-wrote a Top 10 song for the first time. From a field of nineteen nominees, the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Award went to Jordan Reynolds. Jimmie Allen took home the Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year Award.
The Breakthrough awards have indeed been an indicator of future success. Previous recipients include Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan, Kacey Musgrave and Sam Hunt.
Additionally, the Robert K. Oermann Discovery Artist of the Year Award honors a Nashville developing artist who demonstrates significant talent and potential to rise.
Tenille Townes received the award for 2019. Other nominees were Caylee Hammack, HARDY, Tyler Rich, Seaforth and Hailey Whitters.
Hillary Lindsey, Josh Osborne top songwriters
Appropriately, the MusicRow Awards recognize the vital importance that songwriters play in the music industry and the chart success of the artists who record their songs.
This year, the Female Songwriter of the Year Award went to Hillary Lindsey, while Male Songwriter of the Year honors went to Josh Osborne.
‘Can’t miss’ producer Dann Huff was recognized as Producer of the Year and Luke Combs received the Artist of the Year Award. The 2019 Label of the Year Award went to UMG Nashville.
It was truly a gala evening that not only recognizes the plethora of talent in Nashville but also, in the words of MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, fuels musicians, artists and songwriters to keep fighting and believing in their talent.
Find a full list of winners and nominees in all the categories here. Better still, subscribe to MusicRow and receive the print magazine, morning afternoon and breaking news emails plus a bunch of essential must-haves for anyone in Nashville’s music biz.
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com