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.
The invitation-only audience at the 2019 MusicRow Awards. Photo credit: Steve Lowry/MusicRow
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.
Alecia Davis
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
(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.
