Brenda Lee performs on Christmas at the Opry. Photo: Allen Clark/NBC Rock & Roll Hall and Country Music Hall of Famer Brenda Lee is celebrating the 65th anniversary of her iconic holiday hit “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” this year. Written by Johnny Marks, Lee’s label Decca Records released the hit when she was only 13 years old. Now, 65 years later, it has topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time ever, causing Lee to break several records, many of which were held by Mariah Carey and “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” With the feat, “Rockin'” is only the third holiday ..read more

Louis York, the R&B duo comprised of Chuck Harmony and Claude Kelly, will star in “Hope For The Holidays: An Evening With Louis York & Friends” on Saturday, Dec. 16 at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. The two performers, writers and producers have accumulated accolades for their work with Whitney Houston, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Miley Cyrus, Ne-Yo, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson and more. Presented by True West Foundation, the benefit will be hosted by WSM Radio/Amazon Music’s Kelly Sutton and include a variety of performances by Ari Afsar, Jay Allen, Charles E ..read more

Cooper Alan Cooper Alan has been named to The Pandora Ten: Artists to Watch list for 2024. Alan is the only country artist featured on the list. He is also featured on Pandora’s Country Artists to Watch 2024 Playlist along with Josh Ross, Carter Faith, Jade Eagleson, Lauren Watkins, The Castellows and more. Alan recently released his first EP, and has accumulated 13 million on Pandora. The former honky-tonk performer transitioned to online platforms during the pandemic, and today boasts over 12 million followers. The Pandora Ten picks are based on advanced analysis of listener data and insig ..read more

Breakout country artist Kidd G has released his new EP, If We Were A Love Song, via Rebel Music / The Valory Music Co. / Geffen Records. The eclectic EP includes his latest single “Beautiful Thing,” an ode to small-town living surrounded by loved ones, and “Silverado in the Sky,” a touching exploration of grief and memory. Also in the mix is the feel-good crowd-pleaser “I Don’t Dance,” as well as the new, tongue-in-cheek track “Ex Games.” Other tracks include “Daylight Savings,” “Lesson Learned” and the sentimental title track. “I absolutely loved working with Gabe,” says Dann Huff, who ..read more

Ian Munsick’s ‘White Buffalo: Voices of the West’ Documentary Premieres to Intimate Crowd in Las Vegas Pictured (L-R): Alex Ciasnocha, WMN Coordinator, Artist Development; Cris Lacy, WMN Co-Chair/Co-President; Stephanie Davenport, WMN Vice President, A&R; Ian Munsick; Caroline Munsick, Not A Public Figure Management, Artist Manager; Jessica Rouse, WMN Director, Special Events & Marketing; Clark Tedesco, WMN Vice President, Artist Development; Kate Myers, WMN Manager, Strategic Partnerships; Mike Dupree, WMN SVP, Creative Director. Photo: Courtesy of Warner Music Nashville Ian Munsick ..read more

Taylor Swift performs onstage during night one of “The Eras Tour” at Nissan Stadium. Photo: John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management Pollstar has revealed its 2023 year-end charts, tallying up the most successful tours of the year. To no surprise, Taylor Swift’s record-breaking “Eras Tour” claims the No. 1 position on Pollstar’s 2023 Year-End Top Worldwide Tours and Top North American Tours charts. Swift’s historic, $1 billion-plus-grossing “Eras Tour” highlighted a record-setting year for the live entertainment industry in 2023, with concert business up double-digit percen ..read more

Cody Johnson sits atop the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart this week with “The Painter.” The romantic song written by Kat Higgins, Benjy Davis and Ryan Larkins appears on Johnson’s recently released album Leather. Johnson performed “The Painter” for the first time at the CMA Awards in November, which proved to be one of the top musical moments of the night.  “The Painter” currently sits at No. 16 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 15 on the Mediabase chart. Click here to view the latest edition of the MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart. The p ..read more

Nicole Passero Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) has named Nicole Passero, a student from Montclair State University, as the inaugural recipient of the Futuri Digital Pioneer Scholarship. Passero has distinguished herself through her role as morning show producer and radio disc jockey at 90.3 WMSC FM. Her dedication and innovative contributions in advancing the digital future of radio make her an ideal recipient of the scholarship. As part of the scholarship, she will receive a Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2024 package consisting of complimentary registration, hotel accommodations and airfare ..read more

Dan Rogers. Photo: Chris Hollo 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. Dan Rogers began his work with the Grand Ole Opry as an intern and is now the show’s Vice President & Executive Producer. In this role, he produces Opry shows up to seven nights a week and is shepherding the iconic show t ..read more

Pictured (L-R, back row): Warner-Chappell’s Spencer Nohe, Zach Crowell (ASCAP), BMI’s Josh Tomlinson, Jesse Frasure (BMI), ASCAP’s Duane Hobson, UMPG’s Cyndi Forman, Thomas Rhett (BMI), Rhythm House’s Vanna Moua, Ashley Gorley (ASCAP), Rhythm House’s Stevie Frasure and Studio Banks’ Ron Cox; (L-R, front row): Warner Music Nashville’s Cris Lacy, Mark D. Sanders (ASCAP), Cole Swindell (BMI), Tim Nichols (BMI) and Sony Music Publishing’s Rusty Gaston. Photo: Steve Lowry for BMI BMI gathered industry members together earlier this week to celebrate Cole Swindell‘s massive, five-week No. 1 hit “Sh ..read more