Monthly Archives: November 2022

MusicRow is proud to reveal its list of artists who, in 2023, are predicted to become the Next Big Thing (NBT). The ninth annual NBT list features 11 artists, who are each profiled in MusicRow‘s latest 2023 Touring & Next Big Thing print issue, which releases today (Nov. 30).

MusicRow‘s Next Big Thing Class of 2023 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. These future stars will expand the boundaries of country music, carrying the torch of the format both to its fans and into the mainstream.

Single copies of MusicRow’s Touring & Next Big Thing print issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $45, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.

MusicRow Magazine’s 2023 Next Big Thing Artists:

Chayce Beckham

19 Recordings/BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records | KP Entertainment | UTA | BMG | BMI

Chayce Beckham impressed the nation when he won season nineteen of American Idol, becoming the first artist to win the competition with an original song. The winning track, “23,” is a semi-autobiographical tune the California-native wrote about his struggles with alcohol. “23” topped numerous viral charts upon release, and has since racked up more than 122 million on-demand streams. Fresh off his win, he signed with BBR Music Group’s Wheelhouse Records and 19 Recordings, and subsequently released a duet with label-mate Lindsay Ell, “Can’t Do Without Me.” Beckham followed that success with a six-track debut EP Doin It Right, which featured the singer-songwriter flexing his gritty yet clear vocals on songs such as “Tell Me Twice,” “Doin’ It Right,” and “Where The River Goes,” all of which he co-wrote. The EP skyrocketed to No. 1 on the iTunes All Genre and Country charts, signaling a consistent hunger for the artist’s music. Beckham joined Jimmie Allen’s “Down Home Tour 2022” earlier this year, as well as some dates opening for Luke Combs. Beckham’s rabid fanbase will only grow as the artist continues down his path to success.

Tyler Braden

Warner Music Nashville | WHY&HOW | WME | 50 Egg Music/Sony Music Publishing | BMI

Tyler Braden grew up in Slapout, Alabama with parents who loved country music and friends who loved rock ‘n’ roll. Combining those influences, he started playing local shows and touring in his twenties, all while serving as a first responder in Montgomery, Alabama. When a gig in Music City prompted Braden to move north, he continued firefighting in the suburbs of Nashville while working on his music. After capturing the attention of industry executives, Braden signed with Warner Music Nashville in 2019. Since then he’s earned more than 120 million streams with songs such as “Secret,” “What Do They Know,” “Ways To Miss You,” and his No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway Hot 30 Countdown “Try Losing One” is currently at U.S. country radio. He released his label debut EP, What Do They Know (WDTK), in late 2021. Braden joined David Nail on tour this fall after opening for Brooks & Dunn on the 2022 “Reboot Tour.” He recently hosted his annual Engine Co. 18 Golf Outing, which raised more than $20,000 for first responders. Braden’s talent as a songwriter and performer, as well as his heart of gold, will undoubtedly propel him forward into a successful career.

ERNEST

Big Loud Records | Big Loud Management | The Neal Agency | Big Loud Publishing/UMPG | BMI

ERNEST has come into his own as an artist in the past few years. While enjoying massive success as a songwriter, celebrating No. 1 hits for Morgan Wallen, Chris Lane, Sam Hunt, Florida Georgia Line, and Kane Brown, ERNEST was building an arsenal of songs suited for his own unique artistry. After releasing a few EPs and singles as an artist, ERNEST broke through with his George Jones-inspired “Flower Shops” featuring label-mate Wallen. The song took off, becoming the most-added single on its add week at country radio and hitting No. 1 on MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout Radio Chart. The tune led to the release of ERNEST’s Big Loud Records debut album Flower Shops (The Album), which also included fan favorites such as “Some Other Bar,” “Tennessee Queen,” and “Feet Wanna Run.” After touring on Wallen’s “Dangerous Tour,” ERNEST hit the road this fall for his “Sucker For Small Towns Tour.” The charming artist also hosts a podcast, Just Being ERNEST, welcoming guests such as Keith Urban, Diplo, Jason Aldean, Bobby Bones, and Craig Wiseman. Between his hit-making penmanship and charisma, ERNEST is headed for country music stardom.

Chapel Hart

JT3D | JT3D Management | APA | Hyperphlyy Music | BMI

Made up of sisters Danica and Devynn Hart, along with their cousin Trea Swindle, Chapel Hart blend their Mississippi roots and Louisiana spunk to make their music. After working hard for many years, the trio was lifted up by CMT’s Next Women of Country program, which has helped up-and-coming country females rise to fame such as Kelsea Ballerini and Ashley McBryde. They released their second album, The Girls Are Back in Town, shortly after. The 12-track project included “You Can Have Him Jolene,” a response to Dolly Parton’s iconic “Jolene” that twists the lyric to say that no one should fight over a man. The trio’s infectious three-part harmonies have earned Chapel Hart notoriety overseas, but the United States fell in love with them when they competed on America’s Got Talent earlier this year. With their “You Can Have Him Jolene,” Chapel Hart earned the coveted Golden Buzzer on the show, sending them straight to the final, live performance stage. Following their performance, Darius Rucker invited the women to sing on his redemptive ballad “Ol’ Church Hymn.” With their infectious harmonies, sharp songwriting ability, and charm, this lovable trio stands out among their peers.

Kylie Morgan

UMG Nashville (EMI Records Nashville) | SMACK Management | CAA | SMACKSongs | BMI

Kylie Morgan’s unique vocal tone paired with her relatable songwriting set her apart from the rest. The Oklahoma native spent many years grinding as a singer-songwriter before signing with UMG in 2019. Since her signing, Morgan released her Love, Kylie EP, which contained fan-favorites “Shoulda” and “I Only Date Cowboys.” Morgan found a strong hunger for her music when she started engaging with TikTok, going viral with songs such as “Independent With You,” a tune about being in a relationship without losing your independence, and “If He Wanted To He Would,” a brutally honest track about self-worth. Both appeared on her next EP, P.S. In October, Morgan released another EP Songs To Say I Do to commemorate her tying the knot—which included another viral hit, “Bridesmaids.” The singer-songwriter joined Tyler Rich on the road this fall for his “Thinkin’ We’re In Love Tour” after previously opening for acts such as Dan + Shay, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Brett Eldredge, and more. Morgan’s bold penmanship and accessible stories will only grow her already eager fanbase.

MacKenzie Porter

Big Loud Records | Big Loud Management | CAA | Sony Music Publishing | SOCAN

With five No. 1 songs north of the border, MacKenzie Porter has already made her mark on the Canadian country market. She moved to Nashville in 2014 hoping to translate that success to Music City. Her hard work began to pay off when she began to release successful pop-country tracks such as “These Days” and “Seeing Other People” via Big Loud Records. In the spring of 2021, Porter was recruited by country star Dustin Lynch as his duet partner on “Thinking ‘Bout You.” The track became a six-week No. 1, and made history as the longest-running top 10 single at 27 weeks since the Billboard Country Airplay chart launched in January 1990. As the massive duet was introducing Porter to country radio, the talented singer released her single “Pickup.” The glittery track hit the top of the Canadian charts and has garnered more than 30 million streams across the U.S. and Canada. Porter was direct support on Walker Hayes’ “Fancy Like Tour” and has opened for Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Jordan Davis, and more. We will definitely be seeing more of Porter in 2023.

Conner Smith

Big Machine Label Group (The Valory Music Co.) | HOMESTEAD/Red Light | WME | Warner Chappell Music/Home Team Music/Miller Crow Music | BMI

Conner Smith was introduced to the music industry via his mother, who interviewed songwriters as part of her work when he was a small child. He started writing songs at age six and was aligned with BMI by the time he was nine. The songwriter signed a record deal with The Valory Music Co. in 2019. It’s no surprise he co-wrote five of the six songs on his debut project, Didn’t Go Too Far. The collection included his first top 40 hit “Learn From It” and fan-favorite single “Take It Slow,” which has already amassed nearly 60 million global streams to date. Smith followed its success with another viral sensation, “I Hate Alabama,” where he laments that everything about the Crimson Tide reminds him of a love lost. He doubled down with another football analogy song that took off on social media, “Orange And White.” Smith joined Thomas Rhett on his “Bring The Bar To You Tour” this summer. The tunesmith will undoubtedly make his mark on the genre with his clever tunes and far-reaching popularity.

Nate Smith

Sony Music Nashville (Arista Nashville) | The CORE Entertainment | WME | Sony Music Publishing | ASCAP

Nate Smith’s powerful voice with a unique vocal tone could make any head turn. He first attracted industry attention with his debut EP Reckless and the popular single “Wildfire,” inspired by a devastating fire that struck his home of Paradise, California and destroyed everything he owned. He followed the success of “Wildfire” with “Sleeve” and “Under My Skin,” which have amassed over 60 million on-demand streams to date. He signed with Sony Music Nashville in 2021 and shipped his new single, “Whiskey On You,” to country radio. The tune took off. It has garnered over 128 million total on-demand streams, was recently certified Gold, hit No. 1 on SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown, and is currently climbing the country radio charts. Smith went viral with label-mate Tenille Townes on the powerful “I Don’t Wanna Go To Heaven.” The duet, as well as “Whiskey On You,” will appear on Smith’s self-titled debut album, out in February. He went on his first headlining run this summer with the “Whiskey On You Tour,” and will hit the road with Thomas Rhett and Cole Swindell on Rhett’s “Home Team Tour 23” in May. Smith is powering through his own lane and will only go up from here.

Alana Springsteen

Columbia Records New York/Sony Music Nashville | Eighteen Company | UTA | Warner Chappell Music | BMI

Alana Springsteen picked up the guitar at age seven and wrote her first song at age nine. From then, the Virginia Beach native felt the pull to Nashville. She moved to Music City when she was 14 and landed a publishing deal almost immediately. After years of grinding as a singer-songwriter, Springsteen began to independently release music. With nearly 40 million streams under her belt, she put out a seven-song EP, History Of Breaking Up (Part One), in 2021. She followed its success with an eight-song collection, History Of Breaking Up (Part Two). The project featured popular tracks “Trust Issues,” “New Number” and “Me Myself and Why.” On her 22nd birthday in October, Springsteen made her Grand Ole Opry debut and announced her label signing with Columbia Records NY/Sony Music Nashville. She has since notched her stream-count up to over 71 million. Springsteen has opened for Mitchell Tenpenny and pop band LANY, and will support Adam Doleac’s “Barstool Whiskey Wonderland Tour” in 2023. With her songwriting chops and unique vocal stylings, Springsteen is on the fast-track to stardom.

Morgan Wade

Sony Music Nashville (Arista Nashville) | Hillpeople Artist Management | WME | UMPG | ASCAP

Morgan Wade is one of the most unique artists to have signed a major label record deal in Nashville in many years. She kept her voice hidden until she started singing in public at 19. The Virginia native’s blend of country, bluegrass, and pop-rock first caught the industry’s eye with her 2021 debut album Reckless. The 10-song collection featured illustrious songs such as “Last Cigarette,” “Don’t Cry,” and “Take Me Away,” but the clear fan-favorite was “Wilder Days,” a tune about a relationship with a large age gap. Wade signed with Sony Music Nashville following the success of Reckless. The label sent “Wilder Days” to country radio where it hit No. 1 on SiriusXM The Highway’s Top 30 Countdown. Wade released a deluxe edition of Reckless in January with six additional songs. She joined Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, and Brooks & Dunn on the road throughout 2022 and will hit the road on her own headlining “No Signs of Slowing Down Tour” in February. As an artist assuredly in her own unique lane, we will definitely be seeing more of Wade in 2023.

Bailey Zimmerman

Warner Music Nashville/Elektra Records | The CORE Entertainment/10th Street Entertainment | WME | Warner Chappell | BMI

Bailey Zimmerman’s rise to his breakthrough is a story of manifestation. The Illinois native grew up listening to country radio on long hauls across state lines with his father, who owned a trucking business, while his mother instilled in him a love of rock ‘n’ roll. He got his first job, a gig at the local meat processing plant, at 16, and continued to work from then on. After friends encouraged him to try singing, Zimmerman uploaded the tune “Never Comin’ Home” on TikTok, creating a viral sensation. He did it again with “Fall In Love,” which caught the eye of Warner Music Nashville and Elektra Music Group who signed him. Zimmerman dropped his debut full-length release, Leave The Light On, in October. Upon release, the nine-song project became the most-streamed all-genre debut of the year, as well as the biggest streaming country debut of all time. Leave The Light On arrived at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and No. 9 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. With a passion for tricked out trucks, Zimmerman played his first headlining show in Nashville at a lifted truck show block party. Zimmerman’s rabid fanbase will only grow as he continues to rise to success.

ST. PETERSBURG — The Florida Orchestra will perform the world premiere of Michael Ippolito’s Violin Concerto — commissioned by the orchestra to be played by concertmaster Jeffrey Multer — in three upcoming performances conducted by Music Director Michael Francis.

Those include performances on Friday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m., at the Straz Center, 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa; Saturday, Dec. 3, 8 p.m., at Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg; and Sunday, Dec. 4, 2 p.m., at Mahaffey Theater. Tickets are available via FloridaOrchestra.org.

The 25-minute concerto continues the Florida Orchestra’s collaboration with Ippolito, a Tampa native who was inspired by orchestra growing up.

TFO also commissioned Ippolito to compose Triptych, premiered in its 50th anniversary season in 2017-18, and A La Fenestra, premiered last season.

It was Triptych that led to the new violin concerto. Ippolito got to know Multer, a Juilliard-trained violinist who has performed all over the world, and Multer was impressed with Ippolito’s style. Their interest led to larger discussions with Francis.

“As TFO continues our commitment to music as a living art form, we’re excited to give life to this violin concerto, which will feel home-grown in Tampa Bay,” Francis said.

“It’s important to commission new music because it’s a vital part of the creative process,” said Mark Cantrell, orchestra president and CEO. “This is how we find the next great gems. It’s also how we reflect today’s world. We are not just historians. Orchestras provide a bridge between the past and the future through great musical works and the stories they tell.”

Ippolito is a graduate of Brandon High School near Tampa and has been crafting music since he was a child. He went on to study at the Juilliard School in New York and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

He has won awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Juilliard and ASCAP. His music has been performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Symphony Orchestra and many more. Today, he is associate professor of composition at Texas State University. 

Ippolito structured the Violin Concerto as a heroic narrative in two parts, influenced by the stories and lessons of ancient Greek epics and mythology.

The first movement is titled Rhapsodos (Song-Stitcher), in which the solo violin is the storyteller who embodies the hero. The second movement, titled Moirai (Spin-Measure-Cut), refers to the fates — the three sister goddesses who determine the destinies of all mortals: Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos. In the final moments, the soloist attempts to defy fate.

The orchestra’s program in all three performances also will include Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 and Grace Williams’ Elegy.

The nonprofit Florida Orchestra bills itself as the largest orchestra in the state. Tickets for all of its concerts are on sale now at FloridaOrchestra.org.

Independent music company Concord is the latest to tap into a growing market for music royalty-backed securities with Concord Music Royalties, LLC, Series 2022-1, a $1.65 billion asset-backed security. The bond will be supported by mechanical, performance and synchronization royalties from more than 1 million assets.  

The proceeds will be used to fund reserve accounts, pay transaction expenses, repay debt and for other general corporate purposes, according to a report by ratings agency KBRA.  

KBRA gave Series 2022-1 a preliminary rating of A+ (on a scale ranging from AAA to D), citing the “large, diversified catalog with globally recognized songs and artists” such as R.E.M., Plain White T’s, Creed, Evanescence, Genesis, Phill Collins and Mike + The Mechanics — the latter three being purchased just two months ago.  

The catalog generated $344.7 million in 2021, with 63% coming from recorded music and 37% from music publishing. More than 41% of the catalog’s assets were released more than 20 years ago and 23% are between 10 and 20 years old. About 3.5% of the catalog is comprised of frontline releases, defined by KBRA as “recently recorded and released music with little or no history,” and option rights that Concord can exercise for rights to future recorded music or publishing from artists in the catalog. 

FTI Consulting put a $4.1 billion valuation on the catalog, according to the KBRA report. That’s about the same amount Billboard estimated Concord’s price tag would be when the company was exploring a sale in 2021 — before the purchase of the Genesis, Phil Collins and Mike + The Mechanics catalogs that Billboard estimated were worth at least $335 million and its acquisition of Australian music publisher Native Tongue. Concord had sought additional equity from its majority owner, the Michigan Retirement Systems pension fund, but turned to debt in 2020 to raise $600 million, which it used to pay down existing debt.   

Among the offering’s sound recordings, Concord Music Group administers a majority and Universal Music Group distributes a majority. Concord Music Publishing administers most of the music publishing rights and ICE, ASCAP and BMI are the collective management organizations for most of the publishing rights.  

Series 2022-1 contains two components: Class A-1 VFN, with a principal balance of $150 million and an anticipated repayment date of January 2026; and Class A-2, with a principal balance of $1.5 billion and an anticipated repayment date of January 2029. Class A-1 VFN will have a variable interest rate — the secured overnight financing rate plus a margin — and Class A-2 will have a fixed interest rate. The notes will pay interest quarterly.  

Concord’s offering is the largest of the music royalty-backed offerings rated by KBRA in the last 12 months. KKR’s Hi-Fi Music IP Issuer II, backed by about 62,000 songs, raised $732.5 million in February. Crescendo Royalty Funding, a joint effort of Lyric Capital Group and Northleaf Capital Partners and backed by over 52,000 songs owned by Spirit Music Group, raised $303.8 million in Dec. 2021. Hipgnosis Music Assets 2022-1, backed by the Kobalt Music Copyrights Fund 1 that Hipgnosis Songs Fund acquired in 2020, raised $221.7 million in Dec. 2021.   

RIYADH: Artists and industry professionals have an essential role to play in manifesting and entering the new dimension of the metaverse and Web3, a version of the internet based on blockchain. 

From full-fledged concerts and music scenes to audio-visual art, the metaverse is slowly becoming the newest music market to tap into. 

At the XP Music Futures conference, industry leaders and experts explored the various ways musicians, managers and record labels can use the platform to transform the music industry. With Saudi Arabia’s commitment to developing immersive and artificial intelligence technologies under Vision 2030, it is slowly becoming one of the fastest-growing markets globally. 

“We have all the new and human resources needed to create the city of the future,” Noor Said, A&R and product manager at MDLBEAST, said. 

“I believe what’s driving this big investment in the metaverse and AI is…the current situation of the country…We are already very connected to online content.”

The AI-driven metaverse provides infinite opportunities for creators to elevate music and create unprecedented immersive experiences through emerging technologies, such as non-fungible token concerts, music videos, brands, marketplaces and fan royalties. 

Sensorium’s Art Director and Deputy CEO Sasha Tityanko said: “The road to (virtual reality) adoption, as you might know, has been notoriously bumpy. Headsets have been clunky, heavy and uncomfortable to use, and entering a virtual reality game, for example, was the sort of thing we could not do. 

Fortunately, the hardware and software are evolving every day, and the concept is becoming more sophisticated and engaging…in particular, innovations in smartphone hardware coupled with state-of-the-art VR-compatible headsets. I expect (it) to be a significant market driver in the next decade.”

There are also massive advancements with 5G networks, with benefits in VR to reduced latency, delivering a smoother, richer and more engrossing user experience. 

Artists are given endless possibilities to manage their digital presence and performances; creators can generate a photorealistic avatar that mimics real-life goals and can adapt to different stages of their creative journey. 

Companies like Sensorium work to help artists and creators realize the most ambitious artist distributions with the help of this emerging technology. 

Since gravity and real-life limitations are nonexistent in the metaverse, designers can experiment with thousands of 3D architectural assets and elements, including virtual infrastructures, colors and lighting effects, to create limitless stages and concert venues.

For fans within cyber-physical distance, fans can have exclusive opportunities to engage in meet-and-greets, create stronger connections with the fandom communities, and experience a performance through the artists’ perspectives. 

While the concept sounds intriguing, the reality can play out very differently. One of the key challenges is that many of the biggest players in Web3 are intermediaries. Power is far from equitable, making ownership over blockchain networks unequally distributed and concentrated in the hands of early adopters and venture capitalists.

While legitimate actionable laws, rules and regulations have not been set around NFT and Web3 usage globally, there are few ways outside of the platform by which musicians can secure their rights.

However, creators and brands can use existing commercial rights and copyrights. For example, Gucci recently designed a virtual Roblox purse, which sold for over 25 percent of the retail price. The same can apply to music artists in terms of album covers, streams and track releases. 

In a more innovative approach, Dutch DJ Don Diablo made history by selling the first feature-length concert NFT film for $1.2 million last year. 

“The metaverse is innovative…Intellectual property in the metaverse world is very deep and has a very clear presence. We just need to unlock it,” Dr. Al-Hanoof Al-Debasi, executive director for copyright at the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, told Arab News. 

“There are no laws in the metaverse…It’s a new technology, and the whole world is still unsure how to deal with it because they need to understand it first, as well as where the boundaries for one country end and where another begins.”

Her advice for aspiring artists looking to venture into the metaverse is to create their innovations in the physical world and file for registration, patents and copyrights, making sure to have physical documentation. 

After establishing concrete rights, they can then take their innovations to an emerging world. 

Jesse Murphy. Photo: Courtesy of peermusic

Jesse Murphy has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with peermusic Nashville.

Murphy is a Nashville native and the son of hit songwriter David Lee Murphy. He started writing and playing guitar at the age of 14.

His first recording project as a member of country-rock band House Whiskey was produced by Brett Beavers and received more than a million streams in less than 12 months. The band has performed at CMA Fest, the Houston Livestock Rodeo, and opened for the Charlie Daniels Band, Tracy Byrd, Frank Foster, and more.