Music News (7/14/21)

Nominees Revealed For 33rd Annual MusicRow Awards

MusicRow is proud to reveal the nominees for the 33rd annual MusicRow Awards. The industry-voted winners of the MusicRow Awards will be announced virtually on all MusicRow platforms on Aug. 19. Subscribed members of MusicRow will receive their ballots via email on Wednesday, July 14.

Click here to view the digital “Nominator” newsletter for a complete list of all nominees.

Presenting Sponsor of the 2021 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

There are 11 member-voted categories, including:
1. Producer of the Year
2. Label Group of the Year
3. Talent Agency of the Year
4. Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
5. Breakthrough Artist-Writer of the Year
6. Male Songwriter of the Year
7. Female Songwriter of the Year
8. Song of the Year
9. Discovery Artist of the Year
10. Breakthrough Artist of the Year
11. Artist of the Year

Nominees for the MusicRow Awards are determined by committee, with outside nominations being considered for Breakthrough Songwriter and Breakthrough Artist-Writer. Male and Female Songwriter nominees are based on data from MusicRow’s Top Songwriter Chart. Eligible projects were active between June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021.

MusicRow‘s August/September print magazine, which is produced and mailed out prior to the MusicRow Awards winners announcement on Aug. 19, features all of the nominees for the 33rd Annual MusicRow Awards. This print edition also includes exclusive industry-related editorial features.

Top 10 Album All-Star Musician Awards for Bass, Drums, Engineer, Fiddle, Guitar, Keyboards, Steel, and Vocals will also be announced on Thursday, Aug. 19, recognizing the studio players who performed on the most albums reaching the Top 10 of Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart during the eligibility period.

Voting for the MusicRow Awards will begin Wednesday, July 14 and run through Friday, July 23 for all MusicRow subscribed members. To become a subscribed member and become eligible to vote, sign up here.
 

Nashville Songwriter Rufio Hooks Signs Worldwide Publishing Deal With Reservoir

Rufio Hooks

Nashville-based artist, writer, and producer Rufio Hooks has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Reservoir. The deal includes Hooks’ current global hit co-write, “Butter,” by the K-Pop group BTS, plus all future works.

Rufio’s wildly popular cut, “Butter,” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, where it has remained for seven consecutive weeks, in addition to topping the Digital Song Sales chart. Upon release, the track set several all-time records, including Spotify’s biggest song debut with over 11 million first-day streams, and the music video soaring to a record-breaking 113 million views within 24 hours. “Butter” is also the best-selling download of 2021 so far.

Originally from New Jersey, and now based out of Nashville, Hooks has established himself as a rising songwriter, producer, and artist. His knack for crafting melodies and lyrics, skill in vocal production, and propensity for blending sounds across genres has led to sessions with Zach Crowell, Filmore, Jennifer Denmark, Jimmie Allen, Seaforth, Sophia Quinn, Cameron Bedell, and Stephen Kirk, among others.

“Seasoned songwriters dream of achieving the kind of record-breaking success that ‘Butter’ has, but the fact that this is Rufio’s first cut is utterly extraordinary and only speaks to his remarkable talent,” says Reservoir EVP of Creative John Ozier. “He has such a strong ability to write across various genres, and we’re eager to tap into his natural gift and identify future collaborations for him across the industry.”

“I am excited to team up with Reservoir and start this next chapter of my career,” says Rufio. “I think the culture that they have built in both Nashville and LA is really special.”
 

Double Down Music Announces Joint Venture With Jason Aldean’s Triple Play Music

Pictured (L-R): Triple Play Music’s founders Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Jason Aldean and PIA Music Group’s founder Dallas Davidson and CEO Ryan Dokke

Play It Again Music Group’s recently launched publishing company, Double Down Music, has embarked on a joint venture with Triple Play Music, founded by Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, and Tully Kennedy. Under the agreement, Double Down Music will handle creative services for all Triple Play Music songwriters, the first two of which are the co-ventures newest signees: John Morgan and John Edwards.

“It’s always cool to team up with people who are great at what they do,” says Aldean. “For me, it’s cool that we’ll be part of helping the next generation of artists and songwriters.”

“It is an honor to work with friends like Jason, Kurt, and Tully whom I hold in high regard. We are excited to welcome them, along with John Morgan and John Edwards to the PIA Music Group family,” comments PIA Music Group founder Dallas Davidson. “Triple Play brings so much to the table when helping create opportunities for superstar talent.”

“Jason Aldean is known as a massive superstar artist, however he is equally as talented, along with Kurt and Tully, at finding and developing young talent. The evidence is John Morgan and John Edwards,” shares Ryan Dokke, CEO of PIA Music Group.  “This partnership between Dallas and Jason, Kurt, and Tully just makes so much sense! They are going to build superstar artists and songwriters together.”

In addition to Morgan and Edwards, Double Down Music’s songwriter roster includes Blake Bollinger and Clara Calaway.
 

Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Reveals 2021 Inductees

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced that the inductees for its Class of 2021 are Amy Grant, Toby Keith, Rhett Akins, Buddy Cannon and John Scott Sherrill.

Akins’ songwriter credits include his own “That Ain’t My Truck,” as well as “Honey Bee” (Blake Shelton) and “It Goes Like This” (Thomas Rhett). Cannon’s songwriter resume is known for “Set ’Em Up Joe” (Vern Gosdin), “I’ve Come To Expect It From You” (George Strait) and “Give It Away” (George Strait). Sherrill’s hits include “Wild And Blue” (John Anderson), “The Church On Cumberland Road” (Shenandoah) and “How Long Gone” (Brooks & Dunn).

Grant popularized many of her own compositions, including “Baby Baby,” “That’s What Love Is For” and “Tennessee Christmas.” Keith also recorded many of his self-penned hits, including “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” “How Do You Like Me Now?!” and “As Good As I Once Was.”

The five will be inducted into the Hall this November, according to an announcement made today (July 13) by Sarah Cates, chair of the organization’s board of directors, and Mark Ford, its executive director.

“Today is one of my favorite days of the year, as we begin our journey to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala in November with the announcement of our upcoming class,” says Cates. “Nashville has always been the home of legendary songs written by the world’s finest songwriters – and this class is no exception. It’s our great honor today to welcome our class of 2021: Rhett Akins and Buddy Cannon in the songwriter category; John Scott Sherrill in the veteran songwriter category; Toby Keith as our songwriter/artist and Amy Grant as our veteran songwriter/artist.”

Pictured (L-R): Sarah Cates, chair of the organization’s board of directors, with inductees John Scott Sherrill, Amy Grant, Buddy Cannon, and Rhett Akins; Mark Ford, NaSOF’s executive director. Photo: Bev Moser

The five new inductees-elect will join the 213 previously inducted members of the elite organization when they are officially inducted during the “50/51” Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala on Nov. 1 at the Music City Center. Because the organization’s 50th Anniversary celebration was postponed last year, this year’s event will honor two classes in a special double-sized event that will also spotlight NaSHOF’s previously named Class of 2020: Steve Earle, Bobbie Gentry, Kent Blazy, Brett James and Spooner Oldham.

Click here for more biographical information on the 2021 inductees.