Music News (8/31/22)

34th Annual MusicRow Awards Winners

MusicRow Magazine revealed the winners of the 34th annual MusicRow Awards in a series of videos on all MusicRow online platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, on Aug. 30.

City National Bank served as Presenting Sponsor of the 2022 MusicRow Awards.

Now in its 34th year, the MusicRow Awards are Nashville’s longest running music industry trade publication honors and celebrate the achievements of songwriters, artists, producers, and more. All the MusicRow Award nominees are profiled in the recently released MusicRow Awards print issue.

MusicRow Magazine Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson, and respected television host, entertainment journalist, writer and producer, Alecia Davis serve once again as “hosts” on each winner video.

Click here to see the winners.
 

Laura Wright Alexander Joins Young Guns Publishing As SVP, Creative

Laura Alexander. Photo: Jason Myers

Young Guns Publishing has tapped industry veteran Laura Wright Alexander as SVP, Creative. In her new position, she will champion reigning MusicRow Song of the Year writer Ben Stennis, and chart-topping writer Jared Mullins.

Born and raised in Nashville, Alexander spent 12 years at Writer’s Den Music, EMI Music Publishing, Big Yellow Dog and Kobalt Music, where she worked with songwriters such as Natalie Hemby, The Warren Brothers, Daniel Tashian, Josh Jenkins and more. She also worked closely with singer-songwriters Maren Morris and Thomas Rhett.

In 2019, she pivoted to join the Adventurous Journeys (AJ) Capital team and helped launch the Graduate Nashville hotel. While there, Alexander was tasked with telling the story of the boutique hotel and establishing the narrative of its creative identity.

When Stennis, whom Alexander had worked with at Kobalt Music, called asking if they might be able to work together again, she began considering a potential return to publishing. She now aims to help further lay the groundwork of Young Gun’s roster of songwriters and to continue building their momentum.

Founded in 2011, Young Guns is administered by Kobalt Music Publishing and has seen success in the film and TV industry. The company’s roster includes Stennis, Mullins, and singer-songwriter Jackie Lee.
 

Neotraditional Country Artist Wynn Williams Signs With ONErpm

Pictured (L-R): ONErpm’s Ryan Cunningham, Wynn Williams, ONErpm’s Tim Wipperman, John Lytle (Wynn’s Manager). Photo: Stephanie Orr

Country neotraditionalist Wynn Williams has signed with global music provider ONErpm, who will provide marketing and distribution for Williams’ new music.

A Weatherford, Texas rodeo cowboy, who comes from a long line of singers, Williams combines the honky-tonk attitude of Brooks & Dunn with the crooning style of fellow Texan George Strait.

With the announcement, Williams also released his newest single, “I Love Her for Leaving.” Co-written with Brice Long, the new track is a memorable mid-tempo ballad with a clever twist.

“We’ve put a lot of time and effort into cultivating a record that possesses all the elements of what country music is to me,” Williams notes.
 

Jared Scott Signs With SmackSongs

Jared Scott with the SmackSongs team. Photo: Molly Bouchon

Jared Scott has signed a worldwide publishing deal with SmackSongs.

Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, Scott moved to Nashville shortly after high school and quickly signed to Plaid Flag Music as a songwriter, where he garnered cuts with Chris Stapleton, Jon Pardi, Breland, Tiera Kennedy and Caylee Hammack.