Ella Langley Breaks Record For Most Consecutive Weeks At No. 1 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
Ella Langley. Photo: Caylee Robillard
Ella Langley sits at No. 1 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart for the 19th consecutive week, officially breaking the record for most consecutive weeks at No. 1. Zach Bryan previously held the record at 18 weeks.
Tracks represented for Langley this week include “Be Her,” “Bottom Of Your Boots,” “Choosin’ Texas,” “I Can’t Love You Anymore,” “Jaded” and “Loving Life Again.”
Chase McGill sits at No. 2 with “Carry On,” “Hands Up,” “McArthur” and “Water At A Wedding.” Joybeth Taylor moves up to No. 3 with “Choosin’ Texas,” “Empty Words” and “I Can’t Love You Anymore.”
Jordan Schmidt (No. 4) and Austin Goodloe (No. 5) round out this week’s top five.
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
BMG & Concord Finalize Partnership, Name Leadership
BMG and Concord have completed their partnership, creating a new global music company. The transaction, which was first announced in April, has received all required regulatory approvals, and the company’s global headquarters will be located in Nashville, with Berlin serving as its European headquarters.
Operating under the BMG name, the combined company brings together two businesses spanning music publishing, recorded music, theatrical rights, digital distribution and film & TV.
Bob Valentine, formerly CEO at Concord, now assumes the role of CEO of BMG, with Thomas Coesfeld serving as Chairman. Others on the Executive Management Team include Björn Bauer (Chief Financial Officer), Sebastian Hentzschel (Chief Operating Officer), Victor Zaraya (Chief Revenue Officer), Amanda Molter (General Counsel) and Kent Hoskins (Chief Transformation Officer).
Valentine says, “The new Executive Management Team brings together leaders with the experience, judgement, and focus we need to deliver on BMG’s ambitions. As we begin this next chapter, our priority is to build on the strengths of both businesses, creating a clear, focused organization that can move nimbly, invest with conviction, and deliver long-term value for the artists, songwriters, and playwrights we partner with and represent.”
BMG has also established an 18-member Strategic Leadership Council, comprising the six members of the Executive Management Team and 12 additional senior leaders from across the company.
Nashville’s Job Loba has been named head of Global Frontline Recordings, and Tom Becci as head of Global Recorded Operations. Other members of the Strategic Leadership Council include Alberto Chullen (Corporate Development & Investments), Sophia Dilley (Concord Originals), Sean Flahaven (Concord Theatricals), Celine Joshua (Global Marketing & Streaming), Nitsa Kalispera (Global Supply Chain Operations), Ruth Martinez (Human Resources), Kristal McKanders Dube (Corporate Communications), Alistair Norbury (Senior Creative Advisor to CEO Bob Valentine), Tom Scherer (Global Catalog Recordings) and Jim Selby (Global Music Publishing).
Valentine adds: “The Strategic Leadership Council gives us a broader group of leaders around the table, bringing together different areas of expertise and perspectives across BMG. It will help ensure we stay connected as a leadership team, sharpen our thinking, and maintain alignment as we translate our strategy into action across the business.”
River House Artists & Sony Music Publishing Extend Deal With Dan Alley
Pictured (L-R, back row): Kayla Adkins and Lauren Lieu; (L-R, front row): Lyndsay Kash, Dan Alley, and Zebb Luster
River House Artists, in partnership with Sony Music Publishing Nashville, has renewed its global publishing deal with Dan Alley.
Alley has quickly become one of Nashville’s rising songwriters, with songs recorded by some of country music’s biggest artists, including including Lainey Wilson, Jon Pardi, Braxton Keith, Joe Nichols, Craig Morgan, Randall King, Austin Snell, Drake Milligan, Tyce Delk and more. He recently celebrated his first No. 1 country airplay hits with Luke Bryan’s “Country Song Came On” and Hudson Westbrook’s “House Again,” which has become a viral hit with more than 428 million U.S. streams to date.
Alley is continuing that momentum with Luke Combs’ “Be By You,” which recently reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and has climbed into the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Along with writing songs for other artists, Alley will release his own songwriter project, Keepin’ On, this Friday (Sept. 4). The 11-track project includes five songs written solely by Alley, as well as “He Went To Work,” which Jon Pardi previously recorded for his 2025 album Honkytonk Hollywood.
Alley will celebrate the release with a songwriter round at The Listening Room Cafe tonight (Sept. 1) alongside Lukas Scott, Sam Banks and Mae Estes.
“Signing with River House/Sony in 2022 was the best decision I’ve ever made in my songwriting career,” says Alley. “Zebb [Luster] and Lynn [Oliver-Cline] were champions of mine even before I joined the family, and ever since then they’ve done everything possible to help me succeed. Shoutout to Kayla [Adkins] and Lauren [Lieu] for working day in and day out to open doors for me and create opportunities for me to write the best songs I can. The past four-and-a-half years have been incredible, and I’m so thankful to continue this journey.”
“We couldn’t be prouder to continue our journey with Dan,” shares Luster, River House Artists EVP. “He is one of the most talented songwriters in Nashville, but what makes him truly special is the person he is and the passion he brings to his craft every single day. It feels like we’re only beginning to scratch the surface of what’s ahead for him, and we have no doubt his best work is still to come. We’re incredibly grateful that he continues to trust our team with his career, and we’re excited for everything we’ll accomplish together.”
“Dan is an exceptional songwriter, and it has been amazing to see his hard work translate into such incredible success,” adds Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston. “We’re thrilled to continue working with River House to champion Dan’s talent and look forward to all that’s ahead.”
Luminate Introduces Global Framework To Track & Measure AI-Generated Music
Luminate has introduced a new framework to help the music industry identify and track AI-generated music. Powered by its proprietary technology, Luminate’s CONNECT platform can now flag AI-generated songs and artists worldwide. The feature will roll out to customers and partners later this year.
Luminate is also working with major DSPs and AI music companies to bring self-reported streaming and attribution data directly into CONNECT.
The new system will serve as a central resource for AI music data, giving artists, labels, publishers, managers and brand partners more visibility into how AI-generated music is created, distributed and consumed.
“The rapid growth of AI-generated music has outpaced the industry’s ability to consistently identify it and measure its impact,” says Luminate CEO Rob Jonas. “Greater visibility is critical to understanding broader trends, assessing the risk of fraud and making informed decisions. Luminate has always been the entertainment business’s source of truth, and tracking AI-generated music with the same rigor we apply to every other category is core to our mission.”
Luminate’s approach combines data from DSPs, AI music companies and its own identification technology. Together, the sources are designed to provide a clearer view of AI-generated music and how it moves through the global music ecosystem.
The system works in three ways:
1. Proprietary Identification: Luminate’s technology analyzes streaming data, metadata and audio to identify AI-generated music in CONNECT.
2. Streaming Data: As DSPs develop their own AI identification tools, Luminate will bring that data into CONNECT through its existing partnerships.
3. Source Attribution: Luminate is working with AI music companies to receive attribution data directly as AI-generated content is created, before it reaches DSPs.
Content identified as AI-generated will receive a new “AI Generated” label on songs and artist profiles in CONNECT. Luminate will also offer a review process for artists and labels to challenge incorrect labels.
“This is a starting point,” continues Jonas. “No single organization can address this challenge alone; the industry needs a collaborative approach to more accurately understand, track and measure AI-generated music. We invite DSPs and AI music companies that share this view to join us in advancing it together.”
Bridey Costello Inks With Blue Harbor Music
Pictured (L-R): Kendall Lettow (Blue Harbor Music), Bridey Costello, Anthony Modica (management), Miller Arant (Blue Harbor Music) and Steve Markland (Blue Harbor Music)
Singer-songwriter Bridey Costello has signed a global publishing and strategic artist partnership deal with Blue Harbor Music.
The Chicago native’s songwriting centers on honest, plainspoken storytelling, touching on family, queerness, growing up and finding your identity. Her raw recordings keep the focus on the songs themselves, often capturing the immediacy of a first voice memo or early demo rather than a polished studio production.
She has also built a growing live resume, opening for Olivia Barton, Abby Powledge, Taylor Bickett, Abby Holliday and Ethan Tasch. Costello is currently working on new music, with additional releases planned throughout the year. She has released her new single, “Knew What I Wanted,” today (Aug. 31).
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Bridey Costello to the Blue Harbor Music family. Bridey is a uniquely talented writer with a voice and perspective that immediately stood out,” says Steve Markland, President, Blue Harbor Music. “Her writing is honest, unexpected, and deeply personal, with a way of making specific experiences feel universal. We’re also excited about the opportunity to continue expanding the diversity of voices and perspectives represented across our roster. Bridey brings something truly special to the company, and we’re honored to support her as she develops her music and career.”