Music News (07/10/24)

Shaboozey Notches First No. 1 On Billboard Hot 100 Chart

Shaboozey. Photo: Daniel Prakopcyk

Shaboozey has notched his first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and top 10 breakthrough on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, with double-Platinum hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”

This week marks the tune’s ninth week in the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 and its 12th week overall. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” peaked at the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, and debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Songs Of The Summer chart, upon release earlier this year. Shaboozey and Beyoncé also made history as the first two Black artists to lead the chart with back-to-back No. 1 songs on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart.

The track has amassed more than 700 million streams and landed in the top 10 in several countries, including Australia, where it became the first independent single to top the Australian Recording Industry Association charts this year, as well as Canada, Sweden, Denmark and the U.K.’s Big 40.

The rising star recently performed “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards last month, with a surprise appearance by J-Kwon, and during Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks special this past weekend. Additionally, he plans to kick off his “Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going Fall Tour” in September, and join Jelly Roll on the “Beautifully Broken Tour 2024” later this fall.

Ashley Gorley Reclaims Top Spot On This Week’s Top Songwriter Chart

Ashley Gorley. Photo: Katie Kauss

Ashley Gorley has moved back into the No. 1 spot on this week’s MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. “Bulletproof,” “Cowgirls,” “I Am Not Okay,” “I Had Some Help,” “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” “Whiskey Whiskey” and “Young Love & Saturday Nights” all pushed the award-winning songwriter to the top.

With “Dirt Cheap” and “The Man He Sees In Me,” Josh Phillips sits at No. 2 this week. Zach Bryan remains at No. 3 with “I Remember Everything,” “Nine Ball” and “Pink Skies.”

Jessi Alexander (No. 4) and Hunter Phelps (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.

Song Poet Mark Germino Passes

Mark Germino

Critically acclaimed Nashville folk-pop artist Mark Germino passed away Wednesday (July 3) at age 73.

During his career, Germino issued six albums and became a popular Nashville nightclub performer. Although he never wrote a hit single, his tunes were recorded by such Hall of Fame artists as Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris. In 1986, he became the first Nashville artist to have an album issued on compact disc, as well as on vinyl and cassette.

He arrived in Music City in 1974 and took up the guitar. He worked as a truck driver and courier while trying to make inroads on Music Row. He began performing in clubs in 1976 and quickly attracted the attention of his songwriting peers. Paul Craft issued Germino’s “Lean on Jesus (Before He Leans on You)” as s single in 1977. John Scott Sherrill took Germino to his publisher, Combine Music, in 1981.

Two years later, Loretta Lynn cracked the country top 40 with Germino’s “Breakin’ It.” In 1986, Kathy Mattea and Johnny Cash both recorded the songwriter’s “God Ain’t No Stained Glass Window.” Steve Earle performed Germino’s songs “Hardware” and “Rock & Roll at the USO” in his live shows.

Talent scout Mary Martin caught one of Germino’s performances at The Bluebird Cafe. She convinced RCA’s New York office to sign him as a pop artist. The label sent him to London to record with Paul Samwell-Smith, noted for his work with such artists as Cat Stevens, Carly Simon, Jethro Tull and Paul Simon. This resulted in his debut album, 1986’s London Moon and Barnyard Remedies, which Germino described as “folk ’n’ roll.”

He then issue 1987’s Caught In the Act of Being Ourselves, but RCA only issued it overseas. Stateside, Joe Sun, Sylvia, Bobby Bare, Claire Lynch, Vern Gosdin, John Anderson, The Seldom Scene, Mel McDaniel and a number of independent-label artists recorded his songs.

Germino continued to release albums, including 1991’s Radartown, 1995’s Rank and File, 2006’s Atomic Candlestick and 2021’s Midnight Carnival.

Funeral arrangements are unknown at press time.

Click here to read Germino’s full obituary.