ALL HEART: MALCOLM TODD’S “CHEST PAIN” SURGES
COUNTRY AT A CROSSROADS: NASHVILLE AND BEYOND
Lainey Wilson, “4x4xU"
No, country music isn’t just about trucks. But sometimes a truck is just so damn majestic—and eating up the highway with a special friend so magical—that the melodies come unbidden. BBR star Wilson’s smoldering road trip has quite deservedly earned a giant pile of honors, and its gorgeous video (helmed by Dano Cerny) is a contender for a Visual Media of the Year CMA award.
NASHVILLE SPECIAL
AMAZON MUSIC'S MICHELLE TIGARD KAMMERER
The DSP’s Head of Country Music, MTK (as she is known) is passionate about the genre and intensely dedicated to using the company’s considerable resources to expand the music’s audience. We asked about some of the tools in Amazon’s toolbox, and how country’s growth has changed the game.
COUNTRY AT A CROSSROADS
Country music has always existed in separate but relatively equal realms in American pop music. New York and L.A. labels, for the most part, left the genre to Nashville—and the largely white, lower-middle class, working peoples’ music had an isolated audience that didn’t really overlap the way hip-hop, disco, rock and R&B did with pop music.
LABEL EXECS ON COUNTRY 2025
STATE OF THE STATE: SONY MUSIC NASHVILLE
It’s been mere months since Taylor Lindsey succeeded Randy Goodman as SMN boss, but she’s stepped into the role seamlessly. Ably assisted by her gifted crew, she has set about piloting the label through a brave new era.
ON THE COVER: ZACH BRYAN
The CountDUA CAPPING 2025 IN LATIN AMERICAN STADIUMS
tour roundup
ALEX WARREN, "Ordinary"
This Atlantic singer-songwriter is crushing it on both sides of the, um, Atlantic, thanks to this gorgeously emotional pop track, which is a U.S. and global smash at Spotify. The enchanting video reminds us of what love can do.
PUB CRAWLING
SONY MUSIC PUBLISHING INKS FINK
Sony Music Publishing has signed a global agreement with songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jesse Fink.
WARNER CHAPPELL RAISES CURTAIN ON RISING STAR HAMILTON
Hamilton, a rising star in Latin Music and Afrobeats, has inked with Warner Chappell Music.
SONY PUB RAPS UP DEAL WITH MTECH
RIDINGS ARRIVES AT SMP U.K.
The London-based singer-songwriter is prepping her third album.
Morgan Wallen, "I'm A Little Crazy" (lyric video)
New MW music is always an event, and we expect his new album, I’m the Problem (due 5/30 via Big Loud/Mercury/Republic), to rule the roost for the foreseeable future. On this thoughtful but infectious tune, he ponders being a little crazy in a world that’s stark raving mad.