Music City invaded Miami last weekend for the city's first major country festival. Thomas Rhett, Sam Hunt, Lee Brice, Elle King, Chris Young, Randy Houser and Lainey Wilson were among the headliners for Loud & Live's inaugural Country Bay Fest. We can't confirm if L&L CEO Nelson Albareda—pictured above with CMA Entertainer of the Year Wilson—wore cowboy boots with shorts all weekend.
Among the thousands that were in attendance at Miami Marine Stadium throughout the weekend, 40% were Latino, underscoring the diverse and growing base of those embracing country music.
Country Bay Fest is slated to return to Miami next year for its second edition on 11/9-10, 2024.
Photo: Manny Hernandez
Getting their steps in rather than using the elevator at underscore works are, from left, Wesko, Charly Salvatore, Aaron Bay-Schuck, Isaac Green and Dipper.
Warner Records and Nashville-based manager Charly Salvatore of underscore works have created a joint venture label, underscore works recordings. Dipper and Wesko are the first signings.
“Together with Charly, we’ve already seen incredible success with Warren Zeiders—a newcomer to the scene who has quickly made a big impact,” Warner Records’ co-Chairman & CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck and co-Chairman & COO Tom Corson said. “The underscore team shares the same dedication we have when it comes to artist development and building meaningful and lasting careers, making it a no brainer to expand our partnership so we can support even more special artists. Dipper and Wesko are two genuinely talented, hard-working musicians with bright futures ahead, and we look forward to collaborating with underscore to bring even more great music to fans around the world."
Salvatore, whose management clients include Priscilla Block and Dalton Dover, heaped praise on Bay-Schuck and Corson, saying "They've been incredible partners with Warren, and there's no one else I'd want to be running alongside as we take this exciting next step in the underscore works journey.”
A native of College Station, Texas, Dipper got his start posting covers and original songs on TikTok. He recently released his debut EP, Evergreen, featuring his first single, “She’s Got Wings.” He recently signed a global publishing deal with Bailey Zimmerman, The Core Entertainment and Warner Chappell Music.
Hailing from Kenansville, N.C., Wesko has spent the last four years playing gigs with his band and writing songs while working as a a foreman for an erosion control company and studying at the University of Mount Olive.
Sony Music Pubishing is on a hot streak this week, winning top honors across Nashville’s ASCAP, SESAC and BMI awards earlier this week, as well as the 57th Annual CMA Awards on 11/8.
The pubco earned Publisher of the Year at both ASCAP’s Country Music Awards and SESAC’s Nashville Music Awards, marking the first time since 2016 that the company won both awards in the same year.
“Congratulations to all Sony Music Publishing’s songwriter honorees – we are grateful to support you and your incredible songs. I also want to thank our amazing team for continuing to go above and beyond for SMP’s songwriters,” said SMP Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston.
Additionally, Ashley Gorley was named ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year for the tenth time and won Song of the Year for his contributions on Morgan Wallen’s “You Proof.” Charlie Handsome also earned recognition at BMI’s Country Awards for his work on “You Proof,” taking home Song of the Year.
At SESAC’s Nashville Music Awards, Jon Nite won Songwriter of the Year for Tyler Hubbard’s “Dancin’ in the Country,” and Song of the Year went to Josh Hoge for his contributions on Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown’s “Thank God.”
Meanwhile, Lainey Wilson had a big night at the CMAs with wins in five categories, setting a new one-year record for a female artist. She also won Musical event of the Year and Music Video of the Year alongside HARDY.
Following the 57th CMA Awards, BMLG’s Chairman/CEO Scott Borchetta and team celebrated Country Music’s biggest night during its annual after party.
The festivities boasted a star-studded guest list, including Carley Pearce—who performed “We Don’t Fight Anymore” during the ceremony alongside Chris Stapleton—as well as Brian Kelley and Lady A, who presented Single of the Year and New Artist of the Year, respectively.
Pictured above are (l-r) back row—LECADE, Chase McDaniel, Brett Young, Jackson Dean, Midland’s Jess Carson, Chris Janson, Kelley, Mae Estes, Riley Green, Midland’s Mark Wystrach; front row—Tiera Kennedy, Pearce, BMLG’s Borchetta and Sandi Spika Borchetta and Mackenzie Carpenter.
(l-r) McDaniel, Big Machine Records’ Clay Hunnicutt, Borchetta, Pearce, Big Machine Records’ Kris Lamb, Carson, Wystrach, Kelley, BMLG’s Allison Jones and Sandbox Entertainment’s Todd Ramey
(l-r) back row—Borchetta, BMLG Records’ Ryan Dokke, Jones, Greylan James; front row—Lady A and BMLG Records’ Jimmy Harnen.
Photo credit: Brett Carlsen and Jason Davis/Getty Images for BMLG
Lainey Wilson emerged as the evening's big winner at the Country Music Association Awards that took place Wednesday (11/8) at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.
The Broken Bow chanteuse walked away with five trophies—for Entertainer of the Year, Album, Musical Event, Music Video and, as in 2022, Female Vocalist. Jelly Roll, meanwhile, was crowned New Artist, and Chris Stapleton picked up the Male Vocalist honor for an astonishing seventh time (breaking his own 2022 record).
Tracy Chapman, whose "Fast Car" was introduced by Luke Combs to a grateful new generation, won Song of the Year for her 1988 breakthrough. She is the first Black songwriter to win in this category.
Other winners included Combs, HARDY, Old Dominion, Brothers Osbourne and Jenee Fleenor.
When accepting his award, Jelly Roll shouted out Zach Bryan, who was also nominated in the New Artist category, along with Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney and Hailey Whitters. "Zach Bryan, I think you are one of the hottest things on earth, not just country music," he said, continuing, "There is something poetic about a 39-year-old man winning New Artist of the Year... What’s in front of you is so much more important than what’s behind you. Let’s party, Nashville!”
WINNERS OF THE 2023 COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION AWARDS
Entertainer of the Year
Lainey Wilson
Single of the Year
"Fast Car," Luke Combs; producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton; mix engineer: Chip Matthews
Album of the Year
Bell Bottom Country, Lainey Wilson; producer: Jay Joyce; mix engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
Song of the Year
Luke Combs, “Fast Car”; songwriter: Tracy Chapman
Female Vocalist of the Year
Lainey Wilson
Male Vocalist of the Year
Chris Stapleton
Vocal Group of the Year
Old Dominion
Vocal Duo of the Year
Brothers Osborne
New Artist of the Year
Jelly Roll
Musical Event of the Year
“wait in the truck,” HARDY f/Lainey Wilson; producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells
Music Video of the Year
“wait in the truck,” HARDY f/Lainey Wilson; director: Justin Clough
Musician of the year
Jenee Fleenor (fiddle)
Seth England’s Big Loud Records is getting into business with longtime collaborators Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall to launch Big Loud Texas, for which the hit-making pair will be directly involved in signing and developing new artists. Randall has been named president of A&R for the imprint and will also produce acts for the label. Pictured shortly before whipping up some Texas BBQ on a grill fueled by back issues of our magazine are (l-r) Big Loud partner/producer/president of A&R Joey Moi, COO Austen Adams, SVP/GM Patch Culbertson, England, Lambert, Randall, Triple 8 Management’s Alena Moran, Big Loud SVP of A&R marketing Candice Watkins, Big Loud SVP of A&R Sara Knabe and Big Loud SVP of radio promotion Stacy Blythe.
“As a teenager chasing my dreams in the honky-tonks of Texas, Nashville seemed so far away,” says Lambert, who was born in the East Texas city of Longview. “Every time I’m back home I get to hear the incredible talent our state produces, and I feel a responsibility to help get more of those Texas voices heard. I’m really excited to team up with my buddy Jon Randall and Big Loud to do just that.”
Launched in 2015, Big Loud is home to stars such as Morgan Wallen, HARDY and Lauren Alaina. To date, the company has generated 18 #1 Country radio hits and more than 34 billion global on-demand streams.
Lambert, who is managed by Marion Kraft and repped by attorney Jess Rosen, has been working with Randall since 2015. The pair earned a Grammy nomination for their 2021 collaboration The Marfa Tapes, and Randall also co-produced Lambert’s 2022 album, Palomino. “I feel very blessed to share this full circle moment with one of my best pals, Miranda Lambert, and help some other dreamers chase their song around the world,” Randall says.
UTA has signed singer-songwriter duo The War and Treaty for worldwide representation in all areas.
Founded in 2014 by the husband-and-wife duo Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, The War and Treaty made their major label debut earlier this year with their critically acclaimed Lover’s Game via Mercury Nashville.
“I was immediately drawn to The War and Treaty for their commanding vocals and stunning harmonies,” said UTA Agent Buster Phillips.
“I am incredibly excited about our new partnership with UTA and to reunite with our long-term agent and friend, Buster Phillips,” shared Tanya. “The UTA team has embraced us like family,” added Michael.
The pair earned their first nomination for Vocal Duo of the Year at the upcoming CMA Awards, which they’re slated to perform at. Additionally, they recently earned Duo/Group of the Year for the second straight year at the AMAs, and have previously been recognized by the ACM, Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry.
Having headlined shows across the globe, the duo previously opened for the likes of Al Green, Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, John Legend, Lauren Daigle and Van Morrison, among others.
Seen hoping this photo wouldn’t land in our inbox are (l-r) Matthew Morgan, Jeffrey Hasson, Scott Clayton, Tanya and Michael, Phillips, Brian Hill and Lolo McClusky.
Photo credit: Courtesy of UTA
UMG Nashville has inked rising Country star Louie TheSinger.
“Having witnessed Louie's magnetic charisma translate on stages across this country and watch the rabid fan base he is building, I know that Louie is going to widen the country music audience,” said UMG Nashville Chair/CEO, Cindy Mabe. “I am so inspired by Louie's energy, purpose, and intention to expand the sound of country music through his own personal story and his songs.”
The Mexican singer-songwriter grew up in the streets of Fort Worth, Tex. and previously spent time in prison, where he vowed to change course. Since his release, he’s been focused on family while creating and performing music his own way.
“It’s crazy to think that I was just in a prison cell three years ago and now I’m signed to one of the biggest record labels in the world. Big thank you to Cindy Mabe and my new fam at UMG Nashville,” said Louie. “It’s time Mexican Americans have a voice in this country world and I’m here for it.”
Louie is currently in the studio working on new music that’s expected to arrive in the new year.
Seen celebrating before rounds of michelada were served are (l-r) manager Lorenzo Zenteno, UMGN’s Lori Christian, Mabe and Mike Harris, Louie, UMGN’s Chelsea Blythe and Rob Femia.
Photo credit: Chris Hollo
