AN AWARD-WINNING CMA GALLERY

Biz heavies and top artists got fancy for the flashbulbs on CMA night, then sent us the pics so we could append our ridiculous captions. Mosey along to the award winners here.

Why are Mercury boss Tyler Arnold, Post Malone and Republic’s Monte Lipman standing in this shower? A clause in Posty's contract stipulates that his beard must shampooed by senior executives at least once per fiscal quarter.

Warner Music Nashville and Warner Records keep the party going as Cody Johnson celebrates his Album of the Year award for Leather. Seen brainstorming the follow-up volume, Ultrasuede, are WMN Co-Chair/Co-President Gregg Nadel, Johnson, Co-Chair/Co-President Cris Lacy and Warner Nashville artist Ashley McBryde.


WMN’s Nadel and Lacy gather for this photo op with Bailey Zimmerman and Warner Records Co-Chairman/CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck and Co-Chairman/COO Tom Corson, both of whom erroneously believed they could handle the "authentic" hot chicken. They are said to be recovering in seclusion.

Republic bro-bosses Monte and Avery Lipman are pictured at Big Loud HQ with Stephen Wilson Jr. Word has it the gifted young photographer who captured this tableau goes by the improbable moniker S.A. England.

Seen backstage at the Brooklyn Bowl for BBR Music Group/BMG’s 14th Annual Pre-CMA Party on 11/19 are (l-r) BMG’s Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Thomas Coesfeld and Jon Loba. Later, Loba's bowtie got its own Instagram account and was liked by a Kardashian. Photo: Keith Griner

Sony Music Nashville commemorated its CMA haul with a downtown bash. Seen just before a HITS staffer bum-rushed the pedal steel and was escorted out by security are (l-r) SMN EVP and COO/incoming President Ken Robold, SVP of A&R/incoming Chairman & CEO Taylor Lindsey, Director of Digital Marketing and Artist Development Parker Stacey, PunchBowl Entertainment manager/owner Juli Griffith, CMA New Artist of the Year Megan Moroney, SMN Chairman & CEO Randy Goodman, PunchBowl's Hayley Corbett and Columbia SVP of A&R Julian Swirsky. Photo: Kaylee Steffel

BMLG first-time nominee Riley Green took home a trophy for Musical Event of the Year. Pictured before piling into a waiting Maserati to do some parking-lot donuts are (back row, l-r) Chase McDaniel, Shaylen, Chris Janson, Jackson Dean, LECADE, Green, Conner Smith, Ryan Hurd, Greylan James, Badflower’s Josh Katz, Noah Hicks and (front row, l-r) Mae Estes, Thomas Rhett, BMLG topper Scott Borchetta and his wife, Sandi Spika Borchetta, Carly Pearce and Mackenzie Carpenter. Photo: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images for BMLG

Over at Nashville’s Blanco, CAA’s CMA Awards viewing party, The CORE’s Brittani Johnson, Left | Right’s John Meneilly, The CORE’s Jon Borris and Big Loud’s Tracker Johnson toast to successfully keeping us out of this party. Photo: Erika Goldring Photography

Seen feeling extra lucky that we weren’t allowed in are (l-r) Swirsky and Moroney.

WME brought the party to Sixty Vines at Fifth and Broad in Nashville to celebrate 13 performances and six award wins, including Female, Male, Single, Song and Video of the Year. Pictured are (l-r) KP Entertainment’s Kerri Edwards, CMA Awards co-host Luke Bryan and co-Head of WME’s Nashville office Jay Williams. Later, Cindy Mabe counted the vines and found that there were only 57, thus securing a sizable discount on the bar tab. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for WME


THE HITS LIST TURKEY TROT
...with all the trimmings (11/22a)
AN AWARD-WINNING CMA GALLERY
Cowboy hats and funny caps (11/21a)
NEAR TRUTHS: WITCHING HOUR
It's not easy being green. (11/21a)
NEAR TRUTHS: REALIGNMENT AND RECOGNITION
Underscoring the year's biggest stories (11/19a)
NEAR TRUTHS: THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Nervous time in the music biz and beyond. (11/16a)
NOW WHAT?
We have no fucking idea.
COUNTRY'S NEWEST DISRUPTOR
Three chords and some truth you may not be ready for.
AI IS ALREADY EATING YOUR LUNCH
The kids can tell the difference... for now.
WHO'S BUYING THE DRINKS?
That's what we'd like to know.
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