Author: Lauren Zimmerman

Sony Music Nashville artists received a collective 19 nominations for the 56^th ACM Awards, announced Friday. Maren Morris is one of the most nominated artists and the most nominated female with six nods. Miranda Lambert received five nominations, Luke Combs earned three, Kane Brownand Old Dominion each received two, and Brooks & Dunn and Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey earned one.

Morris is nominated for Female Artist of the Year, which she won for the first time in 2020. Her No. 1 smash “The Bones” is nominated for Single and Song of the Year (where she earns an additional nomination as a songwriter), while her social justice anthem “Better Than We Found It” is nominated for Music Video of the year. She is also nominated in Group of the Year with The Highwomen.

Lambert continues her run as the most nominated female in ACM history and is nominated for Female Artist of the Year, a category she has won a record-setting nine times. Her No. 1 hit single “Bluebird” is also nominated for Single, Song, and Music video of the Year. Lambert also receives an additional nomination as a co-writer on the track.

Combs is again nominated for Entertainer and Male Artist of the Year, the latter Award he took home in 2020. He also earned his first nomination for “Music Event of the Year” for his No. 1 hit “Does to ME” featuring Eric Church. Should Combs be named Entertainer of the Year, he would also receive ACM’s Triple Crown Award.

Brown earns ACM Album of the Year and Music Video of the Year nominations for Mixtape Vol. 1 and “Worldwide Beautiful,” respectively.

Old Dominion are again nominated for Group and Song of the Year (“Some People Do”), where they are the reigning winners. The group’s Matthew Ramsey also earns a songwriting nomination for “Some People Do.”

The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) today announced a new partnership with Sony Music Group (SMG), making them the first music company to support the museum’s mission and values ahead of its opening on January 18, 2021. As part of the partnership, developed through Sony Music’s Global Social Justice Fund, a Sony Music Scholars Black Music Certification Program and Scholarship will be created to make an impact on the community through music education. 

The scholarship program has been developed to introduce students to the music industry through the lens of African American history and culture. Together, the NMAAM and SMG will partner on a curriculum, course and certification dedicated to Black music culture and business providing students a window into all facets of the music business and related careers. 

“We are thrilled to partner with Sony Music Group to grow the museum and invest in the Nashville community,” said H. Beecher Hicks III, president, and CEO of NMAAM. “Sony Music’s partnership helps us tell a unique story of Black music executives and also looks to the future to help create the next generation of leaders in music. We’re excited to finally be able to share the museum with the world later this month.” 

Additionally, SMG will underwrite the museum’s “Business Behind the Music” exhibit at launch. The exhibit will feature Black music executives as well as record labels and publishers that have played a significant role throughout American history. Celebrating Black music business pioneers, the exhibit will be one of the most complete and up-to-date collections of its kind. 

“NMAAM is an important institution, to Nashville and to our entire industry, we’re very pleased that we can help bring the museum to life and further our shared mission of impacting communities through music education,” said Towalame Austin, Executive Vice President, Philanthropy & Social Impact at Sony Music Group. “By telling the complex, overlooked, and expansive history of Black artists and songwriters across all genres of music in this country, NMAAM is adding to Nashville’s already rich and growing arts community and is shining a light on key parts of our music history.” 

Those wishing to visit the museum should visit the website www.NMAAM.org, to stay updated on when tickets will become available.

Sony Music Nashville artists were big winners at Wednesday’s “54th Annual CMA Awards,” sweeping seven categories. This is the largest CMA Awards tally the label group has achieved since 2006. SMN scores seven out of the 11 possible categories.

Most-awarded of the evening, Maren Morris took home trophies for Female Vocalist of the Year as well as Single and Song of the Year for her 3X Platinum multi-format No. 1 “The Bones.” Morris performed a reimagined version of her record-setting smash “The Bones.”

Winning Male Vocalist and Album of the Year, Luke Combs made the television debut of “Cold As You” off his new No. 1, record-setting deluxe album What You See Ain’t Always What You Get.

This year’s most-nominated artist with seven nods, Miranda Lambert won Music Video of the Year for her No. 1 hit “Bluebird.” Lambert, who holds the record for the most nominations for a female artist in history with 55 career nominations, made her national television debut of her latest single “Settling Down.” She remains the most decorated female artist in CMA history.

Old Dominion, who scored their third consecutive CMA Award for Vocal Group of the Year, paid tribute to “Urban Cowboy” with their rendition of “Looking For Love.”

Following is a list of Sony Music Nashville’s winners at “The 54th Annual CMA Awards”:

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
•    “The Bones” – Maren Morris 
Producer: Greg Kurstin 
Mix Engineer: Greg Kurstin 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
•    What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs 
Producer: Scott Moffatt 

SONG OF THE YEAR  
•    “The Bones”  
Songwriters: Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR 
•    Maren Morris  

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
•    Luke Combs  

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
•    Old Dominion   

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
•    “Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert 
Director: Trey Fanjoy 

Sony Music Nashville earned 22 overall nominations for “The 54th Annual CMA Awards.” Miranda Lambert, Luke Combs, and Maren Morris were this year’s top three nominees. Old Dominion, Brooks & Dunn, and Tenille Townes were also nominated.

Sony Music Nashville announces the signing of Andrew Jannakos to its RCA Nashville imprint today.

“I’m so excited to be starting this journey with Sony Music Nashville!” shares Jannakos. “I could not be more grateful to my team and my family, who have supported me from the beginning. It just goes to show that hard work and dedication pay off.”

Flowery Branch, Georgia native Andrew Jannakos grew up in a small-town neighborhood where barbecue parties and backyard soccer games were everyday events. Today, that sense of community translates to his nearly one million followers across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Since Jannakos first teased his breakout single, “Gone Too Soon,” in a viral clip now viewed over ten million times, that community is only getting stronger.

Many of Jannakos’ initial followers knew him for his illustrious run on season 16 of NBC’s The Voice, but after his girlfriend (now wife) posted a video of him cooking dinner while singing along to “Gone Too Soon” to his TikTok in July 2020, the video racked up 250K likes by the next morning, and ultimately earned him more than half a million followers on the platform.

Upon the official release of “Gone Too Soon” to streaming platforms and digital retailers in September, Jannakos debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artist Chart, while the track debuted at #12 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and within the Hot 100. “Gone Too Soon” has amassed nearly 14 million on-demand streams to date and continues to receive a strong response from listeners.

On Wednesday’s CMT Music Awards show co-hosted by Kane Brown, Sony Music Nashville won two awards!

GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR 
Old Dominion – “One Man Band” 

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Chris Young – “Drowning”

Check out performances from the show from our own Brooks & Dunn and Luke Combs, Maren Morris and Kane Brown.

Get albums from some of your favorite Sony Music Nashville artists on iTunes for a great price now through October 15th.

Kane Brown – Mixtape Vol. 1
iTunes

Maren Morris – GIRL
iTunes

Miranda Lambert – Wildcard
iTunes

Old Dominion – Old Dominion
iTunes

Kane Brown – Experiment
iTunes

Sony Music Nashville earned 12 trophies during the 55th ACM Awards Wednesday, the most of any label group, and the most in SMN’s 30-year history. 

Luke Combs was named Male Artist of the Year and won Album of the Year for his No. 1, Platinum-selling LP What You See Is What You Get. Combs performed his new single “Better Together” from the winning project at Nashville’s Bluebird Café, as well as his 4x Platinum hit “When It Rains It Pours.”

Maren Morris received her first Female Artist of the Year Award after being an early winner for Music Event of the Year (“Fooled Around and Fell In Love” with Miranda Lambert, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, and Caylee Hammack). Morris took the stage at the historic Ryman Auditorium to perform her current single “To Hell & Back.”

Old Dominion nabbed their third consecutive Group of the Year Award and also earned their first-ever Song of the Year Award for their Platinum No. 1 hit “One Man Band.” The group’s Matthew Ramsey, Brad Tursi, and Trevor Rosen earn additional accolades as co-writers on the track. The quintet performed a medley of No. 1 hits from the Ryman Auditorium that included “One Man Band,” “Written in the Sand,” “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart,” “Snapback,” “Break Up with Him,” “Song for Another Time,” and “Make It Sweet.”

Tenille Townes was also an early winner, earning New Female Artist of the Year and Music Event of the Year accolades. She performed her debut single “Somebody’s Daughter” from the Ryman Auditorium.

Miranda Lambert extended her streak as ACM’s most decorated artist ever with her win for Music Event of the Year. She performed her No. 1 smash hit “Bluebird” with co-writers Natalie Hemby and Luke Dick at the Bluebird Café.

Kane Brown performed his unifying single “Worldwide Beautiful” from the Grand Ole Opry House stage with members of the Belmont University Chorale.

All photos credit Getty Images/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music

Sony Music Nashville has earned 22 overall nominations for “The 54th Annual CMA Awards.”

Miranda Lambert, Luke Combs, and Maren Morris are this year’s top three nominees. Old Dominion, Brooks & Dunn, and Tenille Townes are also nominated. 

Lambert is not only the most-nominated artist with seven nods, but also sets a record for the most career nominations ever from a female artist with 55. In addition to her fourth Entertainer of the Year nod, Lambert is nominated the 14th consecutive time for Female Vocalist of the Year; Album of the Year for her critically-lauded No. 1 project Wildcard; Musical Event of the Year for “Fooled Around and Fell In Love” with Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, and Caylee Hammack; and Music Video, Single, and Song of the Year for her No. 1 hit “Bluebird,” which she co-wrote with Natalie Hemby and Luke Dick.

Combs notched six nominations: Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year (What You See Is What You Get), Song of the Year (“Even Though I’m Leaving” performed by Combs and “I Hope You’re Happy Now” performed by Carly Pearce and Lee Brice), Male Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year (“Beer Never Broke My Heart”). Combs—who is the reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year as well as Song of the Year recipient—is also celebrating his record-extending ninth consecutive chart-topper, “Lovin’ On You,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart this week.

Morris’ GIRL was named Album of the Year in 2019, and this year she earned nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year and Song of the Year for her Platinum single “The Bones,” plus two tracks in contention for Musical Event of the Year—her alternate version of “The Bones” with Hozier and her appearance on Miranda Lambert’s “Fooled Around And Fell In Love.” Additionally, “The Bones” is No. 1 at Mainstream A.C. radio this week, marking the third time Morris has reached the top of the airplay radio charts with this track. 

Old Dominion is nominated for the first time in the Album of the Year category for their self-titled studio album, which they co-produced with Shane McAnally. They also earn their fifth consecutive Vocal Group of the Year nomination, which they have won the past two years.

Brooks & Dunn earn their 21st Vocal Duo of the Year nomination, a category they have swept 14 times.

Tenille Townes earns her first CMA nomination ever for Musical Event of the Year (“Fooled Around and Fell In Love” with Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, and Caylee Hammack).
“THE 54th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS” – FINAL NOMINEES (by ballot category order):   

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
•    Eric Church
•    Luke Combs  
•    Miranda Lambert   
•    Carrie Underwood  
•    Keith Urban   

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer 
•    “10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber) 
Producer: Dan Smyers 
Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano
•    “Beer Never Broke My Heart” – Luke Combs 
Producer: Scott Moffatt 
Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley  
•    “Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert 
Producer: Jay Joyce 
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce  
•    “The Bones” – Maren Morris 
Producer: Greg Kurstin 
Mix Engineer: Greg Kurstin 
•    “I Hope” – Gabby Barrett 
Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale 
Mix Engineer: Buckley Miller 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist and Producer(s) 
•    Heartache Medication – Jon Pardi
Producers: Bart Butler, Ryan Gore, Jon Pardi 
•    Never Will – Ashley McBryde 
Producers: Jay Joyce, John Peets 
•    Old Dominion – Old Dominion 
Producers: Shane McAnally, Old Dominion 
•    What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs 
Producer: Scott Moffatt 
•    Wildcard – Miranda Lambert 
Producer: Jay Joyce 

SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Songwriters 
•    “Bluebird”  
Songwriters: Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert 
•    “The Bones”  
Songwriters: Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz 
•    “Even Though I’m Leaving”  
Songwriters: Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Ray Fulcher 
•    “I Hope You’re Happy Now”  
Songwriters: Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Carly Pearce, Jonathan Singleton 
•    “More Hearts Than Mine”  
Songwriters: Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis, Derrick Southerland 

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR  
•    Miranda Lambert   
•    Ashley McBryde  
•    Maren Morris  
•    Kacey Musgraves  
•    Carrie Underwood   

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
•    Eric Church   
•    Luke Combs 
•    Thomas Rhett  
•    Chris Stapleton  
•    Keith Urban    

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
•    Lady A 
•    Little Big Town  
•    Midland  
•    Old Dominion   
•    Rascal Flatts  

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR  
•    Brooks & Dunn  
•    Brothers Osborne  
•    Dan + Shay   
•    Florida Georgia Line  
•    Maddie & Tae

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artists and Producer(s) 
•    “10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber) 
Producer: Dan Smyers  
•    “Be A Light” – Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith Urban 
Producer: Dann Huff 
•    “The Bones” – Maren Morris with Hozier 
Producer: Greg Kurstin 
•    “Fooled Around And Fell In Love” – Miranda Lambert (feat. Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes & Caylee Hammack) 
Producer: Jay Joyce 
•    “I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice 
Producer: busbee 

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Director 
•    “10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber) 
Director: Patrick Tracy 
•    “Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert 
Director: Trey Fanjoy 
•    “Homemade” – Jake Owen 
Director: Justin Clough 
•    “I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice 
Director: Sam Siske 
•    “Second One To Know” – Chris Stapleton 
Director: David Coleman 

Multi-Platinum country superstar Kane Brown shares his vibrant, retro-style music video for “Be Like That” together with Grammy-nominated artists Swae Lee and Khalid today. The clip, which was directed by Alex Alvga, features each artist performing in various backdrops of a 1940s-era motel in Sun Valley, California. Watch it HERE.

“Be Like That,” which arrived on July 10 and all three artists had a hand in writing, continues to climb Billboard’s Pop Songs and Adult Top 40 charts. It provided both Brown and Khalid with their biggest first-week launches at Top 40 radio when it became the No. 1 most-added song at the format with 103 stations. The milestone matched the success of Brown’s other current single, the Top 10-and-climbing country smash, “Cool Again,” which was the most-added country song its initial week of release with a career-high 103 stations onboard, and has become Brown’s fastest rising single to date.

The “Be Like That” video is arriving on the heels of Brown’s critically-acclaimed EP, Mixtape Vol. 1, which the 4X AMA-winner unveiled last Friday. The seven-track set, which the Evening Standard praised as “immediately memorable,” includes four previously released songs: “Cool Again,” “Be Like That,” “Worldwide Beautiful,” and “Last Time I Say Sorry,” Brown’s “gorgeous ballad” (Billboard) with 11X Grammy-winner John Legend. It also introduces three new songs: “BFE,” “Didn’t Know What Love Was,” and “Worship You.” Brown also dropped the track and music video for “Cool Again (feat. Nelly)” on August 7.