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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.

4X AMA winner Kane Brown released his seven-song collection entitled Mixtape Vol. 1 on RCA Nashville/Zone 4 today. Listen HERE.

The new EP includes four critically-acclaimed tracks that Brown has released since the start of 2020, along with three previously unreleased songs. Evening Star praised the release as a batch of “immediately memorable” songs, calling Brown a “new kind of star.” Brown co-wrote each selection on Mixtape Vol. 1, his first multi-song project since his Platinum-certified Billboard 200 chart-topping Experiment arrived in November 2018. 

The 26-year-old singer-songwriter’s EP leads with his two current singles, the Top 10-and-climbing country smash, “Cool Again,” and Brown’s recently-released Top 40 hit, “Be Like That,” a collaboration with Swae Lee and Khalid. “Cool Again,” which Billboard named “song of the summer,” 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. And further increasing his career benchmarks, the entertainer achieved his biggest first week launch at Top 40 Radio when “Be Like That” was No. 1 most added with 103 stations.

Also included on the seven-song set which exemplifies Brown’s “willingness to stretch boundaries and highly personal storytelling” (TIME) is his duet with John Legend, “Last Time I Say Sorry.” Of the song the two co-wrote, People commented, “John Legend and Kane Brown are a musical force to be reckoned with.” In April, shortly after the track’s release, Brown and Legend made their national television performance debut of “Last Time I Say Sorry” on the CBS primetime special, “ACM Presents: Our Country.” Click HERE to watch.

The Mixtape Vol. 1 selection “Worldwide Beautiful” was originally released on June 4, two days after the music industry’s sector-wide Blackout Tuesday. The ballad echoed with a message of acceptance and global peace, and it benefits Boys and Girls Club of America to advocate for justice and equality. Brown made the national television debut of “Worldwide Beautiful” at the 2020 BET Awards alongside Grammy-nominated gospel singer, Jonathan McReynolds. Click HERE to watch.

“Worship You,” “BFE” and “Didn’t Know What Love Was” round out Kane Brown’s new EP. The three new tracks offer another glimpse into the global entertainer’s singularly progressive sound and style, which Rolling Stone recently praised as a balance of “pop-leaning radio country, Randy Travis-inspired Nineties stylings, and pop-dominant R&B,” as he continues to shape the next generation of country music.

KANE BROWN’S MIXTAPE VOL. 1 TRACK LISTING:

1. “Cool Again” –  Songwriters: Kane Brown, Josh Hoge, Matt McGinn and Lindsay Rimes;Producer: Dann Huff and Lindsay Rimes

2. “Be Like That (feat. Swae Lee and Khalid)”- Songwriters: Kane Brown, Khalif Brown, Alexander “Eskeerdo” Izquierdo, Khalid Robinson, Ryan Vojtesak and Mike Will; Producer:Charlie Handsome

3. “Worship You”- Songwriters: Kane Brown, Alexander Izquierdo, Ryan Vojtesak and Matt McGinn; Producer: Dann Huff

4. “BFE” – Songwriters: Kane Brown, Sam Ellis, Matt McGinn, Taylor Phillips and Will Weatherly; Producer: Dann Huff

5. “Didn’t Know What Love Was” – Songwriters: Kane Brown, Shy Carter, Matt McGinn and Lindsay Rimes; Producer: Dann Huff and Lindsay Rimes

6. “Last Time I Say Sorry (with John Legend)” – Songwriters: John Stephens, Kane Brown, Matt McGinn and Andrew Goldstein; Producer:  Andrew Goldstein

7. “Worldwide Beautiful” – Songwriters: Kane Brown, Shy Carter, Ryan Hurd and Jordan Schmidt; Producer: Dann Huff

Multi-platinum, 4X AMA winner Kane Brown drops the track and music video of “Cool Again (feat. Nelly)” today. This new version of Brown’s critically-acclaimed Top 10 and climbing radio hit, “Cool Again,” features Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Nelly delivering a melodic rap verse and background vocals. Hear the track or  watch the video now.

With a career-high 103 opening-week stations onboard, Kane Brown’s “Cool Again” impacted country radio on April 23 and was that week’s most-added song. Also a career benchmark, the rise of “Cool Again” on Billboard and Country Aircheck/Mediabase airplay charts is Brown’s fastest to date.

Billboard praised the single, claiming it “will be a sure contender for song of the summer,” with iHeartRadio adding, “Kane was cool before and is back and cooler than ever with his new cold shoulder country bop.” E! News commented, “The country crooner continues his genre exploration with this new single about longing for a lost love that finds him singing over a breezy dance beat. The wistful wishing for better days sure hits a little differently in the current climate…”

“Cool Again” was followed by Brown’s collaboration with superstars Khalid and Swae Lee, “Be Like That,” which was the No. 1 most-added song at Top 40 radio on July 14, becoming Brown and Khalid’s biggest first-week launch at the format. The track continues to climb Billboard’s Pop Songs and Adult Top 40 charts.

Anchored in its longstanding belief that ‘it’s not about what you have, but about what you give,’ Crown Royal is giving back to support American heroes who are serving on the frontlines and minority veterans in their fight for social justice. The Crown Royal Purple Bag Project is enlisting the help of award-winning, multi-platinum country music artist Kane Brown and a team of veteran singer-songwriters to remix his number one single “Homesick,” launching on the one-year anniversary of the song’s original release date.  

For every stream of “Homesick (Veterans Version)” The Crown Royal Purple Bag Project will pack 1 bag to be donated as a care package to non-profit Packages From Home as part of the brand’s goal of one million bags by the end of 2020, and will donate $1 to community-based 501(c)3 organization Minority Veterans of America, up to $100,000. Crown Royal and Kane Brown are committed to supporting the American heroes who have generously served our country during these unprecedented times, including frontline and essential workers, first responders, healthcare workers, active-duty military servicemembers and those who are fighting for social justice in the minority veteran community.
 Originally written by Brown, “Homesick” was dedicated to members of the military. The “Homesick (Veterans Version)” track, available on streaming services on August 5th, is a reimagined ballad featuring the vocals of veterans Generald Wilson, Retired Petty Officer First Class, U.S. Navy; J.W. Cortés, Retired Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marines; and Sal Gonzalez, Retired Lance Corporal, U.S. Marines. It is available to stream HERE.

“I’m honored to partner with The Crown Royal Purple Bag Project and release ‘Homesick (Veterans Version)’ in recognition of the American servicemen and women who have given so generously during this difficult time,” said Kane Brown. “I also recognize the incredible importance of acknowledging the service our minority veterans have made for this country. My hope is this remix shines a light of hope and generosity, to uplift our heroes during this time.”

“As a veteran, it means so much to work with a brand that has a long history of supporting service men and women,” said J.W. Cortés. “I want this remix to serve as an anthem for all American heroes as we continue to work together for a better tomorrow.”
“Our iconic purple bag is a symbol of generosity and we’re proud that The Crown Royal Purple Bag Project can help give back to those who have given so much of themselves,” said Sophie Kelly, SVP, Whiskies, Diageo NA. “We’re so grateful for the support of Kane and our veteran partners, as well as Packages from Home and Minority Veterans of America, as we continue to give back to those who protect and serve our country.”

While life looks different today than it did before, Crown Royal hopes you raise a glass at home while listening to the “Homesick (Veterans Version).” As always, please drink responsibly.