MusicRow Announces Nominees for 38th Annual Awards, Voting Opens August 5

Nashville’s music community feels the beat of anticipation as MusicRow Magazine releases the full slate of nominees for its 38th Annual Awards. The trade publication’s longest‑running industry honors, backed by City National Bank, will now be decided by the very professionals who subscribe to the magazine.

On Wednesday, August 5, subscribers will receive an email ballot that opens the voting window. The window closes Friday, August 14 at 5 p.m., giving the industry a ten‑day period to cast its votes. Winners will be revealed across all MusicRow online platforms on Wednesday, September 2.

A dedicated committee selected the nominees by reviewing every project active between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026. For the Breakthrough Songwriter and Breakthrough Artist‑Writer categories, the panel also weighed nominations submitted from outside the subscriber pool, ensuring that emerging talent from the broader scene could be recognized. Male and Female Songwriter nominees were drawn from MusicRow’s Top Songwriter Chart, which ranks writers by airplay, digital sales and streaming activity.

Sixteen categories are open to subscriber voting, including Producer of the Year, Studio of the Year, Label Group of the Year, Talent Agency of the Year, Publishing Company of the Year, Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year, Breakthrough Artist‑Writer of the Year, Male Songwriter of the Year, Female Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year, Discovery Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Group/Duo Artist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year.

In addition to the main awards, MusicRow will honor Nashville’s most in‑demand studio players with the Top 10 Album All‑Star Musician Awards. These accolades spotlight musicians who contributed to albums that reached the Top 10 of Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart during the eligibility period.

The MusicRow Awards have been a cornerstone of Nashville’s music scene since their inception, celebrating songwriters, artists, producers and the other behind‑the‑scenes talent that fuels the industry. The 38th edition continues that tradition while emphasizing industry expertise through a subscriber‑driven voting model.

The announcement was made via a digital “Nominator” newsletter, which lists every nominee in the 16 categories. Subscribers who wish to participate can sign up through the link provided in the release.

At this stage, the nominees are confirmed, the voting window is open, and the awards ceremony is scheduled for September 2. No further dates or locations have been disclosed.

The 38th Annual MusicRow Awards will therefore proceed according to the established timeline: ballots sent August 5, voting closed August 14, winners announced September 2, with the Top 10 Album All‑Star Musician Awards presented alongside the main ceremony.