Who are the 2019 CMA Songwriters?

Once again the CMA Songwriters Series is back the night before Country 2 Country in March 2019 and once again it boasts a stellar line-up! As always there are a few familiar names such as Cam and Jimmie Allen, two artists who have been over to the UK in the past few months or so but like always the names that catch my eye are the writers behind the hits, more often than not people look at the line up and think “I’ve never heard of him/her” but there are two names in particular that jumped out at me and they are Ross Copperman and Laura Veltz and though you may not have heard of them, you will most definitely have heard of their songs! So lets see shall we? Here’s a who’s who of the 2019 CMA Songwriters Series!

Ross Copperman

Ross is much like Shane McAnally in the way that he always seems to have multiple songs that he has written or produced in the top ten at any one time, in fact Shane is someone he regularly co-writes with. He’s had success as an artist but chart success has come since he decided to focus on writing songs for other artists, penning several number 1’s including 3 of Brett Eldredge’s songs, Keith Urban’s John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 and Kenny Chesney’s Setting The World On Fire, in fact by my calculation Ross has 17 number one hits to his name and he’s seen success as a producer as well having worked on the Nashville soundtrack’s, Dierks Bentley’s Riser and Black and Keith Urban’s song Female to name just a few! Luckily Nashville and the rest of the Country music community have recognised what a prolific songwriter he is and he’s won ACM and BMI Songwriter of the year back in 2016 and received 2 CMA Triple Play Awards in the same year for having six number one’s in a twelve month period… it doesn’t get much better than that, Ross Copperman’s the real deal!

Laura Veltz

I always think of Laura Veltz as a newish songwriter when her name comes up on the credits of songs I play on my radio show, but in fact Laura Veltz catalogue of songs include some of the biggest names in Country Music today, from Reba to Maren, to record breaker Kane Brown. Laura Veltz is now one of the most respected songwriters in Nashville today! Laura has a number of writing credits on Carly Pearce’s album who we will see on the C2C Main Stage this year as well as credits on Maren Morris’ Hero including the hits I Could Use a Love Song and Rich, she’s also written for Dan and Shay, Brothers Osborne, Dierks Bentley and Little Big Town, she even co-wrote one of my favourite Eli Young Band songs Drunk Last Night with Josh Osborne. Signed to Big Machine Music Publishing Laura Veltz has a great team behind her and is a natural songsmith, however she began her career singing in a family band called Cecillia which was signed to Atlantic Records, with experience in all aspects of the industry Veltz has now well and truly found her calling as a hit Nashville songwriter. We are in for a treat at the CMA Songwriters Series and I can’t wait!

Cam

On to what appears to be our most popular performer judging off social media. Cam is no stranger to these shores and after she was announced on the main stage of C2C many were very happy. The first time I saw her was when she was supporting Carrie Underwood when she played a free apple music event and I was of course blown away by her vocals. But Cam is not just an artist, she has in the past penned songs for such artists as Miley Cyrus and more recently for Sam Smith. Most Country fans will know her for 2015 record Untamed which produced the singles Burning House which got to number 2 on the hot Country Songs and Airplay charts and Mayday. She has since followed up this release with the 2017 single Diane which is written in response to Dolly Parton’s Jolene. She has shared the stage with pop stars such as Sam Smith, Harry Styles and Alicia Keys and Country royalty such as George Strait, Tim McGraw and Faith hill. Now we get a second chance to see her perform the night before C2C!

Jimmie Allen

Jimmie has recently had chart success when his debut single Best Shot went to number 1 on the Country airplay chart. He’s just returned from a trip to the UK as he case and played a number of shows as part of Country Music Week. His debut album Mercury Lane, which he named in tribute to the street he grew up on, has just been released and draws influence from Country, Pop and R&B. Just this morning Jimmie Allen has been announced as one of the Spotlight Stage artists at C2C.

Travis Denning

Travis Denning is a new name to me. However upon doing my research he is a rising star in the states having opened for Alan Jackson and Cole Swindell. He moved to Nashville in 2014 and within a year signed a publishing deal with Jeremy Stover’s RED Creative Group. He has just released his debut single “David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs” and is currently touring with Lanco on their Hallelujah Nights Tour.

The CMA Songwriters Series is now in it’s 14th Season and has presented over 100 shows across the US, UK and on the continent, it has brought us some of the biggest writers in country music today and this year shall be no different! Tickets are on sale on Friday the 7th December from AXS and Gigs and Tours.