May 2025

The Country Music Association and ABC announced that “The 59th Annual CMA Awards” will return to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19, airing live on ABC at 8/7c. Country Music’s Biggest Night™ will once again shine a spotlight on the genre’s most exceptional talent, honoring outstanding achievements and celebrating excellence across the industry. Details on the show’s host and ticket on-sale will be shared in the coming weeks. The ceremony will also be available to stream next day on Hulu. As previously announced, the eligibility period for the 2025 CMA Awards is July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. Prospective members must apply by Sunday, June 1 to qualify for full voting eligibility this year. The Nomination Ballot will open for voting Monday, July 7. “The 59th Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Alan Carter is the Director, and Jon Macks is the Head Writer. About the CMA Awards Since 1967, the CMA Awards have honored the outstanding achievements of Country Music’s most influential artists and creatives. What began as a small banquet has evolved into one of music’s most anticipated nights—uniting the Country Music community for a powerful, peer-voted celebration of the genre’s brightest stars, biggest moments, and most meaningful contributions. As the longest-running annual music awards program on network television, the CMA Awards shine an international spotlight on the creative excellence and cultural impact of Country Music. Produced by the Country Music Association and airing on ABC since 2006, the show serves as a cornerstone of CMA’s year-round mission to support and elevate the format. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

Today a new beacon of hope has been birthed. The debut album from Sammyfunk – aptly titled We Are Sammyfunk – has arrived on digital platforms across the globe. Led by eccentric rock n’ roll front-man Sammy T. Taylor the album is expansive despite its relatively short track of list of 8 songs. With the album’s release, the Spanish quartet (plus a man in a cheap monkey suit), have shared an animated video for the album’s third single, “Cockney Gangster,” which transports The Pussycats to a Kray twins pub in East London. Watch + share the video here. Discussing the single Taylor notes, “‘Cockney Gangster’ was recorded to sound like a mid-90’s Britpop stomper (a genre I’m a huge fan of). The verses mimic a schoolyard style teasing rhyme, with their simple repeating melody and aloof young man arrogance. In all honesty, the chorus was an excuse (I hope) to yell the word ‘cock!’ on the radio. Of course it is only the first half of the word ‘cockney’.. but the way the word is split up by a whole 4 beat long bar of music, it comes out as ‘cock-(2..3..4..)-ney! Gangster!’ Cock-genius. And totally dumb at the same time. It’s more silly good times from Sammyfunk. But this time with louder guitars. And a rude word.” The son of another eccentric front-man and Spanish music legend – a fact Sammy did not discover until he was 30 years old – about a decade ago Sammy thought ‘oh ok, fuck it’ and moved to his father’s home country to find and form a ‘great rock n roll band’. The Seville based rock ‘supergroup’ was called Los Labios (The Lips). Sammy was highly praised in particular for his live performances with Los Labios, indeed it was enough to quickly persuade Lenny Kravitz, who saw him perform live at a mutual friend’s birthday party, to invite his band to record their first (and only) album in is multi-million dollar private studio in the Bahamas in 2016. The first act to ever do so except for Lenny himself. They remain friendly to this day, and the Sammyfunk album was produced by one of Lenny’s musicians and closest friends Yianni Giannakopoulos, and mixed back in Lenny’s studio by Craig Ross, L.K.’s lead guitarist/producer for the last 30 years. “‘We Are Sammyfunk’ was recorded in parts, over nearly 2 years in studios in LA, London, Spain and the Bahamas. Despite its 8 songs and relatively short running time it bounces around musical genres in an almost lunatic way – 2 funk songs, 2 country songs, 2 Britpop songs, a Bowie tribute, and a pop song about a Spanish Gypsy girl obsessed with hip-hop. Yes, there is a rap in that one. It’s a total genre clusterf**k, but that’s exactly the way I planned it,” continues Taylor. “Each song on the record is sung by a totally different ‘character,’ even accents are changed freely (screw it, I say- it’s only rock n roll..) After being ‘trapped’ in a straight-up rock band for most of last decade, with this record I wanted to show some of the different sides of me as a writer/performer, some of my different vocal styles, and my eclectic music genre fandoms. Be thankful there’s no death metal on there though, cause I like that too! Hmmm ..maybe on Sammyfunk II tho…..?”… To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

A testament to not settling for anything less than his truest form of self-expression, Jedd Hughes’s latest album, Nightshades, finds the Australia-born, Nashville-based songwriter and musician’s technicolor musical world blossoming into its fullest potential. Combining mesmerizingly deep and inspiring songwriting with heartbreakingly beautiful guitar playing, carrying listeners to a multitude of unique sonic landscapes, full of witty yet introspective lyrics and lilting, poignant tales of life—not unlike some of his lauded songwriter collaborators, Rodney Crowell, Jim Lauderdale, and Guy Clark, to name a few. “I came over here to make my own music––that was my dream,” Hughes says of his journey from a town of just over a thousand residents in Quorn, Australia, to the bustling music industry of Nashville, Tennessee. “I started suppressing that dream for a while in the midst of defining my artistry relative to what commerce driven aspects pushed for. To make my own music, I had to figure out what that even was. I had to get some confidence, to try it again, and believe in myself.” Recently, in a recording session among icons Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, and Sam Bush, Hughes had an epiphany. “I was just sitting in the room, thinking, ‘How the hell did I get from the middle of nowhere to moments like these?’” As it turns out, blazing your own path and sticking to it leads to higher heights, legendary opportunities, and the ability to carve out a singular place for one’s artistry, as Hughes has done with Nightshades. And in true fashion, the powers that be who are looking for that trailblazing authenticity tend to see it shining bright and true. Nightshades is set to be one of the inaugural releases on Truly Handmade Records, a division of Guy Clark LLC formed by Clark’s grandchildren to support artists who, in their words, “live in the spirit of Guy Clark.” The late Clark was not only one of the world’s favorite songwriters, but a dear friend to Hughes—the two co-write songs, shared stages and studios, and generally enjoyed each other’s company—making this release of Nightshades a sweet, full-circle moment for the pair. Recently nominated by the Academy of Country Music for the Electric Guitarist of the Year award, Hughes will take the stage at the Grand Ole Opry on May 2 and again at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley on May 4th to celebrate the release of Nightshades and will be hitting the road as a member of Vince Gill’s band throughout 2025. Nightshades Tracklist: Meet Me In the Dark Underground Nightshades Stay, Don’t Be Cruel Loving You Is The Only Way To Fly Nothing’s Gonna Bring Me Down Kill My Blues Day After Day Riff Raff Aftermath To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

Nashville-based singer-songwriter and fastest rising voice in country music, Max McNown, released his new single “Same Questions” alongside a moving performance video via Fugitive Recordings x The Orchard x Columbia Records. “”When I wrote ‘Same Questions’ I knew I wanted to write a breakup song, but in a different way – through the lens of questions that get asked in relationships.” says McNown. “From “how many kids will we have” to the early basic questions, like “where are you from. Everyone and anyone in a relationship has asked some version of these questions throughout love and loss.” This new single follows his previously released “St. Helens Alpenglow” and Call Me If You Miss Me”, and continues the story of his stunning sophomore album Night Diving (released 24th January), a graceful fusion of folk and pop produced by Jamie Kenney (Colbie Caillat, Laci Kaye Booth). One of the “brightest newly minted stars to come out of Nashville in recent years” (GRAMMY.com), McNown recently made his UK and European debut at C2C: Country to Country Festival in London, Berlin and Rotterdam and will be returning overseas for a headlining tour across the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and France in December. Full dates can be found below. UK/EU TOUR DATES: 1st December – Dublin, Ireland – 3Olympia Theatre 2nd December – Glasgow, Scotland – Barrowland Ballroom 3rd December – Manchester, England – Albert Hall 5th December – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg 6th December – Hamburg, Germany – Fabrik 8th December – Paris, France – Alhambra 9th December – London, England – O2 Forum Kentish Town McNown recently made his TV debut on The Kelly Clarkson Show with a charming performance of his current radio single “Better Me For You (Brown Eyes)” – watch here. Just one month before, host and singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson covered his breakout RIAA Gold certified single “A Lot More Free” – watch here. His additional accolades include being named a 2025 Amazon Music Artist to Watch and Billboard’s Country Rookie of the Month for November of last year following his feature as CMT’s Next Up Now artist alongside the release of Willfully Blind. The EP landed as the Oregon-born artist made his AmericanaFest debut, and as we saw another major resurgence of his breakout hit single “A Lot More Free”. Since the single’s release it has earned Max a top spot as #1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart, peaked at #1 on the iTunes singles chart and #1 on the TikTok Breakthrough USA chart, climbed the Canadian Hot 100 chart, and was placed on Spotify’s Hot Country and Viral 50 global playlists. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

As part of its core mission, the Country Music Association celebrates excellence not just once a year, but all year long, throughout every corner of the Country Music industry. As the premier trade association for the genre, CMA honors the artists and creatives, broadcasters, touring professionals, and industry leaders whose contributions continue to shape and elevate Country Music worldwide. With the release of its 2025 awards ballot schedule—including key dates for the CMA Awards, Broadcast Awards, Touring Awards, International Awards, and Industry Honors—CMA underscores its ongoing commitment to recognizing the talent, dedication, and innovation that define the format. “Country Music runs on the passion and hard work of so many people—on stage, behind the scenes, and in communities around the world,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “At CMA, we take that to heart. Our awards and industry honors aren’t just about recognition; they’re about celebrating the people who make this genre what it is. We’re proud to shine a light on the incredible creativity, dedication, and teamwork that moves Country Music forward every day.” Below is a snapshot of key dates, eligibility requirements, and voting processes across CMA’s annual awards cycle. CMA Awards Balloting Timeline — “The 59th Annual CMA Awards” The CMA Awards celebrate excellence in Country Music across 12 categories, honoring artists, musicians, songwriters, producers, mix engineers, and music video directors who made a significant impact on the genre during the eligibility period. Eligibility Period: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 Voting Process: All CMA Professional voting members can vote in three rounds. As of today, 6,468 Professional members are eligible to vote. Nomination Ballot: Voters write in any artist or project they think deserves a nomination. If it fits the criteria for that category, it counts. Second Ballot: The top 20 vote-getters from the first round move forward (only the top 15 for Entertainer of the Year). Members can vote for up to five candidates in each category. Final Ballot: The top 5 from the second round become the official nominees—and CMA members vote one last time to choose the winners. Members can vote for one nominee in each category. Musician of the Year: Voting in all rounds remains limited to eligible voters in the following membership categories: Musician, Artist, Composer, and Producer/Engineer/Studio. Song of the Year: New this year, only eligible voters in the following membership categories can vote in the Nomination and Second Ballots: Composer, Artist, Musician, Producer/Engineer/Studio, and Publisher/PRO. All eligible voters can vote in the Final Ballot. All three rounds of voting will be conducted online by Election Services Corp. (ESC). To ensure ballot delivery, members are encouraged to add CMAAwardsVote@mg.electionservicescorp.com to their safe senders. All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization, Deloitte.   Nomination Ballot: Emailed to eligible CMA members on Monday, July 7 Closes Wednesday, July 16 at 6:00 PM/CT Second Ballot: Emailed on Tuesday, Aug. 5 Closes Monday, Aug. 18 at 6:00 PM/CT Final nominees in each of the 12 categories will be announced later this summer. Final Ballot: Emailed on Wednesday, Oct. 1 Closes Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 6:00 PM/CT Membership Deadline & Information: To vote in all three rounds, prospective CMA members must apply for membership by Sunday, June 1 at CMAmember.com… To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

Maverick Magazine takes a look at Wyatt Flores’ unfiltered honesty in country music and how that translates through to his lyricism and relatability. Wyatt Flores is not just another rising country star—he’s a storyteller whose music feels deeply personal, yet universally relatable. From his breakout single Please Don’t Go to his recent album Welcome to the Plains, Flores has proven that songwriting is his superpower. His music doesn’t rely on flashy production or radio-ready hooks; instead, it thrives on raw emotion, vulnerability, and an ability to put words to feelings that many struggle to express. What sets Flores apart is his willingness to dive into some of life’s darkest and most difficult topics. He has been open about his struggles with mental health, using his music as both an outlet and a way to connect with others who are fighting similar battles. Songs like Running Out of Time and Half Life reflect on the weight of anxiety, the fear of not making the most of the time we have, and the internal struggles that often go unseen. Rather than shying away from these conversations, Flores leans into them, providing a soundtrack for those searching for understanding and solace. His breakout hit Please Don’t Go, which addresses themes of loss and emotional turmoil, resonated deeply with listeners, many of whom have shared personal stories about how the song helped them cope with grief and depression. The response to his music isn’t just about streaming numbers or chart success—it’s about the way people feel seen in his lyrics. In a genre that often thrives on themes of small-town nostalgia and honky-tonk nights, Flores’ introspective songwriting offers something refreshingly different: a space where pain, healing, and self-discovery are just as much a part of the story. In an industry where commercial appeal often overshadows authenticity, Flores has taken a different path. His music explores love, loss, mortality, and self-reflection without pretense, blending the tradition of country storytelling with a modern rawness that feels completely his own. This article examines what makes Wyatt Flores stand out in today’s country music world, how his songwriting connects so deeply with listeners, and why he’s become one of the most promising voices in the genre—one who isn’t afraid to turn personal struggles into powerful songs that resonate far beyond country’s typical borders. Writing from the Heart For Wyatt Flores, songwriting isn’t just about crafting melodies—it’s about making sense of life’s hardest moments. His music doesn’t rely on overused country tropes of backroads and beer cans. Instead, it leans into something far more powerful: raw, unfiltered emotion. He takes real experiences, often painful and deeply personal, and turns them into songs that feel like intimate conversations rather than polished performances. His ability to capture vulnerability so authentically is what has drawn such a dedicated audience, particularly among those who find solace in his lyrics. Growing up in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Flores was surrounded by country, folk, and Red Dirt influences, but he was never just a product of the sounds around him—he was a storyteller in the making. His music carries the weight of lived experience, and it’s clear that he approaches songwriting as a form of catharsis. Unlike many emerging artists who focus on radio-friendly hooks, Flores allows his lyrics to lead, often prioritizing depth and emotional connection over commercial appeal… To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com