State Champ Radio Blog
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Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr. took the CMA Awards audience on an emotional walk Wednesday night (Nov. 19).
Standing on a set made to look like a lush field of wheat at dusk, both country stars’ voices sounded raw and gorgeous over an emotional accompaniment provided by the band on stage with them. ‘Boozey and Wilson took turns singing verses before joining together at the end, crooning, “So let’s stay out here for a while, my friend/ Let’s stay and walk the line ’til the end/ I know you’re tired, hell, so am I/ We can’t take the same road again.”
The ballad was featured in this year’s film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk, a harrowing tale about a dystopian society in which a selection of young men enter an annual contest in the hopes of winning fame and fortune, which they can only secure after outliving the rest of the competitors on a days-long walk across the country. “I feel so excited,” ‘Boozey told Billboard on the CMAs red carpet shortly before the show. “I think it’s going to be a really special performance, doing it with my boy.”
“Took a Walk” wasn’t the only performance Wilson delivered Wednesday night. Shortly before taking the stage with his duet partner, he did a solo, stripped-down rendition of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” for the crowd at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Have you played Billboard’s “A Little Bit Country” Crossword?Play now!
Also speaking to Billboard before the ceremony, Wilson explained how his two performances were linked. “I’m a big Stephen King fan,” he said. “I play this song called ‘Stand By Me,’ which I’m playing tonight as well, because of a movie called Stand By Me based off a Stephen King [story called The Body]. It’s been haunting me my whole life.”
“Fast-forward these years later, I get invited to sing this song and write this song with Shaboozey for a Stephen King movie called The Long Walk,” he added on the carpet. “The world is weird, life is weird and I’m just here for it.”
Both stars were nominated for the same award this year, receiving nods for new artist of the year. The prize ultimately went to Zach Top.
The ceremony comes as Shaboozey is working on a new album. In October, he exclusively told Billboard, “[It’s about] feminism, I’ll say that.”
“Femininity is probably the best word I can use,” he added at the time of the upcoming full-length, which he says is just about finished. “There’s a story there … It’s a Western concept album about femininity — I shouldn’t have told you that!”
Trending on Billboard Lainey Wilson has been all over Wednesday night’s (Nov. 19) CMA Awards. Not only is she hosting, and not only did she kick the awards into high gear with a big country covers medley, but she’s also one of the night’s big winners, taking home album of the year for her acclaimed […]
It’s safe to say anyone who hits the stage at the CMA Awards has seriously lived some life, but Stephen Wilson Jr. might have ‘em all beat at least in terms of strange paths to the country spotlight.
The Indiana-born Wilson has been a boxer, competing in the Golden Gloves of America amateur competition; 10 years ago, he was wearing a lab coat and working as a microbiologist; not long after that, he became a songwriter in Nashville, signed to Big Loud. But following the death of his comparatively extroverted father in 2018, something changed, and he began to warm up to the idea of stepping into his own spotlight. His debut album, søn of dad, dropped this year, and although he skews country, he’s covered everyone from Nirvana to Smashing Pumpkins.
Have you played Billboard’s “A Little Bit Country” Crossword?Play now!
At the 2025 CMA Awards on Wednesday (Nov. 19) night, Wilson appeared on stage, wearing mostly black but rocking a floral ball cap with the Virgin Mary on it. In his firm, raspy tone, Wilson slowly but surely captivated the Bridgestone Arena with a soul-rending cover of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me.”
Ahead of his performance of “Stand By Me,” which turned heads when he brought it to the Atlanta-based YouTube series Live at the Print Shop in Oct. 2024, Wilson spoke to Billboard correspondents on the CMA Awards red carpet and explained how the 1986 film of the same name influenced his decision to trot out this iconic song.
“I’m a big Stephen King fan,” Wilson told Billboard. “I play this song called ‘Stand By Me,’ which I’m playing tonight as well, because of a movie called Stand By Me based off a Stephen King [story called The Body]. It’s been haunting me my whole life. I started playing this song after my dad died to kinda bring him back. I turned it into a hymn for me. And then fast-forward these years later, I get invited to sing this song and write this song with Shaboozey for a Stephen King movie called The Long Walk and here we are playing both of those songs. The world is weird, life is weird and I’m just here for it.”
Later in the evening, Wilson joined Shaboozey to perform that song, “Took a Walk,” on the CMA Awards stage, too.
Check out Billboard’s interview with Stephen Wilson Jr. on the CMA Awards red carpet below.
Trending on Billboard With 20 studio albums under his belt, country superstar Kenny Chesney had plenty of songs to choose from for his performance at the 2025 CMA Awards — so many, in fact, that he couldn’t pick just one. Hopping on stage at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Chesney was introduced by host Lainey Wilson, who […]
Trending on Billboard Zach Top didn’t need anyone to hold his beer when he won big at the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday night (Nov. 19) — he just took it right on up with him. Shortly after performing on stage at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, the 28-year-old singer-songwriter was crowned new artist of […]
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Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl has detailed the company’s approach to generative AI in a new blog post published Wednesday (Nov. 19). The missive arrived just hours after WMG announceda settlement and licensing deal with Udio, effectively ending its part in a blockbuster copyright infringement lawsuit against the AI music company, which it brought alongside the other two majors.
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In Kyncl’s address, he stressed that while it’s “early days” for AI, “this is the moment to shape the business models, set the guardrails and pioneer the future for the benefit of artists and songwriters.” The CEO also revealed his thought process when going into meetings with AI companies, saying that his three non-negotiables include “partners who commit to licensed models”; economic terms that benefit and “reflect the value of music”; and giving the company’s signees a choice to “opt-in” to any use of their names, images, likenesses or voices in new AI-generated songs.
Kyncl also stated his belief that AI tools will further democratize music creation, adding that to stand out “in a sea of AI-generated content, real artistry identity and vision” is needed. He additionally stressed that the music industry should focus on engaging fans and getting them to lean in, saying, “the more interactivity users have with the music they love, the more value is created.”
Read the full blog post below.
AI is still in its early days. Investment is surging, talent is pouring in, and a crop of new, ambitious startups are working with music again for the first time in more than a decade. This is the moment to shape the business models, set the guardrails, and pioneer the future for the benefit of our artists and songwriters.
We’re approaching this new era with one priority above all else: protecting and empowering the artists and songwriters who are our reason for being. Every decision we make, every partnership we forge, every principle we establish is designed to ensure that they benefit from AI’s possibilities.
Every AI deal we make is guided by three non-negotiable principles:
1. We will only make agreements with partners who commit to licensed models;2. The economic terms must properly reflect the value of music;3. And, most importantly, artists and songwriters will have a choice to opt-in to any use of their name, image, likeness, or voice in new AI-generated songs.
WHY THIS MOMENT MATTERS
Over the last 25 years, we’ve experienced the democratization of music distribution. Many predicted it would lead to the demise of our industry, but the skeptics were proven wrong.
The barriers to entry have fallen, the world has gotten smaller, and artists are global from day one. Fans love having unlimited personalized access, streaming is driving unprecedented growth, and music is more valuable than ever.
Now, we are entering the next phase of innovation. The democratization of music creation.
We believe Generative AI will lead to a new explosion in creative and commercial opportunities, and that authentic talent will be even more in demand for two reasons
In a sea of AI-generated content, real artistry, identity, and vision will define stronger artistic brands.
The ability for fans to utilize AI will unlock even greater value. As history shows, the more interactivity users have with the music they love, the more value is created.
OUR APPROACH
Our approach is clear: legislate, litigate, license. We lobby for legislation that sets clear guidelines. We deploy litigation to halt bad actors. And we use licensing as the most powerful way to shape the future. Licensing is how we can safeguard our artists and songwriters, while collaborating with tech partners, to propel new fan experiences that drive additional revenue.
The partnerships we forge will offer a variety of specific use cases. Each of them adheres to our principles, winning important protections for artists and songwriters, while ensuring that they share in every dollar that’s earned. And as the services grow their revenue, so will the pay outs.
This space is moving lightning fast. Past lessons teach us that delaying only lets others define our future. The music business learned that during the file-sharing era. And the film & TV industries are still regretting not embracing streaming sooner. So for artists and songwriters to win, the music industry needs to be a leading force in the formative stages of AI, not a passive participant. We will steer the course in this new era to deliver greater value for our artists, songwriters, and their music.
This is only the beginning.
Robert Kyncl
Trending on Billboard Following a Luke Combs performance of “Back in the Saddle,” host Lainey Wilson properly kicked off the 2025 CMA Awards, with a medley of country favorites originally performed by some of the stars in the Nashville crowd. After some introductory remarks about how excited she was to be hosting the awards and […]
Trending on Billboard When it came time to kick off the 2025 CMA Awards on Wednesday night (Nov. 19), Luke Combs didn’t waste any time — he just hopped “Back in the Saddle.” Taking to the stage at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Combs — dressed in his usual short-sleeved button-up shirt and baseball cap — […]
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Spotify has acquired the song sample platform WhoSampled, the companies revealed on Wednesday (Nov. 19).
According to a blog post by Spotify, WhoSampled will power SongDNA, an upcoming feature on the streaming platform that will showcase “connections between songs,” including samples, collaborators and covers. In a LinkedIn post, WhoSampled founder Nadav Poraz said he would stay on and that the platform would “continue to operate as a standalone platform and brand” following the acquisition. A blog post by WhoSampled added that the platform, which is driven by user contributions, would improve in several ways, noting that its iOS app would now be free to download and that in-app subscriptions would become free for all users; in addition, the site will become ad-free, and moderation for submissions will be faster.
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News of the purchase was part of a larger announcement in which Spotify revealed it would be expanding its song credits feature to encompass every single contributor to tracks on the platform; song credits previously only included topline performers, songwriters and producers. Spotify notes that the expanded song credits, which come directly from labels and distributors, are available starting now on the Spotify mobile app and will be rolled out to its desktop platform in the coming months.
Also announced by Spotify on Wednesday was “About the song,” another upcoming feature that will take the form of “swipeable cards” featuring factoids about songs. The information, which will be available in the platform’s “Now Playing” view, will be “sourced from third parties to highlight interesting details and behind-the-scenes moments,” according to Spotify’s blog post.
Spotify says the SongDNA and About the song features will be introduced via its Spotify for Artists platform early next year — giving creators an opportunity to offer feedback and “redeliver” credits if inaccuracies are found — before rolling out to users.
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“Every song is a collaboration, and every contributor should be seen,” said Jacqueline Ankner, head of songwriter & publisher partnerships at Spotify, in a statement. “With expanded Song Credits, SongDNA, and About the song, we’re giving fans a deeper look at the people and creative threads behind the music they love and giving creators the recognition they deserve. It’s another step in Spotify’s work to champion the people, connections, and stories that bring every track to life.”
Artists can review their Spotify song credits here.
Trending on Billboard 50 Cent’s film empire continues to expand. The G-Unit boss is on board as a producer for the upcoming crime drama Moses the Black, which will star rappers Wiz Khalifa and Quavo. The gangland flick is slated to come to U.S. theaters on Jan. 30, 2026. Omar Epps, Chukwudi Iwuji, Detroit rapper Skilla […]
