Hardy, Ben Johnson & Dave Alan Johnson Producing New Country Docuseries ‘Music Row’

EXCLUSIVE: Country music star Hardy is teaming up with Grammy-nominated songwriter Ben Johnson and writer/producer Dave Alan Johnson to executive produce the new docuseries Music Row, currently in production in Nashville.

The indie project follows successful songwriters and artists in country music today like Cody Johnson, Ashley Cooke, Hunter Phelps and Ashley Gorley. Set inside the world of the genre and modern Nashville, Music Row will offer audiences a view into how the hits are made and the inner workings behind the genre’s biggest hits.

Through Exceleration Studio, Susana Zepeda produces the unscripted series with showrunner Dave Alan Johnson. On behalf of the Studio, CEO Steve McBeth and Zepeda are handling sales for the series.

“This show celebrates those who walk into a room with nothing and walk out with a piece of art, a song, that can move people around the world for generations,” said Dave Alan Johnson. “Hardy and Ben are among the best to ever do it, and it’s been a complete joy to learn from them – and all of their talented friends – how the wonder of what they do happens!”

“Storytelling is the heart of country music, and it’s what makes the genre so special. It is magic to go from huge talent huddled in a small room to a stadium singing in unison. This show has the best talent in the business with scores of hits and awards showing us how it’s done,” Hardy shared.

“While the songs are sung, the songwriters and producers are often unsung,” Ben Johnson added. “Hardy and I are thrilled to partner with Dave in finally showing people how some of their favorite songs were created.”

Executive producer Hardy released his third studio album Quit!! last month, the first full LP to fully embrace the singer-songwriter’s rock theme with tracks like “Psycho,” “Six Feet Under” and “Soul4Sale” featuring Fred Durst. He has 16 No. 1 singles as an artist and songwriter including multiple multi-platinum singles. A five-time ACM award winner and two-time CMA award winner, Hardy has also won three CMA Triple Play awards, was named the 2022 BMI Country Songwriter of the Year and is a three-time AIMP Songwriter of the Year.

EP and showrunner Dave Alan Johnson is the co-founder of Exceleration Studio. Along with Mike Pavone, he was the co-creator, writer and showrunner of NBC’s Against the Grain. Additional credits include NBC’s Nasty Boys, Brooklyn Bridge for CBS and the two PAX Television Network shows Doc and Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye, both of which he co-created and served as showrunner.

EP Ben Johnson is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, producer and artist. Among his hits are “One of Them Girls,” “Truck Bed” and “Take My Name,” Billboard’s Country Song of the Year. He is signed to a worldwide co-publishing deal with Tape Room Music/APG/Runner Music. He has also written for notable artists including Morgan Wallen, Charlie Puth, Justin Timberlake, Lee Brice, Dierks Bentley, John Legend, Ava Max and Weezer. Most recently, he wrote and produced three songs on the Twister soundtrack.