Zach Bryan’s The Great American Bar Scene reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart after it was released on July 4. It spawned a big hit, “Pink Skies,” that is being recognized as part of Variety’s Hitmakers Top 25, along with his 2022 smash, “Something in the Orange,” and 2023’s hit collaboration with Kacey Musgraves, “I Remember Everything.” Bryan’s evocative storytelling is a key to his success, with fans easily being able to find themselves within his songs. “He just has a way of putting the time and place in his music,” says David Goldsen, senior vice president of North America A&R at Warner Chappell Music, who signed Bryan to a global publishing deal in early 2023. “I think that we’re clearly at a point in time with music and fandom where people really want to gravitate towards that kind of artistic expression. And I think he just captured an entire generation with that. He’s become one of the most important voices we have.” (Variety)