Nashville songwriter Hunter Phelps has reached a significant career milestone, securing the No. 10 position on MusicRow’s prestigious Top Songwriter Chart as of October 13, 2025. This achievement represents Phelps’ first breakthrough into the elite Top 10 rankings, propelled by several high-performing tracks including Jordan Davis’ “Bar None” and HARDY’s “Bottomland.” The chart position reflects substantial radio airplay, digital downloads, and streaming numbers across these songs.
MusicRow’s Top Songwriter Chart stands as the industry’s only dedicated metric for measuring songwriter success through a proprietary algorithm tracking song performance across multiple consumption formats. Unlike traditional charts that focus primarily on performing artists, this specialized ranking highlights the often-overlooked creators behind country music’s biggest hits, making Phelps’ inclusion particularly remarkable within Nashville’s competitive songwriting community.
Celebrating the songwriters behind the hits through data-driven metrics that traditional charts simply don’t capture.
The current chart landscape reveals formidable competition, with Riley Green holding the No. 1 position through multiple charting songs including “Don’t Mind If I Do.” The algorithm-driven methodology employed by MusicRow ensures fair representation of songwriting impact across platforms. Chase McGill occupies the second slot with hits like “20 Cigarettes” and “Brunette,” while Blake Pendergrass, Charlie Handsome, and Morgan Wallen round out positions 3-5. Phelps’ entry into this distinguished group signals his growing influence among Nashville’s songwriting elite.
This achievement comes amid a transformative period in country music songwriting, following a 2024 dominated by established names like Chris Stapleton and Jessie Jo Dillon, who secured major industry accolades and consistent chart presence. The charts provide a valuable historical context for tracking the evolution of songwriting talent over time. Phelps’ emergence suggests a potential shift in the genre’s creative direction heading into 2026. Many songwriters like Phelps are increasingly producing tracks from their home studio setups, eliminating the need for expensive professional studio time while maintaining high-quality output.
Industry observers note that maintaining Top 10 status typically precedes further recognition through prestigious awards and expanded opportunities with major artists. Beyond chart success, songwriters like Phelps can leverage their recognition to develop sync deals for additional revenue streams in film and television.
As weekly chart updates continue to track songwriter impact, Phelps’ sustained presence could position him for significant industry recognition in the coming years, potentially reshaping country music’s creative direction alongside his chart-topping peers.
