Industry Ink Wednesday (11/23)

Nashville-based folk-pop band Humming House recently signed with ASCAP. Fresh from recording their upcoming debut album with Grammy-winning producers Vance Powell (The White Stripes, Chris Thile, Buddy Guy) and Mitch Dane (Jars of Clay), Humming House’s single "Cold Chicago" is available on iTunes. Pictured (L-R): ASCAP's Jesse Willoughby, Humming House's Mike Butera, Justin Wade Tam, Ben Jones, Josh Wolak, ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan, RPM's Amanda Fletcher. Photo: Anna Maki

• Danny Gokey and Sony Music Nashville have parted ways.

• After a 20+ year career, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Mark D. Sanders has released his first album. History & Hope showcases some of his most personal songs, many of which are previously unreleased. Sanders has penned 14 No. 1 hits, including “I Hope You Dance,” co-written with Tia Sillers.

Amy Duggar from the popular TLC show "19 Kids and Counting" was in Nashville recently recording and preparing for her first music showcase. (L-R) Amy Duggar, Shirley Hutchins, and Amy's manager Ron Woolman

• Flat Earth Music has signed songwriter Dan Isbell. Flat Earth Creative Director Todd Wilkes is overseeing development of the budding tunesmith.

• The Academy of Country Music Stage at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will host performances by Chancey Williams & The Younger Brothers Band, Roger Creager, The Dirt Drifters, Brett Eldredge, JT Hodges, Steve Holy and James Wesley.  The event runs Dec. 1-10 in Las Vegas.

• Songwriter Gretchen Peters wrote an insightful essay about her transgendered son which was published by the Huffington Post.

• The Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) took a panel of industry experts to Murray State University for the second installment of an ongoing initiative called “College of Knowledge.” The session was emceed by NATD President Steve Tolman and moderated by NATD Directors Tony Conway and Ed Bazel. Panelists included Sherrill Blackman (SDB Music Group), Paul Compton (The Song Writer Agency), Chris Carpenter (artist/writer), Lyndsey Highlander (artist/writer), Pat Finch (Southern Crossroads Publishing), Ryan Beuschel (ASCAP), Jeff Howard (APA), Kate Dore (Outback Concerts), Brandon Mauldin (Ontourage Management), Julie Roberts (recording artist), Shelly Mullins (Webster & Associates Public Relations), Clyde Bright (Collinsworth Bright & Co.) and Karen Kane (Sony Records). How did the troupe travel to Murray State? A tour bus, of course.

NATD Board Presents “College of Knowledge” Scholarship to student Sydney Guilliams (L-R): Randi Perkins, Bonnie Sugarman, Tony Conway, Guilliams, Steve Tolman, Carrie Moore-Reed, Ed Bazel