Google Play Using HFA

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imgresThe Harry Fox Agency, Inc. (HFA) is working with Google Play to deliver rights management services for its digital music service for Android devices and the web.
HFA’s rights management service, Slingshot, will support Google Play as it taps into HFA’s comprehensive rights database and extensive publisher relationships to facilitate the licensing of music for use in its music locker and music store. HFA will also provide license administration and process royalty distributions to publishers.
HFA_LOGO“HFA continues to forge relationships that join content creators and digital music distributors in win-win opportunities. We are thrilled that Google is developing new music publishing revenue streams and are delighted to streamline their content clearance process so that they can focus on providing their customers with the best service possible,” said Michael Simon, President and CEO of HFA.
Google Play offers digital music, movies, books, magazines, apps and games for Android devices and on the web. More than 1.3 million new Android devices are activated each day around the world.
 

YouTube Educates Nashville Publishers about Site Monetization

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From left to right:  Walter Campbell (AIMP board member) ; Kerry O'Neil (AIMP board member); David Cook (moderator); Scott Sellwood (Rightsflow/Google), Patrick Sullivan (Rightsflow/Google), Jill Napier (Administrative Director, AIMP); David Preston (AIMP board member); Eli Ball (Treasurer, AIMP); MIchael Kauffman (Rightsflow/Google).  Photo: Heather Cook.

Pictured (L-R): Walter Campbell (AIMP board), Kerry O’Neil (AIMP board), David Cook (moderator), Scott Sellwood (Rightsflow/Google), Patrick Sullivan (Rightsflow/Google), Jill Napier (Admin Director, AIMP), David Preston (AIMP board), Eli Ball (Treasurer, AIMP), Michael Kauffman (Rightsflow/Google). Photo: Heather Cook.


The AIMP hosted Rightsflow/Google representatives yesterday (Jan. 14) in what was a second Nashville gathering to discuss monetizing published copyrights on YouTube. The sold-out presentation, titled Mo’ Money for YOUR Music, was held at BMI’s 6th floor theater as part of a series to inform and educate publishers about YouTube’s Content ID system.
Scott Sellwood, Strategic Partner Development Manager, YouTube, led the Nashville meeting with help from Patrick Sullivan, founder of RightsFlow and now Strategic Partner Development Manager at Google.
Since last year, publishers have been able to elect the Harry Fox Agency to manage YouTube revenue, or enter into direct agreements with the audiovisual provider themselves. Either way, a covenant to not sue is signed upon partnering, releasing litigation rights to pending or future suits against YouTube and its owner, Google.
As explained, the Content ID ‘backpage’ is a tool designed for publishers to manage, monetize, and view statistics for video uploads containing controlled copyrights. Harry Fox-affiliated publishers, however, surrender individual control of this operation to the agency.
Potential revenue for publishers flows from advertisements surrounding videos, which are either uploaded as user-generated covers, user-generated uploads containing a sound recording or licensed music videos. Publisher revenue for licensed music videos is intended to be paid directly to labels according to VEVO and Warner agreements. As of now, Universal is the only label that has agreed to disseminate these payments, including retroactively (albeit to 2010).
“If publishers were actually getting money from labels, we think they would be more enthusiastic about partnering with us,” said Sellwood of the issue.
The presentation continued on to include a variety of advertising opportunities available once any copyright holder has chosen to monetize a work, via Content ID. For more details, see the video below.
Advertisements were said to rotate between videos on an auction-based system according to algorithms that focus heavily on demographics of a viewer. This brought concerns from audience members about exclusive artist endorsement deals. Sellwood noted that, although limited, certain url blocks may be useful for such branding conflicts.
Perhaps the most important concern has been that YouTube is able to begin monetizing a video with clearances from any one copyright holder. Since the video site has seen a 25 percent increase in traffic since January 2012 to nearly 4 billion views a day, the urgency to lay stake to the revenue generated from these partial clearances is as pressing as ever.
Of note, performance fees for digital sites, including YouTube, are paid separate from ad revenue in accordance with negotiated agreements from the PROs. As of this year, Sony/ATV brought this digital performance negotiation in-house from ASCAP and BMI.
The AIMP will host a gathering every month, with alternating luncheons and panel discussions. Find more information here.
Read MusicRow’s previous feature on YouTube royalties and pick up a copy of our latest Digital Toolbox print magazine, focusing on today’s music industry digital landscape.

SiriusXM Radio Launches New Channel

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SatelliteSiriusXM Radio launched the limited-run channel Town Hall Radio on Monday (Jan. 14), with a special presentation of “SiriusXM’s Town Hall with Bruce Springsteen.” The Town Hall, recorded live in the SiriusXM studios, originally aired on Bruce Springsteen’s SiriusXM channel, E Street Radio, in 2010.
Channel 142 showcases the extensive lineup of SiriusXM’s exclusive Town Hall series, including intimate gatherings with iconic musicians, entertainers and studio audiences of SiriusXM listeners for in-depth fan/listener-generated Q&A sessions.
The channel will include the entire Town Hall archive, including Town Hall specials with Aerosmith, Jason Aldean, Gregg Allman, Carol Burnett, David Chase, James Gandolfini and Steven Van Zandt, Coach K, Coldplay, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Billy Crystal, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Ronnie Dunn, Renée Fleming, Jane Fonda, Roger Goodell, Tony Hawk,  Alicia Keys, KISS, Ziggy Marley, Willie Nelson, the surviving members of Nirvana, Linkin Park, Tom Petty, Soundgarden, Ringo Starr, Oliver Stone, Taylor Swift, Quentin Tarantino, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, Usher, Roger Waters, Betty White and Henry Winkler.
Many of the Town Hall specials feature performances and are moderated by high profile entertainers and stars, including Russell Brand, Jim Breuer, Sway Calloway, Didi Conn, Taylor Hawkins, Johnny Knoxville, Regis Philbin, Amy Schumer, Jon Stewart and Michael Strahan.
For more information visit www.siriusxm.com/townhall.

BMI Signs Black River Artist

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Pictured (L-R): Penny Everhard (Associate Director Writer/ Publisher Relations, BMI); John Alexander (Vice President Artist Management); Sarah Darling, Robert Carlton (Publishing Assistant and Catalog Manager); and Celia Froehlig (VP Publishing/Black River Entertainment)

Pictured (L-R): Penny Everhard (Associate Director Writer/ Publisher Relations, BMI); John Alexander (Vice President, Artist Management); Sarah Darling, Robert Carlton (Publishing Assistant and Catalog Manager); and Celia Froehlig (VP Publishing/Black River Entertainment)


Black River Entertainment artist Sarah Darling recently stopped by BMI’s Nashville offices to officially become a BMI songwriter.
Darling is currently recording her forthcoming album with producer Dann Huff. A digital EP titled Home to Me EP is expected Jan. 29, featuring a studio and an acoustic version of the title track and current single.
She has been a frequent guest on the Grand Ole Opry, and in December 2012, Darling partnered with MoonPie for a yearlong national campaign.

Artist News (1/15/13)

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kenny chesney1Kenny Chesney has added 28 dates to his 2013 No Shoes Nation Tour, Presented by Corona Light. The 46-date tour begins March 16 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The added tour stops include performances in Charlotte, N.C., Fort Wayne, Ind., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Las Vegas and Indianapolis, among other tour stops.
 

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The Band PerryThe Band Perry has added two more to their growing pile of gold and platinum certifications. The trio’s current single, “Better Dig Two,” has been certified Gold, with over 700,000 copies sold. “You Lie,” a single from The Band Perry’s self-titled debut album, has sold over 1 million copies, achieving platinum status.
 

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MG11Montgomery Gentry will host the 5th Annual Country on the Beach, featuring Darryl Worley, Ray Scott and other artists in Key West. The event will take place Oct. 5-8 and will feature three days and four nights of private concerts, parties and beach activities at the Reach Resort (Waldorf-Astoria Collection) in Key West. The event benefits the T.J. Martell Foundation.
 

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clay walker1Clay Walker is currently hosting the new season of The Outdoor Channel’s Trophy Hunters TV®. The show airs Sundays at 2 p.m. ET.

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Members of the group Parmalee recently returned to their homestate of North Carolina to headline the N.C. Governor’s Inaugural Ball Gala Presentation on Friday (Jan. 11) at the Raleigh Convention Center.

Pictured (L-R): Scott Thomas, Matt Thomas, Gov. Patrick McCrory, Barry Knox, Josh McSwain

Pictured (L-R): Scott Thomas, Matt Thomas, Gov. Patrick McCrory, Barry Knox, Josh McSwain


 

Keel Named Chair of MTSU Recording Industry Dept.

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Beverly Keel-new111Music journalist and former recording industry executive Beverly Keel has been named the Chair of Middle Tennessee State University’s Department of Recording Industry. Her role will be effective Aug. 1.
“I am honored to be named chair of the nation’s most prestigious recording industry program,” Keel said. “I am so excited to have the opportunity to work with the department’s talented and experienced faculty and staff who are dedicated to preparing students for the changing music industry environment. MTSU has played such an important role in my life, both as a student and professor, so it is extremely fulfilling to be able to work closely with students and give back to the university that has given me so much.”
Most recently, Keel was the Sr. VP of Media and Artist Relations at Universal Music Group Nashville, where she represented artists including Lionel Richie, Scotty McCreery, Sugarland, Jamey Johnson, Josh Turner, Kip Moore and others.
She spent 10 years as the Nashville correspondent for People magazine and served as the celebrity columnist at The Tennessean newspaper for two years, during which time she won the Charlie Lamb Award for Excellence in Country Music Journalism. She was an editor of American Profile magazine and also served as editor of CMT Life.
Her work has appeared in InStyle, New York, Oxford American, Weekly Standard, Rolling Stone, USA Today, Country Music, New Country, Country Music Today and MusicRow magazines.
Keel earned her bachelor’s degree from MTSU and her master’s degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Belmont Announces New Board of Trustees

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BelmontLogo Blk_Vert [Converted]Belmont University has announced the selection of six members to its Board of Trustees, including two re-appointments and the election of four new members. Several music business figures are among the trustees. Beginning new, three-year terms are:
• Dove and Grammy Award winning artist Michael W. Smith
• A Belmont Trustee first elected in 1994, alumnus Mark Wright, president of Show Dog-Universal Music
• Alumnus Randy Smith, a former Belmont Trustee from 1982-1987, and entertainment industry attorney
• John Ferguson, chairman of the board for Corrections Corporation of America
• A Belmont Trustee since 2003, Jim Holleman, retired President of Conroy, Marable & Holleman Realtors
• Alumnus Klay Kelley is employed by Western Spirits and served as an alumni regent on the Board of Trustees from 2009-2012.
Belmont’s current Board of Trustees also includes:
• Marty Dickens, chairman of the board, former president of AT&T Tennessee
• Lee Beaman, chairman and CEO, Beaman Automotive Group
• Vincent Campbell, pastor, Kayne Avenue Missionary Baptist Church
• Cordia Harrington, president/CEO, Tennessee Bun Company
• Damon Hininger, president and CEO, Corrections Corporation of America
• Steve Horrell, president, Horrell Properties, Inc.
• Gordon E. Inman, owner/broker, Inman Investments
• Milton Johnson, executive vice president & CFO, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA)
• Ron Knox, financial representative, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
• Bill Lee, CEO, Lee Company
• Drew Maddux, president, Maddux Realty & Construction Corp.
• Bruce Maxwell, pastor, Lake Providence Missionary Baptist Church
• Carolyn McAfee, vice president, Hallmark Systems, Inc.
• Stuart McWhorter, president, Clayton Associates
• Andrea Overby, church and civic leader
• James T. Redd, president, Air Conditioning Service, Inc.
• Jon Roebuck, senior pastor, Woodmont Baptist Church
• Barbara Massey Rogers, private investor
• Anne Russell, attorney, Adams and Reese, LLP
• Joseph V. Russell, secretary, co-CEO, Elan-Polo, Inc.
• Dana Sherrard, Dana Sherrard Interiors, ASID
• Larry Thrailkill, attorney, Thrailkill, Harris, Wood & Boswell
• Terry Turner, president & CEO, Pinnacle Financial Partners
• Paul Walker, civic leader
• Bob Whisenant, partner, WSW Certified Public Accountants
• Jim Wilkerson, owner, Wilkerson Farms
• Eugenia Winwood, company director, Wincraft Music, Inc.

Americana Music Association Moving To Franklin

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HomeThe Americana Music Association is relocating to new office space in The Factory at Franklin. The organization, which is moving from its longtime home on East Iris Dr. in Nashville, will be sharing a suite with Sugar Hill Records and Dark Horse Recording.
AMA executive director Jed Hilly told MusicRow that he expects the move to be complete by March. He is enthusiastic about the office space being renovated specifically for the needs of his team, which is made up of four full-time staffers. “It’s an incredible space and incredible opportunity,” he said. As a non-profit organization, it is important to keep overhead low, and Hilly added that the group will be saving money with the move.
The address of the new office is not yet available.

American Songwriter’s Lyric Contest To Wrap

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LCAmerican Songwriter magazine will close its 2013 March/April Amateur Lyric Contest this Tuesday (Jan. 15) at midnight.
The contest, now in 27th year, has six bi-monthly contests and an annual Grand Prize Winner.
The Annual Grand Prize winner will be awarded a co-writing session with Lee Brice, who co-wrote his own No. 1 hit, “Woman Like You,” in addition to his co-write for Garth Brooks’ 2007 No. 1 comeback “More Than A Memory.” Additionally, they will receive a $4925 MSRP J-200 Acoustic Gibson Guitar and a Shure SM58 Microphone from contest sponsors.
Judges include Scott Billington (Rounder Records), Tom DeSavia (Songs Music Publishing), Tim Hunze (Parallel Music), Ali Tamposi (Songwriter), Carter Little (35Sound), Dave Barnes (Artist/Songwriter), Caine O’Rear (American Songwriter), Marshall Altman (Producer/Songwriter), Lee Dannay (Warner-Chappell Music), John Ritchie (American Songspace), Sue Drew (ASCAP), Jocelyn Harms (SESAC) and Bradley Collins (BMI).
September/October’s 2010 first place winner, Lance Carpenter, recently signed an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement with Songs of Bigger Picture.

Songwriting, Music Business Seminar to Benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters

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middletennessee1Publishers and hit songwriters will come together in Nashville to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee on Jan. 18 and 19.
On Friday, Jan. 18, songwriters Derec Rutan (Dierks Bentley’s “What Was I Thinkin'” and Eric Church’s “Hell on the Heart”), James T. Slater (Martina McBride’s “In My Daughter’s Eyes” and Tim McGraw’s “That’s Why God Made Mexico”) and others will perform during a songwriter’s round at Douglas Corner beginning at 8:30 p.m. Admittance to the event is $15.
On Saturday (Jan. 19), Tim Nichols (Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying,” Jo Dee Messina’s “Heads Carolina, Tails California”), along with publishers from Big Machine (Mike Molinar), This Music (Rusty Gaston) and Parallel Music (Tim Hunze) will hold a panel discussion and answer questions related to the music industry. Participants will also have the opportunity to have their own songs critiqued by the publishers. The workshop is $100 and will run from 9:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at Big Brothers Big Sisters’ offices.
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides at-risk youth with a positive mentor. To learn more about the events and to purchase tickets, visit www.mentorakid.org/songwritingworkshop.