BMI To Launch Free Weekly Music Series at Acme Feed & Seed

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Broadcast Music, Inc. has joined forces with Acme Feed & Seed for a free weekly concert series, beginning Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 8 to 11 p.m. The “Trapped Above Ground” series will feature Guthrie Trapp and the Mulekickers, along with special guests.
The kick-off event tonight (Sept. 3) will host Big Al Anderson, whose songs have been recorded by Tim McGraw, George Strait, Bonnie Raitt, and Chance McCoy, member of the Old Crow Medicine Show.
Award-winning performer and songwriter Jason White and country hit writer Kendall Marvell will play the series on Sept. 10. The Sept. 17 show will feature Loving Mary, a four-piece Nashville-based band, and Leslie Satcher, whose songs have been covered by country greats such as George Strait and Martina McBride.
Guthrie Trapp is a unique guitarist who has recorded and performed with Pistol Annies, George Jones, Lyle Lovett, Garth Brooks, Alison Krauss, R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, Phish’s Mike Gordon, and many others. There is no cover for the event and those aged 21 and older are welcome.

Big Machine Music, Warner/Chappell Extend Deal With Veltz

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Laura Veltz

Laura Veltz


Big Machine Music and Warner/Chappell Nashville have mutually announced the extension of a co-publishing contract with songwriter Laura Veltz. Veltz recently scored her first No. 1 song as a co-writer on “Drunk Last Night,” recorded by Eli Young Band. She is also a co-writer on two current singles: Chris Young‘s “Lonely Eyes” (RCA Nashville) and Dean Alexander‘s “Live A Little” (Warner Music Nashville).
“I’m overjoyed that I get to continue to work with these two incredible companies,” said Veltz. “It’s such a blessing to focus on what I do and know that I’m in the right hands.”
“Laura brings an energy to all that she does and on behalf of the team at W/C we’re excited to continue to see her thrive in this partnership and her two singles on the chart are further proof of her talent,” said Ben Vaughn, Exec. VP of Warner/Chappell Nashville.
Big Machine Music VP Mike Molinar comments, “Laura is such a special songwriter and is just beginning to hit her stride. Our crew at Big Machine is excited to extend our successful relationship with her and our partners at Warner/Chappell.”

Cole Swindell Announces "Down Home Tour" To Start In November

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unnamedMusicRow Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year recipient for 2014 Cole Swindell has made a splash on the Country charts with his debut single, “Chillin’ It,” and its follow-up “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight.”
As a songwriter, Swindell co-penned “This Is How We Roll” (Florida Georgia Line), “Get Me Some of That” (Thomas Rhett), “Roller Coaster” (Luke Bryan‘s current single), as well as songs for Chris Young, Craig Campbell and Scotty McCreery.
Swindell will bring his show to fans on his Down Home Tour, which will launch in Davie, Fla. on Nov. 13, and wrap Dec. 20 in Fort Wayne, Ind. He will bring special guest Kelleigh Bannen for the trek.
“It has been a crazy whirlwind year and I feel so fortunate that country music fans and country radio has embraced me in such a huge way. It’s what an artist dreams about,” says Swindell. “I’ve been lucky enough to get a jump start performing alongside Luke Bryan in front of massive crowds, and while I wouldn’t change anything for the experience I’ve gained so far, I know I still have a lot of work to do on the road.”
He adds, “I’m really excited to get to it on my Down Home Tour this winter where I’ll have a new experience with my fans at shows.”
Down Home Tour Dates:
Nov. 13 | Davie, Fla. |The Roundup/Ft. Lauderdale
Nov. 14 | Cape Coral, Fla. |Dixie Roadhouse
Nov. 15 | Deland, Fla. |Volusia County Fair**
Nov. 20 | Tulsa, Okla. |Cain’s Ballroom
Nov. 21 | Fort Worth, Texas |Billy Bob’s Texas
Nov. 22 | San Antonio, Texas |Cowboys Dance Hall
Nov. 28 | N. Myrtle Beach, S.C. |House of Blues
Nov. 29 | Charlotte, N.C. |Coyote Joe’s
Dec. 3 | Oxford, Ohio| Brick Street Bar – Miami University
Dec. 4 | Grand Rapids, Mich. |The Intersection
Dec. 5 | South Bend, Ind. |Legends of Notre Dame
Dec. 6 | Rootstown, Ohio |Dusty Armadillo
Dec. 11 | Chicago |Joe’s Sports Bar
Dec. 13 | Milwaukee, Wis. |The Rave
Dec. 18 | Springfield, Ill. |Boondocks
Dec. 19 | Indianapolis, Ind. |8 Seconds Saloon
Dec. 20| Fort Wayne, Ind. | Rusty Spur
All dates featuring Kelleigh Bannen except where noted (**)

CMA Broadcast Awards Finalists Announced

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cma awards sliderDarius Rucker and Little Big Town revealed the CMA Broadcast Awards finalists this morning (Sept. 3) via a livestream press conference for the 48th annual CMA Awards.
Finalists were selected for CMA Broadcast Personality, as well as CMA Radio Station of the Year in four categories (Small, Medium, Large, and Major Market).
Small Market Personality of the Year
Barrett, Fox and Berry, KKNU
Craig Allen, WHWY
Dex and Mo Show, WUSY
Gator and The Styckman, WUSY
Scotty & Cara In The Morning, KCLR
Radio Station of the Year, Small Market
KCLR, Columbia, Mo.
KKNU, Springfield, Ore.
WHWY, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
WKSF, Asheville, N.C.
WUSY, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Medium Market Personality of the Year
97 Country Breakfast, WPCV
Buzz Jackson, KIIM
Electric Barnyard, WWYZ
Kevin Richards Show, WGNA
The Kat 103.7, KXKT
Radio Station of the Year, Medium Market
KATM, Stockton, Calif.
KUZZ, Bakersfield, Calif.
KXKT, Omaha, Neb.
WKSJ, Mobile, Ala.
WQMX, Medina, Ohio
Large Market Personality of the Year
Chris Carr and Company, WUBE
FM 106.1 Morning Show with Karen and Scott, WMIL
Jim Deb and Kevin, WFMS
KJ and Friends with Randy and Jamie, KAJA
Lisa McKay, WQDR
Radio Station of the Year, Large Market
KAJA, San Antonio, Texas
WMIL, Milwaukee, Wis.
WQDR, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio
WWKA, Orlando, Fla.
Major Market Personality of the Year
K102 Wakeup Crew, KEEY
Laurie Deyoung, WPOC
Michael J Show, WMZQ
Paul Schadt and Meg, WKKT
Q Morning Zoo, KKBQ
Razz on the Radio, WXTU
Radio Station of the Year, Major Market
CKRY, Calgary
KKBQ, Houston
KYGO, Denver
WIL, St. Louis
WKLB, Boston
National Broadcast Personality
The Big D and Bubba Show (Compass Media)
Country Countdown USA (Westwood One)
Zmax Racing Country (Performance Racing Network)
The CMA Broadcast Award winners will be acknowledged at The 48th Annual CMA Awards, to be held Wed., Nov. 5 on ABC, and broadcast live by ABC from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood return to host the event.

Brooks Debuts Single, Announces More Tour Dates

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garth brooks people singleGarth Brooks debuted his first single for RCA Recods Nashville/Pearl Records this morning (Sept. 3). “People Loving People” aired on the syndicated radio program, The Bobby Bones Show, where Brooks called in to discuss the new music before boarding a plane to Chicago for tour rehearsals. “People Loving People” was written by Lee Miller, Chris Wallin and busbee.
Also announced today, Brooks is set to make his first appearance in Florida in 17 years. The Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood will stop in Jacksonville on Friday, Oct. 10; Saturday, Oct. 11; and Sunday, Oct. 12. Tickets will go on sale Friday, Sept. 12 at 10:00 AM EST, with an eight ticket limit per purchase at ticketmaster.com/garthbrooks. Utilizing a one-price-house method, all tickets cost $68.00, including fees.
Brooks’ tour launches tomorrow in Chicago, where he will give multiple performances.
Yearwood also debuted a single on RCA Nashville, “PrizeFighter,” which won MusicRow critic Robert K. Oermann’s Disc of the Day honor today.

2014 CMA Awards Nominations [Full List]

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Leading nominee Miranda Lambert earned nine nods.

Leading nominee Miranda Lambert earned nine nods.


Miranda Lambert tops the list of final nominees for The 48th Annual CMA Awards with nine nominations, matching the record she set in 2010: the most for a female artist in a single year in the history of the awards.
Dierks Bentley received five nominations in 2014, making a major comeback thanks to latest album Riser, after being completely shut out of last year’s nominations.
Eric Church and Keith Urban collected four nominations each, followed by Luke Bryan, Kacey Musgraves, Blake Shelton, and Carrie Underwood who each received three nominations.
Eyeing the revered Entertainer category, there are a few noteworthy news items. George Strait, the reigning Entertainer of the Year, returns to ride again for the trophy. Urban also re-enters the category after being absent since 2011. And noticeably missing from the race for the night’s biggest prize is mega-sellers Florida Georgia Line, who received one nomination for Vocal Duo.
Reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town joined CMA Award winner Darius Rucker in New York City this morning (Sept. 3) to reveal the final nominees. The announcement of five categories took place on Good Morning America during the 8:30 AM/ET half hour.
Following the ABC morning show, Little Big Town and Rucker were at the Best Buy Theater in Times Square to announce the finalists in the remaining seven categories, along with the announcement of the CMA Broadcast Awards for Personality and Radio Station of the Year.
Tonight marks the 10th anniversary celebration of the CMA Songwriters Series at the Best Buy Theater with Rucker and hit tunesmiths Rivers Rutherford, Luke Laird and Bob DiPiero for an in-the-round performance streamed live via CMASongwritersSeries.com.
The 48th Annual CMA Awards will take place Nov. 5, airing live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
CMA Awards winners will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting members of the Country Music Association. The third and final ballot will be emailed to CMA members Thursday, Oct. 9. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Monday, Oct. 27 (5:00 PM/CT).
(l-r) Robert Deaton, Executive Producer, "The 48th Annual CMA Awards"; Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook of Little Big Town; Darius Rucker; Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet of Little Big Town; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. Photo: Heidi Gutman / ABC

Pictured at this morning’s announcement (L-R): Robert Deaton, Executive Producer “The 48th Annual CMA Awards;” Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook of Little Big Town; Darius Rucker; Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet of Little Big Town; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. Photo: Heidi Gutman / ABC


ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Luke Bryan
Miranda Lambert
Blake Shelton
George Strait
Keith Urban
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Kacey Musgraves
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR 
Dierks Bentley
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
Crash My Party, Luke Bryan; Produced by Jeff Stevens; Capitol Records Nashville
Fuse, Keith Urban; Produced by Benny Blanco, Nathan Chapman, Ross Copperman, Zach Crowell, Mike Elizondo, Dann Huff, Jay Joyce, Stargate, Keith Urban, Butch Walker; Capitol Records Nashville
Platinum, Miranda Lambert; Produced by Frank Liddell, Chuck Ainlay, Glenn Worf; RCA Records Nashville
Riser, Dierks Bentley; Produced by Ross Copperman, Arturo Buenahora, Jaren Johnston; Capitol Records Nashville
The Outsiders, Eric Church; Produced by Jay Joyce, Arturo Buenahora; EMI Records Nashville

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Brandy Clark
Brett Eldredge
Kip Moore
Thomas Rhett
Cole Swindell
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Dan+Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Love and Theft
Swon Brothers
Thompson Square
SONG OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Songwriter(s))
“Automatic,” (Artist: Miranda Lambert, Songwriters: Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert)
“Follow Your Arrow” (Artist: Kacey Musgraves; Songwriters: Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally)
“Give Me Back My Hometown” (Artist: Eric Church; Songwriters: Eric Church and Luke Laird)
“I Don’t Dance” (Artist: Lee Brice; Songwriters: Lee Brice, Rob Hatch, and Dallas Davidson)
“I Hold On” (Artist: Dierks Bentley; Songwriters: Brett James, Dierks Bentley)
SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
“Automatic” (Artist: Miranda Lambert; Producers: Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf and Chuck Ainlay); RCA Nashville
“Drunk On A Plane” (Artist: Dierks Bentley; Producers: Ross Copperman, Jaren Johnston and Arturo Buenahora, Jr.); Capitol Records Nashville
“Give Me Back My Hometown” (Artist: Eric Church; Producers: Jay Joyce and Arturo Buenahora, Jr.); EMI Records Nashville
“Meanwhile, Back at Mama’s” (Artist: Tim McGraw; Producers: Byron Gallimore and Tim McGraw); Big Machine Records
“Mine Would Be You” (Artist: Blake Shelton; Producer: Scott Hendricks); Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR (Award goes to each Artist)
“Bakersfield,” Vince Gill and Paul Franklin (Mercury Nashville)
“Meanwhile, Back at Mama’s,” Tim McGraw, featuring Faith Hill (Big Machine)
“Somethin’ Bad,” Miranda Lambert featuring Carrie Underwood (RCA Nashville)
“We Were Us,” Keith Urban featuring Miranda Lambert (Capitol)
“You Can’t Make Old Friends,” Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton (Warner Bros./WMN)
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (Award goes to Artist and Director)
“Automatic,” Miranda Lamabert. Director: Trey Fanjoy
“Bartender,” Lady Antebellum. Director: Shane Drake
“Drunk On A Plane,” Dierks Bentley. Director: Wes Edwards
“Follow Your Arrow,” Kacey Musgraves. Directors: Kacey Musgraves and Honey
“Somethin’ Bad,” Miranda Lambert featuring Carrie Underwood. Director: Trey Fanjoy
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Sam Bush, mandolin
Jerry Douglas, dobro
Paul Franklin, steel guitar
Dann Huff, guitar
Mac McAnally, guitar

DISClaimer: Comeback Kids

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Trisha Yearwood


The trend of this listening session is the return of fondly remembered voices.
Greeting us with comeback records are Grand Ole Opry members Trisha Yearwood, Hal Ketchum and the duet team of Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White. Welcome all three of them with your arms wide open, because they all sound simply sensational.
So much so, that I’m splitting the Disc of the Day award into three parts. Our Male Vocalist winner is Hal Ketchum. Our Female Vocalist winner is Trisha Yearwood (with some harmony help from Kelly Clarkson). Our Vocal Duo winners are Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White.
The DisCovery Award goes to lead singer Taylor Cain and her younger harmonizing sister Madison and baby brother Logan, who are billed as The Cains Trio.
THE HELLO STRANGERS/What It Takes To Break A Heart
Writers: Larissa Chace Smith/Brechyn Chace; Producer: Steve Ivey; Publishers: The Hello Strangers, SESAC; IMI (track)
-Bluesy, rhythmic and completely captivating. The rockabilly groove is spiced with acoustic passages and quasi-shouted vocal moments. Feisty females on the rampage.
SONIA LEIGH/Put It In Your Pocket
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Willing To Fly
-The good-time groove never lets up for a second. There’s not much of a melody, and like so much of today’s country, it repeats its title and chorus hook over and over the way pop songs do, rather than developing a sustained lyric.
RICKY SKAGGS & SHARON WHITE/Forever’s Not Long Enough
Writers: Bob DiPiero/Keith Sewell; Producers: Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White; Publishers: Sony-ATV Tree/Coburn/Keith Sewell, BMI; Skaggs Family
-Despite being named the CMA Duo of the Year in 1987, these two have never recorded a duet album until now. Their Hearts Like Ours CD will drop on Sept. 30, but this track is available now as a download. It is a fantastically catchy bopper with a dandy electric-guitar twang. Both of them are singing splendidly, the production is as hooky as can be and the song has hit written on it. Play and believe.
The Cains Trio

The Cains Trio


THE CAINS TRIO/Be Yourself With Me
Writers: Billy Lawson/Taylor Cain/Ed Hill; Producer: Billy Lawson; Publishers: Catch the Boat/Red Vinyl/Monroe Hill, ASCAP/BMI; DayStreet
-These three Alabama siblings have a sweet, sunny, soothing sound. There’s a gentle, folk-y quality to this clean, clear production, and the song has a lovely, lilting melody. Ear tickling.
TRISHA YEARWOOD & KELLY CLARKSON/PrizeFighter
Writers: Jessi Alexander/Sarah Buxton/Ross Copperman; Producer: Mark Miller; Publishers: Party of Five/Kobalt/Big Red Toe/Bux Tone/Big Loud Bucks/EMI Blackwood/Songs By Red Room/Sony-ATV, ASCAP/BMI; RCA/Gwendolyn
-Goosebumps and thrills. Yearwood has one of those voices that shakes me right down to my core, and she nails this soaring rocker to the wall. That Clarkson’s soprano harmony can shadow her note for spectacular note is a sure sign that you are in the presence of singing royalty.
SKYLAR ELISE/You’ll Never Understand
Writers: D. Scott Miller/Amanda Williams; Producer: D. Scott Miller; Publisher: none listed; SM (track)
-She sings well, the song is well constructed, and the steel-guitar work is exemplary. But the rhythm section drags like it is walking through molasses.
RAY JOHNSTON BAND/More Crown Than Coke
Writers: Ray Johnston/James Slater/Django Walker; Producer: Erik Herbst; Publisher: RJB Entertainment, BMI; RJB (track)
-This laid-back drinking song feels as mellow as a booze buzz at sundown. Recommended.
HAL KETCHUM/I’m The Troubadour
Writers: Hal Ketchum; Producer: Jimmy LaFave; Publisher: Boxadore, BMI; Music Road (track)
-The title tune of Hal’s comeback CD is a rollicking, r&b-flavored statement of purpose. Love the shave-and-a-haircut backbeat, the organ flourishes and his drawled, saucy, soulman delivery. This thing cooks with gas.
EILEEN ROSE/Queen of the Fake Smile
Writers: Eileen Rose; Producer: Eileen Rose & The Legendary Rich Gilbert; Publishers: none listed; Holy Wreckords
-This singer-songwriter has apparently been around for awhile, but I believe the new Be Many Gone collection is my first hearing of her. It kicks off with this plain-spoken, mid-tempo ditty. It’s probably not “produced” enough for country radio, but Americana programmers might want to give her spare sound a spin.
ADRIAN DUFFY & THE MAYO BROTHERS/Storm Breaking
Writers: none listed; Producer: Matt Kemp; Publishers: none listed; Symphony Ray
-The group is an Irish country outfit whose previous records have picked up airplay in Canada, Britain and the U.S., as well as its homeland. This pleading, heartfelt ballad has a lustrous, layered, dreamy instrumental arrangement that is extremely pleasing. I’ve liked these guys before. I wish they’d send me a whole album one of these days.

Weekly Register: Paisley Brings 'Moonshine…' To The Party

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brad paisley moonshineBrad Paisley’s Moonshine In The Trunk debuted with sales of 53K, locking in the No. 1 spot on the Country album chart, and No. 2 on the overall chart this week. Paisley produced the Arista Nashville release with Luke Wooten.
Due to the overall downslide of music purchases (largely due to streaming) comparing current debut week sales numbers to debut weeks in previous years isn’t exactly comparing apples to apples. Nonetheless, here is the info: In April 2013, Paisley released Wheelhouse, which sold 100K and entered at No. 1. In May 2011, This Is Country Music debuted at No. 1 with sales of 153K units.
Meanwhile on the Country tracks chart, Jason Aldean’s “Burnin’ It Down” sold 76K this week for a RTD total of 658K. Darius Rucker had the sweetest Country track debut with “Homegrown Honey” selling 25K. Taylor Swift sits pretty at No. 1 overall in her second week of release with “Shake It Off,” which sold 355K, for a total of 899K.
 Top 5 Country Albums this week
Brad Paisley Moonshine In The Trunk 53K
Luke Bryan Crash My Party 15K
Chase Rice Ignite The Night 14K
Various Nashville Outlaws Tribute to Motley Crue 12K
Brantley Gilbert Just As I Am 9.8K
Top 5 Country Tracks this week
Jason Aldean “Burnin’ It Down” 76K
FGL “Dirt” 61K
Kenny Chesney “American Kids” 52K
Sam Hunt “Leave The Night On” 43K
Lady Antebellum “Bartender” 38K

Pat Higdon to be Presented Frances Preston Award

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Pat Higdon

Pat Higdon


Pat Alger, Chair of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NSHoF), announced today that music publisher Pat Higdon will be presented with the Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award during the upcoming NSHoF Dinner and Induction Ceremony.
“Pat is one of a handful of executives in both the independent and the corporate publishing environments whose name has always been synonymous with the highest standards of professional integrity and many of our great songwriters got their start under his guidance,” said Alger.
The 44th honors, given on Oct. 5, 2014, are named for Preston who influenced and nurtured the careers of thousands of songwriters, performers and publishers in all genres of music during her five-decade career at BMI. Previous recipients of the award are music publisher Bob Beckham (2008), music publisher Bill Hall (2009), Preston (2010), music publisher David Conrad (2011), music publisher Donna Hilley (2012) and Bluebird Café founder Amy Kurland (2013).
The evening will additionally feature tributes and performances of 2014 inductees John Anderson, Tom Douglas, Gretchen Peters and Paul Craft. The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) will also present its annual awards for the year’s Best Song, Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist, as well as the Top 10 “Songs I Wish I Had Written,” as determined by the professional songwriters division.
Held at the Music City Center, tickets are $250 each by contacting Mark Ford by email or 615-460-6556.
•••
Higdon broke into the music industry in the early ‘70’s as a recording engineer Woodland Sound then Cedarwood Publishing Company, recording many artists and beginning as a song plugger.
A seven year stint at MCA Music rose the executive to Vice President of Nashville operations. He quickly developed a bond with MCA writers Dave Loggins and Jan Crutchfield, and signed Don Schlitz, Russell Smith, Lisa Silver and J. D. Martin. He continued to score hits and cuts by a wide array of artists including Kenny Rogers, Alabama, Randy Travis, BJ Thomas, The Oak Ridge Boys, Don Williams, Lee Greenwood and Tina Turner. In the late ’80s, Higdon moved to Warner Bros. Music, forging a creative partnership with Matraca Berg that has endured for over 25 years.
In 1989 Higdon founded Patrick Joseph Music as a joint venture with Warner/Chappell Music. His first signings for the new company included Berg, Gary Harrison, Jim Photoglo, Shawn Camp and Tim Mensy. Later he added a young Troy Verges and Brett James to the roster. Patrick Joseph Music’s boutique catalog include more than 30 ASCAP and BMI award winning songs, the 1998 CMA Song of the Year, “Strawberry Wine.”
Universal Music Publishing Group tapped Higdon to run its Nashville operation in 1999. He served with the company for twelve years and eventually became President of the Nashville division, overseeing catalogs of Bob McDill, Mel Tillis, Webb Pierce, Berg, Burr, Verges, Luke Laird and Rivers Rutherford. His tenure included guiding the company through three significant mergers, the first with Polygram Music, then Rondor/Almo Irving Music and finally BMG Music.
In early 2012, Higdon left UMPG and re-activated Patrick Joseph Music as a partnership with New York-based Songs Music Publishing. The company has signed five writers since relaunching, Berg, George Teren, Jake Mitchell, Ben Caver, Kat Higgins, and Mellissa Peirce (co-pub with Disney Music).

Industry Ink: Streamsound Records, Debbie Z Entertainment, Red 11 Music

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Jon Conlon

Jon Conlon


Streamsound Records has hired Jon Conlon as West Coast Manager of Promotion. He most recently worked at RPM Entertainment, and has held similar roles at Arista and Columbia Records. He also worked on Air/Programming in Chicago for WJKL and WCKG, as well as for WGKX (Memphis), and Los Angeles at Westwood One Radio Network. While in Memphis, he was named Disc Jockey of the Year three times by the Academy of Country Music.
“We have gone to great lengths to assemble an amazing team that can take our artists to the next level,” says CEO/President Steve Richardson. “Jon Conlon comes to Streamsound with a wealth of experience in radio and promotion and we are happy to welcome him aboard.”
Denise Roberts has exited the company and is seeking her next opportunity.

                               • • •

Pictured (L-R): Paul Sikes, Debbie Zavitson

Pictured (L-R): Paul Sikes, Debbie Zavitson


Singer/songwriter/producer Paul Sikes has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Debbie Zavitson of Debbie Z Entertainment.
His songwriting credits include cuts for Emerson Drive, Billy Dean, Josh Gracin and others.
The Nashville native’s new CD Out of the Mud is available on iTunes.

   • • •

cody canada and the departed1

Cody Canada and the Departed


Booking agency Red 11 Music has signed on to represent Cody Canada and The Departed out of its Nashville office.
“My team and I are excited to say the least,” says Jon Folk, founder of Red 11 Music. “I’ve known Cody and the guys for years, and when asked if I wanted to become part of their team, I jumped at the chance. Their live show is captivating, their music is original and their fans are dedicated to the band. If someone were to ask me, ‘What do you look for in a band to work with?,’ this would be it! With a new album coming out this fall, we are looking forward to a record year in 2015.”
The band is currently on tour with Reckless Kelly and Micky & the Motorcars.