Songwriter Events: BMI, ASCAP, CMA, Love City Country Music Fest

Broadcast Music, Inc. hosted its quarterly showcase “BMI Buzz at the Basement” at the iconic Basement venue in Nashville on Jan. 14, 2015. Country singer/songwriters Josh Martin, Emma White, Tristen Smith and Matt Chase took the stage to perform their best original tracks in front of a packed house of music industry executives, family and friends.

Pictured: BMI’s Bradley Collins, BMI songwriters Josh Martin, Tristen Smith, Emma White and Matt Chase with BMI’s Jody Williams.

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The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) hosted its first showcase of 2015 at The Bluebird Cafe on Wed., Jan. 7, kicking off another year of its long-running monthly showcase series. The “in the round” showcase featured songwriter Phil Barton (“A Woman Like You” – Lee Brice), songwriter-artist Steven Clawson, Curb Music Publishing songwriter Josh Matheny and songwriter-artist Carly Pearce, whose current single “Blame the Whiskey” is in regular rotation on Sirius XM’s “The Highway.”

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Steven Clawson, Phil Barton, Carly Pearce and Josh Matheny. Photo: ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski.

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The CMA Songwriters Series returns for its 11th season with the announcement that the first shows of 2015 will be part of the Sundance ASCAP Music Café at the world famous Sundance Film Festival on Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 28 and 29.

The January performances of the Sundance ASCAP Music Café’s CMA Songwriters Spotlight will feature Jessi Alexander, Kyle Jacobs, Kelley Lovelace, and Neil Thrasher.

“We are honored that the CMA Songwriters Spotlight will return for the second year as a highlight of the Sundance ASCAP Music Café, an official part of the Sundance Film Festival calendar,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Nashville’s songwriters deserve to be showcased at the world’s premier stage for storytellers, Sundance.”

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Love City Country Music Festival, the first-ever country music festival on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, announced the lineup for a special presentation of a “Hit Makers & Rum Chasers” songwriters showcase happening Friday, May 15 at 7 p.m. at Winston Wells ball field. Presented by Caneel Bay Resort, the festival — named for St. John’s local nickname, “Love City” — runs May 14-16.

Hit songwriters Kent Blazy, Marti Frederiksen, Kendell Marvel, Danny Myrick and special guest songwriters will entertain music fans during a Nashville-style writers round performing and telling the stories behind their biggest hits.

Arista Nashville/Sea Gayle recording artist Jerrod Niemann will headline the three-day Love City Country Music Festival with performances from special guests Pat Green, Dallas Smith, Sunny Sweeney and more.

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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