Nashvillians Head West To ASCAP Pop Awards and Expo

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desmond child ascap expo 2015The 2015 ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO is going on through May 2 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, featuring many prominent members of Nashville’s music community among the nearly 200 panelists and performers. The conference is dedicated to the craft and business of songwriting, composing and producing.

The Straight Talk and Feedback from Country Music Pros panel featured Marc Beeson, Marc Driskill, Carla Wallace and moderator Michael Martin. Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Mike Reid led a Master Session.

Hit songwriter-producer Darrell Brown will give advice and feedback to attendees during song critique sessions. Ashley Gorley will be among the star songwriters performing at the event’s closing session, The Writers Jam.

ASCAP's Elizabeth Matthews, Song of the Year writer Toby Gad, and ASCAP's John Titta.

ASCAP’s Elizabeth Matthews, Song of the Year writer Toby Gad, and ASCAP’s John Titta.

Additionally, the 32nd annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards were held April 29 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles.

ASCAP Pop Awards winners included:
● Songwriter of the Year: Max Martin
● Song of the Year: “All of Me,” written by Toby Gad, performed by John Legend
● Publisher of the Year: Sony/ATV Tunes, LLC
● Independent Publisher of the Year: Prescription Songs LLC

Dave Grohl presented the ASCAP Founders Award to rock ‘n’ roll icons KISS. Patrick Simmons and Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers accepted the ASCAP Voice of Music Award from ASCAP Asst. VP, Creative Services Loretta Muñoz. And St. Vincent earned ASCAP’s Vanguard Award.

An exclusive, invitation-only crowd was on hand as the organization recognized the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP’s most performed pop songs of 2014, including these winners with Nashville ties:

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Several songs with Nashville ties were among ASCAP’s Most Performed Pop Songs. Click to see complete list.

Mark Your Calendar – May 2015

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Block-Party---posterIndustry Events

April 30-May 2
ASCAP’s 10th annual “I Create Music” Expo at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles

May 2
iHeartRadio Country Festival at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas

May 6-10
Key West Songwriters Festival

May 12
The Grammy Block Party at Cumberland Park on the riverfront at 4 p.m.

May 12-14
Music Biz 2015 held at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel

May 13
WHO KNEW networking event at 3rd & Lindsley during Music Biz

May 14
Music Business Association’s Music Biz 2015 Awards luncheon at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel

May 31
K-LOVE Fan Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House

Chris-Stapleton-TravellerAlbum Releases

May 4
Granger Smith/4X4 [EP]/Thirty Tigers

May 5
Chris Stapleton/Traveller/Mercury Records Nashville
Shelby Lynne/I Can’t Imagine/Rounder
Jason Michael Carroll/What Color Is Your Sky/For The Lonely Records

May 8
Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan/Crossing Muddy Waters, Be My Husband [vinyl release]/Sugar Hill Records-Yep Roc Records

May 12
Various/The Music Of Nashville: Original Soundtrack Season 3, Volume 2/Big Machine Records

May 19
Kelsea Ballerini/The First Time/Black River Entertainment

May 25
Adrian Duffy & The Mayo Brothers/United We Fall/SR Records

May 26
The Lacs/Outlaw In Me/Average Joes
John Anderson/Goldmine/Bayou Boys Music

Jackie-Lee-HeadphonesSingle Add Dates

May 4
Brett Eldredge/Lose My Mind/Warner Bros.
Darius Rucker/Southern Style/Capitol Nashville
Zac Brown Band/Loving You Easy/Southern Ground-Varvatos-BMLG
Corey Farlow/Country Never Stops/HMG
Josh Goodlett/Why You Gotta Be That Way/Good Entertainment
Cody Wayne/Makin’ Love In The Moonlight/Edgehill Music
Adrian Duffy & The Mayo Bros/Having It All/SR Records

May 11
Lee Brice/That Don’t Sound Like You/Curb
Chris Janson/Buy Me A Boat/Warner Bros- Team W.A.R.
Jackie Lee/Headphones/Broken Bow
John Anderson/I Work A Lot Better/Bayou Boys Music
Corey Smith/Feet Wet/Rounder-Sugar Hill

May 18
Randy Houser/We Went/Stoney Creek
Ashley Clark/Greyhound/I.R.S. Nashville-Star Farm Nashville
Blaise Streets/Bring On The Sunshine/Edgehill Music

Songwriter, Playwright Marcus Hummon To Present Frederick Douglass Musical

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Marcus Hummon adaptation

Nashville songwriter and playwright Marcus Hummon has created a concert theatrical adaptation based on the life of American abolitionist and social reformer Frederick Douglass. The work was commissioned by Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville.

“Frederick Douglass: The Making of an American Prophet” will focus on Douglass’ early years. The adaptation will star Bakari King as Douglass, and will feature the choir Inversion, as well as Heather Aikin, Patrick James, Jeff Lewis, Kelsey Onwuzuruigbo, and Jonathan Yudkin.

The adaptation premieres May 15 at Christ Church Cathedral at 7:30 p.m. Additional performances will take place May 17 (Fifteenth Ave. Baptist Church), May 23 (Vanderbilt’s Benton Chapel), and May 24 (Thistle Stop Cafe).

“People sometimes describe the quintessential American story as rags to riches — the story of a self-made man,” Hummon says. “With Frederick Douglass we have a deeper American success story; from slave to a president’s confidante, a successful author, a celebrated orator, a statesman and social reformer. In the tradition of prophets who speak truth that transcends the time they live in, Frederick has a lot to say to us today.”

Ladies Night Out on Miranda Lambert’s Fall Tour

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miranda lambert PinkGuitars tour 2015

Miranda Lambert is leading an all-female line-up this fall, on her Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars Tour.

The reigning ACM and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year recently thrilled audiences across the country with her Certified Platinum Tour, including her sold-out show at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

On the upcoming outing, she will be joined again by RaeLynn, whose gold-certified single “God Made Girls” made her a fan favorite on Lambert’s recent tour. Also performing on select dates will be Ashley Monroe, whose new single “On To Something Good” follows her No. 1 duet with Blake Shelton, “Lonely Tonight.” Rounding out the bill are exciting new faces Clare Dunn and Courtney Cole. RaeLynn and Dunn were named to MusicRow’s 2015 Next Big Thing list.

Lambert says, “I really support female artists in any genre, especially country music right now. I’ve taken girls on tour for a long time and I want to continue to do that because I feel like I can give them a platform.”

Complete list of tour dates at mirandalambert.com.

Industry Pics: Nash Icon Records, Bill Anderson, Provident Label Group

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Reba Celebrates Chart-Topping Success

Nash Icon Records artist Reba celebrated her latest album’s second week atop the Billboard Top Country Albums chart with a private SiriusXM listener event at the Loveless Barn just outside of Nashville. During the evening, she was presented with a plaque from her Nash Icon Records/Big Machine Label Group family to honor her album Love Somebody as the first release and first No. 1 for the label imprint.

During the event, Reba performed a mix of classics such as “Fancy” and “The Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia,” as well as new material from Love Somebody, including “Going Out Like That,” “Love Somebody,” and “Until They Don’t Love You.” The performance will air on SiriusXM’s Prime Country and The Highway over Memorial Day Weekend.

Members of the Big Machine Label Group staff attended the special performance to help celebrate Reba’s second consecutive week with the No. 1 Country album.

Members of the Big Machine Label Group staff attended the special performance to help celebrate Reba’s second consecutive week with the No. 1 Country album.

 

Bill Anderson Honored For Songwriting Milestone

Bill Anderson recently added to his illustrious list of songs recorded by and released by top artists, with the tune “Country” from Curb Recording artist Mo Pitney. The song gave Anderson the distinction of having an entry on the country charts for seven straight decades.  Anderson’s diverse career has included time as a singer, songwriter, television host, radio personality and author.

He was recently signed by Webster Public Relations for pr representation.

Pictured (L-R): Publicist Kirt Webster, Bill Anderson & Anderson's Manager Lee Willard (Straight 8 Entertainment).

Pictured (L-R): Publicist Kirt Webster, Bill Anderson & Anderson’s Manager Lee Willard (Straight 8 Entertainment).

 

Building 429 Hits Sales Milestones

CCM group Building 429 notched a career milestone, hitting one million in single sales. The group’s label Provident Label Group honored the group with a plaque presentation, as Provident’s Sr. VP Dean Diehl praised the group for its accomplishment.

“Building 429 has an uncanny ability to identify big ideas that connect with our core market at a deep level,” said Diehl. “Great songs are the lifeblood of any artist’s career and as we celebrate what the group’s past hits have done, all I can say is, wait until you hear what’s next!”

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Nina Woodard, Blaine Barcus, Andrew Patton, Ben Brown, JoAnna Illingworth, Jimmy Wheeler, Amanda Snyder, Provident Label Group. (Front row, L-R): Aaron Branch, Jason Roy, Jesse Garcia, Michael Anderson, Building 429

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Nina Woodard, Blaine Barcus, Andrew Patton, Ben Brown, JoAnna Illingworth, Jimmy Wheeler, Amanda Snyder, Provident Label Group. (Front row, L-R): Aaron Branch, Jason Roy, Jesse Garcia, Michael Anderson, Building 429

Weekly Chart Report (5/1/15)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report

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Peach Pickers To Host 2nd Annual ‘Georgia On My Mind’ Concert

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georgia on my mind

The Peach Pickers (Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Dallas Davidson) will present the 2nd Annual “Jameson Irish Whiskey Presents Georgia On My Mind” on Tuesday May 12 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

The concert benefits the Georgia Music Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports programs of music preservation, education and outreach.

Peach Pickers

Pictured (L-R): Hayslip, Akins, Davidson

Collectively, the Peach Pickers have written more than 60 No. 1 hits.

During the inaugural event last year, Georgia natives Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan performed.

“Onstage and backstage, there was such a camaraderie and connection because it was truly about Georgia and how much it means to all of us,” expressed Davidson, who also serves as chair of the Georgia Music Foundation. “We’ve all been so inspired by our home state and mostly rural communities, but especially by all the musicians from Georgia who came before us.”

This year, the list of special guests includes Tyler Farr, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Lauran Alaina, Four Wheel Drive, JAMP Masters, Kevin Kinney, and Maggie Rose.

Tickets are $49.50 and $39.50 and available at ryman.com.

Love And Theft Take ‘Whiskey On My Breath’ To Radio

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love and theft 2015

Love And Theft has tapped the newly-formed Thirty Tigers promo team to work current single “Whiskey On My Breath.” With an impact date of May 18, the title track to the duo’s third album is already gaining traction at SiriusXM The Highway.

Stephen Barker-Liles and Eric Gunderson have had previous hits “Angel Eyes” and “Runaway.”

Previously signed to Sony Music Nashville, Love And Theft is releasing new album Whiskey On My Breath, via their own label, Hate And Purchase Music.

Additionally, the duo will host the 2015 JDRF Golf Classic at the Governor’s Club in Brentwood, Tenn. on Monday, May 18. Longtime supporters of the tournament, Love And Theft have recruited fellow musicians to join them, including Craig Campbell, Bucky Covington, Eric Paslay, and Will Hoge.

Love And Theft are Vector Management artists.

Grooveshark Shuts Down Operations

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Grooveshark

Grooveshark is ceasing operations, after its parent company Escape Media agreed to a legal settlement with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group. The settlement includes the termination of all operations, wiping its computer servers of all the record labels’ music, and surrendering ownership of its website, mobile apps, and intellectual property.

Grooveshark founders Josh Greenberg and Sam Tarantino acknowledged creating and operating an infringing music service. Escape Media has agreed to financial penalties if the terms of the settlement are not followed.

“Despite the best of intentions, we made very serious mistakes,” Grooveshark said in a statement on its website. “We failed to secure licenses from rights holders for the vast amount of music on our service. That was wrong. We apologize.”

The statement also named several affordable alternatives, including Spotify, Deezer, Google Play, Beats Music, Rhapsody, and Rdio.

In a statement, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) said, “This is an important victory for artists and the entire music industry. For too long, Grooveshark built its business without properly compensating the artists, songwriters and everyone else who makes great music possible. This settlement ends a major source of infringing activity.”