ASCAP has released figures from 2018 and announced its annual total revenues for the year topped $1.227 billion, marking an increase of 7% over 2017.  The company’s distributions also crossed the $1 billion mark for the second year in a row, with $1.109 billion in royalties paid out to its songwriter, composer and publisher members. Distributions increased by $102 million, up 10% year-over-year.

ASCAP domestic revenue from US music licensing surpassed the prior year by 7% to hit $906 million. Audio Streaming revenue was up by 25% and Audio Visual by 7% year-over-year.  General and Background revenue, which encompasses more than 800,000 bars, grills, taverns, hotels, retail stores, fitness centers and other businesses, grew by 9%.

ASCAP secured a total of $321 million in 2018 foreign revenue, an increase of 7% over the prior year. Domestic distributions from ASCAP-licensed and administered performances in the US increased to $814 million, up 12.5% over 2017.  Foreign distributions totaled $295 million, an increase of 4%.

The number of individual music performances processed by ASCAP’s proprietary data matching systems skyrocketed into the trillions in 2018.  The company also decreased its operating expense ratio for the second consecutive year, with nearly 90 cents of each dollar collected going back to its music creator members.

“ASCAP’s outstanding 2018 results were driven by our team’s laser focus on making smart, strategic deals to yield growth and stability for our members,” said ASCAP Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Matthews. “Four years into our six-year strategic plan, we are seeing healthy year-over-year compound annual revenue growth rates averaging 7%.  In 2018 alone, our commitment to efficiency and innovation allowed us to pay more than $100 million more to our members in distributions than the prior year all while we continue to take the steps necessary to protect their future.  Above all, we owe our success to the popularity of the ASCAP music repertory, which is beloved and enjoyed by listeners around the world on every platform.”

Major music creators entered into agreements with ASCAP in 2018 including Migos, Cardi B, Alicia Keys, Louis Bell, Starrah, St. Vincent, Savan Kotecha, Greg Kurstin, French Montana, Miguel, Mike Will Made-It, Kehlani, Calvin Harris, Gucci Mane, Marco Antonio Solís, Goldlink, Meek Mill, Jared Gutstadt, Ashley Gorley, Joseph Trapanese, David Vanacore, James Taylor, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Baby, Natti Natasha and the estates of Bob Marley and George Michael. Total ASCAP membership increased by approximately 46,000 in 2018 and currently stands at more than 700,000 songwriters, composers and publishers.

Dolly Parton. Photo: Rob Hoffman

Dolly Parton has appointed IMG as her first exclusive global licensing representative. Parton is already a client in North America of IMG partner company WME, where she signed in 2018.

The multi-year partnership will see IMG work with Dolly to create a lifestyle brand that will provide new touchpoints for the eight-time Grammy Award winner’s fans around the world. A diverse range of licensed consumer product initiatives will be explored, including everything from fashion and jewelry to homeware and accessories.

Parton said, “I am excited to be working with IMG on a global scale to give my fans products that they will cherish for years to come. You might even see my mug on a mug!”

“I’m so excited for Dolly to partner with IMG globally. Dolly’s brand is already proven and we are excited to take it to the next level,” said Dolly’s Manager, Danny Nozell, CEO of CTK Management.

Gary Krakower, Vice President of Licensing, IMG, said: “Dolly Parton is an international icon and we are thrilled to be working with her. Together, we look forward to building cohesive lifestyle brand products that will celebrate Dolly and bring her iconic style and personality to her millions of fans worldwide in engaging new ways.”

Achieving 25 RIAA certified Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum awards, Dolly Parton has had 26 songs reach No. 1 on the Billboard country charts, a record for a female artist. In addition to the Grammys, she has had 10 Country Music Association Awards, five Academy of Country Music Awards, four People’s Choice Awards, and three American Music Awards, and has sold over 100 million albums worldwide.

In fall 2019, Netflix will release an eight-part anthology film series called Heartstrings through Dolly’s Sandollar Productions in association with Sam Haskell’s Magnolia Hill Productions. Each film in the series will center on one of her masterful songs. This year also marks the 33rd anniversary season of Dollywood, Dolly’s theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., which has hosted more than two million visitors annually since its opening in 1986.

Michael W. Smith. Photo: Kurt Heinecke

Contemporary Christian Music luminary Michael W. Smith was honored last night (April 30) by the top names in Contemporary Christian, Gospel, country and pop music, for his 35-year career in music. Notably, in the same time span, Smith has earned 35 No. 1 singles.

Host Kathie Lee Gifford said that the original idea for the concert was to welcome 35 artists to celebrate 35 years, but interest from the artist community swelled, and last night more than 50 artists gathered to perform three hours’ worth of songs recorded or written by Smith, as well as some classic hymns and surprises.

Gifford began the evening by bringing out Smith and his wife Deborah, who took their seats on stage. But when artists are honoring a talented singer/songwriter/pianist whose music helped shape what became the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) genre, and who also penned numerous classics such as Amy Grant’s “Thy Word” as well as his own 1983 hit “Great Is The Lord” (which he co-wrote with his wife Debbie), and his 1991 crossover hit “Place In This World” (co-written with Amy Grant), it’s tempting to bring him in for collaborations, which they did often throughout the evening.

Amy Grant, Wynonna, Randy Travis, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jordin Sparks with Jordan Smith, Rascal Flatts, The Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell, Charlie Daniels, the Gatlin Brothers, Vince Gill with Wayne Kirkpatrick, Matthew West, Avalon, The Oak Ridge Boys, CeCe Winans, Francesca Battistelli, Sandi Patty, Natalie Grant, Ricky Skaggs with the Isaacs, Jason Crabb, Lee Greenwood, Mark Lowry, Jim Brickman, T. Graham Brown and more performed throughout the evening.

Several video messages came from former President George W. Bush, U2’s Bono and Franklin Graham.

Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell offered a stunning vocal that held closely to Smith’s original on “Place In This World.” Matthew West offered “Go West Young Man,” while Charlie Daniels offered the hymn “How Great Thou Art,” before giving up one of his own signature hits.

“This is probably the most secular song ever, but Michael wants it and Michael gets it,” Daniels said, before bringing fire and fiddle for a rendition of “Devil Went Down To Georgia,” as Smith joined on piano and background vocals.

Rascal Flatts offered a moving rendition of “Pray For Me,” and later Randy Travis walked onstage with his wife Mary Travis, where they greeted and hugged Smith.

Smith was later joined onstage by the members of his original band. They brought him an original tour jacket, before he sat behind the piano for “Could He Be Messiah,” “Be Strong,” and “You Need A Savior.”

MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard greeted the crowd, and explained that though the band was set to perform, he was sick with laryngitis. He invited Smith to take his place to lead his hit “Secret Ambition.”

Several comedians were also featured throughout the evening, including Steve Lowry, who performed a snippet of his parody “Face In This World.” “We are the same age,” he joked, looking at Smith. “While I was doing ministry, someone was getting facials,” he quipped.

The show closed with Smith joining longtime friend, co-writer, and tourmate Amy Grant at the piano, as she performed her classic “Thy Word,” before they were joined by the rest of the cast of performers for Smith’s signature “Friends.”

Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox with Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell. Photo: Kurt Heinecke

“35 Years Of Friends: Celebrating The Music Of Michael W. Smith” full setlist:
Phil Keaggy, Mac Powell, Phillips, Craig & Dean, Point of Grace – “Agnus Dei”
Jason Crabb – “Love Crusade”
Ricky Skaggs with The Isaacs – “I’d Rather Have Jesus”
Zach Williams – “I’ll Stand”
David Hamilton – Instrumental
David Hamilton, Jordin Sparks, Jordan Smith – “All is Well”
Matthew West – “Go West”
Charlie Daniels – “How Great Thou Art”
Charlie Daniels with Michael W. Smith – “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”
Jars of Clay – “I’ll Lead You Home”
Rascal Flatts – “Pray for Me”
Avalon with Jay DeMarcus – “I Will Be Here”
Mark Lowry – “Face in This World”
Gatlin Brothers with Phillips, Craig & Dean – “Shine On Us”
Sandi Patty and Natalie Grant – “How Majestic”
Jim Brickman – “Love of My Life”
Michael W. Smith with original band – “Could He Be Messiah,” “Be Strong,” “You Need a Savior”
Randy Travis and Steven Curtis Chapman – “Above All”
Lee Greenwood with Wes King and sons – “There She Stands”
Brian Littrell – “Place in This World”
Michael W. Smith – “Secret Ambition”
Oak Ridge Boys – “Draw Me Close”
Nicole C. Mullen, Danny Gokey, Katinas, Matthew Ward, Calvin Nowell – “Crown Him with Many Crowns, ” “Easter Song”
CeCe Winans with Point of Grace – “King of Glory”
Matt Maher – “This is Your Time”
Laura Story with Francesca Battistelli – “How to Say Goodbye”
Russ Taff – “Healing Rain”
Wayne Kirkpatrick with Vince Gill – “Never Been Unloved”
Mark Hall – “I’m Waiting on You”
Tait, Matt Maher, Avalon, Wynonna, CeCe Winans – “Help Is on the Way”
Wynonna – “Majesty”
Amy Grant with Michael W. Smith – “Love Will Find a Way,” “Thy Word”
All sing including T. Graham Brown – “Friends”

Wynonna with Michael W. Smith. Photo: Gretchen Demonbreun

Scott Hamilton with Vince Gill. Photo: Kurt Heinecke

Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant. Photo: Gretchen Demonbreun