Industry Ink: ASCAP Master Class, Gotee Records, Big Loud

ASCAP Aids Writers In Summer Master Classes

(L-R): (front) ASCAP’s Kele Currier (far left), Mark Irwin (second from left), Rusty Gaston (second from right), ASCAP’s Holly Chester (far right) with June ASCAP Master Class participants

Summer installments of ASCAP’s newly-launched songwriter development series, ASCAP Master Class, were recently hosted at ASCAP’s Nashville offices by Assistant Vice President Kele Currier and Membership Manager Holly Chester. Each month, ASCAP Master Class provides a small group of promising new songwriters the opportunity to hear firsthand from a hit writer and receive song feedback from a publisher. The series is designed to equip writers with the knowledge to help hone their craft and expand their writing network. In June, hit songwriter Mark Irwin shared his expertise with the class alongside This Music’s Rusty Gaston. July’s Master Class installment featured hitmaker Byron Hill, while Endurance Music Group’s Josh Saxe provided the song feedback.

(L-R): ASCAP’s Holly Chester (far left), Byron Hill (second from left), Josh Saxe (center, front), ASCAP’s Kele Currier (far right) with July ASCAP Master Class participants

Courtnie Ramirez Joins Gotee Records Roster

Courtnie Ramirez has signed with Gotee Records. Ramirez’s debut single, “Perfectly Loved,” is available today. In addition to an English version, “Perfectly Loved” will be released in Spanish and Spanglish, honoring the singer’s lineage—a tradition Ramirez intends to continue as she unveils new music. She co-wrote the exuberant pop track with labelmate Ryan Stevenson and Jordan Sapp.

“I’m so excited about Courtnie being on Gotee,” shares Joey Elwood, President of Gotee Records. “I think she’s gonna speak to a lot of kids that haven’t felt spoken to by Christian music, and that, in and of itself, is important. I’m not talking about culture, I’m not talking about gender, and I’m not just talking about age, I’m talking about kids that are looking for a voice that feels familiar and approachable, deep and soulful in all the right ways, and fun and brash in ways that speak to authenticity. Courtnie is a not a cool breeze, but a hurricane, and I’m hoping she can drawn in a whole new generation of kids we didn’t know were out there.”

 

Sean Stemaly Signs With Big Loud Records

(L-R): Lex Lipsitz (Artist Manager, Maverick), Kevin “Chief” Zaruk (Partner, Big Loud), Seth England (Partner, Big Loud), Sean Stemaly, Joey Moi (Partner, Big Loud)

Sean Stemaly has joined the Big Loud Records roster. He is releasing a new single, “Back On A Backroad,” today to all digital service providers. He’s currently working with Joey Moi on his Big Loud debut. Stemaly has penned more than 100 songs since his arrival in Nashville two years ago, including the standout “Georgia,” which has already garnered more than 1 million Spotify streams in the six months since its release. 

“Sean Stemaly is a really great kid. When we first heard his indie-released “Georgia,” we knew he was unique. After meeting him, we had no doubt he could be a huge star,” says Big Loud partner Seth England. “Thank you Sean for trusting Big Loud with your bright future.”

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

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