Industry Ink: Thomas Rhett, The MLC, David Frizzell, Round Hill Records

Thomas Rhett Rings In New Album Release With Special Amazon Music Livestream

Pictured (L-R): G Major’s Harry Lyons and Samantha Thornton, The Valory Music Co.’s Ashley Sidoti, Big Machine Label Group’s Allison Jones, Sandi Spika Borchetta and Scott Borchetta, Thomas Rhett, The Valory Music Co.’s George Briner, Amazon Music’s Michelle Tigard Kammerer and Emily Cohen, Big Machine Label Group’s Dave Kelly, G Major’s Virginia Bunetta. Photo: Sam Frawley

Thomas Rhett celebrated the release of his sixth studio album, Where We Started, last Friday (April 1) with a special Amazon Music livestream.

Inspired by his return to the road following the pandemic, Where We Started features 15 tracks packed full of his infusion of traditional country and dynamic, romantic energy. Produced by Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure and Matt Dragstrem, the project enlists superstar Katy Perry for the dramatic root-pop title track, along with collaborations with Riley Green, Tyler Hubbard and Russell Dickerson. Rhett co-wrote 14 of the 15 tracks on the album, and other co-writers on the project include Lori McKenna, Ashley Gorley, Josh Thompson, Rhett Akins, and more.

“Thomas Rhett: The Live Experience” featured some of the multi-Platinum recording artist’s biggest hits and fan-favorites, as well as tracks from the new project. To watch the the livestream, click here.

The MLC Appoints Two To Its Advisory Committees

The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) announced that music industry veteran Melanie Santa Rosa and renowned drummer and composer Nate Smith have been appointed to two of its advisory committees.

Santa Rosa, who serves as Senior Vice President, Global Administration at Spirit Music Group, has been appointed to The MLC’s Operations Advisory Committee. She has more than twenty years of experience in performing rights, copyright, business affairs, cue sheets, licensing, royalty collections, catalog onboarding and global societies, and has helped build Spirit into a leading independent music publisher. She is also a board member of the NY chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers.

Smith has been appointed to The MLC’s Unclaimed Royalties Oversight Committee. Over the course of nearly two decades, he has emerged as an influential and extremely popular drummer. His debut album, Kinfolk: Postcards from Everywhere, garnered two Grammy nominations. He also earned a pair of Grammy nominations for his composition “Home Free (for Peter Joe).”

The MLC’s Operations Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the board concerning the operations of the collective, including the investment in and deployment of information technology and data resources. Meanwhile, the Unclaimed Royalties Oversight Committee recommends policies and procedures to The MLC’s board related to the distribution of unclaimed accrued royalties.

David Frizzell To Be Inducted Into The Texas Country Music Hall Of Fame This Fall

David Frizzell and Moe Bandy on The Country Music Cruise. Photo: Jo Frizzell

This coming August, CMA and ACM award-winning entertainer David Frizzell will be inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. He recently received the news from Carrie and Debbie Moore (Moore & Moore/Third Coast Talent), along with country artist and fellow Texan and Hall of Famer Moe Bandy, while performing on the 2022 Country Music Cruise.

“It was a wonderful feeling to be surprised with the announcement that I will be inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame this August,” shares Frizzell. “This is a wonderful honor and I am thankful to have been chosen this year!”

Frizzell is the brother of country artist Lefty Frizzell, who he began touring with at the age of 12 throughout the 1950s and ’60s. After serving in the Air Force, Frizzell signed with Columbia Records in 1970 and charted his first Billboard single with “L.A. International Airport” and then a top 40 with “I Just Can’t Help Believing.”

Frizzell recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of his chart-topping tune, “You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma,” a duet with Shelly West. The song won the CMA Song of the Year and Vocal Duet of the Year awards in 1981, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and was featured in Clint Eastwood‘s film Any Which Way You Can. Frizzell and West also won the ACM Vocal Duo of the Year award in 1981 and 1982.

Round Hill Records Adds Sonya McKinley As Director, Production & Metadata

Sonya McKinley

Round Hill Records has added Sonya McKinley as Director, Production & Metadata for the label. She will be based in the company’s Nashville headquarters and will report to Michael Volk, Head of Operations & Business Development for the label.

In this position, McKinley will oversee all aspects of product operations and metadata management within Round Hill’s portfolio of labels across both the catalog and frontline releases. She will also oversee productions for some upcoming releases from The Offspring, The Cult, Bush, Judah & the Lion, and Rebelution.

Volk comments: “Sonya is a driven professional with a wealth of industry experience and knowledge. As Round Hill enters this next phase of growth her insights will help shape the best in class service we offer our artists.”

“I am excited to join the Round Hill Records team as their passion for artist development and sound music practices continues to set them apart on a daily basis,” McKinley adds. “I am also thrilled to be working alongside their team of talented music business professionals and artists and look forward to serving the growing number of established and emerging artists along with the company at large.”

McKinley joins Round Hill with previous stops at WEA/Warner Music Group as Manager of Recorded Production and Sony BMG Music Entertainment, working in purchasing and strategic planning. She resides in Nashville and holds a BA in Music Business from Anderson University in Indiana.