BMI Announces Its Support Of Multiple Organizations Dedicated To The Fight For Racial Justice


BMI has announced the organizations that will receive support from its increased pledge of $275,000 to foundations dedicated to advancing social equality and racial justice.

BMI will give $25,000 to nine different groups specializing in voting rights, underserved communities and social justice reform. An additional $25,000 will be divided among a group of smaller, locally focused organizations in the cities where BMI has offices. In keeping with the spirit of BMI and its mission, the remaining $25,000 will be donated for the creation of the Black American Music Walk of Fame in Atlanta, GA, to preserve, protect and promote the legacy and future of authentic Black American music.

“As a company founded on the principle of inclusion, we are committed to taking comprehensive action in the fight for social justice within and outside of our community,” said Mike O’Neill, President and CEO of BMI. “We are proud to support these important organizations and their tireless work to help advance inclusion, tolerance and promote social and racial change. While we are pleased to make these donations, we also recognize that monetary contributions alone are not enough, and we remain steadfast in our continued efforts to combat systemic racism, uphold our core values and drive real and meaningful change within our company.”

The donation recipients have been thoughtfully selected by the company’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion task force, established in June to counsel BMI in its objective to be more inclusive and diverse as a company. Led by Catherine Brewton, Vice President Creative, Atlanta, the task force has been charged with advising and recommending ways BMI can further its efforts to combat racism and promote equity and inclusion throughout the company. The group is also helping shape and foster the right forums for better understanding and education and is advising the CEO on the hiring of the newly created position of Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Responsibility for BMI.

“In these challenging times, I accepted the role as Chair of the task force with the knowledge and understanding that there is still much work to be done. With the full support of our CEO, Mike O’Neill, I am extremely honored to work with this dynamic and multicultural group of individuals in the continued push for systemic change within the company,” said Brewton. “I am motivated by the work we have done in identifying the organizations that will receive donations. The committee felt strongly that BMI could make a significant impact in challenging injustice and racism by addressing voting rights, underserved communities and social justice reform. Each of the selected institutions works tirelessly in the advancement of racial equality.”

Brewton continued, “We are also proud to be an early supporter of the Black American Music Association and its mission to uphold the legacy of Black American Music. We recognize the importance of this necessary and historic venture to celebrate the black creatives, executives and the industry at large who continue to uplift and inspire, even in times of social unrest.”

In addition to the Black American Music Association, BMI has pledged financial support to the following foundations:

VOTING RIGHTS
The Equity Alliance
HeadCount
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights

UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
Hour Children
New York Common Pantry
Positive American Youth

SOCIAL JUSTICE REFORM
Buried Alive
Campaign Zero: 8 Can’t Wait
Innocence Project

“Positive American Youth would like to thank BMI for its support. Our food pantry has seen record numbers in those needing to be served during this pandemic,” said Gordon M. Swiney, Jr., Executive Director, Positive American Youth Incorporated. “Your contribution will replenish much needed school supplies, grocery and household staples for families in need. We are incredibly grateful for your donation in these difficult times.”

“The Buried Alive Project works to free people sentenced to life without parole under outdated federal drug laws that disproportionately impact people of color. With every freedom we secure, we are pushing forward a movement of power, dignity, and human potential,” said Brittany K. Barnett, Attorney and Co-Founder of the Buried Alive Project. “We are grateful for BMI’s generous investment and are proud to link arms with BMI as we continue to provide pro bono legal representation to this marginalized population of people.”

In addition to the company’s monetary contributions, BMI also recently announced that each team member will receive four designated volunteer days to focus on giving back to their local communities. The company will also institute a dedicated day of volunteering within the cities where it operates offices for BMI team members to engage in volunteer work together.
BMI has also created a resource center with a working list of educational material and racial equality initiatives for those interested in learning more or wanting to take action that will be updated as needed.

HARDY Announces Debut Album, ‘A ROCK’


Rising Big Loud Records artist HARDY has announced his debut album, A ROCK, releasing Sept. 4. The album follows his career-launching EPs THIS OLE BOY and WHERE TO FIND ME, as well as his collaborative mixtape HiXTAPE VOL. 1.

The singer-songwriter co-wrote all 12 songs on A ROCK, and the project was produced by ACM Producer of the Year nominee Joey Moi and co-produced by Derek Wells, with additional production on select tracks by David Garcia and Jake Mitchell. Hit-makers Hillary Lindsey, Jessie Jo Dillon and Ashley Gorley, as well as rising songwriters Hunter Phelps and Zach Abend, appear in the track list.

HARDY was recently nominated for his second MusicRow Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, and is an ACM and CMA award-nominated songwriter.

A ROCK Track Listing:
1. “TRUCK” (Michael Hardy, Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps)^
2. “BOYFRIEND” (Michael Hardy, Zach Abend, Andy Albert)^
3. “GIVE HEAVEN SOME HELL” (Michael Hardy, Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson, Hunter Phelps)^
4. “BOOTS” (Michael Hardy, David Garcia, Hillary Lindsey)^
5. “WHERE YA AT” (Michael Hardy, Jessie Jo Dillon, David Garcia)*
6. “AIN’T A BAD DAY” (Michael Hardy, Jake Mitchell, Hunter Phelps)^
7. “ONE BEER” feat. Lauren Alaina & Devin Dawson (Michael Hardy, Hillary Lindsey, Jake Mitchell)^
8. “SO CLOSE” feat. Ashland Craft (Michael Hardy, Mark Holman, Hillary Lindsey)^
9. “BROKE BOY” (Michael Hardy, David Garcia, Brett Tyler)^
10. “HATE YOUR HOMETOWN” (Michael Hardy, David Garcia, Hillary Lindsey)^
11. “UNAPOLOGETICALLY COUNTRY AS HELL” (Michael Hardy, Smith Ahnquist, Nick Donley, Jake Mitchell)•
12. “A ROCK” (Michael Hardy, Smith Ahnquist, Jake Mitchell)

^ Produced by Joey Moi and Co-Produced by Derek Wells
* Produced by Joey Moi, Derek Wells and David Garcia
• Produced by Joey Moi, Derek Wells and Jake Mitchell

Tim McGraw To Celebrate New Album With Livestream Event


Tim McGraw is hosting a one-of-a-kind livestream event celebrating his album release on Aug. 21.

The unique “Here On Earth Experience” event will give fans a rare inside look at the release of McGraw’s new album Here On Earth, and fans will be able to come along with him as he chats with songwriters and reveals the stories behind the new songs. Backed by a five-piece acoustic band, McGraw will play some old favorites along with some brand new tracks.

“The thing I miss the most about playing live is the connection I feel to everyone. Even if we can’t physically be together this summer, hopefully this will give us a chance to share the new album and know how much we are still together seeing each other through,” said McGraw.

Tickets will go on-sale Tuesday, July 21 at live.timmcgraw.com.

UMPG Signs Brandi Carlile, Tim And Phil Hanseroth To Global Admin Deal

Brandi Carlile. Photo: Jai Lennard

Universal Music Publishing Group has signed Brandi Carlile, and Tim and Phil Hanseroth to an exclusive, global admin agreement.

Following the release of her 2018 album By The Way, I Forgive You, Carlile earned five Grammy Awards. The 10-song album was penned by Carlile and her long-time collaborators/bandmates Tim and Phil Hanseroth. The song “The Joke” earned Best American Roots Song and Best American Roots Performance, and earned nominations for Song of the Year and Record of the Year.

Carlile said, “I can’t wait to work with Universal Music Publishing. I’ve been a Jody Gerson fangirl for years and I have great respect for the impact she’s made on women in music and leadership. I recently met the entire Universal Music team and was inspired to take my songwriting into uncharted territories knowing it’s in such capable hands. I have no words for how excited Tim, Phil and I are… but I’d damn well better get to writing some!”

Carlile also won Best Country Album at the 2020 Grammy Awards for her work coproducing Tanya Tucker’s acclaimed 2019 album While I’m Livin’. Carlile and the Hanseroth twins co-wrote seven of the album’s ten tracks including “Bring My Flowers Now,” which won Best Country Song. The song was also nominated for Song of the Year, making for the trio’s second consecutive nomination in the all-genre category.

UMPG Chairman and CEO Jody Gerson said, “I’ve been a personal fan of Brandi Carlile’s for a long time. She is one of the best songwriters and storytellers of our generation. My first meeting with Brandi, Tim and Phil was unforgettable, one of the best ‘first dates’ I’ve ever been on. I knew immediately that I wanted to work closely with them to bring their collective talents to an entirely new level. Along with my UMPG global team, we look forward to supporting their creative journeys and beautiful songs that are destined to last a lifetime.”

Troy Tomlinson, Chairman and CEO of UMPG Nashville, said: “Brandi, Tim and Phil have the natural ability to put into words the emotions we all feel, but find difficult to articulate. Their writing and Brandi’s music and voice are intimate and raw. Their talents will stand the test of time, and we are beyond honored to represent them.”

Last year, Carlile founded The Highwomen with Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris and Amanda Shires. Carlile also produced albums for The Secret Sisters and has collaborated with numerous artists including Dolly Parton, Sam Smith, Elton John, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Gary Clark Jr., Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, John Prine, Yola, Dave Matthews and more.
At the 61st Grammy Awards, Carlile was the most-nominated woman, earning six nominations including nods for Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Carilile and the Hanseroth twins are also humanitarians and activists, co-founding the Looking Out Foundation, an organization which amplifies the impact of music by empowering those without a voice. Looking Out has varied initiatives including campaigns focused on Children in Conflict/War Child, The If Project, Fund Racial Justice, Fight The Fear, Looking Out For The Hungry and more. To date, the organization has raised over $1 million benefiting children whose families, communities and schools have been torn apart by war through their 2017 Cover Stories project and, overall, over $2 million to grassroots causes.

Warner Music Group/Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund Announces External Members Of Board Of Directors

The Warner Music Group / Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund has announced the external members of its Board of Directors. The five outstanding leaders with wide-ranging expertise spanning a diversity of backgrounds, age groups, and disciplines will help ensure the Fund’s governance will include independent oversight and accountability. The 15-person Board will also include seven executives from Warner Music Group and three rotating representatives of the Blavatnik Family Foundation.

The $100 million Warner Music Group / Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund supports charitable causes related to the music industry, social justice, and education, as well as campaigns against violence and racism. The Fund will contribute on a sustained, long-term basis to organizations on the front lines of the fight for equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Proposals can be submitted to WMG.BFF.Fund@wmg.com.

The external members of the Fund’s Board of Directors are: Tanya Coke, Director of the Ford Foundation’s Gender, Racial and Ethnic Justice team; Shawn Gee, President of Live Nation Urban, and a Principal and Partner in Live Nation’s Maverick management company; Paul Henderson, Executive Director of the San Francisco Department of Police Accountability (DPA) and a former chief prosecutor; Alencia Johnson, Chief Impact Officer and Founder of 1063 West Broad, a social impact agency working at the intersection of social justice and culture change; and Mona Sutphen, Senior Advisor, The Vistria Group LLC, a Chicago-based private equity firm.

Other Directors include Temi Adeniji, VP of International Strategy & Operations, Warner Music Group; Mark Baker, VP of Public Policy & Government Affairs, Warner Music Group; Austin Daboh, EVP at Atlantic Records UK; Camille Hackney, Chief Partnerships Officer at Atlantic/Head of the Global Brand Partnerships Council at WMG; Michael Lynton, Chairman, Snap Inc; Riggs Morales, SVP of A&R and Artist Development at Atlantic; Julian Petty, EVP, Head of Business & Legal Affairs at Warner Records; and Ryan Press, President, A&R, U.S. for Warner Chappell Music.

Arts and Entertainment Organizations Call On Congress To Fix Mixed Earner Unemployment Benefits

A coalition of arts and entertainment unions and organizations have spoken out in support of the Mixed Earner Unemployment Assistance Act of 2020. The bill was introduced by U.S. Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Judy Chu (D-CA) to remedy some of the unintended flaws in previous COVID-19 relief bills.

The Author’s Guild, Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO, Future of Music Coalition, the Recording Academy, RIAA, SAG-AFTRA, and Songwriters of North America are among the organizations who have shown support.

Unfortunately, American workers who have mixed income, (income they report as W-2 and 1099 or other self-employment income) are being penalized simply because they earned some income as a W-2 employee. If a mixed-earner such as an entrepreneur, seasonal worker, gig worker, or local musician, singer, actor, writer, photographer, or other creator makes enough income as a W-2-employee to qualify for any amount of traditional state unemployment benefits, only their W-2 income is considered in determining a weekly base benefit amount. As a result, these taxpayers are losing thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, of dollars in vital benefits that could cover the cost of rent or food during a global pandemic.

Many creators work project to project in multiple jobs and various capacities and as a result, creators often find themselves working as employees such as under a union contract and receiving W-2 wages and as independent contractors (or otherwise self-employed) in the same year.

This new legislation grants states the option to transition eligible Mixed Earners from their state unemployment program into the federal PUA program, which will ensure equitable benefits for the recipient going forward. Under this legislation, a mixed earner who earned at least $7,250 from self-employment in 2019 could amend their application to qualify for the PUA program where all income will be aggregated to calculate a new weekly base benefit amount based on actual income.

“For many workers, the relief provided by the CARES Act is making a crucial difference in helping make ends meet during this unprecedented period of disruption. Yet due to the nature of independent work, particularly in industries like entertainment, many workers are currently excluded from Pandemic Unemployment Assistance because they earn a living through a mix of self-employment and traditional W-2 jobs,” said Rep. Schiff. “Our bill will ensure that mixed earners are no longer excluded from this critical assistance because of the nature of their employment and income.”

“The pandemic has exposed that our nation’s unemployment system is not designed for all workers, like music creators, leaving so many vulnerable and without assistance,” said Harvey Mason Jr., Chair and Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy. “The Mixed Earner Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act is a critical solution that will help so many in our community receive the fair benefits that they deserve. The Recording Academy thanks Representatives Adam Schiff and Judy Chu for their tireless efforts to ensure that all workers have equitable access to unemployment benefits as our creative community faces the long-term effects of this unprecedented crisis.”

Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett Among iHeartRadio Music Festival Performers

The 2020 iHeartRadio Music Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary this fall, with a two-day festival set to be streamed Sept. 27-28 via The CW App and CWTV.com, and aired on iHeartMedia stations nationwide (starting at 9 p.m. ET). The two-day virtual concert will feature concerts recorded on stages in Los Angeles and Nashville, and will feature Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett, Khalid, Migos, Miley Cyrus, Usher, and more.

The CW Network will broadcast the two-night televised iHeartRadio Music Festival on Sunday, Sept. 27 (8:00-10:00 pm ET) and Monday, Sept. 28 (8:00-10:00 pm ET).

The 10th anniversary will also feature special remote performances and include intimate backstage moments with artists sharing compelling and inspiring stories about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their lives and their families, given the disruption in society and touring this year.

“We worked closely with the artist community to create a safe way for them to step back on stage and perform for millions of their fans on the radio and television,” said John Sykes, President of Entertainment Enterprises for iHeartMedia. “It’s our commitment to help the artists whose music we play here at iHeart stay connected to their fans.”

As part of the virtual festival, fans will have the opportunity to introduce artists and take part in virtual meet and greets. Fans watching live will also have an opportunity to appear in a special fan video wall and be serenaded by their favorite artists.

“It’s hard to believe that this September will be the 10th iHeartRadio Music Festival,” said Tom Poleman, Chief Programming Officer for iHeartMedia. “The 2011 Festival was iHeart’s first national marquee event and became the model for our hugely successful series of iHeart-branded music events broadcast and streamed across the country on radio, television and online. More than 200 superstar artists have made our iHeartRadio Music Festival the biggest in the world, and this year’s lineup, even amidst a global pandemic, will be one for the history books.”

Over the last decade, the iHeartRadio Music Festival has continued to bring together the biggest artists across all genres on one stage over two nights in Las Vegas including U2, Bon Jovi, Childish Gambino, Drake, Fleetwood Mac, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Luke Bryan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mary J Blige, Prince, Shawn Mendes, Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, The Killers, The Weeknd, and more.

The 2020 iHeartRadio Music Festival is co-produced by John Sykes and Tom Poleman for iHeartMedia and Michael Dempsey for Dempsey Productions.

Black River Entertainment Expands Marketing Department

Pictured: Kelly, Clarke

Black River Entertainment has expanded its Marketing department with the hiring of Taylor Kelly as Creative Manager and Spencer Clarke as Production Engineer. Both report to VP, Marketing Tanya Schrage.

Schrage shared, “Now more than ever we’re adapting to meet the changing needs of our industry. Adding Spencer and Taylor to the team reinforces the commitment to support our artists with meaningful content.”

A Kentucky native, Kelly joins Black River after six years at Red Light Management. During that time, Kelly built and managed the creative department working with artist teams on creative direction, which include Chris Stapleton, Gabby Barrett, Alabama Shakes, Jon Pardi, Sugarland, Bobby Bones, Lindsay Ell, and more.

“Taylor’s breadth of experience coupled with an instantly evident creative energy make her a perfect fit for BRE. I can’t wait to see the magic she’ll make in this role!” Schrage said.

Clarke has been part of Black River Entertainment in another capacity since 2016, after moving to Nashville from North Carolina. He spent the past four years working as a contract Assistant Engineer at Sound Stage Studios. Through this role, Clarke spent an increasing amount of time working with the marketing department on video sessions and now joins the marketing department full-time as Production Engineer. In this role, he will handle the logistics of all in-house artist performances (streams, video capture, etc.) and coordinate with talent and management, studio staff, and A&R teams.

“Spencer has proven time and again his willingness to step up and tackle any project and deliver with excellence,” Schrage said. “He hits it out of the park every time, and he has earned this permanent place among the production team.”

Kelly can be reached at tkelly@blackriverent.com, while Clarke can be reached at sclarke@blackriverent.com.

Jaren Johnston Extends Deal With Sony/ATV (Exclusive)

Jaren Johnston

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville has extended its global co-publishing agreement with songwriter/producer Jaren Johnston.

Johnston, a Nashville native, has penned No. 1 singles including “You Gonna Fly” and “Raise ‘Em Up” for Keith Urban, “Beachin'” for Jake Owen, “Don’t It” for Billy Currington, “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s” and “Southern Girl” for Tim McGraw, Drake White’s “Livin’ The Dream,” and Frankie Ballard’s “Sunshine & Whiskey” and “It All Started with a Beer.”

Sony/ATV Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston stated, “If you look up the word ‘cool’ in the dictionary, you find a picture of Jaren Johnston. He may look like an American Rockstar, but his songs bleed with the heart of a Nashville craftsman poet. Our entire team is thrilled to continue championing his songs and future success.”

“This next year will be an interesting one. Despite the challenges our industry is facing with the ongoing pandemic, I am feeling creative, inspired and ready to get to work,” Johnston says. “With the help of Rusty, Dane [Schmidt], and the entire Sony/ATV team, I’m confident this next chapter of my writing career is going to be a big one.”

In addition to his work as the primary writer and lead vocalist for his band The Cadillac Three, which has resulted in songs such as “Crackin’ Cold Ones with the Boys” and “The South,” featuring Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley and Mike Eli, Johnston has been working on new writing projects with Urban, Florida Georgia Line, McGraw, Lee Brice, and Owen. As a producer, he has recently worked on projects for Steven Tyler, Dierks Bentley, Hannah Dasher, Kelleigh Bannen, and more.

Weekly Register: Gabby Barrett, Maren Morris Lead Country On-Demand Streaming Chart

Pictured: Gabby Barrett, Maren Morris

Luke Combs continues to rule the country albums chart this week, beating out a string of new releases. What You See Is What You Get tops the chart with 21.9K in total consumption, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Morgan Wallen‘s If I Know Me is at No. 2 with 21.5K, followed by Combs’ This One’s For You at No. 3 with 19K. Sam Hunt‘s Southside lands at No. 4 with 15K. Brett Eldredge‘s Sunday Drive debuted at No. 5 with 14K in total consumption.

There were several more album debuts this week, including Margo Price‘s That’s How Rumors Get Started, which landed at No. 17 with 7.3K. Jimmie Allen‘s Bettie James debuted at No. 26 with 6.3K, while Ray Wylie Hubbard‘s Co-Starring… debuted at No. 67 with 3.9K in total consumption.

While the Top 5 on the country albums chart is a boys’ club this week, Gabby Barrett and Maren Morris top the Country Songs On-Demand Streaming Chart (their albums also sit at No. 7 and No. 8 on the country albums chart, respectively).

Barrett’s “I Hope” earned 8.4 million streams this week to top the chart, while Morris’ “The Bones” is at No. 2 with 7.9 million streams. Hunt’s “Hard To Forget” is at No. 3 with 7.8 million streams, followed by Luke Bryan‘s “One Margarita” with 7.3 million streams. Rounding out the Top 5 is Wallen’s “Chasin’ You” with 7.2 million streams.