AURORA Begins Songwriter Series

Pictured (L-R): Left to right: Marty Dodson, Kent Blazy, AURORA’s Rebecca Abrahams, and Greylan James

AURORA, a 4K ultra HD live streaming studio in downtown Nashville, has launched a new songwriter series hosted by songwriter Kent Blazy. In each one-hour episode, Blazy is joined by well-known songwriters and musicians along with up-and-coming artists. Each session is woven with history and musical storytelling. The series is set to include six episodes, performed live-to-tape at AURORA. Early guests include Marty Dodson and Greylan James.

BMI Signs The Damsels

Pictured (L-R) Back row: BMI’s David Preston, producer Brennan Aerts, Stormey Music Recording’s Billy Aerts and producer Jason Hall. Seated: BMI songwriters and The Damsels’ Aubree Bullock and Keenie Word.

Songwriters Aubree Bullock and Keenie Word, also known as The Damsels, signed to BMI for representation on Tuesday (June 14). The Nashville-based country-pop duo has been recording new material and has two tours scheduled with the Armed Forces Entertainment. Their producers are Brennan Aerts of Vinyl Pinups, Jay Joyce collaborator Jason Hall, and Stormey Music Recording’s Billy Aerts.

Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Tickets Available

A limited number of tickets are still available for the Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Awards ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday, June 22, at the Omni Hotel in Nashville. A cocktail reception will take place at 6 p.m. with the induction ceremony to follow at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available for $130 each and can be purchased by contacting Ashley Silver at ashley@crb.org. Full tables are also available for sponsorship and can be purchased by contacting Holly Freeman at holly@crb.org or Brooke Sanders at brooke@crb.org.

This year’s Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Awards ceremony will honor Blair Garner, Mike & Dana Schuff, and Lisa Dent in the On-Air Category, and Mick Anselmo, Kerby Confer, Jack Reno, Tim Roberts, and Jim Slone in the Radio category. Additionally, Randy Travis will be honored with the 2016 CRB Artist Career Achievement Award and Carole Bowen will be recognized as the recipient of the 2016 President’s Award.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of those individuals who have made significant contributions to the radio industry over a 20-year period, 15 of which must be in the country format.

Deluge Music Adds Smithfield

Pictured (L-R): Chris Alderman, Manager, Rough Hollow Entertainment; Stephanie Greene; Mark Friedman, President, Deluge Music; Jennifer Fiedler and Trey Smith of Smithfield; David Robkin, managing member, Deluge Music

Deluge Music has announced the signing of Smithfield, the Texas duo of Jennifer Fiedler and Trey Smith, to a worldwide publishing deal. Smithfield is a SiriusXM Highway Find with a top 10 debut on the Highway Top 30 for their single “Nothing But the Night.” They will be playing the Grand Ole Opry on June 25, July 8 and July 16.

“We are thrilled to have Smithfield on our team. How can you go wrong with two driven, talented artists on the verge of becoming a household name?” says Deluge Music President Mark Friedman.

“The Smithfield team is so excited to have this partnership with Deluge Music and their amazing staff with Stephanie Greene in Nashville and Mark Friedman in L.A. The shared vision for our future as writer/artists makes this a perfect match,” said Fiedler and Smith.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Bradley Collins, songwriter Frank Rogers, Sea Gayle’s Marc Driskill, BMI songwriter Granger Smith, Broken Bow Records’ Jon Loba, Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, Broken Bow Records’ Benny Brown, BMI’s David Preston. Photo: Erika Goldring

Granger Smith’s “Backroad Song” has led the singer-songwriter to his first No. 1 parties as a recording artist. The single marks the first radio release under BBR’s newest imprint, Wheelhouse Records.

Industry members gathered at BMI on Monday (June 13) to celebrate. Smith was presented with a BMI Epiphone guitar to commemorate his inaugural No. 1 song.

Co-written by Smith and Frank Rogers, the song marks Rogers’ 39th chart-topper. Rogers is an ASCAP writer; that PRO also hosted an event for Smith the same day.

Among the BMI partygoers were Warner/Chappell’s Executive VP Ben Vaughn, BMI’s Bradley Collins and David Preston, Lon Helton, Broken Bow Music Group’s Benny Brown and Jon Loba, Country Radio Broadcasters’ Holly Lane, and more.

“You can tell how special this day is. It’s a Music Row party and no one is talking,” said Vaughn. The day was a full-circle moment for him; he previously worked with Smith while leading EMI Publishing’s Country Division.

“I was struck by his work ethic,” said Vaughn. “He was so relatable that everyone liked him.”

Loba recalled how younger members of the BBR Music Group staff were already well-versed in Smith’s music before he was signed with the label group. Loba reported that when he presented the idea of signing Smith, BBR leader Benny Brown didn’t need much prompting to add Smith to the label.

“He had stayed up until about 2 a.m., listening to all of Granger’s music,” said Loba. “He said, ‘You don’t have to sell me on this. I’m in. Let’s go get him.’”

“I’ve been to so many of these No. 1 parties in this building,” said Smith, “and I’ve dreamed of being on this stage.”

He then spoke of the hard work put in by various team members, including those in radio promotion, management, publicity, his touring band, and more. His speech was peppered with references to the importance of teamwork, something Smith said he learned from his childhood days spent playing football in Texas.

“This is our No. 1,” he summed up. “It says my name on it, but this is our No. 1.”

Pictured (L-R): Sea Gayle’s Marc Driskill, Spirit Music Nashville’s Daniel Hill, songwriter Frank Rogers, Granger Smith, Wheelhouse’s Jon Loba, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad

Pictured (L-R): “Backroad Song” writers Frank Rogers and Granger Smith

Pictured (L-R): Troy Tomlinson, Sony/ATV Nashville; Lindsay Rimes; Josh Van Valkenburg, Sony/ATV Nashville; Noah McPike, Almon & McPike, PLLC.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville has signed award-winning producer and songwriter, Lindsay Rimes. Rimes was previously signed to Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia but has since relocated to Nashville.

Sony/ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg stated, “Lindsay is a special talent who is already making a name for himself in Nashville. We are proud to be his publishing family and look forward to watching his career grow.”

Since moving to Nashville, Rimes has had cuts by Canaan Smith, Jana Kramer, The Cadillac 3, Adam Craig, Drake White and Locash. He also produced Locash’s I Know Somebody, which included the single “I Love This Life.”

Rimes remarked, “I’m thrilled to officially be part of the Sony/ATV family with Josh, Troy and the whole Sony/ATV team in my corner. I’ve made Nashville my home and couldn’t be prouder to be part of this amazing community.”

While in Australia, Rimes was in-demand as both a producer and songwriter, working in the rock, pop and country genres.