No. 1 Party: Jake Owen's "Beachin'"
Pictured (L-R): Jon Nite, Jaren Johnston, Jake Owen & Jimmy Robbins. Photo by Ed Rode.
Songwriters, industry executives and artists gathered yesterday (Sept. 22) to celebrate the No. 1 success of “Beachin,’” Jake Owen’s RCA Nashville single.
ASCAP Nashville co-head, LeAnn Phelan, hosted the gathering at the Nashville PRO in association with Northwestern Mutual.
Songwriters Jon Nite (3rd No. 1 single), Jimmy Robbins (fifth No. 1 single) and Jaren Johnston (3rd No. 1 single) contributed writing credits to the Owen-title. All three are ASCAP-affiliated.
Sony/ATV’s Abbey Adams went down the line offering congratulations to the gang, including her writers Johnston and Nite. “We appreciate you opening up to outside songs,” said Adams to Owen. “‘Beachin’’ will forever be a Jake Owen song.”
On behalf of Keith Urban and Joe Fisher, Kent Earls offered remarks for UMPG’s stake of Robbins’ writing. “Thank you to Nashville,” Robbins remarked when he took the mic. “I’ve lived a lot of places growing up and never been a place more welcoming.”
Nite mentioned, “We just write songs that we think are cool. Jake has made this song reach [the fans].”
“Jake is one of the best guys out there,” praised Johnston after crediting Glenn Middleworth for giving him his start in songwriting.
Owen’s nearly 2-year-old daughter Olive Pearl Owen stole the show when she sauntered up to her famous father, who prompted her with the line: “Chillin’, breezing, sippin’, singin’ whoa-a-oh-ah-oh.” Of course she delivered a bashful, “Beachin,” into the mic. “You know a song is good when a little kid sings it!” said Owen.
“I appreciate you guys giving me your craft and letting me be the voice of it,” he said to the songwriters. “I came to write songs and ASCAP was the very first building I walked in.” Upon arriving in Nashville he had dropped off a CD at the PRO labeled with his birth name, Josh Owen. The next day he was back with another CD and when a staff member questioned his return, he claimed his name was Jake, which stuck.
Bill Mayne, Executive Director for CRS, and Brandi Simms, Sr. Director of Membership and Balloting for CMA, offered additional congratulations.
Pictured (L-R, front row): Nite, Johnston, Owen, Robbins, (back row) Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Abbey Adams, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe, Universal Music Publishing Group’s Kent Earls, ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan & RCA Records Nashville’s Keith Gale. Photo by Ed Rode.
Universal Music Group Nashville (UMGN) has announced it will employ the consulting services of former GM for Decca Records/UK executive Mike Bartlett as it aims at capitalizing on sales in UK/Ireland.
Mavis Staples will be honored at a concert event Nov. 19 at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre. The star studded line up for I’ll Take You There—Celebrating 75 Years Of Marvis Staples includes Gregg Allman, Ryan Bingham, Eric Church, Patty Griffin, Glen Hansard, Taj Mahal, Michael McDonald, Buddy Miller, Aaron Neville, Widespread Panic, Grace Potter, and Marty Stuart. Staples will take the stage to perform with a number of special guests throughout the night.
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