Reservoir, One Riot Sign American Aquarium’s BJ Barham (Exclusive)

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BJ Barham. Photo: Courtesy Reservoir

Reservoir and One Riot have signed BJ Barham, lead vocalist and guitarist of Americana country group American Aquarium, to a global publishing deal. The deal includes global rights to Barham’s entire catalog, plus future works.

Barham and American Aquarium have released seven projects since 2006. The group’s most recent album Lamentations reached No. 2 on Billboard‘s Top Folk/Americana Albums, as well as the Top 20 on both the Top Country Albums and Top Rock Albums charts.

“I’m really excited to join such an amazing roster of talented songwriters,” said Barham. “The One Riot/Reservoir team has such a great history of putting artists first and I’m looking forward to see what we can create together.”

“BJ Barham is the quintessential country songwriter: someone who writes honest stories about real life experiences, hard-earned lessons, and the resiliency of the heart,” added One Riot General Manager Amy Patton. “It’s a true privilege to work with such an incredible writer and artist who is re-infusing raw storytelling into country music.”

Reservoir EVP of Creative John Ozier said, “Barham is driven by his desire to infuse American Aquarium’s music with honesty, and that’s exactly the type of creative vision we’re inspired by. We are honored to work with such a dedicated and talented songwriter.”

Mojo Music & Media Acquires Stake In Louvin Brothers Catalog (Exclusive)

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Global independent publishing and legacy marketing company Mojo Music & Media has acquired a co-publishing interest in Kathy Louvin’s Movin Louvin Music. Kathy is the daughter of Ira Louvin, one half of the legendary country duo the Louvin Brothers. The deal spans the group’s entire catalog, including classics such as “When I Stop Dreaming,” “If I Could Only Win Your Love,” “Cash On The Barrel Head,” “I’ll Take The Chance” and “The Knoxville Girl,” and religious standards including “Family Who Prays,” “I Like The Christian Life,” “The Angels Rejoiced Last Night” and “Let Us Travel, Travel On.”

Mojo Co-Founder and CEO Mark Fried said, “The Louvin Brothers extraordinary harmonies and pure Appalachian sound were a foundation for all of country music and their powerfully emotional songs of love, heartbreak and salvation inspired a generation of songwriters and artists who followed. We’re honored to have the chance to work with Kathy and her family to ensure that the Louvin’s music and story continue to work their magic on musicians and music fans for decades to come.”

Kathy Louvin stated, “Pairing the Louvin music catalog with the passion, wisdom and experience at Mojo Music & Media truly creates endless possibilities. As a family, our excitement is reborn and renewed and we are so grateful to be a part of this winning team!”

Ira and Charlie Louvin, first cousins of Hall of Fame songwriter John D. Loudermilk, grew up in rural northeastern Alabama. Between 1955 and 1962, they released 12 Top 30 hits, including the No. 1 hit “I Don’t Believe  You’ve Met My Baby,” and Top 10 hits including “Hoping That You’re Hoping,” “You’re Running Wild,” “Cash On The Barrel Head,” and “My Baby’s Gone.”

The Louvin Brothers joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1955, and were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2015, they earned a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. They were included in Ken Burns’ recent documentary on country music and are the subject of an upcoming feature film produced by and starring Ethan Hawke.

Kathy Louvin is an award-winning songwriter in her own right, having penned such hits as Ricky Van Shelton’s chart-topper “Keep It Between The Lines” and Confederate Railroad’s “Queen Of Memphis,” among others. She also co-produced the 2003 tribute album, Livin’, Lovin’, Losin’: Songs Of The Louvin Brothers, which won Best Country Album at the 2004 Grammys ceremony.

The Louvin Brothers. Photo: Courtesy Country Music Hall of Fame/Kathy Louvin

The Franklin Theatre Announces New Advisory Board

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Franklin Theatre. Photo: Courtesy The Heritage Foundation

The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, Tennessee, has appointed a new Advisory Board for The Franklin Theatre. The 16 board members represent experience in the entertainment, marketing and non-profit industries, and will work with The Franklin Theatre and the Heritage Foundation teams over the next several years to support long-term vision and planning.

Board members include: Chair Jennifer Parker, Trey Bruce, Ramon Cisneros, Carla Denham, Fletcher Foster, David Garrett, Dan Haseltine, David Haskell, Paul Jankowski, Sherri Leathers, Debbie Schwartz Linn, Matt Logan, Dionne Lucas, Emily Magid, T.J. Portis, and Dan Rogers.

“We couldn’t be prouder of this group of talented people who have stepped up to serve and support our beloved historic downtown theatre and the Heritage Foundation. The combined experience, talent and passion of these 16 people will be a key factor in our strategic planning, fundraising and programming for long-term vision of The Franklin Theatre. With this talented team rallying for us, the sky’s the limit for the possibilities,” says Beasley.

The Franklin Theatre, an operating division of the Heritage Foundation, has temporarily suspended all programming until 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions on live entertainment venues.

Dan Wise Named ‘American Songwriter’ Chief Operating Officer

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Dan Wise

Dan Wise has joined music publication American Songwriter as Chief Operating Officer.

In his new role, Wise will continue to grow the American Songwriter Podcast Network, which since its inception earlier this year, has onboarded shows like Dave Barnes’ 5 Hot Takes and Americana with Robert Earl Keen, among others. Wise will also be responsible for business development, including the scaling of existing and creation of new content initiatives.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Dan to the American Songwriter family,” said CEO Sam Savage. “Dan’s invaluable experience in the music industry and track record of creating deep and meaningful relationships makes him an incredible addition to our team.”

Wise began his career in the music industry over two decades ago as an audio engineer, production manager, and tour manager. Soon after he moved into artist management, where he most recently worked with Starstruck Entertainment, led by Narvel Blackstock.

“Joining a company that has planted its roots in the music industry 35 years ago and earned the respect of musicians and songwriters around the world is truly an honor,” said Wise. “I look forward to expanding upon the incredible success that Sam and the team have already built.”

Thomas Archer Reaches Top Five On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Thomas Archer enters the top five on this week’s MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, with co-writer credit on Jason Aldean’s “Got What I Got” and the Luke Combs track “Lovin’ On You.”

The top three on the chart remain the same this week, with Josh Thompson at No. 1, HARDY at No. 2 and Matt Dragstrem at No. 3.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital downloaded track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Weekly Register: Morgan Wallen Dominates Country Albums, Streaming Charts

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Morgan Wallen. Photo: John Shearer

Big Loud’s Morgan Wallen tops both the Country Albums chart and the Country On-Demand Audio Streaming chart this week, according to Nielsen. He has one of the hottest songs of the year so far, as “7 Summers” debuts at No. 1 on the On-Demand Country Streaming Songs chart (and No. 3 overall) with 22 million streams in its first week.

He has three of this week’s Top 5 country streaming songs, with “Chasin’ You” at No. 3 with 7.3 million streams, and Diplo & Julia Michaels‘ “Heartless” (which Wallen is also featured on) at No. 4 with 7 million streams.

Gabby Barrett‘s former No. 1 hit “I Hope” is at No. 2 this week with 9.1 million streams, while Maddie & Tae‘s recent No. 1 radio hit “Die From A Broken Heart” is at No. 5 with 6.9 million streams.

Wallen also tops the Country Albums chart this week, with If I Know Me moving 25K in total consumption. Kane Brown debuts at No. 2 with his new EP Mixtape Vol. 1 (22K), followed by Luke Combs‘ What You See Is What You Get at No. 3 with 21K, Luke Bryan‘s Born Here Live Here Die Here at No. 4 with 19K, and Combs’ This One’s For You at No. 5 with 19K.

Lindsay Ell’s Stoney Creek project heart theory debuts at No. 33 on the country albums chart with 5.6K in total consumption, while Columbia artist Orville Peck‘s Show Pony debuts at No. 46 with 4.7K.

SESAC, RMLC Announce New Agreement

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SESAC and the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) have announced a new license agreement that sets the rates payable by the majority of America’s commercial terrestrial radio stations to publicly perform works in the SESAC repertory, effective Jan. 1 2019 through Dec. 31, 2022.

The agreement rolls forward rates and terms from the prior license, including a blanket license fee of 0.2557% of net revenue, and an all-talk rate of .0575% of revenue. As before, the agreement applies to stations’ over-the-air broadcasts, simulcast streams and HD signals.

The RMLC represents the vast majority of the nation’s radio stations, and SESAC represents more than 1 million songs and some 30,000 songwriters, composers and music publisher affiliates.

SESAC President and COO Kelli Turner said, “As a performing rights organization, we remain focused on bringing value to our songwriters and publishers—which has become increasingly important during these uncertain times. We appreciate the RMLC’s cooperation to once again reach an agreement that will enhance the livelihoods of the creative community.”

RMLC Chairman Ed Atsinger said, “We are pleased to carry forward the terms of the prior agreement with SESAC, which is an efficient path forward for both sides in a music licensing landscape that has become increasingly complex.”

Kane Brown Joins Elite Circle With Latest Chart Milestone

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Kane Brown. Photo: Matthew Berinato

Kane Brown has earned the best country EP debut of 2020, with his Mixtape Vol. 1 project  (which released Aug. 14) entering Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart at No. 2, with more than 22,000 in consumption units. The seven-song collection’s on-demand streams total earns the year’s highest first-week marks since Sam Hunt’s Southside album debut.

Brown currently has three projects in the Top 20, including Mixtape Vol. 1, the Platinum-certified Experiment and the 2x multi-Platinum Kane Brown. Brown joins Garth Brooks, Chris Stapleton, Florida Georgia Line and Kacey Musgraves as the only artists to accomplish this feat since 2017, when the Billboard Country chart first reflected total consumption, blending traditional album sales, track equivalent albums, and streaming equivalent albums.

Mixtape Vol. 1 includes pop collaborations with Swae Lee and Khalid on his current Top 40 hit “Be Like That,” and with John Legend on “Last Time I Say Sorry.” The EP also includes the timely  inspirational message “Worldwide Beautiful,” which released two days after the music industry observed Blackout Tuesday in June.

Avenue Beat, Lindsay Ell, Louis York Set For Virtual Concert To Encourage Voter Registration

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Avenue Beat, Lindsay Ell, Maggie Rose, Aubrie Sellers, Louis York, The Cadillac Three, Natalie Prass and Eric Slick of Dr. Dog, and the Nashville Action Committee (chaired by writer/producer Alex Kline) are hosting “Get Your Vote On!,” a free virtual concert on August 30 to encourage nonpartisan voter registration and activation. Get Your Vote On! will broadcast live on nugs.net on Sunday, August 30, at 6 p.m. ET.

“The right to vote isn’t just a right, it’s a privilege. I feel personally obligated to raise my voice and encourage others to become active in this year’s election,” said Rose. “I’m honored to stand alongside each of these amazing artists, and the Nashville Action Committee, to encourage and empower voter engagement — not only in Nashville, but nationwide.”

“We’re thrilled to be teaming up with HeadCount and to have an array of acts — that range from country to soul to indie rock to pop — all come together to play this event,” said Kline. “We believe our voices are heard loudest at the ballot boxes and I think it’s only fitting that the voices of these artists will help thousands more in America be heard.”

In addition to signing on for a three-song set, Rose reached out to streaming platform nugs.net (which broadcasted her multi-cam, 4K “Help Myself” Virtual Release Party show in May) about serving as streaming partner for Get Your Vote On!.

“They responded passionately about our cause, and were very excited about the lineup and immediately signed on to stream the event,” Kline shares. “I couldn’t have dreamed up a better partnership.”

Fireflight’s "Unbreakable" Certified Gold

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Fireflight

Rockers Fireflight have achieved Gold status for their 2007 chart-topping single “Unbreakable.” With digital single sales surpassing 500,000 units, “Unbreakable” is the title track from the band’s bestselling 2008 Flicker Records release, and was also featured on NBC’s Bionic Woman in 2007.

Fireflight’s Dawn Michele (vocals), Wendy Drennen (bass), Glenn Drennen (guitars) and Justin Cox (guitars), signed to RockFest Records last year. The foursome is readying their highly anticipated RockFest debut, which is slated for release this Fall.

With a Grammy nomination to their credit, 26 million views on VEVO, nine No. 1 Christian rock singles, seven Dove Award nominations, and more than 400,000 albums sold, Fireflight has built a fiercely devoted following, transcending both Christian and mainstream rock. Bursting onto the scene with their 2006 Flicker Records debut, The Healing Of Harms, the band’s discography also includes Unbreakable (2008) and For Those Who Wait (2010). The group’s Essential Records debut, Now, was the top-selling Christian rock album of 2012, while Fireflight’s independently released INNOVA (2015) yielded two No. 1 singles, joining such career-defining hits as “Waiting,” “The Hunger,” “Unbreakable” and “Stay Close,” among others.