Bobby Karl Works The Nashville Songwriters HOF Induction Announcement

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Pictured, (back row, L-R): Nashville Songwriiters Hall of Fame Board Chair and Hall of Fame member Pat Alger; inductees John Anderson and Gretchen Peters and Hall of Fame executive director Mark Ford. Front row, (L-R): Inductees Paul Craft and Tom Douglas.

Pictured, (back row, L-R): Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Board Chair and Hall of Fame member Pat Alger; inductees John Anderson and Gretchen Peters and Hall of Fame executive director Mark Ford. Front row, (L-R): Inductees Paul Craft and Tom Douglas.


BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 462
One of the things I find most impressive about the voters for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame is that they so often choose quality over quantity and/or commerciality.
This year’s slate of inductees is a perfect example of that. There are songwriters who have larger catalogs and bigger hits than Gretchen Peters, Tom Douglas, Paul Craft and John Anderson. But you won’t find four writers with classier or better-written songs.
“The voters choose real songs,” observed Peter Cooper, who also heartily approved of this year’s inductees.
How true. The Peters catalog includes such superb creations as “Independence Day” (Martina McBride), “The Chill of an Early Fall” (George Strait), “The Secret of Life” (Faith Hill), “You Don’t Even Know Who I Am” (Patty Loveless), “Let That Pony Run” (Pam Tillis), “My Baby Loves Me” (Martina McBride), “If Heaven” (Andy Griggs) and “On a Bus to St. Cloud” (Trisha Yearwood).
As for Douglas, his list includes “The House That Built Me” (Miranda Lambert), “I Run to You” (Lady Antebellum), “Little Rock” (Collin Raye), “Love’s the Only House” (Martina McBride), “Hello World” (Lady Antebellum) and the Tim McGraw hits “Grown Men Don’t Cry,” “My Little Girl,” “Let it Go” and “Southern Voice.”
Paul Craft, this year’s “veteran” inductee, has penned songs for practically every bluegrass band there is. Not to mention such gems as “Brother Jukebox” (Mark Chesnutt), “Come As You Were” (T. Graham Brown), “Dropkick Me Jesus” (Bobby Bare), “Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life” (Moe Bandy), “Keep Me From Blowing Away” (Linda Ronstadt), “It’s Me Again, Margaret” (Ray Stevens), “Midnight Flyer” (The Eagles) and “Blue Heartache” (Gail Davies).
The 2014 writer/artist inductee is John Anderson, whose catalog includes such choice items as “Swingin,’” “Chicken Truck,” “I Wish I Could Have Been There,” “Goin’ Down Hill,” “Seminole Wind,” ‘Bend it Until it Breaks,” “I Wish I Could Write You a Song,” “If it Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It” and “Country ‘Til I Die.”
All four inductees appeared at the announcement ceremony on Tuesday morning, July 8, at the Music City Center. This is where their names will be engraved on Songwriter Square and on the MCC steps leading up from Fifth Avenue. It is also where the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame gallery is on display. And MCC will be the site of their induction banquet on Oct. 5.
Showing their support for the new “class” were such prior Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees as Jerry Chesnut, Jerry Foster, Allen Shamblin, Dickey Lee, Larry Henley, Kenny O’Dell, Wayland Holyfield, Pat Alger and Tony Arata. How cool is that?
NSHoF executive director Mark Ford introduced them all at a post-announcement luncheon. This was also attended by Amy Kurland, Jennifer Bohler, Erika Wollam Nichols, Troy Tomlinson, Mike Dye, Ken Paulson, Woody Bomar, Bo Thomas, Corky O’Dell and Bobby Roberts.
As I have mentioned before, the MCC catering can’t be beat. We lunched on chilled herb-chicken salad and chess pie with whipped cream.
Also in attendance at the event were R.J. Curtis, Bart Herbison, Barb Hall, Barry Walsh, Connie Bauer, Carol Ann Ford, Bob Paxman, crews from all three TV news stations and a number of curious fans, conventioneers and onlookers.
“Here in Nashville where the music industry has always been built on a foundation of great songs written by legendary songwriters, each year only a few are elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame,” said Pat Alger, who is the chair of the organization’s board. This year’s “few” are truly the best of their breed.
These four will join the 192 existing members of the NSHoF. This is the 44th anniversary/ceremony of the organization.
Tickets for the Oct. 5 banquet, show and ceremony are $250 apiece. Some seats are available to the public. Contact Mark Ford for more information ([email protected])

Beuschel Joins Warner/Chappell Music as A&R Director

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Ryan Beuschel

Ryan Beuschel


Ryan Beuschel has been tapped for the role of A&R Director for Warner/Chappell Music, the global publishing arm of Warner Music Group. Beuschel comes to Warner/Chappell from ASCAP, where he spent four years as an Associate Director of Membership for their Nashville branch.
Beuschel will provide A&R resources and creative support across the publisher’s roster and catalog, and assist in the discovery of new talent and the development of songwriters. He will report to Ben Vaughn, Executive Vice President, Warner/Chappell Nashville.
Vaughn said, “I am pleased to announce that Ryan Beuschel will be joining the Warner/Chappell Nashville team. Ryan understands how to work with talent, as demonstrated through his years helping grow the careers of songwriters at ASCAP and artists at Universal, and we look forward to the excellent service he’s capable of providing to our writers.”
“I cannot wait to begin working with the world-class songwriters and A&R staff of Warner/Chappell. This is an incredible opportunity and I’m extremely grateful for it,” said Beuschel.
While at ASCAP, Beuschel co-founded the ASCAP GPS Project, which aids unsigned songwriters in navigating Nashville’s publishing community. Prior to ASCAP, he was A&R Manager at Universal Music Group, where he worked with artists signed to the MCA and Mercury labels. He began his career in 2005 as an intern for Universal Music Publishing. He was later named as Catalog Coordinator, before moving to UMG label group in 2007 as A&R coordinator. The Michigan native earned a degree in management and finance from Hope College.

Childs, Mandile Launch Veritable Music

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veritable11

Pictured (L-R): Steve Mandile and Andy Childs


Nashville musicians Andy Childs and Steve Mandile have launched music publishing and production company Veritable Music, LLC. Funded by Memphis businesswoman Leigh Shockey, the company is housed in the Parlor Recording Studio building, located at 1317 16th Ave. S. Music publisher and songplugger Stephanie Greene represents Veritable’s catalog of songs through her own independent firm, while Mark Ahlberg handles administration.
Veritable’s roster of songwriters includes Willie Mack, Danielle Lauderdale, and Seth Cook. Mack’s songs have been recorded by Sara Evans, Collin Raye, the Oak Ridge Boys, and others. Lauderdale was featured on CMT’s Next Superstar series.
Childs and Mandile co-formed the band Sixwire. Together and separately, they have had songs recorded by Tim McGraw, John Michael Montgomery, Chris Cagle, Ronnie Dunn, Craig Morgan, Mark Wills, Cliff Richard, George Canyon, and Carolyn Dawn Johnson.
Childs and Mandile each rank as managing partner at Veritable, with Childs overseeing all operations as CEO, and Mandile supervising all creative activities. Shockey serves as CEO of Drexel Chemical Co. in Memphis, and is the current chairperson of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, visit veritablemusic.com.

2014 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

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Pictured, (back row, L-R): Nashville Songwriiters Hall of Fame Board Chair and Hall of Fame member Pat Alger; inductees John Anderson and Gretchen Peters and Hall of Fame executive director Mark Ford. Front row, (L-R): Inductees Paul Craft and Tom Douglas.

Pictured, (back row, L-R): Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Board Chair and Hall of Fame member Pat Alger; inductees John Anderson and Gretchen Peters and Hall of Fame executive director Mark Ford. Front row, (L-R): Inductees Paul Craft and Tom Douglas.


John Anderson, Tom Douglas, Gretchen Peters and Paul Craft are the 2014 inductees into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The inductees were announced Tuesday morning (July 8) by Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame board president Pat Alger at Nashville’s Music City Center.
“This is our first anniversary of the Songwriters Hall of Fame gallery and square at the Music City Center,” said Alger. “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to introduce our 2014 inductees. There are few songwriters who write songs that linger long after they are on the chart, and these writers fit that description.”
“I am going to cry in October,” said Peters, who is known for songs including “Independence Day” (Martina McBride), “Secret of Life” (Faith Hill), and “Chill of an Early Fall” (George Strait). “I couldn’t be happier to be in this company,” she added.
Douglas, known for the hits “The House That Built Me” (Miranda Lambert), “I Run To You” (Lady Antebellum) “Little Rock” (Collin Raye) and “Love’s The Only House” (Martina McBride), among others, said, “It is a joy to be with you in this amazing space. We are standing on the shoulders of all those giants who have come before us.”
Anderson penned many of his own signature hits, including “Wish I Could’ve Been There,” “Seminole Wind,” and “Swingin.'” “How flattered and humbled I am to be here,” said Anderson.
“This is very exciting to me,” said fellow inductee Craft. “I look forward to our induction.” Craft’s songs include “Keep Me From Blowing Away” (The Seldom Scene/Linda Ronstadt), “Brother Jukebox” (Mark Chesnutt), “It’s Me Again, Margaret” (Ray Stevens), “Dropkick Me, Jesus” (Bobby Bare), and many others.
The inductions will be made during a banquet at the Music City Center on Oct. 5.

Spirit Music Group Acquires Cal IV Entertainment

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Pictured (L-R): Peter Shane (SVP, Creative Services, Spirit Music Group), Jon Singer (CFO, Spirit Music Group), Daniel Hill (Cal IV), David Renzer (Chairman, Spirit Music Group), Mark Fried (President, Spirit Music Group), Art Levy (VP of Business & Administration, Spirit Music Group), Ross Cameron (Manager of Finance & Business Development, Spirit Music Group)

Pictured (L-R): Peter Shane (SVP, Creative Services, Spirit Music Group), Jon Singer (CFO, Spirit Music Group), Daniel Hill (Cal IV), David Renzer (Chairman, Spirit Music Group), Mark Fried (President, Spirit Music Group), Art Levy (VP of Business & Administration, Spirit Music Group), Ross Cameron (Manager of Finance & Business Development, Spirit Music Group)


Spirit Music Group has acquired Nashville-based independent music publisher, production and artist management company Cal IV Entertainment, which marks the launch of Spirit Music Nashville.
This is Spirit’s first official presence on Music Row. Spirit will assume the Cal IV Nashville offices, with Cal IV head Daniel Hill being named president of Spirit Music Nashville, Billy Lynn becoming VP of Creative, and other existing Cal IV staffers remaining with the company. Hill will report to Spirit Chairman David Renzer, who was named to that post earlier this year after a long tenure leading Universal Music Publishing Group.
Along with the publishing operation, Spirit assumes ownership of Cal IV’s subsidiary Fore Artists, an artist management company overseen by Dan Harrell.
Renzer stated, “The acquisition of Cal IV represents a ‘trifecta’ for Spirit—adding great catalog including important pop and country copyrights, hot writers and artists and an incredible staff—lead by successful veterans Daniel Hill and Billy Lynn, to build upon an incredibly solid foundation. We couldn’t be more excited about this significant step for Spirit as we accelerate the company’s growth.”
Spirit becomes the publisher of an active roster that includes Eric Paslay, Jim Collins, Rose Falcon, Matt Singleton, Eric Knutson, and Britanny Taylor (Triple Run). The company’s catalog includes “Breathe” (recorded by Faith Hill), “Stupid Boy” (Keith Urban), “Big Green Tractor” (Jason Aldean) and more, as well as an extensive catalog of songs by former Cal IV writers such as Dave Berg (Billboard’s 2007 Country Songwriter of the Year, NSAI’s 2007 Songwriter of the Year, ASCAP’s 2008 Country Songwriter of the Year), Jim McBride, Odie Blackmon, Marla Cannon-Goodman, Trent Tomlinson, Holly Lamar, Georgia Middleman (Blue Sky Riders with Kenny Loggins and Gary Burr) and Ted Russell Kamp (Shooter Jennings), among many others.
Spirit purchased Cal IV from the Turner family, which includes Cal III and Cal, Jr. “I am proud of what we have accomplished over the last fourteen years at Cal IV and am very grateful to Cal, III and Cal, Jr. for their generous support. I am thrilled to be able to continue to build upon their legacy and our considerable momentum as Spirit Music Nashville,” added Hill. “Spirit and Cal IV are kindred companies and the fit between the two could not be better. Joining forces with Spirit Music will create synergies that individually we could not attain, and will enable us to take the catalog and our songwriters to a whole new level of success.”

Industry Ink (7/7/14)

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Taylor Swift's RED Tour. Photo: Getty

Taylor Swift’s RED Tour. Photo: Getty


Taylor Swift has penned her thoughts on the future of the music industry in an essay, titled “For Taylor Swift, The Future of Music is a Love Story,” for the Wall Street Journal. Swift offered her thoughts on maintaining a decades-long artist-fan relationship, the value of music, and the progression–and, according to Swift, the fading-of music genres.
“Another theme I see fading into the gray is genre distinction,” Swift wrote. “These days, nothing great you hear on the radio seems to come from just one musical influence. The wild, unpredictable fun in making music today is that anything goes. Pop sounds like hip hop; country sounds like rock; rock sounds like soul; and folk sounds like country—and to me, that’s incredible progress.” For the full essay, visit wsj.com.

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Singer/songwriter Justin Wilson has signed with SESAC for representation. Wilson, who is signed with Magic Mustang Publishing, visited SESAC’s Music Row headquarters to make it official.

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Shannan Hatch, Wilson, Magic Mustang Publishing Juli Newton Griffith and SESAC’s Tim Fink. Photo: Peyton Hoge

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Shannan Hatch, Wilson, Magic Mustang Publishing Juli Newton Griffith and SESAC’s Tim Fink. Photo: Peyton Hoge

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Don Light

Don Light


Reminder: A memorial service for veteran music industry leader Don Light is scheduled for July 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Participants in the service will include the Oak Ridge Boys, Bill Gaither, Vince Gill, the Goodman Revival, Marty Stuart, Peter Cooper and host Ray Stevens, as well as other special guests. Valet Parking will be available.
Light established the first Gospel Music booking agency, and discovered Jimmy Buffett, among numerous career accomplishments.

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kitchin1

Kraig Kitchin


Kraig Kitchin has been named as successor to retiring National Radio Hall of Fame chairman Brice DuMont. Kitchin, co-founder and former president/COO of Premiere Radio Networks, is co-president of Sound Mind Inc., which offers management services to radio, television and production organizations.

Jeff Skaggs Joins Creative Nation

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Jeff Skaggs

Jeff Skaggs


Creative Nation has hired Jeff Skaggs to lead the creative department and to oversee the company’s songwriter roster, which includes Luke Laird, Barry Dean, Native Run and Maggie Chapman.
Skaggs most recently served as creative director at Kobalt Music Group, and launched his publishing career at Mighty Isis Music in 2005.
“Jeff is a respected creative executive that will be a great addition to Creative Nation,” says Beth Laird, Co-Owner and General Manager of Creative Nation. “His relationships and passion for music are undeniable and make him a great fit for our company. We are excited to have him join the team!”
More additions to the team include Annalia Alba, Kristen Pellegrino and Sarah Lai. Alba, a former Creative Nation intern, has moved into a graphic design role. Lai (of publicity company SLPR) will oversee publicity and marketing for the company, while Pellegrino will focus on digital marketing.

No. 1 Party: 'Hometown' Throwdown

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BMI hosted a celebration honoring Eric Church's most recent #1 hit single "Give Me Back My Hometown" amongst music industry VIPs at their Nashville office yesterday afternoon. Co-written by Church and Luke Laird, "Give Me Back My Hometown" is from Church's critically acclaimed fourth studio album, The Outsiders, which debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top 200 and Top Country Albums charts. The song is the fifteenth #1 hit for BMI's 2012 Songwriter of the Year Luke Laird, and the third #1 for Eric Church. Pictured (l-r): BMI's Bradley Collins, Q Prime's John Peets, Songs of Universal's Kent Earls, Creative Nation's Beth Laird, Luke Laird, Eric Church, Longer and Louder Music's Arturo Buenahora, BMI's Jody Williams, Sony / ATV Tree Publishing's Troy Tomlinson, Universal Music Group's Mike Dungan. Photo credit: Ed Rode

BMI hosted a celebration honoring Eric Church’s most recent No. 1 single “Give Me Back My Hometown,” co-written by Church and Luke Laird. Pictured (l-r): BMI’s Bradley Collins, Q Prime’s John Peets, Songs of Universal’s Kent Earls, Creative Nation’s Beth Laird, Luke Laird, Eric Church, Longer and Louder Music’s Arturo Buenahora, BMI’s Jody Williams, Sony/ATV Tree Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, Universal Music Group’s Mike Dungan. Photo: Ed Rode


When Luke Laird and Eric Church wrote the lyric “my friends try to cheer me up, get together at the Pizza Hut,” in “Give Me Back My Hometown,” they weren’t just trying to connect with listeners in Everytown, USA (although they did that too). Turns out Pizza Hut is one of Laird’s favorite places. His grandmother used to take him there when he returned home to Pennsylvania. So at yesterday’s (July 1) No. 1 party for “…Hometown” Laird’s wife and Creative Nation partner, Beth, handed out Pizza Hut gift cards to the team behind the song’s success, so they could celebrate “Luke Laird style.”
This was the first of many tributes to Laird’s and Church’s homegrown authenticity during the event in BMI’s lobby.
Thinking outside the (pizza) box, Beth also presented the writers with unique, handcrafted wooden plaques, carved in the shape of their respective homestates.
“…Hometown” marks Creative Nation’s third No. 1 and Luke Laird’s fifteenth. In between writing smash hits, he is also producing Native Run, Thomas Rhett and Kacey Musgraves’ next album.
Among those on hand to toast the songwriters were UMPG’s Kent Earls, who said, “Eric’s artistry never waivers.”
UMGN’s Mike Dungan saluted Church’s unconventionality. “When you boil it down, Eric is a songwriter,” he said. “A damn good songwriter.” Indeed, it Church’s third No. 1.
Also giving tributes were Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, and Little Louder Music’s Arturo Buenahora. This is the first No. 1 for Little Louder, the company founded by Buenahora, and Church, who celebrated “Eric Church style,” by wearing his sunglasses.

Writer's Notes: Troy Verges

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Troy Verges

Troy Verges


Rumors abound about the house near Music Row where songwriters Troy Verges and Brett James have set up shop. Maybe Kris Kristofferson stayed there when it was a boarding house in the ’60s. Perhaps Patsy Cline hid a secret lover next door. Was Kip Moore spooked by a ghost when he lived in the room upstairs? Regardless, one thing is undeniable about the more than 100-year-old building: the volumes of hit songs being created there.
It’s where Verges, Barry Dean and Hunter Hayes penned the artist’s current single “Tattoo,” which is scaling the radio charts alongside another Verges and Dean co-write, “Day Drinking,” penned with members of Little Big Town.
Verges and Hayes were first paired by Universal Music Publishing Group’s Cyndi Forman, who had a hunch her fellow Louisiana natives would hit it off. Following the success of their collaborations including 2013 BMI Song of the Year “Wanted,” the duo re-teamed for four cuts on the artist’s latest album.
Similarly, Verges’ writing with pals Kip Moore and Blair Daly led straight to No. 1, with Moore’s “Beer Money.”
“Hunter and Kip are two guys in town that I’ve worked with that have the most clear vision of themselves as artists,” says Verges. “It makes it easy to write songs with them because they know exactly what they want to sound like and what their message is. It frees you up creatively to follow their lead. By the time we wrote ‘Beer Money,’ Kip had already been touring and knew what his audience wanted. In those cases, the songs come out sounding like them, not me, which makes them great artists. And I get to help them shape that.”
Verges and Hunter Hayes at the BMI Country Awards.

Verges and Hunter Hayes at the BMI Country Awards.


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Verges isn’t exaggerating when he says his 10th birthday was “fortuitous.” That’s the day his parents surprised him with a trip to the music store where they let him pick out his first guitar.
The Shreveport native discovered The Eagles and Bob Dylan while combing through his parents’ record collection. He played in bands and dabbled in songwriting, first while attending Middle Tennessee State University, then at Belmont University, where he picked up an equally fortuitous card from a campus cork board. It was for an internship at Pat Higdon’s Patrick Joseph Music. Before Verges even graduated college, Higdon signed him as a songwriter. (Verges landed at UMPG after it purchased Higdon’s company.)
It took a few years for Verges to gain traction as a writer. “I’d have a party if I got a hold,” he says. But he kept plugging away, often traveling to Oklahoma to write with Brett James, who had returned there after losing his record deal. (In one of Nashville’s best stories of songwriter destiny, the further James got from music—he enrolled in and quit medical school twice—the harder fate worked to pull him back.) “Around 2001, things blew up for Brett and me at the same time. It was a crazy way to get where we ended up,” says Verges. Their collaboration led to Verges’ first cut, “Love Is A Sweet Thing,” on Faith Hill’s Breathe album and James’ eventual return to Nashville. Following closely were their co-penned No. 1s by Jessica Andrews (“Who I Am”) and Martina McBride (“Blessed”), written with Hillary Lindsey.
“There were so many women on Country radio at that time: Faith, Shania and Martina were the biggest artists in our format,” says Verges, who enjoys exploring the female perspective through writing. “The production on their singles seemed more outside-the-box, and since I didn’t grow up being a massive Country fan, I tried to put as much rock in that I could. I hope we get more females on the radio today.”
When Verges’ career took off, it zoomed at breakneck speed. In a year and a half time span, he was awarded 2001 MusicRow Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year, an award for new writers, and 2002 overall Songwriter of the Year from NSAI and BMI.
“It was a whirlwind,” says Verges. “To go from ‘if I can keep my deal one more year’ to having a year like that. I was lucky. I didn’t know I was going to win the NSAI Award, and Pat Higdon got my parents to the ceremony without telling me. It was a magical moment. They stayed for the BMI Awards, and I didn’t know I was going to win that either. I went from not even being invited to winning Songwriter of the Year.”
• • • •
A lot has changed on The Row since Verges arrived. Songwriting success is increasingly harder to achieve for a myriad of reasons, including the sales landslide, longer single cycles, and artists co-writing much of their own material. Technology has boosted some parts of the industry (DIY recording) while decimating others (sales).
“I was lucky to land in town when I did, and get involved with the group of people I did: Pat Higdon, Whitney Williams and Joe Fisher,” says Verges. “They believed in me enough to stick with me when it didn’t make sense on paper. I was keeping my head down and trying to write better and better songs. It seems like that is less possible today, because there are fewer slots.”
On the flip side, Verges notes that changes in technology have resulted in increased opportunities, especially for indie artists. “It’s easier and less expensive to record an album than it used to be, which means more diversity in our genre,” he says. “It feels like it is as diverse as it has ever been, which I love. With satellite radio there are more opportunities for artists to be heard and you can look on the screen to see who it is and go check them out.”
Changes in recording technology has eased Verges’ production work, which includes projects by Daniel Tashian and New Orleans artist Anders Osborne. Verges co-produced and co-wrote songs on Caitlyn Smith’s album, which yielded the hits “The Heart of Dixie” (Danielle Bradbery) and “Wasting All These Tears” (Cassadee Pope). “It’s the funnest part of this process because you get to write all these songs and take your time recording them, and get exactly the right players and mix it,” says Verges. “It is different than the demo process which you have to cut off due to budget or time.”
While the industry has evolved, the way to navigate Nashville has not—after all, it worked for Verges. “Be nice, be persistent, be patient,” he assures. “As long as I’ve been here, it’s held true that people who are really talented and have a good work ethic eventually get where they want to go. The flip side is also true—if you are really talented, but you’re a jerk, you might have a short run of success, but it will go away because no one will want to work with you. And keep writing. I don’t know anyone who looks back at what they wrote six or seven years ago, that they thought was awesome in the moment, and isn’t almost embarrassed by it today. The more you do something, the better you get at it. Songwriting is no different. Nashville has some of the best writers and artists in the world, especially the core group I’ve been writing with since I started: Brett, Hillary Lindsey, and Blair Daly. They are my dream collaborators.”
• • • •
Did you know? Verges’ wife Ariel and her sister Danielle are co-owners of Ani & Ari corset atelier in Edgehill Village, which has dressed Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, The Pistol Annies, Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere.
Verges and his UMPG team in 2013: Top row (L-R): Amanda Merki, Executive Assistant to Kent Earls, UMPG Nashville; Ron Stuve, VP of A&R/Special Projects, UMPG Nashville; Whitney Williams, Creative Director, UMPG Nashville; Missy Wilson, Senior Creative Director, UMPG; Tammy Helm, Manager of Administration, UMPG Nashville; Travis Gordon, Creative Manager, UMPG Nashville; Freeman Wizer, Creative Director, UMPG Nashville
Bottom row (L-R): Kendall Connell, Receptionist, UMPG Nashville; Cyndi Forman, Vice President, Creative, UMPG Nashville; Troy Verges; Kent Earls, Executive Vice President/General Manager, UMPG Nashville; John Mark Capers, Catalog and Studio Manager, UMPG Nashville

Verges and his UMPG Nashville team in 2013: Top row (L-R): Amanda Merki, Executive Asst. to Kent Earls; Ron Stuve, VP of A&R/Special Projects; Whitney Williams, Creative Director; Missy Wilson, Senior Creative Director; Tammy Helm, Manager of Administration; Travis Gordon, Creative Manager; Freeman Wizer, Creative Director
. Bottom row (L-R): Kendall Connell, Receptionist; Cyndi Forman, Vice President, Creative; Troy Verges; Kent Earls, Exec. VP/GM, UMPG Nashville; John Mark Capers, Catalog and Studio Manager.

Troy Verges Brief Discography

“I Want Crazy” Hunter Hayes (No. 1 Country)
“Wanted” Hunter Hayes (No. 1 Country – 2 weeks)
“Beer Money” Kip Moore (No. 1 Country)
“Who I Am” Jessica Andrews (No. 1 Country)
“Blessed” Martina McBride (No. 1 Country)
“Wasted” Carrie Underwood (No. 1 Country – 3 weeks)
“This Mystery” Marco Borsato & Sita/Polydor (No. 1 Netherlands)
“Raincoat” Kelly Sweet (No. 1 AC)
“You Save Me” Kenny Chesney (No. 3 Country)
“I Would’ve Loved You Anyway” Trisha Yearwood (Top 5)
“With Me” Lonestar (Top 5)
“Tonight I Wanna Be Your Man” Andy Griggs (Top 5)
“The Heart of Dixie” Danielle Bradberry (Top 15)
“Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You” Kellie Pickler (Top 15)
“Drugs or Jesus” Tim McGraw (Top 15)
“Famous” Kelleigh Bannen
“Day Drinking” Little Big Town (Upcoming album)
“Storyline” Hunter Hayes (Upcoming album)
“Tattoo” Hunter Hayes (Upcoming album)
“Flashlight” Hunter Hayes (Upcoming album)
“Nothing Like Starting Over” Hunter Hayes (Upcoming album)
“Shotgun Rider” Tim McGraw (Upcoming album)
“Hang a While” Kip Moore (Upcoming album)
“Get Into Something” Kip Moore (Upcoming album)
“Wild Boy” Danielle Bradbery (Upcoming album)
“A Perfectly Good Heart” Taylor Swift (Taylor Swift album)
“Crazy Dreams” Carrie Underwood (Carnival Ride album)
“Naked With You” Celine Dion (One Heart album)
“The Man You Love” IL Divo (Il Divo Album)
“Don’t Give Up On Me” Jason Aldean (Wide Open album)
“Stronger” Faith Hill (Greatest Hits & Cry albums)
”Paris” Faith Hill (Fireflies album)
“This Is Me” Faith Hill (Cry album)
“Love Is A Sweet Thing” Faith Hill (Breathe album)
“Telluride” Tim McGraw (Set This Circus Down album)
“Sleep Tonight” Tim McGraw (Dancehall Doctors album)
“I Wish I Was Wrong” LeAnn Rimes (Family album)
“This Time Tomorrow” LeAnn Rimes (Family album)
“The One You Love” Paulina Rubio (Border Girl album)
“We Can Dance” Bon Jovi

Industry Ink (6/30/14)

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Dolly Parton recently received a plaque from the RIAA for career album sales totaling more than 100 million worldwide. Parton was honored while in the UK to perform at the Glastonbury Music Festival. Her current release Blue Smoke is her highest charting solo album on the Billboard top 200; it entered at No. 6. She has notched 42 top 10 albums, including six No. 1s.

Pictured (L-R): Webster Public Relations' Kirt Webster, Guesty PR's Steve Guest, Dolly Parton, Glastonbury Owner Michael Eavis, CTK Management CEO Danny Nozell, and Sony Music's Faye Donaldson.

Pictured (L-R): Webster Public Relations’ Kirt Webster, Guesty PR’s Steve Guest, Dolly Parton, Glastonbury Owner Michael Eavis, The Agency Group’s Neil Warnock, CTK Management CEO Danny Nozell, and Sony Music’s Faye Donaldson.


• • • •
Writer’s Den Music Group and Starstruck Writers Group recently hosted a songwriters retreat at Bell Bottom Farm in Cedar Hill, Tenn. Tunesmiths from Sony/ATV and BMG Chrysalis were also in attendance.
Pictured (L-R) back row: Thomas Archer, Kellys Collins, Bobby Hamrick, Liz Hengber, Melissa Fuller, and Writer’s Den Creative Dir. Sarah Feldman. Bottom row: Alex Kline, Ben Cooper and Jerry Salley.

Pictured (L-R) back row: Thomas Archer, Kellys Collins, Bobby Hamrick, Liz Hengber, Melissa Fuller, and Writer’s Den Creative Dir. Sarah Feldman. Front row: Alex Kline, Ben Cooper and Jerry Salley.


• • • •
Rhonda Adkins and her father.

Rhonda Adkins and her father.


MusicRow extends condolences to the family of Rhonda and Trace Adkins. Rhonda’s father, Robert “Bob” Francis Forlaw, passed away June 26 in Greensboro, Ga.
Born in Jacksonville, Fla., Forlaw joined the Air Force and served as an airplane mechanic in Shreveport, La.; the Panama Canal; Germany; and McDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. He later graduated from the University of Florida in Gainesville and worked as an electric engineer, eventually starting his own company, Cain-Forlaw Co., Inc.
Among his survivors are wife of 63 years Jewell Cravey Forlaw, daughter Rhonda Forlaw Adkins and husband Trace, and granddaughters Mackenzie, Brianna and Trinity Adkins.
Visitation will be today, June 30, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at McCommons Funeral Home (109 West Broad St. Greensboro, 706-453-2626). A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 1 at 11:00 a.m at the First United Methodist Church of Greensboro (4741 Carey Station Rd.).
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the First United Methodist Church of Greensboro Building Fund. Full obituary here.