Warner Music Nashville artist Frankie Ballard celebrated not only his first No. 1 as an artist with “Helluva Life,” but also the first chart-topper for Warner Music Nashville’s Team W.A.R., headed by VP/Radio Promotion, Chris Palmer.
Nashville’s Pour House Restaurant hosted the event, which honored the artist, songwriters, record label, producers and publishers behind the chart-topping song. “Helluva Life,” which has already been certified Gold, was penned by Rodney Clawson, Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins. It was Clawson’s 13th No. 1 song, Kear’s 8th No. 1, and Tompkins’ 12th.

“It’s a big risk to write a song, then give it to a new guy and see if he can wrestle it to the top,” said Ballard. “It felt like my song from the start.” Cris Lacy, VP/A&R for Warner Music Nashville, was given a lot of credit for getting the song cut by Ballard. “The whole process was a labor of love. A lot of guts went into this,” she said.
“Helluva Life” was produced by Marshall Altman and Scott Hendricks. Altman recently moved to Nashville from Los Angeles, and has already produced two No. 1 songs in his short time in town. “Helluva Life” marks Hendricks’ 55th No. 1 song.
Warner Music Nashville’s Exec. VP/GM Peter Strickland credited his W.A.R. promotion team for their efforts to get radio on board. 
Ballard is currently climbing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart with his new single “Sunshine & Whiskey.”

ole has finalized a worldwide administration deal with Nashville-based music publishing/artist development company Artist Revolution.
The deal includes the catalog and futures of Country songwriter Jesse Rice, who has been signed to Sam Brooker’s Artist Revolution since 2008. Included in the agreement is Rice’s co-written Florida Georgia Line single “Cruise.”
“Jesse Rice is one of the hardest working songwriters I have ever met,” said John Ozier, GM of Creative at ole. “To be able to represent Jesse, as well as the longest running No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart in Florida Georgia Line’s ‘Cruise,’ is a huge honor.”
“I’m super excited to join the ole Nashville team,” said Rice. “I have long held John Ozier with high regard, and the chance to team up with him and his staff over there was a home run when it came to determining the next chapter of my songwriting career. We’re hitting the ground running, and I couldn’t be more pumped about the opportunities we have in place.”
Written by: Laura Hostelley

Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip were recently honored with a MusicRow Challenge Coin for their work on Jason Aldean‘s “When She Says Baby.” The song reached No. 1 on MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout chart for the week of Feb. 6, 2014. Publishers on the song include EMI Blackwood Music, WB Music Corp., Tar-Cam-Knox Music, Get A Load Of This Music.

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson, songwriter Rhett Akins, and MusicRow Chart Director Troy Stephenson

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow chart director Troy Stephenson, songwriter Ben Hayslip and MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson

MusicRow launched the MusicRow Challenge Coins in 2014 to honor songwriters and artists whose works have topped the MusicRow Country Breakout chart.
Challenge coins celebrate distinguished individuals, and the challenge coin term and tradition is believed to date back to WWI, when they were initially given to American soldiers. Varying accounts exist, but the most common story behind the coin’s name is as follows. After receiving a challenge coin, organization members carried it with them at all times. When challenged to prove membership, they would produce it to verify their membership status. Some stories add if the member couldn’t produce the coin, they had to buy the challenger(s) a drink and vice versa.

The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) and Sony Music Entertainment (SME) have struck a licensing deal for music videos. The agreement provides songwriters’ and music publishers’ percentage royalty rates for their participation in revenue generated from music videos in exchange for rights related to the use of their musical works in SME’s videos. All NMPA music publishers will be offered this deal on an opt-in basis through the Harry Fox Agency.
“Music videos are an essential piece of the growing digital marketplace, and an important source of revenue for songwriters and their music publishing partners,” said David Israelite, NMPA President and CEO. “Songwriters are key to every music video and this agreement recognizes their important contribution.”
Sony Music’s General Counsel, Julie Swidler added: “Sony Music has the greatest respect for songwriters – many of whom are our recording artists – and all of whom play an invaluable role in the process of creating great recordings. We are pleased that this agreement will facilitate a better licensing process, allowing us to make our music more widely available.”
Additionally, songwriters and publishers who opt-in to the agreement may receive retroactive payments for past use of music works in Sony Music Entertainment music videos dating back to Jan. 1, 2009. The agreement will also cover lyric videos as that market increases.

Chris DeStefano visited the MusicRow offices on Thursday (May 22), where he was honored with a MusicRow Challenge Coin in acknowledgement of his contribution to Rascal Flatts‘ “Rewind,” which topped the MusicRow CountryBreakout chart the week of April 3, 2014.
The song was penned by DeStefano, along with Ashley Gorley and Eric Paslay. The song is published by EMI April Music, Sugar Glider Music, External Combustion Music, Out of the Taperoom Music, Songs of Southside Independent Music Publishing, and Cal IV Songs.