NMPA President and CEO David Israelite presents Toby Keith with the 2013 Songwriter Icon Award
Toby Keith performs during the NMPA’s annual meeting
Performing rights organization SESAC has inked a two-year licensing deal with Discovery Communications, LLC. The new deal will authorize the network’s access to SESAC’s repertoire for its numerous channels and programs.
The Discovery Communications, LLC networks encompass a range of channels including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Science Channel, Military Channel, Oprah Winfrey Network and Discovery Fit & Health and features a variety of reality and true crime programs including Who the Bleep Did I Marry, Stolen Voices/Buried Secrets, Nightmare Next Door, Say Yes To The Dress, Cake Boss and Moonshiners.
“SESAC is thrilled to announce this agreement with Discovery Communications, LLC,” said Deborah Houghton, SESAC’s Vice President, Cable. “This will provide Discovery Communications, LLC with the brilliantly diverse repertoires of SESAC’s songwriters and composers while offering our affiliates a host of new and exciting opportunities. While working on this mutually beneficial deal, we were delighted with the high level of knowledge and professionalism of the Discovery Communications, LLC executives and we look forward to a long and productive relationship.”
Sony/ATV has signed singer-songwriter Jack Ingram to a publishing deal. Ingram notched three Top 10 singles as a recording artist and is currently finishing up a new album project. Ingram splits his time between Austin, Texas and Nashville.
Earlier this year, Ingram was involved with the fundraising concert Jack & Friends, with football coach Mack Brown and actor Matthew McConaughey (and featuring Kris Kristofferson) at Moody Theater in Austin. Funds raised by the concert supported organizations that positively impact the lives of children across the country.
Pictured (L-R): Sony/ATV’s Tom Luteran, Jack Ingram, Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, Triple 8 Management’s George Couri
Josh Kear
Broadcast Music Inc (BMI) filed an action in New York City today (June 13) asking the Federal Rate Court to set royalty fees for internet radio service Pandora on behalf of the organization’s 600,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers, the performing rights organization (PRO) said in a statement. The action asks the court to set reasonable, market driven fees for Pandora after negotiations did not result in an agreement.
This comes after Pandora recently signed an agreement to purchase Rapid City, S.D. radio station KXMZ-FM, a small-market Hot AC format broadcast radio station. The strategic purchase is reportedly a way for the company to qualify for Radio Music Licensing Committee (RMLC) agreements regarding royalties and public performances of musical works from the PROs.
The National Music Publishers Association revealed the results of the NMPA’s biannual board election during its annual meeting. All board members are active U.S. music publishers and will serve a two-year term, effective immediately. Nashville publishers Barry Coburn and Bob Doyle are on the board.
Elected members are:
Willard Ahdritz, Kobalt Music Group
Martin Bandier, Sony/ATV
Caroline Beinstock, Carlin America
Helene Blue, Helene Blue Musique
Barry Coburn, Ten Ten Music Group
Bob Doyle, Major Bob Music
Lee Eastman, MPL Communications
Mark Fried, Spirit Music
Neil Gillis, Round Hill Music
Laurent Hubert, BMG/Chrysalis
Zach Horowitz, Universal Music Publishing Group
Dean Kay, Demi Music Corp
Leeds Levy, Leeds Music
Ralph Peer II, peermusic
Matt Pincus, Songs Music Publishing
Irwin Z. Robinson, The Richmond Organization
Cameron Strang, Warner/Chappell
Richard Stumpf, Imagem Music
[Update (6/13/13)]: BMI has ended negotiations for publishing rates with Pandora and has decided to file suit in rate court. Billboard’s sources claim BMI management believes further negotiations with Pandora would be futile, in light of what publishers are calling a questionable maneuver to obtain lower rates than the 4.1 percent of revenue that Pandora paid to publishers last year.
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Pandora has signed an agreement to purchase Rapid City, S.D. radio station KXMZ-FM, a small-market Hot AC format broadcast radio station.
The strategic purchase is reportedly a way for the company to qualify for Radio Music Licensing Committee (RMLC) agreements regarding royalties and public performances of musical works from the PROs.
An op-ed by assistant general counsel at Pandora, Christopher Harrison explains the streaming service has been discriminated against and exposed to copyright infringement as a result of ASCAP members withdrawing new media rights:
ASCAP and its members have abruptly shifted away from 100 years of business practice and attempted to create a new right to ‘withdraw’ from ASCAP the right to license certain songs on what is essentially a case-by-case basis.
Terrestrial broadcasters and their Internet properties were given preferential treatment via a January 2012 agreement between the RMLC and ASCAP and BMI. To put this in perspective, at least 16 of the top 20 Internet radio services that compete with Pandora operate under the RMLC license that has not been made available to Pandora.
So, today we are also announcing the purchase of KXMZ-FM. This acquisition allows us to qualify for the same RMLC license under the same terms as our competitors. While this might seem like an unexpected move for Pandora, it makes sense even beyond the licensing parity. Pandora excels in personalizing discovery and terrestrial radio is experienced in integrating with a local community. We look forward to broadcasting our personalized experience to the community in Rapid City, an area where over 42,000 residents already use Pandora. And we will apply Pandora’s insights about listening habits to program music that accurately reflects local listeners’ evolving tastes.
ASCAP and NMPA responded harshly to the acquisitions on June 12. “Pandora is trying every trick in the book to brazenly and unconscionably underpay and take advantage of the creative labor that produces the core offering of their business — music written by individual songwriters and composers,” said ASCAP president Paul Williams (see his full statement). David Israelite, president and CEO of the NMPA stated: “While other digital partners are making voluntary deals, Pandora chooses to sue the very creators who make its business possible.”
In addition to EMI and Sony/ATV withdrawing new media rights from ASCAP and BMI in previous years, Billboard highlights forthcoming new media withdrawals dates from ASCAP as follows:
BMG/Chrysalis: July 1, 2013
Universal Music Publishing: July 1, 2013
Warner/Chappell Music Publishing: July 1, 2013
Kobalt Music Publishing: Oct. 1, 2013
Ruminating Music: Oct. 1, 2013
Sea Gayle Music Publishing: Jan. 1, 2014
– Jessica Nicholson & Eric Parker
A derisive advertisement against CAA.
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Carolina Story
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SESAC songwriter Allen Salmon has signed with Razor & Tie Publishing for representation.
The Nashville-based singer/songwriter/producer stopped by SESAC’s Nashville headquarters with Razor & Tie Publishing executives to celebrate the deal.
Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s John Mullins, Razor & Tie’s Ross Asher, Salmon, Razor & Tie’s Craig Balsam, Sharon Tapper and Lisa Johnson & SESAC’s Tim Fink. Photo: Ed Rode
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Photographer Russ Harrington and painter Brenda Harrington will launch an exhibit showcasing their art at Nashville’s Chromatics Second Floor Gallery (625 Fogg Street). The exhibit, titled Mr. & Mrs., will run from June 13 through Aug. 16. An opening reception will be held tomorrow (June 13) from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Chromatics Second Floor Gallery.
Russ Harrington has photographed album and publicity artwork for Carrie Underwood, Lauren Alaina, Reba, Kellie Pickler, Miranda Lambert, Sara Evans, Loretta Lynn, Taylor Swift, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Nikki Taylor, Melinda Doolittle, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Alan Jackson, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Darius Rucker, Brooks & Dunn, Trace Adkins, Rascal Flatts, Kirk Franklin, Faith Hill and many others.
The Music City Hitmakers, comprised of hit songwriters and session musicians from Nashville, will travel to Boston, Mass. for three evening sets with the Boston Symphony Orchestra Thursday-Saturday, June 13-15.
Nashville songwriters and lead singers Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson and Brett James will be joined by songwriter Troy Verges; producer, violin player, Charles Dixon; arranger/piano, Charles Judge; drummer, Nick Buda; background vocals, Kelly Archer; guitar, Milan Miller; and bass, Tim Marks.
The Hitmakers will share the behind-the-scenes stories of songs written for Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, and Lady Antebellum. Along with performances of “It’s America,” “Jesus Take the Wheel,” and “Mr. Know-It-All,” the weekend concerts will feature “Coming Home” from Country Strong, “There’s A Place For Us” from the Chronicles of Narnia series, and a debut of a song titled “Free,” commissioned specifically for the Boston shows written by members of the Hitmakers.
The program is part of the Bring Music City To Your City organization, founded by Dixon. For more information, click here.
Broadcast Music, Inc. presented the BMI Tailgate Party at the CMA Music Festival last week. The second annual BMI Tailgate Party showcased an extensive lineup of Nashville’s emerging bands, including Joey Hyde, Joel Crouse, Thomas Rhett, Lindsay Eli, David Fanning, Josh Thompson, Westbound Rangers, Native Run, Jon Pardi, Curious Band, The Railers and Brazilbilly.
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s David Preston, Leslie Roberts, Clay Bradley and Jody Williams gather for a photo backstage with Joel Crouse and Thomas Rhett during the BMI Tailgate Party outside LP Field during 2013 CMA Music Festival. Photo: Erika Goldring
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, Dallas Davidson, Native Run’s Annie Clements and Universal’s Steve Hodges gather for a photo backstage at the BMI Tailgate Party outside LP Field during 2013 CMA Music Festival. Photo: Erika Goldring
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, CMA’s Steve Moore and BMI’s Penny Everhard enjoy the BMI Tailgate Party outside LP Field during 2013 CMA Music Festival. Photo: Erika Goldring
Pictured (L-R): Drew Baldridge, AT&T’s Sean Mitchell, BMI’s Penny Everhard, Adam Craig & BMI’s Mason Hunter at the AT&T Showcase Stage presented by BMI.