Warner Chappell and THiS Music Extend Co-Publishing Partnership

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Pictured from L-R: Phil May (Vice President and General Manager, Warner/Chappell Music Nashville), Tim Nichols (Co-Owner, THiS Music), Connie Harrington (Co-Owner, THiS Music), Rusty Gaston (Co-Owner and General Manager, THiS Music), Ben Vaughn (Executive Vice President, Warner/Chappell Music Nashville). Photo credit: William Patton.

Pictured (L-R): Phil May (Vice President and General Manager, Warner/Chappell Music Nashville), Tim Nichols (Co-Owner, THiS Music), Connie Harrington (Co-Owner, THiS Music), Rusty Gaston (Co-Owner and General Manager, THiS Music), Ben Vaughn (Executive Vice President, Warner/Chappell Music Nashville). Photo credit: William Patton.


Warner Chappell and THiS Music have extended their long-term partnership. Under the agreement, Warner/Chappell will continue to publish and administer THiS Music’s repertoire. THiS Music was formed in 2006 by General Manager Rusty Gaston and songwriters Tim Nichols and Connie Harrington, and launched in partnership with Warner/Chappell Music.
“THiS Music is a renowned Nashville brand known for top shelf hit songs, and extraordinary songwriters who are helped to achieve their best by Rusty and his team,” said Ben Vaughn, Exec. VP, Warner/Chappell Music Nashville.  “On behalf of everyone at Warner/Chappell Music, it is with great pleasure that we announce the continuation of our partnership with Rusty, Tim and Connie.”
“We are blessed and thrilled with how far THiS Music has come in building a hands-on boutique environment for some of today’s best songwriters,” said Gaston, GM, THiS Music. “Warner/Chappell Music has been a rock solid partner over the course of the past seven years, and together our teams have helped to create hit singles and influential country music that we are extremely proud of. Extending our arrangement with Warner/Chappell was an easy decision and we look forward to continue working with them.”
THiS Music has a roster of some of today’s brightest artists and songwriters, including Tim Nichols (Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying”); Ben Hayslip (Joe Nichols’ “Gimmie That Girl,” Josh Turner’s “All Over Me,” Blake Shelton’s “All About Tonight” and “Honey Bee,” Luke Bryan’s “I Don’t Want This Night to End,” and Jason Aldean’s “Only Way I Know”); Connie Harrington; Marv Green; Deric Ruttan; Troy Olsen; singer-songwriter and member of Sparrow Records Christian duo City Harbor, Molly Reed; Jeff Outlaw; and up and coming talent Michael Thomas & Drew Baldridge.

SESAC Presents Christian Music Awards

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Pictured (left to right): SESAC's Senior Director, Writer/Publisher Relations John Mullins, Jason Ingram, SESAC's Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Tim Fink and SESAC's Senior Vice President, Writer/Publisher relations Trevor Gale. Photo: Ed Rode

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Senior Director, Writer/Publisher Relations John Mullins; Jason Ingram; SESAC’s Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Tim Fink; and SESAC’s Senior Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Trevor Gale. Photo: Ed Rode


SESAC named Jason Ingram Christian Songwriter of the Year at ceremonies held last night (March 5) at Hillwood Country Club in Nashville. Sony/ATV Timber Publishing was honored as SESAC’s Christian Publisher of the Year. The awards recognize activity for songwriters and publishers in 2012.
Ingram continued to impress with his profound and prolific work in 2012 with hits “All For You” by Mikeschair, “Forever Reigh” by One Sonic Society, “Good To Be Alive” by Jason Gray, “Our God’s Alive” by Andy Cherry, “White Flag” by Passion (featuring Chris Tomlin) and “You Are I Am” by MercyMe.
Other SESAC award winners included Christian songsmiths Cary Barlowe, Timothy Skipper, Juan Otero, Jamie Grace and more.
Songwriter Seth Mosley stood out during the evening festivities, taking home an impressive 12 performance awards for songs “All Things Possible” by Mikeschair, “Fighter” by Manafest and “Outta My Mind” by Anthem Light, among others.
Several acclaimed artists took the stage to offer performances including cutting-edge group Capital Kings, Mark Shultz singing the award winning “All Things Possible,” and Plumb offering new single, “Need You Now (How Many Times).”
SESAC also took the opportunity to salute the No. 1 songs that topped Billboard’s Christian charts in 2012. Over 30 songs were acknowledged at the awards dinner which was hosted by SESAC’s Tim Fink and John Mullins. 

Industry Ink (3-6-13)

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Laura Wright

Laura Wright


Big Yellow Dog Music has added Laura Wright as Creative Director. “I know I speak for all the writers as well as our staff that we are extremely excited to have Laura on our team. She’s a relentless advocate for writers and their songs,” says Big Yellow Dog Music’s Creative VP Brad Kennard. Wright was previously with EMI Music and Writers Den Music.

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ashley capps1

Ashley Capps


AC Entertainment is joining forces with Nashville entertainment venue Marathon Music Works, and Nashville’s renowned nightclub, Exit/In, booking national acts for both venues.
“We have been working with Marathon Music Works since they first opened and have enjoyed a great working relationship with the team there. We are delighted to be named their exclusive national talent buyers,” said Ashley Capps, CEO/Founder of AC Entertainment. “And of course, the Exit/In is an iconic place – a huge part of my own musical education. Together, these venues represent what is so exciting about Nashville’s entertainment hotspots—both legendary and new — and we are thrilled be a part of it.”
Based in Knoxville, Tenn., AC Entertainment is no stranger to Nashville. The company often promotes concerts in the Nashville market – at the Ryman, the Bridgestone Arena, and other venues. They also recently established a new booking relationship with the Nashville Symphony and Schermerhorn Symphony Center. AC is also known as a founder and producer of the world-renowned Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival® held in nearby Manchester, Tenn.

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peermusic has signed Oklahoma native Jaron Boyer to the roster. Boyer landed his first major cut, “I Ain’t Ready To Quit,” with co-writer Thomas Rhett on Jason Aldean’s My Kind Of Party album, and has since had songs cut by Dustin Lynch, (“Yeah,Yeah, Yeah,”) Joe Nichols (“She’s Just Like That,”) and Lauren Alaina (“Livin For The Night Kinda Town,”) among others. “Jaron is a great asset to our roster of great writers. We are so happy to welcome him to the peer family,” says Kevin Lamb, VP, peermusic Nashville.

Pictured (L-R): Kim Wiggins (peermusic) Kevin Lamb (V.P. peermusic Nashville) and Michael Knox (Producer/peermusic Sr. Creative Director)

Pictured (L-R): Kim Wiggins (peermusic) Kevin Lamb (V.P. peermusic Nashville) and Michael Knox (Producer/peermusic Sr. Creative Director)

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Two of Nashville’s most effective “pitch groups,” Chicks with Hits and The Turks, joined together for an event on Feb. 27 at Nashville’s Sunset Grill for an evening of performances by several writers from each group who are in the initial phase of their publishing relationships. Performers included Jeffrey East, Dennis Matosky, David Kroll, Shel, Jake Mitchell, Forrest Glen Whitehead, Anne Marie and Brian Curtis. Over 75 people attended the event.
Publishers in attendance were Turks members Pat Higdon, Pat Finch, Same Ramage, Jeff Carlton, Clay Myers, Billy Lynn,Lynn Gann, Tim Hunze, and Mike Sebastian. Chicks in Attendance included Ree Guyer, Kim Jones, Diana Maher, Whitney Daane, Stephanie Cox, Debbie Zavitson, Janie West, Judy Harris, Robin Palmer, Celia Froehling and Lisa Johnson.
turks and chicks11
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Warner Music Nashville’s Charlie Worsham stopped by CMA Wednesday, Feb. 20 to perform for the staff as part of the CMA’s web series “CMA Close Up Presents Live@CMA.” Worsham performed songs from his upcoming debut release, including “Rubberband,” “Could It Be” and “Young To See.” The multi-instrumentalist also tackled Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” on banjo.

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Pictured (L-R): Tim DuBois of Artist Management Partners; CMA Manager of Membership & Balloting, Betsy Walker; CMA Director of Membership & Balloting, Brandi Simms; Big Howdy’s Brad Henderson; Warner Music Group Nashville Vice President, Promotion, Chris Palmer; Warner Music Group Nashville Vice President, Public Relations, Tree Paine; Worsham; Warner Music Nashville Vice President, A&R, Cris Lacy; Warner Music Nashville Executive Vice President /General Manager, Peter Strickland; and Warner Music Nashville Vice President, Brand Management, Lisa Ray. Photo credit: Christian Bottorff/CMA

ASCAP Reports 2012 Financials

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ascap we create music1ASCAP announced yesterday (March 4), it distributed over $827 million in royalties to its members in the calendar year ending 2012, a slight increase over 2011. 2012 became the fifth year in a row that ASCAP has distributed in excess of $800 million to its members. Annual revenues were $941 million, the 3rd highest ever, but down 4.5 percent from 2011.
According to the report, growth in cable revenues (up 20 percent) and continued strength in foreign revenues were the primary factors in mitigating the impact of the radio and background music revenue declines.
ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams says, “Our goal in 2012 was to ensure a healthy, steady stream of royalties to our members who depend on ASCAP’s advocacy and collective licensing to pay the rent and put food on the table. We are navigating in a complex, rapidly changing environment in which huge, cash-rich technology companies are developing business models that fly fast and free with our copyrights. ASCAP’s advocacy for our members is, as always, a critical factor in ensuring fair treatment and payment for their work.”
ASCAP continued to upgrade its business systems in 2012 through IT innovations and ongoing, cost-saving operational improvements that resulted in an 11.3 percent operating expense ratio as compared with 12 percent last year.
ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento added, “Looking forward to 2013 and beyond, the news is good. We are poised to return to year-over-year growth in our domestic revenues and with foreign revenues remaining consistently high.
ASCAP expanded its suite of online tools in 2012 including programs ASCAP OnStage, ASCAP Play Music and an enhanced mobile app, which allows access to ASCAP’s tools on any mobile device.

HoriPro Entertainment Group Acquires Full Circle Music Publishing

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horipro logoHoriPro Entertainment Group has acquired Full Circle Music Publishing. The deal was completed in mid-February. HoriPro acquired Full Circle Music Group’s catalog and assumed all writers’ contracts, including writers Bob Regan, Will Nance, Brandon Ray and Tommy Cecil.
Full Circle Music Group’s catalog includes “When I Get Where I’m Going,” “Old Alabama,” “All My Friends Say” and “Boys of Fall,” among many others. “It was a great catalog with a lot of wonderful hit songs. There are some awesome copyrights in that catalog, along with some stuff from writers that we feel like we can take out and exploit,” says HoriPro Sr. VP Butch Baker.
HoriPro Entertainment Group also owns catalog material from KISS, REO Speedwagon, Marilyn Manson and more. “We are pretty close to 25,000 copyrights in the company,” says Baker. Their roster includes hit songwriters such as Dean Dillon, Phil O’Donnell and Phil Barton.
 

Wade Kirby Re-Signs With Big Tractor Music

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Wade Kirby Big Tractor11

Pictured (L-R): Clay Bradley, BMI; Clay Myers, GM/ Big Tractor Music; Wade Kirby and Scott Hendricks, President /Owner Big Tractor Music

Big Tractor Music has re-signed hit songwriter Wade Kirby, according to an announcement from the publishing company’s general manager Clay Myers. Kirby’s songwriting credits includes cuts and singles by George Strait, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Faith Hill, Darius Rucker, Craig Morgan, Tate Stevens, Joe Nichols, Billy Currington, Gretchen Wilson and many others. He also co-wrote the current Easton Corbin single, “All Over The Road.”

“Wade is a true professional whose hard work, creativity and drive make him a delight to work with,” Myers said. “I have no doubt that many more great cuts and singles are in his future.”

Added Scott Hendricks, president/owner of Big Tractor Music, “I couldn’t be happier about our continued association with Wade. He’s truly hitting his stride and we are lucky to be on that ride.”

 

Bob Kingsley Connects Radio and Songwriters

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Pictured (L-R): Bob Kingsley,

Pictured (L-R): Bob Kingsley, Lee Thomas Miller, Jeff Stevens, Brandy Clark, and Tom Douglas.


For the second consecutive year, Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley hosted a lineup of hit songwriters for in-the-round performances for the Country Radio Seminar. Presented by Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40 and co-sponsored by SunTrust Bank, Thursday’s (Feb. 28) event offered a chance for lyricists to candidly share thoughts, perceptions and insights with radio gatekeepers.
Each No. 1 hit was humanized and personalized by the songwriters that crafted it, which help to deepen the very relationship discussed during the Ethnographic presentation at the broadcasting conference.
Naturally, most songwriters offered praise for Kingsley during their round. The musical poets shared memories of the various times the legendary broadcaster announced their penned songs had climbed to the summit of the charts, including “One of Those Nights” from Luke Laird, “Tornado” from Natalie Hemby, and “Alone With You” from Shane McAnally––and that was just from the first round.
The second round of performers compelled the audience to their feet while listening to Tom Douglas’ “House That Built Me,” Lee Thomas Miller’s “In Color,” Jeff Stevens’ “Carrying Your Love With Me,” and Brandy Clark’s “Better Dig Two.”
Marv Green, Wendell Mobley, Jason Sellers and Ashley Gorley were included in an additional round, performing renditions of their respective hits, including “Creepin’,” “Tattoos on This Town,” “Strange,” and “Why Ya Wanna.”
It is always impressive to witness the power of a song, especially when it intersects with another bedrock of our industry, radio. As for Kingsley’s evening, broadcasters from around the U.S. gathered to connect to a song, and walk away finding there’s only one degree of separation between each other.

Industry Ink (3/1/13)

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UMPG Troy Verges11

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


Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville has renewed their exclusive worldwide publishing deal with Troy Verges, co-writer of Hunter Hayes‘ No. 1 hit “Wanted.” Verges has been with UMPG since 1999.
“Year after year, Troy continues to write the hits that move the needle in Nashville, most recently with the songs ‘Wanted’ and ‘Beer Money.’ Universal Music Publishing Nashville is so proud and honored to extend our successful relationship with Troy. We look forward to many more years of great songs,” said Executive VP/General Manager, UMPG Nashville, Kent Earls.
“I couldn’t be more excited to continue working with Universal. UMPG Nashville has been my publishing home for most of my career. I feel so fortunate to have such an amazing creative team taking care of my songs. Can’t wait to see where we go from here!” said Troy Verges.
Verges also wrote “Beer Money,” recorded by Kip Moore. In 2011, he garnered Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for his original composition “Coming Home,” which was featured prominently in the film Country Strong. His songs have been recorded by Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Bon Jovi, Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Kenny Chesney, Celine Dion and Il Divo, among others.

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Pictured (L-R): Songwriter Josh Kear, Tenn. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, co-chair of the Congressional Songwriters Caucus, songwriter Dan Wilson and ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams


ASCAP presented a performance and Q&A session with hit songwriters Josh Kear and Dan Wilson on Tuesday (Feb. 26) in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., in an event to entertain and inform members of Congress and their staffs about the creative process of songwriting and the challenges facing songwriters in the digital world. The event was hosted by ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams, while Rep. Marsha Blackburn, co-chair of the Congressional Songwriters Caucus, welcomed the songwriters to the Hill.

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MusiccityRootsMusic City Roots: Live From The Loveless Cafe has partnered with MerleFest for a special kickoff event in Nashville prior to the North Carolina festival. The event is set for April 24, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Loveless Cafe. MerleFest, a four-day festival, will take place April 25-28 in Wilkesboro, N.C. The MerleFest-themed show on April 24 in Nashville will feature five artists from the 2013 lineup: The Waybacks, Pokey LaFarge, Della Mae, Jim Avett and Peter Rowan.
Merlefest-Logo1“Music City Roots and MerleFest are both well-known for showcasing the best in roots and acoustic music and have hosted many of the same artists in the past. It is a natural fit to have Music City Roots host a special ‘global kick off’ for MerleFest 2013, which includes some of the great talent we will feature on the festival this year,” says Steve Johnson, Events and Artist Relations manager for MerleFest. “We hope everyone can attend the festival and will also visit our friends at Music City Roots for the ‘MerleFest sampler’ on April 24!”
 
 
 
 

Eleven Eleven Music Adds Shannon Lawson

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Pictured, Standing (L-R): Jason Morris, Jewel Coburn, and Lucky Diamond Music writer/manager Cory Gierman. Seated: attorney Chip Petree and Lawson.

Pictured, standing (L-R): Jason Morris, Jewel Coburn, and Lucky Diamond Music writer/manager Cory Gierman. Seated: attorney Chip Petree and Lawson.


Eleven Eleven Music has added singer-songwriter Shannon Lawson to its roster. A native of Taylorsville, Ky., Lawson signed as an artist to MCA Records in 2001 and then with Equity Records in 2004. He has had songs recorded by John Anderson, Jamey Johnson, Gretchen Wilson, Diamond Rio and James Otto.
Founded in 2012 by publishing veterans Jewel Coburn and Jason Morris, Eleven Eleven Music got off to a rocket start when Country Music Hall of Famer Don Williams and Alison Krauss cut the Doug Gill co-penned ballad “I Just Come Here For The Music.” The record subsequently won a Grammy nomination.

Kobalt Beefs Up Label Services Division

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Karen Lieberman

Karen Lieberman


Kobalt Label Services continues to expand operations with the addition of Shari Segalini and Karen Lieberman, who also works with Kobalt Music Group. They are the latest executives to join the company which has added more than 50 employees globally in less than two years.
KLS, the division of Kobalt which offers recorded music marketing and distribution services, recently announced the opening of its New York City office.
Lieberman has been appointed VP Digital Strategy and Marketing. Based in New York, she will report to Richard Sanders, President of Kobalt Music Group, and Paul Hitchman, Managing Director of Kobalt Label Services.
In addition to directing and implementing marketing campaigns for Kobalt Label Services, Lieberman will support new initiatives that promote and expand revenue opportunities for Kobalt Music Publishing clients.
Shari Segalini

Shari Segalini


Lieberman comes to Kobalt from Sony Music Global Marketing where she was VP of Global Marketing.
Segalini has been hired as SVP of Sales, North America, overseeing sales campaigns. She reports to Hitchman.
Segalini was previously VP of Field Sales at RED Distribution. Prior to RED Distribution she was a longtime VP of Sales at RCA Records.
One of KLS’s first major releases was Push the Sky Away by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, which came out earlier this month. Releases from the company’s Nashville office could follow.