(L-R): Kele Currier, Arthur Buenhora, Frank Myers, Gilles Goddard

ole has signed singer, songwriter and producer Frank Myers to a worldwide administration deal with step-up to co-pub. The arrangement encompasses existing works under his Meleva Music catalog and Futures.

The single “Piece of Me,” which is featured on the ARIA 2012 Country Album of the Year-nominated, Two Worlds Collide, by Australian country music trio, The McClymonts, is included in the deal. The catalog also includes multiple cuts on upcoming projects for various artists.

ole previously acquired a catalog from Frank Myers, which included Lonestar’s No. 1 hit single “I’m Already There,” BMI’s 2002 Country Song of the Year, which remained at the top of the country chart for seven weeks, went to No. 2 on the AC chart and earned Myers the title of Country Songwriter of the Year (with writing partner Gary Baker) from American Songwriter Magazine.

Myers’ 10 No. 1 hits also include the Grammy Award-winning crossover smash “I Swear,” recorded by both John Michael Montgomery and All-4-One, which also earned Single and Song of the Year honors at the ACM Awards and was Billboard’s No. 1 song of 1994; “My Front Porch Looking In” and “I’m Already There” by Lonestar; “You and I” by Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle, a No. 1 country hit, which also reached the upper echelons of the AC and pop charts; Alabama’s “Once Upon A Lifetime;” Eddy Raven’s “I Got Mexico” and “Bayou Boys” and, most recently, Chris Young’s 2011 chart-topper, “Tomorrow.” Myers has also had 20 Top 10 hits.

Better Angels Music CEO and Creative Director, Rob Rappaport, has exited the 5-year-old company. Stepping in to replace him is Better Angels owner, John McDonald. Shellien Butts continues in her role as Administration Manager and songplugger.

The publishing company’s writing roster has also been updated with the addition of Michael Howard (“Church Pew or Barstool” by Jason Aldean) and Blue Foley (“There She Goes” by The Dirt Drifters) following the departure of three of its writers.

“Change is a good thing!” said Gary Ray, who remains in his position as Vice President and will assume the role of Creative Director. “I am super excited about the new direction of the company and its future in Nashville.”

A Warner Music Group reorganization is unlikely to affect local operations or lead to lay offs. According to multiple news outlets, WMG will be divided into the following three divisions in the U.S.:

• Recorded music—includes Warner Music Nashville, Atlantic Records and Warner Bros. Records.

• Music publishing and catalog development—will bring together Warner/Chappell and Rhino Entertainment under Warner Chappell CEO and chairman, Cameron Strang. This move is designed to spur catalog exploitation, which includes synch licensing. Rhino offers many music reissues, and has product by Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Travis Tritt, Randy Travis, Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Smiths, Chicago, Foreigner, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, The Monkees, The Stooges, Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett, Tony Joe White and more.

• Label and artist services—home to distribution and other peripheral operations such as tour production, booking, artists services, event production and marketing, this includes WEA, ADA, 360° Operations and D2C. Matt Signore will lead the label and artist services division as general manager / CFO.

Billboard first broke the story, when it obtained an email from WMG CEO Steve Cooper to employees.

Pandora has filed a lawsuit against ASCAP in an attempt to get lower licensing rates for the performances of ASCAP’s works.

The suit, which was filed in a New York federal court, is asking the court to determine “reasonable fees and terms” for ASCAP licenses through 2015. The parties’ original licensing agreement was made in 2005, and Pandora now claims it is “ill-suited” to Pandora’s business. Since January 1, 2011, Pandora has been paying ASCAP interim licensing fees. The organizations have been negotiating over a year but have not been able to reach a satisfactory final licensing agreement, prompting the lawsuit.

Pandora’s justification in filing the suit comes from the court’s approval of the Radio Music Licensing Committee’s agreement with ASCAP. That agreement blankets traditional broadcasting and internet content (including Pandora competitor iHeartRadio) and offers RMLC members a lower fee.

Additionally, Pandora claims it is due lower rates because of publisher new media licensing withdrawals from ASCAP. Going forward, publishers such as EMI who exercise withdrawal rights will negotiate those licensing fees directly with Pandora and similar companies. Pandora’s agreement with EMI spans two years beginning January 1, 2012.

The publishing community was none too thrilled with the move. “It’s outrageous Pandora would try to reduce the already nominal amount they pay songwriters and music publishers, when Pandora’s business model is based entirely on the creative contributions of those songwriters,” said David Israelite, president/CEO of the National Music Publisherss Association in a statement. “To file this suit at the same time that Pandora’s founders are pocketing millions for themselves adds insult to injury.”

The NMPA’s statement elaborates by noting that Pandora’s 2011 revenue was $338 million with a market cap of $1.6 billion.

Added Israelite, “Royalty rates should protect songwriters and compensate them for their significant contribution to the success of music services like Pandora. As this area of the market grows, we need to ensure that songwriters are protected, and that they are appropriately compensated for their work.”