Songwriter Ryan Beaver Inks With HoriPro

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Ryan Beaver has entered into an exclusive publishing agreement with HoriPro Entertainment Group, Inc. The Austin-based artist has been busy touring the South to promote his two independently released albums, Under the Neons and the most recent Constant.

“Ryan is the best artist/writer I have seen in years. It was a no-brainer for us to want to be involved with him,” says HoriPro’s Butch Baker. “Nobody sings like him, and he is a great young songwriter that completely gets it. He’ll be singing and writing for a long, long time.”

This is Beaver’s first publishing deal. “I’m glad to be part of such a great team and I’m looking forward to our future accomplishments together.”

(L-R): Bradley Collins (BMI), Butch Baker (HoriPro), Ryan Beaver, Jonathan Motley (Safford Motley PLC), Laura McKinley (Clover Management), Lee Krabel (HoriPro), Tim Stehli (HoriPro), and Clay Bradley (BMI)

Kobalt Signs David Hodges

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David Hodges

Multiple Grammy and BMI award-winning songwriter and producer, David Hodges, has signed an exclusive worldwide agreement with Kobalt Music Group to administer all new and forthcoming works via his publishing company, 3 Weddings Music. Formerly a member of the band Evanescence, Hodges co-wrote its worldwide hits “Bring Me to Life” and “My Immortal.” He has won several BMI Pop Awards, which include awards for his No. 1 singles “Because Of You” by Kelly Clarkson, “Crush” by David Archuleta, and “What About Now” by Daughtry, among others. His songs have also been recorded by major artists such as Celine Dion, Backstreet Boys, Carrie Underwood, Christina Perri, Train and David Cook.

Hodges is currently collaborating with Avril Lavigne, Natasha Bedingfield, Sara Evans, and Christina Perri for their new albums. As an active film and TV composer, Hodges most recently penned end title, “Thousand Years,” for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, as well as the title song, “There’s a Place for Us,” for The Chronicles Of Narnia, which garnered him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Song.

In more Kobalt news, the company plans to invest up to 100 million USD in the next 12 months in music royalties. Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder of Kobalt Music Group, explained, “In order to respond to existing and new clients’ needs for bigger advances, or part or whole acquisitions, Kobalt formed an investment advisory company in 2011 which now has substantial capital resources backed by blue chip family office and other institutional investors.” Kobalt has already made a number of investments with more to follow. The company manages more than 300,000 copyrights worldwide on behalf of over 1000 content holders.

Parallel Entertainment Adds New Management Client

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Parallel Entertainment has announced the addition of singer/songwriter Kayla Conn to its management roster. The 15-year-old began singing at the age of three, playing guitar at 10, and writing at 12. She recently performed as the opening act for American Idol season 10 winner Scotty McCreery.

“At such a young age, Kayla has proven herself a talented singer and songwriter,” said C.T. Wyatt, manager for Parallel Entertainment. “We’re honored to be with Kayla at the beginning of what promises to be a long and successful career.”

Conn recently finished shooting her first music video for her new iTunes release, “Memory For Two.” The song, dedicated to her grandparents, raises awareness of Alzheimer’s disease. “Memory For Two” was co-written with Brian White and Karyn Williams and produced by Blake Bollinger. Bollinger is also co-writing and developing Conn’s upcoming project.

Full Circle Music Publishing Inks New Writer

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Songwriter Tommy Cecil has signed an exclusive publishing agreement with Full Circle Music Publishing. Cecil, a Bardstown, KY native, has had recent cuts by Colt Ford, Billy Dean and J.B. and the Moonshine Band. Some of the recent hits in Full Circle’s catalog include Jason Aldean’s “Fly Over States,” Brad Paisley’s “Old Alabama” and “Anything Like Me,” Kenny Chesney’s “The Boys of Fall,” and Craig Morgan’s “This Ain’t Nothin’.”

(L-R): Brad Kennard (Vice President, Full Circle Music), Cecil, Michael Hollandsworth (Owner, Full Circle Music), and Noah McPike (Almon Law, PLLC).

Publishing Notes

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Benom Plumb is leaving his post as Manager, Licensing & Administration at Bluewater Music to become a professor in The University of Colorado Denver’s music business department. His last day in the office at Bluewater will be Nov. 2, but he will continue working with Bluewater as an advisor and consultant. Reach him at [email protected].

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MusicRow extends condolences to Ten Ten Music Group VP of A&R Patrick Clifford on the passing of his mother, Doris Clifford. She resided in Audubon, Penn. and died on Sun., Oct. 14, 2012 after a long battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at Pittsburgh’s St. Thomas A’Becket Church on Fri., Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to one of the following charities: Defenders of Wildlife, 1130 17th St. NW, Washington DC 20036; or Montgomery Hospice, 25 W. Fornance St., Norristown PA 19401.

Darrell Brown Inks New Publishing Agreement

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Darrell Brown

BMG Chrysalis Nashville has signed an exclusive co-publishing agreement with multi-platinum songwriter, producer and arranger Darrell Brown, which also includes administration of Brown’s back catalogue going forward.

Brown’s work with Keith Urban, Neil Young, Bon Jovi, Faith Hill, Radney Foster and more, appears on albums that have sold more than 70 million units. His songwriting credits include No. 1s for Urban (“You’ll Think of Me”, “Rainin’ on Sunday”), Josh Turner (“Why Don’t We Just Dance”), and LeAnn Rimes (“Nothin’ Better To Do”, “What I Cannot Change”). Recently he has continued his longstanding collaboration with Rimes as producer and principal co-writer for her upcoming album, Spitfire.

“Darrell is an incredibly gifted songwriter and producer,” said Darrell Franklin, Executive Vice President BMG Nashville. “He brings great depth and energy to our roster in every genre, and is the type of writer that is never satisfied with what is happening in the moment, but always reaching forward. It’s an honor for our team to work with him.”

Brown’s production and arrangement credits include Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s Americana, Chrome Dreams 2, and Living With War. His credits also include film (Gambit, Like Dandelion Dust, Cruel Intentions), television (Cold Case, Rookie Blue, One Tree Hill), and video games (The Sims).

Brown serves on the Board of Trustees for NARAS, the Board for the Grammy Foundation, and as musical director and co-creative director for the annual Grammy Preservation Concert.

Don Poythress Inks Publishing Deal

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Don Poythress, Photo: Ivan Clow

Big Machine Music and Crosscut Music announced today (10/16) an exclusive co-publishing agreement with hit songwriter Don Poythress. His No. 1 “A Little More Country Than That” (Easton Corbin) earned nominations for CMA and ACM Song of the Year. Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Hank Jr., Clint Black and the late Earl Scruggs have recorded Poythress’ songs. He has most recently penned cuts for Jake Owen, Kellie Pickler, Greg Bates and The Henningsens.

“Don is one of Nashville’s finest country songwriters and we are so excited to work with him and our colleague, Jimmy Ritchey at Crosscut Music. Don’s integrity as a songwriter is second to none and he is a perfect fit for our Big Machine Music team,” stated Big Machine Music’s Martha Earls.

Crosscut Music President Ritchey added, “I am so blessed to continue to work with Don in this new venture and more than excited to team up with Big Machine Music to take his career to the next level.”

“I couldn’t be more grateful and honored to be working with all the great people at Big Machine and Crosscut Music. I look forward to creating a successful partnership together,” said Poythress.

UMPG Names Kent Klavens Sr. VP

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Kent Klavens

Kent Klavens has been appointed Senior Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), it was announced by David Kokakis, Senior Vice President, Head of Business & Legal Affairs/Business Development, and Evan Lamberg, President of UMPG North America. Klavens will report directly to Kokakis and is based in the company’s worldwide headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif.

In this new role, Klavens’ primary responsibilities will include contract negotiations in North America for new and existing songwriter signings, and copyright infringement, sampling infringement, piracy and litigation in North America. He will be working with the company’s Nashville offices and the Nashville songwriting and legal community on signings.

Klavens previously served as Sr. Vice President and General Counsel of Famous Music, a division of Viacom and affiliate of Paramount Pictures until it was sold to Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2007. With Famous Music for seventeen years, Klavens was responsible for all major agreements, as well as copyright and other legal issues.

HFA Names New Pres./CEO

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Michael Simon

Irwin Z. Robinson, Chairman of the Boards of the Harry Fox Agency (HFA) and the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) has announced the promotion of Michael S. Simon to President and CEO for HFA. Simon was previously the organization’s Senior Vice President of Business Affairs, General Counsel and Chief Strategic Officer. Simon succeeds Gary L. Churgin.

“Since he joined HFA in 2001 to head the licensing division, Michael Simon has been a strong advocate to modernize HFA and move the company into new lines of business, progressively overseeing more of HFA and proving himself a leader and visionary within the organization,” said Robinson. “We are grateful to Gary Churgin for leading HFA though its technology transformation while also navigating some of the most radical changes to music licensing in the past fifty years.”

“I’m deeply honored that Irwin, the HFA, and NMPA Boards have put their trust in me to continue to transform an institution founded in the 20th century around the breakthrough technology of recorded music into the organization critical for the 21st century’s digital music business,” said Simon. “With our Slingshot service, which simplifies the licensing and royalty payment process for clients, we are delivering HFA’s expanded rights management expertise to all music distributors and music publishers, and I will be working with the team to grow that initiative aggressively. I am also committed to supporting HFA’s current music publishing and licensee base and delivering to them the support they need to run their businesses most effectively.”

Before joining HFA, Simon was the Executive Vice President of Business Affairs and General Counsel for Razorfish, Inc. His career also includes founding artist management and consulting firm Simon Ventures, Senior Director of Legal Affairs at Polygram Records, and time at law firms Levine Thall Plotkin & Menin and Rubin Baum Levin Constant & Friedman.

Industry Ink (10/15/12)

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It’s hard to believe, but the 46th Annual CMA Awards are right around the corner. The show airs live on ABC Thursday, Nov. 1, 8-11 pm/ET from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and newly added to the performance lineup are nominees Eli Young Band, Brantley Gilbert, Lady Antebellum, and Blake Shelton. Tickets are sold out for “Country Music’s Biggest Night,” which will also feature previously announced artists Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Kelly Clarkson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, co-host Brad Paisley, co-ost Carrie Underwood, and Zac Brown Band. See a full list of nominees here.

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Have you found yourself wondering about the best place in Nashville to get a speeding ticket? Or the city’s best bowling alley? Or maybe the best dry cleaner? The Nashville Scene has you covered, with its annual “Best of Nashville” list. Check out the reader-voted winners here.

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SESAC recently welcomed SOCAN singer/songwriter Corb Lund to the family for US representation. The Alberta-born artist, named CCMA’s Roots Artist of the Year seven consecutive years, recently released his new album Cabin Fever.

(L-R): SESAC’s Tim Fink, Lund and SESAC’s Shannan Hatch. Photo: Peyton Hoge

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Audio monitoring web service TuneSat is currently offering a free 30-day trial for up to 100 tracks so creators and copyright owners can see uses of their music. Using fingerprinting technology, the service can detect plays from television and the web. Creators can take action to collect on royalties they would not have otherwise received. After 30 days, subscribers can continue the service for $10/month for up to 10 tracks. More information here.

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Popular boutique Flavour is celebrating nine years of helping Nashville stay sharply dressed. To commemorate the occasion, the store will host an anniversary party on Tuesday, Oct. 23, sponsored by Hudson Jeans. The all-day event begins at 12 pm and will boast gift card giveaways, denim prizes, and swag bags from multiple vendors.