Industry Ink (9/17/12)

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(L-R): Terry Hicks, Co-owner Gasohol Music Publishing; Jamie Teachenor (seated); Joe West, Co-owner/President Gasohol Music Publishing

Newly-formed Gasohol Music Publishing, co-owned by Joe West and Terry Hicks, has signed singer/songwriter Jamie Teachenor to an exclusive global publishing agreement. Teachenor has written songs recorded by Luke Bryan, Gretchen Wilson, Montgomery Gentry and many more, as well as performed on Good Morning America, The CBS Early Show and more.

Teachenor also had a top 20 hit with “How Do You Get That Lonely,” which was included (along with the song’s story) in the 2011 book Chicken Soup For The Soul: Country Music Edition. His debut album, The Departure, is available now.

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Chris Keaton has launched his imprint labels LML Music/Chris Keaton Presents and LML Music/Nashville in conjunction with parent company LML Music headed by Lee Lessack. LML/Nashville will focus on country artists, and its first signing is Marty Falle.

(L-R): Chris Keaton, artist Marty Falle and ASCAP's Mike Sistad

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Blue Sky Riders recently gave a special performance at Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA) offices in Burbank, CA, to celebrate a new agreement with the company. ADA will distribute the trio’s forthcoming album Finally Home, due for release January 22, 2013.

(L-R): Blue Sky Riders members Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman, and Gary Burr.

Industry Ink (9/14/12)

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Pinky Gonzales

Music industry veteran Pinky Gonzales has launched Upriver Solutions, a web/mobile/user experience development company for the digital space. Early clients include SLR lens producer lensbaby.com, beverage company Blue Dog Mead, and sports photo curator Stublisher.com. More information on Upriver here.

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The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) will host an international publishing event Monday, September 17, 4-6 pm at Cabana in Nashville. The gathering will take on the issues of increasing royalties in the international market, opportunities outside the US, and what current stars know about working outside the country. http://www.aimp.org.

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Online exposure medium NashvilleIndieChannel.com launched this week in Nashville. The new venture is under the Franklin Media Group umbrella and combines resources from The Consortium, Jim Wood Enterprises and Verge Networks. The fee-based company will provide services to independent country artists, including song exposure, imagery, and bios. More info here.

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(L-R) Plateau Music President/CEO Tony Mantor, Plateau Music Executive Director of National Media Relations Al Abrams, Bobby Brooks Wilson

Al Abrams has joined Plateau Music as Executive Director of National Media, it was announced by Plateau President/CEO Tony Mantor. Abrams’ first project will be directing media efforts for Plateau’s new release by Bobby Brooks Wilson, son of R&B legend Jackie Wilson. Abrams began his career in 1959 as the first employee of what became Berry Gordy Jr.’s Motown Records, and has served in numerous media/marketing roles for music companies since.

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Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) will host a free DIY Artist Panel presented by Mailchimp, Saturday, September 15, 10 am at the Beaman Center at Belmont University. Tot Co-Founder Kristen Dabbs will moderate and participants will include artist Amy Stroup, Daniel Higbee (Head of TV/Film at Secret Road), Nate Yetton (Civil Wars manager), Shawn Fowler (Tonetree Distribution), and Trent Dabbs (artist/Tot Co-Founder).

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Also Saturday (9/15), new Nashville bookstore East Side Story will host its grand opening reception from 5-11 pm. Created by writer Chuck Beard, East Side Story will provide readings by local authors as well as workshops and more. East Side Story is located at 1108 Woodland St., Unit B, near 5 Points in East Nashville. http://www.eastsidestorytn.com/

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SOLID continued its month-long 15th anniversary celebration with the Food Truck Frenzy on Tuesday (9/11) in the SESAC parking lot. Ten percent of proceeds went to Linda’s Hope, building upon the $50k SOLID has already donated to charity in 2012. The fun continues with a two house Habitat for Humanity build tomorrow (9/15).

SOLID's Food Truck Frenzy

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Congratulations to songwriter and MusicRow contributor Larry Wayne Clark, whose song “What I Wouldn’t Give”–co-written with Allan Bullington–was chosen as the winner of Ronnie Milsap’s “Country Cut” contest. As a result, the song will appear on Milsap’s upcoming album.

Rackspace Co-Founder Joins Splother

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Rackspace co-founder Dirk Elmendorf has joined Nashville-based Splother as a strategic adviser and investor. Elmendorf joins an existing board that includes recording artist Robert Earl Keen and legal counsel Kent Marcus.

The website, named to Nashville Post’s “Tech 25 list of Middle Tennessee’s Brightest IT Ventures” and Nashville Scene’s “10 Forward Thinking Ideas Pushing Nashville, and the World, into the Future,” offers an online solution for securing sync licenses for the web, film, TV, and more. Users have access to a growing catalog of pre-cleared music across all genres, selected by A&R professionals.

“Splother is well positioned to disrupt the way music is licensed today,” says Splother CEO Dave Durocher. “Dirk’s involvement helps validate our strategy.”

More info here.

NMPA Hosts Songwriters Showcase

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The National Music Publishers’ Association gathered in Nashville Monday (9/10) to host its annual Songwriters Showcase at Bluebird Café. The annual event is a chance for the songwriting and publishing communities to showcase talent and discuss present issues of concern with royalty rates and licensing.

(L-R) Songwriters Mark Selby, Tia Sillers and Brett James; NMPA President and CEO David Israelite, Songwriters Luke Laird and Natalie Hemby; chairman of the NMPA board Irwin Robinson

Universal Music Publishing Group Chairman & CEO Zach Horowitz (L) and Executive Vice President Kent Earls (R) present chart-topping songwriter Luke Laird (center) with Gold and Platinum Note Awards during the National Music Publishers' Association Songwriters Showcase at Bluebird Café in Nashville.

Green Hills Music Group Signs Sarah Beth Taite

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Pictured (L-R): Woody Bomar, Sarah Beth Taite and Ocean Way Studio's Director of Operations Pat McMakin.

President of Green Hills Music Group, Woody Bomar, announced the signing of artist/songwriter Sarah Beth Taite to a publishing and artist development arrangement.

“Though she is still in her teens, Sarah Beth is so talented as an artist, gifted as a writer and has the drive and natural skills of a seasoned performer,” said Bomar.

“The Nashville music community is even more inviting than I ever dreamed,” said Taite. “And of course having Woody’s guidance and wisdom has been a wonderful experience.”

Green Hills Music Group opened in 2007, marketing the music of Steve Mitchell, Georgia Middleman, Bob Regan, Rick Giles, Bonnie Baker, Steve Williams, Paul Duncan, Dave Rivers and Patricia Summers.

Donna Hilley to Receive Posthumous Honor From NaSHOF

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Donna Hilley

The late publishing icon, Donna Hilley, will receive the 2012 Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award from the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation.

Hilley, who passed within a week of Preston in June 2012, became president and CEO of Sony/ATV Nashville after negotiating Tree International’s purchase while it was under her leadership. She worked for more than 30 years for the company.

“Donna was a truly amazing woman who rose from typist at a radio station to be one of the most successful music publishing executives ever,” said John Van Mol, chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation.

The honor will be acknowledged at the organization’s 42nd Anniversary Dinner & Induction ceremony on October 7 alongside previously announced Hall of Fame inductees Tony Arata, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Larry Henley and Kim Williams. The ceremony also includes NSAI’s annual awards for the year’s Best Song, Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist, as well as the Top 10 “Songs I Wish I Had Written,” as determined by the professional songwriters division.

Previous recipients of the Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award include Bob Beckham (2008), Bill Hall (2009), Preston (2010) and David Conrad (2011).

Tickets for the event are $225 each with a limited number available to the public by contacting Mark Ford hoftix@nashvillesongwriters.com.

ASCAP Nashville Hosts Inaugural Music City Trifecta

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(L-R) (back row) ASCAP's Marc Driskill, Cornman Music's Nate Lowery, Birch Street Music's Jake McKim, ASCAP's Michael Martin, Warner Music Nashville's Scott Hendricks, Shane Stevens, Billboard (Mathieu Jomphe), Justin Weaver, Ashley Gorley, Autumn Rowe, Brett James, Troy Verges, (front row) JT Harding, ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan, Mike Krompass and Catt Gravitt. Photo: Rory White.

ASCAP Nashville recently hosted its inaugural Music City Trifecta songwriting retreat August 27-29 at Brett James’ Cornman Music offices. The event, sponsored in part by City National Bank, served to spotlight ASCAP’s diverse talents and brought together a hand-selected group of creators from Nashville, Los Angeles, New York and beyond.

Songwriters joined in small co-writing groups and worked on songs for different artists each day of the retreat, including Beyoncé and Blake Shelton.

Participants included Greg Becker, Billboard, Chris DeStefano, Ben Glover, Ashley Gorley, Catt Gravitt, JT Harding, Brett James, Mike Krompass, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Autumn Rowe, Shane Stevens, Troy Verges and Justin Weaver. Among these writers’ many credits are hits by Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Ke$ha, Lady Antebellum, and many more.

Brett James, ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan and Mike Krompass. Photo: Rory White

Industry Ink (9/4/2012)

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Pictured (L-R): ASCAP's Michael Martin, Nicolle Gaylon, RaeLynn, ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan and Ryan Beuschel

Republic Nashville’s previous The Voice participant, RaeLynn, has officially joined ASCAP as a writer and publisher member.

The singer-songwriter was part of Blake Shelton’s team on the NBC show, and recently opened shows in the midwest for Miranda Lambert. She is working on a forthcoming debut record with fellow TV show participant and co-writer Nicolle Gaylon. RaeLynn is managed by Judy Stakee.

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Pictured (L-R): Inna, Holly Strawn, Laura Huftless, Shanna Strassberg, Rosie, Catherine Melvin, Cindy Heath, Fiona, Montine Felso. Photo: Zac Koffler

Three teams of women from Music Row will compete in the Women’s Half-Marathon Sat., September 22 on behalf of ABLE Youth’s Run, Walk, Wheel & Roll initiative.

Catherine Melvin (High Five), Cindy Heath (Monarch Publicity), Holly Strawn (Attorney, Rubin Lublin, LLC), Laura Huftless (CAA), Martha Ivester (CAA), Montine Felso (WMG), Shanna Strassberg (GAC) and Whitney Duncan (singer/songwriter) will compete in the 13.1 miles race alongside ABLE Youth partners Dovey, Rosie, and J.Rod who are racing in their wheelchairs.

Since its inception in 2010, the organization has provided 1st-time race experiences for over 50 children while raising over $50,000 for programs that teach children in wheelchairs the importance of living happy, healthy, successful and independent lives. To learn more about the event and to make a donation, click here.

No. 1 Party: Dierks Bentley’s “5-1-5-0”

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(l-r): Jim Beavers, Dierks Bentley and Brett Beavers. Photo: Ed Rode

ASCAP Nashville’s Marc Driskill welcomed a crowd to celebrate Dierks Bentley’s No. 1 hit “5-1-5-0″ yesterday (8/30) at the newly expanded Tin Roof on Demonbreun in Nashville. “5-1-5-0,” which the singer co-wrote with Jim Beavers and Brett Beavers, marks Bentley’s 10th No. 1, all of which were co-written by Bentley with one or both of the brothers.

BMI’s Clay Bradley noted the brothers have accumulated 16 No. 1s between the two—seven for Jim, nine for Brett—as he presented No. 1 cups to the writers.

Capitol Records Nashville Sr. VP of Promotion Steve Hodges encouraged the writers for 10 more hits before presenting them with the infamous Capitol Records impaler awards. Other Capitol staffers, Shane Allen, Tom Becci, and Cindy Mabe were called to the stage to present a special 10th No. 1 plaque to Bentley.

Producers Brett Beavers and Luke Wooten received special plaques from ASCAP and Daniel Lee of BMG Chrysalis reminisced about Bentley’s last No. 1, “Home.”

“Jim is a character,” teased presenter Sony/ATV’s Terry Wakefield, referring to the memorably funny hits like “5-1-5-0” and “Red Solo Cup.”

“Ten years ago, Brett introduced me to Dierks at Pie Wagon,” recalled Jim Beavers. “Dierks changed my life, and my family’s life. But something to remember, is this song is the most hyphenated song title since ‘D-I-V-O-R-C-E.’”

“Today I reminisced, driving up 4th and 5th Ave downtown,” said Bentley after thanking his manager and publicist Mary Hilliard Harrington of the Greenroom. “My experience in Nashville has been like songwriting. I didn’t come to this town with a hook, but have collected certain lines that meant something. And when you put each song together, they tell a story of my career.”

Dierks delivered special plaques to individuals who contributed to the success of the single, including label staff and the writer and production team.

Avenue Bank’s Ron Cox presented a financial contribution on behalf of each writer towards the Dierks Foundation’s Miles and Music for Kids. Brandi Simms offered the writers CMA Medallions to which the writers accepted with a collective cheer of ooh’s and awe’s. Bill Mayne presented the CRB No. 1 awards.

Industry Ink (8/31/12)

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Lance Carpenter stopped by the ASCAP offices last week to celebrate his recently inked publishing agreement with Songs of Bigger Picture. In recent years ASCAP’s Ryan Beuschel has worked with the songwriter to help him develop his craft.

Pictured (l-r): ASCAP's Ryan Beuschel, Songs of Bigger Picture's Jason Campbell, Lance Carpenter, and Songs of Bigger Picture's Jeff Carlton and Nicholas Garvin

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Republic Nashville Promotion Coordinator Kathleen Drosey is relocating to Louisville, KY with her fiance, and has accepted a new position with Church Hill Downs.

“We are both Wilkes-Barre, PA natives, so I have had the honor and privilege of knowing Kathleen for many years,” says Republic Nashville President/BMLG EVP Jimmy Harnen. “She was here in the Ape den from day one and while we’ll certainly miss her, we are excited as she enters the next wonderful chapter of her life.”

Republic Nashville is currently seeking candidates to fill the position. Resumes can be sent to National Director of Promotion Matthew Hargis here.

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The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) has opened online registration for its September international panel, scheduled for Monday, Sept. 17, 4-6 pm at Cabana Restaurant. Attendance is free for AIMP members and $40 for guests. Visit www.aimp.org to register.

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Music industry veteran April Potter Holleman has launched Creative Vision Entertainment in Hendersonville, TN. The new company specializes in tour booking, artist management, and song publishing. Clients include American Idol finalist Phil Stacey, FFH, The Ball Brothers, John Lemonis, the Browders, and Crosby Lane.

April Potter Holleman has over 16 years experience in the music industry, including time in booking with the Harper Agency and owning her own April Potter Agency. She has also worked in management, consulting, promotion, and publishing. Email her at april@creativevisionentertainment.com or visit www.creativevisionentertainment.com.

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San Francisco native Lara Johnston has been named the winner of the inaugural Unsigned Only Music Competition, as her song “K.I.S.S.” was chosen out of nearly 7500 entries worldwide. Judges included Cyndi Lauper, St. Vincent, Kenny Rogers, 3 Doors Down, and more. As the winner, Johnston will be mentored by a group of music industry executives for guidance in her career. More information here.