BMG To Acquire Bug Music

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BMG Rights Management has entered into an agreement to acquire Bug Music.

Last week, reports pegged the sale to be valued at about $300 million. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The deal is expected to close by October.

Bug’s Nashville office is headed by VP John Allen, and Roger Murrah exited his post as Sr. VP earlier this summer.

Darrell Franklin serves as Executive VP of BMG Chrysalis’s Nashville operations.

BMG has been gobbling up other publishers in recent years, including Cherry Lane, Crosstown, S1 Songs, Stage Three, and EverGreen Copyrights, as well as a merger with Chrysalis Music.

Bug Music is a leading independent music publisher. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Bug Music currently owns and/or manages copyrights, including evergreen classics and contemporary hits such as “Fever,” “What a Wonderful World,” “I Walk the Line,” “Summer in the City,” “The Real Slim Shady,” “Who Are You?,” “Under the Boardwalk,” and “The Passenger.”

Bug Music’s clients include the estates of musical legends Johnny Cash, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Woody Guthrie, Del Shannon and Stevie Ray Vaughan, as well as contemporary icons such as Iggy Pop, Kings of Leon, Ryan Adams, Wilco and The National. Bug Music also supports songwriters and artists through its Arthouse Entertainment joint venture with Kara DioGuardi, 2007 BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year and former American Idol judge.

“With the acquisition of Bug Music and its vast collection of evergreen and contemporary compositions, BMG further establishes itself as a leading music rights management company,” said Hartwig Masuch, CEO of BMG Rights Management. “We look forward to working with Bug Music’s exceptional roster of artists and songwriters.”

Bug, EMI Still on Auction Blocks

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Bug Music is on the auction block with second-round bids due tomorrow (9/9), according to national news sources including the New York Post and Reuters. Bug’s sale is expected to fetch $300 million or more for publishing rights to 250,000 songs, including classics recorded by Iggy Pop (“Lust for Life”), the Drifters (“Under the Boardwalk”) and more.

Reportedly in the running to purchase the major music publisher are Simon Fuller’s XIX Entertainment, Ole Music, Dutch firm Imagen, and BMG, which has been on a buying spree in recent years.

Meanwhile, final bids for EMI Music, which includes the publishing and label group, are due at the end of September. Len Blavatnik, who purchased Warner Music Group earlier this year, is said to be among the bidders. Sony/ATV has also shown interest.

Terra Firma boss Guy Hands played a wild card this week, which could affect the EMI transaction. Citigroup took control of EMI earlier this year, claiming that Terra Firma couldn’t meet its loan requirements. Now Hands is asking London’s High Court for access to bank documents about the loan in attempt to regain control of EMI.

Publishing Signing Pics

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Vandermont Music Inks Blackjack Billy
Industry vet Doug Howard, owner of the Vandermont Music Group, has signed Noll Billings and Rob Blackledge to exclusive co-publishing agreements and a production/development deal. The singer-songwriters make up the Nashville duo Blackjack Billy and are currently in the studio with producer Jeff Coplan (Love And Theft, The Lunabelles).

(L-R): Rob Blackledge, producer Jeff Coplan, Vandermont’s Doug Howard and Noll Billings. Photo: Alan Mayor

 

Signings: Odie Blackmon, Garret Noel, Coy Taylor

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MPR Entertainment Group subsidiary Root Forty-Nine Music has signed Grammy-nominated songwriter Odie Blackmon to a multi-year publishing and songwriting agreement. “We could not be more excited to have Odie join us here at Root 49 Music,” says MPR COO Matthew Beckett. “He brings a talent and a reputation that is second to none. We look forward to a lasting and successful relationship.” Blackmon wrote Lee Ann Womack’s 2005 CMA Single of the Year and No. 1 “I May Hate Myself In The Morning,” co-wrote George Strait’s “She’ll Leave You With A Smile,” and co-wrote Gary Allan’s “Nothing On But The Radio.” His songs have also been recorded by Martina McBride, Del McCoury, Tracy Lawrence and more. He recently released his instructional DVD The Craft of Writing Hit Songs and is a music lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music.

(L-R) Front: Root Forty-Nine creative director Mark Brown; Odie Blackmon; and MPR Entertainment Group president Carolyn Miller; Back: attorney Chip Petree; ASCAP’s Leann Phelan; and MPR Entertainment Group chief operating officer Matthew Beckett

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Actor/director Garret Noel and actress Terin Alba have signed with BMI for performance representation. Noel’s onscreen credits include Jon Favreau’s Iron Man and this summer’s Cowboys Vs. Aliens. As a director, he has finished a documentary called Desert Saints which will be released internationally. He also wrote and directed feature length drama Promised Land, which will premiere at Sundance Film Festival. Noel has been in Nashville working on post production and the soundtrack with BMI writer/associate producer Paul Reeves, who has been working with female lead Terin Alba on songs for the soundtrack.

(L-R) Seated: Jody Williams, BMI; Garret Noel; Standing: David Preston, BMI; Terin Alba; Paul Reeves

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Coy Taylor

Country artist Coy Taylor has signed with Flying Island Entertainment to promote his single “Fall For You” at country radio. The song was recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville with an all-star cast of session players and the accompanying video was shot by director Thien Phan. Since arriving in Nashville two years ago, Cincinnati native Taylor has worked with Brady Seals and Little Jimmie Dickens and opened shows for Jason Aldean, Mark Chesnutt, Craig Morgan and Joe Diffie.

Signings: Bobby Terry, Rose Falcon

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Bobby Terry

Southern Crossroads Music has announced the signing of producer/songwriter/musician Bobby Terry to a worldwide publishing agreement. Southern Crossroads will represent Terry’s futures and back catalog, which includes cuts on Brad Paisley’s Time Well Wasted, Faith Hill’s Fireflies, and Tim McGraw’s Live Like You Were Dying.

“Bobby represents the important first brick in building a publishing company from the ground up in that he is a prolific writer and talented producer,” says Southern Crossroads Nashville Partner Pat Finch. “We are incredibly fortunate to have him and look forward to adding to such a stable foundation!”

Southern Crossroads also represents Nashville singer/songwriter Jabe Beyer whose songs have been featured in HBO’s True Blood and the Fox-TV’s Lie to Me, among others. Also on the roster are UK-based Americana acts Danny and the Champions of the World and Owen James Harvey.

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Show Dog-Universal Music has signed Rose Falcon to an exclusive recording contract. The Nashville-raised singer is the daughter of singer/songwriter Billy Falcon (“Power Windows”) and previously recorded a pop album (Rose Falcon) with Columbia in 2003. She is signed to Cal IV for publishing, and her songs have been featured in numerous television shows and commercials. Recently, “Give Into Me,” a song she wrote with her father and Elisha Hoffman, was recorded by Faith Hill for the Country Strong soundtrack.

(L-R): Manager Dan Harrell, Falcon, SDU label President Mark Wright and Cal IV Entertainment President Daniel Hill

Signings: Jenkins, Lehoux, Stephenson

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(L-R): Combustion’s Chris Van Belkom, Jenkins (seated), Chris Farren, songwriter Ashley Gorley, Combustion’s Kenley Flynn.













Combustion Music and songwriter Ashley Gorley have signed Matt Jenkins to an exclusive songwriting agreement.
Jenkins grew up playing and singing in the Texas Opry circuit with his father and most recently, has songs on upcoming albums from Jake Owen and Steve Holy.
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Jimmy Lehoux


Nashville recording artist Jimmy Lehoux has signed an exclusive booking agreement with Cody Entertainment for fall dates and a 2012 tour. “Jimmy Lehoux is an incredibly talented singer and performer and we are pleased to have the opportunity to represent him,” says Cody Entertainment president Phil Smallwood.
Lehoux recently completed the southeastern leg of his radio tour in support of debut single “Twenty Toes In The Sand.”
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Larry Stephenson (seated) signs with Compass Records


Bluegrass vocalist and bandleader Larry Stephenson has signed to Compass Records. Stephenson will begin work at Compass Sound Studio this fall on a new project with a targeted release date of early 2012. He will share production duties with engineer/co-producer Ben Surratt.
The signing follows on the heels of the Larry Stephenson Band’s win for “Recorded Event of the Year” at the 2010 International Bluegrass Music Awards for his most recent effort “20th Anniversary.”

Music Is YouTube's Most Popular Content

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Music videos are the single biggest draw for YouTube users, attracting 40 percent of the site’s visitors in July, according to a new report by ComScore.

With content from Universal, Sony and EMI artists, the Vevo channel is the most popular on the Google-owned site, attracting 38 percent of all YouTube users. The second post popular channel in July was Warner Music, which accounted for 20 percent of all viewers.
Music videos on these channels are accompanied by advertising, which in turn pays licensing fees to rights holders. But elsewhere on YouTube, much content is not licensed. This often includes user-generated videos, ranging from cover songs to slideshows set to music. An agreement announced yesterday (8/17) should pave the way for copyright owners to share in YouTube’s advertising revenue for previously unlicensed content.
YouTube and the National Music Publishers Association entered into the agreement, ending litigation that had been going on since 2007. Under the terms, the Harry Fox Administration will handle licensing agreements for publishers whose music is being used on YouTube.

Music Is YouTube’s Most Popular Content

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Music videos are the single biggest draw for YouTube users, attracting 40 percent of the site’s visitors in July, according to a new report by ComScore.

With content from Universal, Sony and EMI artists, the Vevo channel is the most popular on the Google-owned site, attracting 38 percent of all YouTube users. The second post popular channel in July was Warner Music, which accounted for 20 percent of all viewers.

Music videos on these channels are accompanied by advertising, which in turn pays licensing fees to rights holders. But elsewhere on YouTube, much content is not licensed. This often includes user-generated videos, ranging from cover songs to slideshows set to music. An agreement announced yesterday (8/17) should pave the way for copyright owners to share in YouTube’s advertising revenue for previously unlicensed content.

YouTube and the National Music Publishers Association entered into the agreement, ending litigation that had been going on since 2007. Under the terms, the Harry Fox Administration will handle licensing agreements for publishers whose music is being used on YouTube.

Snapshots: CMA Songwriters Series, Nashville In Napa, Sandestin Music Festival

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Billy Currington and Josh Thompson will be featured artist/songwriters at upcoming CMA Songwriters Series shows October 6 and 7.


New York City’s Joe’s Pub will celebrate its grand re-opening with two nights of Nashville songwriters for the popular “CMA Songwriters Series” October 6 and 7.
Mercury Nashville artist Billy Currington, whose songwriting credits include “That’s How Country Boys Roll” and “Walk A Little Straighter” will be the featured artist/songwriter Thursday, October 6. Columbia Nashville’s Josh Thompson, who has hit singles “Way Out Here” and “Beer On The Table” in addition to songs for Jason Aldean and more, will be featured on October 7.
Performing both nights will be Scotty Emerick (“I Love This Bar,” “Good As I Once Was”) and David Lee Murphy (“Dust On The Bottle,” “Big Green Tractor”), and Bob DiPiero, who will serve as host in addition to performing his songs.
The event is part of Joe’s Pub’s grand re-opening, following its first renovation in 13 years. As part of the make-over, Joe’s has made renovations to seating, restrooms, artist dressing rooms, and moved the entrance from Lafayette Street inside The Public Theater lobby. Patrons can now also reserve seating online. Reserved tickets are $30, and VIP tickets for the October 6 show are $40.
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ASCAP recently sponsored Nashville In Napa August 6 at Baldacci Family Vineyards in Napa, California. The fundraiser supports music education through a unique event combining music, wine and food. This year’s performers were Jessi Alexander, Radney Foster, Brett James, Jon Randall, Chris Stapleton, Morgane Hayes and Craig Wiseman. nashvilleinnapa.com.

(On ground, L-R): Craig Wiseman, Morgane Hayes, Nashville In Napa organizer/Baldacci Family Vineyards GM & winemaker Debi Cali, Jessi Alexander, Brett James, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad; (On Baldacci sign, L-R): Chris Stapleton, Jon Randall, Radney Foster; Photo: Julie Meirick


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BMI was a co-sponsor of the 2nd Annual Sandestin Music Festival in Destin, FL August 12-13. The packed lineup featured top notch hitmakers Jeffrey Steele and James Slater; Broadway star Lari White; and up-and-comers Kree Harrison, Thomas Rhett, Joanna Cotten, Jon Pardi, and the Pernikoff Brothers.

(Back row, L-R): BMI’s Mary Loving, Trustcore’s Darryl Edmonds, and BMI’s Mark Mason; (Front row, L-R): Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort’s Shawna Meisner, BMI’s Jody Williams, Thomas Rhett, Jeffrey Steele, James Slater, and Lari White. Photo: Steve Lowry

Signing News From Major Bob, Magic Mustang

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Cary Barlowe


Cary Barlowe Re-Ups With Major Bob
Major Bob Music has re-signed Cary Barlowe to an exclusive worldwide songwriting deal. The two-time Grammy nominee has had genre-crossing cuts from Tobymac, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum’s No. 1 “American Honey,” and Danny Gokey’s current single, “Second Hand Heart.”
Barlowe also continues his rock career as a writing member of both The Honeymoon Thrillers and Luna Halo.
“Major Bob Music is extremely excited to continue the momentum and success we have achieved with Cary,” says Jesse Frasure, Director of A&R, Major Bob Music. Going into his fifth year with Major Bob, we still have much more to accomplish and are honored to help build his brand in a variety of genres.”
Magic Mustang Inks Producer/Songwriters
Magic Mustang has signed Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy and Rich Redmond to publishing deals. The writers are three of the four members of Nashville-based music production company, NV, who recently produced the Stoney Creek Records’ chart-topping debut album for Thompson Square.
“Not only are they brilliant musicians and producers, they are incredible songwriters,” says Magic Mustang Creative Director Juli Griffith. “These talented guys were already part of our BBR/SCR family, producing many of our acts and part of Jason Aldean’s band, so I am thrilled to officially add them to the Magic Mustang roster.”
Current roster of writers on the Magic Mustang team include Jason Aldean, Sherrie Austin, Rob Hatch, John Edwards, Westin Davis, Ash Bowers, Blake Wise and Thompson Square.

Pictured (L-R): Kurt Allison, CEO/Pres. Benny Brown, BBR/SCR Creative Dir. Juli Griffith, Magic Mustang Music, and Tully Kennedy.