"Voices" Songwriters Celebrate Chart-topper

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ASCAP toasted the writers and publishers of Chris Young’s multi-week No. 1 “Voices” with a party at its Nashville offices on Monday, March 21. Written by Young, Chris Tompkins and Craig Wiseman, and published by Big Loud Shirt, Big Loud Songs, Runnin’ Behind Music and EMI Music Publishing, the song is Grammy-nominated Young’s third consecutive trip to the top of the charts. “Voices” marks the 19th chart-topper for Wiseman and the second No. 1 for Tompkins.

Pictured (l-r): ASCAP’s Tim DuBois, EMI Music Publishing’s Ben Vaughn, Chris Young, Chris Tompkins, Craig Wiseman, Big Loud Shirt’s Seth England and Amy Allmand. Photo: Rory White

McAnally, Harding Score First No. 1 With Chesney Smash

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ASCAP and BMI toasted Kenny Chesney’s critically acclaimed, multi-week chart-topper “Somewhere With You” with a party at Cabana in Nashville on Wed., March 24th.
Written by Shane McAnally and JT Harding, this was the first No. 1 for both writers. The song marks Chesney’s remarkable 21st trip to the top of the charts.

Pictured at the party are (l-r): ASCAP’s Tim DuBois, Songs for Beans’ Randi Razzano, Sony Music Nashville’s Paul Barnabee, producer Buddy Cannon, Shane McAnally, Kenny Chesney, JT Harding, Little Blue Egg’s Robin Palmer, Kobalt Music’s Whitney Daane, ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo: Ed Rode

NYT Feels Music Industry Pain

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“If it was as easy as it looks, everyone would do it.” These words may best describe some of the early pain being felt by the New York Times as it struggles to adjust the rules, technology and concept of its, about-to-begin March 28, paywall. And although the music industry is just an onlooker in this info-tug-of-war, no doubt music leaders can see a close parallel to their own industry.
A loophole purposely built into the NYT system has already backfired. NYT decided that links from  Twitter and Facebook should get free passage through the paywall and be able to exceed the 20 item limit per month imposed on non-subscribers. Search links would get five items per day. The thinking seems sound, since these social networking/search links are responsible for directing large amounts of traffic to the newspaper website.

Enter new Twitter feed @freeNYTimes. The feed tweets a link to every story published on nytimes.com. This allows readers to easily surf around and through the paywall, avoiding its restrictions. According to a Forbes.com story, NYT has already asked Twitter to shut down the new feed. At press the feed has 562 followers and explains itself by saying, “NYTimes articles as they’re published. Read more than your 20 articles/month allotment, because you came from Twitter! Data provided by The New York Times.”
A second similar twitter feed has already sprouted at @timeswiretap. It now has 92 followers.

Another widely reported NYT hack was created by a Canadian blogger in just four lines of code and bears the name, NYTClean. The site is already experiencing a massive slowdown due to a rash of unexpectedly high visitor traffic.
NYTClean coder David Hayes sums up the problem saying, “Wow, I’ve gotten tens of thousands of hits since this went up yesterday, especially considering this was a lunchtime project — You just can’t see a wall like this without wondering how you can get around it. I love the New York Times, don’t say that I forced you to not pay for it.”

BMG Chrysalis To Represent Carly Simon's Catalog

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No longer dreaming they’ll be her partner, the North American division of music rights giant BMG Chrysalis has signed an exclusive agreement with singer/songwriter Carly Simon. This agreement will extend to all of Simon’s administration, collection, and exploitation in the US and Canada for both catalog and futures.
Simon’s remarkable career includes being inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame as well as becoming the first person to win an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Grammy for a song composed and performed by a single artist. Her body of work also includes the enduring hits “Anticipation,” “You’re So Vain,” “Loving You’s The Right Thing To Do,” and many more.
“Over the years, Carly Simon has taken us on an irresistible musical journey,” says Richard Blackstone, Chief Creative Officer, BMG Chrysalis North America. “She has captured our hearts through so many of her soulful hits and we are thrilled that she has chosen to continue that journey with BMG.”
Since late 2008, BMG Chrysalis has acquired numerous publishing catalogs including those of Crosstown Songs, Cherry Lane, Stage Three Music and Evergreen.

Little Champion Signs Jennifer Kennard

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(L-R): Martina McBride, Jennifer Kennard, Glenn Middleworth and John McBride.


Little Champion Music LLC and principals John and Martina McBride have signed Jennifer Kennard to Songs Of Blackbird (BMI). Senior Creative Director, Glenn Middleworth, says “We’re looking forward to a long term relationship with Jennifer and expect great songs to come from her skill set of creativity, energy, enthusiasm and networking. Jennifer comes to Songs Of Blackbird with a proven track record, including a cut, ‘Virginia Bluebell’ on the current platinum selling Miranda Lambert album, among many others.”
Little Champion Music (ASCAP)/Songs Of Blackbird (BMI) is the publishing arm of Blackbird Studios. The three-year old company also includes award winning songwriter Rachel Thibodeau, who co-wrote the current chart-climbing Steve Holy single, “Love Don’t Run,” and up-and-coming singer/songwriter Jason Sever.

(L-R): Martina McBride, Jason Sever, Rachel Thibodeau, Jennifer Kennard, Glenn Middleworth and John McBride.

Publishing Notes

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Jeremy Spillman (L) has signed Jared Crump (R) to his new company.

Hit songwriter Jeremy Spillman has launched his own publishing and production outfit, Brave Music Company. With cuts by Josh Turner, Lee Ann Womack, Trace Adkins, and Brantley Gilbert, Spillman is celebrating his most successful single yet, Eric Church’s “Hell On The Heart.”

Now Spillman has signed Jared Crump to Brave Music. The new artist/songwriter moved to Nashville two years ago from Texas, and recently celebrated his first cut. Spillman is also working with and producing rising artist Carly Pearce. Contact him at [email protected].
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Brittany Spyksma


Brittany Spyksma has returned to her post as Creative Manager at Dan Hodges Music following a year-plus hiatus, during which Anthony Corder held the job.
In turn, Corder has left DHM to become office manager/creative head at Anchor Down Entertainment.
Spyksma can be reached at [email protected].
Corder can be reached at [email protected].

Cassandra Tormes Joins Cotton Valley Records

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Cassandra Tormes


Cotton Valley Records (CVR) has hired Cassandra Tormes as Creative Director where she will be responsible for developing and exploiting the Cotton Valley Worldwide Publishing catalogue. In addition to working with songs and songwriters, she will assist CVR’s management and label divisions to raise the company’s profile.
Producers J. Gary Smith and John Smith founded Cotton Valley Music, LLC, in 2010. It is comprised of CVR, CVR Management and Cotton Valley Worldwide Publishing. The roster includes Mark Cooke, rock band Goodbye June, and Steve Holy.
Longtime music publishing exec. Tormes was most recently Creative Director at Cherry Heart Music.
She can be reached at [email protected] or 615-730-9845. The company is located at 713 18th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203.

InCharge 2011 Begins Production

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(L-R) Sweethearts of the Rodeo were on the cover of the May 1990 InCharge which was the second edition, but the first in magazine format. Twenty-two years later another female duo, the JaneDear girls covered the 2010 InCharge.


InCharge, the definitive list of Nashville’s Music Industry Decision Makers, is now in production of its 23rd edition. As usual, compiling this group of leaders is complicated by the winds of change blowing briskly throughout the entertainment industry. The goal each year however, remains the same—to present and profile the most influential figures in the Nashville based entertainment industry. These are people who buy or sell significant quantities of goods and services, and those who are crucial in building entertainment careers for others.
InCharge began in 1987 as a stand alone book written by Edward Morris and published and produced by MusicRow Publications. It contained 243 entries. In May 1990 the second InCharge emerged in magazine format and was sent to all MusicRow subscribers. The added distribution carried InCharge to a wider audience, and a star was born. Now 22 years later, as we embark on the 23rd edition of this valuable resource it continues to be the most asked for and sought after of MusicRow’s annual print issues.
Be In This Year’s Issue
InCharge has become an indispensable go-to guide for experienced executives and newer arrivals wishing to study a comprehensive who’s who of the most important players and companies in Nashville’s entertainment world. As a result, the annual InCharge presents readers with an outstanding advertising opportunity. MusicRow is now accepting advertising in this coveted issue which hits stands in April, and continues to be an arm’s length away on desks throughout the year. Advertising space is expected to exceed capacity again this year, so please reserve as early as possible. (615-349-2171 or [email protected]) [Rate Card]
Update forms for the 2011 list have been sent to the over 400 executives featured in last year’s edition. If you were NOT included among last year’s MusicRow Decision Makers, but feel you merit consideration for this year’s edition, click the link below and complete a profile form. Then email the information to [email protected].

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

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Bug Music has renewed its administration agreement with award-winning songwriter, producer and recording artist T Bone Burnett. The publishing company has represented the artist since its inception in 1975. Burnett’s acclaimed work has resulted in Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globe and American Music Award wins. His recent production work includes The Union from Elton John and Leon Russell.

Pictured at a Grammy Week event co-chaired by Sir Elton John and Leon Russell honoring Burnett. (L-R): Bug Music’s SVP of Creative Services Eddie Gomez, CEO John Rudolph, Burnett, and President David Hirshland. Photo: Getty Images

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SESAC affiliate Anthony Smith, who co-wrote the Lone Star hit, “What About Now” among many others, has signed with Nettwerk One Music/Revelry Music Group for publishing. See which other songwriters also joined the new joint venture here.

Back row (l-r): Nettwerk One Music’s Blair McDonald; Revelry Music Group’s Greg Beeckman and Greg Gallo. Front row (l-r): SESAC’s Tim Fink, Revelry’s AJ Burton, Anthony Smith and SESAC’s John Mullins. Photo: Peyton Hoge

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Upper Management Music has signed Gene Watson, who is currently working on a duets album with labelmate and bluegrass star Rhonda Vincent. They have previously released two duet singles. The first single from the new project is expected in May, with the album to follow in June. Watson is known for his 1975 hit “Love in the Hot Afternoon,” his 1982 hit “Fourteen Carat Mind,” and his signature song, “Farewell Party.”

Upper Management Pres. Herb Sandker and Gene Watson make the agreement official during the first recording session at Ronnie's Place on Music Row.

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Mountain Heart has signed with The Roots Agency/SMG Artists for exclusive performance booking representation. With offices in New Jersey, Michigan, and Tennessee, The Roots Agency represents more than thirty artists from genres including Americana, blues, pop/rock and jazz. Larry Kosson will be the responsible agent for Mountain Heart. He can be reached at [email protected].

BMG Chrysalis Combines Name, Staff

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Now operating under the new moniker BMG Chrysalis, the growing music company continues to rework its top leadership. The name change follows the news that the BMG’s acquisition of Chrysalis is complete.
Last week it was announced that Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Lascelles will leave his post at the end of the month. Lascelles, a longtime Chrysalis executive, steered the company during its $175 million purchase by BMG Rights Management last year. He joined Chrysalis in 1994.
In late February, Hartwig Masuch, CEO of BMG Rights Management, announced that the new BMG Chrysalis will be led in the UK by Alexi Cory-Smith and John Dobinson. Steven Moran is the global Chief Operating Officer.
Nashville is already feeling the trickle-down effect from these changes, with today’s news of downsizing at the company’s EverGreen office. More news is expected as the local offices continue to merge.
In a separate, ongoing story, BMG Chrysalis is one of the potential purchasers for Warner Music Group.