[updated] Tim Allen, Jan Rodgers Exit BMG Chrysalis's EverGreen

/by

[updated] Jan Perry Rodgers left EverGreen at the end of 2010. She is freelancing for publishers, managers, and producers and can be reached at [email protected] or 615-604-8991 (cell).
Tim Allen exited his position as Director of Licensing with BMG’s EverGreen office last week. He has worked in publishing for 17 years and had been with the company for 14 of those, surviving several changes in ownership. At least one other licensing staff member also exited.
Allen was originally hired as Licensing Manager for Integrated Copyright Group (ICG) in 1996. EverGreen Copyrights purchased ICG in 2006, and Allen was promoted to Director of Licensing. BMG purchased EverGreen Copyrights in October 2010.
Allen’s recent negotiations include numerous film and television placements such as “Country Strong” for the film of the same name, and ad campaigns for Chevy and AT&T. He also helped create the licensing module of ICG’s proprietary software, and EverGreen’s e-store allowing consumers to purchase license agreements online.
Allen can be reached via e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 615-498-6769.

Writers Ink With New Nettwerk One/Revelry Joint Venture

/by

Revelry Music Group/Nettwerk One Music sign Jessie Jo Dillon: Back row l-r: Jody Williams (BMI), Leslie Roberts (BMI), Clay Bradley (BMI), Greg Beeckman (Revelry Consultant), Blair McDonald (Nettwerk One Music), Greg Gallo (Revelry/Partner), Bradley Collins (BMI). Front row l-r: AJ Burton (Revelry/Partner), Jessie Jo Dillon, Noah McPike (Almon Law PLLC).


Nettwerk One Music and Revelry Music Group have teamed for a publishing joint venture. Under the new agreement, Nettwerk’s staff including executives Mark Jowett and Blair McDonald will handle administrative operations and funding for the venture. In addition, Nettwerk’s film and TV licensing team will be representing the catalogue worldwide.
The team at Revelry, made up of AJ Burton, Greg Gallo and LA-based finance partner Cory Schuelke, will focus on the creative aspects of the venture. To that end, the new joint venture has already signed Nashville songwriters Thom Donovan, Anthony Smith and recent Grammy-nominee Jessie Jo Dillon. She was nominated for Best Country Song for George Strait’s “The Breath You Take,” which she wrote with Casey Beathard, and her father Dean Dillon.

Revelry Music Group/Nettwerk One Music sign Thom Donovan: Back row l-r: Jody Williams (BMI), Greg Beeckman (Revelry Consultant), Greg Gallo (Revelry/Partner), Bradley Collins (BMI). Front row l-r: AJ Burton (Revelry/Partner), Thom Donovan, Blair McDonald (Nettwerk One Music)



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



Bidders Eye Warner Music

/by

Warner Music has received more than 10 bids from entities interested in buying all or part of the company, Bloomberg reports.
Citing sources close to the negotiations, the outlet says bidders seeking Warner’s publishing division, Warner/Chappell, include Sony/ATV Publishing and BMG Right Management.
Another interested party is billionaire and former Warner Music board member Len Blavatnik, who wants to purchase the company as a whole.
Goldman Sachs is helping Warner broker the deal. Many reports say Warner wants to unload its publishing arm and then make a bid for EMI Group.

Signings And Such (2/28)

/by

>>Songwriter/producer Joey Moi has signed a publishing deal with Big Loud Shirt Industries. The Vancouver, BC native has garnered success working with rock acts Hinder, Daughtry, My Darkest Days, Theory Of A Deadman, Default, Santana and most notably, Nickelback, including the current album, Dark Horse, which was co-produced with Mutt Lange. Most recently, Moi has produced RCA Nashville’s Jake Owen and 604 Records/Universal Canada’s Dallas Smith. Moi’s notable hits include Tim McGraw’s, “It’s A Business Doing Pleasure With You”, Daughtry’s “No Surprise” & “Life After You”, and the #1 hit “Porn Star Dancing” by My Darkest Days featuring Ludacris and Zakk Wylde. Moi co-owns Mountain View Records & Mountain View Studios in Vancouver, BC with Chad Kroeger (Nickelback).

(L-R) Seth England, Joey Moi, Craig Wiseman & Kevin ‘Chief’ Zaruk. Photo: Amy Allmand

>>Savannah Music Group has signed Jack Williams. Williams has had a multitude of hits with both country and rock artists. His first cut was by Richie Havens in 1971. He has lived in Atlanta, Nashville, Seattle, St. Augustine Florida and has now returned to Nashville. Rock band Two Choices is about to release a single in the UK and US written by Williams and Travis Meadows called “My Side Of The Street.”

Awards Dates: BMI Christian, Leadership Music

/by

>>The BMI Christian Music Awards will be presented Monday, April 4 at the performing rights organization’s Music Row offices. The annual invitation-only event will salute the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s most performed Christian and gospel songs on U.S. Christian radio. Hosted by Jody Williams, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, along with Dir., Writer/Publisher Relations Beth Mason and Sr. Dir., Writer/Publisher Relations Thomas Cain, the ceremony will also recognize the BMI Christian Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year.

>>Leadership Music’s Dale Franklin Award will be presented to the Country Music Association on May 17, 2011 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. This event is invitation-only.

Industry Ink Wednesday

/by

>>Curb Music Publishing recently hosted a two-day Songwriters Retreat at Blackberry Farm near the Smoky Mountains.

Curb writing retreat (front row, L-R) Senator Lamar Alexander and Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson; (back row, L-R) Blackberry Farm's Sam Beall, Curb's Director of Publishing Drew Alexander, Bobby Tomberlin, Capitol artist Kelleigh Bannen, Curb artist Lee Brice, songwriter Billy Montana, and Anderson's manager Lee Willard.


>> Business magazine Fast Company has named BigChampagne to its latest “World’s Most Innovative Companies” list. BigChampagne is recognized for the groundbreaking comprehensive media measurement of its Ultimate Chart. Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies issue (March 2011) is on newsstands beginning Feb. 22.

Anthony Corder


>>Anthony Corder has been named General Manager of Anchor Down Entertainment. Owner Dean Blocker and Corder will work to further develop the seven-year-old independently operated publishing company. Corder can be reached at [email protected] or 615-292-9898.
>>Canadian songstress Sarah McLachlan is splitting with manager Terry McBride of Nettwerk Music Group after 23 years.
>>Nathan Chapman produced a few tracks for pop singer Anna Nalick’s new album. She is best known for the hit “Breathe (2AM).”

Gareth Dunlop. Photo: Anthony Scarlati


>>Northern Ireland native Gareth Dunlop has been signed to a joint venture publishing deal with Moraine Music Group and Nettwerk One Music. His songs have been featured in the television series Cougar Town, Private Practice, One Tree Hill and Life Unexpected. Brent Maher is producing Dunlop’s debut LP, to be released later this year.
>>JKMusicwerks owner Jeffrey Kadlubowski has signed songwriter Larry Wiater to a one-year publishing deal.
>>Former American Idol contestant Siobhan Magnus recently recorded at Nashville’s Pacific International Studios with producer Mike Flanders.

(L-R): Pacific International Music Producer Michael Flanders, Siobhan Magnus, Pacific International CEO Rob Mackay.

Tin Pan South Prepares 2011 Offering

/by

The 19th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival will take place March 29-April 2 in Nashville. The event is produced by Nashville Songwriters Association International which claims that it is the world’s largest all-songwriter festival. Last year 300 songwriters performed over 70 shows at eight Nashville venues in front of crowds estimated to exceed 9,000.
Regions Bank returns as presenting sponsor. Platinum sponsors include American Airlines, ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. “Regions Bank is proud to be the title sponsor of Tin Pan South for the fifth consecutive year,” said Lisa Harless, Senior VP, Entertainment and Sports Division. “Songwriters are the lifeblood of our musical, creative community, and Regions is proud to salute the songwriters again in 2011!”
Tin Pan South will hold its annual preview party this year at The Rutledge on March 8 from 3:30-5:00. Several writers will perform and schedules, venues, and more will be announced. Visit tinpansouth.com to purchase Fast Access passes and find festival updates. Fast Access passes go on sale March 9.

SoundExchange Names Huppe President

/by

Michael Huppe


SoundExchange’s Board of Directors announced today that longtime Executive Vice President and General Counsel Michael Huppe will be the nonprofit’s new President.
Huppe succeeds former head John Simson, who announced his intention in July to return to creative work, ending his ten-year stewardship of the non-profit he had led since its inception.
In recent years, Huppe directed SoundExchange’s approach to rate-setting proceedings and a series of business-positive agreements with industry services, including much-publicized accords with webcasters.
Previously, he served as Senior Vice President for Business & Legal Affairs and Deputy General Counsel with the RIAA.
SoundExchange had record-high distributions in 2010; evidence of the group’s expanding role and importance in the industry.

Fab Photo Spread

/by

Rosehill visits MusicRow • Hall of Fame hosts Street Corner Symphony • Chicks With Hits salutes Brenda Lee
Rising duo Rosehill visited the MusicRow offices yesterday (2/7). They performed an acoustic set of songs from their latest album White Lines and Stars, including current single “Midnight America.” The project was produced by Radney Foster and Jay Clementi, who also co-wrote several tracks on the album with the duo’s Mitch McBain and Blake Myers. The Texas natives are working with Neal Spielberg and Mike Kraski.

Rosehill visits MusicRow. (L-R): Sarah Skates, Jon Freeman, Rosehill's Mitch McBain and Blake Myers, Michelle Stephens and David Ross

• • • • • •

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum recently (Feb. 5) partnered with Ford Motor Company Fund for its fourth annual Ford Community Day, offering free Museum admission to all visitors. In addition to touring the galleries at no charge, Ford Community Day visitors were treated to special performances by songwriters Cory Batten, Kent Blazy and Victoria Shaw, and by a cappella group Street Corner Symphony.

Members of Street Corner Symphony pictured with Museum VP of Development Pamela Johnson, and Ford Motor Company Fund’s Jim Graham and Rebecca Bunting Kuchar. Photo: Donn Jones

• • • • • •

On Feb. 4 songplugging and publishing group The Chicks With Hits inducted artist Brenda Lee as an Honorary Member. The organization hosted a special luncheon to mark the occasion.

Pictured from top: Kim Jones, Whitney Daane, Ree Guyer Buchanan, Karen Sturgeon, Melissa Taylor, Celia Froehlig, Tracy Gershon, Jewel Coburn, Janie West, Kay Smith, Judy Harris, Rob Palmer, Stephanie Cox, Brenda Lee, Melanie Howard

Artist/Writer Roundup

/by

Waylon Tribute CD; Matthews Joins Davis Music; and Brody Releases Environmental Video
>>The ninth anniversary of the passing of country legend Waylon Jennings is being commemorated with a tribute CD, The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated to Waylon Jennings, Volume 1, releasing Tues., Feb. 8. Conceived as a three volume series, work on the unique project began almost three years ago as a labor of love for Waylon’s widow Jessi Colter, son Shooter Jennings, guitarist Reggie Young and Producer Witt Stewart. This first volume, on ScatterRecords and Big Machine features Waylon’s most critically and commercially acclaimed tracks, uniquely interpreted and performed by yesterday’s and today’s country legends, including Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson, Trace Adkins, Patty Griffin, Randy Houser and John Hiatt. Also included are new recordings by Shooter Jennings, Jessi Colter and the Jennings classic “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way,” the first new music in over ten years from super-group Alabama. Volume II is scheduled to release on June 14, the day before what would have been Waylon’s 74th birthday. Volume III is slated to release Fall 2011, the day prior to Waylon and Jessi’s 42nd wedding anniversary.

Trey Mattews


>>Trey Matthews has signed a publishing deal with Davis Music, according to the Group’s GM Gator Michaels. “Trey is a welcomed addition to our songwriting team,” says Michaels. “In a town full of talented songwriters, his strong county roots and great lyrical abilities really stand above the pack.” Matthews was most recently a writer for Bigger Picture with songs cut on numerous country albums including Jerrod Niemann’s current album, plus Tracy Byrd, Daryle Singletary, Mark McGuinn, Billy Dean, Cole Degges and The Lonesome, The Harters and several others.
>>Grammy nominee Lane Brody has released a video for her latest single, “Flame’s Turned Blue” on GMV Records. The song, written and produced by the artist, is focused upon a humanitarian response to environmental issues developing around the globe and is part of Brody’s new CD On The Wings Of Songs. The video was directed, edited and shot by Australian native, Ross Ward.