Artists, Songwriters To Honor Todd Cerney

Todd with wife, Kip Kirby


On Mon., Feb. 28 a star studded lineup will come together to honor songwriter Todd Cerney, recently diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. Grammy nominated Cerney, is known for writing hits such as “I’ll Still Be Loving You” by Restless Heart, “Good Morning Beautiful” by Steve Holy, and “No Mercy” by Ty Herndon. Artists set to perform include Restless Heart, Steve Holy, Ty Herndon, Bo Bice and Jeff Bates.
A series of songwriters will also perform including Rivers Rutherford, Fred Knobloch, Rich Fagan, Pete Huttlinger, Lisa Carver, Wood Newton, Trevor Finlay, Doug Gill, Lynn Langham and Jim Parker, followed by performances from Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden (“Everlasting Love”), Casey Kelly and Leslie Ellis, Bill Lloyd, and Thom Shepherd & the Nashville Hit Songwriters Band. Special guest Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits will join Restless Heart onstage to sing his 1967 classic, “A Kind of a Hush.”  Also reuniting especially for this fundraiser will be Nashville cult favorite The Piggys, a legendary Nashville rock band that hasn’t played live together in more than 25 years.
There will be a Silent Auction at the event with numerous items for bidding, including Todd’s own handwritten, personally-autographed lyric sheets for his two biggest hits, “I’ll Still Be Loving You” and “Good Morning Beautiful.”
The Todd Cerney Benefit Concert will be held Monday, Feb. 28 at the Red Rooster Bar & Music Hall located at 1530 Demonbreun Street, just off Music Row’s Roundabout. There is plenty of free parking across the street. Doors open at 6 pm, and music starts at 6:30 pm. Admission is $15 at the door, and all proceeds from the event will go toward the mounting medical bills for Todd’s illness. Donations may be made at any time to the Friends of Todd Cerney account through Regions Bank in Nashville.

Dallas Davidson Celebrates String of Hits

Songwriter Dallas Davidson had an explosive 2010. He was a co-writer on five singles to hit the top of the charts last year, including “That’s How Country Boys Roll” (Billy Currington), “Gimmie That Girl” (Joe Nichols), “Rain is a Good Thing” (Luke Bryan), “All About Tonight” (Blake Shelton), and “All Over Me” (Josh Turner). All of this success added up to Davidson being named Billboard‘s Country Songwriter of the Year.
To celebrate the serial hitmaker, BMI and EMI Music Publishing co-hosted a dinner on January 27 in Nashville and awarded him a plaque marking the occasion.

Pictured are (back row, l-r): BMI’s Jody Williams and Bradley Collins; EMI Music Publishing’s Laura Wright; BMI’s Mark Mason; wife Sarah Davidson; and BMI’s Leslie Roberts, Perry Howard, and Clay Bradley; (front row, l-r): EMI Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran and Ben Vaughn, Dallas Davidson; and EMI Music Publishing’s Missy Wilson. Photo by Eric England

Peermusic Inks Vicky McGehee

Peer Nashville's Kevin Lamb (L), with songwriter Vicky McGehee and Peer Nashville's Michael Knox.


Peer Music has purchased Vicky McGehee‘s Middle Child 2 Music catalog, and signed her to an exclusive songwriter and co-publishing deal. The announcement was made by peermusic’s Kevin Lamb and Michael Knox, both of whom are based in peer’s Nashville offices. The deal includes Vicky’s back catalogue as well as her future works.
Among McGehee’s hits is “Wildflower,” recorded by the the JaneDear girls. She also penned recent singles by Alan Jackson (“It’s Just That Way”) and Danny Gokey (“I Will Not Say Goodbye”). She is a frequent co-writer of Gretchen Wilson, John Rich and Toby Keith. McGehee has also written tracks for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire, Montgomery Gentry, John Anderson and more.
In 2005 McGehee won MusicRow’s Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year. In 2006 she won BMI’s Songwriter of the Year, and in 2007 she took home her first BMI Pop Award.
“Michael and I have some very definitive feelings about the first signings we make,” says Lamb. “From day one Vicky has been on our short list. Her talents and personality make her a great first signing since Michael joined peer and we are both thrilled to be working with her.”
“Vicky and I go back 10 years,” Knox stated. “We’ve had a lot of success together and I’m excited to continue that in the future. Vicki is a chameleon, you can put her in any songwriting situation and she will come out with something great.”
“Michael Knox signed me to Warner/Chappell Publishing in 2000 and what an amazing ride it was!” says McGehee. “Michael gave me the creative freedom I needed and just enough rope to either hang myself or fly, and man we flew! I’ve been on my own for over three years, starting my company, Middle Child 2 Music. It’s been a very successful run and an incredible experience. I didn’t think I would ever sign with another publisher again, but when I received a call a few months ago from Michael, I immediately missed being part of a family. There is such an excitement at peermusic about the future and about bringing the fun back to the music business.”

Songwriter Signings

UMPG Nashville signs Ray Scott • Pete Best signs with Dan Hodges Music

UMPG Nashville signs Ray Scott

Universal Music Publishing recently signed singer/songwriter Ray Scott to its roster. Scott wrote or co-wrote every song on his latest project, Ray-ality, produced by Dave Brainard.

(L-R) back: UMPG Nashville Creative Mgr. Dave Pacula, Sr. VP Creative Kent Earls, and Creative Mgr. Freeman Wizer. Front: UMPG Nashville VP A&R/Special Projects Ron Stuve, Pres. Pat Higdon, Ray Scott and Sr. Creative Dir. Cyndi Forman

Pete Best Signs with Dan Hodges Music

Singer/songwriter Pete Best has signed a publishing agreement with Dan Hodges Music, LLC.

(L-R): Perry Howard, BMI Dir. Writer/Publisher Relations; Pete Best; and Dan Hodges, Owner/GM Dan Hodges Music, LLC

Writers Nights

BMI & KUPL present Kix Brooks & Friends • Singles Only offer “A Night of Hits”

BMI & KUPL Partner to Present “Songwriters Night with Kix Brooks & Friends”

BMI joined KUPL-FM in Portland, Oregon, to present a special “Songwriters Night with Kix Brooks and Friends” at Alpha Broadcasting’s Bing Lounge on January 20. In addition to Brooks, BMI songwriters Bob DiPiero and Big Al Anderson gave KUPL listeners and clients an inside look into the art of songwriting.

(L-R): BMI’s Dan Spears, Bob DiPiero, Big Al Anderson, KUPL PD Scott Mahalick, Alpha Broadcasting Chairman/CEO Larry Wilson and Kix Brooks.

Singles Only Presents “A Night of Hits”

Singles Only, a new pitch group consisting of pluggers from seven successful independent publishers, held its first “A Night of Hits” show featuring performances of the writers’ best uncut material. The quarterly event took place at the Listening Room on January 19. The group’s roster includes multiple Grammy and CMA award winners who have amassed over 100 No. 1 hits, including hitmakers Bob DiPiero, Hillary Lindsey, Brett James, Liz Rose, Bobby Pinson, Jim Collins, Dave Berg, Tia Sillers, busbee, Neil Thrasher, Chris Lindsey, Victoria Shaw, Robert Ellis Orrall, Peter McCann, Jonathan Singleton, Jon Mabe, and Kent Agee, as well as up-and-comers Angaleena Presley, Brandon Kinney, Bruce Wallace, Caitlyn Smith, Casey Kessel, Dean Alexander, Emily Shackelton, Eric Paslay, Kip Moore, Lonnie Lee Fowler, Lisa McCallum, Sarah Buxton and Steven Lee Olsen.

(L-R): Natalie Harker, Cal IV Ent.; Denny Carr, Roots Three Music; Penny Everhard, Love Monkey Music/Tom-Leis Music; Daniel Lee, Ten Ten Music Group; Taylor Lindsey, BMG Rights Mgmt.; Scott Ponce, Liz Rose Music; and Shane Barrett, Shane Barrett Music.

Publishing Notes: Kobalt, BMG

Kobalt Music Group is expanding its core business beyond music publishing to include the administration and marketing of other rights such as neighboring rights, synch rights for master recordings, and others to be announced later this year.
The company has worked for the last 18 months to develop a global extended rights collections platform which combines multiple rights into one large database. Kobalt’s new online synch database and licensing system will debut in late spring 201l at www.kobaltmusic.com.
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BMG has signed an exclusive worldwide administration deal with Notable Music Co., the entity founded by Cy Coleman. In addition to Coleman’s prestigious catalogue, BMG will represent the rights of Notable Music Co.’s full catalogue including the works of Bobby Hebb, Clifton Davis, Rosanne Cash, Wax Poetics, Chico Mann, Adriane Young, Aja West/The Mackrosoft and new masters by critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Sam Phillips.
BMG also announced that its North American division has signed an exclusive worldwide agreement with Yusuf (formerly Cat Stevens) which sees BMG handling all of the artist’s administration, collection and exploitation efforts worldwide on both back catalogue and recent releases.

Open Road Signs Miller; Bishop Media/Marketing Formed

Karyn Bishop announces the formation of Bishop Media & Marketing, formerly known as KB Radio Works. According to Bishop, the new company is designed to better serve the diversified client base she now represents. Services include artist radio tours, artist marketing and syndicated radio show recruitment and affiliate relations activities. Current clients include “Rise-Up Country with Jon Ritter” and “The Direct Connection Christian radio show.” Also on the roster is former NFL star Dexter Carter. Contact karynbishop@comcast.net
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(L-R) Paul Compton, Open Road Music Publishing Creative Director, with staff writers: Gwen Sebastian, Dean Miller, and Brian Eckert


Nashville-based Open Road Music Publishing, a division of Open Road Records, has inked a deal with singer-songwriter Dean Miller to serve as staff writer. Current songs include Open Road Records artist Gwen Sebastian’s latest radio single, “VIP (Barefoot Girl),” which he co-write with Sebastian and Brian Eckert. Eckert and Sebastian are also Open Road Music Publishing staff writers. Miller also co-wrote a track on the current Jamey Johnson album called “That’s How I Don’t Love You” with Johnson. Miller was born in Los Angeles and is the son of Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Roger Miller.

Saporiti Joins Savannah Music Group

(L-R) Bob Saporiti, General Manager of Savannah Music Group; Dean Unkefer, SPI President; and Dave Gibson, Chief Creative Officer of Savannah Music Group after the Texaco Country Showdown.


“It’s nice to be back among the living,” smiles Bob Saporiti new General Manager of Savannah Music Group. “We’re already having a blast.”
Saporiti was appointed to the new SMG position shortly before the holidays replacing Ed Salamon who joined the company Oct. 1. Savannah Music Group consists of three principals including SMG President Dave Gibson, Group Chairman Jeff Cohen and Creative Director Daisy Dern.

SMG Creative Director Daisy Dern.


Saporiti, a Nashville industry veteran had a career as a top independent radio promoter and then became key player at Warner Nashville, focusing especially on international marketing. In 2001 he retired from the record business as Warner’s then Sr. VP/GM.
“We’re going to focus on our core business which is music publishing,” says Saporitti. “In fact we are signing deals with writers that have six month reversion clauses. If we can’t get something done with a song in that time, then the writer ought to be able to get it back.”
SMG has three song pluggers and its staff writer roster includes Kevin Grant, the Mulch Brothers and Nolan Neal.

Carter's Chord Signs With UMPG

Show Dog-Universal Music’s Carter’s Chord has signed an exclusive songwriter and publishing agreement with UMPG Nashville. They are currently in the studio working on their new album, co-produced by Toby Keith and Mark Wright, to be released in 2011. Their new single, “A Little Less Comfortable” written by UMPG Nashville’s Emily, Joanna and Philip White will be available February 1.

Pictured (l-r): (Front row seated) Becky Robertson, Emily Robertson. Back row: Carter’s Chord Manager/President TKO Artist Management TK Kimbrell, Universal Music Publishing – Nashville President Pat Higdon, Joanna Robertson and Show Dog – Universal Music President Mark Wright.

SESAC Promotes Shannan Hatch

SESAC has announced the promotion of Shannan Hatch to Sr. Dir., Writer/Publisher Relations. Formerly Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, Hatch is based in Nashville’s office and will continue her duty of recruiting and nurturing the careers of songwriters and publishers.
“Shannan has proven herself to be a very gifted music executive with a keen eye for recognizing songwriting talent,” says Tim Fink, SESAC’s Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations. “She has developed key relationships within the songwriting and publishing community that have been instrumental in the growth of our exciting SESAC Nashville roster. I am thrilled to announce Shannan’s well-deserved promotion and look forward to the continued success of SESAC’s Nashville division.”
Prior to joining SESAC in 2002, Hatch worked as a publicist for AristoMedia, FrontPage, Rasky Bearlein and Commotion Public Relations. Since joining SESAC, she has worked closely with hit songwriters such as Monty Powell (“Sweet Thing”), Kim Tribble (“One In Every Crowd”), and Brice Long (“Anything Goes”).