Lifenotes: Ella Tomlinson, Mother of Troy Tomlinson

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Condolences to Sony/ATV President/CEO Troy Tomlinson and his family on the passing of his mother, Ella Tomlinson, on May 30.

The devoted wife and mother was born in Sumner County, TN and retired from Eaton Corp. in Gallatin in 1984.

She is survived by four sons, James (Faye) Wright of Gallatin; Bobby (Polly) Wright of Gallatin; Troy (Sylvia) Tomlinson of Portland; and Tim (Vanessa) Tomlinson of Portland; daughter, Mary Watson of Jackson, TN; ten grandchildren; several great grandchildren; sisters and brothers. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Tomlinson.

Funeral services for Mrs. Tomlinson will be held at 1 p.m. today (Tuesday, June 1) at Wilkinson & Wiseman Funeral Home in Portland, TN, followed by interment in Old Brush Cemetery. Visitation will precede from 10 a.m. until the funeral at 1 p.m. Wilkinson & Wiseman Funeral Home can be reached at (615) 325-4191.

ASCAP’s “We Write The Songs” Heads To DC

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Pictured at ASCAP's "I Write The Songs" event in Washington DC are J.D. Souther and Jessi Alexander

On May 11, the ASCAP Foundation and the Library of Congress jointly celebrated the first anniversary of the ASCAP Collection at the Library of Congress, the gift by the ASCAP Foundation of documents, photos, sheet music and other artifacts.

For the second straight year, a musical concert at the Library’s Coolidge Auditorium called We Write the Songs served as a living illustration of what the ASCAP Collection represents – the creative efforts of the men and women behind American popular music.

Participating in the show, introduced by Librarian of Congress James H. Billington, was a diverse group of ASCAP songwriter members including Jessi Alexander, Alan Bergman, Tracy Chapman, Dion DiMucci, Albert Hammond, J.D. Souther and Bill Withers (joined by his daughter, Kori, and Broadway star Elisabeth Withers); and ASCAP Foundation Board members Hal David and Wayland Holyfield. 

ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams served as Master of Ceremonies.

A number of Senators and Congressional Representatives joined in to introduce the performers from the stage, including Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Rep. Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA).  Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) were also present to offer special remarks. We Write the Songs treated the capacity crowd of Washington legislative and cultural dignitaries to an evening of classic songs and the stories behind their creation.

Asset Mgt. Firm Eyes EMI Music Publishing

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The New York Post is reporting today (5/27) that asset management firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) is in talks to buy a stake in EMI Music Publishing and combine those operations into a separate entity that would be 51 percent controlled by EMI, with the rest being controlled by KKR-owned BMG Rights Management.

Post sources report that EMI owner Terra Firma is also in talks with others about selling a stake in the music-publishing division
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“This move does not surprise me,” a source said. “EMI only got enough money to survive another six months before they need to raise money again.”

A source familiar with KKR said the buyout giant is not going to be aggressive and was in no rush to strike a deal with EMI. KKR and Terra Firma offered no comment.

The discussions with KKR mark another twist in Terra Firma boss Guy Hands’ quest to keep EMI afloat amid a cash crunch and a bruising fight with lender Citigroup.

KKR was in talks this past winter with Warner Music Group about launching a break-up bid for EMI as the  label teetered on the financial brink. However, EMI got a reprieve when investors earlier this month approved a request from Hands to inject more money into the label and keep it from defaulting for another year.

A deal to sell a piece of the music publishing business could give EMI several years of breathing room.
That, in turn, could enable EMI to renew talks to license its music rights in North America to Universal Music Group. Such a deal, which EMI was close to inking before the discussions broke down this spring, would enable EMI to cut costs while also raising cash.

Reportedly KKR has been looking to bolster its music assets. Last September the firm committed to investing $332 million for a 51 percent stake in BMG Rights Management. Since then, BMG has been in buying mode, acquiring Crosstown Records and Cherry Lane Music Publishing.

Shane Barrett Departs Ole Music

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Shane Barrett

Shane Barrett has exited ole Music Publishing to pursue his next opportunity after five years as the company’s Creative Director. Other recent changes at ole include the addition of Arthur Buenahora as Senior Creative Director. In addition, publishing veteran Mike Sebastian joined ole as a consultant following ole’s recent puchase of Blacktop Music Publishing, Sebastian’s former employer.

Barrett can be reached at 615-474-3665 or at shanebarrettmusic@gmail.com.

BMI’s Website Goes Mobile

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BMI has launched a mobile version of its award-winning website www.bmi.com for iPhone, Android, Palm, Symbian and the upcoming Blackberry 6.0 phones. Mobile users will see the new mobile site when they log onto www.bmi.com.

“We know that tens of thousands of visitors to BMI.com already access information via smart phones,” said BMI President & CEO Del Bryant. “This is a logical step to enable our web visitors to discover the information on BMI’s business, its members, licensing processes, and over 200 sponsored events.”

BMI also announced that it will launch a mobile web version of its highly trafficked Online Services area by the end of June, giving its songwriters, composers and music publishers secure account access for their royalty statements and catalog of musical works via their smart phones.

“BMI was the first in the industry to launch a website in September 1994. We understood the power of the Internet then, and we understand how quickly everything is transitioning to a mobile environment today,” said Bryant. “We will continue to develop applications for new technologies that our affiliates and licensees use in the course of business. We know that business information needs to be available at anytime, anywhere, in a secure and portable mode. Our mobile applications continue our commitment to this pioneering tradition.”

MusikPitch Offers Jingle-Writing Opportunity

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Nashville based company MusikPitch has found a niche in the songwriting business by providing a platform where songwriters and composers compete to win jingle contests. MusikPitch allows any company looking for jingle songs or branding music to run a contest. Companies simply describe the type of jingle they need, decide on the prize amount, then sit back and listen as the songs are sent in from songwriters around the world. A recent success story comes from Nashville’s The Local Taco.

The Local Taco used MusikPitch to launch a $1000.00 jingle contest. The contest ran for the standard length of 14 days, and The Local Taco received over 60 entries from competing songwriters.

“I was amazed by the quality of music coming in as entries for our contest,” says The Local Taco owner John Ko.  “Songs were being submitted from songwriters all over the world. We had people living in Florida that had been to our restaurant on a trip to Nashville and were messaging us about how excited they were to compete to write our jingle. It was amazing!”

After the contest ended, Ko had trouble picking from the top entries, so he turned the decision over to friends and staff. Even if a songwriter doesn’t win, scoring a high ranking from the contest holder will place their composition in their top songs list. Songwriters are then listed under the Songwriters tab, with those having the most wins and top songs placed at the top of the list.

The Local Taco chose a song composed by MusikPitch member and songwriter James Barratt. His winning jingle and the other entries can be heard here.

MusikPitch is temporarily waiving the $39.00 contest fee when you use referral code 50501. Click here to get started.

Bug Music Publishing is On a Roll

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Bug Music Publishing, the largest independent contemporary music publisher in the world, has claimed eight songs in the Top 100 for the first quarter of 2010, as reported in Billboard’s publishers quarterly, up 29% from a year ago. The company currently holds the No. 6 spot in Billboard’s Top Publishers Chart and the No. 7 spot on Billboard’s Top Country Publishers Chart.

During the first quarter of 2010 the company held shares in eight Top 100 charting hits. Recent deals have included signing multi-platinum songwriter/producer Lucas Secon, multi-platinum, acclaimed country songwriter Gordie Sampson, Paul Westerberg from seminal alt-rock band The Replacements, re-signing the Grammy Award winning band Wilco and, under the banner of Arthouse Entertainment, signings of producer/songwriter Mitch Allan and multi-platinum producer/songwriter Mike Elizondo.

”The Bug writers and the entire team continue to hit all of the right notes and knock it out,” says John Rudolph, CEO of Bug Music. “Pound for pound, we continue to have more charting and award winning hits than our major competitors who are 10 times bigger. I am very proud to be associated with all of our
songwriters who constantly give it their best. Creative A&R is not dead!”

Bug Music’s increase of 29% is based on Billboard’s analysis of U.S radio airplay, quarter by quarter. In the first quarter of 2010 Bug Music held 3.6% of the Top Publishers market share and 3.9% of the Top Country Publishers.

This week at the 2010 BMI Music Awards, Bug Music writers picked up six awards. Honors were given to Kara DioGuardi, Kings of Leon’s Jared and Matthew Followill, writer Josh Hartzler and Sean Garrett.
Earlier this year at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, Bug Music received a record number of 65 Grammy nominations, in nearly every category across the board. The publishing group took home a total of 15 Grammy awards, including the marquee Record of the Year for Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody.” Kings of Leon were also awarded for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best Rock Song for “Use Somebody.” Winning Grammy Awards in 10 different categories, Bug Music received nominations in a diverse 40 separate categories across all musical genres.

For more information visit www.bugmusic.com.

Ryan Beuschel Becomes ASCAP Nashville Creative Manager

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Ryan Beuschel

ASCAP has named Ryan Beuschel, who most recently held the post of A&R Manager at Universal Music Group, as Creative Manager for its Nashville branch.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Ryan come on board and bring to ASCAP his unique talents, experience and passion for songwriters and their craft,” said Tim DuBois, VP and Managing Executive of operations at ASCAP Nashville. “His addition will help drive forward and bolster the expanded role of this office and our firm commitment to serving and championing our writers and publishers, on an individual, community and regional level.”

ASCAP has been restructuring its Nashville division to execute a broadened and elevated role as a Regional Office serving all genres of music.

Prior to his time as A&R Manager at Universal Music Group, Beuschel held the position of A&R Coordinator.  During his tenure, Beuschel worked with artists including Jamey Johnson, Billy Currington, Easton Corbin, David Nail and Randy Montana. He began his career in 2005 as an intern for Universal Music Publishing, where he was later named Catalog Coordinator before moving to the UMG label group in 2007. A Michigan native, Beuschel holds a degree in management and finance from Hope College.

“I’m elated to join the Nashville office in this creative capacity and look forward to helping develop and further opportunities for our ASCAP members,” Beuschel said.

Warner/Chappell Promotes BJ Hill, Alicia Pruitt

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(L-R): BJ Hill and Alicia Pruitt

BJ Hill and Alicia Pruitt have been promoted to Sr. Directors of A&R for Warner/Chappell Nashville. They will continue to be responsible for signing emerging songwriters, developing the publisher’s existing roster, and securing song placements.

Hill joined the company in 2005 where he is responsible for signing and overseeing some of Nashville’s top songwriters including Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley, and established hitmaker Wendell Mobley. Hill’s background includes stops at Universal Music Group and Jody Williams Music.

Since joining Warner/Chappell in 2006, Pruitt has bee responsible for signing and serving as the day-to-day contact for songwriters Deana Carter, Sean McConnell and Randy Rogers. Her tenure in the music business also includes time as Creative Director at Big Tractor Music Publishing and a stint at Broadvision Music Publishing.

Photos: Gill Wedding, Country Throwdown, Songwriters

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Bride Jenny Gill and husband Josh Van Valkenburg. Photo: Zach and Jody Gray

Jenny Gill, singer and daughter of Vince Gill, was married on May 8th to Josh Van Valkenburg, Manager of A&R for EMI Music Publishing. The wedding and reception was held at the Nashville home of her father and his wife Amy Grant. Jenny’s mother is Janis Oliver of Sweethearts of the Rodeo. The couple, who were childhood friends, are honeymooning in Jamaica.

Photo: Zach and Jody Gray


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Capitol/EMI Records Nashville labelmates Troy Olsen and Walker Hayes are performing on the Country Throwdown tour. Here they are at the opening show in Tampa, FL. The first annual multi-stage tour runs through mid-June. Pictured L-R: Troy Olsen & Walker Hayes.

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The International Broadcasters Idea Bank Conference drew small market radio owners and operators to Nashville on May 4. At the event, BMI sponsored a guitar pull featuring George Ducas, Dave Pahanish and Jeffrey Steele. The group has penned more than a dozen chart-toppers between the three of them. Pictured after the performance outside the Parthenon in Nashville are (front row): BMI’s Mason Hunter and Ducas; (back row): Commonwealth Broadcasting President/CEO Steve Newberry, Steele, NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith, Pahanish, Cromwell Group President and Conference host Bud Walters and BMI’s Dan Spears.

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McKendree, a Nashville-based songwriter with Ten Ten Music and genre-bending international recording artist, has recorded a modern remake of the Dolly Parton classic “Jolene.” Featuring Parton’s voice from the chorus of the original recording, McKendree's remake is the first single being released from his upcoming CD, McKendree Mania Volume 1, available in June. The album was produced by Peter Brazier of Vertical Rooms studio in Cambridge, England. A shoot for the "Jolene" music video took place last week in Nashville. (L-R): Peter Brazier (record producer), Jewel Coburn (president, Ten Ten Music Nashville), and McKendree. Photo: Hannah Haley