The National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) has created a petition to collect and amplify the voice of songwriters in agreement of H.R. 4706, The Music Modernization Act of 2017, which is aimed at updating what the association calls “archaic laws” for the biggest achievement music creators have seen in the Digital Age.

Thousands of signatures have been collected so far in support of the December 21, 2017 legislation Congressman Doug Collins and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries introduced.

Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has encouraged its members to sign the NMPA’s petition “that will give songwriters a new rate standard for digital mechanical royalties which should lead to better streaming royalty rates. The bill creates a new mechanical licensing entity that will represent all songwriters equally at no cost, establishes a licensing process controlled by music publishers and songwriters instead of tech companies or the government, ends the disastrous Copyright Office mass ‘Notice of Intent’ program, and mandates songwriters receive more than half of all unclaimed funds.”

Additional support for the bill comes from the Songwriters of North America (SONA), the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), the Church Music Publishers’ Association (CMPA), the Production Music Association (PMA), MusicAnswers, the Music Publishers Association (MPA), the Council of Music Creators (CMC), the Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL) and the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP). The bill is also supported by the Digital Music Association (DiMA) which represents Amazon, Apple, Pandora, Spotify and YouTube.

Visit gopetition.com to read more or add your voice.

Pictured (L-R) front: Lead guitarist Eric Steedly, Lead singer/songwriter Brandon Lancaster, Drummer Tripp Howell, multi-instrumentalist Jared Hampton, bassist Chandler Baldwin; (Back Row L-R): BMI’s Josh Tomlinson Neon Cross’ Melissa Spillman, Sony Music Nashville’s Chairman & CEO Randy Goodman, Warner Chappell’s Ben Vaughn. Photo: Steve Lowry

BMI and financial partner Pinnacle Financial welcomed Sony Nashville’s LANCO to its headquarters on Thursday, Jan. 4 to celebrate the No. 1 success of the quintet’s single “Greatest Love Story.” Cooper Samuels from Pinnacle Financial offered remarks about a donation on behalf of the band to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital.

Together, Sony Music Nashville COO/EVP Ken Robold and VP Sales Caryl Healey surprised LANCO with a Platinum plaque, commemorating a million sales of the title.

Formerly known as Lancaster & Company, the group originally released “American Love Story” on their 2015 EP before renaming the song ahead of the Arista Nashville impact date on March 6, 2017.

BMI’s Josh Tomlinson welcomed a crowd to the first No. 1 party of 2018, a solo-write by the group’s frontman Brandon Lancaster, who has writing credits on all 11 tracks (including four solo-writes) on their debut album Hallelujah Nights, available Jan. 19. Tomlinson presented Lancaster with a commemorative BMI Epiphone guitar for writing his first No. 1.

Lancaster is published by his producer’s Neon Cross together with Ben Vaughan‘s Warner/Chappell. On behalf of producer Jay Joyce, Melissa Spillman offered remarks.

“Congratulations Brandon and the team—here’s to many more” said Spillman before presenting military dogtags and artwork to the group. “We’ve made a donation to our debt at Warner/Chappell on your behalf,” she teased to the audience’s laughter.

Pictured (L-R): Drummer Tripp Howell, Lead guitarist Eric Steedly, Lead singer/songwriter Brandon Lancaster, Multi-instrumentalist Jared Hampton, bassist Chandler Baldwin. Pictured: Steve Lowry

For the label, Josh Easler from Arista noted, “This [No. 1] is a testament to the band as people, their management company and to the people they surround themselves with—they will outwork any band in this town.” Easler additionally noted the work of leader Steve Hodges, alongside his promotions staff Lauren Thomas, Abi Fishbone, Rusty Sherrill, Lisa Owen, Olivia Laster, Jenny Shearin and RG Jones.

While the full band performed select titles from their album, Lancaster offered his remarks.

“We’ve been together as a band for years. I remember 3-4 years ago, we had these songs this dream and this vision,” Lancaster praised. “We started getting exposed to this industry and how hard people work to make what we hear on the radio, the things we see on TV and the things we buy a reality. One by one the people in this room believed in us. We are fortunate to be on the road to see the impact y’all are having. You are changing people’s lives because you allow people like us to impact fans. Thank you so much this has been the journey of a lifetime!”

LANCO performs. Photo: Steve Lowry

Pictured (L-R): Lead guitarist Eric Steedly, Drummer Tripp Howell, Lead singer/songwriter Brandon Lancaster, Multi-instrumentalist Jared Hampton, bassist Chandler Baldwin, MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson. Photo: Steve Lowry

MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson presented the band with No. 1 Challenge Coins for its chart-topping success on MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout Chart. Brooke Sanders from the CRB noted “Greatest Love Story” had earned 216,855 spins, reaching an audience of over 9.85 million. The CMA’s Brandi Simms presented the group with CMA Medallions. Country Aircheck‘s Lon Helton presented plaques for Lancaster, the band and Arista Nashville.

LANCO will release “Born To Love You” as their next single.

Nashville-based publisher Anacrusis has signed an exclusive, global administration deal with Kobalt Music Group. Anacrusis was started by Liz Rogers, who now serves as Creative Director. The Anacrusis-Kobalt partnership will be managed by Kobalt’s Nashville office, under GM Jesse Willoughby.  Kobalt will be handling admin for Anacrusis’ catalog, which includes pop artist Drew Southwell, who recently collaborated with Steve Aoki, and has garnered attention from Timbaland.

“We could not be more excited to partner with Kobalt,” said Rogers. “They are a true leader in merging technology and music, while maintaining valuable relationships and service, focusing on the songwriter. “We have exciting opportunities on the horizon and Kobalt is the perfect partner to help take Anacrusis to the next level.”   

Anacrusis will be hosting a writing camp and official showcase at the Sundance Film Festival featuring both Anacrusis and Kobalt writers, as well as presenting The Nashville House at SXSW again in March.