BMI Files Action Against RMLC

rmlc-logoBMI has filed an action in Federal Rate Court today (Jan. 3) to set interim fees for radio stations represented by the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) while BMI and the RMLC negotiate the terms of a new five-year deal beginning in 2017.

The RMLC has proposed an interim rate well below BMI’s previous deal, the effect of which would have a significant impact on the royalties BMI pays to its songwriters, composers and music publishers. The RMLC is said to have justified its proposed rate based upon “incomplete and incorrect information regarding BMI’s radio performances” according to a statement from the PRO. “BMI disagrees fundamentally with the RMLC’s proposal and, consistent with past practices, is asking the Court to maintain its most recent rate while new terms are negotiated,” the statement continued.

Mike Steinberg, Senior Vice President of Licensing for BMI, stated, “We attempted to negotiate in good faith with the RMLC for many months, and just before the end of the year, the RMLC presented an interim rate that significantly undervalues the work of BMI’s songwriters. Given the unmatched caliber of BMI’s repertoire, our superior market share on radio, and the ever-increasing value that BMI music brings to the radio industry across all its platforms, we believe the RMLC’s proposal falls well short of what is in the best interests of our affiliates.”

The decision comes after a Dec. 24 announcement that Global Music Rights (GMR) has agreed to an interim license with RMLC stations, through September 30, 2017, providing the newest PRO additional time to negotiate long-term licenses.

Rewind: 2016 ‘MusicRow’ CountryBreakout Chart No. 1s

CBOSlider

Since 2002, The MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart has crowned No. 1 songs in the country radio marketplace, celebrating 49 chart-topping songs in 2016. MusicRow congratulates each artist, songwriter and label for its accomplishments this year.

Five artists celebrated three chart-toppers this year, making it a five-way tie for the artist with the most No. 1 songs on the MusicRow CountryBreakout chart this year.

Carrie Underwood-
“Heartbeat”
“Church Bells”
“Dirty Laundry”

Tim McGraw-
“Humble And Kind”
“How I’ll Always Be”
“May We All” (with Florida Georgia Line)

Florida Georgia Line-
“Confession”
“H.O.L.Y.”
“May We All” (feat. Tim McGraw)

Luke Bryan-
“Home Alone Tonight” (feat. Karen Fairchild)
“Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day”
“Move”

Keith Urban-
“Break On Me”
“Wasted Time”
“Blue Ain’t Your Color”

The 15th Annual MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart Awards, based on radio airplay reported by stations on MusicRow’s radio panel, will be held on February 22, 2016.

MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart No. 1 Songs of 2016

Jan. 7, 2016 – A Thousand Horses/(This Ain’t No) Drunk Dial/Republic Nashville
Jan. 14, 2016- Keith Urban/Break On Me/Capitol Nashville
Jan. 21, 2016- Luke Bryan feat. Karen Fairchild/Home Alone Tonight/Capitol Nashville
Jan. 28, 2016- Sam Hunt/Break Up In A Small Town/MCA Nashville
Feb. 4, 2016- Carrie Underwood/Heartbeat/Arista Nashville
Feb. 11, 2016- Granger Smith/Backroad Song/Wheelhouse Records
Feb. 18, 2016- Chris Stapleton/Nobody To Blame/Mercury Nashville
Feb. 25, 2016- Florida Georgia Line/Confession/Republic Nashville
March 3, 2016- Lee Brice/That Don’t Sound Like You/Curb Records
March 10, 2016- Rascal Flatts/I Like The Sound Of That/Big Machine
March 17, 2016- Zac Brown Band/Beautiful Drug/Southern Ground-Dot Records
March 24, 2016- Old Dominion/Snapback/RCA Nashville
March 31, 2016- Jon Pardi/Head Over Boots/Capitol Nashville
April 7, 2016- Maren Morris/My Church/Columbia Nashville
April 14, 2016- Chris Young feat. Cassadee Pope/Think Of You/RCA Nashville
April 21, 2016- Dierks Bentley/Somewhere On A Beach/Capitol Nashville
April 28, 2016- Tim McGraw/Humble And Kind/Big Machine
May 5, 2016- Dustin Lynch/Mind Reader/Broken Bow
May 12, 2016- Luke Bryan/Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day/Capitol Nashville
May 19, 2016- Thomas Rhett/T-Shirt/Valory Music Co.
May 26, 2016- Blake Shelton/Came Here To Forget/Warner Bros.
June 2, 2016- Keith Urban/Wasted Time/Capitol Nashville
June 9, 2016- Eric Church/Record Year/EMI Nashville
June 16, 2016- Kenny Chesney/Noise/Columbia Nashville
June 23, 2016- Carrie Underwood/Church Bells/Arista Nashville
June 30, 2016- Jason Aldean/Lights Come On/Broken Bow
July 7, 2016- Florida Georgia Line/H.O.L.Y./Republic Nashville
July 14, 2016- Jake Owen/American Country Love Song/RCA Nashville
July 21, 2016- Chris Lane/Fix/Big Loud Records
July 28, 2016- Kelsea Ballerini/Peter Pan/Black River Ent.
Aug. 4, 2016- Sam Hunt/Make You Miss Me/MCA Nashville
Aug. 11, 2016- Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King/Different For Girls/Capitol Nashville
Aug. 18, 2016- Billy Currington/It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To/Mercury Nashville
Aug. 25, 2016- LOCASH/I Know Somebody/Reviver Records
Sept. 1, 2016- Tucker Beathard/Rock On/Dot Records
Sept. 8, 2016- Blake Shelton/She’s Got A Way With Words/Warner Bros
Sept. 15-22, 2016- Kenny Chesney feat. Pink/Setting The World On Fire/Columbia Nashville
Sept. 29, 2016- Miranda Lambert/Vice/RCA Nashville
Oct. 6, 2016- Luke Bryan/Move/Capitol Nashville
Oct. 13, 2016- Old Dominion/Song For Another Time/RCA Nashville
Oct. 20, 2016- Brett Young/Sleep Without You/BMLG Records
Oct. 27, 2016- Tim McGraw/How I’ll Always Be/Big Machine
Nov. 3, 2016- Florida Georgia Line feat. Tim McGraw/May We All/BMLG Records
Nov.  10, 2016- Keith Urban/Blue Ain’t Your Color/Capitol Nashville
Nov. 17, 2016- Jason Aldean/A Little More Summertime/Broken Bow
Nov. 23, 2016- Carrie Underwood/Dirty Laundry/Arista Nashville
December 1, 2016- Maren Morris/80s Mercedes/RCA Nashville
Dec. 8, 2016- Eric Church/Kill A Word/EMI Nashville
Dec. 15, 2016- Chris Young feat. Vince Gill/Sober Saturday Night/RCA Nashville

Spin Doctors Music Group Adds Two

Jessilyn

Jessilynn Kidd

The Spin Doctors Music Group has hired Jessilynn Kidd as Director Of National Promotion, beginning Monday, Jan. 9. She is a graduate of MTSU’s Recording Industry Music Management program and has been working in radio syndication for the past 18 months. She can be reached at jessilynn@spindoctorsnashville.com.

Angie Marpoe

Angela Marpoe

Also joining as Promotions Coordinator and Management assistant is Angela Marpoe, a 2016 Graduate of Millersville University in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Marpoe has previously worked in radio, as well as public relations and booking. She will begin her new role on Monday, Jan. 9. Marpoe can be reached at angie@spindoctorsnashville.com.

SDMG Executive VP and COO Kristin Johnson says, “We are excited to have Jessilynn and Angie join us soon. 2017 will be a big year for our company and we are excited about what the future holds and the great skills they bring to us.

Weekly Chart Report (12/16/16)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

Weekly Chart Report (12/09/16)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

Bobby Bones Raises Over $1.3 Million For St. Jude In One Day

Bobby Bones

Bobby Bones

iHeartMedia’s nationally syndicated The Bobby Bones Show raised over $1.3 million on Thursday (Dec. 1) as part of their St. Jude Radiothon.

Donations continue to come in for the event, which aired live and allowed listeners to donate for the first time via text.

Country superstars and friends offered their time to be a part of the broadcast, including Kelsea Ballerini and Dave Barnes singing their rendition of Blake Shelton’s “God Gave Me You,” and Chris Janson covering Keith Whitley’s “I’m No Stranger To The Rain.” Garth Brooks also phoned in.

“I’m honestly blown away by the generosity of our listeners this morning,” said Bobby Bones. “The amount raised is overwhelming and donations are still coming in. With the holidays coming up, money can be tight and so it means even more that our fans have chosen to contribute to such an amazing cause. I also have to thank all of our artist friends that took part in such an important broadcast, as well as our awesome group of radio station affiliates, who always go above and beyond to support us in our charitable endeavors.”

For more info or to support this event, please visit: stjude.org/thanksBobby

Weekly Chart Report (12/02/16)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

Performers For CRS 2017 New Faces Of Country Music Show Announced

CRS 2017 Logo

The 2017 New Faces of Country Music Show, which will take place during Country Radio Seminar (Feb. 22-24, 2017), will feature performances by William Michael Morgan (Warner Bros.), Maren Morris (Columbia Nashville), Jon Pardi (Capitol Nashville), Granger Smith (Wheelhouse Records) and Drake White (Dot Records).

“This year’s New Faces lineup is reflective of our format’s strength, and steady growth. I’m happy to report we received a record number of qualified votes from country radio supporting these talented artists. We believe it is going to be an amazing show,” said John Crenshaw, Chairman of CRS New Faces Committee.

The five chosen artists, all whom have achieved significant success at country radio during the qualification period, will perform in front of an industry and radio-filled room.

This year’s show will take place on Friday, Feb. 24 at the Omni Nashville, and is co-sponsored by the Academy of Country Music and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Dinner tickets for the New Faces of Country Music Show are sold-out. The New Faces of Country Music Show as well as other performance events held in the performance hall during CRS 2017 are powered by Live Nation.

Qualifying radio station personnel voted and determined the class of 2017 New Faces of Country Music Show performers.

Industry Ink: Rumble On The Row, Integrity Music, Press Management Group

Third Rumble On The Row Set For March 3

rumble-on-the-row

A third “Rumble on the Row” bout has been added to the 13th Annual Ringside: A Fight for Kids gala boxing event happening Friday, March 3 in Liberty Hall at The Factory in Franklin, TN. Braden Gall, co-host of “Braden & Fitz” on ESPN 102.5 the GAME, will face AJ Calvin, Southeast Director of Promotions and Marketing for Dot Records. This is the first time in Ringside history that there will be three “Rumble on the Row” bouts.

Previously announced fights include: Chris Schuler, UMG Nashville’s director of promotion and radio marketing, versus CAA booking agent Justin Cahill; and Hannah Williams, Sony/ATV Nashville’s creative manager, who will duke it out with Lyndsay Church, Columbia Nashville’s regional promotion manager.

The Charley Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides support to charitable agencies throughout Middle Tennessee addressing the critical needs of children.

For tables, standing room only tickets and additional event information, visit charleyfoundation.org.

 

Integrity Music Extends Agreement With CCM Artist Darlene Zschech

Pictured (L-R): Morgan Shirey, Marketing, Integrity Music; Adrian Thompson, A&R, Integrity Music; Darlene Zschech; Mike Murray, Creative/Publishing, Integrity Music; Danny McGuffey, WILDFIRE7

Pictured (L-R): Morgan Shirey, Marketing, Integrity Music; Adrian Thompson, A&R, Integrity Music; Darlene Zschech; Mike Murray, Creative/Publishing, Integrity Music; Danny McGuffey, WILDFIRE7

CCM artist Darlene Zschech has extended her relationship with Integrity Music. A new live album is set to release March 3, 2017, courtesy of Zschech and her church, Hope Unlimited, in New South Wales, Australia.

“Darlene has been a huge inspiration to worship pastors and leaders globally and we are honored to have her as part of the Integrity Music family,” says Adrian Thompson, Integrity’s Vice President of Song and Artist Development. “She has an undoubted call on her life to build up worshipers and mentor worship leaders, aligning with what we believe God has called us to do as an organization.”

“I couldn’t be happier to enter this next season of writing and recording with Integrity Music,” says Zschech. “It literally feels like coming home. My heart is filled to overflowing with thanksgiving and songs, and I cannot wait to share them.”

The album follows 2013’s Revealing Jesus.

 

Press Management Group Adds Junior Manager

Kelsey Ellstrom

Kelsey Ellstrom

Kelsey Ellstrom has joined Press Management Group in the role of Junior Manager.

A Belmont graduate, Ellstrom interned with KINGmgmt, Good Time Inc., and Suit Music before joining PMG to work alongside Kimberly Novosel and David Kiggins.

Press Management Group clients include Chris Bullard, Caleche Ryder, Dew Pendleton, Golden West, Jarred Pierce and more.

Ellstrom can be reached at kelsey@pressmanagementgroup.com.

 

 

Songwriter Lineup Revealed For Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley During CRS 2017

Pictured (L-R): Shane McAnally, Luke Laird, Brett James

Pictured (L-R): Shane McAnally, Luke Laird, Brett James

On Feb. 23, Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley will welcome 11 top songwriters for the popular after-hours event during Country Radio Seminar 2017.

Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, JT Harding, Laura Veltz, Luke Laird, Ashley Gorley, Brett James, Rhett Akins, Busbee, Jon Nite, and Cole Taylor are all set to perform.

Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley will be held on Feb. 23 from 7 p.m. until midnight in the Legends Ballroom (level 2) at The Omni in Nashville, Tenn. A cash bar will be available. A CRS badge will be required for admittance.

Bob Kingsley will host the event, now in its sixth consecutive year.

Kingsley states, “One of the highlights of my year is presenting some of the best songwriters in the world to my radio colleagues at CRS. This year we’ve got one of the best line-ups ever. Anyone who’s been there can tell you that seeing hit songs performed by the people who wrote them, and hearing the stories behind them, makes for one of the greatest evenings you will ever spend. As always, I can’t wait.”

The $599 regular registration rate for Country Radio Seminar 2017, to be held Wednesday, Feb. 22 through Friday, Feb. 24 at the Omni hotel, is available at countryradioseminar.com.