Songwriters Tony Arata, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Rivers Rutherford have teamed with SESAC for a benefit concert to aid Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee. The event will be held Wednesday, April 17, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at SESAC (35 Music Sq. E.)

The event will help fund Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee’s free cancer support program, which serves anyone impacted by cancer, including those diagnosed and their family and friends. Gilda’s Club’s evidence-based programming includes support groups, healthy lifestyle workshops, mind-body classes, social activities, educational lectures and community resource information. Offering approximately 60 professionally-led support and networking groups, and more than 50 educational workshops and lectures each month, Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee is able to make a tangible difference in the lives of those impacted by cancer.

Tickets to the event are $100, and available at gildasclubmiddletn.org. Attire is business casual, or casual with a touch of red.

BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) brought several top singer-songwriters for day two of SXSW with the Yeti x BMI Day Party. Soul, country, indie, pop and alt-rock converged when Logan Ledger, Willie Jones, Billy Strings, Illiterate Light, Katie Schecter, Wafia, JP Saxe, Jackie Venson, Republican Hair and Tomar & the FCs took stages both inside and outside of the Yeti Flagship store in Austin, Texas.

The 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards offered up plenty of great music and moments at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles Thursday night (March 14) with artists like Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys and Halsey receiving special honors during the festivities. Among the big winners were “The Middle” for Song Of The Year by Maren Morris, Zedd, and Grey, “Meant To Be” by Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line for Country Song Of The Year, Luke Combs as Country Artist Of The Year, Jason Aldean‘s Rearview Town for Country Album Of The Year, and Jordan Davis for Best New Country Artist.

Garth Brooks performed a medley of his hits and received the first-ever Artist of the Decade Award from actor Chris Pratt, Alicia Keys was honored during the show with the iHeartRadio Innovator Award, Halsey accepted the iHeartRadio Fangirls Award presented by L’Oréal Paris, and Taylor Swift was given the Tour of the Year Award during the star-studded night of music.

Broadcast live on FOX, on iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide, and on iHeartRadio and hosted by T-Pain, the fan-fueled awards featured performances and incredible collaborations including Alicia Keys, Ariana Grande, Backstreet Boys, Ella Mai, Garth Brooks, Halsey with special guests Yungblud and Travis Barker, John Legend, Kacey Musgraves backed on piano by special guest Chris Martin, lovelytheband and Marshmello with special guest Lauv.

For the first-time ever, the iHeartRadio Music Awards presented an AI (Artificial Intelligence) voice assistant with an award. The iHeartRadio Game Changer Tech Award, which honors the most innovative use of technology that brings fans closer to the music they love, was awarded to Amazon’s Alexa. Garth Brooks and Bobby Bones spoke to Alexa, who gave a tongue-in-cheek acceptance speech.

In addition, iHeartMedia partnered with leading short-form mobile video app TikTok to present seven awards in the seven days leading up to the telecast. Beginning Thursday, March 7, winning artists were presented their awards and gave acceptance speeches that aired exclusively on the TikTok app each morning at 8:00 AM ET.  Winners included Panic! At The Disco for Alternative Rock Album of the Year, Jason Aldean for Country Album of the Year, twenty one pilots for Rock Album of the Year, Marshmello for Dance Artist of the Year, Imagine Dragons for Most Thumbed Up Artist of the Year, the Chainsmokers for Dance Album of the Year and Lauren Jauregui’s dog, Gracie, for Cutest Musician’s Pet.

Song of the Year: “The Middle” – Zedd, Maren Morris, Grey
Artist of the Year: Ariana Grande
Female Artist of the Year: Ariana Grande
Male Artist of the Year:  Drake
Best Duo/Group of the Year: 5 Seconds Of Summer
Best Collaboration: “Finesse (Remix)” – Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B
Pop Album of the Year: Sweetener – Ariana Grande
Best New Pop Artist: Marshmello
Alternative Rock Song of the Year: “High Hopes” – Panic! At the Disco
Alternative Rock Artist of the Year: Imagine Dragons
Alternative Rock Album of the Year: Pray for the Wicked – Panic! At The Disco
Best New Rock/Alternative Rock Artist: lovelytheband
Rock Song of the Year: “Safari Song” – Greta Van Fleet
Rock Artist of the Year: Three Days Grace
Rock Album of the Year: Trench – twenty one pilots
Country Song of the Year: “Meant To Be” – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line
Country Artist of the Year: Luke Combs
Country Album of the Year: Rearview Town – Jason Aldean
Best New Country Artist: Jordan Davis
Dance Song of the Year: “The Middle” – Zedd, Maren Morris, Grey
Dance Artist of the Year: Marshmello
Dance Album of the Year: Sick Boy – The Chainsmokers

Sony/ATV Music Publishing CEO Martin Bandier has added his voice to those from the songwriting and publishing communities criticizing Spotify, Amazon, Google, and Pandora for their appeal of the recent rate ruling from the Copyright Royalty Board. Notably, Apple Music is not participating in the appeal. Bandier issued the following letter to Sony/ATV writers, expressing his disappointment “that Spotify and the other companies have chosen to attack songwriters by appealing the long-overdue rate increases.”

If the ruling goes forward, pay from such music services to songwriters would increase by 44 percent.

Bandier’s letter reads:

Dear Songwriter,

I am writing to update you about some important developments for songwriters in the U.S. regarding the mechanical royalty rates that the Copyright Royalty Board set last year.

As you may recall, in January 2018 the CRB set a series of new rates that include an increase to the statutory mechanical rate for on-demand streaming from 10.5 percent of revenue to 15.1 percent of revenue over the period 2018 to 2022. This was a significant victory for songwriters.

However, the hard-fought win is now under threat as Spotify, Amazon, Google and Pandora have filed notices to appeal these rates. Apple has decided not to appeal. If Spotify and the other streaming services are successful with this appeal, it may result in a reduction in the royalty payments that songwriters will receive from the streaming services. As a result, the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) has announced that it will also file an appeal but will withdraw that appeal if the services do the same.

I am incredibly disappointed that Spotify and the other companies have chosen to attack songwriters by appealing the long-overdue rate increases. The move flies in the face of everything that I have fought for on behalf of songwriters for fair-market rates. Songwriters are unquestionably the most important contributors to the success of the streaming services and deserve the benefits of the new rates that we worked so hard to achieve.

While Sony/ATV will work diligently and closely with the NMPA to protect these new rates, there are no more important or effective voices on this issue than those of songwriters themselves. I therefore urge you to make yourselves heard and to speak out against this appeal. At the same time, we will be sure to update you as events develop.

Regards,

Martin Bandier
Chairman & CEO
Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Bandier’s comments follow those of NMPA chief David Israelite, who earlier this week issued a point-by-point “fact check” rebuttal specifically against Spotify’s blog post explaining their reasoning behind the appeal.

The city’s pop-rock community continues to flex its muscles as we wind up the first quarter of 2019.

The return of The Black Keys is certainly the most newsworthy event in this column. It is also the most musically delightful, and wins the Disc of the Day prize.

We have a plethora of other worthy spins here. Not the least of them belong to our bands Blank Range and Republican Hair, who share this week’s DisCovery Award.

SARAH POTENZA/Diamond
Writers: Sarah Potenza/Justin Wiseman; Producers: Jordan Brooke Hamlin; Publisher:Edamame Productions/Ball Park Drive Publishing; ASCAP/BMI; SP (track)
– This outspoken Nashville blues rocker first achieved national attention on The Voice. Her new album, Road to Rome, dropped last Friday. Its lead single is a feminist battle cry that vows to take no s–t from anyone. It roars in all the right places.

THE BLACK KEYS/ Lo/Hi
Writers: Dan Auerbach/Patrick Carney; Producers: Dan Auerbach/Patrick Carney; Publishers: none listed; Nonesuch
– Hooray! They’re back, and steaming hotter than ever. This is a neo-ZZ Top blues banger with a relentless beat that gets my body twitchin.’ These two have been producing super music independently with others, but their original sound is still the greatest. Can’t wait for the rest of the reunion album.

 

JASON RINGENBERG/God Bless The Ramones
Writers: Jason Ringenberg; Producers: Mike Lescelius/ Jason Ringenberg; Publisher: Jason Ringenberg Music (BMI); JR (track)
– This track from his comeback solo CD Stand Tall is an autobiographical rampage about opening for punk rock titans The Ramones back in the day. The tempo is furiously frothing and the lyrics are terrific, right down to the description of the audience throwing vile stuff at the then-innocent Scorchers as a rite of passage and quoting, “Gabba, gabba Hey!”

LILY & MADELEINE/Self Care
Writers: Lily Jurkiewicz/Madeleine Jurkiewicz; Producers: Daniel Tashian/Ian Fitchuk; Mad Lily Music; BMI; New West
– Wondering what the Tashian/Fitchuk production team has come up with since Kacey Musgraves’s pop masterpiece? Wonder no more. The opening track of this sister duo’s Canterbury Girls collection is awash in echo, electronic blips, acoustic piano and dreamy feminine vocals. I understand that the indiana-bred sisters have now departed Music City for Manhattan. Bon Voyage.

 

CAGE THE ELEPHANT/Ready To Let Go
Writers: none listed; Producer: John Hill; Publisher: none listed; RCA
– The breakup lyric is raw and forceful. As always, the band punches with both fists. Already Grammy winners, this outfit has moved to the forefront of the Nashville rock scene with a steady stream of addictive tracks. This one advances a collection to be titled Social Cues. I predict a monster.

BLANK RANGE/Radio
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; BR
– This is the lead-off track from this Nashville band’s sophomore album, and you won’t find a purer rock performance. The boys kick serious tail with twangin’ guitar work, unstoppable drumming and a dry, deadpan-snark lead vocal. I love, love, love this.

 

SHANNON SANDERS & THE NASHVILLE URBAN CHOIR/Fight On
Writers: Shannon Sanders; Producer: Shannon Sanders; Publisher: Songs of Shannon/ Lilyjam; Blue Rose Music
– Empowering and inspirational. Released to coincide with Black History Month, this awesome anthem transcends any specific demographic and ascends to a spirit strengthening shout for all. Sanders is a Grammy winner who has worked with India.Arie, John Legend and Johnny Lang, among others. Check out this song’s video for its cool views of Music City settings.

 

LENNON STELLA/Bitch (It Takes One To Know One)
Writers: Lennon Stella/Erin McCarley; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Columbia
– This Nashville popster continues her march to stardom with this layered, ear-tickling delight. In the midst of a burbling, complex, polyrhythmic, swirly production, she delivers, “It takes a bitch to know a bitch” with disarming winsomeness. With every note she releases, I become a bigger and bigger fan. Listen and believe.

LUCIE SILVAS/I Want You All To Myself
Writers: Lucie Silvas/Erin McCarley/Aaron Wright; Producer: Jon Green; Publisher: none listed; Furthest Point
– You heard this languid, soulful track on Gray’s Anatomy. It comes from Lucie’s current E.G.O. collection. She’s headed for SXSW right now, but frequently showcases in Nashville. When she does, by all means go. Incidentally, one track on the CD is produced by her hubby, John Osborne, and he plays guitar on the rocking single, “Kite.”

REPUBLICAN HAIR/Fuck a Bomb
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Duckhaus
-This punk-new-wave outfit is representing Music City tonight (March 14) at SXSW. Expect some serious head bobbing and smiling faces as they proclaim the joys of making music instead of war. Taken from the act’s current Chaotic Good album. Buy it now.