Katy K Designs Western Wear and Ranch Dressing, a boutique clothing shop and 15-year Nashville staple located at 2407 12th Ave. S., is set to close May 22, according to the Nashville Scene.

According to Katy K Designs Western Wear and Ranch Dressing owner Katy Kattelman, the decision to close Katy K came when she learned her rent would double if she renewed her lease after April 30. Kattelman asked for a three-month extension (due to heavy customer traffic during the summer months), but was denied the extension. She was allowed to stay until May 30, though Kattelman says she will pay a higher rent that month.

Kattelman states that the building’s owners, Martha Thompson and Mary McMillen, have been approached several times by parties interested taking up space in the 12South neighborhood. She further states that she dealt directly with Robin Realty as a tenant, though the building’s owners had final say. Thompson and McMillen also own other properties in the area.

Kattelman came to Nashville from New York City. After finding a solid demand for her designs in Nashville, she made the move to Music City. The store features an eclectic mix of clothing for men and women, as well as vintage items and gifts. Among the artists who have worn Katy K designs are Jack White, Porter Waggoner, Lenny Kravtz, and Chelsea Clinton.

Visit nashvillescene.com to read more details and an interview with Kattelman.

Artists and songwriters have reacted online to the “Blurred Lines” verdict. Keith Urban weighed in with the Associated Press yesterday (March 12) saying “I’d be most curious to hear what Marvin thought.”

MusicRow recently featured an exclusive interview with Richard Busch, a Nashville-based lawyer for the Gaye family, regarding the verdict. Meanwhile, “Blurred Lines” song creators, Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke and T.I. released a statement to Rolling Stone on Tuesday (Mar. 10).

It’s tough because everybody is influenced by things. They always say the art of originality is knowing how to hide your sources. It’s tricky. My initial reaction was shock. It seems more like a sound, feel, style, genre, and era [in which] none of which could be copywritten.

If you have a massive hit like ‘Blurred Lines,’ you’ve got a bigger target on your back. A lot of people in the same position just call it an homage. But when you have a big hit, they come after you.”

I have mixed feeling on all of it, quite frankly. I’d be most curious to hear what Marvin thought about the whole situation.”—Keith Urban

While we respect the judicial process, we are extremely disappointed in the ruling made today, which sets a horrible precedent for music and creativity going forward. ‘Blurred Lines’ was created from the heart and minds of Pharrell, Robin and T.I. and not taken from anyone or anywhere else. We are reviewing the decision, considering our options and you will hear more from us soon about this matter.—statement from Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke and T.I.

Jason Isbell, Chely Wright. Photo: Twitter

Other artists to weigh in on the subject include Chely Wright, and Jason Isbell. Buzzfeed quoted songwriter for “Stay With Me” (Sam Smith) Jimmy Naples, “Talk Dirty” (Jason DeRulo) producer (in addition to Florida Georgia Line and Tim McGraw releases) Ricky Reed, and songwriter for “Single Ladies” (Beyonce), “Umbrella” (Rihanna) and “Baby” (Justin Bieber) Terius (The-Dream) Nash.

Lots of uninformed chatter from folks who don’t know much about writing music & copyright law. You should read this- http://t.co/CNO7VEuZik— Chely Wright

Don’t let blogs tell you music fans are being hurt the most by the ‘Blurred Lines’ verdict. PLENTY of formulaic, soundalike crap out there. — Jason Isbell

I didn’t feel like he’d ripped off the song. They’d obviously been inspired by it, but I was a bit disappointed to hear the verdict. If you’re gonna say he was inspired by that record, but actually none of the melodies or chords or anything line up, but he’s still broken the rules somehow, all of a sudden you start looking at anyone who’s ever sampled an Amen break. The Beatles could make a lot of claims on that basis. So it’s hard to draw the line, isn’t it? —Jimmy Napes

The system does a great job of protecting the copyrights that are in place for songs that other artists are inspired by or sample. But the ‘Blurred Lines’ case makes me a little nervous because those songs aren’t really musically related in any way when it comes to the chords or the melodies. There’s nothing similar aside from the good feeling that it gives you when you listen to it. That for me is pretty scary because it could open up a whole floodgate of people being like, ‘Well, this song kinda feels like this old song.’ What’s made music great for generations and generations is that young musicians are inspired by the old dogs and make records that show their influence. If people start suing based on a feeling, that will be a dark day for creators. I would hate to see lawsuits make things harder for producers and songwriters. The funny thing is, a lot of times musician-to-musician, we respect one another. The village elders, so to speak, respect the up-and-coming cats and vice-versa. If it was up to us, we would probably sort things out most times. But people bring in publishers, and lawyers, and estates, and all this kind of stuff and it becomes a money thing. That’s when it gets scary. —Ricky Reed

My head is kind of like a jukebox, but I think it only puts me in the realm of greats. I never bite anything. I’m definitely inspired…but I try to make sure that I’m pushing the envelope, even if I have to fail three times to get there. It’s a conscious effort to stay pure, and clean, and new as an artist. There’s nothing new under the sun, as my grandfather always said, but there is such a thing as being original in how you pull the notes from the stars….No one really celebrates originality. Not in a pop space. When you’re growing up and the things you see on TV are imitations, you’re going to imitate because that’s what gets you on TV. Nobody celebrates when people do something really new. —Terius (The-Dream)Nash

American Idol season 14 is in full swing with plenty of Middle Tennessee residents onboard.

Clark Beckham, a 22-year-old White House, Tenn., native has remained in the Top 11 after a piano performance of “Takin’ It To The Streets.” Previous contestants in the Top 24 included 19-year-old Sarina-Joi Crowe, from Columbia, Tenn., and 18-year-old Riley Bria, a Spring Hill, Tenn., native. The program auditioned contestants in Nashville last year.

New this year is the addition of Big Machine Label Group Founder/CEO Scott Borchetta as mentor. He will sign the season winner to Big Machine/Universal. The mogul has begun coaching the contestants as if they were his own artists on song selection, performance and look. View clip 1. View clip 2.

Country superstar Keith Urban continues as judge on the program alongside Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr.

Kelly Clarkson, the first-ever winner of American Idol announced last night (March 12) her return to the program on Wednesday, April 1. The adopted Nashville resident will perform and act as a mentor for the contestants.

Idol will return to FOX next Wed./Thurs. to whittle the contestants even further. For those of you counting down the days, the 2015 finale date will span two nights, starting Tuesday, May 12 and Wednesday, May 13.