The ASCAP Foundation Christian Music Songwriters workshop is set for this fall, with Chris Harris facilitating the three-session workshop in Nashville. Applications are now being accepted. The workshop is part of an ongoing series focusing on the development and education of promising new songwriters. Sessions include the craft of songwriting, critiquing songs objectively, expanding sources of inspiration, nurturing a creative community, marketing songs, and an overview of music publishing.
All sessions will be held at ASCAP’s Nashville office on the following dates: Monday, Dec. 1 (6 p.m.-9 p.m.), Tuesday, Dec. 2 (6 p.m.-9 p.m.), and Thursday, Dec. 4 (2 p.m.-5 p.m.).
The deadline for submissions is Nov. 25, 2014. Submissions should include MP3s of two original songs (with lyric sheets), and a brief biography including address, phone number and email.
Applicants should send submissions to ascapchristianworkshop@gmail.com.

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The International Songwriting Competition is accepting song submissions in two categories: love song and social cause.
ISC’s Love Song promotion is for songs about love, falling in love, heartbreak, etc. One Overall winner from the promotion will receive 4,000 Radio Airplay credits ($100 value), and their love song included on the Jango.com Love Songs station with artists like Bruno Mars, Christina Perri, Jason Mraz, Adele, Journey, and others. They will also receive promotion on Radio Airplay’s social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, an artist spotlight feature in the Radio Airplay blog and newsletter, plus top placement in rotation on Jango.com’s Love Song station.
Nine runners up receive 500 Radio Airplay credits each, promotion on Radio Airplay’s social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, and top rotation on the Independent Love Songs station. Winners will be announced in February 2015. Click here to enter.
ISC’s Pick Your Cause promotion is for songs about any sort of social cause. One Overall winner from the promotion will receive 4000 Radio Airplay credits ($100 value), promotion on Radio Airplay’s social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, an artist spotlight feature in the Radio Airplay blog and newsletter, plus top placement in rotation on Sounds Of Social Cause.
Nine runners up receive 500 Radio Airplay credits each, promotion on Radio Airplay’s social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, and top rotation in on the Sounds Of Social Cause station. Winners will be announced in February 2015. Click here to enter.

Documentary filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan delivered the keynote address at the quarterly CMA Board of Directors meeting Wednesday (Nov. 19) in Nashville. Burns and Duncan, Emmy winners for their work on the PBS documentary “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” are working together on a major series on the history of Country Music, slated for release in 2018.

Pictured (L-R): Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns deliver the keynote address during the CMA Board of Directors meeting Wednesday in Nashville. Photo: Caitlin Harris / CMA

Pictured (L-R): Jim Free, CMA ex-officio Board member and President/CEO of The Smith-Free Group; Ken Burns; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Dayton Duncan; Frank Bumstead, CMA Board President and Chairman of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy. Photo: Caitlin Harris / CMA

Pictured (L-R): Jim Free, CMA ex-officio Board member and President/CEO of The Smith-Free Group; Ken Burns; Dierks Bentley, CMA Board member; Dayton Duncan; Kix Brooks, CMA Board Member. Photo: Caitlin Harris / CMA

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The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) has announced its incoming officers and committee co-chairs for 2015. Current WMBA president Raeanna Mowl introduced the officers for 2015:
President-Alison Toczylowski, Director of Marketing & Communications, ASCAP
Vice President-Makayla Telfer, Marketing Director, StudioNow
Secretary-Dana Lalevee, Business Operations Analyst, BMI
Treasurer-Marissa Bond, Account Assistant, Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy
The WMBA’s committee co-chairs for 2015 include:
Membership & Marketing Committee: Jen Sackett and Elizabeth Motley
Events & Education Committee: Stacy Scism and Ellen Mundy

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Nashville-based Music Industry Forum has launched its new online outpost, musicindustryforum.com, a gathering spot for industry members, artists, and others to engage in discussions, share information, and create opportunities.
“We are pleased to announce the release of the Music Industry Forum website,” said Tom Truitt, MusicRowSearch founder and industry headhunter.  “We designed Music Industry Forum to facilitate collaborative discussions, news and popular blog feeds. We look forward to growing with the community we serve.”
Music Industry Forum, which began as a LinkedIn discussion group seven years ago, has grown into an online community with more than 67,000 global members. The expansion has led to a standalone forum, which includes industry members Billy Block, Jim Griffin, Kalatech and DevDigital. The new website is designed to accommodate increased demand.
“If you have an opinion, a blog or a popular site and want it to be part of Music Industry Forum, simply visit the site and engage in the ongoing dialog about issues that matter,” said Billy Block, Music Industry Forum partner.
In addition to the web platform, Truitt plans for monthly meetups in multiple cities. The first meetup is planned for late January 2015. Anyone interested in attending a meetup can contact Music Industry Forum via info@musicindustryforum.com.

The Billboard 200 albums chart will evolve from only counting album sales to also including on-demand streaming and digital track sales. The publication reports this change will provide a more accurate representation of an album’s popularity by reflecting overall consumption activity.

The company will continue to use the former Billboard 200 methodology to compute the Top Album Sales chart and existing genre album charts (Country, etc.).
According to Billboard, “The updated Billboard 200 will utilize accepted industry benchmarks for digital and streaming data, equating 10 digital track sales from an album to one equivalent album sale, and 1,500 song streams from an album to one equivalent album sale. All of the major on-demand audio subscription services are considered, including Spotify, Beats Music, Google Play and Xbox Music.”
Billboard VP of charts and data development Silvio Pietroluongo said, “While an extremely valuable measurement, album sales would mostly capture the initial impulse only, without indicating the depth of consumption thereafter. Someone could listen to the album just once, or listen to one track or a number of tracks 100 times. We are now able to incorporate those plays as part of an album consumption ranking throughout one’s possession of an album, extending beyond the initial purchase or listen.”
The revamped Billboard 200 chart will debut online Dec. 4, and appear in the Dec. 13 print magazine. It will include data from the shopping-heavy Thanksgiving week, ending Nov. 30.
Jim Urie, president/CEO of Universal Music Distribution, and Darren Stupak, executive vice president of U.S. Sales and Distribution, Sony Music Entertainment, offered positive reactions to the changes.

Jackie Lee visit

The Maryville, Tenn. native knew his heart was in music, and his decision to pursue a career in entertainment over football is paying off handsomely. His first single, “She Does,” penned by Neil Thrasher and Kelley Lovelace, is making an impact at radio, and is climbing the charts. “They, of course, have written for guys like Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts, and that’s the kind of music I listened to growing up,” said Lee.
It’s been said that every song eventually falls into the hands of the right singer, and Lee said he hoped for the chance to record “She Does” since first hearing it. “I was writing at a publishing company here in Nashville,” said Lee. “Across the hall, I heard Kim Wiggins playing the demo for this song, and I just loved it. I went to her and said if the chance ever came up to record that song, I wanted it. She told me another artist had it on hold, so I didn’t think it would happen. Then, a few weeks later, she called me up and told me it was available. When Kenny Chesney didn’t record the song, I was so excited. It’s one of the first songs I recorded for the new project.”
That as-of-yet untitled project will be Lee’s first for Broken Bow Records (home to Jason Aldean, Dustin Lynch, and others), where Lee says he’s found a supportive home for artistic endeavors. “In January 2013 I was sitting with my manager Trey Turner and said I wanted to go somewhere where they believe in me as an artist,” said Lee. “I met with [Broken Bow CEO/founder] Benny Brown in February and we talked for three hours about family, my life and my music. I felt like he really pointed me in the right direction.” Longtime producer Chamberlain is working with Lee on his debut label project.
During a recent visit to MusicRow‘s Nashville office, Lee showcased his formidable, soulful voice with a performance of “She Does,” and previewed two other songs, “First Girl,” and “Tell Me,” from his upcoming project.
Lee also recalled his recent debut performance in the historic wooden circle on the Grand Ole Opry stage—a moment of pride for Lee, both personally, and professionally. He was joined onstage by his father Jack, who played keys during Lee’s performance. “We had lots of friends and family at the performance, so it was wonderful,” said Lee. “I’m loving every minute of this ride.”
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