NSAI, NMPA, More Share Frustration With Spotify’s Payment Change

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Since it was revealed that Spotify would be changing the way it pays songwriters and publishers by acting as a bundled subscription service with the addition of audiobooks, songwriter organizations and community members have expressed their frustration with the streaming giant.

Billboard recently estimated that Spotify’s reclassification from a “standalone portable subscription” to a “bundled subscription offering” will cause a $150 million cut to U.S. mechanical royalty payments, leading organizations such as Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) and Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) to speak out.

“‘Bundling’ music with other offerings without a music-only option does not comport with our view of the intent of the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) in recent Phonorecord procedures in which the NSAI participated. Further, this move negates gains awarded to songwriters by the CRB,” NSAI shared in an open letter. “NSAI will not accept what we view as an attempt to manipulate the intent of the court though a ‘bundling’ gimmick. NSAI calls for Spotify to immediately reverse its course and offer separate music subscription choices at price points that will fairly remunerate songwriters.”

NMPA President & CEO David Israelite shares, “It appears Spotify has returned to attacking the very songwriters who make its business possible. Spotify’s attempt to radically reduce songwriter payments by reclassifying their music service as an audiobook bundle is a cynical, and potentially unlawful, move that ends our period of relative peace. We will not stand for their perversion of the settlement we agreed upon in 2022 and are looking at all options.”

The AIMP—including Michael Lau (National Chair and New York Chapter President), Marc Caruso (Los Angeles Chapter President), Ree Guyer (Nashville Chapter President) and Tony D. Alexander (Atlanta Chapter President)—also shared a statement.

They write, “It is a deeply cynical move for Spotify to attempt to circumvent the CRB settlement agreed to by the NMPA & NSAI and DiMA in 2022 via this bundling ‘loophole,’ and further insulting that the price of a Spotify subscription will actually increase for users while cutting revenue for the songwriters who keep their business alive. This is especially problematic for independent music publishers, as they and all publishers are legally prevented from negotiating protections against bad-faith tactics such as this, while labels are allowed to do so in a free market.

“At this point, we still do not know how Spotify plans to notify its subscribers of this change. The right thing to do is to default existing subscribers to music-only accounts, and then give them the option to add-on the audiobook service for an additional $9.99 per month—Spotify’s proposed standalone rate for audiobooks. This ensures a proper, non-devalued royalty rate for both music and audiobook publishers and rightsholders, who will otherwise both be negatively affected by bundling.”

In response to the conversation, a Spotify spokesperson shares, “Spotify is on track to pay publishers and societies more in 2024 than in 2023. As our industry partners are aware, changes in our product portfolio mean that we are paying out in different ways based on terms agreed to by both streaming services and publishers. Multiple DSPs have long paid a lower rate for bundles versus a stand-alone music subscription, and our approach is consistent.”

This is a developing story.

Brendon Anthony Named VP Of Big Loud Texas

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Brendon Anthony. Photo: Dani Brubaker

Texas music veteran Brendon Anthony has been named Vice President of Big Loud Texas, effective immediately. Based in Austin, Anthony will oversee the label imprint across its functions, working hand in hand with Big Loud Texas’ Co-Founders Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall, as well as key members of the Big Loud Records team.

“I am very proud to join the amazing team at Big Loud and look forward to working with Miranda and Jon to create something truly special in Big Loud Texas,” Anthony says. “Being a part of growing and supporting the Texas music industry has been my focus for over 25 years and I am thrilled to continue that effort by joining Big Loud Texas.”

“We’re so proud to have Brendon join us at Big Loud Texas,” Lambert shares. “He is as passionate as we are about the Texas music scene and has knowledge that will benefit artists in so many ways.”

“Not only does he bring years of knowledge of the Texas music industry and culture to the table,” Randall notes, “but his legendary and respected musicianship has given him firsthand experience in touring and recording, and a deep understanding of what Texas music artists need in a record label. We are lucky to have him.”

Anthony most recently served as Director of the Texas Music Office, the agency within the Office of the Governor tasked with overseeing policy related to the Texas commercial music industry. During his tenure as Director, Anthony created the Music Friendly Texas Communities program, and was instrumental in the creation of BMI Texas and the Texas Music Incubator rebate program, which supports music venues in Texas with over $20 million in tax rebates.

Prior to that he served as Head of E-Commerce and Artist Relations for ONELIVE Media. He is also a longtime touring and recording musician.

“We’re so proud to have Brendon as part of the Big Loud Texas team,” Big Loud COO Austen Adams adds. “With his experience and vast knowledge on all things Texas music, he’s the perfect partner to help realize Jon and Miranda’s vision for this new venture. We are honored to be part of his story and excited to see what this next chapter brings.”

BREAKING: Cumulus Media Appoints Travis Daily As VP Of Country

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Travis Daily

Cumulus Media has appointed Travis Daily as Vice President of Country. Daily will succeed Charlie Cook, who plans to exit the company on May 31.

Daily will provide content counsel for Cumulus Media’s 55 country-formatted radio brands across the United States. He was named Brand & Content Manager for the company’s 103.3 Country/WKDF-FM and 95.5 Nash Icon/WSM-FM last month and officially assumed content responsibilities on May 1.

Daily previously spent two years as Program Director for Cumulus Media’s 93.3 The Bull/KUBL-FM in Salt Lake City, Utah. He also worked as Operations Manager/Program Director for Beasley Media Group’s 99.5 WQYK-FM in Tampa in addition to spending 17 years at Clear Channel Communications/iHeartRadio, where he was Senior Vice President, Programming for the company’s Sarasota and Tampa clusters, and serving as Operations Manager/Program Director/Morning Host at Y96.9/KCCY-FM in Pueblo/Colorado Springs, and launched US 103.5/WFUS-FM in Tampa.

“When Charlie Cook told me he was departing, I was faced with one of the tougher decisions of my career: who could I trust to lead and represent our vast fleet of important country stations with the finesse and character that Charlie did? On every front, Travis rises to the demands,” says Brian Philips, Chief Content Officer, Cumulus Media. “Fresh from a fast, stunning turnaround at KUBL, he has demonstrated the creative and executive skills and style that set him apart from the rest. A new era begins in Nashville.”

“Storytelling is at the heart of every great country song. As VP of Country, you’re not just shaping playlists; you’re weaving narratives that resonate with listeners across Cumulus Media’s entire footprint of country stations. Together with our talented programmers, we’ll harmonize tradition with innovation, ensuring that our stations remain a vibrant part of listeners’ lives,” remarks Daily. “It’s an exciting time to be in country music and, with the advancement of technology, we have almost unlimited ways to deliver content. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the country stations for Cumulus from my new hometown of Nashville, where I’ll be working intensively with WKDF and WSM-FM.”

Zach Bryan Moves Into Top 10 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Zach Bryan. Photo: Andrew Maclean.

Singer-songwriter Zach Bryan sits at No. 9 on this week’s MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. He currently has two entries on the chart with “I Remember Everything” and his solo-penned “Nine Ball.”

Josh Phillips is No. 1 again this week with his solo-penned “Dirt Cheap.” With “Bulletproof,” “Take Her Home” and “Chevrolet,” Hunter Phelps takes the No. 2 spot.

Ashley Gorley (No. 3), Jessie Jo Dillon (No. 4) and Matt Jenkins (No. 5) round out this week’s top five.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Larry Garris, Owner Of Corner Music, Passes

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Larry Garris

Larry Garris, Owner of Corner Music, passed away on Saturday (May 11) at age 75 after a brief battle with cancer.

Corner Music, one of Nashville’s longest-operating music stores, has sought to support many artists, A-list musicians, engineers and writers for nearly 50 years.

Originally from Albermarle, North Carolina, Garris came to Music City in the early 1970s as a sales representative for Aria Guitars. In 1976, he opened the store in a small building in the Berry Hill neighborhood, offering brand-name instruments as well as studio and stage gear. Corner Music became a popular spot among recording and touring professionals. Garris, along with his staff and family, were widely credited for the store’s expertise and friendly service.

It relocated to 12th Ave. S. near Music Row and Belmont University in 1982. The store has since earned several sales awards from both national and local music publications. Corner Music will continue operating under the leadership of Garris’ sons, Ben and Kirk Garris, at its current location on Dickerson Pike.

Memorial service details for Garris have yet to be announced.

K-Love Fan Awards Reveal 2024 Nominees

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The nominees for the 11th annual K-Love Fan Awards have been revealed.

This year’s award ceremony will take place on May 26 at the Opry House in Nashville. Brandon Lake and Sadie Robertson Huff will serve as hosts. On May 31, the awards will broadcast on TBN for worldwide viewing.

Lake leads the nominations this year with four nods, including for Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Worship Song of the Year. Anne Wilson, Elevation Worship, Matthew West, Phil Wickham, Terrian and TobyMac all notched three nominations.

Housefires, Jwlkrs, Ryan Ellis and Stephen McWhirter all earned their first nominations for Song of the Year. Caleb & John, Forrest Frank, Josiah Queen and Seph Schlueter also gained first-time nominations for Breakout Single, and Terrian is seeing her first nomination for Female Artist of the Year.

Voting for the awards begins tonight (May 13) at 6 p.m. CST. For a full list of nominees, see below.

Artist of the Year
Anne Wilson
Brandon Lake
Casting Crowns
for King & Country
Lauren Daigle
Matthew West
Phil Wickham
TobyMac

Song of the Year
“Come Jesus Come” – Stephen McWhirter
“Don’t Stop Praying” – Matthew West
“Faithfully” – TobyMac
“I Thank God” – Housefires (feat. Jwlkrs & Ryan Ellis)
“Praise” – Elevation Worship
“Praise You Anywhere” – Brandon Lake
“Somebody To You” – Rachael Lampa (feat. Andrew Ripp)
“Strong” – Anne Wilson

Male Artist of the Year
Brandon Lake
Chris Tomlin
Crowder
Jeremy Camp
Matthew West
Phil Wickham
Tauren Wells
TobyMac

Female Artist of the Year
Anne Wilson
CeCe Winans
Katy Nichole
Lauren Daigle
Natalie Grant
Rachael Lampa
Tasha Layton
Terrian

Worship Song of the Year
“Fear is Not My Future” – Maverick City Music
“Firm Foundation” – Cody Carnes
“Holy Forever” – Chris Tomlin
“I Believe” – Phil Wickham
“I Thank God” – Housefires (feat. Jwlkrs & Ryan Ellis)
“Praise” – Elevation Worship
“Praise You Anywhere” – Brandon Lake

Breakout Single
“Big God”- Terrian
“Come Jesus Come” – Stephen McWhirter
“Counting My Blessings” – Seph Schlueter
“Good Day” – Forrest Frank
“Hallelujah Feeling” – Caleb & John
“The Prodigal” – Josiah Queen

Group of the Year
Cain
Casting Crowns
Big Daddy Weave
Elevation Worship
Maverick City Music
MercyMe
We Are Messengers
We The Kingdom

Film Impact
Sound of Freedom
The Shift
After Death
The Chosen Season 4 (Theatrical Release)
Big George Foreman
The Blind
Journey to Bethlehem
Ordinary Angels

TV/Streaming Impact
Jonathan & Jesus
Chasing Cain
Eleanor’s Bench
Going Home (Season 2)
The Wingfeather Saga

Book Impact
Mostly What God Does – Savannah Guthrie
Like A River – Granger Smith
Untangle Your Emotions – Jennie Allen
Practicing the Way – John Mark Comer
Rescue Story – Zach Williams
The Digital Fast – Dr. Darren Whitehead
Upon Waking – Jackie Hill Perry
The Awe of God – John Bevere

Podcast Impact
Cooper Stuff – John Cooper
Whoa That’s Good – Sadie Robertson Huff
That Sounds Fun – Annie F. Downs
Made for This – Jennie Allen
The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast – Candace Cameron Bure
Back Porch Theology – Lisa Harper

Toby Keith’s Daughter Krystal Accepts His Honorary Degree At OU Commencement

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Krystal Keith. Photo: Courtesy of Shock Ink

Toby Keith‘s daughter Krystal Keith proudly stood in to accept her dad’s honorary degree from his beloved University of Oklahoma at the OU Commencement events over the weekend.

Keith shared her recollections of her father’s love and loyalty to the University, noting, “He loved his Sooner Nation! His passion started far back before he was 12 and 13 he sold cokes at the stadium just to be able to see the OU games. He broke his ankle playing a celebrity OU Alumni game in the 90’s. For as long as I can remember, he took our family to bowl games and was on every sidelines or courtside of every OU event that he possibly could, regardless of sport, or gender. He wanted to be at all of them. He supported them whole-heartedly. He simply bled Crimson and Cream.”

Keith learned he would be receiving the honor from the school last fall before succumbing to stomach cancer earlier this year. In addition to Keith, distinguished educator, economist, and activist Barbara Ann Posey Jones, Founder of Love’s Travel Stops Tom E. Love and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient for his work on the Apollo 11 and Apollo 13 spacecraft missions David Proctor received honorary degrees from OU this year.

Keep Memory Alive Honors Blake Shelton At 27th Annual ‘Power Of Love’ Gala

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Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton. Photo: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images

Blake Shelton was honored by the Keep Memory Alive organization at its 27th annual “Power of Love” gala on May 10 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Those on hand to celebrate Shelton included Gwen Stefani, Jay Allen, Colbie Caillat, Kristin Chenoweth, Andy Grammer, Mickey Guyton, Gary LeVox, Cassadee Pope and Jay Pharaoh.

The “Power of Love” gala helps generate funds to enable the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health to find, fund and facilitate the most effective and innovative research, treatment and educational support programming for patients and their families affected by brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, multiple system atrophy and multiple sclerosis.

The Ruvos family presented Shelton with the Lou Ruvo Philanthropic Award for his charitable work, praising Shelton for, “living a life of true generosity and giving so freely to so many causes.”

Allen delivered a moving rendition of his viral hit song “Blank Stares,” inspired by his mother’s battle with the disease during the event, and Pharaoh then treated the audience to a comedy set before the artists performed a mix of originals and covers of Shelton’s songs. The night culminated in Shelton taking the stage to perform “Sangria,” “Ol’ Red” and leading the crowd in a rousing rendition of “Sweet Caroline” from Neil Diamond, the 2020 “Power of Love” honoree. Stefani then joined him for the closing duet “Nobody But You.”

Other notable guests in attendance included Lisa Vanderpump, Ken Todd, Crystal Minkoff, Rob Minkoff, Meredith Marks, Deniece Williams, Tommy Thayer, Mark Davis, Elaine Wynn, Jeffrey Soffer, Steven Lagos and Maria Shriver, founder of The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic and chief visionary and strategic advisor of the new Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center.

Guests also bid on once-in-a-lifetime silent and live auction items during the evening. Even Shelton got in on the action, bidding and winning a walk-on role in a Mark Wahlberg movie and later joking that he was a movie star.

Natalie Kilgore Returns To Brown Sellers Brown

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Natalie Kilgore. Photo: Courtesy of Brown Sellers Brown

Natalie Kilgore has returned to Brown Sellers Brown as VP of Publicity.

Kilgore comes to the company after having served as VP of Publicity & Integrated Marketing from the inception of Brown Sellers Brown in 2020 through her departure in late 2022. In hew new position, she will work to build and strengthen strategic media and key industry relationships for all artists on Brown Sellers Brown’s two label imprints, Quartz Hill Records and Stone Country Records. Leading the overall publicity strategy and execution for the music group, Kilgore will report directly to firm partners Benny Brown, Paul Brown and Jason Sellers.

Prior to her most recent stint with Brown Sellers Brown, she served as the VP of Publicity for BBR Music Group and developed its first in-house Publicity & Media Relations department. With over two decades of industry experience, Kilgore’s previous roles also include Head of Publicity for Big Machine Label Group, Communications Director for the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), Owner of boutique publicity firm Dashboard Media and Head of Public Relations for The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC).

She is the latest industry executive to join Brown Sellers Brown amidst the company’s recent restructuring. Over the past six weeks, the company has also appointed Diana Garcia as Director of Streaming Relations & Marketing, Jessica Crans as Director of Social Media Marketing, Hannah Kennedy as Manager of Social Media Marketing and Kendra Whitehead as Director of Artist Relations.

“Natalie is an amazing person and an amazing publicist! As our restructuring continues, I am proud to welcome Natalie back to the Brown Sellers Brown family,” says Benny.

“Brown Sellers Brown is truly a special place within the modern-day music industry. I am over the moon about returning to work with Benny, Paul, Jason, the entire staff and all of the incredible artists on the roster,” says Kilgore. “There are some exciting releases and movement happening in 2024—I can’t wait to get started!”

Kilgore can be reached at natalie@brownsellersbrown.com.

Shelby Lynne Slates Special Ryman Show For September

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Shelby Lynne. Photo: Becky Fluke

Shelby Lynne will do a special show at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 26, sharing some brand new music as well as songs from her album, I Am Shelby Lynne, in its entirety.

Tickets for the show, which will feature special guests Waylon Payne and Meg McRee, are on sale now.

Lynne released a new song, “But I Ain’t,” produced by herself alongside Karen Fairchild, Ashley Monroe and Gena Johnson last month on Monument Records. The song serves as a bridge between her past and future, and interpolates “Dreamsome,” a standout track from I Am Shelby Lynne, which just celebrated its 25th anniversary.

YouTube video

A special reissue of the album was released last month via Monument Records in honor of its anniversary. In conjunction with the milestone, videos for album tracks “Gotta Get Back” and “Your Lies” are also now available online for the first time, after debuting on television 25 years ago.