Felix McTeigue
Edward “Felix” McTeigue, a Grammy-nominated songwriter and music producer with chart-topping hits that include Florida Georgia Line’s “Anything Goes” and Lori McKenna’s “Wreck You,” died July 24 after complications from surgery. He was 48 years old.
“He had an extraordinary ability to harness magic in the room that no one else could see,” McKenna said. They collaborated on many songs, including “Wreck You,” which McKenna included on her Grammy nominated album, The Bird & The Rifle. The song was also nominated for a Grammy and Americana Music Award.
“We always wrote great songs together,” offered fellow collaborator Chris Tompkins. “The first time we met, we were instant friends. I’m so thankful for the good times we had and the beautiful songs.” McTeigue, Tompkins and Craig Wiseman wrote FGL’s No. 1 hit “Anything Goes.” McTeigue and Tompkins also wrote Canadian country singer Dallas Smith’s chart-topping single, “Jumped Right In,” title track for the Juno nominated Gold-certified album and Platinum-certified EP.
New Jersey native McTeigue grew up with parents Joan and Frank McTeigue. He was already showing an interest in songwriting when he discovered that his birth mother was Maggie Roche of folk band the Roches. He met wife Liz Lynch at a folk rock adaptation of the Odyssey at The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture. They have two children.
He spent time in the New York City music scene, and released albums Felix McTeigue, Radio Perfecto, and The New Deal (under the moniker FDR) which attracted champions in the music industry. After the birth of his children, he transitioned to become a sought-after songwriter and producer. As a producer, he recorded more than 30 albums. Kobalt Music Publishing represents hundreds of his songs, several dozen of which were in various phases of production at the time of his death.
McTeigue is survived by his wife Elizabeth Lynch, his children Nora and William, his mother Joan, sister Alvina and her family, and brother Frank.
In honor of his life, a GoFundMe page has been set up both to support his children and to create a Scholarship Fund to provide educational opportunities in music, for youths of all backgrounds.
Apple Picks Up New Music Competition From Jason Owen, Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine
/by Jessica NicholsonJason Owen
Sandbox Entertainment President/CEO Jason Owen will executive produce a new country music talent competition series alongside Reese Witherspoon‘s media company Hello Sunshine. Apple has ordered My Kind of Country, from Owen, Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and The Masked Singer showrunner Izzie Pick Ibarra, reports deadline.com.
Adam Blackstone will be musical director for the new series.
Owen will executive produce alongside Pick Ibarra and Done+Dusted’s Katy Mullan and Melanie Fletcher. Witherspoon, Hello Sunshine Head of Film & Television Lauren Neustadter and SVP of Unscripted Programming Cynthia Stockhammer, will executive produce the series on behalf of Hello Sunshine.
In an announcement on the series, Apple noted the series would offer a “fresh, new documentary sensibility” and aims to break cultural and musical barriers in country music.
“Well, it’s not looking like I’ll ever fulfill my childhood dreams of becoming Dolly Parton,” Witherspoon wrote on Instagram. “But this might just be the next best thing. I am beyond excited to share that Hello Sunshine will be partnering with Apple to bring y’all it’s very first competition series called My Kind of Country…. the search for extraordinary country music talent.”
“Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, country music has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. The history, the storytelling, the artistry… the costumes and performances. There are so many remarkably talented people whose voices are being heard right now, but there are many more who have different experiences and remarkable stories that still need to be told in the genre. I’ve been incredibly inspired by all artists who continue to blaze bold new trails and our hope is to discover musicians who are revolutionizing country music and help amplify their voices and unique stories,” Witherspoon added.
BMLG Promotes Donna Lidster To VP, Marketing-Canada
/by Lorie HollabaughDonna Lidster
Donna Lidster has been promoted to Vice President, Marketing – Canada at Big Machine Label Group. Lidster has been with BMLG for seven years and will continue to lead all the Canadian marketing efforts for the entire roster.
“Donna Lidster has been our not-so-secret weapon and the foundation of our success in Canada since coming aboard,” said BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta. “Her understanding of the market, musical intuition and unbeatable relationships continue to propel all things Big Machine. She’s simply the best.”
Prior to joining Big Machine Label Group, Lidster spent 13 years with Universal Music Canada as Director of Marketing and VP Marketing, Universal, Island Def Jam. Prior those roles, she worked in promotion at PolyGram for two years as Director, National Promotion and three years as a Regional.
Maddie & Tae Top Country Radio Charts With "Die From A Broken Heart"
/by Jessica NicholsonMaddie & Tae celebrate “Die From A Broken Heart” topping country airplay charts and earning RIAA Platinum certification.
Mercury Nashville duo Maddie & Tae have earned their second career No. 1 with “Die From A Broken Heart,” which the duo’s Maddie Marlow and Taylor Dye co-wrote with Deric Ruttan and Jonathan Singleton. The song topped both the Billboard Country Airplay chart and the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart.
“Die From A Broken Heart” was also recently certified Platinum by the RIAA. The song marks the duo’s first time reaching No. 1 since “Girl in a Country Song” topped the charts in 2014.
“There are no words. Just leaky eyes and a grateful hearts,” Maddie & Tae said over the weekend via Twitter. “Praise God and His beautiful plan. He has blessed us with the best team and the best fans. Gotta go, my eyes are leaking again.”
“If even one person out there found healing from this song, THAT is success to us,” the duo added via a statement.
Maren Morris, Gabby Barrett, Ingrid Andress, Carly Pearce and Miranda Lambert are among the other female artists who have topped the country radio charts in 2020.
Morris earned a two-week No. 1 “The Bones,” while other chart-toppers included Barrett’s “I Hope” and Lambert’s “Bluebird.” Andress scored a No. 1 single on the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart with “More Hearts Than Mine.” Pearce reached the pinnacle with “I Hope You’re Happy Now” (with Lee Brice), while Gwen Stefani earned her first country No. 1 with her duet with Blake Shelton, “Nobody But You.”
Josh Thompson Takes No. 1 Spot On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellJosh Thompson takes the top position on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week, with co-writer credits on “Ain’t Always The Cowboy” (Jon Pardi), “One Margarita” (Luke Bryan), and “Be A Light” (Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin & Keith Urban). HARDY moves down one spot to No. 2.
Matt Dragstrem enters the top three on the chart, with “Be A Light” and “One Margarita” fueling his rise.
The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital downloaded 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.
Concord Music Publishing Acquires Imagine Dragons Catalog
/by Jessica NicholsonConcord Music Publishing has acquired the catalog of pop/rock group Imagine Dragons. The band is known for hits including “Radioactive” and “Demons” from their 2012 album Night Visions. “Radioactive” earned a Grammy for Best Rock Performance in 2012. Their second album, Smoke + Mirrors, reached No. 1 in the United States, Canada and the UK. Evolve, the band’s third studio album, earned three No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs Chart in 2018: “Believer,” “Thunder” and “Whatever It Takes.”
Imagine Dragons has also received 10 Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards, one MTV Video Music Award and one World Music Award. They have sold 35 million RIAA certified singles in the US and 20 million albums worldwide, and have four songs among the top 100 most streamed on Spotify that have surpassed one billion streams each: “Believer,” “Thunder,” “Demons” and “Radioactive.” “Radioactive” is also one of only 37 songs in history to be certified Diamond, or 10x Platinum, by the RIAA.
“Concord’s acquisition strategy has remained consistent since 2006. Simply put, we acquire catalogs from creators and owners with songs that the entire world not only recognizes but loves. A to Z, our portfolio is comprised of some of the most culturally recognized and revered songs and recordings in history. Imagine Dragons fits perfectly in that realm. Our publishing team proudly welcomes Imagine Dragons, and its unparalleled songwriting and performance success in the past decade, to the treasured catalogs that already call Concord home,” said Steve Salm, Concord’s Chief Business Development Officer.
“Imagine Dragons are a rock powerhouse,” says Jake Wisely, Chief Publishing Executive at Concord. “From topping the charts to sweeping awards to sync and sell out tours, Imagine Dragons’ success is undeniable. We are honored that Imagine Dragons has chosen Concord and are excited to add another legendary band to the Concord catalog.”
The transaction was managed and negotiated for Concord by Salm, Larry Blake and Amanda Molter. Imagine Dragons’ team was led by John Rudolph of 1.618 Industries, Inc. (formerly Music Analytics, a leading music IP advisor) with counsel provided by Jason Karlov and Amanda Taber of Barnes & Thornburg and Robert Reynolds of Reynolds and Associates.
A2IM Announces 2020 Board of Directors, Advisory Board Members
/by Lorie HollabaughThe three voting members are Madeline Nelson, the Founder/CEO of Heads Music; Marie Clausen, the Head of North America & Global Streaming for Ninja Tune; and Steven Hill, the Director of North American & Global Projects for Warp Records. Louis Posen, President of Hopeless Records will return to serve another term.
Continuing in their roles will be Martin Mills, Founder/Chairman of Beggars Group; Darius Van Arman, the Co-Founder/Co-Owner/Co-CEO of Secretly Group; Zena White, the Managing Director of Partisan Records; Tony Kiewel, President of Sub Pop; Laura Ballance, Co-Founder of Merge Records; Rosie Lopez, President of Tommy Boy Records, and Lisa Levy, VP of Sales & Marketing for Robbins Entertainment. The Executive Committee for 2020 is composed of Kiewel, who will serve as Chairperson, White as Treasurer, and Posen as Secretary.
Each year, A2IM’s bylaws allow the President and CEO to appoint advisory board members. These advisory board members do not have voting status but serve one-year terms in order to broaden the perspective of the board, guide the direction of the organization, as well as exposing a greater number of members to the activities of the board and the organization.
Appointed to the advisory board in 2020 are Mary Jurey, Chief Business Officer of Blue Élan; Tony D. Alexander, President/Managing Director of Made in Memphis Entertainment; Heather Johnson, CEO/Owner of Ninety9 Lives; Roland Williams, Managing Partner at Familiar Territory; and Lisa Soong, VP of Mountain Apple Company.
“As an organization that places equity, diversity, and representation at the forefront of its mission, A2IM is proud to have a women-led board in 2020, as well as substantially diverse participation throughout its Board of Directors and Advisory Board. We thank these members for so generously offering their experience and expertise during this difficult time. It is my great pleasure to welcome them and offer my heartfelt thanks for their participation,” said Richard James Burgess, CEO of A2IM.
Weekly Register: Luke Bryan Tops Country Albums Chart With ‘Born Here Live Here Die Here’
/by LB CantrellLuke Bryan. Photo: Jim Wright
Gabby Barrett maintains her grip at No. 1 on the Country On-Demand Audio Streaming chart, with 8.4 million streams, according to Nielsen Soundscan. Luke Bryan follows the Idol star, with his “One Margarita” garnering 7.7 million streams.
Morgan Wallen maintains both the No. 3 and No. 4 position with his “Chasin’ You” and his collaboration with Diplo and Julia Michaels on “Heartless,” receiving approximately 6.8 million streams each. Maddie & Tae‘s “Die From a Broken Heart” rounds out the top five with 6.7 million streams.
Bryan is the top debut overall and on the country albums chart this week with Born Here Live Here Die Here, debuting at No. 1 country and No. 5 overall with 65K in total consumption this week (48K album-only and 18 million song streams.)
Wallen’s If I Know Me follows Bryan’s debut on the country albums chart, with 22.5K. Luke Combs‘ What You See Is What You Get is at No. 3, with 21K, followed by his This One’s For You at No. 4 with 19K. Sam Hunt’s Southside is at No. 5 with 12K.
Songwriter/Music Producer Edward "Felix" McTeigue Dies At 48
/by Jessica NicholsonFelix McTeigue
Edward “Felix” McTeigue, a Grammy-nominated songwriter and music producer with chart-topping hits that include Florida Georgia Line’s “Anything Goes” and Lori McKenna’s “Wreck You,” died July 24 after complications from surgery. He was 48 years old.
“He had an extraordinary ability to harness magic in the room that no one else could see,” McKenna said. They collaborated on many songs, including “Wreck You,” which McKenna included on her Grammy nominated album, The Bird & The Rifle. The song was also nominated for a Grammy and Americana Music Award.
“We always wrote great songs together,” offered fellow collaborator Chris Tompkins. “The first time we met, we were instant friends. I’m so thankful for the good times we had and the beautiful songs.” McTeigue, Tompkins and Craig Wiseman wrote FGL’s No. 1 hit “Anything Goes.” McTeigue and Tompkins also wrote Canadian country singer Dallas Smith’s chart-topping single, “Jumped Right In,” title track for the Juno nominated Gold-certified album and Platinum-certified EP.
New Jersey native McTeigue grew up with parents Joan and Frank McTeigue. He was already showing an interest in songwriting when he discovered that his birth mother was Maggie Roche of folk band the Roches. He met wife Liz Lynch at a folk rock adaptation of the Odyssey at The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture. They have two children.
He spent time in the New York City music scene, and released albums Felix McTeigue, Radio Perfecto, and The New Deal (under the moniker FDR) which attracted champions in the music industry. After the birth of his children, he transitioned to become a sought-after songwriter and producer. As a producer, he recorded more than 30 albums. Kobalt Music Publishing represents hundreds of his songs, several dozen of which were in various phases of production at the time of his death.
McTeigue is survived by his wife Elizabeth Lynch, his children Nora and William, his mother Joan, sister Alvina and her family, and brother Frank.
In honor of his life, a GoFundMe page has been set up both to support his children and to create a Scholarship Fund to provide educational opportunities in music, for youths of all backgrounds.
TikTok Inks Distribution Deal With UnitedMasters
/by Lorie HollabaughTikTok has struck a deal with music distribution platform UnitedMasters, that will enable TikTok users to distribute music directly from the app. Through the deal, UnitedMasters becomes the first music distribution company to be integrated within TikTok.
The partnership enables TikTok users to distribute their music directly to other music streaming platforms. TikTok will opt all music from its creators who join UnitedMasters into the platform’s Commercial Music Library, with the artist’s permission, giving businesses access to a large catalog of new sounds to use in their content. TikTok will also partner with UnitedMasters in promoting key artists on the platform.
“Creators are the beating heart of the TikTok community, often inspired by the artists who bring their music to the platform, and providing a haven for them to thrive is key to our mission,” says Kevin Mayer, CEO of TikTok. “The new partnership with United Masters makes it even easier for musicians and creators to reach new fans and earn a living doing what they love, directly from the platform.”
“If you are a musical artist, TikTok is the best place for your music to go viral and UnitedMasters is the best place to sustain it while retaining full ownership of your work,” says Steve Stoute, CEO and Founder of UnitedMasters. “By combining the two, we create the platform for tomorrow’s stars who will be famous, fiercely independent and wealthy.”
TikTok recently announced a $1 billion TikTok Creator Fund to help support ambitious artists looking to foster a livelihood through their innovative content. The company has become the go-to staging ground that has helped previously little known or undiscovered artists like Lil Nas X, Ambjaay, StaySolidRocky, Powfu, BENEE, Y2K, bbno$, and many others find mainstream fame and dominate the charts.
Since its launch UnitedMasters has seen its artist-first approach pick up steam launching the careers of chart toppers like platinum-selling rapper NLE Choppa, Billboard charting recording artist Lil Tecca, Tobe Nwigwe, Lil XXEL, and many more. In just 18 months, UM has amassed over 400k artists, 5 billion streams, and over half a million distributed tracks.
MV2 Entertainment, Little Louder Music Sign Joe Whelan
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured, Back Row (L-R): Nicole Sherrill, Jefferson Brown, Mike Whelan, Ben Strain. Front Row (L-R): Arturo Buenahora, Joe Whelan, Tony Harrell. Photo Credit: Lindsey Parrish
MV2 Entertainment and Little Louder Music have signed Joe Whelan to a co-publishing deal.
“Little Louder is very excited to partner with MV2 on the signing of Joe Whelan,” Little Louder’s Offensive Coordinator Arturo Buenahora said. “As a small boutique publishing house, it is paramount that we only sign writers or artists that we can make sure get the focus and attention they deserve. We think this deal could be a special opportunity for Joe and our respective companies.”
“Joe Whelan is an incredibly talented young man at the beginning of an awesome career and we are proud to partner with Little Louder on this venture,” MV2’s GM Tony Harrell added. “Because of his diverse musical taste, great relationships and self-motivation, Joe will be an asset in any writing room.”
Whelan has three songs on Tucker Beathard’s upcoming album, including “Can’t Stay Here,” “How Gone Will I Go,” and “Too Drunk.” Whelan co-wrote Australian artist Pete Murray’s “Found My Place” and is also writing with other Little Louder acts that have recently signed record deals: Boy Named Banjo (UMG) and Jackson Dean (BMLG).