Phillip White Inks Co-Pub Deal With FAME Publishing, Attaboy Music Publishing

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Phillip White has signed a co-publishing deal with FAME Publishing Co. and White’s Attaboy Music Publishing Worldwide.

White, a writer of three No. 1 hits and an ACM Song of the Year winner, was impacted by Shoals songwriting masters Donnie Fritts and Spooner Oldham as a young man before moving to Nashville. He spent nearly 30 years writing hits for Rascal Flatts (“I’m Moving On”), Reba McEntire (“I’m A Survivor,” “He Gets That From Me”), Blake Shelton (“Nobody But Me”) and George Strait (“If It Wasn’t For Texas”). Vince Gill, Darius Rucker, Jake Owen, Luke Bryan, Wynonna and many more have recorded White’s songs.

“I’ve been a big fan of his for a long time,” says Rodney Hall, Co-President of FAME Publishing Co. “I’m happy to have him home.”

White has recently written and recorded an album, Movin’ On Sessions Vol. 2, at FAME Recording Studios with producer James LeBlanc. The album features many legendary musicians and special guests, and many of the new songs on the album are part of the catalogue that FAME Publishing Co. has acquired.

Microsoft Explores Acquisition Of TikTok

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On Sunday (Aug. 2), Microsoft announced it will continue its intent to acquire popular video platform TikTok from its Chinese parent company ByteDance.

In a statement, Microsoft said the company’s CEO Satya Nadella had spoken with President Donald J. Trump, and “is prepared to continue discussions to explore a purchase of TikTok in the United States.” Over the weekend, President Trump had told reporters he planned to ban the app in the United States.

In response, Microsoft says it is “committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury,” and has said it will complete discussions with TikTok parent company ByteDance no later than Sept. 15, 2020.

ByteDance and Microsoft have provided a notice of their intent to explore a preliminary proposal that would involve a purchase of the TikTok service in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and would result in Microsoft owning and operating TikTok in these markets.

Microsoft’s statement also says the company “would ensure that all private data of TikTok’s American users is transferred to and remains in the United States. To the extent that any such data is currently stored or backed-up outside the United States, Microsoft would ensure that this data is deleted from servers outside the country after it is transferred.”

According to a New York Times report on Monday (Aug. 3), Trump said that Microsoft can move forward to pursue the acquisition. He stated that TikTok would shut down on Sept. 15 unless Microsoft or another company purchased it.

“It can’t be controlled for security reasons by China,” Trump said according to the New York Times report, adding that he was supportive if Microsoft or another “very American” company purchased TikTok instead. “A very substantial portion of that price is going to have to come into the Treasury of the United States, because we’re making it possible for this deal to happen,” Trump said.

Read Microsoft’s full statement here.

Lindsay Ell, Maddie & Tae To Lead Women’s Suffrage Centennial Celebration Concerts

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Song Suffragettes has teamed up with the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment which gave women the constitutional right to vote on Aug. 26, 1920.

The Commission will be sponsoring Song Suffragettes’ shows at The Listening Room Café on Aug. 3, Aug. 10, Aug. 17 and Aug. 24 along with YouTube livestreams from those shows. August shows will feature Lindsay Ell (Aug. 3), Maddie & Tae (Aug. 10), Ashley McBryde (Aug. 17) and Runaway June (Aug. 24) and special guests joining members of the Song Suffragettes’ ever-revolving and expanding roster which currently consists of over 260 female singer-songwriters.

The livestream series Live From Nashville: Song Suffragettes will be available for free via the Song Suffragettes’ YouTube channel, and a limited number of tickets are available to attend these shows in person and can be purchased at listeningroomcafe.com.

“The Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission is thrilled to partner with Song Suffragettes in celebration of the congressionally designated National Women’s Suffrage Month in August 2020,” said WSCC Executive Director Anna Laymon. “Music holds an important place in the history of women’s fight for the vote — like in all social movements, music helped to inspire and unify the suffragists who were dedicated to expanding American democracy. These activists not only secured the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment, but they also broke barriers and opened up new opportunities for women for generations to come. By working to ensure talented women artists are represented and celebrated in the world of country music today, Song Suffragettes carries forward the legacy of the courageous trailblazers who fought for women’s right to vote 100 years ago. It is a privilege to join with Song Suffragettes to honor the sacrifice and courage of the suffragists.”

Based in D.C. and funded by Congress, the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission is conducting suffrage- inspired digital programming to commemorate August 2020 as National Women’s Suffrage Month. The Commission is a nonpartisan, nonpolitical federal agency with multiple initiatives.

“For over six years, Song Suffragettes has been fighting the good fight to support underrepresented female voices in music,” said Todd Cassetty, founder of Song Suffragettes. “We named Song Suffragettes as an obvious nod to the fearless women who faced a restrictive government and fought for seventy-two years to earn the right to vote. So it is a true honor to partner with the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission and be the musical component of their celebration of the 19th Amendment’s centennial.”

Jeff Hoag Signs On To 650 AM WSM As Host Of ‘WSM At Night With Jeff Hoag’

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Jeff Hoag. Photo: WSM

Jeff Hoag, who has been a regular fill-in and friend of legendary radio personality Eddie Stubbs, will officially take over the night show at WSM Radio following Stubbs’ retirement. Hoag will host WSM At Night with Jeff Hoag from 7 p.m. until midnight, beginning tonight (Monday, Aug. 3).

Hoag said, “My dream in life was to work for WSM Radio and keep the tradition of classic country music alive. The fact that I get to live my dream and carry out this mission is gratifying beyond words. Thank you for the opportunity to do what I love and to spread the glorious gospel of country music across the world.”

WSM Director of Content and Programming J. Patrick Tinnell said, “WSM at Night is exactly where Jeff belongs. I along with the rest of his radio family, can’t wait to see how he develops his own live nightly show, while keeping a long-standing tradition of classic country at night on WSM. I know our audience will be as proud of Jeff as I am.”

Hoag was born in upstate New York and made his way to Nashville in 2003. His mission has always been to share his love of traditional country music with those who already appreciate it, but especially those who may have never given it a chance. An avid collector and historian of music, Hoag is also a songwriter, musician, script writer, food enthusiast and baseball fan.

Lifelong Friends Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris Reunite For Opry Show

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Pictured: Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell. Photo: courtesy Grand Ole Opry LLC. Chris Hollo, photographer

Rodney Crowell,  Vince Gill, and Emmylou Harris made some Opry magic Saturday night (Aug. 1) when the three stepped into the circle together to perform on the Grand Ole Opry’s 4,935th consecutive Saturday night broadcast.

Between the three of them, the music legends have amassed a whopping 36 Grammy Awards and 109 nominations. Harris kicked off the show with “If I Could Only Win Your Love,” from her debut album Pieces of the Sky, and shared that it was the first song she ever sang on the Grand Ole Opry when she debuted in 1975. She reflected on performing it that night with Charlie Louvin, who had written and recorded the classic with his brother Ira.

The rich history and deep friendship between Crowell, Gill and Harris spans almost 50 years and was clearly evident as the three storytellers often found themselves going off their intended set lists to harmonize and collaborate on each other’s songs, including Harris’ “Out Under the Stars” and the Crowell-penned “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues.”

Crowell performed “Still Learning How To Fly,” and “Bluebird Wine,” which he wrote and Harris recorded for her debut album, and together Crowell and Harris performed “You Can’t Say We Didn’t Try” from their 2015 duets album The Traveling Kind. Gill kicked off his performance with “Oklahoma Borderline,” which he co-wrote with Crowell and Guy Clark. When he performed Crowell’s “Till I Gain Control Again,” he described the tune as “the song that bonded a friendship that has lasted almost 44 years,” and he brought his friend Crowell to tears as he performed the Crowell-penned “Song For the Life” for Crowell’s upcoming birthday, with Crowell admitting, “For as long as I’ve known you, you can still make me cry.”

The three friends closed their Opry show with another Crowell-penned hit, “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight.”

BBR Music Group/Music Knox Records Sign Tim Montana

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Pictured (L-R): Michael Knox, Tim Montana. Photo: Spidey Smith

BBR Music Group has added Tim Montana to its roster. The singer-songwriter joins Music Knox Records, Michael Knox‘s partnership imprint with BBR Music Group/BMG.

“What hit me first about Tim was his music. When I found out about all the other things going on in his world, it was just icing on the cake,” said Knox. “What I love the most about Tim is that you feel his life, good or bad, through his music. It didn’t take me long to see how personal this all was to him and why he has no plan B. Tim is all in and so am I.”

“I’ve always had the objective to do things differently and out work everybody and couldn’t be more thrilled to find a label home with the same thought process. Knox brought me to a whole new level in the studio and challenged me to pull out the big guns as a writer,” Montana said. “I couldn’t be more honored to join a roster of some of the best and most diverse talent in our genre. They’ve got the rocket and I’ve got the fuel so let’s ride this sled to the moon!”

“Tim is the consummate professional who knows his brand and is building an impressive business. It’s a lifestyle, not just a music career,” said Jon Loba, EVP BBR Music Group. “I can’t wait to see what happens when we combine that with Knox and his vision for the music.”

Montana recently joined several friends including Charlie Sheen, Lee Brice, Chris Kirkpatrick, Michael Ray, Chase Rice and more for the video for “Quarantine,” penned by Monatna and Mat Best. Montana’s music has also been used as the theme song for World Series Championship runs, NHL games, NASCAR telecasts and action movies and has earned him spots opening for Kid Rock and performing alongside the Foo Fighter’s Dave Grohl.

In addition to his music career, Montana has his own show, “Tim Montana’s Wild Side,” on Velocity Outdoor Channel. He is also involved in products including Polaris, Black Rifle Coffee, Fender, Gerber, Giant Bicycles, Indian Motorcycles, K&N, Kicker Performance Audio, Orange Amplifiers, Snap On, Traeger Grills and more.

Mark Your Calendar—August 2020

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Single Add Dates

August 3
Martina McBride/Girls Like Me/Vinyl Recordings, LLC
Tim Dugger/You’re Gonna Love Me/Curb
Bruce Larson/What Love Can Do/Busy@Play
Drew Taylor/Wayback

August 10
Darius Rucker/Beers And Sunshine/Capitol
A Thousand Horses/A Song To Remember/Warner/WEA
Cam/Classic/Triple Tigers Records
Dylan Gerard/Simple Things/SSM Nashville

August 14
Josh Christina/Old Piano/Burning Ground Entertainment

August 17
Taylor Swift/betty/MCA Nashville

August 21
Alexandra Kay/I Kinda Don’t/Alexandra Kay Music

August 24
Lainey Wilson/Things A Man Oughta Know/Broken Bow Records

August 27
Jesse Lopez/Way Past Words

 

Album Releases

August 7
Luke Bryan/Born Here, Live Here, Die Here/Capitol Records Nashville
Mary Chapin Carpenter/The Dirt and the Stars/Lambent Light Records/Thirty Tigers
Joel Crouse/WasteLAnd/Hum Records

August 14
Mo Pitney/Ain’t Lookin’ Back/Curb Records
Caylee Hammack/If It Wasn’t For You/Capitol Nashville
Lindsay Ell/heart theory/Stoney Creek Records
Jeannie Seely/An American Classic/Curb Records
RaeLynn/Baytown/Round Here Records
Orville Peck/Show Pony/Columbia
Tori Kelly/Solitude/Capitol Music Group/School Boy Records
Eric Paslay/Nice Guy/Paso Fino Records

August 21
Mandy Barnett/A Nashville Songbook/Melody Place
Josh Turner/Country State of Mind/MCA Nashville
Tim McGraw/Here on Earth/BMLG
Tucker Beathard/King/Warner Music Nashville

August 28
Ruston Kelly/Shape & Destroy/Rounder Records
Colter Wall/Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs/La Honda Records/Thirty Tigers
Ryan Griffin/Name On It/Altadena/Warner Records/Warner Music Nashville

 

Industry Events

August 18
MusicRow Awards – Winners Announced

Sony/ATV Renews Deal With Jon Pardi

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Jon Pardi. Photo: Jim Wright

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville has extended its worldwide publishing agreement with the multi-Platinum, award-winning singer, songwriter, artist and producer Jon Pardi.

Pardi’s hits include 3x Platinum, multi-week No. 1 single “Dirt On My Boots,” 2x Platinum, No. 1 singles “Head Over Boots” and “Heartache On The Dance Floor,” and Gold-certified single “Heartache Medication.”

Recently, he partnered with Thomas Rhett on the popular No. 1 single “Beer Can’t Fix,” and his  album Heartache Medication is nominated for ACM’s Album of the Year category this year, making him a double-nominee as both an artist and producer.

Sony/ATV Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston stated, “Jon Pardi is a honky-tonk genius—his music is dynamic and captures every aspect of life and love, which is why his songs will remain timeless. On behalf of all of us here at Sony/ATV, we are grateful to continue working with Jon and making country music history together.”

Sony/ATV Nashville VP, Creative Tom Luteran said, “Jon is the ultimate unicorn as an artist. He is constantly breaking new ground with his music and his genre defining sound. It’s been a pleasure to accomplish what we have during the past four years and going forward I’m sure we will continue to hit new heights.”

“Sony/ATV has been incredible to work with and has believed in me from the start. We all share in a unique, creative vision that has taken us to some incredible places, and I’m excited to keep that going,” said Pardi.

DISClaimer Singles Reviews: Dan + Shay, Taylor Swift, Randy Travis, Reyna Roberts, And More

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Dan + Shay

We have no shortage of superstars this week in DisClaimer.

Everybody from Hall of Famers Alan Jackson and Randy Travis to redhot current giants Blake Shelton and Dan + Shay are here. Leading the pack is Taylor Swift, whose return-to country-track easily nabs the Disc of the Day prize.

I’m happy to report that there are plenty of baby acts in the mix today as well — Reyna Roberts, Joey Hendricks, Tyler Booth and our DisCovery Award winners, Bexar (that’s pronounced “Bear” or “Bay-har” to you non Texicans).

JOEY HENDRICKS/Yours Or Mine
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Sony
– Airy and attractive, in a pop kinda way. There is too much “process” on the vocal for the lyric to be clear, but the young-and-in-lust message is plain.

BLAKE SHELTON/Happy Anywhere
Writers: Ross Copperman/Josh Osborne/Matt Jenkins; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– Bopping, sunny and bright, plus loaded with romantic optimism. If I’ve ever heard a quarantine/pandemic love song, this is it. Sweetie Gwen Stefani provides the harmony vocal.

REYNA ROBERTS/Stompin’ Grounds
Writers: Reyna Roberts/Noah Henson; Producer: Noah Henson; Publisher: none listed; CEN/Orchard
– This is a very dandy slab of Southern rock, replete with a wailing delivery, a slamming beat, searing electric-guitar work and a sassy, welcome-to-Alabama lyric. Vocal fireball Roberts represents the latest entry in a very, very long quest for a Black female country star. With this blazing debut single, she’s on her way.

TAYLOR SWIFT/Betty
Writers: Taylor Swift/William Bowery; Producers: Aaron Dessner/Jack Antonoff/Taylor Swift; Publishers: TASRM/Songs of Universal/William Bowery, BMI; MCA Nashville/Republic
– Kissed by wafting harmonica notes and strummy guitar, this is a lovely acoustic track. Lyrically, it’s quite striking, since she’s singing from the point of view of 17-year-old “James,” who cheated on “Betty” via a summer fling. Swift is a fountain of creativity in this return to her country roots.

BEXAR/Again
Writers: Ross Copperman/Chris Ryan/Logan Turner; Producer: Ross Copperman; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– This is a band fronted by the duo of Texan Chris Ryan (guitar/lead vocal) and Kentuckian Logan Turner (banjo/guitar/vocals). Their sound is terrifically accomplished, acoustic yet thumping, polished yet earthy. The song yearns to recall the innocence of a teen romance. I cannot wait to hear more from these guys. In the meantime, please put this on your playlist at once.

RANDY TRAVIS/Fool’s Love Affair
Writers: Milton Brown/Keith Stegall/Charlie Monk; Producer: Kyle Lehning; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– Radio personality Charlie Monk has also been a longtime Music Row song publisher. He found a tape of Travis singing this song as a demo. Recorded just before the vocalist broke through as a superstar in 1985, the slow-burn, cheatin’ ballad is a clear reminder of what a stunning country baritone he was. Producer Lehning surrounded that voice with new tracks and the result is the first new Travis single since his stroke seven years ago. This, my friends, is what Real Country Music sounds like.

ROBERT COUNTS/What Do I Know
Writers: Robert Counts/Hardy/Jake Mitchell; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Arista Nashville
– Blue-collar wisdom, redneck philosophy and dirt-road life lessons wrapped in a hillbilly-banger production. Very promising. Send more.

LAUREN ALAINA/Run
Writers: Lauren Alaina/Ben Johnson/Kennedi; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Mercury Nashville
– This tempo tune is super hooky. If you’re not bopping and singing along to this catchy, repetitive, repetitive thing, you’re not listening. Also, she’s singing splendidly here.

CAYLEE HAMMACK & ALAN JACKSON/Lord I Hope This Day Is Good
Writer: Dave Hanner; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publisher: none listed; Capitol Nashville
– These two Georgia natives sound supremely awesome together on this flawless remake of the 1981 Don Williams classic. I have always loved the song, and these two voices harmonizing on it make it even more heavenly.

TYLER BOOTH/In God and Trucks We Trust
Writers: Tyler Booth/Randy Montana/Phil O’Donnell; Producer: none listed; Publisher: none listed; Sony/Villa 40
– Ya gotta love it. There might not be many of us who are farmers these days, but the down-home, semi-corny values espoused here can be embraced by just about anybody.

DAN + SHAY/I Should Probably Go To Bed
Writers: Shay Mooney/Dan Smyers/Jason Evigan/Sean Douglas; Producer: Dan Smyers; Publisher: none listed; Warner
– Shay Mooney tingles the spine by singing at the top of his range throughout the ballad performance. Dan Smyers played all the instruments and produced the whole thing in his home studio. These two are dynamite, and this should blow up in no time.

Mechanical Licensing Collective Adds Three To Leadership Team

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Pictured: Benjamin, Kilgore, Russell

The Mechanical Licensing Collective has hired several new staffers who will help lead the company’s finance, public relations and rights management efforts: Monique Benjamin, as Head of Finance, Natalie Kilgore, as Head of Public Relations, and Maurice Russell, as Head of Rights Management.

As Head of Finance, Benjamin will lead The MLC’s internal budgeting process, track The MLC’s operational costs, and lead the company’s efforts to set up its initial internal financial policies and processes. She brings more than 18 years of experience to The MLC, and launched her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers before transitioning to the music industry. Benjamin held various finance-related roles at Word Entertainment and Warner Music Nashville, eventually rising through the ranks to become Warner’s Senior Vice President of Finance before joining the MLC.

In her new role as Head of Public Relations, Kilgore will oversee The MLC’s external communications. A long-time creative champion, she brings nearly two decades of publicity experience in the music and entertainment industries. Her professional endeavors include launching the in-house publicity departments for both the Big Machine Label Group and BBR Music Group, and serving as the Communications Director for the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI).

As The MLC’s Head of Rights Management, Russell will lead The MLC’s internal team of publishing experts, as well as The MLC’s publisher relations efforts, ensuring that publishers always have a direct line of communication with the company. He will also coordinate The MLC’s operational relationship with the Harry Fox Agency, the primary outside vendor for administration. Russell most recently served as the CEO/Founder of consultancy firm Media Rights Management where he helped his clients navigate the industry’s growing licensing and data challenges. A recognized industry expert in matters pertaining to music publishing administration, he has served on advisory groups at the U.S. Copyright Office and the U.S. Patent and Trade Office, and has also been a long-time participant in the Digital Data Exchange, the preeminent music industry standards-setting organization.

“I’m excited to welcome three new executives to The MLC’s leadership team as we continue to build our organization,” said The MLC’s Chief Executive Officer Kris Ahrend. “Monique, Natalie, and Maurice each possess many years of experience working in the music industry, they are recognized leaders in their fields, and they are well-respected by their peers.  I am grateful that they have decided to join The MLC.”