Saban Music Group has announced an exclusive, global administration agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group.

Backed by entertainment industry pioneer Haim Saban, SMG was founded in 2019 by Saban, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saban Capital Group LLC. Led by industry veteran Gustavo Lopez, the company’s strategy entails identifying, signing, and developing artists with international appeal. SMG’s global artist/songwriter roster includes Static & Ben El (Israel), Mergui (Israel), Marie Monti (France), Chesca (Puerto Rico), and Reykon (Colombia), and more.

“I am thrilled about this new venture. Innovation requires collaboration, and this partnership amplifies our chances for success on a global scale,” said Haim Saban of the new agreement.

“We are excited to be partnering with Haim Saban and Gustavo Lopez and Saban Music to create opportunities for their artists and songwriters. I am confident that we will have outstanding success together,” said Jody Gerson, Chairman and CEO of UMPG.

Earlier this year, SMG announced a global distribution and marketing agreement with Universal Music Group. SMG is distributed in the U.S. by Caroline, an arm of UMG subsidiary Capitol Music Group, and works in tandem with Caroline International and UMG’s Santa Monica-based central services team for all other territories.

Scotty McCreery Has Zoom Celebration For “In Between”

Scotty McCreery recently celebrated his third No. 1 “In Between” with his team during a Zoom call. “In Between” is the third single from McCreery’s 2018 album, Seasons Change, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart. It follows his back-to-back No. 1s, the Platinum-certified hit “This Is It” and Double-Platinum “Five More Minutes.” Produced by Frank Rogers, McCreery co-wrote the song alongside Rogers, Jessi Alexander and Jonathan Singleton.

“Earning a No. 1 record on ‘In Between,’ which is a song that defines me, is amazing. I loved writing this song with Frank, Jessi and Jonathan and telling my story,” said McCreery. “Earning three No. 1 songs in a row is the perfect way to celebrate Seasons Change and how that album changed my life. I want to thank country radio for supporting my music, my fans for believing in me from day one, and both my management team Triple 8 Management and my record label Triple Tigers Records for always having my back and working side by side with me every day.”

Darius Rucker, Clint Black Celebrate Early Father’s Day On Opry

Opry members/dads Clint Black and Darius Rucker performed together for the 4,929th consecutive Saturday night (June 20) broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry over Father’s Day weekend.

Johnny & The Mongrels Sign With so much MOORE For Publicity

Blues-rockers Johnny & The Mongrels have retained so much MOORE media for publicity. Their debut album, Creole Skies, will be released on July 17. The New Orleans-influenced band has been described as “the perfect combination of a funk-filled heart and a deep bayou soul,” and its founders, currently based in Fort Collins, Colorado, are singer/songwriter Johnny Ryan and singer/bassist/songwriter Jeff Bostic.

The late John Prine‘s last recorded song, “I Remember Everything,” has debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Rock Digital Song Sales Chart, earning the highest-charting single of Prine’s career as a performer.

The song debuted at the conclusion of the virtual tribute “Picture Show: A Tribute Celebrating John Prine,” that was held earlier this month, and featured performers including Kacey Musgraves, Vince Gill, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires, and more. Since the tribute show premiered, it has been viewed more than 500,000 times and raised more than $400,000 for NAMI, Alive, Make the Road New York and MusiCares.

Prine wrote “I Remember Everything” alongside Pat McLaughlin and recorded it last year in his living room, with producer Dave Cobb and engineer Gena Johnson.

Already a two-time winner in the category, Prine is once again nominated for Artist of the Year at the 2020 Americana Honors & Awards, which will take place Sept. 16 at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.

As independent music venues across the United States have seen massive loss of business over the past few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 600 artists, including several artists with Nashville ties, have teamed to issue a letter to Congress, urging legislators to offer financial support for independent venues and promoters across the United States.

Artists with Nashville ties including Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Brothers Osborne, Kacey Musgraves, Randy Travis, Brandi Carlile, Alabama, Jason Isbell, Tanya Tucker, Lucinda Williams, The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney, Willie Nelson, Kesha, Soccer Mommy, Boy Named Banjo, Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard, and The Cadillac Three joined artists including Cher, Joni Mitchell, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, Billie Eilish, Bon Iver and more.

Among the industry executives who also signed the letter to Congress are Recording Academy president Harvey Mason Jr., Academy of Country Music CEO Damon Whiteside, Americana Music Association Executive Director Jed Hilly, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum president Greg Harris.

The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) now has nearly 2,000 members in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. and includes Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley, Cannery Ballroom, Drkmttr Collective, Exit/In, Mercy Lounge, Rudy’s Jazz Room, Springwater Supper Club & Lounge, Station Inn, The 5 Spot, The End, The East Room, and The High Watt. According to a recent poll of NIVA members, 90% of independent venues report that they could permanently close in coming months without federal funding. Even as some venues are allowed to reopen at partial capacity, those revenues are not enough to meet fixed costs such building rent, utilities, payroll, and taxes. According to NIVA, every dollar spent on a ticket to an event at a small venue generates total of $12 in economic activity in a community’s hotels, taxis, restaurants and more.

NIVA President Dayna Frank, who is also the president of First Avenue Productions in Minneapolis, said, “The potential collapse of the independent arm of our industry cannot be exaggerated. Indie venues are the safe places that allow artists to grow, explore, and intertwine the musical culture of their city and their artistic community with their own inner voice. We are steadfast launching pads, sounding boards, and cheerleaders for the greatest talent in the world…before the world has ever heard of them. We’re incredibly grateful for these emerging artists and legends who are putting a spotlight on the need to #SaveOurStages. We want nothing more to welcome them and their fans back when it’s safe to do so, which is why we’re working so hard to secure our survival.”

Read the full letter below:

We, the undersigned artists, respectfully submit this letter in support of NIVA’s request for federal assistance for independent music venues and promoters across the United States.

We will know America is “back” when our music venues are filled with fans enjoying concerts safely. The live music experience is inextricably tied to our nation’s cultural and economic fabric. In fact, 53% of Americans – that’s 172 million of us – attended a concert last year.

We urge you to remember we are the nation that gave the world jazz, country, rock & roll, bluegrass, hip hop, metal, blues, and R&B. Entertainment is America’s largest economic export, with songs written and produced by American artists sung in every place on the globe. All of these genres of music, and the artists behind them, were able to thrive because they had neighborhood independent venues to play in and hone their craft, build an audience, and grow into the entertainers that bring joy to millions.

Independent venues give artists their start, often as the first stage most of us have played on. These venues were the first to close and will be the last to reopen. With zero revenue and the overwhelming overhead of rent, mortgage, utilities, taxes and insurance, 90% of independent venues report that if the shutdown lasts six months and there’s no federal assistance, they will never reopen again.

We are asking you to support NIVA’s request for assistance so these beloved venues can reopen when it’s safe and welcome us and our fans back in. The collapse of this crucial element in the music industry’s ecosystem would be devastating.

Independent venues are asking for an investment to secure their future, not a handout. One Chicago report found that every dollar small venues generate in ticket sales results in $12 of economic activity. If these independent venues close forever, cities and towns across America will not only lose their cultural and entertainment hearts, but they will lose the engine that would otherwise be a driver of economic renewal for all the businesses that surround them.

With respect and solidarity, we, as artists and as community members ourselves, urge you to pass federal legislation that will help #SaveOurStages.

Craig Wiseman remains in the No. 1 position on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week for the ninth consecutive week.

Luke Combs takes the No. 2 spot this week with co-writer credit on the No. 1 song in the country, “I Hope You’re Happy Now” (Carly Pearce and Lee Brice), as well as his own “Does To Me” and “Six Feet Apart.” Shane McAnally rounds out the top three on the MusicRow chart with an arsenal of charting songs, including: “Cheatin’ Songs” (Midland), “Hard To Forget” (Sam Hunt), “Nobody But You” (Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani), “Champagne Night” (Lady A), “One Night Standards” (Ashley McBryde), “Some People Do” (Old Dominion), and “The Other Girl” (Kelsea Ballerini x Halsey).

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, published every week, 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.