The Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced its slate of nominees to be voted upon for induction at its 51st Annual Induction & Awards Gala on June 11, 2020, in New York City.
Among the nominees are 21-time Grammy winner Vince Gill, Sonny Curtis (who penned Keith Whitley’s “I’m No Stranger To The Rain,” among other hits), Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan (Barbara Mandrell’s “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” and Ronnie Milsap’s “Smokey Mountain Rain” among other hits), and Bob McDill (Alan Jackson’s “Gone Country,” Mel McDaniel’s “Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On,” among others).
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create music around the world. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first significant commercial release of a song. Eligible voting members will have until midnight on Dec. 16, 2019 to turn in ballots with their choices of three nominees from a songwriter and three from a performing songwriter category.
Songwriters
Lynn Ahrens / Stephen Flaherty
Lyricist Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty have been collaborators in musical theater since 1983. Selected credits include the hit Broadway musical Ragtime, for which they received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards and two Grammy nominations. They were nominated for two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes and earned a Gold Record for their score of Twentieth Century Fox’s animated feature Anastasia, which they also adapted for its recent long run on Broadway. Seussical earned their third Grammy nomination and is one of the most performed shows in America. And Once On This Island won the 2018 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, garnering their fourth Grammy nomination. Ahrens is an Emmy winner and mainstay songwriter for ABC-TV’s Schoolhouse Rock. Flaherty’s work has been performed in Carnegie Hall, the Guggenheim, and he scored the dance musical In Your Arms. Together, they received the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement, and in 2015, were inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame. Key songs in the Ahrens/Flaherty catalog include: Scores for: * Ragtime * Once On This Island * Anastasia * Seussical * Rocky
Tommy Boyce (d) / Bobby Hart
The songwriting team of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart were responsible for such classic hits by the Monkees as their TV theme song “Hey, Hey We’re the Monkees,” “Last Train to Clarksville” and “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone,” which was also a hit for Paul Revere and the Raiders and covered by the likes of the Sex Pistols and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. The duo’s first hit came in 1964 when Jay and the Americans reached No. 3 with “Come a Little Bit Closer.” Boyce & Hart eventually signed with A&M Records, where they recorded such hits as “I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight” and “Alice Long (You’re Still My Favorite Girlfriend)” and toured with the Monkees. Key songs in the Boyce/Hart catalog include: * Come A Little Bit Closer * I’m Not Your Steppin’ Stone * I Wonder What’s She’s Doing Tonight? * Last Train To Clarksville * Valleri
L. Russell Brown / Irwin Levine (d)
The team of the late Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown wrote some 40 songs, including “Tie a Yellow Ribbon,” a 1973 chart-topper for Tony Orlando and Dawn that was covered by Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. It took a life of its own following the American hostage crisis in Iran and has now been recorded over 2,000 times. Levine and Brown also wrote other big hits for Orlando and Dawn, including “Knock Three Times” and “Candida,” while Brown also co-wrote hits for others like Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels’ “Sock it to Me, Baby!” and the Four Seasons’ “C,mon Marianne.” Key songs in the Brown / Levine catalog include: * Tie A Yellow Ribbon * Knock Three Times * I’m Gonna Boogie Tonight * Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose * I Woke Up In Love This Morning
Sonny Curtis
Inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of his friend Buddy Holly’s band The Crickets, Sonny Curtis played on some of Holly’s early recordings and co-wrote his single “Rock Around With Ollie Vee.” Taking over Holly’s lead vocal and guitar role in the Crickets after his death, he and the band recorded what would become two of his best-known compositions: “I Fought the Law,” which would be a big hit for the Bobby Fully Four in 1966 and was also covered by scores of other artists, and “More Than I Can Say,” a future hit for both Bobby Vee and Leo Sayer. With other hit compositions like Andy Williams’ “A Fool Never Learns,” The Mary Tyler Moore Show’s theme song “Love Is All Around,” “Walk Right Back” (a hit for the Everly Brothers, and later Anne Murray), and Keith Whitley’s 1989 hit “I’m No Stranger to the Rain,” Curtis was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 2012, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Key songs in the Curtis catalog include: * Theme from The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Love Is all Around * I Fought The Law * Walk Right Back * More Than I Can Say * I’m No Stranger To The Rain
Kye Fleming / Dennis Morgan
Both signed separately to Charley Pride’s Pi-Gem Music publishing company headed by Nashville producer/publisher Tom Collins, Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan began writing together in 1978 and quickly churned out “Sleeping Single in a Double Bed,” which became Barbara Mandrell’s first country chart-topper that year. That the team had the magic touch was soon borne out by such country hits as Mandrell’s “Years” and “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool,” Ronnie Milsap’s “Smoky Mountain Rain” and “I Wouldn’t Have Missed It for the World,” and Sylvia’s “Nobody” and “Tumbleweed.” Morgan was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004, and Fleming joined him there in 2009. Key songs in the Fleming / Morgan catalog include: * Sleeping Single In A Double Bed * I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool * Nobody * I Wouldn’t Have Missed It For The World * Smokey Mountain Rain
Jerry Fuller
Fort Worth native Jerry Fuller, whose father sang with Bob Wills, performed with his brother Bill as a duo before pursuing a solo career as a versatile pop singer-songwriter and producer. Fuller has penned over 40 top 10 hits, and his song “Travelin’ Man,” which was intended for Sam Cooke, became a huge hit for Ricky Nelson—for whom he wrote 19 songs including “It’s Up to You” and “Young World.” He discovered the pop group Gary Puckett and The Union Gap, for whom he wrote the big hits “Young Girl,” “Lady Willpower” and “Over You.” Key songs in the Fuller catalog include: * Young Girl * Travelin’ Man * Lady Willpower * Show And Tell * Over You
Tony Macaulay
A much-awarded songwriter in England, Tony Macaulay was a staff producer at Pye Records, where he supplied The Foundations with his co-written song “Baby Now That I’ve Found You” and follow-up “Build Me Up Buttercup.” Other hits followed for the likes of Herman’s Hermits (“I Can Take or Leave Your Lovin’”), The Hollies (“Sorry Suzanne”) and the Flying Machine (“Smile a Little Smile for Me”). His hitmaking ways continued in the 1970s with songs like “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” (Edison Lighthouse) and “Here Comes that Rainy Day Feeling Again” (The Fortunes). Key songs in the Macaulay catalog include: * Baby Now That I’ve Found You * Build Me Up Buttercup * Don’t Give Up On Us * Last Night I Couldn’t Get To Sleep At All * Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
Bob McDill
After scoring a few hits in the late 1960s for Perry Como and Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, Bob McDill found his place in country music, especially with Don Williams. His big hits for Williams included “Say It Again,” “She Never Knew Me” and “Amanda,” which was also a major hit for Waylon Jennings. The prodigious writer, who wrote one song a week for 30 years, also placed major hits for the likes of Anne Murray, The Kendalls, Alan Jackson and Bobby Bare, who recorded a full album of McDill songs entitled Me and McDill. The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee’s catalog includes over 30 No. 1 hits, and his shelf displays numerous BMI Songwriter of the Year trophies. Key songs in the McDill catalog include: * Amanda * Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On * Gone Country * It Must Be Love * Song Of The South
Chad Hugo / Pharrell Williams, p/k/a The Neptunes
Friends and collaborators since meeting at a summer camp in Virginia Beach, the songwriter-producer team of Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, who are professionally known as The Neptunes, are among the most successful producers ever, often producing songs they’ve written. After being discovered and signed as a group by Teddy Riley, they wrote a verse for Wreckx-N-Effect’s 1992 hit “Rump Shaker,” then wrote or co-wrote others including Mase’s “Lookin’ At Me,” Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s “Got Your Money,” Jay-Z’s “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me),” Usher’s “U Don’t Have to Call,” Britney Spears’ “I’m a Slave 4 U” and Nelly’s “Hot in Herre”; in 2003, they released The Neptunes Present…Clones, an album of songs and remixes from various artists signed to their Star Trak label and featuring Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, and Pharrell Williams himself—that topped the Billboard albums chart. Key songs in The Neptunes catalog include: * Hot In Herre * Beautiful * Hollaback * Rock Your Body * Give It To Me (I Just Wanna Love You)
Roger Nichols
After Roger Nichols was recruited to UCLA on a basketball scholarship and legendary coach John Wooden forced him to choose between basketball and music, he chose the latter. He studied songwriting, and after college signed with Herb Alpert’s A&M publishing company, where he met future Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Paul Williams and co-wrote hits including The Carpenters’ “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “I Won’t Last a Day Without You” and “Rainy Days and Mondays,” Art Garfunkel’s “Traveling Boy,” Barbra Streisand’s “I Never Had It So Good” and Three Dog Night’s “Out in the Country”—later covered by R.E.M. He co-wrote Paul Anka’s hit “Times of Your Life” with lyricist Bill Lane, and also worked with lyricist Tony Asher; he later wrote music for TV shows including “Love Theme From Hart to Hart.” Key songs in the Nichols catalog include: * We’ve Only Just Begun * Rainy Days And Mondays * I Won’t Last A Day Without You * The Times of Your Life * Out In The Country
Rick Nowels
A prolific songwriter since age 13, Grammy-winner Rick Nowels has co-written over 60 Top 20 singles in the U.S. and Europe—Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven is a Place on Earth” and Circle in the Sand” among the most notable. His breakthrough came when Stevie Nicks heard his songs, then teamed with him in writing “Rooms on Fire” and other tunes. His numerous other credits include songs written for the likes of John Legend, Colbie Caillat, Nelly Furtado, Santana and Madonna. Key songs in the Nowels catalog include: * Heaven Is A Place On Earth * White Flag * Summertime Sadness * You Get What You Give * The Power Of Goodbye
William “Mickey” Stevenson
Motown A&R director William “Mickey” Stevenson teamed with the late Detroit songwriter/producer/singer George Ivy Hunter in co-writing some of the greatest songs to come out of the Motown hit factory. Among their most memorable compositions were Martha & the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Street” and the Four Tops’ “Ask the Lonely.” Hunter and Stevenson also found songwriting success independent of each other, with Stevenson co-writing Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels’ “Devil with the Blue Dress On.” Key songs in the Stevenson catalog include: * Beechwood 4-5789 * Dancing In The Street * Devil With The Blue Dress * It Takes Two * Pride And Joy
Performing Songwriters
Mariah Carey
Besides her record sales and concerts, superstar Mariah Carey stands apart from her other contemporary divas in that she co-writes—and produces—her own songs. Indeed, scanning through her immense hit singles catalog reveals that such No. 1 hits as “We Belong Together,” “Always Be My Baby,” “Fantasy,” “Touch My Body” and “Hero,” were all co-written by her. In addition to being the solo artist with the most ever pop No. 1 hits (18), Carey, who has collaborated with the likes of Gavin Christopher, Ben Margulies, Walter Afanasieff, David Cole, Robert Clivillés, Jermaine Dupri, Sean Combs, Kamaal Fareed, David Foster, Diane Warren, Bryan-Michael Cox, Babyface, Jay-Z and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, has also been credited for incorporating R&B and hip-hop collaborations into mainstream pop. Key songs in the Carey catalog include: * Vision Of Love * One Sweet Day * Hero * Always Be My Baby * All I Want For Christmas Is You
Gloria Estefan
Combined with her voice, Gloria Estefan’s songwriting has made her one of the biggest Latin music crossover stars ever, and the embodiment of the “Miami Sound.” She wrote the No. 1 pop hits “Don’t Wanna Lose You” (the Spanish version, “Si Voy a Perderte,” topped the Hot Latin Songs charts) and “Anything for You,” as well as the chart-topping Adult Contemporary hit “Words Get in the Way.” She also had a hand in co-writing Hot Latin No. 1 hits including “Tradición,” which despite being in Spanish, reached No. 1 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Key songs in the Estefan catalog include: * Broadway Musical On Your Feet! * Anything For You * Words Get In The Way * Rhythm Is Gonna Get You * Don’t Wanna Lose You Now
David Gates
Keyboardist/vocalist David Gates founded the hugely successful soft-rock group Bread in 1968 as a vehicle for singing his own songs. He wrote most of their trademark hits including “Make It With You,” “Baby I’m-a Want You” and “Everything I Own.” His songs have been covered extensively by others and also include The Murmaids’ 1963 Top 10 entry “Popsicles and Icicles.” Key songs in the Gates catalog include: * Baby I’m-a Want You * Diary * Everything I Own * If * Make It With You
Vince Gill
One of the most celebrated songwriters—and artists—in country music history, Vince Gill first came to fame as songwriter and performer in Pure Prairie League. After going solo as a country artist, he broke ground in winning three straight CMA Awards for Song of the Year from 1991 to 1993 for “When I Call Your Name,” “Look at Us” and “I Still Believe in You” (he won it again in 1996 for “Go Rest High on That Mountain”). Inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005, Gill, who was also named the Nashville Songwriters Association International’s Songwriter/Artist of the Decade for 1990-1999 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007, has had his songs covered by many others ranging from Alabama to Rosanne Cash. Key songs in the Gill catalog include: * Go Rest High On That Mountain * When I Call Your Name * Don’t Let Our Love Start Slippin’ Away * I Still Believe In You * If You Ever Have Forever In Mind
Ernie Isley / Marvin Isley (d) / O’Kelly Isley (d) / Ronald Isley / Rudolph Isley d), Chris Jasper, p/k/a The Isley Brothers
Initially a vocal trio made up of brothers O’Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley, the Isley Brothers broke in 1959 with their first composition “Shout,” also a big UK hit for Lulu. The first single for their own T-Neck label, 1964’s “Testify,” also stands out for being one of Jimi Hendrix’s first recordings, as Hendrix recorded and toured with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame vocal group. Following the Grammy-winning “It’s Your Thing” (1969), younger brothers Ernie and Marvin Isley and brother-in-law Chris Jasper joined in 1971, and the Isley Brothers, in varying configurations and incorporating different styles, wrote and recorded such hits as “Pop That Thang,” “That Lady,” “Fight the Power,” “For the Love of You” and “Caravan of Love,” with Ice Cube sampling their song “Footsteps in the Dark” for his hit “It Was a Good Day” and Notorious B.I.G. likewise sampling “Between the Sheets” for his hit “Big Poppa.” Key songs in the Isley catalog include: * Fight The Power * It’s Your Thing * Nobody But Me * Shout * That Lady
Jonathan Cain / Steve Perry / Neal Schon, p/k/a Journey
As members of Journey, keyboardist Jonathan Cain, lead singer Steve Perry and guitarist Neal Schon, each had a hand in writing some of the hugely successful arena rock band’s monster hits. These include the anthem “Don’t Stop Believin’” (all three shared songwriting credits), the much-covered (Mariah Carey, Barry Manilow, Boyz II Men, Celine Dion) power ballad “Open Arms” (Cain and Perry), “Who’s Crying Now” (Cain and Perry), and “Wheel in the Sky” (Schon)—also notable for its unusual structure (it opens with a 28-second instrumental). Such songs and Journey’s stature as a major concert draw led to its induction in 2017 into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Key songs in the Journey catalog include: * Don’t Stop Believin’ * Who’s Crying Now * Open Arms * Separate Ways * Faithfully
Annie Lennox / David Stewart
As the hugely successful Eurythmics, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart brought an innovative sound and plenty of style to the 1980s. After “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” topped the charts in 1983, they achieved international fame, their career buoyed by follow-up hits like “Here Comes the Rain Again” and “Would I Lie To You?” The pair went on hiatus in the 1990s and pursued successful solo careers before reteaming at the end of the decade for a final studio album, Peace, featuring the hits “I Saved the World Today” and the U.S. dance chart No. 1 “17 Again.” Key songs in the Lennox / Stewart catalog include: * Here Comes The Rain Again * Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) * Would I Lie To You * Missionary Man * Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves
Mike Love
Inducted with his fellow Beach Boys into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, Mike Love brought his love of poetry and lyric inspiration from Chuck Berry and the team of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant to his own estimable songwriting. With fellow Beach Boy Brian Wilson, he co-wrote such classic 1960s hits as “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “California Girls” and “Good Vibrations.” While these songs epitomized the Southern California youth culture of cars, surfing and romance, his later work reflected his study of Transcendental Meditation and touched on themes like astrology, meditation, politics and ecology. Key songs in the Love catalog include: * California Girls * Good Vibrations * Help Me Rhonda * I Get Around * Fun, Fun, Fun
Steve Miller
Steve Miller has been an enlivening presence on the American music scene for more than half a century. Miller crafted a brand of pure pop that was smart, polished, exciting and irresistible – and that dominates radio in a way that few artists have ever managed. Hit followed hit in what seemed like an endless flow: “The Joker,” “Take the Money and Run,” “Rock’n Me,” “Fly Like an Eagle,” “Living in the USA” and “Abracadabra” among them. Running through Miller’s distinctive catalog is a combination of virtuosity and song craft. In the course of his long, full career, Miller has sold tens of millions of records and with each listen the beauty and immediacy of his work, whether at its most playful or most serious, is palpable.
Key songs in the Miller catalog include: * Abracadabra * Fly Like An Eagle * Living In The USA * Take The Money And Run * The Joker
André “André 3000” Benjamin / Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, p/k/a Outkast
Hip-hop duo André “André 3000” Benjamin and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, professionally known as Outkast, have stood out in the genre by popularizing the Southern hip-hop style and bringing genres including funk, psychedelia, jazz and techno into their unique mix. Their impactful 2003 single “Hey Ya!” was a No.1 hit in the U.S. as well as Australia, Canada, Norway and Sweden, and delivered the phrase “shake it like a Polaroid picture”—picked up by the Polaroid Corporation in using the song to rejuvenate its public image. Outkast also scored chart-topping hits with “The Way You Move,” and “Ms. Jackson,” which won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2002, along with the BET Award for Video of the Year and MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Video. Key songs in the Benjamin / Patton catalog include: * Hey Ya! * So Fresh, So Clean * The Way You Move * Ms. Jackson * B.O.B.
Bill Berry / Peter Buck / Mike Mills / Michael Stipe, p/k/a R.E.M.
With 1980s and ‘90s pop hits like “Losing My Religion,” “Shiny Happy People,” “The One I Love” and “Stand,” R.E.M.’s Bill Berry (drums), Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bassist/backing vocalist) and Michael Stipe (lead vocalist) took the band out of its alternative rock band placement to a mainstream pop audience. All four members shared songwriting credit, though Stipe generally wrote lyrics and melodies, Buck pointed the musical direction, and Mills and Berry smoothed out the edges. The pioneering and influential band often dealt with serious themes including political activism and pollution, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Key songs in the R.E.M. catalog include: * Losing My Religion * It’s The End Of The World As We Know It * Stand * Everybody Hurts * Man On The Moon
Patti Smith
Patti Smith was a published poet before putting her words to music in the 1970s and becoming one of the leading voices of New York’s punk rock scene, mixing poetry and music in her landmark 1975 debut album Horses. Her songs “1959” and “Glitter in Their Eyes” earned Grammy nominations for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, and her biggest hit, “Because the Night,” was a collaboration with Bruce Springsteen. A major influence on artists including Madonna, U2, Michael Stipe and Courtney Love, Smith has been tributed in recordings by the likes of Sonic Youth, The Waterboys, KT Tunstall and Florence & the Machine; has been honored with the Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture; has received the National Book Award for her memoir Just Kids and the 2011 Polar Music Prize; and was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Key songs in the Smith catalog include: * Free Money * Dancing Barefoot * Frederick * Blakean Year * People Have The Power
Inaugural Downtown St. Petersburg Songwriters Festival Attracts Thousands
/by Lorie Hollabaugh(L-R): Cox Media Group-Tampa VP/Market Manager Keith Lawless, BMI songwriter and Collective Soul lead singer Ed Roland, Jo Van Niekerk, BMI songwriter Sonia Leigh, Collective Soul’s Jesse Triplett, BMI songwriter Parker Welling, BMI’s Spencer Nohe and Dan Spears
The 1st annual Downtown St. Petersburg Songwriters Festival presented by BMI and Cox Media Group was a huge success, featuring 35 BMI songwriters performing in over 100 shows in a variety of venues throughout downtown.
The festival took place Nov. 1-3 and a highlight featured a special acoustic performance by Ed Roland and Jesse Triplett of Collective Soul. One of the major goals of the event is to drive traffic to downtown St. Petersburg during a traditionally slow time of year to help give back to the BMI-licensed music venues in the area that support BMI songwriters through their paid licensing fees.
A portion of the festival proceeds went to benefit the music therapy department at Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.
(L-R): Parker Welling and Aaron Barker share the stage at the Downtown St. Petersburg Songwriters Festival
Jesse Triplett and Ed Roland of Collective Soul perform together onstage. Photo by Rusch Young
Vince Gill, Sonny Curtis, Kye Fleming, Dennis Morgan, Bob McDill Among Songwriters Hall Of Fame Nominees
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced its slate of nominees to be voted upon for induction at its 51st Annual Induction & Awards Gala on June 11, 2020, in New York City.
Among the nominees are 21-time Grammy winner Vince Gill, Sonny Curtis (who penned Keith Whitley’s “I’m No Stranger To The Rain,” among other hits), Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan (Barbara Mandrell’s “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” and Ronnie Milsap’s “Smokey Mountain Rain” among other hits), and Bob McDill (Alan Jackson’s “Gone Country,” Mel McDaniel’s “Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On,” among others).
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create music around the world. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first significant commercial release of a song. Eligible voting members will have until midnight on Dec. 16, 2019 to turn in ballots with their choices of three nominees from a songwriter and three from a performing songwriter category.
Songwriters
Performing Songwriters
Key songs in the Miller catalog include: * Abracadabra * Fly Like An Eagle * Living In The USA * Take The Money And Run * The Joker
SoundExchange Updates Client Portal For Faster Payments, Transparency
/by Lorie HollabaughThe “Overlaps & Disputes” tool notifies rights owners when other parties make competing ownership claims, enabling them to resolve overlaps as they occur. The efficiencies provided in this tool will result in fewer royalties being held up by disputes and thus faster payments.
The recent update significantly expands the tools available to rights owners, enabling them to manage overlapping claims and upload new sound recordings directly into the SXDirect portal:
“We are committed to raising the bar for the industry by providing innovative solutions for music creators,” said Michael Huppe, CEO of SoundExchange. “Music creators deserve to be paid fairly and accurately, and these new capabilities ensure they receive their royalties faster, too.”
To date, SoundExchange has distributed more than $6 billion in royalties to music creators, including distributing nearly $1 billion in 2018 alone.
“SoundExchange empowers rights owners and their representatives by focusing on transparency and efficiency,” said Paul Smelt, Co-Founder and Director of Global Master Rights. “These major updates will provide greater insight into catalog usage and significantly improve the overlaps and disputes process, distinguishing SoundExchange as one of the most user-friendly collection management organizations in the world.”
Dustin Lynch Comes Home To ‘Tullahoma’ In January, Announces New Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughPhoto Credit: Connor Dwyer
Dustin Lynch is giving fans a glimpse into how he grew up on his upcoming fourth album, Tullahoma, set for release Jan. 17.
Named after his Tennessee hometown, the musical self-portrait comes after eight years of success including six No. 1 singles, six Gold and Platinum certifications, and membership in the historic Grand Ole Opry, yet finds Lynch taking stock of himself like never before.
“It’s all about me and growing up in my hometown,” he explains. “Every song on this album points to something that happened to me or my close friends and family, and that’s really cool. I’m very proud of where I’m from, and proud of this record because it will hopefully make my hometown a little more famous than it already is.”
The project features the three songs on Lynch’s Ridin’ Roads EP, including his current single of the same name, as well as his most recent No.1 “Good Girl,” and was produced by Lynch and Zach Crowell. The longtime friends spearheaded the project from start to finish – the first time Lynch has used a single producer for a whole album.
“It’s figuring out what I enjoy about life the most – outside of music,” said Lynch. “The kind of stuff my mom and dad, my family and my friends back home did growing up. Outdoors stuff like hunting and fishing, hanging out in the backyard around a bonfire, just connecting. I long to be that kid again, and I think we all do. You get to a certain point in life and start reflecting on why you’re where you’re at … and I’ve just figured out that’s what makes me tick. That’s why I work hard.”
In addition to the album, Lynch will also launch his next headlining run, the Stay Country Tour on Jan. 30. The trek will crisscross the entire U.S. with opener Travis Denning. Tickets for select dates of the tour go on sale Friday, Nov. 15, and a portion of each sale will benefit The Cowboys and Angels Fund, which supports various philanthropic causes including an intentional focus on children’s charities.
January 31 – Troy, OH @ Hobart Arena+
February 1 – Athens, OH @ Memorial Auditorium+
February 7 – Norman, OK @ Riverwind Casino+
February 8 – San Antonio, TX @ San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo*
February 13 – Madison, WI @ The Sylvee+
February 14 – Kansas City, MO @ Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland+^
February 15 – Prior Lake, MN @ Mystic Lake Casino+*
February 28 – Bensalem, PA @ Parx Casino+^
February 29 – Verona, NY @ Turning Stone Resort Casino+
March 1 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues+
March 13 – Reno, NV @ Silver Legacy Resort Casino+
March 14 – Bakersfield, CA @ Rabobank Theatre+
March 27 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE+
March 28 – Mt. Pleasant, MI @ Soaring Eagle Casino++with Travis Denning
^on-sale date is November 22
*on-sale now
Dan + Shay’s “10,000 Hours” Becomes Australia’s Most-Played Song
/by Jessica NicholsonDan+Shay. Photo: Courtesy WMG
Dan+Shay‘s latest single “10,000 Hours,” a collaboration with Justin Bieber, is the most-played, all-genre radio song of the past week in Australia.
The duo recently wrapped a tour of Australian show dates, opening for Shawn Mendes on the pop star’s headlining arena tour.
The sold-out tour began Oct. 23 in Perth and ran through Nov. 3 in Sydney. The single reached No. 5 on Spotify’s Top 200 Global chart, No. 3 on Apple Music’s Top 100: Global chart, and No. 1 all-genre on the U.S. iTunes Song chart, earning more than 275 million global streams. “10,000 Hours” earned the biggest first-week streaming total in country music history and Dan+Shay became the first country duo or group to debut in Billboard Hot 100’s Top 5. The track has already earned Gold certification in Australia and Canada.
The duo recently announced Dan + Shay The (Arena) Tour will launch in 2020, including a show at New York’s Madison Square Garden, which sold out in less than 90 minutes.
Dan + Shay are up for Duo of the Year, Album of the Year and Single of the Year for their 3x Platinum, four-week No. 1 hit “Speechless” at this year’s CMA Awards. Dan Smyers received an additional nomination for Song of the Year as a co-writer on the 4x Platinum, multi-week No. 1 “Tequila” for the second year in a row.
Country Festival WE Fest Postponed Until 2021
/by Jessica NicholsonCountry music festival WE Fest has been postponed until August 2021, festival organizers have announced.
Live Nation acquired the festival from Townsquare Media in August; WE Fest has been held at Soo Pass Ranch in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, for the past 37 years. The 2019 edition of the festival featured headliners Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban and Brooks & Dunn.
In an interview with Twin Cities Pioneer Press, Live Nation’s Brian O’Connell stated that the festival will remain at the same location.
“All of the rumors that are flying around that we’re going to move the festival and all that kind of stuff are not true,” O’Connell told the Twin Cities Pioneer Press. “We want to take the time to get to know the 37-year tradition of WE Fest and talk to as many people as we can who have been involved with it. There is a lot of history that we need to be respectful of, and a lot of people who are very invested in this festival.”
O’Connell noted Live Nation’s acquisition of WE Fest happened very close to the 2019 festival, noting that he and his team “didn’t feel like we had a good enough handle on things” to begin booking acts for 2020 and announcing headliners for next year during the 2019 event, which was the tradition under the festival’s previous owners.
“Instead of just booking a band and throwing tickets up on sale and figuring the rest of it out later, we hit the brakes,” he said.
WE Fest also issued a statement via social media:
“We are so excited to embark on this new journey with WE Fest. With 37 years under its belt, we know this festival is an important part of the Detroit Lakes community and so, our goal is to continue to honor and build upon this special event. In order to do the best possible job we can, we will be using 2020 as a planning year. We are excited to continue the tradition and bring an even bigger and better festival to country music fans in the summer of 2021. We look forward to seeing you then!” read a statement issued from WE Fest organizers.
Recovery Unplugged To Open In Brentwood
/by Jessica NicholsonRecovery Unplugged Nashville (Brentwood) Treatment Center (255 Wilson Pike Circle, Brentwood, TN, 37027)
Recovery Unplugged has announced its newest treatment center Brentwood, Tennessee. To mark the official opening, Recovery Unplugged will be celebrating with an private concert on Nov. 19, 2019, at the new location (255 Wilson Pike Circle, Brentwood, TN, 37027).
The Brentwood residential treatment center offers 34 beds for medical detox, comfortable and beautifully appointed client residences, and a VIP suite for those who need extra privacy during their substance use disorder treatment. The facility also provides world-class staff of doctors, nurses, therapists and support professionals. Other amenities include a “Zen” room and “Jam” room to help clients regain their peace of mind and maximize musical engagement during the treatment process, and so much more.
Recovery Unplugged is a national addiction treatment organization, and the only substance use care provider to fully integrate music into their rehab programs. Offering locations across the country, including Fort Lauderdale, Austin, Northern Virginia, and now, Brentwood, TN, Recovery Unplugged combines traditional treatment methods like medical detox and counseling with innovative music-based therapies to help clients overcome their substance use disorder. The treatment center offers all levels of treatment, including inpatient and outpatient, and utilizes music-focused therapy techniques, such as live performances, songwriting, personalized playlists and more to help clients more readily embrace treatment.
Carly Pearce To Release Sophomore Album In February
/by Jessica NicholsonCarly Pearce will release her eponymous sophomore album for Big Machine Records on Feb. 14, 2020.
“So much has happened to me in the last few years. My fans have changed my life and given my music a home in this world. I grew up, let go of things that needed to go, fell in love, fell on my face, went through some hell and found ‘Carly’ fully for the first time EVER. I’m so excited to announce my sophomore, self-titled album will be released on VALENTINE’S DAY!!! This record is dedicated to my late producer busbee. It’s the last full record he made and one that I am so very proud of – Thank you for bringing these songs to life. I can’t wait to honor you and hear/see how people connect to what we created.” she said in a statement.
busbee, who passed away in September at age 43 following a battle with glioblastoma, is also the producer behind Pearce’s debut album Every Little Thing, and a co-writer on Pearce’s No. 1 debut single by the same name.
The upcoming album will feature tracks “Closer To You,” and “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” a duet with Lee Brice. She is also a New Artist of the Year nominee at the upcoming CMA Awards on Nov. 13, and recently wed fellow country singer Michael Ray in October.
Sheryl Crow, Amy Ray To Join Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Jerry Douglas For “The Lantern Tour II”
/by Jessica NicholsonThe full lineup has been announced for The Lantern Tour II, which launches tonight (Nov. 5) at Washington D.C.’s Warner Theatre. Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, Jerry Douglas, Jackson Browne, Steve Earle, Buddy and Julie Miller, and Amy Ray are all taking part in the event.
“The Lantern Tour II: Concerts for Migrant and Refugee Families” winter concert will take place on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020 at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee and is part of a nationwide tour happening between fall of 2019 and summer of 2020. Tickets for the Nashville show go on sale at 10 a.m. this Friday, Nov. 8.
The Lantern Tour II reunites Harris, Browne, and Earle for the concert series to benefit the Women’s Refugee Commission and its work on behalf of migrant and asylum-seeking families.
The tour launches in D.C. tonight, followed by a sold-out show tomorrow night, Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Town Hall in New York City. The fall lineup includes Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, The Mastersons, Thao Nguyen, and David Pulkingham. Not all artists will appear on every show date.
“The Women’s Refugee Commission is on the front lines in advocating for the safety of displaced women and children,” said lead tour musician Emmylou Harris, a supporter of the organization. “I am thrilled to continue this important partnership and to bring my music friends along for another powerful tour in the coming year.”
“It’s an honor to be joining Emmylou on this tour as we stand with migrant and asylum-seeking families at the southern U.S. border,” said Grammy Award-Winning Musician and Indigo Girls Co-Founder Amy Ray. “Everyone has the right to be safe and to keep their children safe.”
WRC has a long history of documenting conditions for asylum-seeking women and children at the U.S. border and advocating for their rights and protection. Since the Trump administration came into power, WRC has taken an even more robust leadership role in identifying human rights violations.
“We go into detention centers to hear directly from women and children about how these policies are devastating their lives,” said WRC Executive Director Sarah Costa. “Right now, more than ever, we need voices from across the country speaking out in support of human rights, which is why this tour is so important. Together, we can make a difference.”
For more, visit thelanterntour.com.
Kris Kristofferson To Be Honored With Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award
/by Lorie HollabaughKris Kristofferson. Photo: Photo Credit: Mary Ellen Mark/courtesy of CMA
Kris Kristofferson will be the latest recipient of the 2019 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming CMA Awards Nov. 13.
A special tribute to the legend is planned during The 53rd Annual CMA Awards featuring a not-to-be-missed performance of Kristofferson’s classic “Me and Bobby McGee” by Dierks Bentley with Sheryl Crow, Chris Janson and John Osborne. The 53rd Annual CMA Awards broadcasts live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Nov. 13 at 8/7c on ABC.
“Kris is a living legend whose impact on our genre has been monumental,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “He is the definition of an icon and someone our community holds with such high regard. I’m thrilled our Board selected Kris this year for one of CMA’s highest accolades. Though he won’t be joining us at the CMA Awards, I hope our tribute performance brings a big smile to his face.”
Kristofferson, a Country Music Hall of Fame member, is an eight-time CMA Awards nominee, receiving his most recent nod in 2012 for CMA Musical Event of the Year with “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die,” collaborating with Nelson, Snoop Dogg and Jamey Johnson. He won CMA Song of the Year in 1970 for the chart-topping “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” first recorded by Ray Stevens in 1969, then by Johnny Cash in 1970. The Texas native achieved meteoric success as a songwriter starting in the 1970s, and his songs, “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Help Me Make It Through the Night” and “For the Good Times,” helped redefine country songwriting. By 1987, over 450 artists had recorded his compositions, and his renown as a songwriter turned heads in Hollywood, leading to a flourishing career as a film actor. He won the 1977 Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy in A Star Is Born and has landed spots in more than 70 films. Kristofferson is a three-time Grammy winner with 30 recorded albums to his credit and three decades worth of international touring. He received country’s highest honor in 2004 with induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Other accolades include the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriter Hall of Fame, CMT’s Johnny Cash Visionary Award, BMI’s Icon Award, and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, among others.
The Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an iconic artist who has attained the highest degree of recognition in country music. The Award was established to recognize an artist who has achieved both national and international prominence through performances, humanitarian efforts, philanthropy, record sales, and public representation at the highest level. Previous recipients of the award include Willie Nelson (2012), Kenny Rogers (2013), Johnny Cash (2015), and Dolly Parton (2016).
Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson, perform “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk the Line” as part of the Johnny Cash Tribute during “The 37th Annual CMA Awards,”on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003, live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Courtesy of CMA