Round Hill Music and Arthouse Entertainment Host Writer Retreat
Pictured (L-R): Morgan Taylor Reid, Ben Johnson, Ashley Leone, Jeff Sojka, Penny Gattis, Steven McMorran, Taylor Gayle, Cameron Bedell, Feli Ferraro, Eric Arjes, Lauren LaRue, Josh Saxe, Kiersten Kelly, Jimmy Robbins, Rabitt, Danny Myrick, Kara DioGuardi. Photo: Annie Lukach
Round Hill Music and Arthouse Entertainment recently led The Good Write songwriter retreat at Trimble House in Nashville on Dec. 4-5. The two-day event brought together songwriters for writing collaborations, as well as an unsigned writer mentorship session, in partnership with NSAI.
Jerry Duncan Promotions Adds Laura Prestage
Laura Prestage
Record promotion company Jerry Duncan Promotions has named Laura Prestage as Promotions Coordinator. Prestage will oversee responsibilities previously held by Lisa Smoot, who was recently promoted from Director, Promotions to Vice President. Prestage will oversee office day-to-day operations and radio promotion with Music Row stations.
Prestage, an MTSU graduate and the daughter of Lisa Smoot (and granddaughter of Jerry Duncan) can be reached at laura@duncanpromo.com and 615-329-1032.
Kalie Shorr, Savannah Keyes To Host Radio Disney Country Feature
Savannah Keyes, Kalie Shorr
Artists Kalie Shorr and Savannah Keyes are set to host a new Radio Disney Country daily feature, “Let The Girls Play,” aimed at highlighting music from female country artists, both superstars and rising artists. The feature launched Dec. 5.
Radio Disney Country can be heard on the Radio Disney App, iHeartRadio App, KRDC FM/AM – Los Angeles, TuneIn, the Radio Disney Country ‘Spotlight’ on Radio Disney and SiriusXM, Apple Music and Spotify playlists.
SOLID RAISES NEARLY $5K FROM ANNUAL TURKEY BOWL
Pictured (L-R): Casey Elliott (CMS), Erin Mercer (CMT), Deanna Wantz (The Onsite Foundation) and Bailey Lathem (City National Bank). Photo: Sunshine McFarland
Music industry organization SOLID raised nearly $5,000 at their 33rd annual Turkey Bowl Flag Football Tournament for Middle Tennessee-based The Onsite Foundation. The organization also donated more than 29,000 pounds of food to Second Harvest Food Bank.
This year’s Turkey Bowl, held at Vanderbilt University, included participation from eight industry teams: APA, CAA, CMT, FBMM, SMACK Songs, Triple8 Management, Universal and WME.
BMG Appoints Eric Scott As Sr. VP, Rights Administration And Royalty Services
/by Jessica NicholsonEric Scott
BMG has named Eric Scott as Sr. VP, Rights Administration and Royalty Services. Scott, based in Nashville, will be responsible for overseeing publishing royalties, master royalties, mechanical licensing, and copyright administration for BMG US. He will continue to report to Ben Katovsky, BMG COO, and Joe Gillen, EVP & CFO, North America.
Previously, Scott served as Vice President of Publishing Royalties & Client Services, BMG US, leading the US Publishing Royalty department located in Nashville, as well as its continued operations in both New York and Los Angeles. With more than a decade of diverse experience in the music industry with a background in both client services and systems technology, his prior roles envelope all aspects of publishing royalties and client relations.
Scott joined BMG in 2011 when he served as Sr. Director, Royalty Services based in New York, until 2014. Following, he served as VP, Publishing Operations & Royalties at Immortal Music Publishing/Downtown Records and more recently at SoundCloud, where he split his time between New York and Berlin working both in a product management and development role, as well as managing the company’s reporting relationship with labels, publishers, and societies.
Scott began his career as Publisher Services Manager at The Harry Fox Agency before serving as Director of Royalties at Spirit Music Group.
Industry Ink: Round Hill Music, Jerry Duncan Promotions, Radio Disney, SOLID
/by Jessica NicholsonRound Hill Music and Arthouse Entertainment Host Writer Retreat
Pictured (L-R): Morgan Taylor Reid, Ben Johnson, Ashley Leone, Jeff Sojka, Penny Gattis, Steven McMorran, Taylor Gayle, Cameron Bedell, Feli Ferraro, Eric Arjes, Lauren LaRue, Josh Saxe, Kiersten Kelly, Jimmy Robbins, Rabitt, Danny Myrick, Kara DioGuardi. Photo: Annie Lukach
Round Hill Music and Arthouse Entertainment recently led The Good Write songwriter retreat at Trimble House in Nashville on Dec. 4-5. The two-day event brought together songwriters for writing collaborations, as well as an unsigned writer mentorship session, in partnership with NSAI.
Jerry Duncan Promotions Adds Laura Prestage
Laura Prestage
Record promotion company Jerry Duncan Promotions has named Laura Prestage as Promotions Coordinator. Prestage will oversee responsibilities previously held by Lisa Smoot, who was recently promoted from Director, Promotions to Vice President. Prestage will oversee office day-to-day operations and radio promotion with Music Row stations.
Prestage, an MTSU graduate and the daughter of Lisa Smoot (and granddaughter of Jerry Duncan) can be reached at laura@duncanpromo.com and 615-329-1032.
Kalie Shorr, Savannah Keyes To Host Radio Disney Country Feature
Savannah Keyes, Kalie Shorr
Artists Kalie Shorr and Savannah Keyes are set to host a new Radio Disney Country daily feature, “Let The Girls Play,” aimed at highlighting music from female country artists, both superstars and rising artists. The feature launched Dec. 5.
Radio Disney Country can be heard on the Radio Disney App, iHeartRadio App, KRDC FM/AM – Los Angeles, TuneIn, the Radio Disney Country ‘Spotlight’ on Radio Disney and SiriusXM, Apple Music and Spotify playlists.
SOLID RAISES NEARLY $5K FROM ANNUAL TURKEY BOWL
Pictured (L-R): Casey Elliott (CMS), Erin Mercer (CMT), Deanna Wantz (The Onsite Foundation) and Bailey Lathem (City National Bank). Photo: Sunshine McFarland
Music industry organization SOLID raised nearly $5,000 at their 33rd annual Turkey Bowl Flag Football Tournament for Middle Tennessee-based The Onsite Foundation. The organization also donated more than 29,000 pounds of food to Second Harvest Food Bank.
This year’s Turkey Bowl, held at Vanderbilt University, included participation from eight industry teams: APA, CAA, CMT, FBMM, SMACK Songs, Triple8 Management, Universal and WME.
Big Loud Secures Three Promotions In Creative Department
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Tori Johnson, Morgan Sweat, Nick Swift. Photos: Nick Swift
Big Loud has immediately expanded the role of three creative team members, signing multiple-year agreements with Tori Johnson, Morgan Sweat and Nick Swift.
Johnson will become Director of Creative and Digital, Sweat will step up as the Sr. Manager of Creative Media, and Swift becomes Big Loud’s new Creative Media Producer.
“Tori, Morgan, and Nick have been integral parts of our Creative and Digital team at Big Loud for several years,” says Big Loud VP of Creative and Digital Lloyd Norman. “Tori’s leadership, design, and social media work has continually raised the bar of our content quality, while Morgan’s video and motion graphic skills have made our artists’ videos second to none, and Nick has elevated to become one of the most talented young photographers in the music industry. Their ability to bring our artists’ visions to life is unmatched. These much deserved promotions ensure we will be able to do great work for years to come and we can’t wait to keep progressing.”
After helping Florida Georgia Line achieve superstardom, Big Loud has gone on to introduce Chris Lane, Morgan Wallen, Mason Ramsey, Jillian Jacqueline, and HARDY in addition to signing country superstar Jake Owen.
Big Loud was founded as a partnership between Craig Wiseman, Seth England, Chief Zaruk, and Joey Moi, four industry veterans with a vision to bring song publishing, artist development, management, production, and promotion under one roof. In 2015, the partners expanded their firm with the creation of Big Loud Records, led by Clay Hunnicutt.
Reid Isbell Inks Joint Deal With Big Machine Music And 50 Egg Music
/by LB CantrellPictured, back row (L-R): Big Machine Music’s Alex Heddle, 50 Egg Music’s Jonathan Singleton, Big Machine Music’s Michelle Attardi, Beckett Law’s Matthew Beckett, Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar. Front row: Reid Isbell
Big Machine Music has signed Reid Isbell to an exclusive songwriting deal, via a joint venture with 50 Egg Music, owned by fellow Big Machine Music songwriter Jonathan Singleton. Isbell joins Luke Combs and Kenton Bryant as the latest addition to the joint venture.
“Jonathan and the Big Machine Music crew have felt like family for a while now and I couldn’t be more excited to officially join their all-star team,” Isbell said.
Singleton said, “I’ve known Reid since he was a kid. It’s hard to miss on a guy like him who works hard, sings well, writes even better and is an all-around great guy.”
“I’m always grateful to Jonathan for introducing us to uniquely talented songwriters and Reid is no exception,” said Big Machine Music’s General Manager Mike Molinar. “We are honored to welcome him to the family!”
CRS To Host Panel Exploring Relationships Between Parents, Teens And Country Music
/by Lorie HollabaughThe “Parents, Teens, and Country Music” panel, presented by Edison Research, will combine a survey of country listeners who have teenagers at home, a survey of teens, and footage from the in-person interviews that have become a highlight of Edison’s CRS presentations. Both groups will be asked about their musical tastes, media usage, and how that usage takes hold with an eye on how parents and teens influence each other.
“This presentation will allow CRS attendees to understand better the lives of people currently in their demographic target while allowing a peek into those of the crucial next generation of country fans,” says Edison Research president Larry Rosin. “There will be practical advice both for connecting with the parents, and cultivating the younger group for the future.”
Kevin Welch At Top Spot Followed By Gorley, McAnally And Osborne On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by LB CantrellKevin Welch has been No. 1 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart for an impressive 6 weeks. Even more impressive, he sits at the top from the leverage of only one 16-year-old song. His independently-written “Millionaire,” which earned its performer Chris Stapleton a Grammy nomination last week, has kept Welch on top, personifying the value of a solo write.
“Co-writing is a time honored tradition in Nashville,” Welch said. “A lot of my best songs are co-writes, and usually my co-writer wrote the best parts. But I’ve always believed that it’s not healthy to only co-write. Sometimes its a good idea to just sit there by yourself and dig, because a lot of the good stuff is buried deep. ”
Kevin Welch
Ashley Gorley moves in No. 2 this week, Shane McAnally into No. 3 and Josh Osborne to No. 4. On a bleaker note, there is not a female songwriter until No. 38 this week with Jessi Alexander.
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 recent addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.
Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.
Newsboys United And Michael W. Smith Team For Spring Tour
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“Surrounded & United: The Tour” kicks off April 12 in Baton Rouge, LA, and will make stops in Chicago, West Palm Beach, and several other cities before wrapping May 11 in Bismarck, North Dakota.
“We’re so excited to join our friend Michael W. Smith on the road next spring,” said Newsboys’ Michael Tait. “Over the years worship has become central to both our identities as artists, so having the chance to worship together will be such a special experience.”
“I’ve been friends with the guys in Newsboys for years, but for whatever reason, we’ve never had the opportunity to tour together,” Smith says. “The time finally seems right, and I’m really looking forward to this—great guys, great music, great worship. This is going to be fun!”
Frank Foster Signs With APA Nashville
/by Lorie HollabaughFrank Foster has signed with APA Nashville for booking representation.
Foster released his seventh studio album this year, ‘Til I’m Gone, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Album Sales chart, and No. 4 on Billboard’s Independent Album chart. He began his musical journey in 2011 with the release of his first album, Rowdy Reputation, and has sold over 125,000 albums and 325,000 singles over the course of his career.
Foster has toured with artists including Hank Williams Jr., Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jake Owen, Justin Moore, Randy Houser, Lee Brice and Gary Allan, and sold nearly 94,000 tickets over 46 shows during his 2017 tour. Foster’s music has garnered over 66.8 million streams on Pandora, 20 million spins on Spotify, and his videos have earned over 12 million views on YouTube.
“Frank Foster is true country original and he’s got the numbers to prove it,” said APA’s Matt McGuire. “He’s as authentic as it gets and we’re really excited to join him on the next phase of his amazing journey.”
The Music Heats Up At Fourth Annual BMI Maui Songwriters Festival
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured Top Row (L-R): Lukas Nelson, Brett Warren, Jon Randall, Ashley Monroe, Angaleena Presley, Miranda Lambert, BMI’s Jody Williams, Claudia Goodfellow and Danny Goodfellow. Bottom Row (L-R): Jessi Alexander, Brad Warren, Ray Benson, Randy Houser, Luke Combs and Lily Meola
It may be chilly in Nashville this week, but several of Nashville’s top BMI-affiliated singer-songwriters recently spent time in sunny Maui as part of the fourth annual BMI Maui Songwriters Festival, held Nov. 29-Dec. 1.
Country hitmaker Miranda Lambert headlined the festival, and brought fellow ace singer-songwriters Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley for a special Pistol Annies performance.
Other performers included Luke Combs, who took home the CMA’s Best New Artist honor last month and has just been nominated for Best New Artist honor at the upcoming Grammy Awards, along with Randy Houser, The Warren Brothers, Jessi Alexander, Steven Tyler, Jon Randall, Monroe, Ray Benson, Maui native Lily Meola, Lukas Nelson, and a surprise guest appearance from Willie Nelson.
Pictured: Willie Nelson (center) with son Lukas Nelson (right).
Shows were held at venues across the island including Fleetwood’s on Front Street, “How I Wrote That Song” at Grand Waliea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, and concluded with a packed house at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
In addition to being presented by BMI, the fourth annual Maui Songwriters Festival is supported by Goodfellow Family Foundation, HD Radio, SunTrust Bank, Texas Roadhouse and wine partner Daou Vineyards. Delta Air Lines is the official airline of the festival, with additional support provided by Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. Additional community sponsors include Pacific Home Loans and Wailea Resort Association.
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Pistol Annies
Songwriter-Producer Busbee Launches Development Company Altadena
/by Jessica Nicholsonbusbee
Songwriter-producer busbee, known for his work with artists including Maren Morris and Keith Urban, has launched music company Altadena, aimed at developing new artists and writers. The company launches as a joint venture with Warner Bros. Records to provide a range of services to the label’s recording artists.
Additionally, Altadena has entered into a publishing agreement with Warner/Chappell Music to provide support to its roster of writers, and has inked a creative partnership with Red Light Management. Overseeing operations for Altadena will be GM and VP of Creative Daniel Lee, Nashville Creative Director Noreen Prunier, and L.A. Creative Director Kelly Benini.
busbee, Founder and CEO, Altadena said, “I have taken steps throughout my career to pursue meaningful music and strong relationships. With the launch of Altadena, I’m excited to continue this pursuit in partnership with the incredible teams at Warner Bros. Records, Warner/Chappell and Red Light.”
Aaron Bay-Schuck, Co-Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Records said, “At Warner Bros., we constantly seek to do business with the best and brightest creative minds and risk takers. busbee not only has an impressive track record of artist development but also of producing as well as writing top hits across multiple genres. He has the passion for spotting new talent and the vision to fuse the worlds of country, pop, and alternative in truly refreshing ways. We look forward to collaborating with him on this new venture.”
Carianne Marshall, COO, Warner/Chappell Music said, “busbee’s inventive and experimental approach to songwriting makes him an incredible talent, and we are happy to expand our relationship with him as he continues to grow, now as an entrepreneur, with the start of his new company Altadena.”