Pictured (L-R): Narvel Blackstock (Starstruck Management), Tiffany Dunn (Loeb & Loeb LLP), Alexa Stallings (Prescription Songs), JD Groover (Sea Gayle Music), Brandon Gregg (Sea Gayle Music), Marc Driskill (Sea Gayle Music), Austin Marshall (Starstruck Management), Maggie Rose, Katie Mitzell Fagan (Prescription Songs), Christina Wiltshire (Sea Gayle Music), Jake Gear (Sea Gayle Music), Rachel Wein (Prescriptions Songs), Jody Williams (BMI)
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Maggie Rose has inked a joint-venture publishing agreement with Sea Gayle Music and Prescription Songs.
The deal marks the first joint venture between country powerhouse publisher Sea Gayle and the Nashville office of pop publishing company Prescription Songs. Sea Gayle was launched in 1999 by Brad Paisley, Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois. The company earned ASCAP Country Publisher of the Year honors in 2010 and 2011 and is known for country hits including Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”
Prescription Songs earned ASCAP’s Indie Publisher of the Year title from 2013-2015, with a catalog that includes Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” “ET,” and “Dark Horse,” as well as Maroon 5’s “Sugar” and “Don’t Wanna Know,” among others.
“The forward thinking of two very different, but reputable publishing companies and their willingness to partner together on my behalf has afforded me the absolute best fit I could ever find as a writer,” Rose says. “To me, it simply mirrors the exciting evolution of both my artistry and of Nashville as a whole. I’m grateful to be in an environment where my versatility as a songwriter is valued.”
Rose is managed by Narvel Blackstock and Austin Marshall at Starstruck Entertainment and is signed to CAA Nashville.
“Maggie is such an incredible talent! It’s impossible not to fall in love with her music and her artistry. We are ecstatic to be part of her team and, along with Prescription, to put our collective creative resources to work with her,” says Executive VP / GM of Sea Gayle Marc Driskill.
“Though pop music has been our main focus in Nashville, it has been so exciting starting to work with a writer like Maggie who can be put into any room we need her to be in. She is a perfect example of the evolving music scene occurring in Nashville. Getting to partner with a company like Sea Gayle, we feel our resources will be capitalized to the fullest for a writer like Maggie and we are so excited to have her as part of the family,” says Head of Prescription Nashville Katie Fagan.
“We’re very excited about this unique partnership as it will allow Maggie to continue to blur the lines between genres and push creative boundaries as a writer,” says Blackstock.
Matthew West Issues Deluxe Version Of ‘All In,’ Featuring Acoustic Tracks
/by Jessica NicholsonMatthew West has released a special version of his chart-topping album All In, featuring five new acoustic tracks.
The new tracks included on the redelivered version include the title track “All In,” as well as “Jesus & You,” “The Beautiful Things We Miss,” “Mercy Is A Song” and the No. 1 hit song “Broken Things.”
“The songwriting process for [All In], and every record I make, usually begins with my guitar and my journal. From there, these songs begin to take shape and I get to watch them grow up throughout my time in the studio until they’re all ready to be sent out into the world,” said West. “But there’s something special to me about revisiting these songs and playing them the way they were first written – leaving some of the bells and whistles behind. That’s why I wanted to re-release this record I’m so proud of, with new versions of some of the songs in a more stripped-down form.”
The special release follows the sixth annual K-LOVE Fan Awards, where West teamed up with longtime friend Mandisa to host his fourth K-LOVE Awards at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House.
Scooter Carusoe Signs Joint Venture With Rezonant Music Publishing, BMG
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Kos Weaver/BMG; Scooter Carusoe; Tim Wipperman/Rezonant
Scooter Carusoe has signed a joint venture publishing deal with Rezonant Music Publishing and BMG. The companies have also purchased his recent catalog.
Carusoe co-wrote Darius Rucker’s latest No. 1, “For the First Time,” as well as the Brett Eldredge chart toppers “Wanna Be That Song” and “Mean To Me” and Kenny Chesney hits “Better As A Memory” and “Anything But Mine.” He has also had songs recorded by Jordan Davis, Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts, Chris Janson, Chris Young, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, Eli Young Band and more.
“The opportunity to work with an elite lyricist like Scooter as well as Kos and his creative team at BMG was compelling for us at Rezonant,” said Tim Wipperman, Rezonant’s CEO and founding partner. “It’s a great combination.”
“Scooter is one of the best songwriters around, and in a lane all his own,” said Kos Weaver, BMG EVP Nashville. “We are thrilled to be representing him with Tim and Rezonant.”
“I am very proud to be part of the Rezonant team,” said Carusoe. “They are an exciting addition to the Nashville music community and the perfect partner for me as I start a new chapter in my career. The uniqueness of their model, which also allows us to partner with BMG, gives me a lot of support moving forward and a new energized spirit.”
CMA Songwriters Series Announces Chicago Show With Brett Eldredge
/by Lorie HollabaughBrett Eldredge, Ross Copperman, Tom Douglas, and Jordan Reynolds will appear on a special CMA Songwriters Series show in Chicago at Joe’s Bar on Weed Street July 24. The show will feature intimate performances from the writers along with the stories behind their hit songs.
During the trip, the CMA Foundation, CMA’s philanthropic arm, will also visit Chicago’s Notes for Notes studio, located in the Near West Side neighborhood. As part of U.S. Bank’s Community Possible giving platform and its Places to Play partnership along with the CMA Foundation, both entities will present $75,000 in funding to Chicago’s Notes for Notes studio during the visit, which will sustain operational costs for the remainder of 2018.
In 2017, the CMA Foundation partnered with Notes for Notes to help fund studios across the country and allow the spaces to operate freely each year. By investing in these state-of-the-art studios, youth are given the opportunity to create, experience and play music in their community.
Tickets for the performance are on sale now at joesbar.com/SuSF0. General admission tickets cost $40.
Average Joes Entertainment’s Sarah Ross Preps ‘Nervous Breakdown’
/by Jessica NicholsonSarah Ross will release the EP Nervous Breakdown on July 20 via Average Joes Entertainment. The five-song collection was produced by Jim Kaufman, and includes the duet, “All I Want to Know,” featuring Asking Alexandria’s Danny Worsnop.
Sarah Ross penned three tracks on the project. The title track was penned by Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Trevor Rosen, and Brandy Clark.
Nervous Breakdown Track Listing:
1. Nervous Breakdown (Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Trevor Rosen, Brandy Clark)
2. Headed For A Goodbye (Sarah Restuccio, Spencer Bartoletti, Wade Boyer)
3. All I Want To Know feat./Danny Worsnop (Aaron G. Barker, Don May)
4. Love This Strong (Sarah Restuccio, Spencer Bartoletti)
5. Doin’ Just Fine (Sarah Restuccio, David Fanning, Curt Gibbs)
Riley Clemmons Preps Debut Album
/by Jessica NicholsonRiley Clemmons will release her first full-length project with Capitol CMG on Aug. 3. The album includes the single “Broken Prayers” and newly released “Better For It.” Clemmons will spend the release date of her album at Ryan Seacrest Foundation’s Seacrest Studios at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in her hometown of Nashville.
“Music has always been a way for me to find light and hope in the middle of darkness,” shares Clemmons. “Lyrics and melodies unite people in such a beautifully unique way, showing us we’re not that different from one another. I hope these songs help others to find hope, light and unity, just as writing them helped me to find my faith through the lens of a new perspective.”
Released earlier this month, “Better For It” was streamed more than half a million times globally in the first 10 days. Spotify’s New Music Friday, Apple Music’s Breaking Pop and SiriusXM have already picked up on the track. The music video, which was filmed in one continuous take, already has more than 350k views on YouTube.
“Broken Prayers” has been streamed 14+ million times globally, in addition to a multi-week top 5 reign at Hot AC radio and Apple Music playlists placements such as Future Hits, Pure Pop, Charm and Breaking Pop.
Hitting over 25 markets this fall, Clemmons will join friends Danny Gokey and Tauren Wells for “The Hope Encounter” Tour this September.
Riley Clemmons Track Listing:
Hold On (Riley Clemmons/Dan Muckala/Phil Bentley)
Better For It (Riley Clemmons/Ben Glover/Colby Wedgeworth)
Saving Me (Riley Clemmons/Ben Glover/Colby Wedgeworth)
Broke (Riley Clemmons/Kevin Kadish/Brandon Jane)
Remember (Riley Clemmons/Kipp Williams/Lindsey Sweat)
Running After You (Riley Clemmons/Lindsey Sweat/Kipp Williams/Dan Muckala)
Honest (Riley Clemmons/Jordan Sapp/Paul Duncan)
Broken Prayers (Riley Clemmons/Emily Weisband/Josh Kerr/Ben Glover/Tedd Tjornhom)
Drop Everything (Riley Clemmons/Tedd Tjornhorn/Tony Wood)
You First (Riley Clemmons/Ruslan Odnoralov/Dalton Diehl/Angel Velazquez)
I’ll Stay (Riley Clemmons/Josh Bronleewe/Matt Armstrong)
Broken Prayers (Piano Version)
Lynn Anderson Rose Garden Opens In Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonThe late Lynn Anderson, known for her signature 1970 song “Rose Garden,” was honored with the unveiling of the Lynn Anderson Rose Garden at Nashville’s Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home and Memorial Park on Friday (June 15), Lynn Anderson Day in the state of Tennessee.
This garden at Lynn Anderson’s final resting place features 114 Lynn Anderson Hybrid Tea Roses and is open to the public every day from sunrise to sunset. Anderson died in 2015.
In a private ceremony attended by Country Music Hall of Fame Member Brenda Lee, Lynn Anderson’s daughters Lisa Sutton and Melissa Hempel and her father Casey Anderson were joined by representatives from the American Rose Society, Weeks Roses and Woodlawn’s executive team for a standing room only dedication and ribbon cutting.
Lynn’s daughter Lisa Sutton, Woodlawn’s Jeff Duffer & Lynn’s daughter Melissa Hempel. Photo: Randy Dorman
In a two-year initiative that was led by the Weeks Roses horticultural team, the Lynn Anderson Tea Rose was re-grown for a limited run for family and friends and to create this impressive collection of the singer’s namesake rose in a memorial that will pay tribute to her songs and to roses for years to come. Lynn’s daughter Lisa Sutton spearheaded the effort to create the garden in 2016 and once they broke ground on May 2, 2018 the build out only took just a little over a month.
“We are honored to unveil a permanent memorial to mom here in Nashville at Woodlawn,” says Sutton. “The beauty of this project is that we also brought back the rose, which has been out of commission for almost two decades. Rose Garden changed my mom’s life and it also changed the face and sound of country music. We are happy to share these 114 Lynn Anderson Hybrid Tea Roses, the largest collection ever of the rose, with the community.
Front Row (L-R): American Rose Society Presidential Candidate Chris VanCleve, Weeks Roses David Johnson & Lynn Anderson’s father Casey Anderson. Middle Row (L-R) American Rose Society Former President Marilyn Wellan, American Rose Society’s Laura Seabaugh, Lynn Anderson’ daughter Melissa Hempel. Back Row (L-R) Lynn Anderson’s daughter Lisa Sutton andWoodlawn’s Jeffrey Duffer. Photo: Randy Dorman
Liz Cooper & The Stampede’s ‘Window Flowers’ Set For August Release
/by Lorie HollabaughRecorded at Welcome to 1979 in Nashville with co-producer TJ Elias, Window Flowers is the culmination of a year-long dedication in which Cooper pushed herself to spend every single day creating in at least one medium and saying “yes” to everything she was asked to do. “Our first time working with an outside producer and our first time in a proper recording studio was when we recorded Window Flowers,” said Cooper. “TJ Elias’ mad scientist ideas, an abundance of hot dogs, and lack of sunlight pushed us outside of our comfort zones to work more cohesively as a unit than we ever had before.”
Cooper grew up in Baltimore and attended Towson University on a full athletic scholarship for golf, but left after her freshmen year to pursue a musician’s path in Nashville. In Music City she she discovered her sound and singular voice through a new creative community which includes the likes of Ron Gallo, Rayland Baxter, Okey Dokey, Erin Rae, Cage the Elephant, The Weeks, The Wild Feathers, Jamestown Revival, Desert Noises, Future Thieves and Caroline Rose.
In celebration of the release, the band is currently on tour including several dates supporting Houndmouth, select headline performances and summer festival sets at Wildwood MusicFest and LouFest.
WINDOW FLOWERS Track List:
1. Sleepyhead
2. The Night
3. Outer Space
4. Mountain Main
5. Kaleidoscope Eyes
6. Dalai Lama
7. Motions
8. Fondly & Forever
9. Lights
10. Hey Man
11. Walls of White
Green River Ordinance’s Josh Jenkins Preps Solo Album
/by Jessica NicholsonSinger-songwriter Josh Jenkins, who has spent the last 17 years with Green River Ordinance, releases his solo single Friday (June 22). “Perfect Mess,” produced by Eric Massee, is the first release from Jenkins’ upcoming solo project, which will be released via Jonestown Records.
“In writing for this record I wanted to remove any boxes of where I could go and give myself permission to create for me,” said Jenkins. “‘Perfect Mess’ is the first chapter of that.”
Born and raised in Ft. Worth, Texas, Jenkins moved to Nashville in 2012 where he signed a publishing deal with SMACKSongs to focus on a career as a songwriter. Since then, he has penned songs recorded by Jordan Davis, Walker Hayes, Randy Houser and more.
Ben Rector Releases ‘Magic’
/by Jessica NicholsonNashville-based pop singer-songwriter Ben Rector releases his album Magic via OK Kid Recordings/AWAL Recordings today (June 22).
Rector teamed with producers Tony Hoffer (Beck), and John Fields (Pink, Demi Lovato) to create the synth-fueled album.
Rector’s previous project, Brand New, debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200, and earned a radio hit with the title track. “Brand New” earned more than 43 million Spotify streams, and more than 40 film and TV placements. He had an opening slot on Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s Soul2Soul World Tour last year, and has penned songs for projects by Lady Antebellum, Steve Moakler, Dave Barnes and others.
Rector will launch his 28-date ‘Magic: The Tour’ on Sept. 19 at Memphis’ Orpheum Theatre. The headlining trek continues into November, with stops in New York, Chicago, Atlanta and Austin, as well as a two-night hometown stand at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
Rector is represented by Activist Artists Management, Creative Artists Agency, Shore Fire Media and Philip James Agency.
Magic Track List:
1. Extraordinary Magic
2. I Will Always Be Yours
3. Drive
4. Old Friends
5. Duo
6. Kids
7. Green
8. Sometimes
9. Wherever You Are
10. Over and Over
11. Boxes
12. Peace
13. Love Like This
Prescription Songs, Sea Gayle Music Ink Joint Venture With Maggie Rose
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Narvel Blackstock (Starstruck Management), Tiffany Dunn (Loeb & Loeb LLP), Alexa Stallings (Prescription Songs), JD Groover (Sea Gayle Music), Brandon Gregg (Sea Gayle Music), Marc Driskill (Sea Gayle Music), Austin Marshall (Starstruck Management), Maggie Rose, Katie Mitzell Fagan (Prescription Songs), Christina Wiltshire (Sea Gayle Music), Jake Gear (Sea Gayle Music), Rachel Wein (Prescriptions Songs), Jody Williams (BMI)
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Maggie Rose has inked a joint-venture publishing agreement with Sea Gayle Music and Prescription Songs.
The deal marks the first joint venture between country powerhouse publisher Sea Gayle and the Nashville office of pop publishing company Prescription Songs. Sea Gayle was launched in 1999 by Brad Paisley, Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois. The company earned ASCAP Country Publisher of the Year honors in 2010 and 2011 and is known for country hits including Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”
Prescription Songs earned ASCAP’s Indie Publisher of the Year title from 2013-2015, with a catalog that includes Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” “ET,” and “Dark Horse,” as well as Maroon 5’s “Sugar” and “Don’t Wanna Know,” among others.
“The forward thinking of two very different, but reputable publishing companies and their willingness to partner together on my behalf has afforded me the absolute best fit I could ever find as a writer,” Rose says. “To me, it simply mirrors the exciting evolution of both my artistry and of Nashville as a whole. I’m grateful to be in an environment where my versatility as a songwriter is valued.”
Rose is managed by Narvel Blackstock and Austin Marshall at Starstruck Entertainment and is signed to CAA Nashville.
“Maggie is such an incredible talent! It’s impossible not to fall in love with her music and her artistry. We are ecstatic to be part of her team and, along with Prescription, to put our collective creative resources to work with her,” says Executive VP / GM of Sea Gayle Marc Driskill.
“Though pop music has been our main focus in Nashville, it has been so exciting starting to work with a writer like Maggie who can be put into any room we need her to be in. She is a perfect example of the evolving music scene occurring in Nashville. Getting to partner with a company like Sea Gayle, we feel our resources will be capitalized to the fullest for a writer like Maggie and we are so excited to have her as part of the family,” says Head of Prescription Nashville Katie Fagan.
“We’re very excited about this unique partnership as it will allow Maggie to continue to blur the lines between genres and push creative boundaries as a writer,” says Blackstock.