Pictured (L-R): Ashley Gorley, Jon Nite, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, Jonathan Singleton, Rivers Rutherford and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP Songwriters Rivers Rutherford, Jon Nite, Jonathan Singleton and Ashley Gorley at the HGTV Lodge
Photos: ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski
ASCAP presented a bevy of hit songwriters and emerging songwriter-artists at the 2015 CMA Music Festival on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14. The third annual ASCAP Presents at the CMA Music Festival was held for the first time at the Chevrolet Roadhouse Stage on 4th Avenue and showcased more than two dozen acts, ranging from fresh-faced new talent to emerging songwriter-artists boasting publishing or record deals and recent tours with major label acts.
The lineup on Saturday included Vanessa Bransan, Jeston Cade, Josh Mirenda, Carlton Anderson, Hunter Phelps, CJ Solar, Kalisa Ewing, Jameson Rodgers, Joe Hall, Ryan Griffin andBrett Young.
Sunday’s showcase featured Brad Blackburn, Joshua Okeefe, Corey Kent White, Mitchell Lee, Jacob Davis, Steven Clawson, Hailey Whitters, Chris Cavanaugh, Lauren Jenkins, Patrick Thomas and David Ray.
The shows were hosted by ASCAP Nashville Vice President of Membership Michael Martin, Senior Creative Director Mike Sistad, Creative Director Robert Filhart and Creative Manager Beth Brinker.
On Sunday, June 14, ASCAP presented the second annual ASCAP Hit Songwriters Round at the HGTV Lodge in the CMA Music Festival’s “Fan Alley.” Mega-hit writers Ashley Gorley (“Don’t It,” “Tonight Looks Good On You,” “Kick the Dust Up”), Jon Nite (“Smoke,” “Beachin,” “We Were Us”), Jonathan Singleton (“A Guy Walks Into A Bar,” “Diamond Rings & Old Barstools,” “Let It Rain”) and Rivers Rutherford (“Southern Style,” “Real Good Man,” “These Are My People”) treated festival-goers to a taste of real Nashville with a traditional songwriters round. The show was hosted by Great American Country’s Suzanne Alexander.
Pictured (L-R): Fitzgerald Hartley’s Steve Emley, ASCAP’s Michael Martin, Joe Hall and ASCAP’s Robert Filhart
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Robert Filhart, Combustion’s Chris Van Belkom, Combustion Atlas Music Publishing’s Jameson Rodgers and ASCAP’s Michael Martin
Sony Music Nashville artist Ryan Griffin
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Robert Filhart, Big Machine Music songwriter-artist Lauren Jenkins, Big Machine Music’s Alex Heddle and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad
ASCAP’s Beth Brinker and Cornman Music/Warner Chappell Music’s songwriter-artist Josh Mirenda
Music Health Alliance Announces Board Of Directors
/by Troy_StephensonJay Williams (William Morris Endeavor Entertainment) will serve as President, with Earle Simmons (SunTrust Bank) serving as Treasurer and Dr. Michael Allsep (US Department of Defense) as Secretary. Other new members of the board are Todd Cayce (Richards & Southern), Christie Hauck (The Christie Retail Group), Sandy Knox (Wrinkled Records), Linda Edell Howard (Adams and Reese, LLP), DJ Smith (CIV Digital), Rebecca Strang (Harry Norman Realtors), Jennie Smythe (Girlilla Marketing) and Dr. Herman Williams (RegionalCare Hospital Partners).
“Music Health Alliance made a pledge to recruit the best and most talented leaders in music, healthcare and business to lead this organization,” says Tatum Allsep. “We are thrilled to announce these outstanding individuals who are 100 percent committed to the mission and long-term growth of MHA.”
The mission of Music Health Alliance is to “Heal the Music” by providing access to healthcare through services that protect, direct, and connect music professionals with medical and financial solutions. In two short years, they have saved over $5.5 million in insurance premiums, reduction of medical bills, and prescription costs.
For more information on Music Health Alliance, visit www.musichealthalliance.com.
Crazy Pitches Hosts ‘Dress Up For St. Jude’ Fundraiser
/by Lorie HollabaughNashville publishers Chelsea Kent of Still Working Music, Hannah Showmaker of Parallel Entertainment, Ciara Gardner of Disney Music Publishing, and Sarah Feldman of Writer’s Den Music came up with the fundraising idea after visiting the hospital.
“The trip really put on our hearts to come up with a way to give back to this great organization,” said Gardner. “St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is extremely close to Music Row’s heart, and it’s easy to see why.”
Organizers of the event are asking artists and industry execs to clean out their closets of formal wear dresses, jewelry, shoes, hanging racks, hangers, and other accessories for donation that will be sold at the Sept. 10 event at Still Working Music at 1625 Broadway in Nashville.
The following dropoff dates have been set below and anyone wishing to donate outside of these dates can contact crazypitches1@gmail.com to schedule an alternate pick up or drop off.
Dropoff dates
• June 23, 12-2 p.m. at Writer’s Den Music Group: 1604 17th Ave S. Nashville, TN 37212
• July 1, 12-2 p.m. at Disney Music Publishing, Nashville: 54 Music Sq. E., Ste. 390 Nashville, TN 37203
• Aug. 31, 12-2 p.m. at Parallel Entertainment: 1505 16th Ave. S. Nashville, TN 37212
• Sept. 1, 12-2 p.m. at Still Working Music Group: 1625 Broadway Nashville, TN 37203
Proceeds will go directly to the St. Jude music therapy program, which helps patients learn to express themselves and cope with their illnesses by writing and performing songs and discussing song lyrics.
Katie Dean Fills MCA Promo VP Role
/by Eric T. ParkerKatie Dean.
Katie Dean has been named Vice President, Promotion for MCA Records Nashville, replacing Van Haze who recently vacated the post.
Dean has dedicated the past ten years to UMG Nashville, with her most recent role being Vice President of Radio Marketing. She brings over two decades of experience, having held prior positions with AristoMedia, the CMA, Lyric Street Records and MediaBase.
“For 10 years now, Katie has established herself a critical part of our daily operations and strategy,” said Royce Risser UMG Nashville’s Senior Vice President of Promotion. “She has proven over and over that she is a fierce competitor, a tireless worker, and most importantly, a class act. I am thrilled to be handing her the reigns of MCA Promotion. I am more than confident that she will make an immediate impact and lead this staff into a great new era.”
“This roster is stacked with both country music legends and future superstars of the format, and I’m excited to continue MCA’s legacy of excellence with our team,” said Dean.
MCA Nashville is label home to Gary Allan, Clare Dunn, Vince Gill, Sam Hunt, Kip Moore, David Nail, George Strait and Josh Turner.
Marty Dodson Extends Deal with ole
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R) standing: Randall Foster (ole, Sr. Director, Creative Licensing), Emily Mueller (ole, Creative Manager), and Ben Strain (ole, Creative Director). Front (L-R): ole songwriter Marty Dodson and John Ozier (ole, GM Creative)
Marty Dodson has extended his publishing agreement with ole. Dodson signed with the company in 2010 as part of ole’s acquisition of the Blacktop Music Group and has penned several chart-toppers, including Billy Currington’s “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right” (which spent two weeks at the top) and “Let Me Down Easy,” as well as Kenny Chesney’s “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven.”
The new agreement includes worldwide co-publishing rights for Dodson’s future songs and exclusive administration of his digital video rights.
“Marty has been an invaluable member of ole’s songwriting team since he came onboard with Blacktop Music, and we’re happy to continue that relationship,” said John Ozier, GM, Creative/Nashville for ole. “ole is dedicated to expanding our robust, worldwide catalog of top-shelf music, and songwriters like Marty who can both write great songs and provide guidance for our newer artists are crucial to the completion of that goal. We look forward to hearing what he comes up with next.”
“ole and Robert Ott are among the most visionary publishers in the world, and I’m excited to be a part of such a dynamic company,” said Dodson. “There is no place I would trust more to promote my music.”
Current ole writers include Rush, Timbaland, Tyler Farr, Josh Dorr, Gord Bamford, Brett Jones, Dave Turnbull, Jeremy Stover, and Dodson.
Apple Swiftly Reverses Decision to Withhold Royalties
/by Eric T. ParkerTaylor Swift awarded with the IFPI Global Recording Artist of 2014 Award. Photo: IFPI.com/Dave Hogan for Getty Images
Give Taylor Swift less than 500 words and about 16 hours and she will persuade the world’s largest company, Apple, to find value in music.
Apple previously said it would not pay rights holders for their music consumed during the 3-month free trial period of the new Apple Music streaming service, but that decision was swiftly reversed after the pop superstar posted a note on Tumblr Sunday (June 21).
She spoke out in opposition on behalf of the “echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in [her] social circles who are afraid to speak up….This is not about me. This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success. This is about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt. This is about the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field…but will not get paid for a quarter of a year’s worth of plays on his or her songs…We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.”
Later that day, Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue phoned Swift, who is on tour in Amsterdam, and publicly released a statement on Twitter (below) confirming the company which posted $13.6 billion in net profit last quarter, will indeed be paying artists.
In an interview with Cue, Billboard cites Apple’s excuse for withholding payments as “planning to originally negotiate a higher royalty rate, which they will stick with.”
Cue declined to state that royalty rate, however during a separate interview with BuzzFeed, he confirmed, “[Apple] will pay artists on a per stream basis during the free three-month trial. Afterwards, it will pay music owners 71.5-percent of Apple Music’s subscription revenue in the United States. Internationally, the number will fluctuate, but will average out at around 73-percent.”
BMLG’s Scott Borchetta promotes Music Has Value. Photo: Rick Diamond.
Swift publicly expressed gratitude for the decision turn-around but has not yet commented on whether or not her original declaration to exclude her latest album, 1989, from the new streaming service will be reversed.
Arguably today’s largest superstar, Swift has used her platform to fight low royalty rates on behalf of artists. She removed her records from streaming music service Spotify—where her albums are still unavailable on its paid and unpaid platforms—after penning a 2014 Wall Street Journal op-ed. Her Nashville-based record label, Big Machine Label Group, has since begun a campaign promoting the premise: “Music Has Value.”
Joey Martin Feek Fighting Stage Four Cancer
/by Lorie HollabaughJoey and daughter Indiana. Photo: www.thislifeilive.com
Joey Martin Feek, of the country duo Joey and Rory, has had a recurrence of cancer and has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cervical cancer. Feek had surgery to treat the cancer in 2014, and doctors believed they had removed it all, but she began having health issues again that led to the recent diagnosis.
Husband Rory Feek wrote on his blog that the family, including daughter Indiana, (whom Joey gave birth to in February of last year,) will travel to Chicago to visit a cancer treatment center to integrate natural diet and supplements and faith-based healing therapies into her treatment regimen along with chemo and radiation. The two are thankful for the outpouring of love that has come their way since the recent news, and are hopeful for the future.
“Our hope is that we’ll spend a good portion of the summer there, and then by harvest time in her garden, she’ll have her rubber boots on and will be up and down those rows gathering the harvest that the Lord has provided,” says Rory. “And like most falls, she’ll spend countless days canning and freezing and cooking what she grew, the hard way. I can’t begin to tell you how much love and support we’ve received in the last 5 days through emails, calls, texts, flowers, cards, gifts and above all prayers. We’ve been shown lots of love before from friends and family, from fans and strangers. But this… this is a whole other level of love. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.”
Artist Pics: Chesney, Brooks & Yearwood, Paisley & Underwood, Sheryl Crow With Time Jumpers
/by Lorie HollabaughChesney Tour Thrills 54,000 Fans
Packers coach Mike McCarthy (not pictured) and Chesney presented a fan in the audience with a signed helmet. Photo: Jill Trunnell
Kenny Chesney made a triumphant return to Green Bay’s Lambeau Field Saturday (June 20), thrilling the crowd of nearly 54,000 with plenty of surprises. The evening marked the second time he’s taken over the historic home of the Green Bay Packers and the only time an artist has played it twice, and the fans were more than ready to party the night away with him.
A five-tiered cake was rolled out along with a giant margarita for a special birthday celebration for buddy Grace Potter as Chesney led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to his duet partner, who just days earlier had celebrated her first No. 1 song with their collaboration “Wild Child,” which they performed for the amped crowd.
Kenny Chesney at Lambeau Field on June 20, 2015
Photo: Jill Trunnell
The Time Jumpers Welcome Surprise Guests
Sheryl Crow, Eagles member/solo rocker Joe Walsh, drummer Steve Jordan and bluesman Tab Benoit turned out to see The Time Jumpers’ June 15 show at 3rd and Lindsley. Walsh and Jordan (who has backed Eric Clapton, John Mayer and Keith Richards) were in town recording and stopped by to check out the famed Jumpers. Crow and Benoit sat in with the band for a bit. The songstress lent a hand vocally on the George Strait classic “When Did You Stop Loving Me,” and Benoit joined in on George Jones’ “Bartender Blues.”
Pictured (L-R): TTJ’s Joe Spivey and Paul Franklin, Steve Jordan, TTJ’s Vince Gill and Andy Reiss, Joe Walsh and TTJ’s Kenny Sears, Larry Franklin and Jeff Taylor
The Time Jumpers’ Kenny Sears at the mic with Sheryl Crow.
Brooks, Yearwood Make Surprise Opry Appearance
Grand Ole Opry members Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood made a surprise appearance before a sold-out crowd at the Grand Ole Opry on Friday (June 19). Introduced by fellow Opry member Vince Gill, Yearwood sang her debut No. 1 “She’s In Love With The Boy,” and then she and Brooks delivered a medley of classic country duets: Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn (“After The Fire Is Gone”), Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius (“I Don’t Want To Have To Marry You”), and George Jones and Tammy Wynette (“Golden Ring”).
Photo: Chris Hollo/ ©2015 Grand Ole Opry
Paisley Opens For Rolling Stones, Recruits Guest Carrie Underwood
Brad Paisley was the opening act for The Rolling Stones Zip Code Tour stop at LP Field in Nashville on June 17. Carrie Underwood joined Paisley on their No. 1 hit duet, “Remind Me,” and Joe Walsh of the Eagles played his classic “Life’s Been Good” and stayed on stage to play on Paisley’s “Alcohol.” Later, during the Rolling Stones show Paisley was the special guest on “Dead Flowers,” trading verses with Mick Jagger and guitar licks with Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood.
Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood open for The Rolling Stones. Photo: Ben Enos
Van Haze Exits MCA, Joins Red Light
/by Sarah SkatesVan Haze
Van Haze exited his post as VP of Promotion for MCA Nashville last week and is joining the Nashville office of Red Light Management today (June 22).
With a career background in radio promotion, Haze will be transitioning to a management capacity at Red Light.
His replacement at MCA will be named this week.
Haze joined Universal Music Group six years ago.
Creative Nation Signs Lori McKenna for Publishing, Management
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Jeff Skaggs, Beth Laird, Lori McKenna, Luke Laird. Photo: Spencer Combs
Hit songwriter and critically acclaimed artist Lori McKenna has signed a publishing and management deal with independent company Creative Nation.
The Boston-native has writing credits on recent hits/cuts including “Girl Crush,” “Your Side of the Bed” and “Sober” (Little Big Town); “I Want Crazy” (Hunter Hayes) and “God Made Girls” (RaeLynn). McKenna has released eight lauded studio albums.
“I wanted to find a place where I could better balance my career as a songwriter and I’m so excited to start this new venture with Creative Nation,” says McKenna. “It’s a dream come true to be a part of such an amazing team with my friends.”
“The fact that we’ve had such incredible writers come to us and want to work with us and be here, that’s really blown my mind,” said Beth Laird, Creative Nation Co-Owner. “I want to always feel like a family, which can always get bigger as long as you’re just very careful to get different people on the team.”
Previously with Universal Music Publishing Group for the last six years, McKenna tells Billboard, “I’m a singer-songwriter at the end of the day, and when I started talking to Beth as a publisher, she really lit a fire under my artist ass. I’ve always wanted to be the best writer I could be, but now without putting the artist side on the backburner.”
McKenna joins Creative Nation’s roster of artists and songwriters: Luke Laird, Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby, Maggie Chapman, Native Run, Steve Moakler and recently signed Pulse/Creative Nation writer, Tyler Johnson.
Third Annual ASCAP Presents at CMA Music Festival
/by Kelsey_GradyPictured (L-R): Ashley Gorley, Jon Nite, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, Jonathan Singleton, Rivers Rutherford and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP Songwriters Rivers Rutherford, Jon Nite, Jonathan Singleton and Ashley Gorley at the HGTV Lodge
Photos: ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski
ASCAP presented a bevy of hit songwriters and emerging songwriter-artists at the 2015 CMA Music Festival on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14. The third annual ASCAP Presents at the CMA Music Festival was held for the first time at the Chevrolet Roadhouse Stage on 4th Avenue and showcased more than two dozen acts, ranging from fresh-faced new talent to emerging songwriter-artists boasting publishing or record deals and recent tours with major label acts.
The lineup on Saturday included Vanessa Bransan, Jeston Cade, Josh Mirenda, Carlton Anderson, Hunter Phelps, CJ Solar, Kalisa Ewing, Jameson Rodgers, Joe Hall, Ryan Griffin andBrett Young.
Sunday’s showcase featured Brad Blackburn, Joshua Okeefe, Corey Kent White, Mitchell Lee, Jacob Davis, Steven Clawson, Hailey Whitters, Chris Cavanaugh, Lauren Jenkins, Patrick Thomas and David Ray.
The shows were hosted by ASCAP Nashville Vice President of Membership Michael Martin, Senior Creative Director Mike Sistad, Creative Director Robert Filhart and Creative Manager Beth Brinker.
On Sunday, June 14, ASCAP presented the second annual ASCAP Hit Songwriters Round at the HGTV Lodge in the CMA Music Festival’s “Fan Alley.” Mega-hit writers Ashley Gorley (“Don’t It,” “Tonight Looks Good On You,” “Kick the Dust Up”), Jon Nite (“Smoke,” “Beachin,” “We Were Us”), Jonathan Singleton (“A Guy Walks Into A Bar,” “Diamond Rings & Old Barstools,” “Let It Rain”) and Rivers Rutherford (“Southern Style,” “Real Good Man,” “These Are My People”) treated festival-goers to a taste of real Nashville with a traditional songwriters round. The show was hosted by Great American Country’s Suzanne Alexander.
Pictured (L-R): Fitzgerald Hartley’s Steve Emley, ASCAP’s Michael Martin, Joe Hall and ASCAP’s Robert Filhart
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Robert Filhart, Combustion’s Chris Van Belkom, Combustion Atlas Music Publishing’s Jameson Rodgers and ASCAP’s Michael Martin
Sony Music Nashville artist Ryan Griffin
Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Robert Filhart, Big Machine Music songwriter-artist Lauren Jenkins, Big Machine Music’s Alex Heddle and ASCAP’s Mike Sistad
ASCAP’s Beth Brinker and Cornman Music/Warner Chappell Music’s songwriter-artist Josh Mirenda