Combustion Music, Atlas Music Welcome Mickey Jack Cones To Roster

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MJC Combustion Atlas Signing

Pictured (L-R): Chris Farren, Mickey Jack Cones, Chris Van Belkom.

Producer, musician, and songwriter Mickey Jack Cones has produced songs including Joe Nichols‘ “Sunny and 75” and “Yeah,” and Dustin Lynch‘s “Where It’s At (Yep Yep).” He’s also worked with Trace Adkins, Jeff Bates, Thompson Square, and more.

The multi-talented Cones has now joined Combustion Music, along with partner Atlas Music Publishing, under a long-term publishing agreement.

Combustion Music’s President, Chris Farren, says, “I have been a big fan of Mickey’s for some time. He is a triple threat as a musician, songwriter and producer, and is one of the hottest producers in Nashville. What the rest of the town may not know is that he is an equally good songwriter, and we plan on helping him grow that facet of his career. We couldn’t be more fired up.”

Cones will work with Combustion’s creative team (Chris van Belkom and Kenley Flynn) to seek out new opportunities, manage his calendar and pitch his songs.

In addition to his work as a musician, songwriter and producer, Cones owns Westwood Studios, a retreat-like recording studio in Nashville’s Berry Hill area.

Cones says, “I am beyond thrilled to be joining such a force of a team with Combustion and Atlas. They are, irrefutably, among the heaviest of hitters in the music publishing industry. Their proven hit making track record speaks for itself. Not to mention, it doesn’t get any better than this caliber of people. Creatively and personally, I couldn’t ask for a better partnership.”

2015 K-LOVE Fan Awards Reveals First Round of Performers

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k love awards

The first round of performers has been announced for the 2015 K-LOVE Fan Awards, which will take place on May 31, 2015 at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, Colton Dixon, For KING & COUNTRY, Francesca Battistelli, Hawk Nelson, Lauren Daigle, Third Day and TobyMac are among those who will bring their talents to the K-Love Fan Awards stage this year.

The K-LOVE Fan Awards is part of the K-LOVE Ultimate Fan Experience Weekend, held at The Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville on May 29-31.

FOX & Friends’ Elisabeth Hasselbeck and actor Kirk Cameron will host the fan-generated awards show that honors artists, authors and athletes who impact popular culture in a positive and encouraging way.

For more information, visit www.KLOVEFanAwards.com.

DISClaimer: Janson’s “Boat” Is Sailing High

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ChrisJansonThere’s a new sheriff in town.

Actually, he’s been around awhile, performing often at the Grand Ole Opry, writing songs beaucoup, issuing records on an independent label and earning a reputation as a highly entertaining stage performer. Now Chris Janson not only has a major-label shot, but has the most delightful new song of the season. Give that man a Disc of the Day award.

Also lend your ears to the singles by The Cadillac Three, Jason Michael Carroll, Lee Brice and Steven Ybarra. Not to mention The Bigsbys. I know next-to-nothing about these guys, except that their raw oomph won them my DisCovery Award. Judging by their touring schedule, I’d say they are Texans.

CHRIS JANSON/Buy Me A Boat
Writers: Chris Janson/Chris DuBois; Producers: Chris DuBois/Brent Anderson/Chris Janson; Publishers: Red Vinyl/Buckkilla/House of Sea Gayle, BMI/ASCAP; Warner Bros.
-Where do I begin? The shuddering-twang guitar work; the hillbilly-accented delivery; the wildly inventive lyric; the hook-filled melody; the blue-collar message. It’s all here, and then some. In a word, brilliant. The rest of you gathered here today for my listening enjoyment might as well pack your bags.

NATASHA BORZILOVA/Wilder Days
Writer: Natasha Borzilova; Producers: Natasha Borzilova/John Caldwell; Publisher: Uncle Hadley, ASCAP; Hadley Music
-The title tune of this former Bering Strait frontwoman’s fourth solo outing is kissed with mandolin twinkles and crunchy guitar chops. It takes a good while to get to the hook. But the getting-there sure is listenable.

THE CADILLAC THREE/White Lightning
Writer: Jaren Johnston; Producers: Dann Huff/Justin Niebank; Publishers: Sony-ATV/Texa Rae, ASCAP; Big Machine
-Not to be confused with the George Jones/Sawyer Brown chestnut, this is a love song where emotion hits him with the force of a thunderstorm. Well written, produced with panache and performed with intense believability. Groovy in the extreme. This trio has so far issued nothing but excellent records. It is high time you played them.

RANDY ROGERS & WADE BOWEN/In The Next Life
Writers: Wade Bowen/Randy Rogers; Producer: Lloyd Maines; Publishers: Theycallmepaul/Warner-Tamerlane/Trouble Songs, ASCAP/BMI; Lil’ Buddy Toons
-These two longtime buddies have teamed up on a CD titled Hold My Beer Vol. 1. It kicks off with this autobiographical thumpy jangler. Their brotherhood/friendship glows in every note. And, boy, is this country, country, country. My kinda music. In case you’re wondering: What happens “in the next life,” is “we’re gonna be ourselves again.”

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL & THE TIME JUMPERS/Faded Love
Writers: Bob Wills/John Wills; Producers: Ray Benson/Sam Seifert; Publishers: none listed; Bismeaux (track)
-Asleep at the Wheel’s latest Bob Wills tribute CD is called Still the King. You’ll find Lyle Lovett, Brad Paisley, Merle Haggard, Old Crow Medicine Show, George Strait, Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson and more on its 22 tracks. The most poignant one is this — the all-time western-swing classic performed by the two bands on earth that understand this music best, highlighted by a soul-piercing vocal by Dawn Sears. The Jumpers’ singer died last December, so this is her fitting epitaph.

The Bigsbys

The Bigsbys

THE BIGSBYS/Keep You Waiting
Writers: Alex Smith/Jonathan Tyler; Producer: Jonathan Tyler; Publisher: Swanson Hill, no performance rights listed; Shiner
-This four-piece combo lets fly with a robust, muscular, country-rocking sound. The single features a deep, deep bass rhythm track and three-part harmony choruses. There is a scrappy energy here that I find enormously endearing. Recommended.

LEE BRICE/That Don’t Sound Like You
Writers: Lee Brice/Rhett Akins/Ashley Gorley; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Curb (track)
– Admittedly, following “I Don’t Dance” and “Drinking Class” is daunting. For any other artist, this would be a perfectly good single. But by comparison with its predecessors, the song is ordinary.

SCOTT DEAN/In My Arms
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; SDC (track)
-This guy works the Texas market. To go further, I’d recommend a more imaginative production approach.

JASON MICHAEL CARROLL/God Only Knows
Writers: J.M. Carroll/P. Good/A.J. Babcock; Producer: J.M. Carroll; Publishers: none listed; For the Loney/Malaco (track)
-Not to be confused with The Beach Boys classic with the same title, this is a country rocker about a no-good man who loses his gal because of his carousing. The track bristles with energy, and his singing has never sounded stronger. Well done.

STEVEN YBARRA/What I Really Want To Say
Writers: Steven Ybarra/Diane Waters; Producers: Steven Ybarra, Chris Rodriguez, Dran Michael & Chad Jeffers; Publishers: none listed; Pacific (track)
-The title tune of this fellow’s CD kicks off the collection with some ear-opening, thunderous, stark drum pounding. But by the time he swings into the chorus, it’s sunny fiddling, soaring guitars and tenor vocal gliding all the way. Polished, promising and highly professional.

2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Rules In Favor Of Pandora

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pandora-logoThe 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the March 19, 2014 rulings in performing rights organization ASCAP’s case against Pandora, rejecting efforts by ASCAP and music publishers that would force the internet radio company to pay higher royalties and have access to fewer songs.

The appeals court rejected ASCAP’s effort to increase the rate that Pandora must pay to license its music from 2013 to 2015, thus upholding two rulings from U.S. District Judge Denise Cote (Manhattan). The first ruling required Pandora to pay ASCAP a royalty rate of 1.85 percent of revenue for use of its songs from 2011-2015. ASCAP has proposed an escalating rate that capped at three percent.

The second ruling rejected efforts by Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Publishing, as well as Sony/ATV Music Publishing and EMI Music Publishing, to withdraw their new media licensing rights from ASCAP.

ASCAP WE CREATE MUSIC1“This ruling reaffirms what we already know – that the ASCAP Consent Decree and the rules that govern music licensing are outdated and completely out of step with the way people listen to music today,” said ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews of the ruling. “We are encouraged that the Department of Justice is reviewing the ASCAP Consent Decree and by the growing chorus of voices in support of our efforts to modernize music licensing – from the Copyright Office to Congressional sponsors of the Songwriter Equity Act. Powerful corporate interests, like Pandora, are determined to stand in the way of meaningful music licensing reform so that they may continue to shortchange songwriters. This is a wake up call for creators to stand together, get involved and fight for their right to be paid a fair market rate for the use of their works.”

Show Dog Nashville Adds Suzanne Durham To Team

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Suzanne Durham and Toby Keith

Suzanne Durham and Toby Keith

Show Dog Nashville has added Suzanne Durham as National, Promotion and Social Media. Durham rejoins the Show Dog team after serving as a radio liaison and social media manager for Toby Keith since 2011. Prior to her work directly with Keith, Durham served as Northeast Promotion and Marketing Director at Show Dog-Universal.

“Suzanne has been both an innovative promoter and a social media force, that we are excited to have her rejoin the team in this new capacity,” says Rick Moxley, Vice President, Promotion. “Her experience, direction, organization and drive will greatly benefit our team.”

“My favorite thing has always been the brainstorming and passion that begins as a conversation with a radio friend,” Durham says. “I’m excited to be at it again, from the front line. As Toby’s radio liaison/social media rep these last four years I was fortunate to be able to work with and learn from Toby, Show Dog, TKO Artist Management, the Toby touring team, country radio, and Team Leg Hair Don’t Care (#noshavenovember). I’ll still be doing what I’ve been doing, there’s just a little more to it now. Oh, wait a minute…ha, I look forward to re-joining Show Dog Nashville and working with Rick Moxley and George Nunes and the entire Show Dog team…again.”

Durham will be based out of the Show Dog office in Nashville. She can be reached at 615-828-9493 or at suzanne.durham@showdogmail.com

HSN, Inc. Partners To Offer Margaritaville-Inspired Products

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margaritavilleMargaritaville Enterprises has partnered with HSN, Inc. to offer culinary, home, electronics, beauty, and apparel products to HSN and HSNi’s Cornerstone division brands, Frontgate and TravelSmith. All items will be in inspired by the Margaritaville brand.

“We’re thrilled to launch this new partnership with HSNi and provide millions of new consumers the opportunity to experience the Margaritaville way of life, wherever their current latitude,” said John Cohlan, CEO, Margaritaville Enterprises. “From our island-inspired home decor and entertaining products to our frozen concoction makers and apparel, each item in the collection embodies escapism, relaxation, paradise and the Margaritaville state of mind.”

The partnership officially launches today (Wed. May 6, 2015) with 142 home products on the Frontgate website. HSN will offer Margaritaville-branded merchandise starting July 3. HSN will also host a month-long celebration for its 38th Birthday with “5 O’clock Somewhere” shows each Friday on their TV, online, mobile and social platforms.

SOURCE Awards Honorees Revealed for 2015

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sourceThe honorees for the 2015 SOURCE Awards, slated for Sept. 29 at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum at the Historic Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, have been announced.

Recipients include Phyllis Deen Hill (Sun Records), Gayle Holcomb (WME), Cindy Mabe (UMG), Mary Del Scobey (Almo/Irving Music), Nancy Shapiro (Recording Academy), Sally Williams (Ryman Auditorium), and a posthumous award to Terrell Tye (Forerunner Music).

Founded in 1991, SOURCE is a nonprofit organization supporting women executives and professionals who work in all facets of the Nashville music industry. In 2003, the annual SOURCE Awards were established to pay respect to and honor the women who helped develop and build upon the foundation of the music industry in Nashville. SOURCE also pays tribute to women who presently make major contributions with their work in the industry.

NMPA Finalizes Licensing Deal with SoundCloud

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NMPA-SoundcloudNational Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) President and CEO David Israelite today (May 6) announced the organization has negotiated the terms of a Rights Agreement with SoundCloud.

The deal will benefit of NMPA’s independent music publisher and songwriters members to receive royalties through content monetization for their work on the streaming site.

“This agreement ensures that when SoundCloud succeeds financially, so do the songwriters whose content draws so many users to their site,” said Israelite. “I am thrilled that we could agree on terms that will benefit both creators and the SoundCloud platform that has brought online music access and creativity to a new level.”

SoundCloud launched in 2008 by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss in Berlin. The audio platform gives users access to the world’s largest community of music and audio creators.

Billboard reports Sony Music has removed original recordings from the SoundCloud pages of Adele, Hozier, Miguel, Kelly Clarkson, Passion Pit, Leon Bridges, and more “as part of a breakdown in negotiations between the major music group.”

“Until recently [Soundcloud] was a completely free service to more than 350 million monthly users,” notes Andrew Hampp. “Though its content was unlicensed, the platform has played an influential role in helping developing artists like Lorde and, ironically, Bridges get discovered and ultimately signed by major labels – as well as a destination for established acts like Beyonce, Miguel and Drake to debut new material.”

Toby Keith Adds More ‘Good Times’ To Tour

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Toby Keith

Like most A-list artists, Toby Keith is set on making sure his fans get the most entertainment possible during his concert stops. For The 2015 Toby Keith Good Times & Pick Up Lines Tour presented by Ford F-Series, Keith tapped newcomer Chris Janson as his opening act on more than 20 tour dates this summer.

Janson joins other artists, including Eli Young Band and Colt Ford, who will occasionally join the tour’s lineup.

Janson’s single “Buy Me A Boat” topped the iTunes chart recently, and the singer-songwriter became the first artist to have a music video produced and financed by CMT. Janson’s star keeps rising, as he recently made the switch from independent artist to major label artist, signing with Warner Music Nashville.

Tour dates for the 2015 Toby Keith Good Times & Pick Up Lines Tour presented by Ford F-Series (*denotes dates with Chris Janson in support):

5/29/15 – Mt. View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre *
5/30/15 – San Bernardino, CA – San Manuel Amphitheater *
5/31/15 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion *
6/13/15 – Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion at Meadowbrook
6/14/15 – Hunter, NY – Taste of Country Music Festival
6/19/15 – Vineland, CO – Bands in the Backyard
6/20/15 – Sheridan, WY – Big Horn Country USA
6/21/15 – Grand Junction, CO – Country Jam
6/27/15 – Detroit, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre *
6/28/15 – Cadott, WI – Country Fest
6/30/15 – Moose Jaw, SK (Canada) – Mosaic Place
7/01/15 – Calgary, AB (Canada) – Cowboy’s Stampede Tent
7/08/15 – Verona, NY – Turning Stone Casino *
7/10/15 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre *
7/11/15 – Darien Lake, NY – Darien Lake PAC *
7/17/15 – Raleigh, NC – Walnut Creek Amphitheatre *
7/18/15 – St. Clairesville, OH – Jamboree In The Hills
7/19/15 – Chillecothe, IL – 2015 Country Life Music Festival
7/23/15 – Monticello, IA – Great Jones County Fair
7/24/15 – Cheyenne, WY – Cheyenne Frontier Days
7/25/15 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre *
7/30/15 – Atlanta, GA – Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood *
7/31/15 – Birmingham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre *
8/01/15 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre *
8/02/15 – West Palm Beach, FL – Cruzan Amphitheatre *
8/07/15 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center *
8/08/15 – Washington, DC – Jiffy Lube Live *
8/09/15 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center *
8/14/15 – Boston, MA – XFINITY Center *
8/15/15 – Harrington, DE – Junction Festival
8/21/15 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion *
8/22/15 – Virginia Beach, VA – Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach *
9/04/15 – Chicago, IL – First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre *
9/05/15 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre *
9/25/15 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center *
9/26/15 – Pittsburgh, PA – First Niagara Pavilion *

Gospel Music Hall of Fame Adds Bebe and CeCe Winans, Twila Paris and More

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Shelley and Louie Giglio, Bishop Paul S. Morton, BeBe Winans, Al Andrews, Roland Lundy, Twila Paris, CeCe Winans, Candy Christmas, Mark Lowry, Jackie Patillo and John Huie. Photo: Getty Images

Pictured (L-R, back row): Shelley and Louie Giglio, Bishop Paul S. Morton, BeBe Winans, Al Andrews, Roland Lundy.
(front row): Twila Paris, CeCe Winans, Candy Christmas, Mark Lowry, Jackie Patillo and John Huie. Photo: Getty Images

The Gospel Music Association honored several titans of the Gospel music industry last night (May 5) at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena in Nashville. The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame saw the addition five new members, including BeBe and CeCe Winans, Mark Lowry, Roland Lundy, and Twila Paris.

“Tonight is about honoring service,” said GMA president and executive director Jackie Patillo. “Even though we use the phrase ‘Hall of Fame,’ what we really mean is notable service to God and to others. Likewise, our GMA Honors provides a platform to acknowledge the many ways that people faithfully serve God and are lights for His Kingdom.”

Additionally the second annual GMA Honors paid tribute to Bishop Paul S. Morton, The Bridge Ministry’s Candy Christmas, Passion founded by Louie and Shelley Giglio, and Porter’s Call founded by Al Andrews.

Point of Grace, Melinda Doolittle, Tauren Wells, Joy and Landy Gardner, and the Grace Church Choir featuring the Martins and Chris August honored the recipients in song. Meanwhile, presenters including Bill Hearn, Amy Grant, Brandon Heath, Dr. A.R. Bernard, Jeff Stultz, Bill Gaither, Bishop Joseph Walker III, and Steve Green shared testimonies of their relationships with the honorees and inductees.

“Louie and Shelley are a powerful combination…They are nurturing leaders and songwriters under their care; you can count on these two to make the name of Jesus famous throughout the earth,” said Hearn.

“The exciting thing about gospel music is it never gets old,” said CeCe Winans. “God just gets greater and greater over the years. The more things you go though, you get to see Him in a different way.” BeBe Winans added, “You do what you do because you love God. You can dream some things but sometimes things happen that you never could dream of.”

Last night’s event will air on JUCE TV on Friday, June 5 at 7 p.m. PST, and Saturday, June 6 at 12 p.m. PST.

The third annual GMA Honors ceremony will take place May 10, 2016.