Wayne Kemp
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Wayne Kemp, who wrote hits for such superstars as George Strait, Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty and George Jones, died Monday morning, March 9, in Lafayette, Tenn.
Kemp, who was 74, had multiple ailments and was on kidney dialysis at the time of his passing. He was a native of Greenwood, Ark. As a youth, he was an auto racer.
He first rose to prominence in Music City as the writer of the 1965 George Jones hit “Love Bug.” His “Feelin’ Single, Seein’ Double” was recorded by both Jones and Emmylou Harris. Conway Twitty took Kemp’s “Next in Line” to No. 1 on the country charts in 1968, scored with the songwriter’s “The Image of Me” that same year and also hit with “Darling You Know I Wouldn’t Lie” (1969) and “That’s When She Started to Stop Loving You” (1970). Johnny Cash took Kemp’s “One Piece at at Time” to the top of the charts in 1976. Johnny Paycheck’s 1977 “outlaw” tune “I’m the Only Hell (Mama Ever Raised)” was also a Wayne Kemp creation.
Kemp continued to write big hits in the 1980s and 1990s, including “I’ll Leave This World Loving You” (Ricky Van Shelton, 1988), “The Fireman” (George Strait, 1985), a remake of “Love Bug” (George Strait, 1994), “Tell Ole I Ain’t Here He Better Get on Home” (Moe Bandy & Joe Stampley, 1980) and “Who’ll Turn Out the Lights in Your World Tonight” (Mel Street, 1980). Strait also recorded Kemp’s “I Should Have Watched That First Step,” “Haven’t You Heard,” “Hot Burning Flames,” “That’s Where My Baby Feels at Home,” “She Knows When You’re on My Mind” and “Won’t You Come Home and Talk to a Stranger.”
Others who recorded his songs include Faron Young, Patty Loveless, Hank Williams Jr., Ronnie McDowell, Ernest Tubb & Loretta Lynn, Jack Greene, Ronnie Milsap, Charlie Walker, David Allan Coe, Mickey Gilley, Elvis Costello, Michelle Shocked, Tom Petty, Charley Pride, Doug Sahm and The Flying Burrito Brothers.
Kemp was also a recording artist. Between 1969 and 1986, he placed 24 singles on the country charts. His biggest hit as a singer was 1973’s “Honky Tonk Wine.” He recorded for Decca, MCA, United Artists, Mercury and Door Knob.
He died at Macon County General Hospital. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson & Sons Funeral Home in Lafayette, TN. Kemp is survived by wife Patsy, son Robert, daughters Paula Hosale and Natalie Hudgins, 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, a brother and six sisters.
Visitation with the family will be on Thursday, 10 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. with graveside services to follow at 2 p.m. at Anderson Memorial Park.
His medical bills are substantial. The family would welcome contributions c/o Anderson & Sons Funeral Home, 997 Highway 52, Bypass East, Lafayette, TN 37083.
‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ Lands New Lead Music Booker
/by Jessica NicholsonJulie Gurovitsch
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon will soon get a new lead music booker, MusicRow has confirmed. Julie Gurovitsch, coordinating music producer for NBC’s Today, will begin her new role as lead music booker next month.
The Tonight Show role was previously held by Jonathan Cohen, who left last month.
After starting at Today in 2014, Gurovitsch oversaw 24 bookings for Today‘s Toyota Summer Concert series. The program included artists Rascal Flatts, Hunter Hayes, Kenny Chesney, and Lady Antebellum, alongside artists including Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea, Counting Crows, Usher, and more.
Entertainment Law Practice Leavens, Strand & Glover Opens Nashville Office
/by Jessica NicholsonLSG’s clients include Pitchfork Media, Inc., The Windish Agency, Second City Communications, Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions, Leo Burnett, Telepictures, and Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, among others.
Frankel also represents Nashville-based Big Yellow Dog Music songwriter-producer Chris Gelbuda, who co-wrote and produced two tracks on Meghan Trainor’s debut project, Title.
Leavens has worked on the PBS series Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis, and served as General Counsel for MusicNow and Platinum Entertainment. He also served as executive producer for several House of Blues Essential recordings, and authored the ABA-published Music Law for the General Practitioner.
In his pre-law career, Strand was a full-time touring musician and recorded two albums for RCA/Millennium Records. Strand was recently named one of the top 50 music lawyers in the country by Billboard Magazine and ranked by Super Lawyers as one of the Illinois Top 100 lawyers.
Glover previously served as General Counsel for Chicago public television station WTTW and its radio station WFMT, and now serves as outside counsel to the stations. He heads the firm’s film and television, sweepstakes, and advertising practice. His clients also include motion picture studios, television and film production companies, Broadway producers, advertising agencies, musicians and writers.
“I am thrilled to join my longtime colleagues in music and entertainment law, Leavens, Strand & Glover,” said Frankel. “The new Nashville office will give us the opportunity to better service existing clients and build on our strong relationships in Music City and beyond.”
“This is an exciting time for our firm,” said Leavens. “Thanks to Hillel, we are building on our decades of music and entertainment law experience in Chicago and planting seeds in major music markets around the country.”
The attorneys at Leavens, Strand & Glover have been listed in the Billboard Top 50 Music Lawyers and the US News and World Report Best Law Firms of 2015. They have been featured panelists and moderators at conferences including SXSW, the Winter Music Conference, the Yellow Phone Music Conference, and the Chicago Music Summit, and have served in leadership positions for The Recording Academy, the American Bar Association Forum on the Entertainment & Sports Industries, and Lawyers for the Creative Arts.
For more information, visit www.lsglegal.com.
LifeNotes: Country Songwriting Great Wayne Kemp Passes
/by Robert K OermannWayne Kemp
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Wayne Kemp, who wrote hits for such superstars as George Strait, Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty and George Jones, died Monday morning, March 9, in Lafayette, Tenn.
Kemp, who was 74, had multiple ailments and was on kidney dialysis at the time of his passing. He was a native of Greenwood, Ark. As a youth, he was an auto racer.
He first rose to prominence in Music City as the writer of the 1965 George Jones hit “Love Bug.” His “Feelin’ Single, Seein’ Double” was recorded by both Jones and Emmylou Harris. Conway Twitty took Kemp’s “Next in Line” to No. 1 on the country charts in 1968, scored with the songwriter’s “The Image of Me” that same year and also hit with “Darling You Know I Wouldn’t Lie” (1969) and “That’s When She Started to Stop Loving You” (1970). Johnny Cash took Kemp’s “One Piece at at Time” to the top of the charts in 1976. Johnny Paycheck’s 1977 “outlaw” tune “I’m the Only Hell (Mama Ever Raised)” was also a Wayne Kemp creation.
Kemp continued to write big hits in the 1980s and 1990s, including “I’ll Leave This World Loving You” (Ricky Van Shelton, 1988), “The Fireman” (George Strait, 1985), a remake of “Love Bug” (George Strait, 1994), “Tell Ole I Ain’t Here He Better Get on Home” (Moe Bandy & Joe Stampley, 1980) and “Who’ll Turn Out the Lights in Your World Tonight” (Mel Street, 1980). Strait also recorded Kemp’s “I Should Have Watched That First Step,” “Haven’t You Heard,” “Hot Burning Flames,” “That’s Where My Baby Feels at Home,” “She Knows When You’re on My Mind” and “Won’t You Come Home and Talk to a Stranger.”
Others who recorded his songs include Faron Young, Patty Loveless, Hank Williams Jr., Ronnie McDowell, Ernest Tubb & Loretta Lynn, Jack Greene, Ronnie Milsap, Charlie Walker, David Allan Coe, Mickey Gilley, Elvis Costello, Michelle Shocked, Tom Petty, Charley Pride, Doug Sahm and The Flying Burrito Brothers.
Kemp was also a recording artist. Between 1969 and 1986, he placed 24 singles on the country charts. His biggest hit as a singer was 1973’s “Honky Tonk Wine.” He recorded for Decca, MCA, United Artists, Mercury and Door Knob.
He died at Macon County General Hospital. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson & Sons Funeral Home in Lafayette, TN. Kemp is survived by wife Patsy, son Robert, daughters Paula Hosale and Natalie Hudgins, 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, a brother and six sisters.
Visitation with the family will be on Thursday, 10 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. with graveside services to follow at 2 p.m. at Anderson Memorial Park.
His medical bills are substantial. The family would welcome contributions c/o Anderson & Sons Funeral Home, 997 Highway 52, Bypass East, Lafayette, TN 37083.
Ten Out Of Tenn to Compile 10 Years on Two Discs
/by Eric T. ParkerThe release will coincide with a special anniversary show at the Ryman Auditorium on April 24. Tickets are on sale, to include Kyle Andrews, Andrew Belle, Butterfly Boucher, Trent Dabbs, Andy Davis, Gabe Dixon, Katie Herzig, Tyler James, Matthew Perryman Jones, Lister, Erin McCarley, Paper Route, K.S. Rhoads, Siskind, Amy Stroup and more to be announced.
Ten Out Of Tenn has had over 500 TV/Film placements.
Track Listing for Ten Out Of Tenn: 10 Years
1. We Were Just Kids – Andy Davis
2. Lie Or Lie Awake – Katie Herzig
3. Time – Mikky Ekko
4. Wants What It Wants (Blackwatch Remix) – Andrew Belle
5. ZHIVAGO – Paper Route
6. Let Me Love You – Erin McCarley
7. Nobody’s Stranger Anymore – Trent Dabbs
8. Too Far From You – Sarah Siskind
9. I Realize – Jeremy Lister
10. Speaking A Dead Language (J. Alan Morant 2010 Remix) – Joy Williams
11. Emerald City – Kyle Andrews
12. Back Burner – Amy Stroup
13. Battles – K.S. Rhoads
14. Burn – Madi Diaz
15. One Thing – Gabe Dixon
16. Mama Hold Your Head Up – Tyler James
17. All My Worry – Kate York
18. Go Through It (Live From Prison) – Griffin House
19. It Pulls Me Under – Butterfly Boucher
20. Cancion de la Noche – Matthew Perryman Jones
Performers Revealed For 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonOther performers include Sam Smith, Madonna, Rihanna, Iggy Azalea, Jason DeRulo, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg, Nate Ruess, Alesso, as well as an appearance by Taylor Swift.
Jamie Foxx has signed on as host for the event, which will air live on NBC beginning at 8 p.m. ET from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
“This is the night we celebrate the biggest songs and artists we played for fans on our iHeartRadio stations across America and on the iHeartRadio app over the past year, along with a look at what’s coming in 2015,” said John Sykes, President of Entertainment Enterprises for iHeartMedia, Inc. “And who better to host than both a Grammy winning musician and Oscar winning performer Jamie Foxx? This is going to be an amazing star packed Sunday night of music on NBC.”
Category finalists for the iHeartRadio Music Awards were announced on Feb. 4. Social voting through iHeartRadio stations nationwide for the Best Lyrics, Best Fan Army and Renegade categories will run through Friday, March 20.
Category finalists include:
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Iggy Azalea
Luke Bryan
Sam Smith
Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
“All About That Bass” – Meghan Trainor
“All of Me” – John Legend
“Happy” – Pharrell Williams
“Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift
“Stay With Me” – Sam Smith
Best Collaboration
“Bang Bang” – Jessie J + Ariana Grande + Nicki Minaj
“Dark Horse” – Katy Perry featuring Juicy J
“Fancy” – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
“Problem” – Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea
“Talk Dirty” – Jason Derulo featuring 2 Chainz
Best New Artist
Bastille
Cole Swindell
Iggy Azalea
Meghan Trainor
Sam Smith
Country Song of the Year
“Bartender” – Lady Antebellum
“Burnin’ It Down” – Jason Aldean
“Dirt” – Florida Georgia Line
“Give Me Back My Hometown” – Eric Church
“Play It Again” – Luke Bryan
Hip Hop/R&B Song of the Year
“Don’t Tell ‘Em” – Jeremih featuring YG
“Drunk in Love” – Beyoncé featuring Jay Z
“Flawless” – Beyoncé
“Loyal” – Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Tyga
“New Flame” – Chris Brown featuring Usher and Rick Ross
Dance Song of the Year
“Animals” – Martin Garrix
“Blame” – Calvin Harris featuring John Newman
“La La La” – Naughty Boy featuring Sam Smith
“Summer” – Calvin Harris
“Waves” – Mr. Probz
Alternative Rock Song of the Year
“Come With Me Now” – KONGOS
“Do I Wanna Know?” – Arctic Monkeys
“Fever” – The Black Keys
“Something From Nothing” – Foo Fighters
“Take Me to Church” – Hozier
Best Lyrics
“All of Me” – John Legend
“Blank Space” – Taylor Swift
“Counting Stars” – OneRepublic
“Habits (Stay High)” – Tove Lo
“Stay With Me” – Sam Smith
“Thinking Out Loud” – Ed Sheeran
Best Fan Army
5SOSFAM – 5 Seconds of Summer
Arianators – Ariana Grande
Bey Hive – Beyoncé
Team Breezy – Chris Brown
Sheerios – Ed Sheeran
Church Choir – Eric Church
Directioners – One Direction
Selenators – Selena Gomez
Mendes Army – Shawn Mendes
Swifties – Taylor Swift
Renegade Award presented by the All New 2015 Jeep Renegade
Brantley Gilbert
Charli XCX
Hozier
Iggy Azalea
Meghan Trainor
Tanya Tucker Signs New Booking Agency Deal, Preps Tour
/by Troy_StephensonTanya Tucker
“We are so delighted to be working with Tanya Tucker once again,” said Steve Lassiter, SVP/Partner and Head of Concerts at APA Nashville. “She is simply one of those artists that is an American original – where you don’t have to doubt who it is when you’re listening to her. The fans have always been responsive to her live show, so this is nothing but a win-win for everyone concerned.”
Since her 1972 debut, Tucker’s career that garnered her four platinum albums, eight gold albums, and hits such as “The Jamestown Ferry,” “Down To My Last Teardrop,” and “Soon.” In 1991 the CMA named her Female Vocalist of the Year.
Tour dates will be announced soon.
Attorney McDonald Joins Butler Snow
/by Jessica NicholsonBrenner McDonald
Butler Snow has added attorney Brenner Lackey McDonald to the firm. McDonald will practice with the firm’s business services group and entertainment/media industry team. McDonald has been in private practice since 2011, and previously co-founded and co-owned Nashville-based entertainment management company Modern Management, where she represented Sara Evans, Josh Turner and Diamond Rio in recording agreements, licensing, television, film, music publishing, and more.
“Brenner is a great addition to the firm and our business services group,” said Donald Clark, Jr., chairman of Butler Snow. “The experience she brings in the entertainment, business and litigation fields will provide our clients with yet another great asset.”
McDonald completed her undergraduate education at the University of Kentucky, before going on to earn her Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee Law School. She is a member of the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music, the Tennessee Bar Association and the Nashville Bar Association.
McDonald has also been actively involved in the Nashville community, playing an instrumental role in the development of Team Rio, which has raised over $1 million since its inception in 2005. Since 2011, she has served as a “Big” in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee program.
Industry Ink: ASCAP, Music Row Administrators Group, Country Music Hall of Fame
/by Jessica NicholsonDeStefano, Tompkins, Arata, Alger Slated for Songwriters Round
DeStefano penned “Something In The Water” (Carrie Underwood) and “Don’t Ya” (Brett Eldredge). Tompkins is a co-writer on hits including “Burnin’ It Down” (Jason Aldean) and “Before He Cheats” (Carrie Underwood). Arata is best-known for the Garth Brooks classic “The Dance,” while Pat Alger is a writer on Brooks’ “The Thunder Rolls” and “Small Town Saturday Night” (Hal Ketchum).
The event will be held at Nashville’s City Winery. For more information, visit citywinery.com/nashville.
Music Row Administrators Group To Hold First Spring Meeting of 2015
The guest speaker will be Charles Alexander, who will speak on opportunities for independents in the new music economy.
Alexander is the CEO/Founder of Outside The Box Music a digital strategy, management, marketing and artist services company. They have managed digital strategy and marketing campaigns for Keb’ Mo’, SHEL and Gabe Dixon, as well as, other artists, labels and brands. He manages indie artist Keeley Valentino. He is also the director of “Rock The Net,” a digital music initiative that educates music business professionals and shows them how to amplify their online presence.
To RSVP contact eddiekeithwilson@gmail.com.
Country Music Hall of Fame Honors Michael Rhodes In ‘Nashville Cats’ Series
Pictured (back row, L-R): The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Abi Tapia; former Nashville Cats honorees Reggie Young and Steve Gibson; Michael Rhodes; former Nashville Cats honorees John Hobbs, Bergen White and David Briggs; and Bill Lloyd; (front row, L-R): former Nashville Cats honorees Paul Franklin, Eddie Bayers, and Mac Gayden. Photo: Terry Wyatt
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum celebrated bassist Michael Rhodes this weekend during its quarterly series, Nashville Cats: A Celebration of Music City Musicians. Hosted by Bill Lloyd, the program included an in-depth, one-on-one interview illustrated with vintage recordings, photos and film clips from the museum’s Frist Library and Archive.
Rhodes has performed live and played on sessions for many country and pop chart-toppers, including Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Steve Winwood, Dolly Parton, Randy Travis, Faith Hill, Wynonna Judd, the Dixie Chicks, Reba McEntire, Tanya Tucker, Neal McCoy, Chely Wright, Doug Stone, and many more.
Will Hoge To Embark on Small Town Dreams Tour 2015
/by Jessica NicholsonWill Hoge. Photo: Glen Rose
Nashville singer-songwriter Will Hoge is gearing up to launch his Small Town Dreams Tour 2015. The tour opens April 10 in Tallahassee, Fla., and will make 16 stops in cities including Dallas; Charlotte, N.C.; Milwaukee; Birmingham, Ala., and more.
Hoge’s 10th album Small Town Dreams is slated for an April 7 release. Hoge recently gave Nashville music industry a taste of the project, including the lead single “Middle of America.”
Hoge was thrust into the national spotlight when his tune “Strong” was included in General Motors’ 2014 Chevy Silverado ad campaign. “Strong” sold more than 200,000 copies and was featured on Hoge’s previous album Never Give In. An accomplished artist and songwriter, Hoge has penned songs for Lady Antebellum (“Better Off Now (That You’re Gone)”) and Eli Young Band (“Even If It Breaks Your Heart”).
SMALL TOWN DREAMS TOUR 2015
April 10 – Tallahassee, FL
April 11 – Fort Lauderdale, FL
April 21 – Birmingham, AL
April 22 – Charlotte, NC
April 23 – Asheville, NC
May 1 – Milwaukee, WI
May 2 – St. Louis, MO
May 7 – Little Rock, AR
May 8 – Dallas, TX
May 9 – New Braunfels, TX
May 16 – St. George Island, FL
May 29 – Louisville, KY
May 30 – Salem, VA
June 5 – Buffalo, NY
June 6 – New York, NY
June 7 – Uncasville, CT
Lee Thomas Miller, Beth Matthews To Speak on Behalf of Songwriters
/by Sarah SkatesLee Thomas Miller is in Washington, D.C. this week.
Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI) President Lee Thomas Miller, and ASCAP CEO and General Counsel Beth Matthews are among those who will testify during a Senate subcommittee hearing titled “How Much For a Song?: The Antitrust Decrees that Govern the Market for Music,” tomorrow (March 10) at 10:00 a.m. EST. Miller will appear on behalf of BMI, and Matthews on behalf of ASCAP, before the subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition, Policy and Consumer Rights to vie for changes to the outdated consent decrees which currently govern the rate setting procedures used by the PROs.
“Performance royalty rates for American songwriters are governed by ASCAP and BMI consent decrees from 1941,” said Miller. “We get paid ridiculously low rates when our songs are streamed through digital music services. Changes must be made or songwriting, as a profession, will become extinct.”
Other witnesses include: Matt Pincus, Founder and CEO of SONGS Music Publishing; Mike Dowdle, VP of Business Affairs and General Counsel of Bonneville International; Jodie Griffin, Senior Staff Attorney–Public Knowledge; and Chris Harrison, President of Business Affairs–Pandora Media, Inc. (If the hearing is streamed, it can be accessed at www.judiciary.senate.gov.)
Elizabeth Matthews
Following the hearing, Miller and ASCAP songwriter Jessi Alexander will perform some of their hits in an event sponsored by NSAI and the National Music Publishers Association.
“We want policy makers to see how little a songwriter earns when their creations are streamed,” said NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison. “We will present payment information from Pandora illustrating that millions of streams amount to only hundreds of dollars.”
This hearing follows last week’s reintroduction of the Songwriter Equity Act (SEA) in the Senate and House of Representatives. The SEA aims to change the process that sets royalty rates for American songwriters.
Currently, two outdated portions of the Copyright Act, Section 114(i) and Section 115, prevent songwriters from receiving royalty rates that reflect fair market value for the use of their intellectual property.
Section 114(i) forbids federal rate courts from considering sound recording royalty rates as a relevant benchmark when setting performance royalty rates for songwriters and composers.
The SEA would allow the rate court to consider other royalty rates as evidence when establishing digital performance rates.
Section 115 of the Copyright Act has regulated musical compositions since 1909, before recorded music existed. Section 115 allows anyone to seek a compulsory license to reproduce a song in exchange for paying a statutory rate. Today, that rate is 9.1 cents per song and does not reflect market value.
The SEA would adopt a fair rate standard for reproduction (mechanical) licenses that reflects free market conditions.