ASCAP Signs Smithfield's Fiedler

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Pictured (L-R): ASCAP's Robert Filhart, Smithfield's Trey Smith and Jennifer Fiedler, Bigger Picture's Jason Campbell, ASCAP's Michael Martin and LeAnn Phelan.

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Robert Filhart, Smithfield’s Trey Smith and Jennifer Fiedler, Bigger Picture’s Jason Campbell, ASCAP’s Michael Martin and LeAnn Phelan.


Singer-songwriter Jennifer Fiedler, from the Country duo Smithfield, recently joined performing rights organization ASCAP. Smithfield is signed with Bigger Picture Group, and will soon begin working on their debut project with producer Matt Rovey.
A native of Waxahachie, Texas, Fiedler met bandmate Trey Smith at the age of 10 through family friends. They reconnected years later while in college and began performing concerts together throughout their home state. The duo made their move to Music City in 2011, where they were soon signed to Bigger Picture Group.

Florida Georgia Line, BMLG Aid Fight Against Hunger

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FLGALine

Pictured (L-R): Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley


Florida Georgia Line has partnered with Big Machine Label Group, Feeding America and General Mills as part of the company’s third annual Outnumber Hunger campaign, which has provided more than 25 million meals to Americans in need.
“Through our experiences with Outnumber Hunger, we have learned the far reach of hunger in America, affecting people from all different backgrounds,” said the band’s Tyler Hubbard. “This year, we’re proud to take an even bigger role in the fight against hunger and rally the nation to help those in need.”
Florida Georgia Line and other Big Machine Label Group artists will be featured on boxes for more than 90 General Mills products, including Cheerios, Betty Crocker and Yoplait. Each product will contain a code that can be entered online to help Feeding America secure meals on behalf of a local food bank.
“Our artists are proud to raise their voices with General Mills and Feeding America to highlight the troubling hunger issues that so many Americans face day-to-day,” said Big Machine Label Group Pres./CEO Scott Borchetta. “This powerful group of partners is using its collective voice to rally Americans and help the 49 million people across our country who struggle with hunger.”
Outnumber Hunger’s 2014 campaign will include a live concert on Friday, April 4 at The LINQ in Las Vegas, featuring Florida Georgia Line, Rascal Flatts, Justin Moore, Thomas Rhett, The Cadillac Three, Cassadee Pope and Danielle Bradbery. The concert is part of the ACM’s Party for a Cause Festival, leading up to the 49th Annual ACM Awards on April 6.
For more information, visit feedingamerica.org.

Car Drives Into Crowd at SXSW

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Statesman Jay Jonner

Photo: Jay Janner/AP. Click to see more.


An alleged drunken driver hit a crowd of pedestrians at SXSW overnight, killing two and injuring 23. The man and woman who died were riding a moped on E. 11th St., according to the Austin Chronicle.
The crowd was milling behind a police barricade set up to restrict traffic outside the venues Cheer Up Charlies and the Mohawk on Red River Street. The line-up at Charlies included Kurt Vile, and Cloud Nothings, and at the Mohaw included Cities Aviv, X, and Teen.
According to the Chronicle, the driver of the vehicle was fleeing from police when he plowed into the crowd. The car also hit a cab and a parked van. The man fled the scene on foot and was arrested after being tasered by police.
The official @SXSW Twitter feed read, “If you were on the scene at the car/pedestrian accident on Red River March 13, please call APD – 512-974-5186.”
SXSW is scheduled for March 7-16 in Austin. The SXSW Music festival runs March 11-16. More from The L.A. Times.
 

Creative Nation Opens Office on Music Row

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Nashville music publishing and management company Creative Nation has opened its doors in a new location on Music Row. Helmed by Luke and Beth Laird, Creative Nation represents artists Maggie Chapman and Native Run, as well as songwriters Barry Dean and Luke Laird. The new office is located at 1508 16th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212.

Luke Laird has notched 14 No. 1 songs for artists including Tim McGraw, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, and Blake Shelton. He recently earned a Grammy award for his producing work on Musgraves’ debut project, Same Trailer, Different Park. In 2013, Beth Laird earned the prestigious honor of being named one of MusicRow‘s Rising Women on the Row. Her music publishing experience includes time at BMG Music Publishing, Windswept Music Publishing, and work in writer/publisher relations at BMI.
For more information, visit creativenationmusic.com.

NSAI Song Contest Presented By CMT Names Winners

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nsai cmt1The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and CMT have honored the song “Plain White Tee,” written by Matt Casey, Keith Dozier and David Wagner, with the Grand Prize in the 2013 NSAI Song Contest Presented by CMT.
The song was one of a total of 2,000 entries. Casey, Dozier and Wagner will receive mentoring sessions with singer/songwriter/actor Paul Williams and songwriter Brett James. Other prizes include meetings with major Nashville music publishers as well as a year of national and regional media exposure, tickets to the 2014 CMT Music Awards, an Apple iPad, and more.
The CMT Listeners’ Choice Award in this year’s contest went to “Like He Did For Her” composed by Rachel Hutcheson and Nick Foxer. Fans cast more than 274,450 online ballots at CMT.com, and 33 percent chose “Like He Did For Her” over the other nine finalists.
This year’s Lyric Only Winner is “Whiskey Misery,” written by Pamela Talley-Parker. Pamela earned a mentoring session with NSAI’s “Songwriter of the Decade” (1990-1999), Tom Shapiro, as well as additional prizes.
Additionally, Dozier, Hutcheson and Foxer will perform during this year’s Tin Pan South, slated for March 25-29.

Hunter Hayes Aims to Beat Guinness World Record

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hunter hayes storyline111Hunter Hayes and ConAgra Foods have teamed up to help end child hunger while attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the Most Concerts Played in multiple cities in a 24-hour period.
The current record stands at eight shows in 24 hours, set by the Flaming Lips. Hayes aims to perform 10 shows in 10 cities in 24 hours. Hayes will launch the “Hunter Hayes’ 24 Hour Road Race to End Child Hunger” on Friday, May 9 with a performance on Good Morning America in New York City.
ConAgra is also issuing a challenge to break its own record of the most meals donated in 24 hours. For more information, visit childhungerendshere.com.
The “24 Hour Road Race” is presented in part by Martin Guitar, Procter & Gamble, Mercedes-Benz USA, and Ahold USA. Hunter is a Martin Guitar ambassador and will perform on a Martin OM-42 at each show, which will be auctioned at the end of the event to benefit the cause. Mercedes-Benz USA is the official car vehicle of the “24 Hour Road Race.”
“Hunter Hayes 24 Hour Road Race To End Child Hunger” Cities and Door Times:
May 9
8 a.m.-New York, N.Y.-Good Morning America
9:15 a.m.-Boston, Mass.-Paradise Rock Club
11:30 a.m.-Worcester, Mass.-Palladium Upstairs   (Acoustic Show)
1:45 p.m.-Providence, R.I.-Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
4:15 p.m. -New London, Conn. -Garde Arts Center
6:45 p.m.-New Haven, Conn.-Toad’s Place
9 p.m.-Stamford, Conn.-Palace Theatre
11:30 p.m.-South Orange, N.J.- South Orange Performing Arts Center
May 10
2 a.m.-Asbury Park, N.J.-The Stone Pony  (Acoustic Show)
5 a.m.-Philadelphia, Pa. -Trocadero
Hayes will release his upcoming album, Storyline, on Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville on May 6. Storyline will follow Hayes’ self-titled debut project, as well as the deluxe package Encore, which released in June 2013.

Hunter Hayes’ Storyline Track Listing

  1. Wild Card (Hayes/Laird/Dean)
  2. Storyline (Hayes/Verges/Paslay)
  3. Still Fallin (Hayes/Pierce)
  4. Tattoo (Hayes/Verges/Dean)
  5. Invisible (Hayes/Baker/Elam)
  6. …interlude (Hayes/Baker/Elam/Dean/Buckmaster)
  7. You Think You Know Somebody (Hayes/Ellis)
  8. Flashlight (Hayes/Verges/Dean)
  9. When Did You Stop Loving Me (Hayes/Ellis)
  10. …like I was saying (jam) (Hayes/Ellis)
  11. Secret Love (Hayes/Ellis)
  12. Nothing Like Starting Over (Hayes/Verges/Sampson)
  13. If It’s Just Me (Hayes/Baker/Elam)
  14. Love Too Much (Hayes/Ellis)

 

Griffin Named President of Musicians On Call

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Pete Griffin


Pete Griffin has been named as the new President of Musicians On Call (MOC). In this role, he will lead strategic development, increase fundraising for MOC’s programs, and help increase branding and work of the organization.
Griffin spent nearly nine years at MTV in advertising sales and international marketing. He later managed the Public Affairs team, aiding in creating and running MTV’s social action campaigns; those efforts led to the team earning a 2008 Emmy Award for best Community Service Campaign.
Griffin most recently served as Director of Strategic Partnerships for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and as President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona. In his new role, Griffin will be traveling to all MOC branches over the coming weeks to meet with volunteers and supporters before returning to New York, where he will officially assume the title on March 17.
Musicians On Call was founded in 1999, and aims to bring live and recorded music to patients in healthcare facilities; the organization’s volunteers have performed for more than 400,000 people nationwide. In addition to headquarters in New York City, Musicians On Call has organization branches located in Nashville; Philadelphia, Pa.; Miami, Fla.; Washington, D.C.; and Los Angeles.

'Horton Hears A Hit' Pub Crawl Brings Artists, Publishers

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In a popular remix of the the classic music pub crawl, Nashville publishing companies hosted their own Horton Hears A Hit “pub crawl” for artists searching for hit material. On Tuesday, March 11, artists including Josh Turner, Tyler Farr and Rodney Atkins traveled to several Music Row publishing companies for listening sessions, followed by an afterparty at Winners, where each publishing company had a writer performing as part of a writers’ round.
Publishing companies that took part included Amylase Entertainment, Big Machine Music, Little Louder, Liz Rose Music, Ole, Sea Gayle, and Wrensong.

pub crawl

Pictured (L-R): Jonathan Singleton, Trevor Rosen and Dave Turnbull perform for Horton Hears A Hit


pub crawl 2

Pictured (L-R): Ted Greene, Trevor Rosen, Frank Rogers, Ree Guyer Buchanan, Christina Mitchell, Josh Turner


pub crawl1

Pictured (L-R): Taylor Lindsey, Maurna Donovan, Ree Guyer Buchanan, Tyler Farr, Christina Mitchell, Jim Catino.


Pictured (L-R): Lynn Hutton, Joel Shewmake, Erin Enderlin, Corey Crowder.

Pictured (L-R): Lynn Hutton, Joel Shewmake, Erin Enderlin, Corey Crowder.


 
 

Ray Price's Final Recording Sessions To Be Released

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ray price beauty is1111A collection of Ray Price‘s final recording sessions, titled Beauty Is…, will be available April 15 on AmeriMonte Records. Produced by Fred Foster, the project features Price’s classic sound, as well as duets with Vince Gill and Martina McBride.
A three-song EP taken from the album will be made available digitally on March 16; the EP will include “Beauty Lies In The Eyes of the Beholder,” (featuring Vince Gill), “This Thing of Ours,” and “I Wish I Was 18 Again.”
“[Ray] called me in 2012 and said, ‘I think I have one album left in me; I’m not well, you know,’” Foster recounts. “He said, ‘I want to do one last one, and I want you to do it with me.’ The whole time we were working together, his state of mind was always really good. You would never know how sick he was to talk to him. What a classy guy.”
The project includes songs from Country Music Hall of Fame members Cindy Walker (“Until Then”) and Willie Nelson (“It Will Always Be”).
“After one listen of this remarkable album, you will note that Price’s flawless phrasing, vocal resonance and burnished warmth of tone create a glow that lingers long after the final notes have sounded,” says MusicRow’s Robert K. Oermann of the project.
Beauty Is… – Track Listing
Beauty Lies in the Eyes of the Beholder (with Vince Gill)
This Thing of Ours
I Can See You
It Will Always Be
No More Songs to Sing
An Affair to Remember (with Martina McBride)
Senses
Until Then (with Vince Gill)
Beautiful Dreamer
I Wish I Was 18 Again
Among My Souvenirs
I Believe

NSAI Honors Chart-Topping Songs

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Front Row (L-R): NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison, Ashley Gorley, Laura Veltz, Justin Weaver, NSAI President Lee Thomas Miller, Kim Wiggins, Connie Harrington, Ben Wells. Second Row (L-R): Josh Osborne, Rhett Akins, Paul Jenkins, Jessi Alexander, Michael Dulaney, Chris DeStafano, Deric Rutan, Nicolle Galyon, Brett James, Jimmy Robbins, Ben Hayslip, Jim Beavers, Chris Robertson, Jon Lawhon, John Fred Young

Front Row (L-R): NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison, Ashley Gorley, Laura Veltz, Justin Weaver, NSAI President Lee Thomas Miller, Kim Wiggins, Connie Harrington, Ben Wells. Second Row (L-R): Josh Osborne, Rhett Akins, Paul Jenkins, Jessi Alexander, Michael Dulaney, Chris DeStafano, Deric Rutan, Nicolle Galyon, Brett James, Jimmy Robbins, Ben Hayslip, Jim Beavers, Chris Robertson, Jon Lawhon, John Fred Young


The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) recently hosted a No. 1 celebration, sponsored by Bill Lynch and Lynch Wealth Management of Raymond James, where the organization presented No. 1 plaques to the writers of songs reaching the top spot between October 2013 and January 2014.

Among those taking part in the party were NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison, Ashley Gorley, Laura Veltz, Justin Weaver, NSAI President Lee Thomas Miller, Kim Wiggins, Connie Harrington, Ben Wells, Josh Osborne, Rhett Akins, Paul Jenkins, Jessi Alexander, Michael Dulaney, Chris DeStafano, Deric Rutan, Nicolle Galyon, Brett James, Jimmy Robbins, Ben Hayslip, Jim Beavers, Chris Robertson, Jon Lawhon, and John Fred Young.

Songs Recognized (October 2013 – January 2014)
“Bottoms Up,” Brantley Gilbert, Brett James, Justin Weaver, recorded by Brantley Gilbert
“Drink A Beer,” Jim Beavers, Chris Stapleton, recorded by Luke Bryan
“Drunk Last Night,” Josh Osborne, Laura Veltz, recorded by Eli Young Band
“Hey Girl,” Rhett Akins, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, recorded by Billy Currington
“It Goes Like This,” Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Jimmy Robbins, recorded by Thomas Rhett
“Mine Would Be You,” Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Deric Rutan, recorded by Blake Shelton
“Night Train,” Michael Dulaney, Neil Thrasher, recorded by Jason Aldean
“Southern Girl,” Rodney Clawson, Jaren Johnston, Lee Thomas Miller, recorded by Tim McGraw
“Stay,” Jon Lawhon, Joey Moi, Chris Robertson, Ben Wells, John Fred Young, recorded by Florida Georgia Line
“Sunny and 75,” Michael Dulaney, Paul Jenkins, Jason Sellers, recorded by Joe Nichols
“We Were Us,” Nicolle Gaylon, Jon Nite, Jimmy Robbins, recorded by Keith Urban ft. Miranda Lambert