Pictured (Front row, L-R): NSAI President Lee Thomas Miller, Paul Jenkins, Connie Harrington, Natalie Hemby, Jessi Alexander. (Second row, standing, L-R): Luke Laird, David Lee Murphy, Shane McAnally, Jimmy Yeary, Andrew Dorff, NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison, Mark Bright, Tim James, Craig Wiseman, President’s Choice Award recipient Gerry House, Jason Sellers, Tom Shapiro
The
Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) hosted a No. 1 Party on Tuesday, Aug. 13 to honor the writers of songs reaching the top spot between April and June 2013. The event, sponsored by
Bill Lynch of Lynch Wealth Management, also featured several make-up presentations to writers who were unable to attend when their songs were previously honored.
The NSAI President’s Choice Award was presented to Nashville radio icon and hit songwriter
Gerry House, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the protection and betterment of the songwriting profession.
Songs Recognized (April – June 2013)
“Anywhere With You,”
Ben Hayslip, David Lee Murphy, Jimmy Yeary, recorded by
Jake Owen
“Boys ‘Round Here,”
Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Craig Wiseman, recorded by
Blake Shelton w/
Pistol Annies & Friends
“Downtown,”
Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, recorded by
Lady Antebellum
“Get Your Shine On,”
Rodney Clawson, Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley, Chris Tompkins, recorded by
Florida Georgia Line
“Give It All We Got Tonight,”
Mark Bright, Tim James, Phil O’Donnell, recorded by
George Strait
“I Drive Your Truck,”
Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Yeary, recorded by
Lee Brice
“If I Didn’t Have You,”
Paul Jenkins, Jason Sellers, Keifer Thompson, Shawna Thompson, recorded by
Thompson Square
“Mama’s Broken Heart,”
Brandy Clark, McAnally,
Kacey Musgraves, recorded by
Miranda Lambert
“Somebody’s Heartbreak,” Laird,
Andrew Dorff, Hunter Hayes, recorded by
Hunter Hayes
“Wagon Wheel,”
Bob Dylan, Ketch Secor, recorded by
Darius Rucker
Make-up Presentations (For writers who were unable to attend previously when their songs were first honored.)
Luke Laird, “One Of Those Nights,” recorded by
Tim McGraw
Jason Sellers, “I Won’t Let Go,” recorded by
Rascal Flatts
Natalie Hemby, “Tornado,” recorded by
Little Big Town
Tom Shapiro, “Why Wait,” recorded by
Rascal Flatts
Sirius XM Acquires Connected Car Services
/by Caitlin RantalaSirius XM CEO Jim Meyer
Sirius XM Radio has agreed to acquire the connected vehicle services business of auto services firm Agero for $530 million in cash, according to HollywoodReporter.com.
The Agero unit is “the leading provider of innovative telematics services, offering safety, security and convenience services for drivers and end-to-end, turnkey solutions for automakers,” Sirius XM, controlled by John Malone’s Liberty Media, said. Agero’s services include navigation services, safety and security features, as well as location-based content offers.
The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter. Sirius developed its telematics offerings over the past few years in deals with Nissan and Ford.
“The acquisition of Agero’s connected vehicle business is a natural fit for Sirius XM,” said Sirius CEO Jim Meyer. “As the world’s leading provider of in-vehicle subscription services, Sirius XM is uniquely positioned to offer world-class end-to-end telematics services.”
Sprint To Offer NextRadio App To HTC Customers
/by Lorie HollabaughCompared with streaming, NextRadio consumes about three times less battery life than other music apps because the audio is received through a built-in FM tuner instead of over the Internet. NextRadio comes preloaded on HTC One for all new activations, but customers who already own HTC One or HTC EVO 4G LTE from Sprint can download NextRadio through Google Play at no additional charge.
“Our customers already enjoy listening to a variety of music apps on their smartphones, but NextRadio makes it easier than ever to interact with the local radio stations they enjoy listening to in the car virtually anywhere,” said Fared Adib, senior vice president-Product Development, Sprint. “Marking another innovation milestone for Sprint, our partners at NextRadio are transforming the FM radio listening experience by allowing users to interact with their favorite radio shows by calling or messaging directly from their smartphone.”
NSAI Honors No. 1 Songs
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (Front row, L-R): NSAI President Lee Thomas Miller, Paul Jenkins, Connie Harrington, Natalie Hemby, Jessi Alexander. (Second row, standing, L-R): Luke Laird, David Lee Murphy, Shane McAnally, Jimmy Yeary, Andrew Dorff, NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison, Mark Bright, Tim James, Craig Wiseman, President’s Choice Award recipient Gerry House, Jason Sellers, Tom Shapiro
The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) hosted a No. 1 Party on Tuesday, Aug. 13 to honor the writers of songs reaching the top spot between April and June 2013. The event, sponsored by Bill Lynch of Lynch Wealth Management, also featured several make-up presentations to writers who were unable to attend when their songs were previously honored.
The NSAI President’s Choice Award was presented to Nashville radio icon and hit songwriter Gerry House, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the protection and betterment of the songwriting profession.
Songs Recognized (April – June 2013)
“Anywhere With You,” Ben Hayslip, David Lee Murphy, Jimmy Yeary, recorded by Jake Owen
“Boys ‘Round Here,” Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Craig Wiseman, recorded by Blake Shelton w/ Pistol Annies & Friends
“Downtown,” Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, recorded by Lady Antebellum
“Get Your Shine On,” Rodney Clawson, Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley, Chris Tompkins, recorded by Florida Georgia Line
“Give It All We Got Tonight,” Mark Bright, Tim James, Phil O’Donnell, recorded by George Strait
“I Drive Your Truck,” Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Yeary, recorded by Lee Brice
“If I Didn’t Have You,” Paul Jenkins, Jason Sellers, Keifer Thompson, Shawna Thompson, recorded by Thompson Square
“Mama’s Broken Heart,” Brandy Clark, McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, recorded by Miranda Lambert
“Somebody’s Heartbreak,” Laird, Andrew Dorff, Hunter Hayes, recorded by Hunter Hayes
“Wagon Wheel,” Bob Dylan, Ketch Secor, recorded by Darius Rucker
Make-up Presentations (For writers who were unable to attend previously when their songs were first honored.)
Luke Laird, “One Of Those Nights,” recorded by Tim McGraw
Jason Sellers, “I Won’t Let Go,” recorded by Rascal Flatts
Natalie Hemby, “Tornado,” recorded by Little Big Town
Tom Shapiro, “Why Wait,” recorded by Rascal Flatts
Warner Music Nashville Announces Final Pickin' Party Dates
/by Lorie HollabaughThe evening shows begin at 5:30 p.m. on Warner’s patio, with doors opening at 5 p.m. The summertime event is sponsored by Aramark, Bud Light, Ajax Turner, Spring Mill Bourbon, Zumi Sushi Japanese Kitchen, Pizza Perfect and Kay Bob’s Grill & Ale.
George Strait To Receive 'Billboard' Legend Of Live Award
/by Jessica NicholsonGeorge Strait
George Strait‘s 30+ years of touring will earn the country entertainer the Legend Of Live Award during the 10th annual Billboard Touring Awards, which will be held Nov. 14 at The Roosevelt Hotel in New York. Strait will be the first country artist to earn the trophy, which honors individual artists or bands that make an enduring impact on the live music/touring industry.
The award comes as Strait is in the middle of his Cowboy Rides Away farewell tour, which is slated to run through 2014.
“George Strait’s fans span generations, and he is committed to making his live shows the best possible experience for fans and, as such, is uniquely deserving of this award,” said Billboard Editorial Director Bill Werde. “From his days in the Texas honky-tonks, through the creation of country music touring festivals in stadiums, and his top-shelf, professional touring strategies and production, George Strait’s talent and style transcends musical trends. Billboard is honored to name George Strait as our first country music Legend Of Live.”
Previous recipients of the Legend Of Live Award include Sir Elton John, rock band Journey, promoters Michael Cohl and Jack Boyle, Allman Brothers Band, Ozzy Osbourne, Rush, agent Frank Barsalona, and last year’s honoree, Neil Diamond.
The Billboard Touring Awards are based on the Billboard Boxscore chart and box office performance of artists and bands between Oct. 1, 2012 and Sept. 30, 2013.
Weekly Register: The Civil Wars, Brett Eldredge Debuts
/by Sherod RobertsonAtlantic Records artist Brett Eldredge‘s Bring You Back debuted this week at No. 2 on the Country album sales chart and at No. 11 overall, selling 21k units. The album’s lead single, “Don’t Ya,” was certified Gold by the RIAA before its release. “Don’t Ya” was written by Eldredge, Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley.
Florida Georgia Line’s Here’s To The Good Times sells another 26k units this week staking their post once again as the No. 1 Country album this week while “Cruise” continues in the top spot on the Country tracks chart selling 89k units.
While overall Country album sales continued to slip this week (down 3.1 percent, compared to prior year), all eyes are on superstar Luke Bryan’s Crash My Party album, which will debut on the charts next week.
Luke Bryan's 'Crash My Party' Sales Soar
/by Lorie HollabaughIf the CD reaches the 450,000 mark, it would put Bryan behind only Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience with 968,000 and Jay Z’s Magna Carta…Holy Grail with 528,000 in first-week sales for 2013. It also puts him in pretty rare company in the country world as well. Since 2008, only four country albums have sold more than 450,000 in a single week — three by Taylor Swift (her last three studio releases,) and the fourth by Lady Antebellum, Need You Now, which bowed with 481,000 in 2010.
Album sales will likely be propelled by Bryan’s three-week No. 1 title track, “Crash My Party,” which recently set a Billboard record as the largest one-week audience since 2005 with 45.5 million listeners and has already sold a million copies. Bryan’s latest single from the new project, “That’s My Kinda Night,” is on par for similar success apparently, as the highest-debuting single of his career.
Bryan is heavily promoting the CD all this week, with appearances on E!‘s Chelsea Lately and ABC‘s Jimmy Kimmel Live earlier this week. He’s scheduled to appear on NBC‘s Today twice this week, today and tomorrow (Aug. 15-16).
The new Soundscan sales figures will be revealed on Wednesday, Aug. 21.
John Esposito Joins FLO As Senior Advisor
/by Lorie HollabaughJohn Esposito
President and CEO of Warner Music Nashville, John Esposito, has just joined FLO as a senior advisor. FLO (findyourflo.com) is a group headquartered in Nashville that partners with artists and entertainers with large audiences to help them build new business ventures.
The company was founded in 2011 by five core partners, business veterans Joe Galante, John Grady, Randy Wachtler, Ed Hardy, and Mark Montgomery, and its most recent project is the development and national rollout of Kenny Chesney‘s Blue Chair Bay Rum, a product presently enjoying one of the best first-year performances of a new spirits business in the history of that industry.
Said Esposito, “I’m intrigued with the FLO model of taking artists beyond simple sponsorship and endorsement deals and helping them build their own companies, and in taking an active role in helping make Nashville the epicenter of the new music business. I am honored to be added to the list of phenomenal business men and women associated with FLO and look forward to what lies ahead.”
In addition to his current role at Warner Music Nashville, Mr. Esposito has served as President and CEO of WEA, Warner Music Group’s U.S sales and retail marketing arm, and as GM and Executive VP at Island/Def Jam Music Group. Esposito’s previous work includes PolyGram, The Wiz retail chain, and Mitsubishi Electronics America.
Industry Ink (8-15-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Combustion Music staff and “Don’t Ya” co-writer Ashley Gorley gathered at the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday evening (Aug. 13) to celebrate Brett Eldredge‘s first chart-topping single. After a three-song performance Eldredge and the Combustion crew visited backstage with “Don’t Ya” co-writer Chris Destefano and Sony ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg. “Don’t Ya” is Gorley’s 11th No. 1 as a songwriter. He has been with Combustion Music since 2001.
Pictured (L-R): Josh Van Valkenburg, Chris Destefano, Chris Van Belkom, Brett Eldredge, Ashley Gorley, Chris Farren and Kenley Flynn.
• • •
Matt Cottingham
Entertainment law firm Petree Law has moved offices and announced a new hire. The law practice is now operating from 336 22nd Ave. N. in Nashville. Entertainment attorney Chip Petree has hired Matt Cottingham to join the firm as an associate. Cottingham started at Petree Law on Aug. 1; previously he worked with ICS Law Group for four years, specializing in entertainment, intellectual property and business law. He serves on the Board of Directors for the non-profit organization Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP), and is a member of the Tennessee and Nashville Bar Association.
Petree has represented a diverse client group including songwriters, artists, producers and music publishers since 2004. Prior to establishing Petree Law, he worked in the legal and business affairs departments for the RIAA, BMG Entertainment and MTV Networks. Petree continues to serve as general manager of Copyright Exchange, the Nashville-based consulting and brokerage firm he helped found in 2005.
• • •
Katie Alphonso
SESAC has promoted Katie Alphonso to Manager, Royalty Distribution. Alphonso will supervise royalty distribution functions and related staff, including the processing, calculation and analysis of royalty distribution for broadcast and live music, as well as the compilation and distribution of royalty statements for all SESAC affiliates.
Alphonso joined SESAC in 2004, and has held numerous positions, including Data and Reporting Analyst, Copyright Administrator, Per Program Project Leader, and most recently, Domestic Royalty Administrator.
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
/by Jessica NicholsonClockwise from Top Left: Randy Owen, Jeffrey Steele, Will Jennings and Layng Martine, Jr.
Will Jennings, Layng Martine, Jr., Randy Owen (Alabama) and Jeffrey Steele will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in October, according to an announcement made today by the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF).
The four new inductees will join the 188 existing members of the elite organization when they are officially inducted during the 43rd Annual Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 13th at the Music City Center. AT&T will again be a sponsor of the event.
“Among all the great songwriters who have put the music in Music City, only a few are elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame,” said Pat Alger, chair of the foundation’s board of directors. “This year we are delighted to bestow this honor upon Will Jennings and Jeffrey Steele in the songwriter category; Randy Owen in the songwriter/artist category, and Layng Martine, Jr. in the veteran songwriter category.”
Will Jennings’ songwriter credits include “Up Where We Belong” (Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes) and “My Heart Will Go On” (Celine Dion). Jeffrey Steele’s resume is known for “The Cowboy In Me” (Tim McGraw) and “What Hurts The Most” (Rascal Flatts). Layng Martine, Jr. is the tunesmith behind “Rub It In” (Billy “Crash” Craddock) and “The Greatest Man I Never Knew” (Reba McEntire). Alabama front-man Randy Owen popularized many of his own compositions with the band, such as “Feels So Right” and “Fallin’ Again.”