Phil May
When Cameron Strang came on board as Warner/Chappell Music Chairman & CEO in January 2011, he brought an entrepreneurial spirit with him that created a positive shift company wide. That spirit—established while building his own New West Records—has combined with keen strategies for a string of hits across all genres.
With 17.1 percent market share, Warner/Chappell recently secured the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s second quarter Publisher Airplay Chart. Contributing to the tally are stakes in monster pop/rock hits Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know,” fun.’s “We Are Young” and the Wanted’s “Glad You Came.”
On the local front, the Nashville team led by VP/GM Phil May notched a string of nine No. 1 hits in as many months, racking up 15.1 percent of country radio airplay, more than any other publisher in Q2. It is Warner/Chappell’s first time leading Billboard’s country airplay chart since Q3 2010.
“We’re having a really good year, and when we sit back and think about what is working for us, it is two fold,” explained May during a recent interview. “Since Cameron Strang came on board with his entrepreneurial background, he’s really changed the way we operate locally because he empowers us to take A&R risks when we find someone we really believe in, which is fantastic. The second part is that we work and operate as a small company even though we’re a worldwide company. Our decision making process, in deals and especially in relation to signing writers, is very quick.”
In the last several months, May and VP A&R Steve Markland have used this agility and careful planning to ink new writers Dean Alexander, Josh Abbott, Laura Veltz, and duo TJ and John Osborne.
Cameron Strang
Since taking on their current roles about three years ago, May and Markland have focused on maintaining a roster with the right mix of songwriters. “We’ve worked to keep a balanced roster,” explained May. “We have developing writers and then our veteran hit writers, as well as rising artist writers, which we hope will ultimately get a label deal.” Indeed Alexander and Abbott have signed separate recording agreements with Warner Music Nashville.
Strang elaborated on the company’s initiatives: “At the core of Warner/Chappell’s strategy is an uncompromising commitment to service. We are forging long-term relationships with incredibly talented songwriters, composers and publishing partners, based around their needs in the music publishing business. At the same time, we are building an ambitious team with an entrepreneurial spirit that is completely dedicated to providing superior music publishing services.
“Our recent success in Nashville is a good example of how that vision is paying off. Phil, Steve and the team are well-connected, fast-moving, getting great results for our writers and showing real leadership in the Nashville community.”
Local Warner/Chappell songwriters Wendell Mobley and Michael Dulaney have celebrated multiple No. 1s in recent months. They co-wrote Jason Aldean’s “Tattoos On This Town,” Dulaney penned Aldean’s “Fly Over States” with Neil Thrasher, and Mobley wrote Rascal Flatts’ “Banjo” with Thrasher and Tony Martin.
“It’s great for us when we have multiple writers on a song,” said May, “but the most important thing for us is getting the best songs. Sometimes that’s when one of our writers has a great connection with writers [from other publishing companies]. There are those writing teams that gel well together and that’s one of the things we try to do is find those people for our writers.” To facilitate this, Warner/Chappell often organizes trips or camps with songwriters from different publishing companies.
Among these successful collaborations are Mobley’s numerous hits with Thrasher, and Ben Hayslip’s (Warner/Chappell/This Music) slew of chart-toppers with fellow Peach Pickers Dallas Davidson and Rhett Akins.
Also contributing to Warner/Chappell’s recent string of hits are Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley (“We Owned The Night”), Brett James (“Reality”), Johnny Bulford (“A Woman Like You”), Brantley Gilbert and Jim McCormick (“You Don’t Know Her Like I Do”), and Ashley Gorley, signed with Combustion Music (“Good Girl”).
Elsewhere on the charts are singles by Warner/Chappell writers Sean McConnell, Blair Daly (with Combustion Music), and Tim Nichols and Marv Green (both with This Music).
“From our standpoint the country market is very strong,” continued May. “We’ve had years of decline in terms of record sales. Now we’re doing really well from a performance standpoint, from radio airplay, but that’s why it’s key to have writers that are writing successful, commercial songs that work in the current market on radio.
“We’re also seeing real growth in other markets, whether it is film, TV, or online. On the TV side, the most recent interesting thing for the country market as a whole is the new show Nashville. It’s very well done, and what’s different than other shows is that the producers want the characters on Nashville to be known for their own songs that aren’t already hits by someone else. We are pitching songs to the music supervisors that are uncut songs, which is very rare. They’ve really engaged the Nashville community, instead of just using publishers’ film and TV offices in L.A. Shows like that bring people to our market who we might not otherwise reach. The number of people using music is probably greater than its ever been and that’s a really good trend.”
No. 1 Party: Brantley Gilbert’s “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do”
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): back row –George Briner, Scott Borchetta, Dann Huff, Rich Egan, Ron Cox, Steve Tusman, and Clay Bradley; front row – Steve Markland, Brantley Gilbert, Jim McCormick, and BJ Hill. Photo Rick Diamond
Big Machine Label Group was on the stands for a second time this week, this time to celebrate Brantley Gilbert and Jim McCormick’s No. 1 song “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” during a rooftop reception at Nashville’s BMI offices yesterday (8/22).
The song is McCormick’s first No. 1 hit and Gilbert’s fourth No. 1 as a songwriter (and second as an artist). Both writers received silver cups from BMI from Clay Bradley, Warner-Tamerlane No. 1 plaques from representatives Steve Markland and BJ Hill, CMA medallions from Brandi Simms and CRB recognition from Michelle Tigard Kammerer. Paying it forward, Avenue Bank’s Ron Cox presented a contribution made in honor of the writers to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Fund.
McCormick received a special black BMI Takamine guitar for his career milestone, to which Hill remarked, “Hopefully, you’ll be up here celebrating this a lot.”
“I’m more excited to celebrate Jim’s No. 1, than for myself,” said Gilbert, who also accepted special recognition from label representatives Annie Ortmeier and Brittney McKenna for reaching a social media milestone, 1 million ‘likes’ on Facebook. The star made an effort to thank management’s Rich Egan and Steve Tusman, and his bus driver, security, brother and mother in the audience. Valory VP of Promotion George Briner accepted recognition onstage alongside BMLG head Scott Borchetta.
“Look how beautiful this day is,” noted Borchetta before delivering remarks. “When we decided to add a few more tracks to Brantley’s album, I called his publisher at Warner Chappell. Let me say, not since Taylor Swift have I received a catalog this good.”
“I got a call from Scott,” recalled producer, Dann Huff. “I both hate and love them when he asks for favors. Brantley and I found a common thread through music. I’d like to point out this is Brantley’s band on the track…and give credit to Justin Niebank for engineering. And thank you Scott, for the call.”
“Today is a chance to say thank you for those who’ve encouraged me along the way,” said McCormick, who recognized his mom, dad, brother, sister, and wife among a list of industry salutes, saving his final thank you for Gilbert. “And thank you Brantley, for taking our song to the top.”
MusicRowPics: Flynnville Train Artist Visit
/by Caitlin RantalaYesterday (8/22), Flynnville Train stopped by MusicRow headquarters. Band members include brothers Brian and Brent Flynn, Tommy Bales and Joseph Shreve. Usually equipped with amps and loud PA systems ready to rock out, the band gave an acoustic, stripped down performance of several songs, including their current single “The One You Love.”
“It’s sort of a different perspective on us,” Brian said of the sweet, mellow sounding tune, which they originally debuted while playing at a Montgomery Gentry concert. “Afterwards, a lot of people came up and said they wanted to use it as their wedding song, but we hadn’t even cut it yet.” But that’s since changed and the song went to radio Monday (8/20).
The group, all of whom grew up in central Indiana, also played “Tequila Sheila” and “Home.” After being together for thirteen years the band shared a little bit of their philosophy saying, “We just take the music where they want to hear it – we’re a live band.”
Their next record is slated for release early 2013.
[slide]
Artist Updates (8/23/12)
/by Michelle• • • •
Rodney Atkins is the featured artist for the All American Concert Series finale airing live tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 24 on Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends. Atkins will perform his No. 1 smash hit “Take A Back Road” and current single “Just Wanna Rock N Roll” from his album Take A Back Road along with other hits during the show.
• • • •
Americana and Country Favorites to Salute Levon Helm
/by FreemanPhoto: Ahron R. Foster
Some of Americana and Country music’s best will join together to pay tribute to the music of the late, great Levon Helm at “Love For Levon,” which takes place October 3 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
All-star guests gathering to salute Helm include Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, John Mayer, My Morning Jacket, Ray LaMontagne, Gregg Allman, Marc Cohn, Patty Griffin, Warren Haynes, John Hiatt, Bruce Hornsby, Jorma Kaukonen, The Levon Helm Band, Robert Randolph, Mavis Staples, Joe Walsh, Lucinda Williams and more to be announced. Don Was and Larry Campbell will lead the band and serve as the evening’s musical directors. Keith Wortman is the show producer.
“We are deeply moved that so many musicians and friends of Levon’s are coming together to celebrate his life and his music, and to help us keep his musical spirit and vision alive in the Midnight Rambles,” said Sandy and Amy Helm, Levon’s wife and daughter. “We want to continue to honor his legacy by creating a musical landmark at the Barn, one that inspires and celebrates Americana music and its heritage.”
Tickets for the event go on sale Wednesday, August 29 online and at select Ticketmaster locations. Net proceeds will help support Helm’s legacy by helping his estate keep ownership of his home, barn and studio, and to continue The Midnight Ramble Sessions.
Franklin Theatre Host Writers Night Benefit
/by Caitlin RantalaHosted by Shannon McCombs, the evening will feature performances by Rivers Rutherford (“Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You”–Brooks & Dunn, “Real Good Man”–Tim McGraw, “If You Ever Stop Loving Me”–Montgomery Gentry), Wil Nance (“She’s Everything”–Brad Paisley, “Round About Way”–George Strait), Bob Regan (“Your Everything”–Keith Urban, “Thinking About You”–Trisha Yearwood) and Billy Yates (“Choices”–George Jones).
Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $40 for classic admission and $75 for cabaret admission. They can be purchased here.
Loggins, Middleman and Burr Plan National Tour
/by Eric T. ParkerBlue Sky Riders
Vocal trio Blue Sky Riders, comprised of Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr, will headline its first national tour this fall to support the self-titled debut album expected Jan. 22, 2013.
The band, who spent the summer opening for Loggins, will kick-off a 14 city tour on September 13, including a five-night residency at New York’s Feinstein’s At Loews Regency.
Select singles from the album will be digitally available in the coming months. The band’s Live At The Rutledge EP is currently available for purchase on iTunes.
Blue Sky Riders tour dates:
9/13– Kent, OH
9/14– Cleveland, OH
9/18– Annapolis, MD
9/19– Glenside, PA
9/20– Londonderry, NH
9/21– Foxborough, MA
9/22– Norfolk, CT
9/23– Ridgefield, CT
9/25-29– New York City
10/1– State College, PA
Snapshots (8/23/12)
/by MichelleLisa Marie Presley visited BMI’s Music Row offices on Monday, August 20, with her latest album Storm & Grace (produced by T Bone Burnett) in tow. The visit included a viewing of the video for Presley’s single, “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet.” While in Nashville, Presley also made her Grand Ole Opry debut.
(L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, Lisa Marie Presley, and BMI’s Leslie Roberts and Mark Mason. Photo: Drew Maynard
• • • •
SESAC’s Nashville headquarters was the setting for the album release party for Jerry Salley’s Showing My Age project. A festive gathering of Salley’s friends, family and music industry personnel were on hand to celebrate the new release by the critically acclaimed songwriter, artist and musician.
(L-R): SESAC’s Tim Fink, Salley and musician/songwriters Jon Weisberger and Carl Jackson. Photo: Peyton Hoge
• • • •
Republic Nashville’s country rock duo Florida Georgia Line – comprised of Tyler Hubbard from Monroe, GA and Brian Kelley from Ormond Beach, FL – made its Grand Ole Opry debut last Friday night (8/17). FGL got the crowd going with a performance of their up-tempo song “Tip It Back” and closed out the debut with their top-selling single “Cruise.” Both tunes are from their current EP It’z Just What We Do, produced by Joey Moi.
(L-R): (Front row) Republic Nashville National Dir. of Promotion Matthew Hargis, Luke Harnen, Republic Nashville President/Big Machine Label Group EVP Jimmy Harnen (Back row) Jason Schmidt, Big Loud Mountain Partner/FGL Producer Joey Moi, Sweet Talk Publicity’s Jensen Arrowsmith, FGL’s Tyler Hubbard, Republic Nashville Southeast Promotion Stacey Blythe, Big Loud Mountain/FGL Mgr. Seth England, Republic Nashville Label Resource Mgr. Megan Knutson, Buddy Lee Attractions Pres. Kevin Neal, FGL’s Brian Kelley, Brian Bonds, Jaime Lyn Bowers, Tom Beaupre
No. 1 Party: Kenny Chesney’s “Come Over”
/by Freeman(l-r): ASCAP's Ryan Beuschel, Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally and Sam Hunt. Photo: Ed Rode
Music City’s party-going set convened at CMA headquarters Tuesday (8/21) to toast the creative team behind Kenny Chesney’s recent No. 1 “Come Over”—his 22nd career chart topper. Writers Sam Hunt and Josh Osborne both earned their first No. 1 with this hit, and collaborator Shane McAnally earned his third in 18 months, extending a run that includes Jake Owen’s “Alone With You” and Chesney’s “Somewhere With You.”
“If you can’t find Shane McAnally these days, you probably haven’t spent much time at any No. 1 parties,” echoed ASCAP’s Ryan Beuschel, who hosted the proceedings.
Black River’s Celia Froehlig extolled the talents of Osborne. In addition to the Chesney hit, the Kentucky native also has a piece of the current Chris Young single “Neon” and the expected next Love and Theft single.
Chesney’s manager Clint Higham, who is also Sam Hunt’s manager and publisher, has a long history with McAnally dating back to his days as a Curb artist in the ‘90s. Other presentations were made by McAnally’s publisher Robin Palmer, CRS President Bill Mayne, and CMA’s Brandi Simms and additional awards were presented to producer Buddy Cannon and Sony Music’s Gary Overton and Norbert Nix.
Hunt, who is currently recording his debut album with Joey Moi, credited Tom T. Hall with inspiring him to write the songs he loves. He also thanked his parents, who were present. “I told y’all, ‘I got this!’” he joked. Hunt’s co-writers both predicted major success for him as a recording artist.
Osborne managed to be charming even as he was getting choked up over his accomplishment. “If you’re in the music business, please find the right person,” he advised, before thanking his wife and some of the others he found.
And despite his many recent successes, McAnally was still grateful that he gets to do this for a living. Gesturing to his friend Clint Higham, he said, “It certainly didn’t end up where we thought, but it’s better than I imagined.”
Chesney was unable to attend but sent congratulations via Higham.
Exclusive: Inside Warner/Chappell’s Revival
/by Sarah SkatesPhil May
When Cameron Strang came on board as Warner/Chappell Music Chairman & CEO in January 2011, he brought an entrepreneurial spirit with him that created a positive shift company wide. That spirit—established while building his own New West Records—has combined with keen strategies for a string of hits across all genres.
With 17.1 percent market share, Warner/Chappell recently secured the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s second quarter Publisher Airplay Chart. Contributing to the tally are stakes in monster pop/rock hits Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know,” fun.’s “We Are Young” and the Wanted’s “Glad You Came.”
On the local front, the Nashville team led by VP/GM Phil May notched a string of nine No. 1 hits in as many months, racking up 15.1 percent of country radio airplay, more than any other publisher in Q2. It is Warner/Chappell’s first time leading Billboard’s country airplay chart since Q3 2010.
“We’re having a really good year, and when we sit back and think about what is working for us, it is two fold,” explained May during a recent interview. “Since Cameron Strang came on board with his entrepreneurial background, he’s really changed the way we operate locally because he empowers us to take A&R risks when we find someone we really believe in, which is fantastic. The second part is that we work and operate as a small company even though we’re a worldwide company. Our decision making process, in deals and especially in relation to signing writers, is very quick.”
In the last several months, May and VP A&R Steve Markland have used this agility and careful planning to ink new writers Dean Alexander, Josh Abbott, Laura Veltz, and duo TJ and John Osborne.
Cameron Strang
Since taking on their current roles about three years ago, May and Markland have focused on maintaining a roster with the right mix of songwriters. “We’ve worked to keep a balanced roster,” explained May. “We have developing writers and then our veteran hit writers, as well as rising artist writers, which we hope will ultimately get a label deal.” Indeed Alexander and Abbott have signed separate recording agreements with Warner Music Nashville.
Strang elaborated on the company’s initiatives: “At the core of Warner/Chappell’s strategy is an uncompromising commitment to service. We are forging long-term relationships with incredibly talented songwriters, composers and publishing partners, based around their needs in the music publishing business. At the same time, we are building an ambitious team with an entrepreneurial spirit that is completely dedicated to providing superior music publishing services.
“Our recent success in Nashville is a good example of how that vision is paying off. Phil, Steve and the team are well-connected, fast-moving, getting great results for our writers and showing real leadership in the Nashville community.”
Local Warner/Chappell songwriters Wendell Mobley and Michael Dulaney have celebrated multiple No. 1s in recent months. They co-wrote Jason Aldean’s “Tattoos On This Town,” Dulaney penned Aldean’s “Fly Over States” with Neil Thrasher, and Mobley wrote Rascal Flatts’ “Banjo” with Thrasher and Tony Martin.
“It’s great for us when we have multiple writers on a song,” said May, “but the most important thing for us is getting the best songs. Sometimes that’s when one of our writers has a great connection with writers [from other publishing companies]. There are those writing teams that gel well together and that’s one of the things we try to do is find those people for our writers.” To facilitate this, Warner/Chappell often organizes trips or camps with songwriters from different publishing companies.
Among these successful collaborations are Mobley’s numerous hits with Thrasher, and Ben Hayslip’s (Warner/Chappell/This Music) slew of chart-toppers with fellow Peach Pickers Dallas Davidson and Rhett Akins.
Also contributing to Warner/Chappell’s recent string of hits are Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley (“We Owned The Night”), Brett James (“Reality”), Johnny Bulford (“A Woman Like You”), Brantley Gilbert and Jim McCormick (“You Don’t Know Her Like I Do”), and Ashley Gorley, signed with Combustion Music (“Good Girl”).
Elsewhere on the charts are singles by Warner/Chappell writers Sean McConnell, Blair Daly (with Combustion Music), and Tim Nichols and Marv Green (both with This Music).
“From our standpoint the country market is very strong,” continued May. “We’ve had years of decline in terms of record sales. Now we’re doing really well from a performance standpoint, from radio airplay, but that’s why it’s key to have writers that are writing successful, commercial songs that work in the current market on radio.
“We’re also seeing real growth in other markets, whether it is film, TV, or online. On the TV side, the most recent interesting thing for the country market as a whole is the new show Nashville. It’s very well done, and what’s different than other shows is that the producers want the characters on Nashville to be known for their own songs that aren’t already hits by someone else. We are pitching songs to the music supervisors that are uncut songs, which is very rare. They’ve really engaged the Nashville community, instead of just using publishers’ film and TV offices in L.A. Shows like that bring people to our market who we might not otherwise reach. The number of people using music is probably greater than its ever been and that’s a really good trend.”
Jeff Green Launches Stone Door Media Lab
/by Sarah SkatesJeff Green
Music and media veteran Jeff Green has announced the formation of Stone Door Media Lab, a Nashville-based creative think tank providing ratings research, customer data, digital media consumption analytics, market analysis, industry white papers and related business intelligence on domestic and international initiatives. Researcher Lauren Virshup will join Green as partner when operations begin Sept. 17.
Green elaborates, “Stone Door Media Lab will help companies, primarily within the entertainment space, maximize their revenue growth by providing the business intelligence behind what they do. By looking at history and current trends, companies can make the right strategic moves for future growth.”
Green establishes Stone Door following five years as VP/Operations at Country Aircheck in editorial and research roles; database, website and event development; and production. He has served 22 years in executive posts at the Americana Music Association, Radio & Records, the Country Music Association and Music & Media, based in Amsterdam. A 2013 CRS Agenda Committee Vice-Chair, he is also an RAB-accredited Certified Radio Marketing Consultant and an alumnus of Leadership Music and the Disney Leadership Institute. Green completes his MBA at UMass Amherst in December.
“Lauren Virshup is a skilled researcher, and her strong business background, which includes a Yale MBA and graduate degrees from Columbia and Vanderbilt, exemplifies the expertise and insight we will bring to every project,” Green says. “Together, we plan to identify meaningful revenue opportunities by determining correlations and causality of specific efforts undertaken by traditional and digital media, artists, labels, corporate marketers and social media service providers.”
In addition to commissioned assignments, Stone Door Media Lab will underwrite projects and partner with various firms and specialists.
Stone Door will regularly publish industry research findings, which will be available free of charge via sign-up at www.stonedoormedialab.com.
Reach Jeff Green at jeff@stonedoormedialab.com or (mobile) 615-406-4567; Lauren Virshup at lauren@stonedoormedialab.com; and Stone Door Media Lab at 615-346-9432 or info@stonedoormedialab.com.