SoundExchange has paid out $1 billion in digital royalties since its inception. As digital music has increased in popularity, the organization’s payments have also increased. The $108.6 million distributed in Q1 2012 marks the first time the organization has distributed over $100 million in a given quarter.

Michael Huppe, president of the non-profit digital performance rights organization, credits the rising distributions to increased collections, and improvements in data management and technology to track performances.

SoundExchange collects and distributes royalties from non-interactive digital services, including satellite radio and streaming services such as Pandora. By comparison, on-demand digital services including Spotify and Rhapsody typically pay royalties directly to record companies, bypassing SoundExchange.

Terrestrial radio does not pay royalties to artists or labels, instead it only pays songwriters and publishers. The recent headline making deal between Big Machine Label Group and Clear Channel is shaking up that formula, with the radio giant set to pay BMLG and its artists directly without going through SoundExchange.

While SoundExchange paid out $292 million last year, terrestrial radio royalties remain more lucrative. For the 2011 fiscal year, BMI and ASCAP distributed a combined total of $1.62 billion in performance royalties.

Mercury Records recording artist Easton Corbin will release his sophomore album All Over The Road on Sept. 18.

The 11-song set includes the fast-rising single “Lovin’ You Is Fun,” written by Bob DiPiero and Jim Beavers, and was produced by Carson Chamberlain.

All Over The Road highlights the singer’s traditional stylings with songs such as the title track, written by Chamberlain, Ashley Gorley and Wade Kirby; “Tulsa Texas” written by Tony Lane, David Lee and Mike Lane; and “A Thing For You,” written by Corbin, Chamberlain and Lane.

All Over The Road is the follow-up to Corbin’s 2010 self-titled Mercury Nashville release, which contained his first two singles, “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll With It.”

Corbin is scheduled to open for Brad Paisley’s Virtual Reality Tour throughout the Summer.

The Academy of Country Music has announced a round of promotions and one new hire, as well as a reorganization and renaming of three departments.

Sr. VP Lisa Lee has been promoted to lead the new Creative, PR & Production department, which combines the previously separate Creative & Media Production and PR/Marketing departments. Sr. VP Michelle Goble will head up the newly named Membership & Industry Relations department. As a result, Erick Long will take over Academy event management in his new role as Sr. VP of Operations & Events, formerly the Operations department. All positions are based out of the ACM’s Encino, CA headquarters and report to EVP and Managing Director Tiffany Moon. Additionally, the Academy has hired Alexa Fasheh as Director, Finance.

“Not too long ago, the Academy’s focus was solely on one television property,” said Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy. “But over the past few years, our scope of work has grown to include more large-scale events, promoting

more country music artists and engaging more of our industry than ever.  This reorganization recognizes the incredible work our Academy senior team has done to lead this charge, and positions us for the growth to come.”

Lee joined the organization in 2007 when it implemented an in-house creative and media production team, editing all materials and serving as video producer. She will continue to act as liaison with CBS creative and promotion departments and manage fan voting for Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year.

Goble managed the Academy’s Membership & Events department since 2007, producing and elevating events such as ACM Honors, ACM Weekend on Fremont Street, and more. In her new role, she will act as lead liaison for artist talent booking for ACM Events and continue focusing on industry engagement.

Long started with ACM in 2009, and manages logistics for the ACM Awards and daily operations in Encino. He also spearheaded the creation of the ACM Experience in 2012, a 3 day, open to the public event during ACM week.

Fasheh joins the Academy staff after seven years as a Sr. Accountant at The Haber Corporation, where she managed the ACM account. Fasheh is a Los Angeles native who graduated from Loyola Marymount University, and has worked for a variety of CPA Firms.

AIMP Power Lunch
Fifth Third Bank’s Music and Entertainment Division hosted an AIMP (Association of Independent Music Publishers) power luncheon on Mon., June 11 at The Tavern restaurant in Nashville. Attendees included AIMP officers, founding members, music supervisors and Fifth Third Bank personnel.

 

Lambert Celebrates 1 Million Twitter Followers
RCA Nashville artist Miranda Lambert recently surpassed one million Twitter followers, a milestone few country artists have reached. Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Gary Overton (left) and Sony Music Nashville Manager of Digital Marketing Copeland Isaacson (right) presented her a plaque backstage before her show at LP Field during the CMA Music Festival Show.

 

Claudia Lee Visits ACM
The Academy of Country Music welcomed singer/actress Claudia Lee to the office while she was in Los Angeles recently. Lee is best known for her past role on hit TV show Zeke and Luther on Disney XD, and currently is featured on the CW’s Hart of Dixie. While at the Academy she performed her single “3 Leaf Clover” and signed up for professional ACM membership, as part of the Academy’s complimentary one-year membership offered to support emerging artists.