ASCAP Announces Date for Country Awards

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By: Laura Hostelley
ascap 100 years11
The 52nd annual ASCAP Country Music Awards will be held Monday, November 3rd at downtown Nashville’s Music City Center for the second consecutive year.
The invitation-only, black-tie event will honor the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP’s most performed Country music songs of the past year. Special awards will also celebrate ASCAP’s 100th anniversary. Throughout the evening, songwriters and artists will deliver live performances of the top five most performed songs of 2013.
Recent recipients of ASCAP Country Music Awards include George Strait, Alan Jackson, Ben Hayslip, Josh Kear, Lyle Lovett, Bob McDill, Brad Paisley, Don Williams  and many more.

Industry Ink (7/23/14)

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Sarah Landy

Sarah Landy


Sarah Landy has been appointed to the new position of General Manager for AWAL North America, a division of Kobalt Label Services.
Reporting to Vincent Clery-Melin, Managing Director of AWAL, Landy is based in Kobalt’s New York office and works alongside the UK-headquartered AWAL team and the Kobalt Label Services teams in NYC, LA and London to lead business development in North America. Landy was most recently Senior Director of Marketing for Sony’s RED Associated Labels.
• • •
Chad Green

Chad Green


Canadian country music label MDM Recordings Inc. (MDM) is expanding to the American market with the hiring of Nashville based Chad Green to handle A&R / Industry Relations.
In addition to his role with MDM, Green also congruently serves as Senior Creative Dir. for Daywind Music Publishing. His background includes time as an ASCAP Membership Representative, and as Creative Dir. of Word Music Publishing.
MDM, headed by Pres. Mike Denney, also recently added an Australian office.
• • •
The Agency Group has signed Aubrie Sellers for worldwide representation. Justin Hill is the responsible agent.
Sellers, a Nashville native, is the daughter of Lee Ann Womack and singer-songwriter Jason Sellers. The younger Sellers’ upcoming album is being produced by her stepfather Frank Liddell. In related news, The Agency Group is nominated for Booking Agency of the Year at the 2014 Canadian Country Music Award.
Aubrie Sellers

Aubrie Sellers

• • •

Bluewater Music has signed rock band Vintage Trouble to a worldwide administration agreement. Band members include Ty Taylor, Nalle Colt, Rick Barrio Dill and Richard Danielson. Vintage Trouble has toured extensively throughout North America, Europe, Australia, Brazil and Japan, including recent sets at Glastonbury and Bonnaroo.
bluewater music logo

Hirings: Edgehill Music, Young Guns Publishing

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Jessica Cohen Banish

Jessica Cohen Banish


Kevin Mason, GM/Edgehill Music Nashville, has announced the immediate appointment of Jessica Cohen Banish as Director of Promotion & Marketing.
Banish replaces Adelle Borchetta, who has left to reopen her promotion company.
“We’re honored to have a person of Jessica’s intelligence and background agree to join us as part of the Edgehill team,” Mason said. “Now Edgehill Music Nashville is truly complete and aiming to be Nashville’s premiere company for promotion and social media services for Music Row and secondary radio clients.”
Most recently, Banish served as the Director of Marketing and Social Media for the Maria Chrissovergis Public Relations Agency. The New York native has a 15-year history working in radio, which includes stops at WQPW, WGNE, WSIX and WNRQ.
Congratulate Banish here: [email protected].

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Will Hamrick

Will Hamrick


Young Guns Publishing has hired Will Hamrick to serve as Operations Manager of the company. The newly created role encompasses finance, company operations, and industry relations.
“Cliff [Downs, Young Guns’ President] has done a remarkable job signing and developing new talent, and taking them to the next level,” said Hamrick. “I look forward to helping build the Young Guns brand.”
Previously of HitShop Records, Hamrick can be reached here: [email protected].
Young Guns, a part of the Ramblin Music Group, has a roster of ten songwriters.

BMG Chrysalis, Franklin Publishing, Zavitson Ink Songwriters

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By: Laura Hostelley
Zavitson Music Group recently signed songwriter and producer Adam B. Smith to an exclusive publishing deal. Smith is most known for his work in the pop/rock world with artists such as Colbie Caillat, Jason Reeves and Randy Jackson, but is now also working in the Country genre.

Pictured (L-R): Dave Hopper (Smith's manager); Zavitson Music Group's Lauren Miller, Russ Zavitson, Beverly Miller, Eric Hurt, Adam B Smith; Evyn Mustoe (ASCAP); Johnny Gradone (Zavitson Music Group)

Pictured (L-R): Dave Hopper (Smith’s manager), Zavitson Music Group’s Lauren Miller, Russ Zavitson, Beverly Miller, Eric Hurt, songwriter Adam B. Smith, Evyn Mustoe (ASCAP); Johnny Gradone (Zavitson Music Group)

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Sonya Rae Taylor signed with BMG Chrysalis and Franklin Publishing/Writer Management. The ASCAP writer comes to Music City via Boston and Austin, and participated in the Austin Songwriter Symposium in January 2014, where she was a major standout. Franklin Publishing and BMG Chrysalis are proud to be a part of this collaborative effort.

Pictured (L-R): BMG Chrysalis' Sara Knabe and Chris Oglesby (seated), LeAnn Phelan (ASCAP), Darrell Franklin (Franklin Publishing/Writer Management), BMG Chrysalis' Kevin Lane and Kos Weaver, and Sonya Rae Taylor

Pictured (L-R): BMG Chrysalis’ Sara Knabe and Chris Oglesby (seated), LeAnn Phelan (ASCAP), Darrell Franklin (Franklin Publishing/Writer Management), BMG Chrysalis’ Kevin Lane and Kos Weaver, and Sonya Rae Taylor

BMI Announces Second Annual Stage at LouFest 2014

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Screen shot 2014-07-17 at 4.07.56 PM1BMI will hold its second annual BMI Stage at the LouFest Music Festival this year. The fifth annual LouFest Music Festival, located in St. Louis, will featured nearly 40 bands performing funk, alt-country, soul, indie rock, and much more. The festival runs from Sept. 6-7, 2014.
Appearing on the BMI Stage are (in order of appearance):
• Colin Lake – Saturday, Sept. 6 at 1p.m.
• The Jane Shermans – Sept., Sept. 6 at 2:45p.m.
• Alanna Royale – Saturday, Sept. 6 at 4:30p.m.
• Roadkill Ghost Choir – Saturday, Sept. 6 at 6:30p.m
• Black Pistol Fire – Saturday, Sept. 6 at 8:30p.m.
• Old Salt Union – Sunday, Sept. 7 at 1p.m.
• Dylan McDonald & The Avians – Sunday, Sept. 7 at 2:45p.m.
• Marc Scibilia – Sunday, Sept. 7 at 4:30p.m.
• AJR – Sunday, Sept. 7 at 6:30p.m.
• Kopecky Family Band– Sunday, Sept. 7 at 8:30p.m.

Industry Pics (7/17/14)

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Atlantic recording artist Brett Eldredge celebrated his gold-certified, chart-topping single “Beat of the Music” by swimming with sharks off the coast of the Bahamas yesterday.

After making it back safely to dry land, Eldredge said, “People celebrate No. 1’s and gold singles in different ways. I just happen to be lucky enough to have some of my best friends in the world come out and celebrate with me in a BIG way. I want to thank everyone at country radio, my management and promotion teams and my family, friends and fans who have supported me all of these years. Life is good. Rock the Ocean. Love life….it’s all you’ve gotta do!”

PIctured (L-R): Camille Alston (Longshot Management), Justin Luffman (VP, Brand Management, Warner Music Nashville), Eldredge, Rob Baker (Longshot Management).

Pictured (L-R): Camille Alston (Longshot Management), Justin Luffman (VP, Brand Management, Warner Music Nashville), Eldredge, Rob Baker (Longshot Management).

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Native Run played a five-song set for friends and industry in Nashville, hosted by Creative Nation, Combustion Music, and Fusion Music. The Show Dog-Universal duo showcased new music, including their debut single, “Good On You.”

Front Row (L-R): Chris Farren (Fusion Music), Julie Boos (Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Beth Laird (Creative Nation), Bryan Dawley, Rachel Beauregard, Kelsey Granda (Creative Nation), Kenley Flynn (Combustion Music), Chris Van Belkom (Combustion Music). Back Row from (L-R): Zach Sutton (Fusion Music), Daniel Miller (Fusion Music), Cliff Audretch III (Show Dog- Universal Music), Chris Farren (Combustion Music), Jeff Skaggs (Creative Nation), Luke Laird (Songwriter/Producer). Photo: Kristina Pellegrino.

Front Row (L-R): Chris Farren (Fusion Music), Julie Boos (Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Beth Laird (Creative Nation), Bryan Dawley, Rachel Beauregard, Kelsey Granda (Creative Nation), Kenley Flynn (Combustion Music), Chris Van Belkom (Combustion Music). Back Row from (L-R): Zach Sutton (Fusion Music), Daniel Miller (Fusion Music), Cliff Audretch III (Show Dog- Universal Music), Chris Farren (Combustion Music), Jeff Skaggs (Creative Nation), Luke Laird (Songwriter/Producer).
Photo: Kristina Pellegrino.

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ASCAP hosted the July edition of its monthly songwriters-in-the-round at the Bluebird Cafe on Wednesday, July 9. The showcase featured Keith Walker (a member of the ASCAP GPS Project Class of 2014), BMG songwriter Hannah Dasher, Warner/Chappell songwriter Aaron Goodvin, and Catch This Publishing songwriter Christopher Roberts.

Pictured (L-R): Keith Walker, Hannah Dasher, ASCAP's Michael Martin, Aaron Goodvin, ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan, and Christopher Roberts.​ ​

Pictured (L-R): Keith Walker, Hannah Dasher, ASCAP’s Michael Martin, Aaron Goodvin, ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan, and Christopher Roberts.​
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Black River Publishing Names Creative Director

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Dave Pacula

Dave Pacula


Black River Entertainment‘s VP of Publishing Celia Froehlig has hired Dave Pacula as Creative Director of BRE Publishing.
Pacula, New York native, is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, and also has an audio technology diploma from SAE Institute of Technology. Pacula previously spent five years at Universal Music Publishing as Creative Manager, and most recently served as Creative Director at Ten Ten Music.
“I am thrilled to join the BRE team,” says Pacula. “I’m looking forward to working with Gordon, Celia, and the amazingly talented songwriters at Black River Publishing.”

Black River Publishing recently celebrated the chart-topping single “My Eyes,” co-written by Black River’s Josh Osborne. Osborne currently has five songs in the Top 30, including Billy Currington‘s “We Are Tonight,” Blake Shelton/Gwen Sebastian‘s “My Eyes,” The Band Perry‘s “Chainsaw,” Eli Young Band‘s “Dust,” and Sam Hunt‘s “Leave The Night On.”
Pacula can be reached at [email protected] and at 615-780-3070 (x 6218).

Sony/ATV Makes Global Music Catalog Available Online

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Sony ATV LogoSony/ATV Music Publishing‘s entire music catalog, including EMI Music Publishing, can be viewed and downloaded by music services and other interested parties on sonyatv.com, beginning Wednesday (July 16). Sony/ATV.com allows authorized users to search by song name, alternative titles, and composer, as well as other information including country of origin.
“As the world’s leading music publisher we want to ensure that existing users, prospective licensees and those with a need to access our extensive song list are provided with that capability,” said Martin Bandier, Chairman & CEO of the company. “We are thrilled to announce today that the company is taking the next step and offering a greater level of transparency by enabling our global catalog to be accessible upon request.”
Sony/ATV’s catalog includes artists such as The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Taylor Swift, and Pharrell Williams. Songs in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalog include “Hey Jude,” “I Heard it Through The Grapevine,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Over The Rainbow,” and others.

Industry Pics (7/9/14)

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ole songwriter Marty Dodson received a platinum record this week for his song “Fire It Up” with Joe Cocker. The ole team presented the award to Dodson at the company’s offices in Nashville.

Pictured (L-R): Gilles Godard (VP, ole); Emily Mueller (Creative Manager, ole); Shellien Kinsey (Creative Coordinator, ole); Marty Dodson; John Ozier (GM Creative, ole); and Ben Strain (Creative Director, ole).

Pictured (L-R): Gilles Godard (VP, ole); Emily Mueller (Creative Manager, ole); Shellien Kinsey (Creative Coordinator, ole); Marty Dodson; John Ozier (GM Creative, ole); and Ben Strain (Creative Director, ole).

 • • •

Lady Antebellum recently invited Grammy U members to soundcheck during a stop at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irving, Calif., on their Take Me Downtown Tour. Following soundcheck, Grammy U members did a Q&A with the trio, who answered questions about songwriting, touring and industry topics.

GRAMMY U1

Pictured: Lady Antebellum with Grammy U students

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The Academy of Country Music welcomed singer-songwriter Robby Johnson to the office while he was in Los Angeles recently. Johnson performed his debut single, “South of Me,” previewed his current single, “Feel Good Song,” and signed up for professional ACM membership, as part of the Academy’s complimentary one-year membership offered to support emerging artists.

robby johnson acm1

Robby Johnson performs at the ACM office in Encino, Calif.

Kobalt Appoints Smith as VP, Sales and Marketing

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kobaltKobalt Label Services has appointed Tom Smith as VP, Sales and Marketing. Smith was previously a marketing, sales and business development consultant for Kobalt, aiding the company in establishing a footprint on the west coast.
In his new role he will work alongside Kobalt’s Sr. VP of Sales, North America Shari Segalini and will continue to report to Diarmuid Quinn, president of KLS North America. Smith will conduct day-to-day business on behalf of KLS clients with national, physical, and digital retailers, as well as non-traditional and independent retailers. Smith will also pursue strategic brand partnerships for KLS artists that connect with retail.
“Tom is a dynamic executive who has delivered incredible results and support for Kobalt artists since the launch of KLS,” Quinn said. “His relationships with our retail partners and our artists runs deep, and we’re excited he has agreed to come on full time as part of the rapidly growing KLS team.”
“I am excited to be a part of the new model that Kobalt Label Services has created for artists to release their music,” added Smith. “To be able to execute on marketing launch plans based on the artists’ vision with the artist having total control is an amazing environment to work in. I am grateful to Willard Ahdritz, Richard Sanders, Paul Hitchman, Diarmuid Quinn and Shari Segalini for this opportunity.”
Smith’s career began at Capitol Records. He then worked as Sr. Director Sales for at RCA Nashville for 12 years, where he managed national campaigns for Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews Band, Maroon 5, and other artists.