Performing rights organizations BMI, ASCAP, and SOCAN have entered into a collaboration that will create a more efficient works registration process for members of the three participating PROs. MusicMark allows CWR registrations to take place through a common FTP site. As of March 31, 2014, publishers that use CWR to register music can begin using MusicMark to submit works to ASCAP, BMI, and SOCAN all at once. Later in 2014, MusicMark will be opened up to publishers using other kinds of batch processes, such as Excel sheets.

MusicMark allows PRO members to register songs through a single interface, including works co-written by songwriters who are members of different performing rights organizations. After the song is registered through MusicMark, the song’s data is sent to all three PROs (BMI, ASCAP, and SOCAN) for inclusion in their respective repertoires. This is a useful development for the songwriting and publishing community, as co-writing among songwriters affiliated with different PROs has been commonplace in Music City for years.
MusicMark represents a collaboration between the PROs, though not an official joint venture. Each PRO will continue to maintain its own back offices and copyright records.
The PROs debuted the new common site after music publishers requested a more efficient way of registering works with the PROs. MusicMark is jointly managed by executives from all participating societies.
MusicMark will aid in providing more accurate copyright information, and a synchronized view of works in the repertoires of ASCAP, BMI and SOCAN. A PDF of extended questions is available online.
For more information on getting started, writers and/or publishers can contact their respective representatives at BMI, ASCAP or SOCAN.

Three music brands have combined forces to give songwriters and artists of various genres a chance at a coveted $20,000, one-year publishing contract. Management company Secret Road, Nashville-based music tech startup Songspace, and instrument maker Martin Guitars have teamed for the second annual “Pub Deal” contest.
In addition to receiving a non-recoupable $20,000 advance, the winner will work with Secret Road during the year to build their repertoire and market songs for film and television. Twenty-five finalists will be featured on American Songwriter‘s website. Five finalists will participate in an audition that includes a series of interviews with Secret Road’s staff and co-writing sessions with top songwriters.
The deadline for entering is May 3, 2014, at 11:30 p.m. CST.
The contest will be powered by Songspace, a Nashville-based startup and partner company of American Songwriter Media. Songspace provides a song catalog for music businesses fed by a collaborative app for songwriters.
Secret Road is a Los Angeles-based music licensing, publishing, and management company that has placed songs in television shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Parenthood, and Pretty Little Liars, as well as the films No Strings Attached, What to Expect When You’re Expecting and Something Borrowed.
For application information, visit thepubdeal.com.

Trace Adkins

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[Previous story, 10:05 a.m. CT]

 
SoundExchange has announced two key promotions within the company’s senior management team. Anjula Singh, Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration, is promoted to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Colin Rushing, General Counsel, is promoted to Senior Vice President and General Counsel, effective immediately.
As Chief Financial Officer, Singh has more than 20 years of experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and audits. Singh began her career as an auditor at KPMG L.L.P., a global audit, advisory and tax services firm. Prior to SoundExchange, Singh served as Director of Corporate Accounting for The AES Corporation, a global Fortune 200 affordable energy company.
Formerly General Counsel for SoundExchange, Rushing helped expand the organization’s international presence and increase regulatory and advocacy initiatives on behalf of the creative community and more. Previously, he was an attorney at WilmerHale in Washington, D.C., where his focus was intellectual property and media law.

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Wide Open Music Group has brought Amanda Flynn into the fold as Creative Director. She will represent and manage the catalogs of Trent Tomlinson, Ash Bowers, Tim Owens, Steve Williams and her own material.

“Amanda was the breath of fresh air we were starving for. She not only knows and loves country music, she’s also very well respected and extremely professional for such a young lady and Lord knows that’s not easy to find,” Wide Open Founder and Owner Steve Williams said. “She’s so passionate and fiercely driven by great songs and we are so fired up to have her on board.”

Pictured (L-R): Steve Williams, Ash Bowers, Amanda Flynn, Trent Tomlinson, BMI’s Perry Howard.

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Josh Thompson recently visited Nashville’s Blackbird Studio, with producer/director Stokes Nielson and Butch Waugh (artist relations), where Thompson taped an episode of Country Now’s “Hear & Now: Live From Blackbird Studio.” Thompson performed three songs from his upcoming release Turn It Up, including the single “Cold Beer With Your Name On It.”

Pictured (L-R): Stokes Nielson, Josh Thompson and Butch Waugh.

Singer/songwriter and Wyoming native Josh Dorr became Sony Music Nashville’s newest recording artist this week.

Pictured (L-R): Chairman & CEO Gary Overton, Josh Dorr, and A&R VP Jim Catino.

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Patrick Joseph Music, a joint venture with Songs Music Publishing, has signed ASCAP member Ben Caver to its roster of songwriters.
PJM President Pat Higdon commented, “Ben is a wonderful writer and we are extremely excited to add him to our roster. He has a distinct vocal style and a fresh approach to crafting songs. He blends Country, Pop and R&B influences in what he describes as Southern Pop. No matter what you call it, it sounds like a formula for HITS to me!”
A native of Hoover, Alabama, Caver came to Nashville in 2003 to attend Belmont College. He has had songs recorded by Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Trisha Yearwood, Lauren Alaina and more.

Pictured (L-R): Safford Motley PLC’s Scott Safford, PJM President Pat Higdon, Ben Caver, PJM Creative Manager Stevie Erickson and ASCAP Associate Director of Membership Ryan Beuschel.

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Producer/publisher Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars) has signed singer-songwriter Peyton Parker to an artist development agreement with Twenty Ten Music. The Georgia native moved to Nashville in 2013 and was a recent winner of the Southern Ground Social Club’s Open Mic Showdown.
Twenty Ten Music is a publishing and production company owned by Peacock and David Kiersznowski. The TTM catalog includes The Civil Wars, Ruby Amanfu, k.s. Rhoads, and The Daylights. Peacock’s current production credits include The Civil Wars, Kris Allen, The Lone Bellow, Holly Williams, Ben Rector, Brett Dennen, and “Misery Chain” for Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell featuring Joy Williams, from the soundtrack to the movie 12 Years A Slave.

Pictured (L-R): Sam Ashworth (Creative Director, Twenty Ten Music), Peyton Parker, Charlie Peacock (Producer/Publisher, Twenty Ten Music)