Industry Ink (11/22/13)

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Brian Kaplan

Brian Kaplan


Brian Kaplan has been upped to Associate Director, Digital Strategy, for Sony Music Nashville.  Most recently Manager of Digital Marketing for Sony Music Nashville’s Arista imprint, Kaplan has been with the label for the past two years. Reporting to Sony Nashville Marketing Sr. VP Paul Barnabee,
Kaplan will spearhead the exploration, development, and implementation of digital opportunities and partnerships for the label. Before joining Sony Kaplan served as Director of Digital Media for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and in digital marketing roles at Universal Music Group Nashville, Geffen, and Interscope Records in Los Angeles.

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200px-Cornerstone_LogoThe Cornerstone Agency, known for its campaigns for Diageo, Pepsi, Nike, and others, has announced a wide-ranging global expansion, encompassing a heightened profile in the UK and expansion of existing campaigns into new markets around the world. The UK expansion involves new headquarters in London’s East End and the addition of five new senior hires.
New additions to Cornerstone UK are: Adam Hanim, content manager, who previously served at Converse and MTV; Fiona Ghobrial, senior account manager, previously at Domino; Joe Strinati, senior account director, formerly at FRUKT; and in January, Karen Piper, digital director, formerly head of digital marketing at Columbia Records and owner-managing director of her own agency, Radar Maker. The company has offices in New York, L.A., Nashville, and London.

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66The Eleven Seven Music Group has signed an exclusive, worldwide administration agreement with BMG Chrysalis US, covering both master and publishing rights. The companies will work together to secure sync opportunities for artists on Eleven Seven’s roster. Eleven Seven Music Group was founded by industry veteran Allen Kovac and its label roster includes alternative acts such as Shiny Toy Guns, Nico Vega, Oh No Fiasco and Dirty Heads.

“We are already on a roll with BMG, having secured a H&M partnership for Blondie, Dodge sync for Motley Crüe, A&E’s Bonnie & Clyde for Nico Vega, and NFL’s Monday Night Football for Escape The Fate — all before we even made this announcement.  Laurent and Hartwig have invested in a global infrastructure that is a perfect synergy for our future growth of Eleven Seven and Five Seven,” says Eleven Seven Music Group CEO, Allen Kovac.

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Erin Oprea

Erin Oprea


Nashville-based personal trainer Erin Oprea works with many business execs and celebrities (among them Carrie Underwood, Lauren Alaina, Jennifer Nettles and Alan Jackson’s wife Denise Jackson). Oprea is expanding her staff of certified trainers at Oprea Personal Fitness  to meet a growing client base in Nashville. Trainers are available to trainer privately at clients’ homes and on the road when necessary.
Oprea received her first certification as a personal trainer at the age of 18. When she turned 20, she enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp and nine years of service included two tours of duty in Iraq. She made history when she was appointed to lead the first female platoon attached to the infantry in a war zone. As a result of her military career, she became even more highly aware of the importance of physical fitness and nutrition. She currently resides in Nashville with her husband and two sons and has been in business since 2006.
For additional information, visit opreapersonalfitness.com.

Publisher Signings (11/21/13)

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Pictured, seated (L to R): Cole Taylor and Noah McPike (attorney Almon Law, PLLC).Standing (L to R): Ryan Beuschel (ASCAP), Ron Stuve (VP UMPG), me, Greg Hill (manager, Hill Entertainment Group.)

Pictured, seated (L to R): Cole Taylor and Noah McPike (attorney Almon Law, PLLC). Standing (L to R): Ryan Beuschel (ASCAP), Ron Stuve (VP UMPG), Kent Earls (Executive VP/General Manager, UMPG Nashville), and Greg Hill (manager, Hill Entertainment Group.)


Cole Taylor has signed to Universal Music Publishing Group’s writer roster. The Cuthbert, Ga. native won the title of Male Artist of the Year and Georgia Artist of the Year last year at the Georgia Country awards.

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Pictured (L-R): CTM’s Rebekah Long, Shawn Bowling, Shona Robertson Burr, Eddie Robba, Debi Cochran and Brandon Perdue.

Pictured (L-R): CTM’s Rebekah Long, Shawn Bowling, Shona Robertson Burr, Eddie Robba, Debi Cochran and Brandon Perdue.


Catch This Music, LLC, (CTM) has signed songwriter Debi Cochran as a staff writer and Creative Coordinator of the newly-formed publishing company, Writers Ink. Cochran will serve as the company’s anchor writer and will oversee future signings, as well as assist with PR and other aspects of development, according to owner Eddie Robba.
Cochran’s hits include “My Kind of Girl,” a No. 1 song for Collin Raye, and “This Is Me Missing You,” a No. 5 hit for James House. Her song “Barefoot Ballet,” which aired on ABC’s General Hospital, won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2002. The Fort Payne, Ala. native has also written songs recorded by Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, Bonnie Bramlett, Diamond Rio, Clay Walker and others.

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CBR Signs Gungor - Picture111

Pictured (L-R): Amy Kadish, John Barker, Michael Gungor, Chelsea Jones, Courtney Kruckeberg

ClearBox Rights has signed an exclusive administration agreement with artist Gungor, led by Michael and Lisa Gungor. ClearBox Rights represents all songs in Hither & Yon Music/ASCAP including songs from the group’s most recent release I Am Mountain, out Sept. 24.

NSAI Hosts No. 1 Party

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Front Row (seated L-R): Troy Verges, Maggie Cavender Award recipient Erika Wollam Nichols, Stephen Foster Award recipient Mark Ford, Kelley Lovelace, NSAI President Lee Thomas Miller. Second Row (standing L-R): Rhett Akins, NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison, Dan Couch, Ashley Gorley, Ben Hayslip, Brett Warren, Brad Warren

Front Row (seated L-R): Troy Verges, Maggie Cavender Award recipient Erika Wollam Nichols, Stephen Foster Award recipient Mark Ford, Kelley Lovelace, NSAI President Lee Thomas Miller. Second Row (standing L-R): Rhett Akins, NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison, Dan Couch, Ashley Gorley, Ben Hayslip, Brett Warren, Brad Warren


The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) hosted a No. 1 Party, sponsored by Bill Lynch of Lynch Wealth Management, on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The organization presented No. 1 plaques to the writers of songs reaching the top spot between July and September 2013 and honored notable individuals for their contributions to the music industry.
The Maggie Cavender Award (in recognition of extraordinary service to the songwriting community) was presented to Erika Wollam Nichols, President and General Manager of The Bluebird Cafe and Co-Director of the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival. The Stephen Foster Award (in recognition of dedication to songwriters, the music industry and NSAI) was presented to Mark Ford, Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF).
Songs recognized during the event include:
“Beat This Summer,” Chris DuBois, Luke Laird, Brad Paisley, recorded by Brad Paisley
“Crash My Party,” Rodney Clawson, Ashley Gorley, recorded by Luke Bryan
“DONE.” Jacob Bryant, John Davidson, Neil Perry, Reid Perry, recorded by The Band Perry
“Don’t Ya,” Chris DeStefano, Brett Eldredge, Ashley Gorley, recorded by Brett Eldredge
“Hey Pretty Girl,” Dan Couch, Kip Moore, recorded by Kip Moore
“I Want Crazy,” Hunter Hayes, Lori McKenna, Troy Verges, recorded by Hunter Hayes
“Little Bit Of Everything,” Kevin Rudolf, Brad Warren, Brett Warren, recorded by Keith Urban
“Point At You,” Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Ben Hayslip, recorded by Justin Moore
“Round Here,” Rodney Clawson, Thomas Rhett, Chris Tompkins, recorded by Florida Georgia Line
“Runnin’ Outta Moonlight,” Dallas Davidson, Ashley Gorley, Kelley Lovelace, recorded by Randy Houser
“See You Again,” David Hodges, Hillary Lindsey, Carrie Underwood, recorded by Carrie Underwood
“That’s My Kind of Night,” Dallas Davidson, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, recorded by Luke Bryan
A make-up presentation (for writers who were unable to attend previously when their songs were first honored) was given to Ben Hayslip for “Anywhere With You,” recorded by Jake Owen.

SESAC Signs Songwriter Durrette

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SESAC has signed songwriter Wyatt Durrette for representation. A highly successful writer, Durrette has hit the top of the charts multiple times as Zac Brown’s co-writer on hits including “Chicken Fried,” “Colder Weather,” “Toes,” “Jump Right In” and “Knee Deep.”  Durrette stopped by SESAC’s Nashville headquarters recently to visit and celebrate the new partnership.

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Dennis Lord, Durrette and SESAC’s Shannan Hatch. Photo: Bev Moser

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Dennis Lord, Durrette and SESAC’s Shannan Hatch. Photo: Bev Moser

Duncan Signs With Given Music

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Pictured (L-R): Given VP/GM Mike Sebastian, Duncan, and Given Entertainment partner Cindy Owen.


Whitney Duncan has signed a publishing deal with Given Music Publishing. Duncan has collaborated with songwriters including Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson, Chris Tompkins, and Kara DioGuardi, and her songs have been recorded by numerous artists including Danielle Bradbery.
“Whitney is a proven and professional writer as well as a ‘Survivor,’ and I very much look forward to working with her,” said Given Music’s VP/GM Mike Sebastian. “She is a talented, gifted writer and a wonderful person, and she brings a lot to the Given Music Publishing team.”
She appeared on season 23 of Survivor: South Pacific  in 2011, where she lasted 28 days in the jungle of Samoa. She recently cut new sides with producers Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum and Paul Worley, and will be releasing new music in 2014.

MusicRow: Exclusive Interview With ole's John Ozier

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John Ozier

John Ozier


ole’s Nashville office is thriving under the new leadership of General Manager John Ozier. Since taking helm of the operation in May, Ozier has signed several songwriters and added staffers.
“We have a completely new, restructured creative team over here,” he explains. “We have five full-time creative people: Ben Strain, Emily Mueller, Shellien Kinsey, Gary Ray and myself. Shellien and Gary came over as part of the Better Angels catalog purchase. We have a roster of about 15 writers, so it’s a really good ratio. We’re ready to go to the next level with client service.”
The 2013 Better Angels catalog transaction, which includes almost every song on Josh Thompson’s current album, is one of the publisher’s many acquisitions in the nine years since its inception. In recent years the company bought the Jody Williams catalog which includes several Taylor Swift songs. In the last two years ole has grown 150 percent. “ole has invested over $275 million in deals, which is pretty amazing,” continues Ozier. “And we’ve just added $135 million to our capital structure. ole is more committed to Music Row than ever. When I came over Robert Ott [ole’s Toronto based Chairman and CEO] gave me carte blanche to run things the way we need to be successful. Then I hired Ben and Emily. Now it’s time for us to make everyone aware of what we’re doing here. I don’t think people realize how big our catalog is. We’ve got over 30,000 country songs.”
Tyler Farr

Tyler Farr


The creative team is combing through that back catalog. That’s how they scored a cut by new Warner Music Nashville artist Michael Ray. The song was penned in 2008 by Marty Dodson and Jimmy Yeary and is part of the Blacktop catalog, which ole now owns.
ole has fingerprints all over the debut album by another rising WMN star, Charlie Worsham. He is an ole writer who penned most of the project and co-produced it with fellow ole songwriter Ryan Tyndell.
Since taking office Ozier has signed Sony Music Nashville artist Tyler Farr as well as writer Josh Dorr. He plans to finalize agreements with two or three others before the end of the year. Farr has writing credits on eight songs on his debut album and Dorr scored a Casey James cut the first week of his publishing deal. All of these writers call ole home along with Brett Jones, Bruce Wallace, Dave Turnbull, Dean Brody, Frank Myers, Gord Bamford, Jeff Copland, Jesse Lee, Lyndi Ortega and Matt Rogers.

“We’ve got over 30,000 country songs.”

In recent months ole writers have scored cuts by cast members of Duck Dynasty and Florida Georgia Line. The FGL song, “People Back Home,” was written by Tyndell, Brent Anderson and FGL’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard on the ole tour bus. “The bus is a wonderful tool,” continues Ozier. “It lets us put our writers in an intimate setting with the artist, and allows the artist to get off their crowded bus to write. It gives us direct access to the artist. It’s publishing in 2013 and it’s a testament to ole’s vision. Our slogan is majorly indie because we have the funding of a major but the flexibility of an indie. Coming from Curb, I’m really familiar with that. It fits really well with what I do.”

Josh Dorr

Josh Dorr


Ozier made the move after more than a decade at Curb Records and Curb Publishing. The last two years of his time there were spent as VP of A&R for the label where he placed hits by Rodney Atkins (“Take A Back Road”) and Lee Brice (“A Woman Like You,” and “I Drive Your Truck”). The latter of which won CMA Song Of The Year and MusicRow Song of the Year. Ozier also secured and co-wrote Brice’s smash “Hard To Love.”
It was his first hit as a songwriter and was selected by his peers as one of the “Songs I Wish I’d Written,” an honor presented at the Nashville Songwriters Hall Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony. “It was very humbling to be on the stage with that caliber of writers,” admits Ozier. “Even to be standing in the room with those people is an honor and to be up there as a peer and a co-writer took my breath away.” His latest cuts are by Farr (“Whiskey In My Water”), Worsham (“Rubberband”) and Thompson. “Since I’ve been at ole I haven’t written a song,” he says. “I want our writers to know I’m here to work for them and I’m not competing for opportunities. I wanted to focus on running the company. The next two years are going to be very exciting.”

Through The Lens (11/15/13)

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ASCAP Razor & Tie Bluebird

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Brennin Hunt, Marshall Altman, John King, Razor & Tie’s Lisa Johnson, Andrew Combs and Razor & Tie’s Craig Balsam. Photo: ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski

ASCAP’s long-running monthly installment of its Bluebird Cafe writers round featured Razor & Tie Music Publishing this month, where writers Marshall Altman, Andrew Combs, Brennin Hunt, and John King performed.

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L-R: The Grand Ole Opry's Pete Fisher and the Farm

Pictured (L-R): The Grand Ole Opry’s Pete Fisher and the Farm

The Farm made their Grand Ole Opry debut on Tuesday night at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

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L-R: Drew Ramsey (Belmont Songwriting Instructor), James Elliott (Belmont Songwriting Chair), Mark D. Sanders, Pat Alger, Layng Martine Jr., Wesley Bulla (Curb College Dean)

Pictured (L-R): Drew Ramsey (Belmont Songwriting Instructor), James Elliott (Belmont Songwriting Chair), Mark D. Sanders, Pat Alger, Layng Martine Jr., Wesley Bulla (Curb College Dean)


Layng Martine Jr., Mark D. Sanders, and Pat Alger recently performed and shared career experiences and advice with Belmont’s prospective songwriters on Oct. 16 at the legendary Quonset Hut recording studio on Music Square.

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(l to r): John Hamlin, Stacey Cato, Brian Bayley, Paul Logan, Ashland SeayFront row (l to r): Jordan Stephens, LUCY HALE, Alina Thompson, Jen Morrison, Jen Danielson, Leslie Fram, Tracy Meltzer

Pictured (L-R): John Hamlin, Stacey Cato, Brian Bayley, Paul Logan, Ashland Seay
Front row (L-R): Jordan Stephens, Lucy Hale, Alina Thompson, Jen Morrison, Jen Danielson, Leslie Fram, Tracy Meltzer


Actress/singer Lucy Hale recently previewed some songs from her upcoming CD for CMT at a Nashville industry showcase. Hale has been busy in recent weeks presenting on the CMA Awards and performing on the upcoming CMA Country Christmas special.

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Ronnie Dunn visits Boys & Girls Club of Bowling Green, Ky. Photo: Kyle Gustie

Ronnie Dunn visits Boys & Girls Club of Bowling Green, Ky. Photo: Kyle Gustie


For the second year in a row, Ronnie Dunn donated his time and talent to raise funds for southern Kentucky charities with the Ronnie Dunn & Friends Holiday Bash Concert, sponsored by United Country Heartland Realty and Auction, LLC; WBKO and Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation. The event was held Thursday, Nov. 14 at the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center in Bowling Green, Ky. Joining him at this year’s event were rising country stars Brett Eldredge and Parmalee. All net proceeds were donated to selected non-profit organizations that focus on children’s education and welfare.

Zavitson Music Group Introduces MusicPubWorks

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zavitson music groupZavitson Music Group has produced MusicPubWorks, a cloud-based web application that provides a streamlined service for managing cataloging, registering, pitching and song revenue collections in a single dashboard.
“MPW was developed by music professionals for music professionals,” said Russ Zavitson, founder of Zavitson Music Group, and a long-time pioneer in Nashville’s extended music community. “Our goal was to build a tool that functions on a variety of levels, from the most comprehensive to the most basic. Regardless of how you are tied to the business, there is something in this software that will make your job easier to perform and help you be more effective performing it.”
Denise Zavitson, along with lead developer Kenny House, designed the software with a tiered structure, providing cost-efficiency and various levels of engagement. The software allows custom branding for each user, allowing both larger organizations and independent songwriters to maintain brand standards.
Acoustic fingerprinting technology has been incorporated into the system at a root level to enable rapid deployment of song tracking from date of creation.
The different tiers include EZ Songwriter (the most basic version), Songwriter Pro (created for established and emerging songwriters), Publisher (a one-stop creative rights management solution covering everything from song submission to royalty tracking), Accounting (which accepts and calculates digital, mechanical, performance and sync royalty statements) and Admin (which organizes and manages complex client catalogs).
For more information, visit musicpubworks.com.

BMG Chrysalis US Forms Joint Venture With Darrell Franklin

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BMG_Chrysalis1BMG Chrysalis US has announced a new joint venture with music industry veteran Darrell Franklin called Franklin Publishing & Writer Management. Franklin formerly served as head of the BMG Nashville office after the purchase of Crosstown Songs, which was a publishing partnership with longtime business partner, Dann Huff.
The initial signing to the joint venture is Chris Wallin, who has had success with chart-topping country artists including Toby Keith, Montgomery Gentry, Kenny Chesney, Trace Adkins and Brad Paisley.
“I think that the Nashville publishing and writing community has always been built on the development of talent and I am very excited to be getting back to doing that in this new JV with BMG,” said Franklin.
Kos Weaver, EVP at BMG Chrysalis Nashville, commented, “Darrell has a great track record, having developed strong songwriters such as Jonathan Singleton, busbee, Brandon Hood, Melissa Peirce and John Paul White (of the Civil Wars) and I have no doubt any signing will flourish under this joint venture.”

UMPG Extends Publishing Deal with Urban

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Keith Urban

Keith Urban


Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has extended its worldwide publishing agreement with Keith Urban, as announced today by Kent Earls, Executive VP/General Manager, UMPG Nashville. UMPG will continue to publish Urban’s catalog throughout the world, including his new album Fuse, which was released on Sept. 10.
“Keith’s musical talent is incomparable and his latest project, Fuse, is yet another example of his evolution as an artist. And he’s proved over and over to be a great songwriter for himself and many others. We’re proud to be publishing partners with Keith for over four successful years and look forward to many more together,” said Earls.
In addition to Urban, a number of UMPG songwriters co-wrote or co-produced multiple tracks on Fuse, including Mike Elizondo (co-wrote and co-produced both “Good Thing” and “Red Camaro”), Jimmy Robbins (co-wrote “We Were Us” feat. Miranda Lambert), Nathan Chapman (co-produced “We Were Us” feat. Miranda Lambert, “Little Bit of Everything,” and “Raise ‘Em Up” feat. Eric Church), and Shane McAnally (co-wrote “Come Back to Me”). Robbins also co-wrote “Gonna B Good,” a bonus track on the deluxe version of Fuse.