Gorley Ranks Among Top Songwriters Nationwide

ashleygorley

Ashley Gorley


Ashley Gorley is the only Nashville songwriter in Billboard’s Top 10 Songwriters list, based on airplay in the second quarter. During that time period Gorley scored as a co-writer on Luke Bryan’s “Play It Again,” Joe Nichols’ “Yeah,” and Rascal Flatts’ “Rewind.”
Sony/ATV ranked as the top overall publisher on the Publishers Quarterly chart, propelled largely by Country hits including Miranda Lambert’s “Automatic.” Overall, the publishing powerhouse which holds the EMI catalog, had a 32.2 percent share of the top 100 radio songs.
Sony/ATV’s Country share grew from 26.9 in the first quarter, to 34.8 percent in the second quarter.
Warner Chappell landed at No. 2 Country with a 19.8 percent share in the second quarter. WC is No. 3 overall with 14.3 percent.
Nashville indie Big Loud Bucks ranked in the Top 10 overall with 1.6 percent.
Rounding out the overall Top 5 are UMPG at No. 2 with 15.2 percent, followed by Kobalt (9.8%) and BMG Chrysalis (6.5%).
Also of note, Round Hill Music ranked No. 8 on the list with 1.3 percent, due in large part to the success of Nashville songwriter Wade Kirby and rock band American Authors.

Industry Ink: ole, Hunter Hayes, Guitar-B-Que

Independent rights management company ole has signed songwriter-producer Jason Massey to its expanding roster. Massey has written with Sony Music artist Ryan Griffin, as well as Black River artists John King and Kelsea Ballerini. Massey is also Ballerini’s co-producer.
“Jason is a prolific writer who should be, and will be, making records on a major scale within the year,” said John Ozier, ole’s General Manager of Creative in Nashville. “Jason is a great addition to ole’s Nashville roster, and we are proud to represent him.”

Pictured (L-R, back row): Emily Mueller (ole Creative Manager), Shellien Kinsey (ole Creative Coordinator). Front row: Austen Adams (Dickinson Wright, PLLC), Songwriter/Producer Jason Massey, John Ozier (ole GM Creative, Nashville).

Pictured (L-R, back row): Emily Mueller (ole Creative Manager), Shellien Kinsey (ole Creative Coordinator). Front row: Austen Adams (Dickinson Wright, PLLC), Songwriter/Producer Jason Massey, John Ozier (ole GM Creative, Nashville).

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Hunter Hayes surprised fans when he took the stage as an unannounced performer during the Jake Jam Sunday (Aug. 10). Among the performers at the event were Eli Young Band, Stoney LaRue, Natalie Stovall and the Drive, and Brothers Osborne. Hayes also visited with Oklahoma station KJKE’s APD/MD Owen Pickard.

Pictured (L-R): Mark Niederhauser, Southwest Regional Team WMN; Hunter Hayes; APD/MD Owen Pickard.

Pictured (L-R): Mark Niederhauser, Southwest Regional Team WMN; Hunter Hayes; APD/MD Owen Pickard

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guitar b que1Loser’s Nashville is the hot spot for tonight’s (Aug. 13) 2014 Guitar-B-Que hosted by WSIX. The event features performances from Billy Currington, Tyler Farr, Eric Paslay, The Cadillac Three, Brothers Osborne, and Lindsay Ell.
Proceeds from the event benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Admission to the event is free.

Star Farm Adds Borchetta As West Coast Promotion Director

Chris Borchetta

Chris Borchetta


Star Farm Nashville has added Chris Borchetta as Director, West Coast Promotion. The California native has enjoyed a 12+ year radio promotion career, and has worked with Travis Tritt, Mark Chestnut, and Jerrod Niemann. Borchetta most recently served as Manager, West Coast Promotion for Nine North Records.
“Chris and I have been wanting to work together for years.  Michael and I know that he will do a great job promoting our roster to radio and we are excited to welcome him to the Star Farm Nashville team,” says Matt Corbin, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Star Farm Nashville.
“I am really looking forward to being part of this organization and to represent their quality roster to the West Coast territory,” adds Borchetta.
Michael Powers and Corbin opened Star Farm last month; the company offers project management services such as creative services, music video production, marketing, publicity and distribution.
Borchetta can be reached at cborchetta@starfarmnashville.com, or at 323-744-1753.

Cumulus' Lew Dickey Offers Update on 'NASH' Brand Expansion

lew dickey1

Lew Dickey


Cumulus Media’s CEO and Chairman Lew Dickey offered an update on Cumulus Media’s ‘Nash’ brand roll-out during a conference call this week regarding second quarter earnings. The update included their plans for television, digital, print, and more. Revenue for the quarter rose 21.4 percent to $328.2 million. The company’s EBITDA of $159.3 million has allowed them to pay down 56.1 million of senior debt this year.
Dickey offered insight into the recent and future expansions in Cumulus’ NASH brand.
On Radio:
“We have now branded — or re-branded 35 of our 68 owned and operated country format stations as NASH. The rest of our stations are currently using their legacy brands, with the NASH brand woven in throughout the day. For example, K100 powered by NASH, which is repeated several times an hour. While we are currently focused on our owned and operated platform, we expect to begin offering NASH affiliations through WestwoodOne early in 2015, with a strategy similar to the network television model. Our affiliate sales team has had significant inbound traffic from broadcasters looking to re-brand existing country stations or who want to attack an entrenched competitor, employing the strength of the NASH brand and our content offering.
In addition to the brand IP, we are also offering affiliates NASH programming in specific dayparts, beginning with America’s Morning Show and then, as a bookend, NASH NIGHTS, along with Kix Brooks’ American Country Countdown. In addition to that, we’ll be offering NASH news and interviews with live performances, and also, major contests and promotions will be key components of the NASH affiliate package that we’ll be rolling out in 2015.”
On television:
“We’ve recently announced our first network television special, which we are co-producing with dick clark productions. It will air on the Fox network in mid-December and showcase NASH talent, both on air as well as signed to our new record label, which I’ll talk about in a minute. This joint venture structure provides an opportunity for national NASH exposure and revenue upside for extremely low economic risk. In addition, we expect to have more announcement about incremental aspects of our television strategy later in the year.”
On Digital:
“We’ve made an investment — a significant investment in content creation, both in studios and personnel, specifically for premium digital video, all of this based at our NASH Campus in — headquartered in Nashville. We expect to launch the NASH app and website in early 2015 and offering the NASH — which will offer the NASH community of fans unparalleled access to their favorite artists, including breaking news, new releases for music and behind-the-scenes looks and the important trends in the country music lifestyle, which include food and travel. From a digital audio standpoint, beginning next year, we will also have a full NASH integration with Rdio, beginning with a streaming station, on-demand content, and including exclusive interviews and specific artist integrations for new releases as well as personal playlists by the artists.”
On Print:
“NASH Magazine is currently a 16-page insert in Country Weekly magazine, which is the nation’s largest and longest-running country music publication. The NASH Magazine insert is expected to grow into its own publication by the end of next year.”
Events:
“Now on events, we will have a growing slate of events beginning in 2015 and ramping into 2016 and beyond. These all have a long planning cycle, and they’ll range from small pop-up NASH live concerts to large NASH Bash festivals featuring country’s top artists and bands, incorporating food and other country music lifestyle elements. These live events will offer an important NASH-branded touch point that connects NASH sponsors with country music fans as they are entertained by their favorite artists. We also expect there to be significant opportunities for licensing partnerships with existing events that could benefit from the NASH brand and reach.”
On Nash ICON:
“Now on recorded music, we recently announced a joint venture with Big Machine Group, one of Nashville’s most successful labels and home of Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line and Tim McGraw. Our new venture is called NASH ICON, and it is now up and running. We expect to announce a slate of signed artists before the holidays, and we’ll be working with our artists to monetize their work through recorded music, touring, merchandise and other related ventures. Following a start-up period in 2014, NASH ICON is expected to be profitable beginning next year.”

Weekly Chart Report (8/01/14)

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Industry Ink: ACM Lifting Lives, BubbleUp

Mercury Nashville artist Scotty McCreery visited William Morris Endeavor with a group of ACM Lifting Lives series participants from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. The day began with a performance at Nashville’s Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. The group then hopped on McCreery’s tour bus to ride to the WME offices. They were joined by WME Nashville co-head Rob Beckham and Lytle Management Group president John Lytle for a discussion on the music business.
scotty mccreery11

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Sony Music Nashville’s Carrie Underwood helped unveil the new video boards at EverBank Field this past Saturday, July 26. The new video boards are the largest in the world, measuring 60 feet high by 362 feet wide.

Pictured (L-R): Carrie Underwood and WQIK/Jacksonville PD Cindy Spicer

Pictured (L-R): Carrie Underwood and WQIK/Jacksonville PD Cindy Spicer

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Davis Mallory

Davis Mallory


Digital Marketing and web development company BubbleUp has added Davis Mallory to its sales team. He joins BubbleUp from UMG’s Astralworks, where he was involved in digital marketing campaigns and project management for artists including Kylie Minogue, Empire of the Sun, David Guetta, and Swedish House Mafia.
Headquartered in Woodlands, Texas, BubbleUp has had a 10-year presence in Nashville.
“Nashville will remain a focus as BubbleUp continues its relationships with current artists such as Luke Bryan and Zac Brown Band”
Prior to Astralwerks, Mallory, a graduate of Florida’s Stetson University, served as a business development representative for IBM Cognos business affiliate Brightstar Partners.

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Arista Nashville’s Brad Paisley welcomed a select group of radio and industry to Southern California on July 23 for an exclusive listening event previewing his upcoming August 25 album, Moonshine in the Trunk.

Pictured (L-R, front row):  Arista Nashville’s Jeri Cooper and Lauren Thomas, Paisley, Sony Music SYNCHSHOP’s Michelle Belcher and Delly Ramin, Sony Television’s Tony Scudellari, independent music supervisor Frankie Pine, ABC-TV’s Dawn Soler, and Sony Music Nashville’s Sarah Westbrook.  (Center row):  Danny Montana (WIL), Jules Riley (KVOO), Tonya Campos (KKGO), Lesly Tyson (Arista), Becky Brenner (Albright & O’Malley & Brenner), Gary Overton (Sony), Erik Johnson (KXKT), Ali O’Connell (Arista), Michele Chase (WGNE), Tina Ferguson (KRTY), Paul Barnabee (Sony), Adam Smith (VEVO), Anne Helton (Country Aircheck), and Tim Richards (KMLE).  (Back row):  Sony’s Allen Brown, Paisley band member and album associate producer Kendal Marcy, John Sigler (Arista), Eddie Haskell (KYGO), Nate Deaton (KRTY), Brandon O’Brien (WUSH), Andy Elliott (Arista), Steve Geofferies (KNIX), Dave Daniels (KSNI), Whitney Allen (The Big Time with Whitney Allen) and partner Gerrit, Jon Watkins (KEGA), Paisley’s album co-producer Luke Wooten, Jay Daniels (KXLY), Mike O’Malley (Albright & O’Malley & Brenner), Bob Foglia (Sony), RJ Curtis (All Access), Lon Helton (Country Aircheck), and Joe Patrick (Tunecom). Photo:  Ben Enos

Pictured (L-R, front row): Arista Nashville’s Jeri Cooper and Lauren Thomas, Paisley, Sony Music SYNCHSHOP’s Michelle Belcher and Delly Ramin, Sony Television’s Tony Scudellari, independent music supervisor Frankie Pine, ABC-TV’s Dawn Soler, and Sony Music Nashville’s Sarah Westbrook. (Center row): Danny Montana (WIL), Jules Riley (KVOO), Tonya Campos (KKGO), Lesly Tyson (Arista), Becky Brenner (Albright & O’Malley & Brenner), Gary Overton (Sony), Erik Johnson (KXKT), Ali O’Connell (Arista), Michele Chase (WGNE), Tina Ferguson (KRTY), Paul Barnabee (Sony), Adam Smith (VEVO), Anne Helton (Country Aircheck), and Tim Richards (KMLE). (Back row): Sony’s Allen Brown, Paisley band member and album associate producer Kendal Marcy, John Sigler (Arista), Eddie Haskell (KYGO), Nate Deaton (KRTY), Brandon O’Brien (WUSH), Andy Elliott (Arista), Steve Geofferies (KNIX), Dave Daniels (KSNI), Whitney Allen (The Big Time with Whitney Allen) and partner Gerrit, Jon Watkins (KEGA), Paisley’s album co-producer Luke Wooten, Jay Daniels (KXLY), Mike O’Malley (Albright & O’Malley & Brenner), Bob Foglia (Sony), RJ Curtis (All Access), Lon Helton (Country Aircheck), and Joe Patrick (Tunecom). Photo: Ben Enos

BMI And iBiquity Form "HD Radio Artist Spotlight"

unnamedBMI has partnered with iBiquity Digital, the developers of HD Radio Technology, on a new music initiative called the “HD Radio Artist Spotlight.”
The program is designed to grow new artists and help established acts with tour support out on the road.
HD Radio enables radio stations to create new broadcast channels on HD2 and HD3. The first artists to be featured on “HD Radio Artist Spotlight” are Charlie Worsham, Jon Pardi, Ashley Monroe, Due West, and Muddy Magnolias.
“iBiquity Digital has been an outstanding partner of BMI through their support of our songwriter festivals and broadcaster events,” says Mason Hunter, BMI Executive Director-Strategic Partnerships & Business Development. “The HD Radio Artist Spotlight furthers our relationship by providing another avenue for talents like Ashley Monroe, Jon Pardi, Charlie Worsham, and others to be heard and connect with Country music fans!”
For more information, be sure to visit bmi.com or hdradio.com.

Industry Ink (7/28/14)

David Epstein

David Epstein


Warner/Chappell Production Music has tapped David Epstein as Director of Licensing for Warner/Chappell Production Music’s trailer music division, Non-Stop Trailers. David will be responsible for developing Non-Stop Trailers’ Film Trailer business in North America.
Epstein was most recently Sales & Marketing Executive for Sony/ATV’s production music arm Extreme Music, where he focused on the Trailers & Film/TV Departments. His prior experience includes Sales & Marketing roles with Interscope Records & NBC Universal.

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Pictured (L-R): SGM's Ashley Hamlin, Ryan Laird, SGM President Mike Mouret, and SGM's Danielle Thorn.

Pictured (L-R): SGM’s Ashley Hamlin, Ryan Laird, SGM President Mike Mouret, and SGM’s Danielle Thorn.


Brentwood, Tenn.-based Studio Gold Music has signed singer-songwriter Ryan Laird to a publishing and artist development contract. Studio Gold Music currently represents Mary Francis, Derrick Hampton, and Paul Cunningham.
A native of Fergus, Ontario, Canada, Laird earned a Canadian Country Music Award in 2012 for his Top Ten hit, “I’m Your Man.” That same year, he was nominated for a CCMA Rising Star Award. Now living in Nashville, Laird is co-writing and working on his upcoming release. He is also the founding partner/artist for the Bigger Than That Foundation, a musical concert initiative which promotes anti-bullying.
“All of us at Studio Gold Music are delighted to have Ryan join the SGM team. Ryan Laird is not only a super-talented and philanthropic performing artist, but a fantastic songwriter as well. His music is upbeat, enthusiastic and positively contagious,” said Mike Mouret, President of Studio Gold Music. “Ryan is a very dedicated and productive writer, and possesses a great flow of musical inspiration.”
Studio Gold offers traditional music publishing, single-song publishing, artist development, and related promotional activities.

                                          • • •

Pictured (L-R): Jason Paxton, Casey Joe Kelly, Sirius XM’s senior director of country programming John Marks, Waylon Owings, Josh Coleman and Smiley Norris.

Pictured (L-R): Jason Paxton, Casey Joe Kelly, Sirius XM’s senior director of country programming John Marks, Waylon Owings, Josh Coleman and Smiley Norris.


South Carolina Country band Outshyne recently earned their first No. 1 song on SiriusXM’s The Highway, as “Moonlight Crush” topped The Highway’s “Hot 45 Countdown.”  The single has sold more than 5,000 downloads per week at iTunes, totaling more than 78,000 downloads to date.

Erv Woolsey Management Expands Staff, Artist Roster

Pictured (L-R): Erv Woolsey, Clint Woolsey, Tom Cheney and Allen Mitchell. Photo: Tony Czech

Pictured (L-R): Erv Woolsey, Clint Woolsey, Tom Cheney and Allen Mitchell. Photo: Tony Czech


Erv Woolsey Management has signed singer-songwriter Tyler Reeve and entertainer Marisa Rhodes to its expanding roster of clients. Florida native Rhodes appeared on American Idol in 2007, and later landed a leading role in the Off Broadway musical Love Kills, followed by a tour with the Tran-Siberian Orchestra. Reeve, an Alabama native, moved to Nashville to pursue his career, after spending time polishing his musical talent in Georgia.
The company has also hired Allen Mitchell to the senior management team as an artist manager; Mitchell joins EWM from his role as Director of SW/MW promotion at Bigger Picture. Prior to Bigger Picture, Mitchell worked at Mercury Records, Universal South Records, and Audium/Koch, following a one-year stint at WKDF.
“I first met Allen when he was working at WKDF, and I have had the distinct pleasure of watching him grow and expand his expertise over the last 12 years. I know he will be a great fit within the company to help continue to grow our roster and vision for the firm,” said Erv Woolsey, the company’s founder and president.
Mitchell can be reached at allen@ervwoolsey.com or by calling 615-346-0678.
Erv Woolsey Management’s list of management clients has included George Strait, Lee Ann Womack, Clay Walker, Branch and Dean, and Shawn Lacy, among others.

Weekly Chart Report (7/25/14)

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