Zavitson Music Group Signs Nite

05/01/2008

Zavitson Music Group has signed singer/songwriter Jon Nite to a publishing deal. The west Texas native had a song featured in the motion picture Hot Rod and sang on Glen Campbell’s Grammy and Dove nominated Christmas CD.

Pictured (L-R): Russ Zavitson, Beverly Miller, Carrie Bleitner, Jenny Gill and Debbie Zavitson with Nite seated in front.

Save the Date: Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction

Sarah Skates – 05/01/2008

The 39th Annual Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony will be held Sun., Oct. 26 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Nominees for the Hall of Fame will be announced in coming weeks. Two honorees will be selected from the Songwriter category, and one in the Songwriter/Artist category.

Nominations in the Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist categories recognize those whose first significant works achieved commercial success and/or artistic recognition at least 20 years ago and have “positively impacted and been closely associated with the Nashville music community and deemed to be outstanding and significant.” A committee recommends nominees to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF) board of directors. Final voting is done by Hall of Fame members, Professional Songwriter members of NSAI, and the boards of the NaSHOF and NSAI.

Hodges Takes on Bicycle Music Representation

Sarah Skates – 05/01/2008

Dan Hodges

Dan Hodges Music will be representing the Bicycle Music Company’s songwriters and catalogue in Nashville. With offices in Beverly Hills and New York, Bicycle Music has a repertoire including Dwight Yoakam’s Coal Dust West Music catalog (“Guitars, Cadillacs,” “Fast As You,” “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere”), as well as Steve Dorff’s works including “Heartland,” “Through The Years,” and “Every Which Way But Loose.” In addition to Dorff, Bicycle Music songwriters include Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees, Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger, Neal Coty, Brian Nash, Josh Kelley, Bleu, Linus of Hollywood and Eileen Rose. Hodges can be reached at danghodges@comcast.net.

Fagan Moved To Treatment Center

Sarah Skates – 05/01/2008

Country songwriter Richard Fagan posted $20,000 bond and will be transferred to Discovery Place, a substance abuse center in Dickson County today. This morning in court he waived his right to a preliminary hearing and the case will be sent to the grand jury. Fagan was in jail charged with the weekend death of longtime friend and business partner Tom Oteri. Reports say the death may have been accidental, adding that Oteri’s family attended the hearing in support of Fagan.

Key West Songwriters Festival Up and Running

05/01/2008

The 13th Annual Key West Songwriters Festival presented by Cherry Heart Music officially kicked off April 30 with a BMI-hosted invitation-only mixer atop La Concha. Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson proclaimed “Key West Address,” by BMI songwriter James Slater, the town’s official song. The festival, running through May 4, revolves around five days and nights of more than 20 free shows.

Pictured (L-R) front: Copyright Exchange’s Chip Petree; songwriters Courtney Dashe, Molly Reed and Misty Loggins; BMI’s Jody Williams; and songwriter/Curb’s Doug Johnson. Back: Copyright Exchange’s Gary Smith; Cherry Heart Music’s Gratton Stephens; Mayor Morgan McPherson; Hog’s Breath Saloon’s Charlie Baur; songwriters Brian Davis and Fred Wilhelm; and BMI’s Mark Mason.

LifeNotes Thursday (5/1/08)

Sarah Skates – 05/01/2008

Lyric Street Records Marketing Director Heather Conley and husband Matt Conley welcomed their second child, Griffin Richard Conley on Tues., April 29 in Nashville. Griffin was born at 6:27 p.m. weighing 8 lbs, 15 ounces. Mother and baby are healthy and resting comfortably and big brother Aidan is excited to welcome him home.

Songwriters Capitalize on Success

A growing number of hit songwriters are proving their business skills, offering products or services designed around their craft. Gary Burr will launch his Songwriting Master Class May 27-29 at the Embassy Suites at Vanderbilt...

Industry News Thursday (5/1/08)

Academy of Country Music fan voting—for Entertainer of the Year only—kicks off today at www.voteacm.com. Fans will be able to cast ballots for nominees Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Keith Urban and...

WGNE Partners With Emerson Drive For St. Jude

04/30/2008

Emerson Drive is teaming with WGNE 99.9 to help the kids at St. Jude by offering a “Gator Country Exclusive” version of their single “You and Me.” This limited edition exclusive is available only through Gator Country’s web site www.999gatorcountry.com. All proceeds benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Decosimo/Vaden Open On Music Row

Sarah Skates – 04/30/2008

Mike Vaden

Accounting firm the Vaden Group has merged with Chattanooga based Joseph Decosimo and Company to form the new business management practice, Decosimo/Vaden. Mike Vaden joins the Decosimo firm as a principal and is director of Decosimo/Vaden, which has new offices at Roundabout Plaza. The company assists entertainment clients with royalty and concert tour accounting, taxes, investments, catalog valuation and financial management. According to the Nashville Post, the merger creates a firm that ranks in the region's top 20 in terms of staff. The Nashville office will comprise about 25 staffers—10 from Vaden Group and 15 from Decosimo’s Nashville office, previously in Brentwood. Decosimo employs more than 250 people in eight offices.