ASCAP Christian Awards Honor Jeremy Camp and More

Sarah Skates – 04/22/2008

Jeremy Camp earned his third Songwriter Of The Year award at last night’s (4/21) ASCAP Christian Music Awards at Richland Country Club in Nashville. The Christian Song Of The Year award went to “Undo,” a hit by Rush Of Fools written by Scott Davis, Wesley Willis, and Kevin Huguley (Midas Music, EMICMG’s Meaux Hits). EMI CMG Publishing was named ASCAP’s Christian Music Publisher of the Year for the fifth year in a row.

For the fourteenth year, the event was hosted by ASCAP Sr. VP Connie Bradley and VP Dan Keen who presented awards to the songwriters and publishers of the 25 most performed songs on religious radio in 2007. The ASCAP Partner In Song Award went to Brown Bannister for his production work with artists such as Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, MercyMe, Debby Boone, and The Imperials. Chapman, MercyMe’s Bart Millard, Gordon Kennedy, Tommy Sims, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Russ Taff, and American Idol’s Phil Stacey performed a tribute to Bannister. Kyle Jacobs also sang the history making Garth Brooks single, “More Than A Memory,” which he co-wrote.

Other artists in attendance included Chris Tomlin, Kellie Pickler, Natalie Grant, Mac Powell, David Crowder, and Bebo Norman.

Pictured (L-R): ASCAP's Dan Keen, Jeremy Camp and ASCAP Sr. VP Connie Bradley. Photo: Scott Hunter Photography

CMT Continues Ratings Run

Sarah Skates – 04/22/2008

CMT’s new series Can You Duet became the network’s highest rated original series debut to date following its Monday, April 14 premiere. According to Nielsen Media Research, the show averaged 1.4 million impressions (P2+), with 736,000 of those falling in the key P18-49 demo. Episode two premiered Friday, April 18, and the series was seen by some 12 million total viewers cumulative over the course of its premiere airing and weekend encores. The network scored high ratings last week with its star-studded video awards.

From American Idol producers FremantleMedia North America, Can You Duet features thousands of country singers vying for a Sony BMG Nashville recording contract. The 11-episode music competition series stars host Rossi Morreale, and judge/mentors Naomi Judd, acclaimed vocal coach Brett Manning and award-winning songwriter Aimee Mayo. New one-hour episodes premiere in its regular timeslot every Friday at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CMT. Jeff Boggs is executive producer, with Bob Kusbit and Melanie Moreau serving as executive producers for CMT.

ACM Announces More Performers

Sarah Skates – 04/22/2008

Trace Adkins, Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert, and Montgomery Gentry will perform as part of the 43rd Annual ACM Awards on Sunday, May 18.

Fourteen-time Top Vocal Duo winners Brooks & Dunn are nominated for the seventeenth time in that category. With 24 awards, they have the highest number of ACM wins in history. Lambert, last year’s Top New Female Vocalist, is nominated this year for Top Female Vocalist, Single of the Year for “Famous In A Small Town,” and Album of the Year for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Montgomery Gentry are nominated for Top Vocal Duo. Adkins is a previous two-time Academy nominee.

Rodney Atkins, Dolly Parton, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood are among the previously announced performers.

Jerry Salley Celebrates No. 1

04/22/2008

SESAC staffers stopped by a recent party held in honor of singer/songwriter/musician Jerry Salley to help celebrate the No. 1 success of his gospel song, “Broken Ones,” recorded by the Talley Trio. The soiree was hosted by Salley's publishing company, Brumley Publishing, and featured a stellar performance by Salley.

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Mary Breen, Tim Fink and Amy Beth Hale; Salley; Brumley Publishing’s Bob Brumley; SESAC’s Hunter Williams and Diana Akin; Brumly Publishing’s Dave Durocher; and SESAC’s James Leach. Photo: Ed Rode

Industry News Tuesday (4/22/08)

Troy Tomlinson has re-upped his agreement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing, extending his position as President/CEO of Sony/ATV Nashville. The 20-year publishing veteran supervises all creative elements for Sony/ATV Nashville...

Strait’s 56th No. 1 Sets All-Genre Record

Sarah Skates – 04/21/2008

George Strait now holds the record for more No. 1 hits in a single chart format than any other recording artist from any genre. "I Saw God Today" is at the top of the Billboard/R&R Country Singles Chart, marking his 56th No. 1. His most recent album, and the 37th in his career, Troubadour, also debuted at No. 1.

"I would just like to say thanks to all my fans out there," Strait said in a statement. "To have a number one record is very special, whether it's your first or one of many. 'I Saw God Today' is a beautifully written song which reaches very tender places in many people's hearts. I would like to thank Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell, and Wade Kirby and congratulate them on the success of their efforts in writing this great song. God Bless You All."

Luke Lewis, Chairman of UMG Nashville, added, "All of us at Universal Music Group are proud to be associated with George Strait. It is a privilege to work with him at a time when his work has put him in the Hall Of Fame and he continues to shatter every record in the book."

Road to the CMA Music Festival

04/21/2008

Darryl Worley and Jennifer Hanson kicked off the Road to the CMA Music Festival Presented by Tetley® Iced Tea tour with a performance at Houston's Firehouse Saloon last week. The tour continues through May with stops in San Antonio, Ft. Worth, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Charlotte, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Atlanta and Raleigh. Hanson and Worley will also be performing at 2008 CMA Music Festival in Nashville, June 5-8.

Beginning Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 AM, tickets to the Festival’s individual Nightly Concerts will go on sale starting at $30. The single night concert ticket option is extremely popular with local fans as well as those who are unable to attend all four days.

Artists currently scheduled to appear at LP Field include (in alphabetical order):
Thurs., June 5—Jewel, Montgomery Gentry, Kellie Pickler, Sugarland and Taylor Swift
Fri., June 6—Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Josh Turner and Carrie Underwood
Sat., June 7—Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Alan Jackson, Little Big Town, Craig Morgan and Kenny Rogers
Sun., June 8—Bucky Covington, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans, James Otto, Randy Travis and Dwight Yoakam

To order tickets call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378); visit www.ticketmaster.com to buy online or charge-by-phone at (615) 255-9600.

Pictured (L-R): Jennifer Hanson, Darryl Worley Photo: Natalie Moore/Universal Records South

Ed Cash Garners Top Honors at 2008 BMI Christian Awards

04/21/2008

BMI saluted the writers and publishers of the past year’s most performed songs on Christian radio and television during its annual Christian Music Awards Saturday, April 19 at the company’s Music Row offices. BMI named versatile hit-maker Ed Cash the 2008 Christian Songwriter of the Year, while his composition “Made to Worship” garnered Song of the Year honors. Prior to the presentation of awards, Jars of Clay, Aaron Shust and Isaiah Thomas set the evening’s warm tone with renditions of their award-winning songs. A complete list of the 2008 BMI Christian Awards is available at www.bmi.com.

Pictured (l to r): BMI’s Phil Graham, Publisher of the Year Universal Music Publishing’s Dale Matthews, Songwriter of the Year Ed Cash and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo: John Russell

Walk of Fame Adds New Class

04/21/2008

The fourth class of inductees to the Music City Walk of Fame, presented by founding sponsor Gibson Guitar, were recognized with the unveiling of commemorative sidewalk markers on Sunday, April 20 in the Hall of Fame Park in downtown Nashville. This class included Steven Curtis Chapman, Merle Kilgore, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve Wariner, Kirk Whalum and Hank Williams Sr. The event was hosted by GAC's Bill Cody and can be seen on GAC later this spring.

Pictured (L-R) front: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band members John McCuen, Jeff Hanna, Bob Carpenter and Jimmie Fadden; and Steve Wariner. Back: Kirk Whalum, Steven Curtis Chapman, Holly Williams (representing her grandfather Hank Williams Sr.) and Judy Kilgore (representing her husband Merle Kilgore). Photo: Alan Mayor

ASCAP Develops Songwriters’ Bill of Rights

04/18/2008

Click here to view or sign the Bill of Rights

ASCAP has officially launched a “Bill of Rights for Songwriters and Composers” to remind the public, members of the music industry and U.S. legislators of the central role and rights of those who conceive and create music.

The awareness-building initiative centers around 10 core principles, including “We have the right to be compensated for the use of our creative works, and share in the revenues that they generate” and “We have the right to license our works and control the ways in which they are used.” These rights, all of which are inherent in the act of music creation and protected by U.S. copyright law, are increasingly threatened.

ASCAP debuted the Bill of Rights during its “I Create Music” Week and collected more than 500 signatures in the following days, including: Lionel Richie, Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson, Justin Timberlake, Desmond Child, Marilyn Bergman, Alan Bergman, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller.