Big Machine Music Appoints Director of Music Publishing

Alex Heddle111Big Machine Music (BMM) has appointed Alex Heddle to the newly-created Director of Music Publishing position. BMM is home to such hit artists/songwriters as Justin Moore, Greg Bates, Dustin Lynch and Raul Malo (of The Mavericks), along with hot newcomer RaeLynn.
“Alex has a strong reputation as an aggressive songplugger and is a passionate advocate for songwriters. He is a great fit for the culture we are building at Big Machine Music and we are proud to have him join the team,” said BMM Vice President Mike Molinar.
In his new role, Heddle will assist with day-to-day management of the BMM roster and creative representation of the catalog. With a background in songwriter and artist relations, the Belmont University graduate most recently served as the Creative Director for both Tom Leis Music and Love Monkey Music (the publishing venture of Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Bob DiPiero). He is responsible for song placements for hit acts such as Lady Antebellum, Thompson Square and Alan Jackson, among many others.
“I’m very proud and excited to be joining the impressive team at Big Machine Music and I look forward to helping it grow. Many thanks to Scott Borchetta and Mike Molinar for this great opportunity,” stated Heddle.
The BMM catalog includes “Til My Last Day” (Moore), “Cowboys and Angels” (Lynch), “Did It For The Girl” (Bates), “From A Table Away” (Sunny Sweeney), and “She Cranks My Tractor” (Lynch) as well as tracks on the The Music Of Nashville (Season 1, Volume 1) soundtrack, from the ABC hit drama. The Nashville-based publishing company also recently created a joint venture with Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald’s Prescription Songs, allowing the two companies to co-publish songwriters and artists whose unique talents translate across genres.
Heddle will report directly to Molinar and can be reached via: alex.heddle@bigmachinemusic.com.

United Way Seeks Entries for 2013 United Live Song Contest

United-WayThe United Way has begun its search for songs with a positive message for use in its Stuff the Bus campaign.
The 2013 Live United Song Contest will accept entries through June 12, to be judged by an industry panel for lyrics, melody, production and relevancy to United Way’s mission to advance the common good.
Judges include Randy Brown (Artist Manager at Borman Entertainment), Bradley Collins (Sr. Director of Writer-Publisher Relations at BMI), Stevie Erickson (Song Plugger at Patrick Joseph Music Publishing), Randy Goodman (Co-chair of the Music City Music Council) and Marty Slayton Jordan (George Strait backup vocalist).
Top ten finalists will be selected to perform at The Listening Room Café during United Way’s Stuff the Bus Launch Concert on Thursday, June 20 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. A winner will be chosen at the event for inclusion in an upcoming United Way Day of Action video, which will be featured on unitedwaynashville.org and emailed to partners across the city.
Each song requires an entry fee of $10, which will benefit United Way’s Stuff the Bus school supply drive to benefit at-risk Nashville students. All finalists must be available to attend and perform at the June 20 event.
To submit an entry for the contest, click here.
For more information or to volunteer at one of the Stuff the Bus Days of Action, click here.

ole Names Gilles Godard VP, Corporate Affairs and Development

Gilles Godard (Photo: Casey Curry)

Gilles Godard (Photo: Casey Curry)


ole has named Gilles Godard to the newly created corporate role of Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Development. In the role, Godard will focus on ole stakeholder and industry relations worldwide to drive brand awareness, create market opportunities and drive increased revenue. He will also continue to provide advice and counsel to the creative teams and liaise with writers as required.
Godard has been with ole for seven years, most recently as its Chief Creative Officer in Nashville. During his tenure with the company Godard has been instrumental in facilitating major ole acquisitions such as Jody Williams Music and Blacktop.
“Gilles began with ole as a songwriter and his feel for how ole and its brand interacts with our community originally prompted me to suggest he join the business team,”  says ole CEO Robert Ott. “I’m very pleased to now welcome Gilles to the corporate executive team and look forward to his continued contribution to the elevation of our brand and relationships and in initiating strategic acquisitions at ole.”
“I am thrilled to be taking on this new corporate role at ole and look forward to being an integral part of our significant planned growth,” says Godard.
 

Industry Ink (5-23-13)

wsm 65011For the first time in its 87-year history, 650 AM WSM is set to release a compilation volume of live, in-station performances. On June 25, the 16-track release Live From The Archives of 650 AM WSM- Volume One (Red River Entertainment/RED Distrbution) will be available on CD, vinyl and digitally. The disc features an introduction from Vince Gill, Ralph Emery’s National Radio Hall of Fame Induction and songs from Darrell Scott, The Time Jumpers, Mark Wills, Shawn Camp, JD Souther, The Grascals, Elizabeth Cook and others.

• • •

120512_American_Idol_lo11It seems that American Idol isn’t moving viewers to download new music as mightily as it once did. The season’s winner Candice Glover only notched 54,000 downloads of her debut single “I Am Beautiful,” according to Nielsen Soundscan, while runner-up Kree Harrison‘s “All Cried Out” moved 24,000 downloads. Comparatively, Season 9 American Idol Lee DeWyze winner sold approximately 100,000 copies of his single “Beautiful Day” in 2010.
Here are the best first week for Idols coming off the show, according to USA Today:

  1. Clay Aiken, “This Is the Night” (393,000 first-week sales)
  2. Ruben Studdard, “Flying Without Wings” (286,000)
  3. Phillip Phillips, “Home” (278,000)
  4. David Cook, “Time of My Life “(236,000)
  5. Kelly Clarkson, “A Moment Like This” (236,000)
  6. Taylor Hicks, “Do I Make You Proud” (228,000)
  7. Scotty McCreery, “I Love You This Big” (171,000)
  8. Carrie Underwood, “Inside Your Heaven” (171,000)
  9. Fantasia, “I Believe” (142,000)
  10. Kris Allen, “No Boundaries” (134,000)
  11. Lauren Alaina, “Like My Mother Does” (122,000)

• • •

 

kelsey granda11

Kelsey Granda


Creative Nation’s Co-Owners Beth and Luke Laird have added Kelsey Granda as Office Manager. Granda will report directly to Beth Laird. She can be reached at kelsey@creativenationmusic.com. “Kelsey was one of our first Belmont interns and she impressed me from the first day she started! Her attention to detail and warm personality will make a great addition to our team and we are so excited to have her join us,” shares Co-owner/General Manager Beth Laird.
 
 

Industry Ink (5-22-13)

amygrantAmy Grant‘s latest album, How Mercy Looks From Here, debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 charts, scanning over 26,000 units. The project also notched a No. 1 debut on Christian Soundscan. The set features guest vocals from James Taylor (“Don’t Try So Hard”), Sheryl Crow and Eric Paslay (“Deep As It Is Wide”), Carole King (“Our Time Is Now”), and Will Hoge (“Shovel In Hand”).

• • •

wix wichmann average joes entertainment111

Wix Wichmann


Wix Wichmann has joined Average Joes Entertainment in promoting and marketing the label’s roster. Most recently, Wichmann was a northeast promotion representative for Curb’s Sidewalk Records.
“Knowing Wix for 19 years has been both a blessing and a curse,” laughs Tony Morreale, AJE VP Promotion/Marketing. “Seriously, he’s a smart, funny guy who brings a unique perspective and will complement the Average Joes’ team.”  Wichmann can be reached at wix@averagejoesent.com or by phone at 615-972-2326.

• • •

caa logo11Music agent Jake Kennedy has joined Creative Artists Agency (CAA). He is based in the agency’s Nashville office. Kennedy previously worked at Buddy Lee Attractions, where he was a booking agent for the past three years. He also worked at New Frontier Touring. He can be reached via phone at 615-383-8787 or at Jake.Kennedy@caa.com.

• • •
 

Songwriter Chris Lindsey has signed an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement for all of his future works with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) Nashville. Kent Earls, Executive VP/General Manager of UMPG made the announcement recently. Lindsey’s catalog of hits includes Lonestar‘s “Amazed,” Martina McBride‘s “This One’s For The Girls,” and many others.

Chris Lindsey signing photo(1)11

Pictured: Back row, standing (L-R): Freeman Wizer, Creative Director, UMPG Nashville; Whitney Williams, Creative Director, UMPG Nashville; Missy Wilson, Senior Creative Director, UMPG Nashville; Ron Stuve, VP of A&R/Special Projects, UMPG Nashville; Cyndi Forman, Vice President, Creative, UMPG Nashville; Travis Gordon, Creative Manager, UMPG Nashville. Front row, seated (L-R): Chris Lindsey; Kent Earls, Executive Vice President/General Manager, UMPG Nashville


 
 
 
 

Sony/ATV Admin Moving Downtown

SonyATVSony/ATV Music Publishing is moving its administrative operations to downtown Nashville to a new space that will serve as the company’s global administration hub. The creative team will remain on Music Row.
Sony/ATV has executed a long-term lease with Amstar for 50,000 square feet of office space in downtown Nashville’s Fifth Third Center, located at 424 Church Street. The company will occupy three floors in the building and is set to move before the end of the year.
Sony/ATV expects to increase overall headcount in Nashville by more than 40 percent in departments including global administration, royalties, copyright, finance, IT and human resources.
The long-term presence of Sony/ATV’s creative offices on historic Music Row, located at 8 Music Square West, will not be affected by this move. However, the building at 65 Music Square West which currently houses the administrative team will be sold.
The need to hire more admin staffers results in part from the company’s acquisition of EMI Music Publishing. Recently Sony Corporation of America and a group of investors acquired EMI Music Publishing, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing administers EMI on behalf of the investor group. Together with EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV owns or administers more than 2 million copyrights.
Commenting on the announcement, Martin Bandier, Chairman & CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing said, “We are thrilled to have found such accessible and functional office space in downtown Nashville’s beautiful Fifth Third Center. Our new offices will provide us the necessary room to expand, while still being part of Music City. We’re particularly grateful to the incredible support from Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Governor Bill Haslam for helping us to continue to make Nashville, Tennessee Sony/ATV’s global administration hub.”
“Sony/ATV’s decision to expand its global administration offices into the heart of downtown Nashville speaks to the vibrancy of our urban core and the strength of our brand as Music City,” Mayor Dean said. “The music and entertainment industry is a major economic force in our city because of the growth of companies here like Sony/ATV. I want to thank Marty Bandier and everyone at Sony/ATV for their continued investment in Nashville and thank the Music City Music Council, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the state of Tennessee for their partnership.”
Sony/ATV controls many of the best known songs ever written including “New York, New York,” “Hallelujah,”  “All You Need Is Love,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Moon River,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “The Mission Impossible Theme,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Over the Rainbow,” “Stand By Me,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Singin’ in the Rain.” In addition, Sony/ATV represents the copyrights of such legendary artists as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Carole King, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Queen, The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, Hank Williams and Stevie Wonder, among others.

Industry Ink (5-21-13)

tko artist management111TKO Artist Management has promoted Michelle Garramone to the role of Brand Coordinator. Garramone graduated from Belmont University in May 2012. She worked at TKO Artist Management as a part-time receptionist and was promoted to full-time brand assistant upon graduation. She can be reached at wildshot@tkoartistmanagement.com.
Emily Gallo has been hired as an assistant. Gallo graduated from the College of Charleston and first worked at TKO as a summer intern in 2012. She can be reached at emily@tkoartistmanagement.com.

• • •

Tommy Cecil recently signed on as a BMI writer. Cecil, a Nashville-based singer/songwriter who writes for HoriPro Entertainment Group, played at the Key West Songwriters Festival earlier this month.

Tommy Cecil signing_04.25.131111

Pictured are (L-R): HoriPro’s Lee Krabel and Butch Baker, Tommy Cecil, and BMI’s Bradley Collins.

 • • •

APA Nashville has signed bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent to their roster. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to represent the award-winning and multi-talented Dailey & Vincent. Adding them to our roster will open many exciting doors of opportunity in the future,” comments APA’s Cass Scripps.

Pictured (L-R): Zac Koffler (APEX Entertainment Management), Ray Shelide (APA), Jamie Dailey, Darrin Vincent, Cass Scripps (APA), Matt McGuire (APA), Michael Stevens (APA)

Pictured (L-R): Zac Koffler (APEX Entertainment Management), Ray Shelide (APA), Jamie Dailey, Darrin Vincent, Cass Scripps (APA), Matt McGuire (APA), Michael Stevens (APA)

• • •

immerse 2013 gma111IMMERSE, the Gospel Music Association’s Music Training Experience, has announced two scholarship opportunities, including the “Music Makes” scholarship to attend the upcoming IMMERSE event, as well as three $5,000 scholarships to “reVIEWyou” winners in the songwriting, singer/songwriter-female and singer/songwriter-male categories. Hosted by Plumb, the Tuesday Night Songwriter Showcase (May 28) will feature artists Matt Hammitt, Jon Steingard, Seth Mosely, Kevin Max, David Zach, Meredith Andrews, Karen Peck and others.
The event’s Monday night concert (May 27) will feature MIKESCHAIR. IMMERSE will take place May 26-29 at Nashville’s Lifeway Christian Resources building. IMMERSE allows rising songwriters and business professionals to get hands-on training directed by industry leaders.

• • •

solidSOLID‘s annual yard sale will take place Saturday, June 8 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. It is an opportunity to fans from across the country to connect with their favorite stars and for industry personnel to clear out their promo closets. Donations are needed for the event. Desired items include press items from awards shows, unused promo from album releases and tours, posters, press kits, ANYTHING signed (clothing, albums, posters), T-shirts, jackets, meet & greet opportunties and much more.
SOLID will provide bins and pick up any merchandise to be donated. The deadline for donations is June 1. To donate to SOLID’s annual yard sale, contact Eric Wright at musicmarketer@gmail.com or Jeff Hoehne at jeff.hoehne@gmail.com.
 

Ben Harper Signs with BMG Chrysalis

ben harper111Singer, songwriter and guitarist Ben Harper has signed an exclusive, worldwide co-publishing agreement with BMG Chrysalis US.
Harper says, “I look forward to working with BMG. They have an incredible roster that I’m proud to be a part of. Laurent Hubert and his team are real leaders and innovators in the music publishing space, which is such an important part of an artist’s career.”
For his twelfth studio album, Harper collaborated with acclaimed blues artist Charlie Musselwhite to release Get Up in January 2013.
Get Up showcases a special musical chemistry between two legendary artists who complement each other’s unique talent and style while pushing artistic boundaries,” said Jill Pedone, Creative Director at BMG Chrysalis US. “It is a rare opportunity to work with a songwriter such as Ben who flourishes with any musical genre.”
 
 
 

Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift Tunes Honored At BMI Pop Awards

BMI President & CEO Del Bryant (left) and BMI Vice President & General Manager, Writer/Publisher Relations Barbara Cane present Adam Levine with the President's Award at the 61st Annual BMI PopAwards. Photo credit: Lester Cohen

BMI President & CEO Del Bryant (L) and BMI VP & GM, Writer/Publisher Relations Barbara Cane present Adam Levine with the President’s Award. Photo credit: Lester Cohen


Songs from Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift were among the compositions honored at last night’s (May 15) BMI Pop Awards, held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Maroon 5 vocalist (and The Voice coach) Adam Levine received the BMI President’s Award. His band’s hit “Moves Like Jagger” won Song of the Year. UMPG was named Publisher of the Year, while Claude Kelly, Benny Blanco, and Ammar Malik received Songwriter of the Year honors.
Among the songs saluted during the evening were:
Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” which was penned by Swift and is represented by Sony/ATV Tree and Taylor Swift Music.
Clarkson’s “Mr. Know It All,” written by songwriter Ester Dean (Dat Damn Dean Music, Songs of Universal, Inc.)
Clarkson’s “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” written by songwriter Ali Tamposi (Sony/ATV Songs, Universal Music-Careers)
Nashville natives Ryan Keith Follese and Nash Overstreet of Hot Chelle Rae were among those honored for their band’s hit “Like It Like That,” featuring New Boyz.
See the complete winners list.
From left: Ryan Keith Follese, Gavin DeGraw, Amy Heidemann and Nick Louis Noonan of the pop duo Karmin and Nash Overstreet (Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for BMI)

(L-R): Ryan Keith Follese, Gavin DeGraw, Amy Heidemann and Nick Louis Noonan of the pop duo Karmin, and Nash Overstreet (Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for BMI)

No. 1 Party: Lee Brice's 'I Drive Your Truck'

I drive your truck trade photo11

Pictured are (L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad; Disney Music Publishing’s Barbara Vander Linde; This Music’s Rusty Gaston; co-writers Jimmy Yeary and Connie Harrington; Sony ATV Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran; co-writer Jessi Alexander; Lee Brice; father of fallen soldier Jared Monti, Paul Monti; BMI’s Perry Howard; Curb Records’ Mike Curb, and BMG Chrysalis’ Kos Weaver.


A recent No. 1 party honoring Lee Brice‘s “I Drive Your Truck” and the ballad’s writers, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary and Jessi Alexander, held more emotion than your typical Music Row shindig.
The song was inspired by the passing of U.S. Army Sergeant 1st class Jared Monti. Harrington got the idea for the song after hearing a talk radio interview where Jared Monti’s father, Paul Monti, told the story of his son’s death and how he kept his son’s truck in remembrance. Paul Monti was on hand during the celebration to honor his son’s legacy. “I have never been able to listen to the song beginning to end,” said Monti. “That song has touched so many people.”
The event was held at the Country Music Association offices and hosted by Mike Sistad of ASCAP and Perry Howard of BMI. Those in attendance included Curb Records chairman Mike Curb, Sony/ATV’s Tom Luteran, “I Drive Your Truck” producers Kyle Jacobs and Matt McClure, THiS Music’s Rusty Gaston, Kos Weaver, Brad Hill, Avenue Bank’s Ron Cox.
Yeary recalled that Harrington was understandably emotional throughout the writing of “I Drive Your Truck,” and they used the emotional response as a barometer to create an even more powerful song. “If she didn’t cry on a line, we didn’t write it,” quipped Yeary.
All three songwriters credited the song’s success to Brice’s powerful, soulful vocal rendition. “We wanted the right person–someone with conviction and passion, and no one sings it like him,” said Alexander, who also dedicated the song to her late mother. Harrington agreed, saying, “You sang from the bottom of your heart and it tore mine apart, in a good way.”
Though he clearly preferred to let the spotlight rest solely on the songwriters during the event, Brice did speak briefly to thank the song’s writers, Mike Curb and the promotion and label staff, as well as his wife and his management. He also thanked Paul Monti. “This is more than a No. 1 song,” said Brice.
Curb summed up the event’s atmosphere as he told Monti, “We wonder how we can say thank you to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. [Harrington, Yeary and Alexander] were able to say ‘thank you’ in a way that the whole world will know of the great service of your son.”