Music News (3/1/17)

2017 MusicRow CountryBreakout Awards

Pictured (L-R): MusicRow owner/publisher Sherod Robertson; Ross Copperman; Tim Wipperman at the MusicRow Awards. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

The 15th annual MusicRow Country Radio Meet & Greet and CountryBreakout Awards were held at Nashville’s Listening Room for the first year.

The Songwriter of the Year award went to Ross Copperman. “We all love songwriters,” said Sherod Robertson, MusicRow owner/publisher. “Ross has had six No. 1 songs on the MusicRow chart, all in one year.” They were “Setting the World on Fire” (Kenny Chesney), “Noise” (Kenny Chesney), “American Country Love Song” (Jake Owen), “Break on Me” (Keith Urban), “Confession” (Florida Georgia Line) and “I Know Somebody” (LoCash).

“I love you guys so much,” said Ross. “I love the [MusicRow Challenge] coins. You always make such a big deal out of No. 1 songs.” Added publisher Tim Wipperman, “If it weren’t for songwriters, the rest of us would just be digging ditches.”

To read more about the event and winners, visit MusicRow.com.

RMLC, BMI Agree To Interim Rate

BMI and the Radio Music License Committee have agreed to set an interim rate of 1.7 percent of radio revenue, as both parties are still in negotiations for a final rate.

BMI began a proceeding in Federal Rate Court on Jan. 3. According to a statement from BMI, the RMLC sought a lower interim rate, “based on incomplete and incorrect information regarding BMI’s share of radio performances.”

After a preliminary hearing on Friday, Feb. 17, the RMLC agreed that the 7,000 stations the organization represents would pay the interim fee proposed by BMI. The payments will cover fees starting Jan. 1, 2017 and until a final fee is set.

Spirit Music Nashville Signs Marcus Hummon

Pictured (L-R): Brian Bradford (Sr. Director of Administration, Spirit Music Nashville); Eric Hurt (Sr. Director of Creative, Spirit Music Nashville); Daniel Hill, (President, Spirit Music Nashville); Marcus Hummon; Billy Lynn (VP, Creative, Spirit Music Nashville); and Jon Singer (COO/CFO, Spirit Music Group).

Spirit Music Nashville has signed songwriter Marcus Hummon to an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement, as announced by David Renzer, Chairman, Spirit Music Group and Daniel Hill, President, Spirit Music Nashville.

Among Marcus Hummon’s best-known songs is the hit “Bless The Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts, which won him a Grammy for Best Country Song as well as two Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) awards for Best Country Song in 2005 and 2007. Hummon also wrote hits including “Cowboy Take Me Away” and “Ready To Run” (The Dixie Chicks); “Born To Fly” (Sara Evans); “One Of These Days” (Tim McGraw); and “Only Love” (Wynonna), among others.

Warner/Chappell Nashville Extends Partnership With THiS Music

Warner/Chappell Nashville has extended its worldwide co-publishing partnership with Nashville-based music publishing company, THiS Music. Under the agreement, Warner/Chappell will continue to publish and administer THiS Music’s repertoire. THiS Music was formed in 2006 by owners Rusty Gaston, Tim Nichols, and Connie Harrington, and was launched in partnership with Warner/Chappell Music.

THiS Music’s roster includes Deric Ruttan, who co-wrote Jason Aldean’s current rising single “Any Ol’ Bar Stool”; Emily Weisband, who recently won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “Thy Will”; and two-time ASCAP Country Songwriter Of The Year, Ben Hayslip, who co-wrote Thomas Rhett’s No. 1 hit “Star of the Show,” as well as Nichols, Harrington, Jessi Alexander, Marv Green, JT Harding, Molly Reed, Chris Yarber, and country artist Drew Baldridge.

Parallel Music Publishing Nashville Signs Michael Lotten

Seated, L-R: Tim Hunze, Parallel Music Publishing; Michael Lotten; Travis Myatt, Parallel Music Publishing. Standing, L-R: Denise Stevens, Partner, Loeb & Loeb; Matt Cottingham, Ritholz Levy.

Parallel Music Publishing Nashville has signed songwriter Michael Lotten. He joins a roster that includes Alex Hall, Blake Chaffin, Lance Carpenter, Jesse Lee, Jennifer Schott and Michael White.

Born in Indiana and raised in Missouri, Lotten moved to Nashville in 2007. He has toured as a guitarist and background vocalist, which led him to signing two consecutive development deals as a pop artist. Lotten has focused solely on writing for the past two years.

Founded in 2011 by J.P. Williams and Tim Hunze, Parallel Music Publishing has had five No. 1 singles, including Kelsea Ballerini’s “Love Me Like You Mean It,” Michael Ray’s “Kiss You In The Morning” and the Band Perry’s “Better Dig Two.”

Greg Bates, Skip Black, Victoria Goodvin Join Liv Write Play

(Back Row, L-R): Ilya Toshinskiy, Partner, Producer, Musician at Liv Write Play, LLC; Dennis Kurtz, VP and Partner at Liv Write Play, LLC; Olivia Lane, Aaron Scherz, Victoria Goodvin, Creative Director at Liv Write Play, LLC; Angelica Franzino, Office Manager at Liv Write
Play, LLC. (Front Row, L-R): Greg Bates, Skip Black. Photo: Courtesy of Liv Write Play, LLC

Songwriters Greg Bates and Skip Black have signed with Liv Write Play Publishing.

Bates, who was a solo artist on Republic Nashville, has cuts under his belt by Montgomery Gentry, Justin Moore, and William Michael Morgan. The Nashville native had a Top 5 hit with “Did It for the Girl.” 

Black moved to Music City in 2007 from North Carolina and started a publishing deal with Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Kye Fleming the same year. He has had cuts with Gary Allan, Edens Edge, LOCASH, Craig Morgan, Eric Paslay, and Drake White, among others.

Tin Pan South Fast Access Passes On Sale Now

Tin Pan South put its Fast Access Passes on sale Feb. 28 at tinpansouth.com. The passes allow patrons to bypass the cover charge at the door and advance entrance to shows, space permitting, and they are a hot commodity with quantities limited and last year’s passes selling out in record time.