Music News 6/10/10

Standing in back are staff from panel sponsor ole, (L-R): COO Gilles Godard and stafters, Matt Turner, Whitney Taylor and Kele Currier. Seated are panelists Julia Michels, host/organizer Anastasia Brown, Howard Parr, Dave Jordan and Andrea Von Foerster. Photo: Alan Mayor

>>The 12th annual Nashville Screenwriters Conference hit town last weekend with events at the Union Station Hotel. One highlight of the gathering is always the Music in the Movies panel, held this year at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Founded by 821 Entertainment Group President Anastasia Brown, the luncheon features advice from top music supervisors for those hoping to tap into the world of song placement in television and film, as well as opportunities to submit music for placement in upcoming projects.

For the recent event, Brown recruited Music Supervisors Julia Michels (Sex and the City 1 and 2, The Blind Side, The Devil Wears Prada), Andrea Von Foerster (500 Days of Summer, It’s Kind of A Funny Story, Stargate Universe), Howard Paar (Hung, Monster, L Word), and Dave Jordan (Iron Man 1 and 2, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, The Upside of Anger). Sponsored by ole.

Also at the Screenwriters Conference, a performance at the Loveless Barn by songwriters (L-R): Lori McKenna, Natalie Hemby, Jim Lauderdale (Host), Deana Carter and Rosanne Cash. Photo: Alan Mayor

>>Larry Wayne Clark, a longtime Nashville songwriter and MusicRow contributor, has been undergoing cancer treatment in his native Canada. Among Clark’s catalog is Chris Young’s first single, “Drinking Me Lonely,” and cuts by the Statler Brothers, Lee Greenwood, Anne Murray, and many others.

Music City friends and colleagues are staging a benefit concert “Nashville Sings for Larry Wayne Clark” to help pay for his medical expenses. The show is set for Monday, June 14, from 6-9 PM at the Red Rooster Bar & Music Hall on Demonbreun. Buddy Jewell, who wrote “Addicted to the Rain” with Clark and included it on his sophomore album, will headline. Also on the line-up are Robin English, Andrea Pearson, Lauren Lucas, Chelsee Oaks, Adam Gregory, Jared Blake, Ryan Laird, Erinn Bates, Cassidy Lynn and renowned guitarist Ladd Smith. Many will perform songs they wrote with Clark.

There will be live and silent auctions. Admission is free, but donations will taken at the door. Everyone who makes a donation of $20 or more will receive a copy of LWC Favorites: Songs of Larry Wayne Clark. The CD is available for purchase at www.larrywayneclark.com/cd.html with all proceeds going to his medical expenses. Friends who cannot attend the benefit will be able to view streaming video at UARadio. Online donations may be made via PayPal. The “send to” address to use in the US is the1mag@comcast.net and in Canada it’s canuckmag@comcast.net For more information, call Robyn Taylor-Drake at 615-726-5810 or robynt11@comcast.net.

L-R: Michael Martin, Robert Filhart

>>ASCAP’s Nashville office has announced the hiring of Michael Martin as Sr. Creative Director and Robert Filhart as Creative Manager. Over the last several months the performing rights organization has reworked its Nashville operations to serve as a regional headquarters.

Martin comes to ASCAP from Extreme Writers Group (EWG) where he was Partner and Co-Founder with Jason Houser and shared responsibilities for the day-to-day operations of the publishing and content development companies. EWG has enjoyed numerous No. 1’s, including the recent success of Rascal Flatts’ “Here Comes Goodbye” and George Strait’s “I Saw God Today,” as well as the current Top 5 single “Crazy Town” by Jason Aldean. Since launching in 2000, EWG also had the 14-week Christian chart-topper “The Motions” by Matthew West, and hits with Big & Rich’s “Lost In This Moment” and Jason Aldean’s “Johnny Cash” and “Why.” As a graduate of University of Texas Arlington, Martin began his career in music publishing as VP of Creative Services at Moraine Music.

Filhart joins ASCAP from his most recent post as an Associate Manager at Dottore-DuBois Artist Management. In this position, he handled day-to-day activities for Matt Jenkins and Connie Smith. He was previously employed with Still Working Music, where he worked primarily as a songplugger while also handling day-to-day logistics for Danielle Peck. He began his career interning for Universal South Records and, later, at Major Bob Music/Bob Doyle & Associates. Filhart graduated with a B.S. in Business/Music Industry Management from Ferris State University in Michigan.

“We’re delighted to bring the diverse talents of Michael and Robert to our organization,” said Tim DuBois, VP and Managing Executive of operations at ASCAP Nashville. “Their experience, passion for the craft, and dedication to writers and artists wonderfully complement the overall vision of ASCAP, as well as the new elevated role in expanding and enhancing our relationships with our writers and publishers across all musical genres.”