Music News 9/2/2010

John A. LoFrumento, CEO of ASCAP , recently announced the launch of ASCAP Mobile, a new app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The app provides ASCAP’s songwriter, composer and publisher members with 24/7 access to their membership, catalog, performance and royalty information via ASCAP’s secure Member Access online portal. Additionally, the app’s interface allows all users the ability to search ASCAP’s entire repertory of over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works, and browse news about ASCAP and the music business. The app is free and can be downloaded from the App Store.

“The ASCAP Mobile app further reinforces ASCAP’s leadership position in the application of new technologies to better serve the needs of our members,” said LoFrumento. “The free app offers our members and the industry a new way to stay connected with ASCAP while they are on the go, putting a secure connection to Member Access, the entire ASCAP repertory and industry news in the palm of their hands.”

ASCAP is the first and only Performing Rights Organization to offer an app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Further versions of the app are planned for Blackberry and Android.

The ASCAP Mobile app is the latest in a series of technology enhancements that ASCAP has deployed in the past year to make it more convenient for its members to conduct their business and pursue their creativity. These enhancements include features such as a redesigned website, revamped royalty statements, e-statements and more.

Monty Powell

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

ole music publishing has signed a catalog purchase and worldwide co-publishing deal with songwriter/producer Monty Powell. Powell has been responsible for hit songs that have helped drive the sales of more than 50 million albums in total by artists like Restless Heart (“Dancy’s Dream”), Diamond Rio (“Norma Jean Riley,” “Nowhere Bound”), Billy Ray Cyrus (“Could Have Been Me”), Brooks & Dunn (“I Am That Man”), Tim McGraw (“One of These Days”), Chris Cagle (“What A Beautiful Day,” “Miss Me Baby”) and Keith Urban (“Days Go By,” “Tonight I Wanna Cry”). He has collaborated with artists including Urban, Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker.

“I’m excited about ole as a company,” says Powell. “I think they’ve positioned themselves exactly the way that a company needs to be: playing the type of ball that the majors play, playing at the level they play, but playing with an independent mindset. It’s just a completely different model and I’m all about new models. The executive team at ole is very sharp. They all have deep publishing backgrounds, not just finance or widget-selling, so they understand the push and pull of what it really takes to monetize a copyright and what that means over the life of a copyright.”

Comments ole’s Chairman & CEO, Robert Ott: “ole is very pleased to welcome Monty Powell to our team. Monty’s ability to write hit songs is widely known, but he is also an innovative thinker and entrepreneur of the first order. I know that he will add immensely to ole’s already aggressive and innovative creative culture.”

As a songwriter, Powell swept the SESAC Awards in 2009, winning Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year. In 2006, he picked up a Song of the Year CMA nomination for Urban’s “Tonight I Wanna Cry.” As a producer, he earned a CMA Album of the Year award for his work on Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles in 1994. He also co-produced Diamond Rio’s first three top selling albums, as well as Urban’s band, The Ranch for Capitol Records.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Chris Young received a CMA Award nomination for Best New Artist at Tuesday's (8/31) press conference, where he also helped reveal the nominees. Photo: John Russell / CMA

RCA Nashville recording artist Chris Young has signed an exclusive management agreement with Marion Kraft’s ShopKeeper Management.

The company also represents Miranda Lambert on Columbia Nashville and Josh Kelley on MCA Nashville.

Additionally, Shopkeeper has hired Crystal Dishmon to serve as the day-to-day contact for all artists on the roster. Megan Pool is continuing in her role as coordinator for Kraft and all artists.

The company can be contacted at (615) 383-0163 or by mail at ShopKeeper Management, P.O. Box 22128, Nashville, TN 37202.