Music News 9/23/10

Well-wishers gathered in BMI’s Music Row lobby on Tuesday (9/21) to toast the chart-topping collaboration of longtime friends and BMI affiliates Luke Bryan and Dallas Davidson. “Rain is a Good Thing,” which Bryan recorded and the pair co-wrote, marks Bryan’s second consecutive chart-topper and gold digital single and Davidson’s fifth No. 1.

To cap off the celebrations, Bryan was surprised by Capitol Records Nashville label head Mike Dungan with the proclamation that his current album Doin’ My Thing has been certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000.

“Discovering the album had reached the half-million mark in album sales at the No. 1 party was just icing on the cake,” Bryan said. “My life is so good right now with great career highs like this and a growing family at home.”

(l-r): BMI’s Perry Howard, Bug Music’s Roger Murrah, producer Jeff Stevens, Luke Bryan, co-writer Dallas Davidson, EMI Music Publishing’s Ben Vaughn, Red Light Management’s Kerri Edwards, Capitol Records’ Mike Dungan, and BMI’s Jody Williams. Photo: Steve Lowry

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

After a string of sold out shows in New York City, the popular CMA Songwriters Series will return to Nashville on Tuesday, Nov. 9 (10:00 PM/CT) at Limelight, as part of the festivities leading up to The 44th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

Featuring RCA Nashville artist Chris Young (“Getting You Home,” “Drinkin’ Me Lonely”), the CMA Songwriters Series allows music fans insight into the stories behind some of their favorite songs. 2010 has been a banner year for Young, who earned his second consecutive No. 1 single and his very first CMA Award nomination for New Artist of the Year.

Joining Young will be Brett James (“The Man I Want To Be” recorded by Young, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” recorded by Carrie Underwood, and “When the Sun Goes Down” recorded by Kenny Chesney), Rivers Rutherford (“Real Good Man” recorded by Tim McGraw, “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You” recorded by Brooks & Dunn, and “When I Get Where I’m Going” recorded by Brad Paisley), and Craig Wiseman (“Hillbilly Bone” recorded by Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins, “Live Like You Were You Dying” recorded by Tim McGraw, and “She’s Got It All” recorded by Kenny Chesney).

“I’m really excited to be a part of such a great line-up of songwriters,” Young said. “It will be extra special to be on stage with Brett James, the co-writer of my second No. 1, ‘The Man I Want To Be,’ and Craig Wiseman, one of my co-writers on my current single, ‘Voices.’ This is going to be a great night of music.”

Tickets for the Nov. 9 CMA Songwriters Series are $10 in advance and $15 at the door and will go on sale Friday, Sept. 24 at www.limelightnashville.com. Limelight is located at 201 Woodland St., Nashville, TN 37213.

The 44th Annual CMA Awards will air live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. on Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET on the ABC Television Network.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Wrensong/Reynsong reports it has re-signed Ashley Monroe to a new publishing deal.

(L-R) Ashley Monroe and Wrensong President Ree Guyer Buchanan

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Ed Salamon and Chairman Jeff Cohen. (PRNewsFoto/Savannah Music Group)

Ed Salamon has been named chief executive officer of Savannah Music Group, effective Oct. 1. Salamon approached SMG President Dave Gibson after Savannah took the unprecedented step among music publishing companies and record labels of opposing mandatory Performance Rights fee legislation. Since both believe that proposed legislation could reduce the amount of music played on radio and be especially damaging to small independent companies like SMG, the veteran broadcast executive offered his help. Having known Salamon from his days as namesake of the Gibson-Miller Band and pleased to find a like-minded executive with a broad background in the music industry, Gibson introduced Salamon to Savannah Music Group Chairman Jeff Cohen.

“Ed is one of the most dynamic and well-connected people in the music industry,” says Cohen in making the appointment. “He has a great track record in the entertainment industry and with start ups, and we are pleased to have him lead Savannah Music Group.”

Salamon is former President-Programming of Westwood One Radio Network and a co-founder and partner with Dick Clark in the United Stations Radio Network. Most recently he served as Executive Director for Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc., the non-profit organization that presents the Country Radio Seminar (CRS).
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Nashville Top Tunesmiths Pose for the Big Group Shot. Photos: Bev Moser

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) hosted industry professionals on Monday evening (9/20) for the World’s Largest No. 1 Party, presented by Avenue Bank and The Recording Academy® to celebrate veteran hitmakers and talented newcomers.

(L-R): Fred Foster (Maggie Cavender Award of Service) and Aubrey Preston (Stephen Foster Award) accepting their honors for dedication to the songwriting community and supporting NSAI.

NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison and NSAI President, Grammy-nominated songwriter Steve Bogard kicked off the festivities with two organizational awards – the Stephen Foster Award (in recognition of generous support for – and dedication to – songwriters, the music industry and NSAI) to Williamson County entrepreneur Aubrey Preston, and the Maggie Cavender Award of Service (in recognition of extraordinary service to the songwriting community) to legendary producer/Monument Records founder Fred Foster.

Throughout the ceremony Avenue Bank Senior Vice President Ron Cox and The Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow presented awards to honor songwriters from the past year for their chart-topping tunes. Several stellar songwriter/artist pairings received accolades, such as Tom Douglas with Lady Antebellum, Brett James with Carrie Underwood, Cory Batten & Kent Blazy with Chris Young, Shawn Mullins with Zac Brown, Ryan Tedder with Kelly Clarkson, Liz Rose with Taylor Swift and Ammo & Pebe Sebert with Ke$ha. Douglas and James each earned a total of three awards making them the top achievers of the year. For more information, visit nashvillesongwriters.com.

(L-R): NSAI President Steve Bogard, The Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow, “Hillbilly Bone” co-writers Craig Wiseman, Luke Laird and Avenue Bank Senior Vice President Ron Cox.

Full List of Winners:

• Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress, Wynn Varble (“A Little More Country Than That” – Easton Corbin)
• Kelly Clarkson, Ryan Tedder (“Already Gone” – Kelly Clarkson)
• Frank Rogers, Darius Rucker (“Alright” – Darius Rucker)
• Cary Barlowe, Hillary Lindsey, Shane Stevens (“American Honey – Lady Antebellum)
• Dave Pahanish, Joe West (“American Ride” – Toby Keith)
• Jim Collins, David Lee Murphy (“Big Green Tractor” – Jason Aldean)
• Steve Diamond, Marv Green (“Consider Me Gone” – Reba McEntire)
• Mike Elizondo, Brett James, Carrie Underwood (“Cowboy Casanova” – Carrie Underwood)
• Cory Batten, Kent Blazy, Chris Young (“Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)” – Chris Young)
• Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip (“Gimmie That Girl” – Joe Nichols)
• Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette (“Highway 20 Ride” – Zac Brown Band)
• Luke Laird, Craig Wiseman (“Hillbilly Bone” – Blake Shelton/Trace Adkins)
• Tom Douglas, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott (“I Run To You” – Lady Antebellum)
• Rollo Armstrong, Mark Bates, Harlan Howard, Kristian Leontiou (“Kandi” – One eskimO)
• Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott (“Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum)
• Steve McEwan, John Reid (“Only You Can Love Me This Way” – Keith Urban)
• Bobby Braddock, Troy Jones (“People Are Crazy” – Billy Currington)
• 
Agnes Carlsson, Anders Hansson, Sharon Vaughn (“Release Me” – Agnes)
• Jim Beavers, Dierks Bentley (“Sideways” – Dierks Bentley)
• Brian Dean Maher, Justin Moore, Jeremy Stover (“Small Town USA” – Justin Moore)
• Bob DiPiero, Tom Douglas (“Southern Voice” – Tim McGraw)
• Luke Laird, Zac Maloy, Carrie Underwood (“Temporary Home” – Carrie Underwood)
• Billy Currington, Dallas Davidson, Brett Jones (“That’s How Country Boys Roll” – Billy Currington)
• Jessi Alexander, Jon Mabe (“The Climb” – Miley Cyrus)
• Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin (“The House That Built Me” – Miranda Lambert)
• Brett James, Tim Nichols (“The Man I Want To Be” – Chris Young)
• Brett James, Ashley Monroe (“The Truth” – Jason Aldean)
• Dr. Luke, Benny Blanco, Ke$ha (“TiK ToK” – Ke$ha)
• Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Hopkins, Shawn Mullins (“Toes” – Zac Brown Band)
• Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill, Nathan Followill (“Use Somebody” – Kings of Leon)
• Jim Beavers, Darrell Brown, Jonathan Singleton (“Why Don’t We Just Dance” – Josh Turner)
• Liz Rose, Taylor Swift (“You Belong With Me” – Taylor Swift)
• Ammo, Pebe Sebert, Ke$ha (“Your Love Is My Drug” – Ke$ha)