Music News 5/26/11

Music supervision company Format Entertainment has expanded into Nashville and established a Format Music Publishing satellite office, headed by Anastasia Brown. She will represent local artists for film, TV pilots and commercials. In the last six months, Brown has licensed 10 songs and 12 masters with Nashville ties. She has also signed five local artists to the publishing division. She has been working on the Paramount Pictures re-make of Footloose, while also supervising New Regency’s The Darkest Hour, the ABC-TV pilot from Marc Cherry Hallelujah, and more.

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peermusic has signed 15-year-old Rachel Farley to an exclusive songwriter/co-publishing agreement, peermusic VP Kevin Lamb announced. Farley was brought to the attention of peermusic via Sr. Creative Director Michael Knox who is producing her debut CD for Average Joe’s Entertainment. The new release will feature Farley’s writing or co-writing on all 10 tracks. Knox discovered the young talent on MySpace and has followed her burgeoning career for three years. “I was impressed with Rachel’s artistry for years,” says Knox, “but when I heard the songs she was writing, I was also amazed at how well she was able to express who she is, considering she was so young. She’s the kind of songwriter that can not only write for herself, but for other artists as well.” Farley began performing professionally at the age of 11 in her hometown Lawrenceville, Georgia, and was penning her own songs by age 12.

(L-R): Manager Ken Madson of Full Scope Entertainment, peermusic Sr. Creative Director/producer Michael Knox, and peermusic VP Kevin Lamb watch songwriter Rachel Farley ink her co-publishing agreement.

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Bug Music CEO John Rudolph has recently announced that the company has entered into an exclusive agreement to administer rights to Sugar Hill Records’ music publishing catalog. The deal gives Bug Music worldwide rights to a 600-title library containing a “who’s who” of country, bluegrass and Americana music.

The rosters at Sugar Hill Records’ two publishing companies, Southern Melody Publishing Co. and Queen’s Counsel Music, include Nickel Creek’s Chris Thile, Sarah and Sean Watkins; Robin and Linda Williams; Ralph Stanley; Etta Baker; Claude Hensley; Ruth Franks; Doc Watson; Tommy Thompson of Red Clay Ramblers; and members of Donna the Buffalo; Austin Lounge Lizards; and Seldom Scene.

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SESAC songwriter/producer Ahmande Grimes has signed with Bug Music Nashville for representation. Grimes recently stopped by SESAC’s Nashville headquarters to share the good news.

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Tim Fink, Salina Grimes, Ahmande Grimes, Bug Music Nashville’s Kim Hylick, SESAC’s John Mullins, and Bug Music Nashville’s Roger Murrah. Photo: Ed Rode

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Sony/ATV Music Publishing has signed Skip Ewing, the songwriter behind more than 25 hit singles, including 11 No. 1’s. With more than 250 album cuts, some of Ewing’s most popular songs are “If I Didn’t Have You” (Randy Travis), “Something That We Do” (Clint Black), “You Had Me From Hello” (Kenny Chesney), “Love, Me” (Collin Raye), “Every Other Weekend” (Reba McEntire), “Someone Else’s Star” and “Rebecca Lynn” (Bryan White). Ewing is an award-winning songwriter who has received 13 BMI awards, BMI Songwriter of the Year, and the CMA Triple Play Award. He is a Grammy and Tony nominee. Ewing is busy planning his Horse & Writer songwriting retreat, scheduled for September in Wyoming. Details on attending at www.horseandwriter.com

Sony/ATV signs Skip Ewing. Pictured (L-R): Terry Wakefield (Sr. VP Creative), Mike Whelan (VP Creative), Skip Ewing, and Troy Tomlinson (President/CEO).

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My Good Girl Music has hired Ashley Hertzog as Creative Manager. My Good Girl Music is a joint venture between platinum producer Mark Bright and Sony/ATV Music Nashville. Hertzog makes the move from Combustion Music, where she had worked since 2005 as Catalog Manager. She can be reached at (615) 259-5447 or ashley@mygoodgirlmusic.com.

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The Harry Fox Agency (HFA) has announced a new program which offers publishers a chance to greatly reduce the commission rate on royalty distributions from HFA. Under its new Reduced Commission Program (RCP), publishers are guaranteed a rate of 5.25% in exchange for centralizing all their U.S. mechanical licensing and royalty processing with HFA. Additional publisher benefits include advances and the inclusion of all musical works in HFA’s Royalty Compliance Examinations.

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(L-R) MTM’s Rusty Harmon, RPM’s Scott Siman, Bo Bice and RPM’s Blake Chancey.

Singer/songwriter Bo Bice has been signed to RPM Music for publishing. “I’m proud to welcome Bo to the RPM family,” says company President Scott Siman. “We value Bo’s great experience and creativity and both staff and writers look forward to the music they will be creating together.”

Bice, who was an American Idol finalist in season 4, is currently represented by Rusty Harmon of MTM Management. MTM’s roster also includes Scarletta and Yarn. Former clients include Jason Michael Carroll plus Hootie and the Blowfish.

RPM Music is co-owned by Siman and Blake Chancey. The RPM Music writer roster includes Aubrey Collins, Benji Harris, Nathan Stoops, and Katie Rae Davis.