Music News 6/16/11

Earlier this week songwriters Caroline Cutbirth and Tayla Lynn signed to Skyline Music Publishing. Together with Jennifer Wayne, Cutbirth and Lynn make up Skyville Records trio Stealing Angels. The band’s latest single “Paper Heart” was produced by Paul Worley and is climbing the country radio charts.

Pictured (L-R): Wally Wilson (Skyville Records/Skyline Publishing Managing Partner), Caroline Cutbirth, Tayla Lynn, Liz Morin (Showbiz-Row Music), Ronna Reeves (Showbiz-Row Music)

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Global music publisher Warner/Chappell Music has signed a co-publishing agreement with singer, songwriter and actress Jana Kramer. Kramer recently signed with Elektra Nashville for her upcoming major label country debut. The actress, who plays Alex Dupre on One Tree Hill sold over 40,000 copies  of her song “I Won’t Give Up,” in one week after it was featured on an episode of the show. For more info and music visit www.janakramer.com

(L-R) Kye Fleming; Alicia Pruitt, Sr. Director A&R Warner/Chappell Nashville; Paula Kay Hornick, Paula Kay Artist Management; Jana Kramer; Phil May, VP & General Manager, Warner/Chappell Nashville; Steve Markland, VP A&R Warner/Chappell Nashville; and BJ Hill, Sr. Director A&R, Warner/Chappell Nashville)

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Legacyworks LLC reports it has successfully reclaimed deceased songwriter Tommy Durden’s ownership of “Heartbreak Hotel” and in the next few months it will be returned to the writer’s heirs. Copyright grant termination was filed by Legacyworks in 2005 on behalf of Durden’s daughter. Later this year the company will also see songwriter Richard Dehr’s copyright interest for “Memories Are Made of This” returned to his children. Legacyworks also recently returned worldwide copyright ownership for two songs recorded by Elvis Presley to songwriter Beverly Ross and her co-writers.

“Copyright grant termination is here, it’s a new reality, and the increased royalty stream is going to be very rewarding to the beneficiaries for decades to come,” states Lewis Anderson of Legacyworks, also a well known songwriter. “These heirs have elected to set up their own publishing companies and use major publishers for administration.” Legacyworks was formed in 2004 to provide services in catalog research and professional songwriter advocacy.

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Troy Tomlinson

Sony/ATV has scored the top spot on Billboard’s Country Publishers Airplay Chart for at least four of the last five quarters. The most recent chart (issue date 5/28/11) measures country radio airplay during the first quarter of 2011, showing Sony/ATV with 15.9% market share.

Troy Tomlinson, Pres./CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville, says his office has had about 20 singles on the chart each quarter for the last several quarters. The rankings measure airplay of the top 100 songs from 197 monitored country stations. Numerous factors have to align to achieve this kind of track record, explains Tomlinson. “No individual act can make a publisher No. 1 in airplay. In order to consistently be No. 1, or even in the top 2 or 3, it takes a combination of a quality writer roster and quality creative team. In addition to that, it takes the artists, A&R people, and producers seeking out the very best songs. Success is a culmination of all of those elements.”

Because the life of a radio single is often more than the 12 weeks in a quarter, an artist might have only have one single per quarter. Sometimes two singles from the same act will chart in the same quarter, particularly if one is past its peak and heading down, while the follow-up is starting to climb. Tomlinson adds, “No one can set out to be publisher of the quarter, because we don’t have control of which songs get released. That is at the discretion of the record labels and the artists.”

Among the first quarter country hits that helped boost Sony/ATV to the top: “Don’t You Wanna Stay” (Jason Aldean w/ Kelly Clarkson), “I Won’t Let Go” (Rascal Flatts), “Back To December” (Taylor Swift), “Let Me Down Easy” (Billy Currington), “Hello World” (Lady Antebellum), “Heart Like Mine” (Miranda Lambert) and “Felt Good On My Lips” (Tim McGraw).