Music News 9/8/11

Industry vet Doug Howard, owner of the Vandermont Music Group, has signed Noll Billings and Rob Blackledge to exclusive co-publishing agreements and a production/development deal. The singer-songwriters make up the Nashville duo Blackjack Billy and are currently in the studio with producer Jeff Coplan (Love And Theft, The Lunabelles).

(L-R): Rob Blackledge, producer Jeff Coplan, Vandermont’s Doug Howard and Noll Billings. Photo: Alan Mayor

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MPR Entertainment Group subsidiary Root Forty-Nine Music has signed Grammy-nominated songwriter Odie Blackmon to a multi-year publishing and songwriting agreement. “We could not be more excited to have Odie join us here at Root 49 Music,” says MPR COO Matthew Beckett. “He brings a talent and a reputation that is second to none. We look forward to a lasting and successful relationship.” Blackmon wrote Lee Ann Womack’s 2005 CMA Single of the Year and No. 1 “I May Hate Myself In The Morning,” co-wrote George Strait’s “She’ll Leave You With A Smile,” and co-wrote Gary Allan’s “Nothing On But The Radio.” His songs have also been recorded by Martina McBride, Del McCoury, Tracy Lawrence and more. He recently released his instructional DVD The Craft of Writing Hit Songs and is a music lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music.

(L-R) Front: Root Forty-Nine creative director Mark Brown; Odie Blackmon; and MPR Entertainment Group president Carolyn Miller; Back: attorney Chip Petree; ASCAP’s Leann Phelan; and MPR Entertainment Group chief operating officer Matthew Beckett

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Actor/director Garret Noel and actress Terin Alba have signed with BMI for performance representation. Noel’s onscreen credits include Jon Favreau’s Iron Man and this summer’s Cowboys Vs. Aliens. As a director, he has finished a documentary called Desert Saints which will be released internationally. He also wrote and directed feature length drama Promised Land, which will premiere at Sundance Film Festival. Noel has been in Nashville working on post production and the soundtrack with BMI writer/associate producer Paul Reeves, who has been working with female lead Terin Alba on songs for the soundtrack.

(L-R) Seated: Jody Williams, BMI; Garret Noel; Standing: David Preston, BMI; Terin Alba; Paul Reeves

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Coy Taylor

Country artist Coy Taylor has signed with Flying Island Entertainment to promote his single “Fall For You” at country radio. The song was recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville with an all-star cast of session players and the accompanying video was shot by director Thien Phan. Since arriving in Nashville two years ago, Cincinnati native Taylor has worked with Brady Seals and Little Jimmie Dickens and opened shows for Jason Aldean, Mark Chesnutt, Craig Morgan and Joe Diffie.