Music News 12/15/11

Dune Grass Music has inked an exclusive songwriter deal with Neal Coty. He’s written several singles, including the title track for James Wesley’s new Broken Bow release (“Real”), as well as cuts by Craig Morgan (“Every Friday Afternoon”), Blake Shelton (“Playboys of the Southwestern World”), and Mark Chestnutt (“She Was”).

Dune Grass General Manager Paul Compton says, “His talents as a gifted lyricist and craftsman put Neal at the top of his class and will bring an added level of experience to the entire Dune Grass roster. We’re excited and fortunate to have him on the team. ”

Dune Grass Music is a Nashville based publishing company whose other writers include Don Scott Hare, Chris Harris, Red Marlow and Amber Leigh White.

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Sony Music Nashville has signed family trio The Henningsens to a recording deal. Comprised of Brian, Clara, and Aaron Henningsen, the group is working on its debut album with Paul Worley and will be assigned a label imprint soon. The trio is also the songwriting team behind The Band Perry’s hit single “You Lie.”

(L-R): Lisa Ramsey-Perkins (Senior Director, A&R, Sony Music Nashville), The Henningsens (Brian, Clara & Aaron Henningsen), Gary Overton (Chairman and CEO, Sony Music Nashville), Paul Worley (Producer)

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Brad Paisley lends his voice to a new song “Hard Life,” written by 23-year-old friend Joe Kindregan, who suffers from a terminal disease. Kindregan has A-T (ataxia-telangiectasia) which combines symptoms of cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, immune deficiencies and cancer.

All U.S. digital royalties of Kindregan’s song will benefit the special initiative, A-T Children’s Project, a nonprofit organization aimed at finding life-improving therapies and a cure for A-T.

“I’ve known Joe for several years and he is one of my favorite people,” says Paisley. “His disease is physically debilitating but creatively and mentally, Joe has such tremendous depth. It’s an honor for me to be the person to give voice to his creativity and cause.”

The two met in 2005 at a fundraiser when Joe was convinced by friend Brian Christiansen, who also had A-T, to sing with Brad onstage. When Brian lost his battle with A-T, Joe decided to share Brian’s story with a song.

Joe came to Paisley’s Nashville studio twice to be a part of laying down the tracks and to see his song being produced firsthand.

“Hard Life” is currently on sale and can be purchased here.