Music News 1/19/2012

(L-R): Jon Freeman, Brantley Gilbert, Scott Borchetta and George Briner

Tuesday night (1/17), music industry professionals joined the Valory Music Co. in congratulating Brantley Gilbert on his first no. 1 hit as an artist, “Country Must Be Country Wide.” The party gathered at Cabana in Nashville, where Gilbert and the single’s songwriters Colt Ford and Mike Dekle were honored.

BMI’s Clay Bradley shared that each time he hears the chorus “In every state, there’s a station / Playing Cash, Hank, Willie and Waylon,” he gets, what he referred to as, the “Music City measles,” causing the hair on the back of his neck to rise. ASCAP’s Marc Driskill and Big Machine Label Group Pres./CEO Scott Borchetta also shared Bradley’s enthusiasm for the song, as they each handed out their congratulatory plaques.

MusicRow also presented the country singer with a no. 1 plaque of our own. Jon Freeman, managing editor and chart director of MusicRow did the honors, noting that “Country Must Be Country Wide” went no. 1 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart on Oct 27, 2011.

Dekle, Ford and Gilbert each shared their gratitude with the crowd.

“I cried like you hit me with a trace train,” Dekle said, referring to the first time he heard Gilbert’s “Country Must Be Country Wide.”

Ford teared up for a moment when he was given the mic. He expressed how happy he was to see Gilbert greeted with so much success. But Gilbert was quick to pass the credit on, pointing into the audience to single out his band members. “I’ve got the best band in world,” he said proudly of the musicians, who not only tour with him but also play on his album.

While “Country Must Be Country Wide,” produced by Dann Huff, is Gilbert’s first no. 1 as an artist, it’s not the first time his talent has been recognized. Gilbert also wrote Jason Aldean’s “My Kind Of Party” and “Dirt Road Anthem.” Both songs reached no. 1 status. After the celebration, Gilbert was headed out of town with Eric Church Blood, Sweat and Beers Tour. The tour kicks off today (1/19) in Fort Smith, AR.

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(L-R) Jason Duke, Jordan Dean, ASCAP's Michael Martin, John King, Emily Lynch, Dustin James, Sara Haze, Jacob Davis, Graci Phillips, Jen Foster, Sandy Lawrence, Kenny Foster, Ryan Hurd, ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan and Ryan Beuschel - Photo Credit: Anna Maki

ASCAP Nashville has developed a program that puts the emphasis on getting the best of Nashville’s unsigned writers in front of the city’s vibrant publishing community. Now in its second year, ASCAP’s GPS Project stands for Guidance from Publishers for Songwriters. Twelve writers are paired with twelve publishers for one meeting a month, along with a follow-up meeting to help develop the writer and solidify the relationship. The 2012 GPS Project kicked off in January and will continue with events taking place through the end of the year.

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BMI Trailblazers of Gospel honorees Hezekiah Walker and Kirk Franklin share a moment onstage at the awards luncheon.

BMI honored gospel giants Kirk Franklin and Hezekiah Walker at its 13th annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon on Friday, Jan. 13 at Rocketown in Nashville.

Walker and Franklin with recording artist Michelle Williams.

Franklin is the best-selling contemporary gospel artist in SoundScan history. He was the first gospel artist to sell more than one million albums, and today his sales tally exceeds 15 million. Franklin has earned 20 No. 1 singles on gospel charts, and has consistently crossed over to urban radio. Performing some of his most loved songs at the event were Fred Hammond, Jessica Reedy and the Kirk Franklin Singers, Myron Butler, LeAndria Johnson, Isaac Carree, Rance Allen and Kim Burrell.

Walker has led the Love Fellowship Choir, one of gospel music’s most influential groups, for more than two decades. His knack for injecting traditional gospel and choir music with hip-hop and funk has resulted in multiple Grammy wins. The musical tribute to Walker featured Faith Evans, Dorinda Clark Cole, Kim Burrell, DJ Rogers, Tamela Mann, Israel Houghton and Marvin Sapp.

Additionally, Sapp’s “The Best in Me” was named BMI’s Most-Performed Gospel Song of the Year. Co-written by Sapp and Aaron Lindsey, the song topped gospel charts and achieved historic crossover success, climbing from No. 78 to No. 14 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hot Songs Chart—the biggest jump for a gospel hit since Billboard began using Nielsen SoundScan 18 years ago.

Burrell and Houghton hosted the luncheon, along with Catherine Brewton, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, and Del Bryant, BMI President & CEO.

Photos: Arnold Turner

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SoundExchange distributed $292 million in royalty payments last year, up 17 percent from the prior year. The royalties are paid by Internet radio, satellite radio and cable TV music-only channels for their use of sound recordings, and are distributed by SoundExchange to recording artists, record labels, and a non-featured artist fund.

This brings total royalties distributed since the organization’s inception to more than $900 million. Based on last year’s distribution, it is likely the organization will hit the $1 billion mark soon.

SoundExchange’s distributions continue to grow each quarter, with the most recent being its largest to date. Fourth quarter 2011 distribution totaled $89.5 million with more than 18,000 payments.

The PRO’s 2010 administration rate was 6.7 percent, and the organization is projecting its 2011 administration rate to be even lower.