Music News 6/7/12

BMLG Partners with Clear Channel

The new agreement between Clear Channel and Big Machine Label Group is likely to spur more record companies and artists to seek similar opportunities with CC or other radio conglomerates.

Announced earlier this week (6/5), the agreement is very important in two respects: 1) it marks the first time artists will be paid a performance royalty for radio airplay in the United States. Traditionally, only songwriters have received radio performance payments. 2) It is designed to drive digital radio growth.

Yesterday’s Wall Street Journal says the agreement “represents a historic shift,” calling it “a major bet that radio’s future is online rather than over the air… With the growing ubiquity of smartphones and more cars that include Internet-radio options, consumers are spending more time listening to music online, escalating the royalty costs along the way.”

The LA Times agrees, “The Clear Channel pact with Big Machine is evidence that the radio company is making a big bet on its online operations.”

The new business model set forth in the agreement is designed to level the royalty payment playing field for all types of radio. The model has BMLG and its artists being paid terrestrial performance royalties in exchange for a lower rate of digital performance royalties, which will distribute the royalty cost more evenly between both kinds of radio.

Under current circumstances—which the CC/BMLG model aims to change—the growth of digital radio is stunted because a high percentage of each company’s income goes to pay artist and songwriter royalties. These royalty rates are often based on individual song plays, and though they are fractions of a cent, can add up very quickly to large sums. By comparison, a low percentage of terrestrial radio station revenue goes to royalties, which are exclusively paid to songwriters via the performing rights organizations. Additionally, terrestrial radio recently entered a different agreement to decrease the rates it pays to the P.R.O.s.

Wiseman for Second Harvest Food Bank

Pictured (L to R): Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins, Chris Tompkins, Craig Wiseman, Vince Gill. Photo: Peyton Hoge

The Ryman Auditorium received its yearly dose of Craig Wiseman’s eccentric personality this week (6/5) at the 8th Annual Stars For Second Harvest benefit concert.

Wiseman whisked across the stage wearing a trademark big and loud shirt with a sparkly serpent. After a prayer from his minister wife K.K. Wiseman and an introduction by figure skater Scott Hamilton, Wiseman was joined for an evening with Vince Gill, Dallas Davidson, Chris Tompkins, Rhett Akins, Rodney Clawson, Florida Georgia Line, and Jake Owen.

Thanks to a sponsorship from O’Charley’s restaurants, 100% of tickets, auctioned items and merchandise went toward benefiting the food bank. According to Wiseman, each dollar raised could provide four meals to be served by Second Harvest.

We’re hoping nobody from the Ryman went to bed hungry, at least from a lack of good songwriting.

AIMP Present “Music In Advertising”

The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Nashville Chapter and Fifth Third Bank will present “Music In Advertising: What Works – What Doesn’t and How To Get In The Game,” a panel for those interested in commercial song placement, on Monday, June 11, 4-6 pm at Cabana. Panelists work with global brands such as Amazon, Chevy, Coke, NFL, Super Bowl, Nokia and include Amy Rose (Grey), John Meililo (Meililo Music), Karen Macmillan (Nettwerk Music Group), and Sarah Gavigan (Sarah Gavigan Music). Craig Currier of peermusic will serve as moderator. Visit aimp.org to reserve a spot.

UMPG Signs Hurd

Ryan Hurd has signed an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group – Nashville.

(L-R): Robert Filhart (ASCAP), Chip Petree (Attorney), Kent Earls (UMPG), Ryan Beuschel (ASCAP), seated Freeman Wizer (UMPG), and Ryan Hurd.

George Canyon

ole Signs George Canyon

ole has inked a co-publishing and worldwide administration deal with Canadian country singer/actor George Canyon. Notable copyrights in this agreement include “Pretty Drunk Out Tonight,” “Just Like You,” and “Let It Out,” among others. Also included is Canyon’s recently released single “Saddle Up.” His next studio album is slated for a fall release.

2-for-1 No. 1 Party

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert recently celebrated their respective No. 1 hits “Drink On It” and “Over You” at A Cowboy Town in Whites Creek, TN.

Hosted by ASCAP and BMI, the event honored “Drink On It” writers Jon Randall, Rodney Clawson and Jessi Alexander and singer Shelton for earning his sixth consecutive No. 1 and 11th career No. 1.

Shelton was also honored along with Lambert for “Over You,” which is the couple’s first No. 1 co-write. The song is Lambert’s fourth career No. 1.

(L-R) back: Sony Music Nashville’s Gary Overton, ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan, producer Scott Hendricks, Warner Music’s John Esposito, Ashley Monroe, Wrensong Publishing’s Ree Guyer, BMI’s Jody Williams, Disney Music Publishing Nashville’s Kos Weaver, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Big Loud Shirt Publishing’s Craig Wiseman, Starstruck Entertainment’s Brandon Blackstock, BMI’s Clay Bradley, Avenue Bank’s Ron Cox. FRONT: Blake Shelton; Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall, Jessi Alexander, and Rodney Clawson. Photo: Rick Diamond

Kip Raines

Southern Crossroads Signs Kip Raines

Southern Crossroads Music, in association with Pat Finch Music Publishing, has signed songwriter Kip Raines to a co-publishing deal. Raines’ catalog includes Tim McGraw’s No. 1 “One of These Days (I’m Gonna Love Me),” Van Zant’s hit “Help Somebody,” and cuts by Clay Walker and Bucky Covington.

James House

Shriver and Nadler Rename Publishing Venture

Evelyn Shriver and Susan Nadler have renamed their publishing venture Notorious Women Music. The company is home to songwriter James House (“Ain’t That Lonely Yet,” “Broken Wing”) who co-wrote The Mavericks’ new single “Born To Be Blue” with the band’s singer Raul Malo. Also, “Get Lucky” penned by House and John Brannen will be used on the June 27 episode of HBO’s True Blood.

New Haven Records Adds Mote

New Haven Records President Ken Harding and RSI Music Group President Bob Rodgers have announced the signing of award-winning singer and keyboardist Gordon Mote to Nashville-based New Haven Records. The label will release Mote’s next project, Songs I Grew Up Singing, on July 17. Mote is a past winner of MusicRow’s Top 10 Album All-Star Musician award. New Haven is the home of Gold City, Chicago Mass Choir and The Country Music Hall of Fame Gospel Series.

Pictured (L-R): Vince Wilcox, director of marketing for New Haven; Bob Rodgers, president of RSI Music Group; Michael Puryear, publisher, Harding Music Group/Final Four Music; and Ken Harding, president of New Haven Records and Harding Music Group. (New Haven Records photo)

All About Music Retreat

The 12th Annual All About Music TV and Film Retreat will return to Nashville June 11-13, bringing together artists with film/TV music supervisors.

Artists participating in this year’s retreat include Show Dog-Universal’s JT Hodges, indie rock band Moon Taxi, and The So Manys (whose song “Not the End” was featured in the Glee season 3 finale). Attending music supervisors represent CBS, E! Entertainment, Sony Pictures, and Chop Shop among others.

Ocean Way Studio will host attendees for “SongCamps” where music supervisors will collaborate with artists to write and record compositions and engage in discussion about the process of placing songs. Nightly showcases will take place at The Rutledge beginning at 7 pm, and are open to the public.

More info here.

ASCAP and BMI Set Dates for Country Awards

ASCAP and BMI have announced the dates for their annual Country Awards banquets, which open a busy week that will culminate in the 46th Annual Country Music Association Awards Thursday, Nov. 1.

ASCAP will host its 50th Annual Country Music Awards Monday, October 29 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. The invitation-only gala will honor the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP’s most performed country songs from April 1, 2011 through March 31, 2012 and award the Country Songwriter of the Year, Songwriter/Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Publisher of the Year. Attendees will also be treated to live performances of the top five most performed songs of the year.

The following day, Tuesday, October 30, BMI will host its 60th Annual BMI Country Awards at the company’s Music Row offices. In addition to saluting the 50 most-performed country songs in BMI’s repertoire, the invitation-only event will also name the Country Song, Songwriter, and Publisher of the Year.

EMI Publishing Hosts Open House

EMI Music Publishing held an open house on Wednesday, May 30 to give music industry colleagues the opportunity to see the company’s newly remodeled offices. The new digs boast a clean, modern style and a built-in table that was once a workbench owned by Guy Clark. Attendees dined on Southern cuisine and were treated to a special performance by Clark with accompaniment from Verlon Thompson and Shawn Camp.

EMI Music Publishing staff at the company's open house

Stegall Presented Million-Air Certificate

BMI recently presented Bigger Picture Group Chairman and Chief Creative Officer Keith Stegall with Million-Air certificates to recognize his hit songs “I Do (Cherish You)” and “We’re In This Love Together.” “I Do (Cherish You),” written by Stegall with Dan Hill, was recorded by both Mark Wills and 98 Degrees and has 4 million performances to date. “We’re In This Love Together,” which Stegall wrote with Roger Murrah, was recorded by jazz singer Al Jarreau and has 3 million respective broadcasts to date.

“I came to Nashville to do one thing and that was to learn to write songs,” said Stegall. “I accidentally became a record producer, but I’m always a songwriter at heart.”

(L-R): BMI Vice President of Writer-Publisher Relations Jody Williams; Bigger Picture Group Chairman & Chief Creative Officer Keith Stegall; BMI Director of Writer-Publisher Relations Bradley Collins. Photo: Drew Maynard

In other Bigger Picture news, BPG singer/songwriter Ryan Kinder recently signed with SESAC for representation. Kinder is currently working on his full-length album, due for release later in 2012.

(L-R): Bigger Picture’s Alan Kates, producer/Bigger Picture Chairman Keith Stegall, Kinder, SESAC’s Dennis Lord and Bigger Picture’s Nick Garvin and Jeff Carlton. Photo: Peyton Hoge

BMLG Rebrand Existing Publishing Company

The Big Machine Label Group has announced the launch of Big Machine Music, an expansion and re-branding of the label’s existing publishing company Super 98 Music. Music publishing veterans Mike Molinar and Martha Earls will lead the new venture, overseeing songwriter signings, artist/writer and catalog growth.

Earls and Molinar have a combined 30-plus years experience with Nashville publishing companies. Most recently, the two partnered in the boutique publishing and writer/artist management company Effusion Entertainment, which developed Republic Nashville’s Greg Bates through a joint venture with Super 98 Music.

Prior to Effusion, Molinar and Earls were partners in Elevation Music Publishing, which generated the hit “Easy” by Rascal Flatts with Natasha Bedingfield. Additionally, the company placed songs with Brantley Gilbert, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, and more.

Big Machine Music Publishing artist/writers include The Valory Music Co.’s Justin Moore, Republic Nashville’s Sunny Sweeney and Greg Bates and Broken Bow’s Dustin Lynch. Additionally, Effusion’s writer management clients will be represented through Big Machine Music Publishing.