Music News 9/13/12

Rackspace co-founder, Dirk Elmendorf, has joined Nashville-based Splother as a strategic adviser and investor. Elmendorf joins an existing board that includes recording artist Robert Earl Keen and legal counsel Kent Marcus.

The website, named to Nashville Post’s “Tech 25 list of Middle Tennessee’s Brightest IT Ventures” and Nashville Scene’s “10 Forward Thinking Ideas Pushing Nashville, and the World, into the Future,” offers an online solution for securing sync licenses for the web, film, TV, and more. Users have access to a growing catalog of pre-cleared music across all genres, selected by A&R professionals.

“Splother is well positioned to disrupt the way music is licensed today,” says Splother CEO Dave Durocher. “Dirk’s involvement helps validate our strategy.”

More info here.

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The National Music Publishers’ Association gathered in Nashville Monday (9/10) to host its annual Songwriters Showcase at Bluebird Café. The annual event is a chance for the songwriting and publishing communities to showcase talent and discuss present issues of concern with royalty rates and licensing.

(L-R) Songwriters Mark Selby, Tia Sillers and Brett James; NMPA President and CEO David Israelite, Songwriters Luke Laird and Natalie Hemby; chairman of the NMPA board Irwin Robinson

Universal Music Publishing Group Chairman & CEO Zach Horowitz (L) and Executive Vice President Kent Earls (R) present chart-topping songwriter Luke Laird (center) with Gold and Platinum Note Awards during the National Music Publishers' Association Songwriters Showcase at Bluebird Café in Nashville.

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Pictured (L-R): Woody Bomar, Sarah Beth Taite and Ocean Way Studio's Director of Operations Pat McMakin.

President of Green Hills Music Group, Woody Bomar, announced the signing of artist/songwriter Sarah Beth Taite to a publishing and artist development arrangement.

“Though she is still in her teens, Sarah Beth is so talented as an artist, gifted as a writer and has the drive and natural skills of a seasoned performer,” said Bomar.

“The Nashville music community is even more inviting than I ever dreamed,” said Taite. “And of course having Woody’s guidance and wisdom has been a wonderful experience.”

Green Hills Music Group opened in 2007, marketing the music of Steve Mitchell, Georgia Middleman, Bob Regan, Rick Giles, Bonnie Baker, Steve Williams, Paul Duncan, Dave Rivers and Patricia Summers.

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Donna Hilley

The late publishing icon, Donna Hilley, will receive the 2012 Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award from the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation.

Hilley, who passed within a week of Preston in June 2012, became president and CEO of Sony/ATV Nashville after negotiating Tree International’s purchase while it was under her leadership. She worked for more than 30 years for the company.

“Donna was a truly amazing woman who rose from typist at a radio station to be one of the most successful music publishing executives ever,” said John Van Mol, chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation.

The honor will be acknowledged at the organization’s 42^nd Anniversary Dinner & Induction ceremony on October 7 alongside previously announced Hall of Fame inductees Tony Arata, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Larry Henley and Kim Williams. The ceremony also includes NSAI’s annual awards for the year’s Best Song, Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist, as well as the Top 10 “Songs I Wish I Had Written,” as determined by the professional songwriters division.

Previous recipients of the Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award include Bob Beckham (2008), Bill Hall (2009), Preston (2010) and David Conrad (2011).

Tickets for the event are $225 each with a limited number available to the public by contacting Mark Ford hoftix@nashvillesongwriters.com.