Music News 9/6/12

Lance Carpenter stopped by the ASCAP offices last week to celebrate his recently inked publishing agreement with Songs of Bigger Picture. In recent years ASCAP’s Ryan Beuschel has worked with the songwriter to help him develop his craft.

Pictured (l-r): ASCAP's Ryan Beuschel, Songs of Bigger Picture's Jason Campbell, Lance Carpenter, and Songs of Bigger Picture's Jeff Carlton and Nicholas Garvin

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The second annual Wake Up Nashville event will take place at 7 pm, Sept. 21 at Marathon Music Works. Headlined by Jimmy Wayne, the fundraising event benefits Wake Up Narcolepsy, a national non-profit dedicated to building awareness of narcolepsy and raising funds to find a cure for this debilitating, life-long condition.

Additionally, until Sept. 12, unsigned artists will have the opportunity to submit their original songs to Wake Up Nashville’s songwriting contest for a $25 donation. Performers and publishers at Nashville’s Savannah Music Group will review the submitted song and select a winner. The winning artist will have the opportunity to perform his or her original work alongside Jimmy Wayne. The top 10 submissions will be recorded on a CD created for the event.

“Music Row can be a challenging environment for aspiring artists to get a fair hearing,” said Bob Saporiti, General Manager of Savannah Music Group. “Wake Up Nashville offers these artists a one-of-a-kind ‘audition,’ and at the same time raises much needed awareness and funds for a very worthy cause. And the chance to perform their song alongside successful songwriters and artists, as well as being exposed to the other industry elite in attendance – well, this is something really special!”

To enter the songwriting contest, or purchase a ticket for the event, visit: WakeUpNarcolepsy.org.
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BMI will celebrate the incredible songwriting career of Tom T. Hall by naming him a BMI Icon at the company’s 60th annual Country Awards. The private ceremony will be held on Tues., Oct. 30 at BMI’s Music Row offices in Nashville.

The BMI Icon award is given to songwriters who have had a “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” At the ceremony an all-star musical tribute will pay homage to Hall, and BMI will crown the Country Songwriter, Song and Publisher of the Year. The writers and publishers of the past year’s 50 most-performed songs from BMI’s country catalog will also be honored. BMI President & CEO Del Bryant will host the ceremony with Jody Williams, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville; and Clay Bradley, BMI Assistant Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville.

Past BMI Icons include Bill Anderson, Billy Sherrill, John Fogerty, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Isaac Hayes, Merle Haggard, Brian Wilson, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, the Bee Gees, Bobby Braddock, Ray Davies, James Brown and more.

For more information, read the full story on MusicRow.com.