Music News 12/05/2012

Performing at the press conference. (L-R): BC Jean, Kara DioGuardi, Lee Thomas Miller, Linda Perry, and Desmond Child.

NSAI President/hit songwriter Lee Thomas Miller and NSAI Exec. Director Bart Herbison represented songwriters and music publishers at a hearing on Capitol Hill on Nov. 28 about the controversial Internet Radio Fairness Act. Following the hearing, they called MusicRow to report on the day’s events.

The bill would change the royalty rates paid by non-interactive online streaming radio services, such as Pandora. The company, and others like it, are seeking a lower rate, which they argue would spur digital music innovation. Most music industry organizations and trade groups oppose the bill, including SoundExchange, RIAA, the Recording Academy, ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, NSAI and NMPA. More on the background here.

“The bill at hand deals with payment to the record companies, but [Pandora and other internet radio services] have also sued the P.R.O.s to lower the rates paid to songwriters and publishers,” explained Miller. “We were here to arm lawmakers with information about songwriters before the hearing.

Tali Giles, Photo: Ivan Clow, BMLG

Read the full story here.

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Big Machine Music has added Tali Giles in the newly created position of Publishing Coordinator. Giles will assist in all aspects of daily creative operations. Big Machine Music’s songwriters include The Valory Music Co. artist Justin Moore, Republic Nashville artist Greg Bates, Broken Bow artist Dustin Lynch, Sunny Sweeney, Don Poythress and Aaron Scherz.

Most recently, Giles served as Membership Director at the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Giles will report to Molinar and Martha Earls. She can be reached at tali.giles@bigmachinemusic.com.

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Big Yellow Dog Music has hired longtime publisher Brad Kennard as Vice President, Creative.

“Brad brings a great passion and enthusiasm for songwriters and we welcome him into the BYD HOUSE!” says Carla Wallace, GM of Big Yellow Dog Music.

He will start in the role on Monday (Dec. 10). Kennard was most recently Vice President at Full Circle Music.

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House of Hassle Publishing, which has offices in New York City and on the West Coast, has opened a new office in Nashville, led by Lynn Gann. The Nashville operation will be focused on plugging House of Hassle songs and artists, as well as pairing House of Hassle writers with Music City’s local talent.

House of Hassle Publishing has signed Zach Schwartz (of Rogue Wave and Release The Sunbird), Menomena, Lucero, Two Gallants, Paul Banks (of Interpol), and Grizzly Bear.