Music News (2/28/13)

Writer/producer Derek George has signed with Warner/Chappell. George produced the chart-topping single from Randy Houser, “How Country Feels.”

Derek George

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Sony Music Nashville artist Angie Johnson has signed with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. The YouTube sensation was a contestant on The Voice and is currently a Missouri Air National Guard Tech Sergeant. She is working on her debut, with Josh Leo producing.

Pictured (L-R): Angie Johnson and Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Nashville.

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Eleven Eleven Music has added singer-songwriter Shannon Lawson to its roster. A native of Taylorsville, Ky., Lawson signed as an artist to MCA Records in 2001 and then with Equity Records in 2004. He has had songs recorded by John Anderson, Jamey Johnson, Gretchen Wilson, Diamond Rio and James Otto.

Founded in 2012 by publishing veterans Jewel Coburn and Jason Morris, Eleven Eleven Music got off to a rocket start when Country Music Hall of Famer Don Williams and Alison Krauss cut the Doug Gill co-penned ballad “I Just Come Here For The Music.” The record subsequently won a Grammy nomination.

Pictured, standing (L-R): Jason Morris, Jewel Coburn, and Lucky Diamond Music writer/manager Cory Gierman. Seated: attorney Chip Petree and Lawson.

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AIMP, the Association of Independent Music Publishers sponsored a sold-out luncheon/social media panel on Feb. 20 in Nashville at ASCAP, titled Reap The Rewards. Bios for the panelists and moderator can be found here. Participants included John Barker, Ariel Hyatt, Wayne Leeloy, Marcus Whitney, and moderator David M. Ross.

Moderator, David M. Ross: Studying our AIMP.org audience today I notice a room full of publishers, songwriters and royalty accountants. So a fair question might be, “Why social media for me? I’m not selling laundry detergent or Starbucks coffee to consumers.” True. In fact most of us here are involved in a business-to-business (B2B) experience. But social media can still be an important tool to help us make wider industry connections and keep the talents we work with top of mind within our peer group. Within a B2B context, we aren’t concerned with massive numbers of consumers, instead we are building a highly focused insider group. So as you listen to our panelists, try to get a handle on the strategies discussed and how to implement them. And if you are already active in the space, hopefully you’ll grab a few tactics that can make your efforts more effective. Social media can be like a lemonade stand. Connect with people thirsty for what you have to offer and you will prosper. Read the full story at www.musicrow.com.

(L-R): Wayne Leeloy, John Allen, John Barker, Jewel Coburn, Randy Wachtler, Michael Martin, Jill Napier (Admin. Director/AIMP), Walter Campbell, Ariel Hyatt, Marcus Whitney, David Ross, Denise Nichols and Kevin Lamb (President, AIMP).