Music News (5/2/13)

BMI kicked off the 18th Annual Key West Songwriters Festival in sunny Florida on Wednesday, May 1 with a concert featuring Gary Clark, Jr. at the Ocean Key Resort’s Sunset Pier. Pictured (l-r): BMI’s Mark Mason; manager Blayne Tucker; Gary Clark, Jr.; Key West Mayor Craig Cates; and Key West Songwriters Festival founder Charlie Bauer. Photo by Nick Doll

The Key West Songwriters Festival opened yesterday (May 1) and will run through May 5. BMI and the Smokin’ Tuna Saloon are presenting the 18th annual event. Set to perform at the 50-odd shows are hitmakers Jeffrey Steele, Paul Overstreet, Bob DiPiero, Lori McKenna, Bobby Pinson, Chuck Cannon, Keith Stegall, Liz Rose, Paul Jenkins, James Slater, Doug Johnson, Even Stevens, Steve Cropper, World Famous Headliners (Pat McLaughlin, Shawn Camp and Al Anderson), Robert Earl Keen, Guthrie Trapp, and many more.

A free street concert on Saturday, May 4, will be a highlight of the festival with a full-band and a Key West-style party featuring Sony artists Bush Hawg, Joanna Smith and Tate Stevens. Proceeds benefit SHARE Military Initiative at Shepherd Center, a comprehensive rehabilitation program for service members with traumatic brain injury and PTSD.

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AIMP Nashville leaders pictured (L-R): Denise Nichols (Primacy Firm), Walter Campbell (Big Garage Music), Heather Cook (Cook’n Up Music), Jewel Coburn (Ten Ten Music) and Kevin Lamb (peermusic)

The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Nashville Chapter has announced the addition of Heather Cook as Administrative Director. Cook has over 10 years corporate experience, is the owner of Cook’n Up Music and has been assisting AIMP as a volunteer during the past year. Cook replaces Jill Napier, who recently stepped down to accept a full-time position. Napier helped establish the Nashville Chapter of AIMP.

“Heather has been involved with the Nashville Chapter as a dedicated volunteer for over the past year. Not only does she have a good feel for how we operate, but also her enthusiasm is contagious! I know I speak for the full board when I say we are pleased to have her as our new AD, and are looking forward to working with her,” says Kevin Lamb, VP, peermusic Nashville; and President, AIMP Nashville Chapter.

AIMP Nashville’s mission is to present quarterly educational and networking events for independent publishers and the Nashville music community. AIMP is a non-profit organization with chapters in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville.

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Green Hills Music Group’s Woody Bomar

Green Hills Music Group’s Woody Bomar will host a one-day music business seminar, “The Business of Songwriting (Taking Your Music to the Masses)” on May 18. The class will cover topics aimed at helping songwriters navigate the music industry. Topics will include copyright basics, income sources, networking, publishing deals and song critiques.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at The Actor’s School in Franklin, Tenn. For directions and registration, visit greenhillsmusicgroup.com.

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Del Bryant will retire in June 2014 and will relocate from New York to Nashville. He worked as President/CEO of BMI for 42 years and will continue as a consultant for the company.

Bryant is the son of the late Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, Nashville songwriters who wrote “Bye Bye Love,” “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” “Wake Up Little Susie,” “Rocky Top,” the state song of Tennessee and other hits.

The board of directors has formed a committee to choose Bryant’s successor.

Bryant’s letter to BMI staff can be found at MusicRow.com.

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Pictured (L-R): Chris van Belkom, Kenley Flynn, Chris Farren

Combustion Music announces the promotion of Kenley Flynn to the position of Creative Director. Flynn has been with Combustion since 2010 where he began as an intern and was later promoted to Office Manager. He will continue to help oversee the creative management of Combustion’s roster of songwriters including Ashley Gorley, Blair Daly, Brett James, Matthew West, Kelly Archer, Matt Jenkins, Zach Crowell, Russell Dickerson and Native Run.

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ASCAP presented the ASCAP Music Lounge at the Nashville Film Festival recently, hosting eight bands over two days at The Basement. Artists and bands including Escondido, The Weeks, Conner Youngblood, Elliot Root, Megan McCormick, Clear Plastic Masks, The Wild Feathers and Jill Andrews performed.

Pictured (L-R): The Weeks, Conner Youngblood, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe, ASCAP’s Jesse Willoughby, Escondido’s Jessica Maros and Tyler James, Elliot Root and band

Pictured (L-R): The Wild Feathers, Megan McCormick, Jill Andrews, ASCAP’s Evyn Mustoe, ASCAP’s Jesse Willoughby, Clear Plastic Masks