Music News (6/13/13)

During Apple’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference on June 10, the technology company revealed iTunes Radio, debuting this fall and built right into iOS apps, iTunes on Mac and PC, and AppleTV.

iTunes Radio will offer music stations preloaded with the entire iTunes catalog (over 26 million tracks). Additionally, the service maintains a personalized ‘wish list’ and pulls the user to the iTunes store for track purchases. The streaming service will be ad-free for iTunes Match subscribers ($24.99 per year), and otherwise free with ads in the U.S.

Apple has been in talks with publishers and recorded music licensors for the service, reportedly settling on financial agreements including rates per stream and portions of advertising revenue. With direct licenses, iTunes Radio bypasses compulsory license restrictions set by the DMCA.

Apple’s iTunes music store debuted in 2003 with approximately 200,000 songs and is now the leading U.S. music retailer. Apple’s stock has declined in value since September 2012, when it hit a high of $702.10.

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Pandora has signed an agreement to purchase Rapid City, S.D. radio station KXMZ-FM, a small-market Hot AC format broadcast radio station.

The strategic purchase is reportedly a way for the company to qualify for Radio Music Licensing Committee (RMLC) agreements regarding royalties and public performances of musical works from the PROs.

ASCAP and NMPA responded harshly to the acquisitions. “Pandora is trying every trick in the book to brazenly and unconscionably underpay and take advantage of the creative labor that produces the core offering of their business — music written by individual songwriters and composers,” said ASCAP president Paul Williams (see his full statement). David Israelite, president and CEO of the NMPA stated: “While other digital partners are making voluntary deals, Pandora chooses to sue the very creators who make its business possible.”

BMI has ended negotiations for publishing rates with Pandora and has decided to file suit in rate court.

In addition to EMI and Sony/ATV withdrawing new media rights from ASCAP and BMI in previous years, Billboard highlights forthcoming new media withdrawals dates from ASCAP as follows:

BMG/Chrysalis: July 1, 2013
Universal Music Publishing: July 1, 2013
Warner/Chappell Music Publishing: July 1, 2013
Kobalt Music Publishing: Oct. 1, 2013
Ruminating Music: Oct. 1, 2013
Sea Gayle Music Publishing: Jan. 1, 2014

Read more at MusicRow.com.

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SESAC songwriter Allen Salmon has signed with Razor & Tie Publishing for representation.

The Nashville-based singer/songwriter/producer stopped by SESAC’s Nashville headquarters with Razor & Tie Publishing executives to celebrate the deal.

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s John Mullins, Razor & Tie’s Ross Asher, Salmon, Razor & Tie’s Craig Balsam, Sharon Tapper and Lisa Johnson & SESAC’s Tim Fink. Photo: Ed Rode

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Julie Roberts has signed with Sun Records. The label, which has been involved in music licensing for the past four decades, will release Roberts’ album Good Wine and Bad Decisions on Oct. 29. The release will be distributed by Red River/Sony RED. Roberts was formerly signed with Mercury Records, where she released two albums, Julie Roberts (2004) and Men & Mascara (2006).

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Ashton Shepherd has signed with public relations and marketing firm PLA Media. Shepherd, formerly with MCA Nashville, released her debut album Sounds So Good in 2008, in addition to her second album, Where Country Grows. Shepherd is expected to release a new independent project in July 2013.

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Blain Rhodes

Warner/Chappell Music (WCM), the global music publishing arm of Warner Music Group Corp., has promoted Blain Rhodes to Manager, A&R, WCM. In this position, Rhodes will provide A&R resource and creative support across the publisher’s roster and catalog, and assist in the discovery of new talent and development of existing songwriters.

Rhodes, who joined the publisher in April 2012, will continue to report to Ben Vaughn, Executive Vice President, Warner/Chappell Nashville.

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Broadcast Music, Inc. presented the BMI Tailgate Party at the CMA Music Festival last week. The second annual BMI Tailgate Party showcased an extensive lineup of Nashville’s emerging artists, including Joey Hyde, Joel Crouse, Thomas Rhett, Lindsay Eli, David Fanning, Josh Thompson, Westbound Rangers, Native Run, Jon Pardi, Curious Band, The Railers and Brazilbilly.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s David Preston, Leslie Roberts, Clay Bradley and Jody Williams gather for a photo backstage with Joel Crouse and Thomas Rhett during the BMI Tailgate Party outside LP Field during 2013 CMA Music Festival. Photo: Erika Goldring

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The National Music Publishers Association revealed the results of the NMPA’s biannual board election during its annual meeting. All board members are active U.S. music publishers and will serve a two-year term, effective immediately. Nashville publishers Barry Coburn and Bob Doyle are on the board.

Elected members are:
Willard Ahdritz, Kobalt Music Group
Martin Bandier, Sony/ATV
Caroline Beinstock, Carlin America
Helene Blue, Helene Blue Musique
Barry Coburn, Ten Ten Music Group
Bob Doyle, Major Bob Music
Lee Eastman, MPL Communications
Mark Fried, Spirit Music
Neil Gillis, Round Hill Music
Laurent Hubert, BMG/Chrysalis
Zach Horowitz, Universal Music Publishing Group
Dean Kay, Demi Music Corp
Leeds Levy, Leeds Music
Ralph Peer II, peermusic
Matt Pincus, Songs Music Publishing
Irwin Z. Robinson, The Richmond Organization
Cameron Strang, Warner/Chappell
Richard Stumpf, Imagem Music