Music News (10/2/13)

The Producer’s Chair monthly column runs exclusively on RowFax prior to the Douglas Corner program, which is held the last Thursday of the month with varying producers. MusicRow subsequently runs the column for subscribers-only.

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Pictured (L to R): Leslie Mitchell (Grin Like A Dog Songs), Woody Bomar (Green Hills Music Group), Rich Karg, Steve Mitchell (Grin Like A Dog Songs).

Songwriter Rich Karg has signed with Green Hills Music Group and Grin Like A Dog Songs for publishing. A native of Nashville, Karg is a former member of the Karg Brothers.

Green Hills Music Group was founded in 2007 and has cuts by Hunter Hayes, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Jake Owen, Don Williams, Bucky Covington and Luke Bryan. Grin Like A Dog Songs has published songs recorded by Joe Nichols, Kassie DePaiva of ABC’s One Life to Live, Canadian artist Sean Hogan and Christian artist Suzzette Michaels.

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Combustion Music held its third Songwriter Session Monday evening (Sept. 30) at Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre. The screening event unveiled 10 uncut songs in an effort to make the publishing company’s copyrights more compelling for major release. The first Songwriter Session achieved four cuts since the video’s release, while the second yielded six cuts from its track listing. After premiering, videos are then individually uploaded to YouTube for additional promotional exposure.

Combustion songwriters including Brett James, Ashley Gorley, Brett Tyler, Kelly Archer, Zach Cromwell, Matt Jenkins, Blair Daly, Jerry Flowers, recently signed Show Dog-Universal duo Native Run (Rachel Beauregard, Bryan Dawley), and Matthew West performed titles alongside co-writers and musicians in the Nashville studio. Vocalists on various tracks included Sarah Buxton, Mickey Guyton, Shane McAnally, Natalie Hemby and Steve Moakler.

Copies of songs were available to attendees on CD as they exited the theatre. Songs are available for listening on Combustion’s Soundcloud.

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Jeff Carlton

Kendell Lettow

THiS Music has hired additional staff. Kendall Lettow has been named the new Creative Director. She is an MTSU graduate and previously worked with Still Working Music. Publishing veteran Jeff Carlton comes aboard as Creative Consultant.

Carlton will represent THiS Music while continuing his affiliation with Parallel Entertainment’s Publishing arm. He was previously with Bigger Picture Publishing and spent numerous years as the head of independent publishing company Hamstein.

THiS Music is home to songwriters including Tim Nichols, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary, Ben Hayslip, Leah Turner, Marv Green, Molly Reed and others.

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Pictured (L-R): Kevin Lane, Creative Director; Kos Weaver, Executive Vice President – BMG Chrysalis Nashville, Wynn Varble, Sara Johnson, Sr. Creative Director; Daniel Lee, Sr. Creative Director.

BMG Chrysalis has signed singer-songwriter Wynn Varble to its roster of writers.

Varble, a Georgia native, is the Nashville Songwriters Association International’s 2009 Songwriter of the Year and is a writer behind Easton Corbin‘s breakthrough hit “A Little More Country Than That” (along with Rory Lee Feek and Don Poythress). Varble has also co-written songs recorded by Brad Paisley (“Waitin’ On A Woman”), Darryl Worley (“Have You Forgotten”), Kellie Pickler (“Things That Never Cross A Man’s Mind”), Garth Brooks, Lee Ann Womack, Gary Allan and others.

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Pictured (L-R): Capitol CMG Creative Director John Andrade; writers Michael Logen, Nicole Witt, and Aaron Espe; Moraine Music Group President Dianna Maher; Revelry Music Group Partner AJ Burton; Nettwerk Music Group Manager of Publishing, A&R Melissa Emert-Hutner; JT Hodges; Capitol CMG Sr. Creative Director Stacey Willbur; writers Mark Selby, Bart Allmand, Fred Wilhelm and Jerry Salley.

Capitol CMG Publishing and Nettwerk Publishing partnered Sept. 23 and 24 to host a two-day song camp for Show Dog – Universal artist JT Hodges. Hodges, managed by Bridge Artist Management/TKO Artist Management, is currently touring across the country and writing for his next release. His self-titled debut project was released last year.

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Pictured (L-R): Haley McLemore (377 Management), Tyler Farr, John Ozier (ole GM, Nashville Creative), and Ben Strain (ole Creative Director, Nashville).

ole has signed a deal with songwriter and Columbia Nashville recording artist Tyler Farr. Farr’s breakout single, “Redneck Crazy,” was penned by Josh Kear, Mark Irwin, and Chris Tompkins.

Farr recently gave an album preview performance at Nashville club The Stage, where he thanked Ozier, Columbia Nashville and the rest of his team for their part in his rising career.

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Josh Thompson

Big Machine Music has announced an exclusive publishing agreement with songwriter Josh Thompson.

As an artist, Thompson has written and released the singles “Beer On The Table” and “Way Out Here.” His latest album will feature Thompson’s single, “Cold Beer With Your Name On It.” The Wisconsin native has also had cuts by Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Gary Allan and others.

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BMI has reported record-setting revenues exceeding $944 million and royalty distributions of $814 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.

Revenues increased by $45 million, a 5 percent gain over the prior fiscal year. Royalty distributions increased by $64 million or 9 percent compared to the previous year. This represents the largest fiscal year revenue posted and royalties distributed in the company’s 74 years of operation.

New media and digital revenue continued its year-over-year growth, reaching new record revenues exceeding $57 million, an increase of 65 percent over the previous fiscal year. This achievement was driven in large part by agreements with Netflix, Hulu and other digital entertainment outlets.

Licensing revenues from bars, restaurants and other commercial establishments saw a 7 percent increase over the prior year to a new benchmark high of $116 million.

International revenues contributed $297 million, more than 30 percent of BMI’s total for the year.

BMI represents the public performance rights in more than 7.5 million musical works created and owned by more than 600,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers. This year, more than 45,000 new writers joined BMI via its online portal – the company’s virtual open door.

Read more at MusicRow.com.