Music News (11/20/13)

John Ozier

Ole’s Nashville office is thriving under the new leadership of General Manager John Ozier. Since taking helm of the operation in May, Ozier has signed several songwriters and added staffers. Click here to read MusicRow’s full report.

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BMG Chrysalis US has announced a new joint venture with music industry veteran Darrell Franklin called Franklin Publishing & Writer Management. The initial signing to the joint venture is Chris Wallin, who has had success with chart-topping Country artists including Toby Keith, Montgomery Gentry, Kenny Chesney, Trace Adkins and Brad Paisley.

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Zavitson Music Group has produced MusicPubWorks, a cloud-based web application that provides a streamlined service for managing cataloging, registering, pitching and song revenue collections in a single dashboard.

Denise Zavitson, along with lead developer Kenny House, designed the software with a tiered structure, providing cost-efficiency and various levels of engagement.

For more information, visit musicpubworks.com.

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Disney Music Group (DMG) will now exclusively handle music licensing for Nashville based company Bigger Picture Group. DMG will represent Bigger Picture Group’s music masters from artists including Blackjack Billy, Chris Janson, Craig Campbell, Rachel Bradshaw, Ryan Kinder and Smithfield. In addition, DMG will handle copyright catalogs from Songs of Bigger Picture Group’s songwriters, for licensing deals ranging from films to advertising placement.

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Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Dennis Lord, Durrette and SESAC’s Shannan Hatch. Photo: Bev Moser

SESAC has signed songwriter Wyatt Durrette for representation. A highly successful writer, Durrette has hit the top of the charts multiple times as Zac Brown’s co-writer on hits including “Chicken Fried,” “Colder Weather,” “Toes,” “Jump Right In” and “Knee Deep.”  Durrette stopped by SESAC’s Nashville headquarters recently to visit and celebrate the new partnership.

Pictured (L-R): Given VP/GM Mike Sebastian, Duncan, and Given Entertainment partner Cindy Owen.

Whitney Duncan has signed a publishing deal with Given Music Publishing. Duncan has collaborated with songwriters including Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson, Chris Tompkins, and Kara DioGuardi, and her songs have been recorded by numerous artists including Danielle Bradbery.

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Nelson Larkin

Producer, songwriter and music publisher Nelson Larkin, 70, died Monday (Nov. 18) in Brentwood, Tenn.

Larkin produced many of Earl Thomas Conley‘s 1980s albums, among them 1981’s Fire & Smoke, 1982’s Somewhere Between Right and Wrong, and 1984’s Treadin’ Water. Larkin also produced projects for Toby Keith, Billy Joe Royal, George Jones, Lynn Anderson, and Tracy Lawrence.

A celebration of life will take place Thursday, Nov. 21 at 3 p.m. at Brentwood United Methodist Church. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m.