Music News (12/11/13)

A Grammy nominations concert was held Friday evening (Dec. 6) prior to the Jan. 26 main ceremony (56th Annual Grammy Awards) in Los Angeles. Songwriting nominations include:

Best Country Song
“Begin Again” (Taylor Swift); Songwriter: Taylor Swift
“I Drive Your Truck” (Lee Brice): Songwriters: Connie Harrington, Jessi Alexander and Jimmy Yeary
“Mama’s Broken Heart” (Miranda Lambert); Songwriters: Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves
“Merry Go Round” (Kacey Musgraves); Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves and Josh Osborne
“Mine Would Be You” (Blake Shelton); Songwriters: Connie Harrington, Jessi Alexander and Deric Ruttan

Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
“Hurricane” (Natalie Grant); Songwriters: Matt Bronleewe, Natalie Grant and Cindy Morgan
“Love Take Me Over” (Steven Curtis Chapman); Songwriters: Steven Curtis Chapman
“Overcomer” (Mandisa); Songwriters: David Garcia, Ben Glover and Christopher Stevens
“Speak Life” (TobyMac); Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore and Ryan Stevenson
“Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)” (Chris Tomlin); Songwriters: Ed Cash, Scott Cash and Chris Tomlin

Best American Roots Song
“Build Me Up From Bones” (Sarah Jarosz); songwriter: Sarah Jarosz
“Invisible” (Steve Earle); songwriters: Steve Earle & The Dukes (& Duchesses)
“Keep Your Dirty Lights On” (Tim O’Brien & Darrell Scott); songwriters: Tim O’Brien And Darrell Scott
“Love Has Come For You” (Edie Brickell & Steve Martin); songwriters:Steve Martin & Edie Brickell
“Shrimp Po-Boy, Dressed” (Allen Toussaint); songwriter:Allen Toussaint

Best Song Written For Visual Media
“Atlas” (Coldplay); Songwriters: Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin
“Silver Lining” (Jessie J); Songwriter: Diane Warren
“Skyfall” (Adele); Songwriters: Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth
“We Both Know”(Colbie Caillat Featuring Gavin DeGraw); Songwriters: Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw
“Young and Beautiful” (Lana Del Rey); Songwriters: Lana Del Rey & Rick Nowels
“You’ve Got Time” (Regina Spektor); Songwriter: Regina Spektor

Song Of The Year
“Just Give Me A Reason” (Pink Featuring Nate Ruess); Songwriters: Jeff Bhasker, Pink & Nate Ruess
“Locked Out Of Heaven” (Bruno Mars); Songwriters: Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine & Bruno Mars
“Roar” (Katy Perry); Songwriters: Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, Katy Perry & Henry Walter
“Royals” (Lorde); Songwriters: Joel Little & Ella Yelich O’Connor
“Same Love” (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Mary Lambert); Songwriters: Ben Haggerty, Mary Lambert & Ryan Lewis

Best Rock Song
“Ain’t Messin Around” (Gary Clark Jr.); Songwriter: Gary Clark Jr.
“Cut Me Some Slack” (Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear); Songwriters: Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic & Pat Smear
“Doom and Gloom” (The Rolling Stones); Songwriters: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
“God Is Dead?” (Black Sabbath); Songwriters: Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi & Ozzy Osbourne
“Panic Station” (Muse); Songwriter: Matthew Bellamy

Best R&B Song
“Best Of Me” (Anthony Hamilton); Songwriters: Anthony Hamilton & Jairus Mozee
“Love and War” (Tamar Braxton); Songwriters: Tamar Braxton, Darhyl Camper, Jr., LaShawn Daniels & Makeba Riddick
“Only One” (PJ Morton Featuring Stevie Wonder); Songwriter: PJ Morton
“Pusher Love Girl” (Justin Timberlake); Songwriters: James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Timothy Mosley & Justin Timberlake
“Without Me” (Fantasia Featuring Kelly Rowland & Missy Elliot); Songwriters: Fantasia Barrino, Missy Elliott, Al Sherrod Lambert, Harmony Samuels & Kyle Stewart

For a full list of Grammy nominees, visit grammy.com.

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Pictured (L-R): Trevor Mathiesen (Assistant Creative Director), Dale Mathews (SVP Publishing), Brian Callihan, Janine Appleton (Creative Director Country/Pop), Joel Timen (Creative Director TV/Film), and Rod Riley (President & CEO WORD Entertainment).

As part of an expansion into Country and Pop genres, WORD Music Publishing has signed Georgia native Brian Callihan to a worldwide publishing deal.

“I am extremely excited to have Brian as a part of our expanded writer roster,” said Janine Appleton, Creative Director (Country/Pop) for WORD Music Publishing. “His natural ability to write commercial radio songs is undeniable. There are many great things in store for this one and his future is extremely bright.”

Callihan joins WORD’s existing roster of Country writers, including Steven Dale Jones and Justin Ebach, as well as Hilary McBride and Brett Rutledge of Americana Duo Running Roots.

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Casey LeVasseur

3 Ring Circus Music, the independent publishing company founded in 2004 by songwriter Jeffrey Steele, has expanded its staff.

Casey LeVasseur has been promoted to director of A&R. LeVasseur, who joined 3 Ring Circus in 2007 as song plugger. She will continue to work with Country trio The Shuggah Pies, develop new talent and expand the writer roster, as well as spearhead her family’s efforts on behalf the Alex LeVasseur Memorial Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Steele’s daughter previously directed creative activities including licensing and administration issues and songwriter “boot camp” workshops.

Whitney Taylor Parker

Whitney Taylor Parker has been hired as creative director. Parker most recently was creative coordinator at ole Music. In her new position, Parker will handle pitching songs and signing and developing new writers.

Darrell Franklin has been added as a consultant to 3 Ring Circus Music and management representative for Steele. Franklin previously handled A&R duties for producer Dann Huff, when the two formed formed Crosstown Songs. After Crosstown’s 2009 purchase by BMG Chrysalis Nashville, Franklin was executive vice president until March 2013.

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Matraca Berg

PJM/Songs has renewed its long-term publishing agreement with Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member Matraca Berg.

Patrick Joseph Music and SONGS announced their partnership in 2012, when Higdon re-launched the publishing company.

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Chris Yarber

THiS Music has signed an exclusive songwriting deal with Atlanta native Chris Yarber.

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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Brandon Lay

Jackson, Tenn. native Brandon Lay has inked a worldwide publishing agreement with Warner/Chappell Music.

Lay has built a strong following around the SEC and is an up-and-coming artist.

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Susan Myers

Susan Myers has exited the Nashville Songwriters Association International. She can be reached at susanmyers2013@gmail.com or 615-497-4801. “I have enjoyed by time at NSAI and look forward to exploring new opportunities,” she says.