Music News (2/12/14)

Ray Davies, Donovan, Graham Gouldman, Mark James and Jim Weatherly will become the latest inductees of the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York at the organization’s 45th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner. The star-studded induction event is slated for Thursday, June 12 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

Ray Davies penned countless tracks including a string of 14 top ten international hits starting with “You Really Got Me,” and followed by “All Day and All of The Night,” “Tired of Waiting For You,” “Set Me Free,” ‘‘Dedicated Follower of Fashion,” “Sunny Afternoon,” “Waterloo Sunset,” “Lola,” “Apeman,” and “Come Dancing.”

Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan and producer Mickie Most collaborated on chart-topping songs including “Sunshine Superman,” “Mellow Yellow” and “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” In 1965 Donovan became the first artist Clive Davis signed to CBS/Epic Records. Donovan’s hits include “Atlantis,” “Catch The Wind” and “Season Of The Witch.”

Graham Gouldman wrote hits for Herman’s Hermits (“Listen People,” “No Milk Today”), The Yardbirds (“For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul” and “Evil Hearted You”), and The Hollies (“Look Through Any Window,” “Bus Stop”). In 1972, he formed the band 10cc and co-wrote many of their hits including “Rubber Bullets,” “I’m Not In Love” and “The Things We Do For Love.”

Mark James first came to prominence penning “Hooked On A Feeling” for B.J. Thomas in 1969. Later, the band Blue Swede transformed it into a 1974 chart topper. James’ career breakthrough came when Elvis Presley cut his song “Suspicious Minds.” In addition to hits penned for Presley which include “Moody Blue,” “It’s Only Love” and “Raised On Rock,” James co-wrote the classic “Always On My Mind,” which was recorded by Elvis and became a signature hit for Willie Nelson in 1982.

Jim Weatherly garnered his first hit with “Neither One Of Us,” which was recorded by Gladys Knight & The Pips. Gladys and The Pips went on to record 12 of his songs including “Where Peaceful Waters Flow,” “Midnight Train To Georgia” and “You’re The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me.” Ray Price recorded 38 of Weatherly’s songs. Bob Luman also had a top five hit with “Neither One Of Us.” As an artist, Weatherly has had his own success with “The Need To Be,” and country hit “I’ll Still Love You.”

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Pictured (L-R): 3 Ring Circus Music creative director Whitney Parker, Franklin Management’s Darrell Franklin, Brandon Hood, Jeffrey Steele, and 3 Ring Circus A&R/artist management director Casey LeVasseur. Photo credit: Anthony Scarlati

3 Ring Circus Music, the independent company founded by Jeffrey Steele, has signed producer/writer Brandon Hood to a publishing deal.

A native of Blairsville, Ga., Hood attended Belmont University, where his guitar playing and production skills caught the attention of noted producer Dann Huff and his business partner, Darrell Franklin. They signed Hood to their Crosstown Songs venture and continued to work with him after their company was sold in 2009. Franklin serves as Hood’s manager as well as management rep for Steele and a 3 Ring Circus consultant.

Hood has collaborated as a producer and writer in several musical genres with artists such as Burt Bacharach, Westlife’s Shane Filan, and Matt Wertz.

3 Ring Circus Music’s current roster includes Steele, Hood, and Country trio The Shuggah Pies.

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Pictured (seated, L-R): John Rolfe, Writer’s Den attorney; Melissa Fuller; Bobby Rymer, Writer’s Den partner. (standing, L-R) – Writer’s Den writers Ben Cooper and Thom Schuyler.

The Writer’s Den Music Group has signed singer/songwriter Melissa Fuller to her first worldwide publishing agreement.

Fuller, a Wyoming native, released her Crazy Dream EP in 2012 and is working on a new album for release this spring. She was chosen by the Recording Academy and Hitlab as an Emerging Artist Competition Finalist during the 55th Grammy Awards week early last year.

Writer’s Den was formed in 2007 by Rymer and entrepreneur Gaylen Rust. Songwriters Ben Cooper and Thom Schuyler are signed to Writer’s Den. The company also represents the catalogs of Bonnie Bishop, Tami Hinesh, Trent Jeffcoat and Adam Wright.

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Sony/ATV Music Publishing has re-signed with BMI to allow its catalog to be licensed under the performing rights organization’s blanket license. Last week, Universal Music Publishing also re-upped with BMI.

Publishers including UMPG, BMG Chrysalis, Sony/ATV and Sony/ATV’s administered EMI Music Publishing, previously withdrew digital rights from BMI and ASCAP, so the publishers could negotiate directly with digital music services in hopes of receiving a higher market rate.

But courts ruled against partial rights withdrawal from the PROs; for example, taking away digital rights but leaving other rights.

In a statement, BMI and Sony/ATV said their new agreement provides stability to the music publishing copyright marketplace while affording an opportunity for BMI and music publishers to seek regulatory and legislative change to protect the value of copyright for songwriters, composers and music publishers alike.

“Sony/ATV is proud to renew our relationship with BMI, which will continue to license the world’s largest and most relevant music catalog to the hundreds of thousands of businesses that rely on music to drive their profits,” said Sony/ATV CEO Martin Bandier. “In the current digital environment, it is critical that we reform the current system which does not fairly compensate songwriters and composers. BMI is an important player in this fight.”

“We appreciate the vote of confidence from Sony/ATV and the faith our writers and composers place in us every day as their trusted broker,” said BMI CEO Michael O’Neill in a statement. “It is our privilege to represent the incredible writers and musical works in the Sony/ATV repertoire. We are dedicated to the mission to fairly value the rights of publishers and songwriters in today’s market.”

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Pictured (L-R): Neil Zacharuk, Erin Enderlin, Will Bowen,
Lisa Ramsey Perkins, Tia Sillers, and BMI’s Bradley Collins.

Industry veteran Lisa Ramsey Perkins recently launched Little Extra Music, a full-service music publishing company based in Nashville, and has signed singer/songwriter Will Bowen. The signing of Bowen is a partnership with hit makers Tia Sillers, Erin Enderlin, Neil Zacharuk and their company 10,000 Hours Music.

Bowen signed his first publishing deal while still a senior in high school, where he’d already recorded two independent albums. As an artist, he opened for Dave Matthews, Counting Crows, John Mayer, Maroon 5 and Train. With numerous cuts as a songwriter, Bowen reached platinum status internationally with a song on Latin pop star Soraya Arnelas‘ debut album (6x platinum). He also had a song on the American Grammy Nominated album from Tejano artist Rebecca Valadez. After the release of his third record, Love is War, he moved to Nashville in 2008 to focus on his songwriting. Bowen has recently had cuts by Casey James, Due West and others.