Music News (3/19/14)

Pictured (L-R): Cliff Williamson, John Milstead, Caroline Kole, Jimmy Metts, Julie Forester, Kellys Collins, Liz Hengber, Will Robinson, Alex Kline.

Starstruck Writers Group has re-opened its doors in Nashville. The company is currently helmed by Jimmy Metts, who has previously worked with Famous Music, Curb Music, Malaco Music, Stroudavarious Records, and Cauley Music Publishing.

A successful independent music publisher, Starstruck Writers Group was sold to Warner/Chappell in 2000 and has since been inactive. Starstruck Entertainment chief operating officer Cliff Williamson explains, “It’s time to do it again. There’s a spot waiting for an indie publisher making great music. For months we’ve been laying the foundation gathering a group of special writers.”

The group’s writers include Alex Kline (formerly of the Lunabelles, produced Erin Enderlin’s most recent project), Caroline Kole (Starstruck Records artist, currently on tour with Reba), Julie Forester, Kellys Collins (“Goodbye Looks Good On Me,” recorded as Reba’s Malibu Country theme song), and John Milstead. Liz Hengber (“For My Broken Heart,” “And Still,” “It’s Your Call,” all recorded by Reba) and Will Robinson (“There’s No Way” by Alabama, “I Know How He Feels” by Reba).

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Each year, the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank donates proceeds from the door of one show to a designated charity. For the festival’s 22nd year, organizers have chosen St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as the beneficiary. The “St. Jude Country Cares 25th Anniversary Show” is slated to feature Brett James, Lee Thomas Miller, Rivers Rutherford and Caitlyn Smith at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, at the Rutledge Live Music Venue.

The five-day Tin Pan South Festival is set for Tuesday, March 25 through Saturday, March 29 at 10 Nashville-area venues. The current lineup can be seen at TinPanSouth.com.

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A federal judge ruled Friday (March 14) that Pandora will continue to pay the current 1.85 percent rate for licensing of songs in the ASCAP repertoire, for each of the years 2011 to 2015. ASCAP and Pandora were in rate court because ASCAP was fighting for an escalating rate structure, which would have put Pandora’s payments in line with fair market value. Pandora argued that it should pay the 1.7 percent rate paid by terrestrial radio stations.

According to the AP, ASCAP sought a retroactive rate increase to 2.5 percent for 2013, and 3 percent in 2014 and 2015. Pandora, the most used streaming service, has been paying 1.85 percent of revenue to ASCAP since 2011.

Read more at MusicRow.com.

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Universal Music Publishing Group has teamed with the Songwriters Hall of Fame for the inaugural Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) Song Competition. The competition scheduled to launch Monday, March 24, 2014.

The Competition is open to all amateur and professional songwriters and to SHOF members and non-members alike, with a discount available to SHOF members. Entries will be screened by a listening committee who will select the finalists. Songwriters will be evaluated by a Blue Ribbon panel of industry professionals including legendary songwriters, producers and publishers. Songs will be judged based on melody, composition, originality and lyrics.

The overall Grand Prize winner will be given the opportunity to enter into an exclusive Universal Music Publishing Group contract, will receive an Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500MCE guitar, two tickets to the 2015 Songwriters Hall of Fame Annual Induction and Awards Gala, and recognition from the stage.

All contest entries will go through the Sonicbids website at sonicbids.com/songhall.

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Seated: Pete Robinson (Big Deal), Tim James, Sara Knabe (BMG Chrysalis). Standing: Kevin Lane (BMG Chrysalis), Dale Bobo (Big Deal), Kos Weaver (BMG Chrysalis), John Allen (BMG Chrysalis), Chris Oglesby (BMG Chrysalis), Greg Gallo (Big Deal).

Big Deal Music and BMG Chrysalis US have signed Country songwriter Tim James to a worldwide publishing agreement under their joint venture.

James’ list of Country music hits includes George Strait‘s chart-topping single “Give It All You Got Tonight,” Lee Brice‘s “Love Like Crazy,” Trace Adkins‘ “All I Ask For Anymore,” Toby Keith‘s “My List,” and The Lost Trailers‘ “Holler Back.” James has also had cuts with Darius Rucker, Chris Young, Montgomery Gentry and Lee Ann Womack.

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Pictured (L-R): Rod Riley (President/CEO Word Entertainment), Scott Safford (Safford/Motley), Shannan Hatch (SESAC), Brice Long, Janine Appleton (Creative Director/Country/Pop Word Music Publishing), Joel Timen (Creative Director- TV/Film, Word Music Publishing), Dale Mathews (VP Word Music Publishing).

Word Music Publishing has signed singer-songwriter Brice Long. Long, best known for the songs “Nothing On But The Radio” (Gary Allan), “Anything Goes” (Randy Houser), and “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night,” (Casey James), The company also signed songwriter Jason Blaine. Blaine moved to Nashville in 2007, and signed his first publishing deal with Anchor Down/New Mellenium Music. The Kentucky native signed a recording agreement with Columbia records in 2005, creating two radio singles.

Jason Blaine

The company also signed songwriter Jason Blaine. Blaine moved to Nashville in 2007, and signed his first publishing deal with Anchor Down/New Mellenium Music.

Since 2008, he has had 15 Top 15 Canadian Singles, three No. 1 videos on CMT Canada, and multiple CCMA nominations. In 2012, he won CCMA Single of the Year and opened for several artists including Brooks & Dunn.

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Pictured (Front row, L-R): Marc Driskill, EVP/GM Sea Gayle; Solar; Chris DuBois, Partner Sea Gayle.
(Back row, L-R): Mike Owens, VP Creative Sea Gayle; Brandon Gregg, Office Manager Sea Gayle; Jake Gear, Creative Director Sea Gayle; and Freeman Wizer, VP Creative Sea Gayle.

Sea Gayle Music has signed Baton Rouge, La. songwriter-artist CJ Solar to a publishing agreement.

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Nashville music publishing and management company Creative Nation has opened its doors in a new location on Music Row. Helmed by Luke and Beth Laird, Creative Nation represents artists Maggie Chapman and Native Run, as well as songwriters Barry Dean and Luke Laird. The new office is located at 1508 16th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212.

Luke Laird has notched 14 No. 1 songs for artists including Tim McGraw, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, and Blake Shelton. He recently earned a Grammy award for his producing work on Musgraves’ debut project, Same Trailer, Different Park. In 2013, Beth Laird earned the prestigious honor of being named one of MusicRow‘s Rising Women on the Row. Her music publishing experience includes time at BMG Music Publishing, Windswept Music Publishing, and work in writer/publisher relations at BMI.