Music News (4/30/14)

The U.S. Copyright Office is set to adjust some of their fees effective May 1, including registration, recordation, and related services. The price hikes are said to help stay “aligned” with the cost of providing services. Many of the registration fees will increase from $35 to $55, and copyright renewal fees will decrease to $100.

For a full list of fees, visit copyright.gov.

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ASCAP’s Paul Williams

ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams unveiled the “Music Advocacy Project” (MAP), a five-point plan to steer music licensing reform in Washington, on Thursday, April 24 during ASCAP’s General Annual Membership meeting.

Williams outlined five core Music Advocacy Project principles that form the basis of his vision for a sustainable future for music:

• The music licensing process must be simplified.

• The free market should determine the value of music copyrights.

• Fans should have access to a variety of music on any platform.

• The interests of songwriters or composers should be central to any reform efforts.

• Preservation of a robust licensing system to ensure music creators are fairly compensated, and enable new music businesses to launch.

Read more at MusicRow.com.

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Pictured are (L-R): Seated – Combustion Music’s Chris Van Belkom, Bobby Huff, Disney Music Publishing’s Patrick Clifford. Standing – Attorney Jim Zumwalt, Disney’s Ciara Gardner, Warner Chappell Music Publishing’s Ben Vaughn, Combustion’s Chris Farren and Kenley Flynn.

Combustion Music, along with co-partners Warner-Chappell and Disney Music Publishing, has added Bobby Huff to its songwriting roster.

The Indiana native has production and writing credits with 3 Doors Down, Papa Roach, Shinedown, Jason Castro, Electric Touch and others. Huff also produced a full-length project for Tim Finn, which included the song “Winter Light,” featured in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

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Pictured (L-R): AJ Burton (Nettwerk/Revelry), Shannan Hatch (SESAC), Mike Fiorentino, Greg Beeckman (Revelry), Mark Jowett (Nettwerk).

Nettwerk One Music/Revelry Music Group has signed Nashville-based singer-songwriter Mike Fiorentino to its roster. Nettwerk’s roster currently includes Jessie Jo Dillon, Neil Mason (The Cadillac Three) and Archertown.

The Tampa, Fla. native moved to Nashville in 2007. In 2013, he co-founded The Tennessee Recording Company (an independent record label/production team) with longtime friend/collaborator Kyle Cook (Matchbox 20 guitarist).

Fiorentino recently began collaborating with Average Joes Entertainment production team, Phivestarr, writing for both Bubba Sparxxx and Colt Ford’s forthcoming albums.

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Pictured (L-R): Taylor Lindsey (Sony Music Nashville Director, A&R), Ron Kitchener (RGK Entertainment Group Inc., President), Olsen, Gary Overton (Sony Music Nashville, Chairman & CEO), Jim Catino (Sony Music Nashville VP, A&R).

Columbia Nashville has signed singer/songwriter Steven Lee Olsen to the label’s artist roster. The Canada native is currently working on his debut album for the label.

In 2013, Cornman Music and Warner/Chappell Music signed a worldwide co-publishing agreement with Olsen. He has had songs recorded by Craig Morgan, The Judds, Melissa Lawson and Swedish Idol winner Kevin Borg. In 2011, Olsen earned a SOCAN award for one of the most-performed songs on domestic Canadian radio, with “Make Hay While The Sun Shines.”

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Randall Foster

ole has hired Randall Foster as Sr. Director of Creative Licensing. Foster will be based in Nashville and will join ole’s Synchronization & Licensing department, where he will report to COO Lou Ragagnin.

Foster’s career began at MTV Latin America, where he worked in licensing and copyright clearance. He transitioned to Naxos of America in July 2005, working his way to Director of Licensing and Business Development manager. He also launched the imprint record label Naxos Wind Band Classics, working as Label Manager and overseeing A&R.

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Sarah Feldman

The Writer’s Den Music Group has hired Sarah Feldman as Creative Director. Feldman will work closely with The Writer’s Den staff writers to set up co-writes, evaluate songs, pitch songs to producers, artists and A&R execs and help develop new writers.

A native of Colchester, Conn., Feldman earned her Bachelors of Arts in Music Industry from the University of New Haven. She most recently worked for award winning producer and songwriter Victoria Shaw and Songalicious Music. She is an alumnus of SOLID (Society of Leaders in Development) and a member of the WMBA (Women’s Music Business Association.)

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Pictured, (L-R): Adam Searan and Jason Eustice sign contracts on the first official day of business for Demolition Music Publishing, Nashville, during a meeting with songwriter Jon D’Agostino, the firm’s president and CEO.

Newly inaugurated publishing house Demolition, located at 1229 17th Ave. S., marked its opening day by signing its first two songwriters, Adam Searan and Jason Eustice.

New York/New Jersey songwriter and attorney Jon D’Agostino launched Demolition Music Publishing after moving to Nashville more than 10 years ago to seek a career in music and songwriting.