Music News (7/30/14)

You may have noticed the menu bar of RowFax.com has been updated. Please click around to find easier-to-use button locations and more helpful subscriber instructions. Of course our listings remain the same, Nashville’s most accurate and reliable pitch sheet.

• • •

Pictured (back row, L-R): Patrick Clifford, VP Music Publishing and A&R Nashville, Disney Music Publishing; Greg Gallo, Creative Director, Big Deal Music Nashville; Mike Daly, Director, A&R, Disney Music Group; Ciara Gardner, A&R Coordinator, Disney Music Publishing; Dale Bobo, SVP, Big Deal Music Nashville. Front row: Steph Jones, songwriter

Songwriter Steph Jones is one of the latest songwriters to join the Disney Music Publishing family. Jones has inked an exclusive worldwide agreement with DMP, in association with Big Deal Music, according to Patrick Clifford, VP, Music Publishing and A&R Nashville.

Jones, a St. Louis native, later moved to Austin, Texas, before settling in Nashville. In 2014, she co-wrote Hollywood Records artist Cole Plante‘s single “If I Fall” (and was a featured vocalist on the project under the name Ruby O’Dell). Jones also co-wrote Plante’s upcoming release “‘Til The Stars Burn Out,” as well as “Tell Me,” for Chuck Wicks.

• • •

Pictured (L-R): Narvel Blackstock, Reba McEntire, Autumn McEntire Sizemore and Eddie Robba.

CTM Writers Ink, the publishing division of Catch This Music, has signed Autumn McEntire Sizemore to its roster.

After graduating from Belmont University, Sizemore signed her first publishing contract with Still Working Music Group, and earned her first songwriting cut on Danielle Peck’s debut album. Sizemore, who lives in Nashville with husband Mark and their son Brecken, is the son of Pake McEntire and niece to Reba McEntire.

 • • •

AIMP Nashville and Fifth Third Bank welcome the Production Music Association for a Production Music 101 panel held Aug. 6 at ASCAP’s Connie Bradley Board Room from 12:30-2:00p.m. Moderated by Hunter Williams (PMA), confirmed panelists are Randy Wachtler (Warner/Chappell Production), Brian Brasher (Pitch Hammer Music), Paul Jones (Auralation Music) and Lindsey Williams (Composer/Really Big Bison Music), who will address topics such as creation of production music libraries, licensing/monetization of libraries, and worldwide view or reach of production music.

This event will is $10 for AIMP members and $20 for guests.  Pre-registration is required as lunch is provided and can be done until Aug. 1 here.

 • • •

David Epstein

Warner/Chappell Production Music has tapped David Epstein as Director of Licensing for Warner/Chappell Production Music’s trailer music division, Non-Stop Trailers. David will be responsible for developing Non-Stop Trailers’ Film Trailer business in North America.

Epstein was most recently Sales & Marketing Executive for Sony/ATV’s production music arm Extreme Music, where he focused on the Trailers & Film/TV Departments. His prior experience includes Sales & Marketing roles with Interscope Records & NBC Universal.

 • • •

Pictured (L-R): SGM’s Ashley Hamlin, Ryan Laird, SGM President Mike Mouret, and SGM’s Danielle Thorn.

Brentwood, Tenn.-based Studio Gold Music has signed singer-songwriter Ryan Laird to a publishing and artist development contract. Studio Gold Music currently represents Mary Francis, Derrick Hampton, and Paul Cunningham.

A native of Fergus, Ontario, Canada, Laird earned a Canadian Country Music Award in 2012 for his Top Ten hit, “I’m Your Man.” That same year, he was nominated for a CCMA Rising Star Award. Now living in Nashville, Laird is co-writing and working on his upcoming release. He is also the founding partner/artist for the Bigger Than That Foundation, a musical concert initiative which promotes anti-bullying.

Studio Gold offers traditional music publishing, single-song publishing, artist development, and related promotional activities.

 • • •

Heather Morgan in the documentary.

the songwriter {Nashville}, a short documentary web series that captures the creative process of songwriters, premiered at The Belcourt Theatre in Nashville early last week.

Season one features writers James House, Gordon Kennedy, Bill Miller, Danny Flowers, Heather Morgan, Rebecca Moreland and others and was recorded in Ben Fold’s Studio A, Fontanel Mansion and Castle Recording Studios.

Esteban Pedraza and Aaron Pryka created the series and founded Movie Time Picture Company. They are producing the series with Sharon Corbitt-House and Mike Kopp of HouseKopp Management.