Music News (10/22/14)

Paul Craft at the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductions. Photo: Moments by Moser

Newly honored Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Paul Craft has died at age 76.

Famed for such country hits as “Dropkick Me Jesus,” “Hank Williams You Wrote My Life” and “Brother Jukebox,” Craft was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Oct. 5. He came to the banquet at the Music City Center, greeted well-wishers and was photographed with his statuette. But prior to his official induction, he experienced breathing problems. An ambulance transported him to St. Thomas Midtown Hospital, where he passed away on Saturday, Oct. 18. He had been plagued by deteriorating health for several years.

A memorial service and visitation for Craft was held in Nashville yesterday, Oct. 21, at West End United Methodist Church. Read more at MusicRow.com.

• • •

The 2015 slate of Songwriters Hall of Fame nominees for induction were announced Oct. 16 by SHOF President/CEO Linda Moran. The New York-based organization could potentially induct Nashville songwriters Bobby Braddock and Bob McDill in the Non-Performing Songwriters category, and Vince Gill, Toby Keith and Steve Winwood in the Performing Songwriters category.

The 2015 Annual Awards Gala will take place at the New York Marriott Marquis on Thursday, June 18.

Read more at MusicRow.com.

• • •

YouTube Music Nashville will host a series of workshops, speakers and performances over the next year to educate members of the music industry about its services.

The events will focus on educating creators, building an audience and music publishing. Among the topics of discussion will be how YouTube integrates with other Google properties including Google Play and G+.

The Google-owned service recently announced it has paid over $1billion to content creators, including artists and music publishers.

• • •

Kevin Kadish. Photo: Wikipedia

Sony/ATV Music Publishing has signed songwriter/producer Kevin Kadish to a worldwide deal. The agreement includes the Meghan Trainor hit “All About That Bass,” which Kadish penned with Trainor. He not only co-wrote Trainor’s debut single, but programmed the drums and bass, played guitar, and produced the track.

• • •

Back Row (L-R): Justin Nicolet (Maxx Music Publishing), John Allen (BMG Chrysalis), Sara Knabe (BMG Chrysalis), Chris Oglesby (BMG Chrysalis). Front Row (L-R): Mitchell Solarek (Maxx Music Publishing), Kevin Lane (BMG Chrysalis), Sam Mizell, Kos Weaver (BMG Chrysalis), Daniel Lee (BMG Chrysalis).

BMG and Maxx Music Publishing have signed a joint venture together, and the first writer signed under this JV is Sam Mizell. Mizell’s cuts include “Whiskey” (Jana Kramer), “Peaches and Caroline” (The Band Perry), “Was I The Only One” (Jordin Sparks), “The Motions” and “You Are Everything” (Matthew West), among others.

Mizell has earned two ASCAP Song of the Year honors, one BMI award, and 11 ASCAP Top 25 Most Played awards.

• • •

Dan Wilson

Songwriter Dan Wilson has joined the Big Deal Music roster. Big Deal Music will publish new compositions under its joint venture with BMG Chrysalis US.

Wilson has penned songs including Adele‘s “Someone Like You” and the Dixie Chicks‘ “Not Ready To Make Nice.” He has also worked with artists including Taylor Swift, Dierks Bentley, John Legend, Josh Groban, Nas, Carole King, and others.

Wilson first rose to fame through his work with the band Semisonic, for which he penned “Closing Time,” “Secret Smile” and “Chemistry.”

• • •

BBR Music Group has signed new artists Jordan Rager and Brooke Eden.

• • •

MusicRow recently reported exclusive coverage on hit songwriter Chris Tompkins here.

• • •

Tori Tullier

Tori Tullier, a songwriter and part-time publicist for Nashville’s Richlyn Marketing, has been honored with ASCAP’s 2014 Sammy Cahn award. Tullier’s song “Your Nicotine” earned highest scores from this year’s group of judges.

Tullier joins past recipients of the award, including John Mayer, Lori McKenna, Josh Ritter, Daniel Mackenzie, Chris Keup, and others. Tullier resides in Nashville. While attending the University of Miami, she earned first place in the Bruce Hornsby Songwriting Competition. She was also selected for ASCAP’s 2014 Guidance from Publishers for Songwriters (GPS) Project, and has performed for ASCAP’s “We Create Music” series.

She has garnered cuts on independent artists, and is seeking her first publishing deal.