Music News (2/4/15)

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Luke Laird, Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Michael Carter; (third row, L-R) Josh Osborne, Cole Swindell, Brett Waren, Jon Nite; (second row, L-R): Ashley Gorley, Chris Tompkins, Brad Warren, Rodney Clawson; (front row, L-R): Jon Loba, Executive Vice President of BBR Music Group and CMA Awards and Recognition Committee Chairman; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing and CMA Board member. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

Fourteen of Nashville’s top tunesmiths were honored Tuesday (Feb. 3) with the CMA Triple Play Awards during the sixth annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon, held at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works.

These writers each penned at least three songs which reached No. 1 within a 12-month period. The songwriters and songs honored during the event include (in alphabetical order):

Rhett Akins: “It Goes Like This,” “When She Says Baby,” “Get Me Some Of That”
Michael Carter: “Get Me Some Of That,” “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” “Roller Coaster”
Rodney Clawson: “American Kids,” “Dirt,” “Burnin’ It Down,” “Helluva Life,” “Lettin’ The Night Roll,” “Bartender”
Dallas Davidson: “That’s My Kind Of Night,” “Play It Again,” “I Don’t Dance”
Ashley Gorley: “Hey Girl,” “That’s My Kind Of Night,” “Rewind”
Josh Kear: “Helluva Life,” “Drunk On A Plane,” “Neon Light”
Luke Laird: “Downtown,” “Beat This Summer,” “Give Me Back My Hometown”
Jon Nite: “We Were Us,” “Whatever She’s Got,” “Beachin’”
Josh Osborne: “Drunk Last Night,” “My Eyes,” “We Are Tonight”
Jason Sellers: “If I Didn’t Have You,” “Sunny And 75,” “Goodnight Kiss”
Cole Swindell: “Chillin’ It,” “Get Me Some Of That,” “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight”
Chris Tompkins: “Redneck Crazy,” “Helluva Life,” “Drunk On A Plane”
Brad Warren: “Highway Don’t Care,” “Little Bit Of Everything,” “Drink To That All Night”
Brett Warren: “Highway Don’t Care,” “Little Bit Of Everything,” “Drink To That All Night”

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Pictured (L-R): BBR Music Group Owner/CEO Benny Brown; Magic Mustang Music VP Juli Newton-Griffith; artist Craig Campbell.

Singer-songwriter Craig Campbell has signed to Magic Mustang Music’s publishing roster. This follows Campbell’s signing with BBR Music Group’s label imprint, Red Bow Records, last month.

Campbell, a SESAC songwriter, recently notched a co-writing credit for “All American Kid,” featured on Garth Brooks’ album Man Against Machine. Campbell also co-penned half of the songs on his 2013 sophomore effort, Never Regret, as well as the majority of the tunes on his self-titled 2011 debut album, including his Top 15 hit “Family Man.”

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Pictured (L-R): Nate Towne (Agent, WME), Jared Gutstadt (CEO, Jingle Punks/Pop Up Music), Pete Olson (VP, Artist Mgmt & Development Pop Up Music), artist Clark Manson, Liz O’Sullivan (VP, Publishing & Artist Dev., Pop Up Music), Scott Safford (Attorney, Safford, Motley)

Nashville-based Pop Up Music has signed a new singer-songwriter to its roster for publishing and artist development. Covington, Ohio native Clark Manson released his debut album in 2013.

Since opening in Nashville in September 2014 as the offshoot of Jingle Punks, Pop Up Music has been led by Vice President of Artist Management & Development Pete Olson and Vice President of Publishing and Artist Development Liz O’Sullivan.

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ACM Songwriter of the Year nominees (L-R): Chris Tompkins, Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, Josh Osborne and Ashley Gorley

The Academy of Country Music initially revealed the nominees for its Songwriter of the Year Award exclusively with MusicRow.

Rodney Clawson, Ashley Gorley, Luke Laird, Josh Osborne, and Chris Tompkins are the five finalists.

The Songwriter of the Year honor will be presented during the 9th annual ACM Honors event, to take place Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015 in Nashville. The 50th Academy of Country Music Awards will be presented live from AT&T Stadium on Sunday, April 19 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Additional nominees here.

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Amelia Wang

The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) named Amelia Wang Vice President of Industry Relations and Government Affairs. Starting Feb. 2, Wang will interact with Capitol Hill and federal agencies, advancing NMPA’s legislative and regulatory policy goals. She will also manage outreach to the music publishing and songwriting industry.

Prior to joining NMPA, Wang was chief of staff to Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-Calif.) for five years and previously worked for Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.). While working for Chu, she focused on strengthening copyright protections and fighting to achieve fair compensation to creators for their work.

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The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Key West Songwriters Festival, presented by BMI, will be held May 6-10, 2015. The impressive list of performers at the 20th annual event includes headliners Chris Young, Robert Earl Keen, Dean Dillon, Jeffrey Steele, Kacey Musgraves, Rhett Akins, Bob DiPiero, Lee Thomas Miller, Raul Malo, Al Anderson, Pat MacLaughlin, Shawn Camp, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, James Slater, Even Stevens, Steve Bogard, Steve McEwan, Guthrie Trapp and the Mulekickers, Chuck Cannon, Loving Mary, Josh Dorr, Dylan Altman Blues Band, Kostas, Aaron Watson and many more.

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