Music News (4/1/15)

Pictured (L-R) back: Travis Gordon, UMPG Creative Director; Ron Stuve, UMPG VP A&R; and Kent Earls, EVP/GM, UMPG. Front: Cyndi Forman, UMPG VP, Creative; Adams; Missy Wilson, UMPG Sr. Creative Director; and Scott Safford, attorney.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) Nashville has signed budding artist/songwriter Justin Adams to an exclusive publishing agreement.

Adams’ 2013 self-titled independent EP featured co-written songs with established writers including Kent Blazy and Karyn Rochelle. Adams has reached No. 4 on the iTunes Country Music Albums chart, No. 36 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and No. 59 on the Billboard Country Albums.

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Pictured (L-R): Robin Gordon (Gordon Law Group), Bradley Collins (BMI), Lee Krabel (HoriPro), Butch Baker (HoriPro), Wes Hightower, David Preston (BMI), Courtney Crist (HoriPro), Tim Stehli (BMI), Chris Skinner (Gordon Law Group)

HoriPro has signed 12-time MusicRow All-Star Musician Awards Vocalist of the Year Wes Hightower to a publishing deal. Hightower, a Texas native, has long been one of Nashville’s most in-demand background vocalists. He has sung on more than 150 million records sold worldwide.

In recent years, Hightower has turned his focus more toward songwriting, with songs recorded by Gary Allan, Montgomery Gentry, Gene Watson, and Sammy Kershaw, among others.

Pictured (seated, L-R): SaraBeth, and BMI’s Senior Director, Writer-Publisher Relations Bradley Collins. Standing: Verge Management’s Nancy Eckert

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Circle S Records artist SaraBeth has signed with performing rights organization BMI.

SaraBeth recently finished recording her new, self-titled EP, which will be released on April 14. She co-wrote all the songs on the project, including the new single “I’m Sick of It.”

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Demolition Music Publishing and SB21 have announced a joint venture signing of Nashville guitarist and songwriter, Phil Roselle.

Pictured (L-R): Jon D’Agostino, DMP President; Phil Roselle; Steve Pasch, SB21

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Caren Seidle has been named CEO of Centricity Music, Centricity Publishing, and the artist management division Eaglemont Entertainment. Centricity Music is a Franklin, Tenn.-based company founded in 2005 and home to CCM artists including Aaron Shust, Jonny Diaz, Jason Gray, Andrew Peterson, and more.

Additionally, Steve Ford has been promoted to General Manager. Ford began with Centricity in 2006, and has held the VP, Marketing role for the past nine years. Ford is an industry veteran who began his career in 1978, and has worked at Sparrow Records (A&R), Myrrh Records (VP, Marketing), and Inpop Records (VP/General Manager).

Toronto-based independent publisher ole has acquired the Nashville-based music publishing and licensing company Jingle Punks.

Under the agreement, ole’s PML repertoire will fold into Jingle Punks, doubling Jingle Punks’ available repertoire. Jingle Punks provides original and licensed music for television, film, video games, advertisements, and more. The move creates one of the world’s largest production music libraries.

As part of the deal, Jingle Punks founders, Jared Gutstadt and Dan Demole, will oversee ole’s production music operation.

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Co-Songwriters of the Year David Garcia (L) and Ben Glover (R) with ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams at the ASCAP Christian Awards. Photo: Ed Rode

The ASCAP Christian Music Awards recognized a star-studded lineup of artists, publishers, and songwriters on March 23 at The Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tenn.

Matthew West earned the title of Christian Music Songwriter-Artist of the Year. This marks West’s second Songwriter-Artist of the Year honor. He also earned three ASCAP most-performed song honors, for his own single, “Do Something,” as well as for “Pushing Back the Dark” (recorded by Josh Wilson) and “Thrive” (Casting Crowns).

Capitol CMG was named Publisher of the Year for the the 13th consecutive year. The publishing company notched numerous hits over the past year, including nine award-winning songs: “Back to You,” “I Am,” “Speak Life,” “All The People Said Amen,” “My Heart Is Yours,” “Your Grace Finds Me,” “Holding Nothing Back,” “Greater,” and “Write Your Story.”

Song of the Year went to “This Is Amazing Grace,” penned by Phil Wickham, Josh Farro and Jeremy Riddle, and performed by Phil Wickham.

Ben Glover and David Garcia tied for ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter of the Year honors. The co-writing and co-producing duo also earned ASCAP most-performed song awards for Francesca Battistelli’s “Write Your Story,” Mandisa’s “Back to You” and Mercy Me’s “Greater.” Garcia celebrated his first Songwriter of the Year Award, while Glover claimed his fourth.