Music News (5/13/15)

T Bone Burnett

Spirit Music Group has teamed with T Bone Burnett in a joint venture. They have also signed Burnett to an exclusive publishing agreement for his song catalog in North America.

Under the join venture, Burnett will sign and develop songwriters under the Spirit Music Group umbrella. SMG will handle song promotion, licensing, and administration on a global basis. SMG will also administer all Burnett’s catalog as well as future works.

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Pictured (L-R): Ed Williams (Sony ATV Music), James I. Elliott (Songwriting Chair, Belmont University), Maddie Larkin, Troy Tomlinson (President/CEO Sony ATV Music Nashville). Photo: Andrea Hallgren

Belmont University songwriting major Maddie Larkin has signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing through her participation in the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business’s All Access program.

All Access gives students the opportunity to present their talent and work to the leading publisher. Students submitted two music videos to the Sony/ATV Creative team, who then selected six students to perform live in Columbia Studio A in February. All Access will continue in the upcoming school year.

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Songwriters and performers were in Washington, D.C. May 13 to meet with elected officials as part of ASCAP’s Songwriter Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. During the meetings, ASCAP members will discuss challenges faced by songwriters in today’s digital marketplace, and urge policymakers to update federal laws regulating music licensing. They will also ask that policymakers support the Songwriter Equity Act, a bipartisan bill to amend two outdated portions of the US Copyright Act.

ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams, Alan Bergman (“The Way We Were”), John Bettis (“Top of the World”), Crystal Nicole (“The Only Girl In The World”), Allen Shamblin (“The House That Built Me”) and  Che “Rhymefest” Smith (“Glory”) are among those in attendance. They will be joined by songwriter/producer Kevin Kadish (“All About That Bass”), ASCAP CEO Beth Matthews and many of ASCAP’s Board members.

ASCAP Board members meeting with legislators include Marilyn Bergman (“The Windmills of Your Mind”),  Desmond Child (“Livin’ On A Prayer”); film and TV composers Richard Bellis (“IT”), Bruce Broughton (“Silverado”), Dan Foliart (“Home Improvement,” “Roseanne”), and Doug Wood (“Saturday Night Live”); concert music composer Alex Shapiro; and publishers Barry Coburn (Ten Ten Music Group), Dean Kay (Lichelle Music and songwriter of “That’s Life”), Leeds Levy (Leeds Music) and Irwin Robinson (Cromwell Music).

Ben Vaughn is honored with the Belmont University Music City Milestone Award. Photo: Andrea Hallgren

ASCAP and Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business recently honored Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn. The alumnus is the sixth recipient of the Music City Milestone Award (MCMA).

The MCMA celebrates Belmont’s connection with Music Row while recognizing a Belmont graduate who has achieved success in the entertainment and music industries early in their career. Previous Music City Milestone Award recipients include Beka Tischker, Ashley Gorley, Rusty Gaston, LeAnn Phelan and Carla Wallace.

Among those on hand to honor Vaughn were producer and EVP of A&R at Warner Music Scott Hendricks, former Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO Gary Overton, and president of the North American division of Warner/Chappell Jon Platt.

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Jennifer Duke

Razor & Tie Music Publishing has hired Jennifer Duke as Creative Coordinator. The recent Belmont University graduate assisted Razor & Tie Music Publishing with organizing their week-long film/tv/sync camp, which included approximately 75 producers, artists and writers last year.

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Songwriters showcased new songs and well-known hits under balmy weather last week during BMI’s 20th annual Key West Songwriters Festival, held May 6-10. More than 40 shows and in-the-round performances were featured, as well as ticketed shows at area venues including San Carlos Institute, Tropic Cinema, and the Key West Theater.

Among the performers were Chris Young, Robert Earl Keen, Dean Dillon, Jeffrey Steele, Bob Dipiero, Lee Thomas Miller, 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 more.

SESAC hosted its annual Brunch & In-The-Round on Friday, May 8. Chart-topping songwriters Rob Hatch (“I Don’t Dance”) and Lance Miller (“Drink To That All Night”) led the show which also featured John & Jacob, Brian White, Karyn Williams and many others. The showcase took place at Key West’s Kelly’s Caribbean Bar. Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Shannan Hatch, songwriter and brunch host Rob Hatch, SESAC’s Tim Fink and songwriter/ brunch host Lance Miller. Photo: Sheel

(Pictured, Back row): Mayor Craig Cates, Pete Abbott, Jimmy Wallace, Guthrie Trapp, Steve Mackie, BMI’s Mason Hunter and Bradley Collins, SunTrust Bank’s Earle Simmons. (Front row): BMI’s Mark Mason, Dani Strampello, HD Radio’s Joe D’Angelo.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Mark Mason, Mayor Craig Cates, Jack Ingram, SunTrust Bank’s Earle Simmons, BMI’s Jody Williams and KWSWF’s Charlie Bauer at the Ocean Key Sunset Pier Kick.

Pictured (L-R): Bob DiPiero, Robert Earl Keen and Charlie Worsham perform at the San Carlos Institute.

Pictured: Lori McKenna and Liz Rose receive certificates of achievement for 1 million plus broadcast performances from BMI’s Leslie Roberts at Blue Heaven during the Key West Songwriter’s Festival on May 7, 2015.

Pictured: BMI’s Mark Mason and Jody Williams present Jeffrey Steele several Million-Air play awards at the San Carlos Institute on May 8, 2015, in Key West, Fla.

Pictured: KWSWF’s Charlie Bauer, Chris Young, BMI’s Mark Mason and Mayor Craig Cates gather for a photo after presenting Young with a certificate of achievement during Key West Songwriter’s Festival on May 9, 2015.

Photos: Erika Goldring, unless otherwise noted.