Music News (5/27/15)

The USA Songwriting Competition is accepting submissions for its 20th annual songwriting competition through this Friday, May 29. Top prize earns $50,000.

Enter your songs with your YouTube, SoundCloud or Reverbnation URL or submit your MP3 files online. See additional FAQ here.

Sponsors include Sony, D’Addario Strings, Acoustic Guitar Magazine, New Music Weekly, Loggins Promotion, Airplay Access, D’Addario strings, PRS Guitars, Audio-Technica, Full Compass Music Stores, Propellerheads, Presonus, Notion Software, Sonoma Wireworks, IK Multimedia, Alfred Music, Reverbnation, Sonicbids, etc.

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Michael Martin, Vice President, ASCAP

ASCAP has elevated Michael Martin to head its Nashville Membership office in the role of Vice President, reporting directly to EVP of Membership John Titta.

Martin has been with ASCAP for more than five years and previously jointly led the Creative staff alongside LeAnn Phelan, who exited in April to help launch Sea Gayle Management. Martin joined ASCAP from Extreme Writers Group (EWG), which he co-founded in 2000 with Jason Houser, and where he shared responsibilities for the day-to-day operations of the publishing and content development company.

Beth Brinker

Martin then elevated Robert Filhart to Creative Director and Evyn Mustoe to Associate Creative Director. Beth Brinker has also been added as Creative Manager from a previous post at Latigo Shore Music where she represented the catalogs of Andrew Dorff and Jeston Cade.

Filhart has been with ASCP for five years, finding involvement in development of Brandy Clark, Aaron Eshuis, Ryan Hurd, Brandon Lay, Hunter Phelps, Jameson Rodgers, Forest Glenn Whitehead and others.

Mustoe has been with ASCAP since March 2012 and serves as Nashville’s Pop/Rock membership representative.

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Alex Stefano

Devon DeVries, VP of Creative Film & TV A&R at Big Yellow Dog Music, announces hiring of Alex Stefano as Film & TV Manager. Stefano, a classically trained pianist, is a recent Belmont University graduate whose work experience includes peermusic Nashville, L.A.-based Chop Shop Music Supervision and Lighting Director at Belmont’s School of Music.

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Eric Paslay

Warner/Chappell Music announced yesterday (May 26) it has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with singer/songwriter Eric Paslay.

Paslay’s songwriting accolades include ASCAP’s 2012 Country Song of the Year for Jake Owen’s “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” as well as nominations for CMA Song of the Year in 2012 and a 2013 Grammy nomination for Best Country Song, both for The Eli Young Band’s “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” Paslay has also penned songs for artists such as Amy Grant, Jimmy Buffett and Lady Antebellum.

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Pictured (back row): Patrick Clifford, VP Disney Music Group Nashville; Ciara Gardner, A&R Coordinator; Austen Adams, Dickinson Wright PLLC; Pat Higdon, President/Owner, Patrick Joseph Music; Stevie Erickson, Sr. Creative Director, Patrick Joseph Music (seated): Melissa Peirce

Disney Music Publishing and Patrick Joseph Music have re-signed hit songwriter Melissa Peirce, who is celebrating her first No. 1 hit, “A Guy Walks Into A Bar,” recorded by Tyler Farr. The Pennsylvania native also has two cuts on Garth Brooks’ recently released Platinum-selling Man Against Machine album.

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(Pictured, Front Row): Marc Driskill, Sea Gayle EVP/GM; Steve Schnur; Chris DuBois, Sea Gayle partner. (Pictured, Back Row): Mike Owens, Sea Gayle VP Creative; Brandon Gregg, Sea Gayle Office Manager; Jake Gear, Sea Gayle Creative Director.

Sea Gayle Music has signed Steve Schnur to an exclusive worldwide songwriter agreement.

Schnur began his career as a teenage musician in bands. He has since served in many segments of the music industry, including working on the original programming team at MTV, working in record label promotion, A&R and marketing, as well as music supervisory roles for movies.

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Pictured (L-R): Sarah Knabe (BMG Chrysalis), Chris Oglesby (BMG Chrysalis), Jason Saenz, Stephanie Greene (Gravity Gone Music), Kos Weaver (BMG Chrysalis).

BMG Chrysalis, with Gravity Gone Music, have signed Jason Saenz to a publishing deal.

Saenz has penned songs for Little Big Town, David Nail, Eli Young Band, Kelleigh Bannen, Easton Corbin, Scotty McCreery, and Frankie Ballard, among others.