Music News (10/7/15)

Pictured: (L-R) BMI’s Jody Williams and Mason Hunter, AT&T’s Bart Peters, BMI songwriter Michael Ray, AT&T’s Jennifer Miles and Tom Sauer and BMI’s Leslie Roberts.

BMI recently hosted a mixer for BMI writers who have just signed their first publishing deal. The mixer was presented by AT&T’s on-demand music channel “Country Deep.”

During the mixer, BMI and AT&T announced a new relationship, focusing on developing BMI writers into country music’s next stars. The newly-decorated songwriter rooms and the hallway between them will be known as the “Country Deep Songwriter Wing.” The rooms offer pianos, other instruments and a near-endless supply of coffee.

Writer rooms are available to BMI members only by appointment and inquiries should be directed to WritersRooms@bmi.com.

•••

Ben Hayslip

Warner/Chappell Music along with Nashville-based music publishing company THiS Music, announced that they have extended their worldwide co-publishing agreement with hit songwriter Ben Hayslip. Hayslip has twice been named ASCAP’s Country Music Songwriter of the Year, and twice been honored with the ASCAP Award for Country Song of the Year for Blake Shelton’s “Honey Bee” and Thomas Rhett’s “It Goes Like This.” Hayslip also wrote both George Strait’s and Dustin Lynch’s newly released singles.

•••

Pictured seated (L-R): John Saunderson, Professional Manager (NHM), Andy McQueen, Chairman (NHM). Standing (l to r): Chris Cavanaugh, Ginny Johnson, General Manager (NHM – Nashville), Leslie Satcher, and Brad Crisler. (Not pictured: Will Robinson)

Notting Hill Music Group has launched a Nashville office, with Creative Director Ginny Johnson. Johnson’s career includes time at MCA Music, Capitol Records, and Hamstein Music. Four writers have been added to Notting Hill’s roster: Leslie Satcher, Brad Crisler, Will Robinson, and Chris Cavanaugh.

Alabama native Crisler’s songs include Sons of the Desert’s 1997 hit “Whatever Comes First,” which earned an ASCAP Most Performed Country Song award, as well as “Some Things Never Change” (Tim McGraw), “Sweet Southern Comfort” (Buddy Jewell), and “Hillbilly Deluxe” (Brooks & Dunn). He has had cuts on projects by Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins, Alabama, and more. He co-wrote and produced two tracks on Brett Eldredge’s current project Illinois.

Satcher is known for songs including “When God Fearin’ Women Get The Blues” (Martina McBride), “Troubadour” (George Strait), “Politically Uncorrect” (Merle Haggard/Gretchen Wilson), “Tough” (Kellie Pickler) and more.

Robinson has garnered eight No. 1 songs, three top 5 songs, two Top 10 songs, and two Top 20 songs, spanning six musical genres. Those songs include “Pass It On Down” (Alabama) and “I Know How He Feels” (Reba).

Cavanaugh is a recording artist and songwriter who will join as a special guest on the Kip Moore tour to promote his EP, Country As I Wanna Be.  Cavanaugh has opened shows for Thompson Square, Lee Brice, Eric Church, and others.

•••
Razor & Tie has partnered with Concord Bicycle Music to form Razor & Tie Enterprises LLC.

Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam will continue as co-CEOs of the New York-based Razor & Tie. Under the agreement, Concord Bicycle will administer Razor & Tie Music Publishing, as well as support expansion of the Kidz Bop series, among other duties.

Earlier this year, Concord Music Group and The Bicycle Music Company merged into Concord Bicycle Music.

Concord Bicycle’s portfolio of more than 10,000 active album recordings includes master recordings from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Gregg Allman, John Coltrane, Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, and Carole King and approximately 55,000 copyrighted songs including “Always On My Mind,” “Hang On Sloopy,” “Stand By Your Man,” “Time After Time,” And “Bad Moon Rising.”

Razor & Tie’s label roster includes The Pretty Reckless, All That Remains, Red Sun Rising and Starset. Its publishing company includes copyrights from Philip LaRue, Catt Gravitt, Britt Burton, Tofer Brown, and others.

•••

BMI Signs Singer-Songwriter Julia Cole

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Mark Mason, CAA’s Blake McDaniel, Holler! Music’s Lari White, BMI songwriter Julia Cole, CAA’s Jim Butler and BMI’s Jody Williams.

Singer-songwriter Julia Cole has officially affiliated with BMI. Cole is on board with CAA, Chuck Cannon and Lari White’s Holler! Music Publishing Co., and managed by Ansel Davis of Martingale Entertainment. The 22-year-old’s latest release “Get Awesome” will hit airwaves Oct. 2.

•••

Six legendary country songwriters are on the 2016 ballot for the Songwriters Hall of Fame, which recognizes talent from across all musical genres.

Dallas Frazier (“Elvira,” “There Goes My Everything”), John D. Loudermilk (“Abilene,” “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye”), Bob McDill (“Amanda,” “Gone Country”) and Curly Putman (“He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “Green Green Grass of Home”) are nominated in the non-performing songwriters category.

In addition, Tom T. Hall (“Harper Valley P.T.A.,” “I Love”) is nominated in the performing songwriters category, while Roger Miller (“King of the Road,” “Dang Me”) is in the deceased songwriters category.

Eligible voting members will have until Dec. 11 to turn in ballots with their choices of three nominees from a non-performing category, two from a performing category and one from a deceased category. Inductions will take place on June 9, 2016, in New York City.

Ree Guyer Buchanan

Read the full list of nominees.

•••

To promote MusicRow magazine’s 2015 Publisher Issue print magazine, Ree Guyer is highlighted in a web excerpt on launching newcomer band Old Dominion. Read the piece at MusicRow.com.

Single copies of the Publisher Issue print magazine are available for purchase for $30, and are included with yearly subscriptions at no additional cost.