Music News (1/6/16)

Pandora Signs with ASCAP and BMI

Pandora has signed separate, multi-year licensing agreements with ASCAP and BMI, which together control a combined performance catalog of more than 20 million musical works.

Pandora has been on a signing spree the past few months directly with music publishers, however these deals additionally benefit ASCAP and BMI songwriters immediately, who receive royalty collections straight from their PRO.

In connection with the signing of the BMI agreement, Pandora has agreed to withdraw its appeal of the May 2015 order in the recent BMI rate case.

“This agreement is good news for music fans and music creators, who are the heart and soul of ASCAP, and a sign of progress in our ongoing push for improved streaming payments for songwriters, composers and music publishers that reflect the immense value of our members’ creative contributions,” said ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews.

“We’re extremely pleased to reach this deal with Pandora that benefits the songwriters, composers and publishers we are privileged to represent,” said Mike O’Neill, President and CEO, BMI. “Not only is our new agreement comparable to the other direct deals in the marketplace, but it also allows us to amicably conclude our lengthy rate court litigation and focus on what drives each of our businesses—the music.”

While the specific terms of both multi-year agreements are confidential, for each deal, the respective parties worked together to build an innovative approach to public performance licensing. The deals allow both ASCAP and BMI to further their goal of delivering improved performance royalties for their songwriters and publishers, while Pandora will benefit from greater rate certainty and the ability to add new flexibility to the company’s product offering over time.

Dave Cobb, Warner/Chappell Enter Publishing Agreement

Dave Cobb. Photo: Michael W. Bunch

Warner/Chappell Music has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with songwriter and producer Dave Cobb and together they announce the establishment of Low Country Sound Publishing.

The Nashville-based producer recently received a Grammy nomination for Producer of the Year in recognition of his work on A Thousand Horses, Jason Isbell, and Chris Stapleton.

Cobb has also produced albums for Sturgill Simpson, Jamey Johnson, Shooter Jennings, Waylon Jennings, Lake Street Dive, HoneyHoney, Houndmouth and Anderson East. East was the debut signing to Cobb’s record label imprint, Low Country Sound, a partnership with Elektra Records. The label’s next release, Southern Family, is a concept album featuring Zac Brown, Miranda Lambert and Stapleton, among others.

Big Deal Music Acquires Administration Company Words & Music

Pictured (L-R): Pete Robinson, Sr. Vice President/GM Nashville; Kim McCollum-Mele, President, Words & Music; Kenny MacPherson, President, Big Deal Music

Big Deal Music has acquired Nashville-based administration company Words & Music. Words & Music will continue to provide independent administration services, and will assume most of Big Deal Music’s domestic administrative duties beginning January 1, 2016. Big Deal’s extension with BMG will remain in effect for territories outside North America.

Bob DiPiero Featured on MusicRow Podcast

Bob DiPiero

One of Nashville’s most prominent and popular songwriters, Bob DiPiero can claim more than 50 million spins at country radio−with the BMI “Million-Air” Awards to prove it. His major cuts include Neal McCoy’s “Wink,” Reba McEntire’s “Little Rock,” Tim McGraw’s “Southern Voice,” The Oak Ridge Boys’ “American Made” and George Strait’s “Blue Clear Sky.” One of his newest tunes is “Boys Like You,” recorded by pop newcomer Who Is Fancy, featuring Ariana Grande and Meghan Trainor. And there’s more to come, as DiPiero signed a new publishing agreement with Kobalt this year.

In this conversation with MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson, DiPiero reveals his favorite place to write, explains the feeling of hearing artists interpret his songs, and offers some really smart advice to someone thinking about becoming a songwriter.

Click here to listen to episodes online.

Click here to listen on iTunes.

MusicRow Exclusive: Songwriter Marc Beeson Reflects on 25 Years in Nashville

Marc Beeson remembers a different kind of traffic jam when he moved from Los Angeles to Nashville in 1990. In those days, driving into Music Row from Williamson County, he might occasionally get stuck behind a hay truck on Hillsboro Road.

Today the city’s skyline and the musical landscape are dramatically different, yet Beeson remains a consistently capable songwriter in the community. In the 1990s, he made a name for himself as a co-writer of Restless Heart’s “When She Cries.” Teaming with Sam Hunt and Josh Osborne two decades later, he wrote Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit, “We Are Tonight.”

Read more at MusicRow.com.