Music News (4/6/16)

Bobby Karl Works The Tin Pan South Kick-off Party

Lisa Harless (Regions Bank), Christopher Robertson (Watkins Art Contest Winner), Melodie Michael (Regions Bank), Brian O’Meara (Regions Bank). Robertson was presented the bike after creating the winning artwork and logo used in all Tin Pan South 2016 marketing materials.

There are so many reasons to attend the kick-off party for Tin Pan South.

First of all, it ushers in one of Nashville’s coolest annual festivals – 10 venues showcasing hundreds of songwriters. It has a $1.9 million impact on the city, I am told.

The opening party attracts many who are performing. Loads of industry supporters attend, so you’re going to run into beaucoups fabulons. Also, the food is always excellent, thanks to Maggiano’s.

The party on Monday (April 4) was staged in the lobby of the Region’s Bank in the Music Row Roundabout. As the evening goes on, this area becomes more and more congested and more and more loudly echoey. In a good, wacky way.

MusicRow subscribers can read more at MusicRow.com.

400 Artists, Managers, Industry Organizations Band Together For DMCA Reform

An unprecedented group of 18 music industry organizations, as well as 400 songwriters, artists, managers, and other industry personnel, have banded together to plea with the U.S. Copyright Office to reform the “safe harbor” provisions of the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The music industry members have called it outdated, and stated that its “notice and takedown” system failed in its intent to promote healthier balance in online music market.

Under the DMCA, record labels and publishing companies are responsible for approaching website owner/operators to take down pirated music that they have illegally made available on their sites.

Organizations like ASCAP, BMI, Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and SESAC have supported the petition in addition to many artists and executives.

Read more at MusicRow.com.

Shane Barrett

Shane Barrett To Lead Publishing Division Of Cold River Records

Cold River Records has brought on Shane Barrett (on behalf of his company Shane Barrett Music, LLC) to lead a new publishing division, Placer Creek Music Publishing. The first signing to Placer Creek is Maggie Baugh.

Barrett previously held positions at olé and MCA Records. In addition to securing hits such as “Crazy Girl” by Eli Young Band, Barrett has landed cuts with Luke Bryan, Billy Currington, Montgomery Gentry, Faith Hill, Kenny Rogers, and most recently Jason Aldean and Wynonna.

UMPG Nashville Signs Songwriter Mark Fuhrer Through Joint Venture With Droptine Music

Pictured (L-R, Back Row): Cyndi Forman, UMPG Nashville VP, Creative; Missy Wilson, UMPG Nashville Sr. Creative Director; Kent Earls, EVP/GM, UMPG Nashville; Ron Stuve, UMPG Nashville VP A&R; (L-R, Front Row) Travis Gordon, UMPG Nashville Sr. Creative Director; Mark Fuhrer; Rachel Winston, Droptine A&R Manager

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) Nashville has signed an exclusive, global publishing deal with songwriter Mark Fuhrer via the company’s joint venture with Droptine Music. The announcement was made Wednesday (April 6) by Kent Earls, Executive Vice President/General Manager, UMPG Nashville.

Born and raised on Long Island, Fuhrer came to Nashville to pursue a career in country music and earned a Bachelors of Science in Songwriting from Belmont University.

Continuing to develop his talent and versatility, Furhrer is currently spending as much time in the studio as possible, collaborating with the band Levon, Chris Young, Chris Lindsey, Tim James, Matt Warren, Jay Clementi and Dave Berg.

BMG Signs Emily Reid

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Morgan Kenney, WME; Mark Noel, Longshot Management; Chris Oglesby, BMG; Rob Beckham, WME. (Front row, L-R): Kevin Lane, WME; Emily Reid; Sara Knabe, BMG; Kos Weaver, BMG; Daniel Lee, BMG. (Not pictured: Rob Baker, Longshot Management)

Emily Reid, a Belmont University graduate and recent transplant from Toronto, Canada, has signed an exclusive publishing deal with BMG. Reid is managed by Rob Baker and Mark Noel of Longshot Management. Rob Beckham and Morgan Kenney of WME complete the team.

Reid is a CCMA Discovery Finalist who has opened for artists including Dierks Bentley and Charlie Worsham. She cowrote “Two in a Million” which was the series finale duet for Disney’s Austin & Ally. Reid was also a featured artist for the Canadian clothing company, Roots.

In Photos: SESAC ACM Awards After Party

Artist/songwriter Craig Campbell hangs out with SESAC’s Tim Fink. Photo: Gabe Ginsberg

MGM Grand’s Losers Bar in Las Vegas served as the backdrop for SESAC’s festive party following the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM). The celebratory soiree attracted a diverse array of artists, songwriters, publishers and music industry executives crowning a week of performances and festivities.

View more photos at MusicRow.com.

Songwriters & Publishers Town Hall To Return To Music Biz 2016

The Music Business Association (Music Biz) will address the needs of the songwriting and publishing community in Nashville and beyond at this year’s Songwriters & Publishers Town Hall, which will be held on Wednesday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. during the Music Biz 2016 Convention at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. A keynote presentation will be made by Steve Bogard, Director of The Copyright Forum and a songwriter with BBR Music Group’s Magic Mustang Music. He also serves as ex officio advisor to the NSAI Board and sits on the Board of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation.

The Songwriters & Publishers Town Hall will include a variety of panels featuring Joe Conyers III, Songtrust/Downtown Music Publishing; Kenley Flynn, Combustion Music; Scott Jungmichel, SESAC; Mike Steinberg, BMI; John Ozier, ole; Ree Buchanan, Wrensong; John Pisciotta, MusicSynk/LoudLab; Kos Weaver, BMG Rights Management; Katie Jelen, Secret Road Music Services; Charles Alexander, Streaming Promotions/Outside the Box Music; Devon DeVries, Big Yellow Dog Music; Randall Foster, ole; Hillel Frankel, Leavens Strand & Glover LLC; Joel Timen, Word Entertainment