Music News (8/24/16)

Exclusive: Frank Rogers Charts His Course With Fluid Music Revolution

Pictured (L-R): Sherod Robertson, Owner/Publisher, MusicRow; Frank Rogers

Frank Rogers is forging ahead with Fluid Music Revolution, a new venture with Spirit Music Group that was announced in January. During a visit to MusicRow, he emphasized that he loved every minute of being at Sea Gayle Music – a very successful publishing company he co-founded in 1999 – but decided that it was time for a fresh challenge.

After collecting his first MusicRow No. 1 Challenge Coin for co-writing Granger Smith’s “Backroad Song,” Rogers chatted about building his company, signing new (and established) writers and striking the balance between music and business.

MusicRow: What have the last six months been like for you?

Rogers: It’s been fun getting a company off the ground. There’s a lot of stuff that needs to happen, so there’s been a lot of business and legal and that side of things. But it’s also been fun to go out and see so many new artists, writers and talent that’s out there right now.

What was your frame of mind before you made the leap?

I was at Sea Gayle for many, many years, and Sea Gayle was an absolutely wonderful thing. It was great but it just came time for a new adventure and it felt like the right timing to do it. So I resigned from Sea Gayle and then talked to everybody out there and saw what the opportunities were. I was trying to decide if I was going to do it for myself or partner with someone, or what was the right decision. When I met The Spirit Group, it felt like the right venture partner for me. So, we started.

What made that Spirit partnership special?

They had the infrastructure I was looking for, to do what I wanted to do. But it came down to the people. They seemed genuinely excited. From New York to L.A. to London to Nashville, they’re just good human beings and it felt like the right spot. It’s interesting when you do those things, you either know or you don’t.

Ryan Creamer is part of your publishing roster. What does he bring to the table?

Ryan is the first person that I signed over there. He comes from a unique place, melodically. He’s energetic and excited about writing songs. I always look for uniqueness, and the first batch of songs I heard from him were uniquely him. That’s what drew me to his writing. He’s really, really melodically unique. He is a good singer but the artist thing is not what he loves. He’s a writer and producer, and I want to help him develop the producing side as well. He’s a talented young man.

Now that you’ve started Fluid, will you still be producing and writing songs too?

Absolutely. I write for Fluid. I guess I was officially the first writer, and Ryan’s the second! I still write and I still produce when things makes sense, but my focus right now is really building this company. Where it makes sense for me to produce to help Fluid, I will. Obviously I’m still writing as well.

Read more at MusicRow.com

Big Machine Music, Red Bull Records Jointly Sign Nathan Barlowe

Pictured (L-R): Back Row: Greg Hammer, Managing Director, Red Bull Records; Dasmarie Alvino, Creative Sync Licensing, Red Bull Records; Front Row: Buffy Hubelbank, Music Publishing Creative Director, Red Bull Records; Nathan Barlowe; Mike Molinar, VP/General Manager, Big Machine Music. Photo: Big Machine Music

Nathan Barlowe has signed an exclusive songwriting agreement with Big Machine Music and Red Bull Records.

The agreement will expand upon previous arrangements both Big Machine Music and Red Bull Records had separately with Barlowe, a multi-genre songwriter, producer and musician.

Barlowe’s credits span from Taylor Swift and Steven Tyler to Jars of Clay. Barlowe’s sync placements include hit TV shows The King of Queens and The O.C., NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and major motion picture, The Equalizer.

In his previous role, Barlowe was the principal songwriter for Red Bull Records’ electronic pop band Five Knives. Currently on the road this summer as a member of Keith Urban’s band for the Ripcord Tour, Barlowe plays “The Phantom,” a custom-made live mix and sample machine. Barlowe and his wife Sara welcomed the arrival of their first child, Waylon James Barlowe, last month in Nashville.