Music News (10/19/16)

NaSHOF Inducts Four, Additional Honors

NaSHOF Executive Director Mark Ford; Hall of Fame Inductees Bob Morrison, Aaron Barker, Will Van Zandt accepting for Townes Van Zandt, Beth Nielsen Chapman and NaSHOF Board Chair and Hall of Fame member Pat Alger. Photo: Bev Moser

Aaron Barker, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Bob Morrison and the late Townes Van Zandt were officially inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in Sunday night (Oct. 9) at the Music City Center.

In addition Ashley Gorley was named Songwriter of the Year and Lori McKenna claimed Song of the Year for “Humble and Kind” (and sang an acoustic version of it after her speech). Cole Swindell was named Songwriter/Artist of the Year and he emotionally accepted the award in a pre-taped video.

In a special tribute alongside the inductions, Hall of Fame songwriters Alger, Davis and Ray Stevens presented the Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award to the late Atlanta music icon Bill Lowery. Butch Lowery accepted on behalf of his father. The event also paused to remember five inductees who have died since the 2015 ceremony: Guy Clark, Merle Haggard, Ted Harris, John D. Loudermilk and Kim Williams.

The evening featured a special presentation to Robert K. Oermann, industry journalist and NaSHOF board historian. He was presented with the organization’s Keystone Award in appreciation for his long-term commitment to the Nashville songwriting community and the Foundation’s Hall of Fame nominating process.

The event began with the announcement of the list of 10 Songs I Wish I’d Written, voted on by members of Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). Selections include: “Break Up in a Small Town,” “Burning House,” “Buy Me a Boat,” “Die a Happy Man,” “I Got the Boy,” “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16,” “Like a Wrecking Ball,” “My Church,” “Record Year” and “Sangria.”

UMPG Nashville Signs Caylee Hammack

Pictured (L-R): Ron Stuve, UMPG Nashville VP Creative; Kent Earls, UMPG Nashville Executive VP/General Manager; Cyndi Forman, UMPG VP of Creative; Caylee Hammack; Travis Gordon, UMPG Sr. Creative Director; T.D. Ruth, attorney; Missy Roberts, UMPG Nashville Sr. Creative Director; and ASCAP’s Robert Filhart.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) Nashville has signed an exclusive, global publishing deal with ASCAP songwriter Caylee Hammack.

At 19 Hammack moved to Nashville from Ellaville, Georgia, and became a part of ASCAP’s GPS Program, which led her to winning the ASCAP Foundation’s Sammy Cahn award.

Hannah Dasher and Dylan Schneider Sign With Sony/ATV and Jaren Johnston

(L-R): Abbey Adams (Sony/ATV Music Publishing), Jaren Johnston, Hannah Dasher, Evyn Mustoe (ASCAP) and Noah McPike (Almon & McPike, PLLC)

Songwriters Hannah Dasher and Dylan Schneider have signed exclusive publishing agreements with Sony/ATV Music Publishing, in partnership with Sony/ATV songwriter and producer Jaren Johnston.

Dasher is currently working on her debut album, which Johnston is producing. She recently had her first cut with Brad Paisley, and the song will be on his upcoming album. In the past year, she has performed with Jon Pardi, The Eli Young Band and The Cadillac Three.

Schneider recently released his debut EP, Wannabe, and has had more than 600,000 streams on Spotify.

(L-R): Abbey Adams (Sony/ATV Music Publishing), Jaren Johnston, Dylan Schneider and Evyn Mustoe (ASCAP)

Warner/Chappell Nashville, Tape Room Music Sign Brad Clawson

Pictured (L-R): Ashley Gorley, Tape Room; Jeff Carlton, Tape Room; Brad Clawson; Will Overton, Warner/Chappell; Ben Vaughn, Warner/Chappell.

Warner/Chappell Nashville, along with Ashley Gorley’s publishing company Tape Room Music has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with singer-songwriter Brad Clawson, son of country songwriter Rodney Clawson.

In 2011, Gorley partnered with Combustion Music and Warner/Chappell Music to found Tape Room Music. The company’s songwriting roster includes Zach Crowell, Jerry Flowers, Matt Jenkins, Hunter Phelps, Bryan Simpson and Will Weatherly.

Phillip White Signs with Spirit Music Nashville/Fluid Music Revolution

(L-R): Brian Bradford, AJ Burton, Daniel Hill, Jon Singer, Billy Lynn, Phillip White, Frank Rogers, Eric Hurt, and Ross Cameron.

Spirit/Fluid, the Nashville-based joint venture between Spirit Music Group and Frank Rogers’ Fluid Music Revolution has signed Phillip White to an exclusive publishing deal.

White’s career skyrocketed in 2000 as co-writer of “I’m Movin’ On” with D. Vincent Williams. In 2003, White co-wrote the Reba McEntire hit “I’m A Survivor” which also became the theme song for Reba’s self-titled hit TV show.

White’s impressive list of co-writes includes Neil McCoy’s “Billy’s Got His Beer Goggles On,” Blake Shelton’s “Nobody But Me,” Scotty McCreery’s “The Trouble With Girls,” and Darius Rucker’s “Lost In You” (co-written with Rucker and Mark Nesler). His cuts on the Act of Valor soundtrack include “The Best I Can” co-written and performed by Jake Owen, and “Whatever Brings You Back” co-written by Ronnie Bowman and performed by Wynonna Judd.

Big Yellow Dog Signs Tenille

Pictured (L-R): Dustin Kovacic, Attorney, Dickinson Wright; Robert Filhart, Creative Director, ASCAP; Austen Adams, Attorney, Dickinson Wright; Carla Wallace, Co-Owner, Big Yellow Dog; Tenille; Lauren Funk, Creative Manager, Big Yellow Dog; Matt Lindsey, VP Creative, Big Yellow Dog; Kerry O’Neil, Co-Owner, Big Yellow Dog

Big Yellow Dog Music has signed writer/artist Tenille. The songwriter was brought to the publisher by Robert Filhart at ASCAP.

Big Machine Music Co-Signs Luke Combs To Publishing Arrangement

Pictured (L-R): Big Machine Music’s Jonathan Singleton, Make Wake Artist Management’s Chris Kappy, Luke Combs, Big Machine Music’s Tali Canterbury, and Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar. Photo: Courtesy of Big Machine Music

Big Machine Music (BMM) has signed artist/songwriter Luke Combs to an exclusive songwriting agreement in a joint venture with 50 Egg Music, owned by fellow BMM writer Jonathan Singleton.

Combs relocated to Nashville from North Carolina in 2014 and signed a deal with The River House Artists/Columbia Nashville as an artist. His co-written debut single, “Hurricane,” is currently in the Top 40 from a forthcoming album, This One’s For You.

Combs will join Brantley Gilbert’s Devil Don’t Sleep Tour 2017 after he wraps on the road with Corey Smith. Combs’ solo dates include Nashville’s Exit/In on Oct. 19 and a Grand Ole Opry debut on Oct. 29.

Emily West Signs With Deluge Music

Pictured (L-R): Stephanie Greene; Mark Friedman, President Deluge Music; Emily West; David Robkin, Managing Director.

Emily West has signed with Deluge Music for a worldwide publishing agreement. West was a recent runner-up on America’s Got Talent, with her rendition of Sia’s “Chandelier” garnering more than 2 million views on YouTube.