Music News (3/8/17)

25th Annual Tin Pan South Announces Performers, Schedule

Fast Access passes for the 25th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival are sold out, but cash options at the door will be available for more than 100 shows March 28-April 1, 2017.

For a full schedule of over 400 songwriters playing throughout Nashville, visit tinpansouth.com.

Universal Music Publishing Group Extends Deal With Eric Arjes

(L-R): Cyndi Forman, UMPG VP, Creative; Kent Earls, UMPG Nashville Executive VP/General Manager; Eric Arjes; Missy Roberts, UMPG Nashville Sr. Creative Director; Ron Stuve, UMPG Nashville VP Creative; and Travis Gordon, UMPG Sr. Creative Director

Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville has re-signed Eric Arjes.

Since first signing with UMPG in 2013, the songwriter, producer, and artist has written numerous songs for Tim McGraw, Ryan Hurd, Thompson Square and the Newsboys. Arjes has gained over a million Spotify streams from his single, “Find My Way Back,” which was featured in the MTV show Teen Wolf. In the last three years, his songs have also been featured in various films and commercials, including spots for Walmart, Pringles, Hersheys, as well as on The Best Of Me, and The Walking Dead, among others.

Arjes recently released a new EP, Unbroken, featuring the song “On My Shoulder,” which was included on Apple Music’s “Today’s Hits” playlist.

James Slater Signs With BMG

Pictured (L-R): Chris Oglesby – VP Creative BMG Nashville; Lynn Morrow – Adams and Reese, LLP; Sara Knabe – VP Creative BMG Nashville; Jody Williams – Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI Nashville; Kos Weaver – Executive VP BMG Nashville and James Slater (seated)

BMG has signed veteran songwriter James Slater to an exclusive publishing deal.

Slater hails from the Panama Canal Zone and has called Music City home for over 15 years. He has had songs recorded by Willie Nelson, Julio Iglesias, Carrie Underwood, Enrique Iglesias, Kenny Chesney and many others. His songs “In My Daughter’s Eyes” by Martina McBride and “The High Cost Of Living” by Jamey Johnson have both been nominated for Grammys.

Sea Gayle Music Extends Deal With Brent Anderson

Brent Anderson

Sea Gayle Music has re-signed songwriter Brent Anderson. The Pascagoula, Mississippi native has been a part of Sea Gayle since 2009.

Anderson’s success can be found in his 18 cuts in 18 months with songs recorded by artists like Brad Paisley, Dustin Lynch and Cadillac Three. His credits also include the No. 1 hit “Lonely Tonight” by Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe and other singles, “Cold Beer With Your Name On It” (Josh Thompson) and “Callin’ Me When I’m Lonely” (Sheryl Crow). He has the current Jackie Lee single, “Gettin’ Over You.” Anderson is also known for producing records including Chris Janson’s No. 1 hit “Buy Me A Boat” for Warner Brothers, CJ Solar’s debut EP on Sea Gayle Records, as well as fellow Sea Gayle artist Mike Ryan’s album Bad Reputation.

Clay Mills Signs With MV2 Entertainment

Pictured (L-R, standing): MV2 Entertainment GM Tony Harrell, Linda Edell Howard (Adams and Reese), MV2 Entertainment Sr. Creative Director Artist Development Clay Myers. Pictured (L-R, seated): MV2 Entertainment Creative Director Kendall Lettow, Clay Mills, Kelly Donley (Safford Motley). Photo: Betsy Barbour

Clay Mills has joined the roster at MV2 Entertainment.

Mills grew up surrounded by music in the Mississippi Delta and since moving to Nashville has had more than 75 major cuts, including four No. 1s, six Top 5 singles, and 12 Top 40 singles. Over the course of his career, he’s penned No. 1 hits for Darius Rucker (“Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It”), Diamond Rio (“Beautiful Mess”), and Kimberley Locke (“Fall”), and more than 80 of his songs have been recorded by artists including Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, and Easton Corbin.

WME Signs Austin Burke

Pictured (L-R) front: Austin Mullins, WME; Sherrie Austin, Go Long Entertainment; Will Rambeau, Go Long Entertainment; Sloane Logue, WME; Greg Oswald, WME; Jeff Davis, Go Long Entertainment. Back: Austin Burke

WME has signed West Coast-influenced country artist Austin Burke.

Burke is set to release an EP later this month. His current single, “Sleepin’ Around,” is on rotation with SiriusXM’s The Highway and has already accrued over 775K spins on Spotify. Burke got his start in music at age 3, when he performed the national anthem for the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Arizona native moved to Nashville by way of southern California.

Burke is managed by Sherrié Austin and Will Rambeaux at Go Long Entertainment, LLC.