Music News (10/11/17)

MusicRow Magazine Reveals 2017 Publisher Issue Print Magazine

MusicRow, Nashville’s leading music industry publication, is proud to reveal its 2017 Publisher Issue. The October/November print issue highlights the music publishing and songwriting community with one of MusicRow‘s three signature directories, this with premier music publishers.

The 72-page magazine’s in-depth coverage begins with asking why Facebook has not paid for music on its website. Royalty coverage using “Stem” is also covered as is a finance piece on songwriter catalog sales and go-forward deals while a four part interview covers modern publisher services with Michael McAnally Baum (SMACK), Beth Laird (Creative Nation), Frank Liddell (Carnival Music) and Carla Wallace (Big Yellow Dog).

Songwriters discuss their creative process in the signature spread Writers’ Notes, including Andy Albert (Downtown), Emily Weisband (THiS), Paul DiGiovanni (UMPG), Luke Dick (Little Louder) and Michael Tyler (peer). Edit also extends to WordCountry’s Janine Appleton, Sony ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg, UMPG’s Kent Earls with writer Kane Brown, and the NMPA’s David Israelite.

At the heart of the print magazine is the 2017 music publisher directory. The Publisher Issue includes Nashville-pertinent publishing houses in addition to organizations, services and unions while pulling out a helpful appendix for songpluggers and administration companies listed within the book.

“MusicRow’s annual Publisher Issue shines a much-deserved spotlight on tunesmiths and publishers who make up the cornerstone of our industry, one song at a time,” says MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. “The 2017 Publisher Issue is a must-have resource for members of the music industry to keep on-hand year round.”

Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville’s rising star, Devin Dawson, graces the cover of the 2017 Publisher Issue. The edgy, California native signed a co-publishing deal with Jay Joyce’s Neon Cross and Warner/Chappell in 2015 before going on to sign his major label deal. Dawson will release his forthcoming debut, Dark Horse, as a follow-up to the lead single, “All On Me,” which he co-wrote with fraternal twin brother and videographer Jacob Durrett and guitarist Austin Smith. 

Single copies of MusicRow‘s Publisher Issue print issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $30, and are included with yearly subscriptions. 

THiS Music, Warner/Chappell Nashville Sign Chris Stevens

Pictured (Back row, L-R): THiS Music’s Tim Nichols; Ben Vaughn, President WC Nashville; THiS Music’s Connie Harrington & Camille Kenny. Pictured (Front row, L-R): THiS Music’s Rusty Gaston; Chris Stevens; THiS Music’s Anna Weisband

THiS Music/Warner Chappell Nashville have signed Chris Stevens, a four-time Grammy-winning producer and songwriter from Eugene, Oregon. Stevens has worked with many of the top artists in Christian music including TobyMac, Mandisa and Colton Dixon.

Stevens did keyboard/programming work on the Carrie Underwood hit “Cowboy Cassanova,” and provided instrumental and programming work on Blake Shelton’s Red River Blue album. Stevens also has co-writing credits on Morgan Wallen’s EP The Way I Talk, and Lindsay Ell’s The Project, among others.

He’s a three-time BMI Christian Songwriter Of The Year Winner and a 12-time Dove Award recipient. Stevens’ songs can be found on current and upcoming country projects by Jason Aldean, Drew Baldridge, Justin Moore and Logan Mize.

The Bass Brothers Sign With BMI

Pictured (L-R): Nate Bass, BMI’s David Preston, Mark Bass and Kieran Bass celebrate The Bass Brother’s affiliation with BMI.

The Bass Brothers stopped by the BMI Nashville offices following their recent move from the UK to affiliate as songwriters. The British trio has roots in the pop world and recorded several albums on Universal in their early days before making the move to Nashville.