Music News (5/6/20)

NSAI Names Executive Committee Members, Welcomes Newest Board Members

The Nashville Songwriters Association International Board of Directors had its initial meeting of the 2020-21 term, which runs May through April, marking the first meeting for newly-elected members J.T. Harding, Josh Kear, Jon Nite and Emily Shackelton.

During the meeting, the Board re-elected the current Executive Committee and officers for a one-year term including President Steve Bogard, Legislative Co-Chairs Roger Brown and Lee Thomas Miller, Industry Liaison Brett James, Sergeant-At-Arms Bobby Tomberlin, Secretary Byron Hill, Treasurer Jenn Schott and At-Large Members Tim Nichols, Anthony L. Smith and Danny Wells.

The full 27-member NSAI Board includes songwriters: Rhett Akins, Jim Beavers, Steve Bogard, Roger Brown, Sarah Buxton, Jeff Cohen, Chris DeStefano, Nicolle Galyon, Brett James, J.T. Harding, Byron Hill, Josh Kear, Lee Thomas Miller, Tim Nichols, Jon Nite, Josh Osborne, Liz Rose, Rivers Rutherford, Jenn Schott, Emily Shackelton, Anthony L. Smith, Caitlyn Smith, Bobby Tomberlin, Laura Veltz, Troy Verges, Danny Wells and Jimmy Yeary.
 

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville Signs Gabby Barrett To Global Publishing Deal

Pictured (Front row, L-R): Rusty Gaston, Gabby Barrett, Dane Schmidt. (Back row, L-R): Tom Luteran, Mya Hansen, Josh Van Valkenburg, Anna Weisband, Katie Kerkhover, Brooke Yancey (Red Light Management), Tom Lord (Manager, Red Light Management)

Singer/songwriter Gabby Barrett’s career trajectory has skyrocketed since she released her debut single “I Hope.” The song, which Barrett also co-wrote, recently became her very first No. 1 single on country radio and has been certified Platinum.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville announced Barrett has signed with the company for an exclusive global publishing administration deal.

Sony/ATV Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston said, “Gabby Barrett is special, and her music reminds us of that with every listen—her willingness to express both strength and vulnerability in her songs is going to take her a long way. On behalf of Sony/ATV Nashville, we are pleased to have her join the team, and we look forward to watching her star rise.”

“I Hope,” with its R&B-infused vibe and attention-grabbing chorus, driven by Barrett’s powerhouse vocal delivery, became the first solo female debut single to top the country radio charts since 2017. The song has reigned as the No. 1 streamed country single in the United States for three consecutive weeks and also reached No. 16 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 chart.

Barrett has been singing since age 9, and was performing across the United States by age 11. She was later scouted for ABC’s American Idol, where she became a Top 3 finalist. To date, she has accumulated more than 260 million streams, and has opened concerts for Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Toby Keith, Chris Lane, Dustin Lynch, Jake Owen, Bebe Rexha, Cole Swindell, Sugarland, and Carrie Underwood.

Click here to read the full article on musicrow.com.

AFM, SAG-AFTRA Announce Record-Breaking Royalty Payments For Session Musicians, Singers

The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) and SAG-AFTRA announced that the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund has distributed $62 million in royalties to session musicians and singers — the largest distribution in the fund’s history.

The fund distributes domestic royalties that are required to be paid from interactive digital streaming providers to session vocalists and musicians. The fund also distributes royalties from various foreign performance rights organizations to U.S. session musicians and singers. More than 42,000 session musicians and singers in all 50 states, as well as Canada and other countries, will receive payment, with payment amounts averaging $1,500. The fund distributed $60 million in 2019 and has distributed more than $430 million since it was established in 2008.

“This is great news at such a difficult time for musicians. This fund provides for session players who live gig to gig, and there has never been a greater need for royalty income than right now, with the extensive cancellation of live performances,” said AFM International President Ray Hair.

“The music industry has been massively impacted by COVID-19, and no one more so than performers whose touring work has been halted and whose recordings are mostly cancelled. We’re proud of the fund’s commitment and diligence in ensuring that the distribution of royalties will reach tens of thousands of performers at a time when that financial security is needed more than ever,” said SAG-AFTRA’s Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.

Hair and Crabtree-Ireland also stated there is insufficient information to process payments for some performers and encouraged all musicians and vocalists to visit afmsagaftrafund.org/unclaimed-royalties.php to see if they may be owed a distribution of funds.
 

Big Yellow Dog Music Signs Clare Dunn

Big Yellow Dog Music has signed Clare Dunn to its publishing and label roster. Her new single “Safe Haven” is now available via Big Yellow Dog Music.

Colorado-born Dunn’s songs reflect her rural upbringing and life raised on a family farm, blended with an array of music influences she gained through years spent at a small hometown dance studio.

“I was exposed to every genre imaginable and grew to have a deep appreciation for the history of it’s roots,” says Dunn. “I’m passionate about making music and playing it. Any day I get to do that is a vacation day.”

“I got a call from one of our BYD artists who told me they had been getting songs from Clare Dunn and asked if I had heard of her,” says Big Yellow Dog Music co-owner and CEO Carla Wallace. “I reached out and couldn’t believe all the hits she was writing. Her voice and sense of style grabbed me immediately. I’m excited to share her music.”