Music News (6/3/20)

“Here’s To You” Singer Abby Bannon Signs With Fourward Music

Abby Bannon

Abby Bannon has plenty to celebrate today. The 18-year-old graduated from high school—and signed a publishing deal with Nashville-based Fourward Music.

Bannon’s song “Here’s To You,” which she co-wrote with two friends earlier this year after learning that her high school in Crawfordsville, Indiana would keep its doors closed through the remainder of the school year, has earned more than one million digital streams.

“We are excited to have Abby Bannon signed to our publishing roster!” said Shannan Hatch, President of Fourward Music. “She is a perfect fit to our diverse team and we can’t wait for the world to hear and recognize her talent.”

Bannon, who finished high school in the Top 10 of her class, will enroll at Nashville’s Belmont University, where she will study business and music.

“Here’s To You” is also the official graduation song for Varsity Brands, which offers athletic gear, graduation uniforms and more.
 

Longtime Songwriter Hotspot Douglas Corner Closing Permanently

Nashville’s Douglas Corner Cafe, a longtime favorite spot for music lovers and songwriters, will close its doors for good, according to owner Mervin Louque.

Louque made the announcement on Thursday (May 28) via a video on Douglas Corner’s official Facebook page.

Louque opened Douglas Corner 33 years ago, in 1987, alongside businessman Rick Martin. Since then, the 8th Ave. S. venue has become a place where artists including Alan Jackson, Trisha Yearwood, Billy Dean, Blake Shelton, John Berry and more held early showcases. The venue’s regular songwriter showcases have drawn regular business for years.

According to the Douglas Corner Cafe’s official site, Garth Brooks held his first fan club party at the venue, performing with his band. He presented Louque with the printing plate that was used to make the Fan Fair posters for the event—that plate still hangs on the wall at Douglas Corner.

Others who have performed at the venue include Eric Church, Keith Urban, John Prine and more.

Douglas Corner has been closed since March 15, as have numerous restaurants in Nashville as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Unlike other venues, its doors won’t be reopening.
 

Jim McCormick Signs Publishing Deal With Eclipse Music Group

Jim McCormick has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Eclipse Music Group.

The Grammy-nominated songwriter has had two No. 1s on the charts: Jason Aldean’s “Take A Little Ride,” which spent three weeks at No. 1, and Brantley Gilbert’s “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do.” He is also a co-writer on Gabby Barrett’s new single, “The Good Ones,” which will be released to radio on June 8. His current releases include Kelly Clarkson’s “Minute,” Luke Bryan’s “All My Dreaming There,” Harry Connick Jr’s “I Do Like We Do,” Jon Pardi’s “Lucky Tonight,” and four songs on the new Samantha Fish record. His songs also have been recorded by Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Cody Johnson, Trisha Yearwood, Randy Travis, Ronnie Milsap, Jamey Johnson, Smash Mouth, Tyler Farr and more.

McCormick has served as board governor and vice president for the Recording Academy and on the board of the Nashville Songwriters Association International. He is also a 2013 alumnus of Nashville’s Leadership Music.

McCormick is a faculty member at Loyola University in New Orleans where he teaches songwriting. He has lectured extensively on songwriting at Berklee College of Music, Georgetown University, Vanderbilt University, Belmont University and Tulane University, as well as at GrammyPro and NSAI events. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Georgetown University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from the University of New Orleans. He divides his time between Nashville and New Orleans, where he lives with his wife and three sons. 

Sierra Hull Signs Admin Deal With Reach Music

Sierra Hull has signed an exclusive worldwide administration deal with Reach Music Publishing. The deal is Hull’s first publishing deal, and encompasses her albums released on Rounder Records (Concord), as well as future works.

A Tennessee-raised virtuoso mandolinist and multi-instrumentalist, Hull debuted at the Grand Ole Opry at age 10 and played Carnegie Hall at 12. She landed a record deal with Rounder Records by 13, and was the first woman to win Mandolin Player of the Year at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards. Now 28, she recently released her fourth album on Rounder, 25 Trips, which explores a variety of genres from bluegrass to folk-pop to ethereal alt-rock. The highly personal album represents a new era in Hull’s artistic growth and evolution and features 13 songs all written or co-written by Hull.

Founded by Michael Closter and headquartered in Burbank, California, indie publisher Reach administers the catalogs of John Mayer, Zac Brown, Lisa Loeb, Common, Chuck D, Cindy Morgan, and many others.