Music News (8/5/20)

BMI Moves Annual Country Awards Celebration Online

BMI announced Aug. 5 that it will not hold its 68th annual Country Awards as an in-person event this year, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The company will instead celebrate the achievements of its country music songwriters and publishers with a special online tribute on BMI.com and across its social media channels. As in previous years, BMI will honor the Country Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Publisher of the Year and the 50 most-performed country songs of the previous year.

“While we would have loved to gather together for our annual tribute to the best in country music, it’s just not possible this year,” said Clay Bradley, VP, Creative, Nashville. “But as BMI always does, we will give our family of songwriters and publishers a special celebration to honor their achievements and their incredible songs, even during this unusual season. Now more than ever, music is a healing and inspiring force and we are grateful for all of our songwriters and their creative artistry.”

BMI plans to hold its Country Awards in-person in 2021, in the newly climate-controlled event space at the BMI Nashville offices.

Last year, artists and songwriters including Dwight Yoakam, Nicolle Galyon, and Ross Copperman were among those taking home top honors during the 2019 BMI Country Awards.
 

Sony/ATV and TwentySeven Music Publishing Extend Partnership, Sign Jimmie Allen

Jimmie Allen. Photo: Dustin Haney

Sony/ATV Music Publishing and TwentySeven Music Publishing, led by industry executive Barry Weiss and songwriter and producer Jenna Andrews, announced they have extended their creative partnership and signed platinum-selling singer-songwriter Jimmie Allen to a worldwide publishing deal.

Since its establishment in 2019, Weiss, Andrews, and the TwentySeven team have signed talent including Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock from Little Mix, Mike Sonier, co-writer of the global hit “July” by Noah Cyrus, songwriter and producer Black Mayo, known for crafting Platinum single “Valentino” by 24kGoldn and Gold single “Pull Up” by Lil Mosey, rising Atlanta rapper Baby Plug, and recent signing KBFR, known for his single “Hood Baby,” which has become a viral sensation.

Allen has earned No. 1 hits with “Best Shot” and “Make Me Want To” from his debut album Mercury Lane. Allen also made history with the album’s success as the first Black artist to launch their career with two consecutive No. 1 hits on country radio.

He recently released the collaboration project Bettie James, which features his fellow artists including Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Mickey Guyton, Nelly, Noah Cyrus, The Oak Ridge Boys, Rita Wilson, Tauren Wells and Tim McGraw. The album’s “Good Times Roll” with Nelly reached No. 1 on iTunes.

Sony/ATV Chairman and CEO Jon Platt said, “Barry and Jenna continue to be first-rate creative partners for Sony/ATV and I’m eager to continue our work together. It is also an honor to support the career of Jimmie Allen, as he continues to break down barriers in music and inspire a new generation of fans.”

Sony/ATV Nashville Vice President, Creative Anna Weisband said, “We are so excited to have Jimmie Allen officially join our Sony/ATV family. His work ethic and creativity inspire us all to take his already amazing career to the next level. There is no limit on what we will achieve together with his multi-faceted songwriting and big picture thinking.”

TwentySeven Music Publishing co-founders Weiss and Andrews said, “We’re delighted to continue our relationship with our partners at Sony/ATV – Jon Platt and Jake Fain are model partners. Jimmie Allen is a generational talent that has a huge career ahead of him. He’s just getting started.”

Allen said, “I have been a fan of Barry Weiss for years. I’ve seen the great artists he has worked with and is working with. Super fired up about signing with his company. I’m looking forward to working with the entire team at TwentySeven Music Publishing and Sony/ATV and seeing what kind of timeless music magic we can create to inspire future songwriters and artists for generations to come.”

Pictured (Top row): Jacob Fain, Ash Bowers, Jenna Andrews. (Middle row): Jimmie Allen, Barry Weiss, Anna Weisband. (Bottom row): Jon Platt

Phillip White Inks Co-Pub Deal With FAME Publishing, Attaboy Music Publishing

Phillip White has signed a co-publishing deal with FAME Publishing Co. and White’s Attaboy Music Publishing Worldwide.

White, a writer of three No. 1 hits and an ACM Song of the Year winner, was impacted by Shoals songwriting masters Donnie Fritts and Spooner Oldham as a young man before moving to Nashville. He spent nearly 30 years writing hits for Rascal Flatts (“I’m Moving On”), Reba McEntire (“I’m A Survivor,” “He Gets That From Me”), Blake Shelton (“Nobody But Me”) and George Strait (“If It Wasn’t For Texas”). Vince Gill, Darius Rucker, Jake Owen, Luke Bryan, Wynonna and many more have recorded White’s songs.

“I’ve been a big fan of his for a long time,” says Rodney Hall, Co-President of FAME Publishing Co. “I’m happy to have him home.”

White has recently written and recorded an album, Movin’ On Sessions Vol. 2, at FAME Recording Studios with producer James LeBlanc. The album features many legendary musicians and special guests, and many of the new songs on the album are part of the catalogue that FAME Publishing Co. has acquired.
 

On The Cover: Reba McEntire Graces MusicRow Awards Print Issue

Reba McEntire graces the cover of MusicRow Magazine’s 2020 MusicRow Awards issue, which highlights the nominees for this year’s MusicRow Awards. This year’s honorees will be announced virtually among multiple MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. Presenting Sponsor of the 2020 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Click here to see the complete list of nominees.

This print issue also honors the Top 10 Album All-Star Musicians Awards, which will also be announced on Aug. 18, recognizing the studio players who played on the most albums reaching the Top 10 of Billboard‘s Country Albums Chart during the eligibility period.

Other content in this issue includes features on the future of live shows, a look at diversity within country music, a tribute to the late studio musician and longtime Grand Ole Opry guitarist Jimmy Capps, a deep dive into how music studios are facing the ongoing pandemic, and a roundup of music industry awards.

Multi-media entertainment mogul Reba McEntire has become a household name through a successful career that spans across music, television, film, theater and retail. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Hollywood Bowl member has won 16 ACM Awards, 15 American Music Awards, nine People’s Choice Awards, six CMA Awards, three Grammy Awards, one GMA Dove Award and was a 2018 Kennedy Center Honors recipient, in addition to multiple philanthropic and leadership honors. The Oklahoma native and Golden Globe nominated actress has 11 movie credits to her name, a lead role on Broadway in Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun and starred in the six-season television sitcom Reba.

In February 2020, Reba announced she will return to her original label home, Universal Music Group Nashville, where she spent the first 32 years of her famed career. During her time on both Mercury and MCA Records, two of the four labels that form Universal Music Group Nashville, Reba celebrated unprecedented success including 33 of her 35 career No. 1 singles and selling over 56 million albums worldwide. Her timeless hits include “Whoever’s In New England,” “Rumor Has It,” “Is There Life Out There,” “The Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia,” “Does He Love You” and more. Most recently, Reba released her acclaimed album, Read My Mind, on vinyl for the first time in celebration of its 25th Anniversary. The album includes hits such as “Why Haven’t I Heard From You” and “She Thinks His Name Was John.” Reba McEntire is set to re-release her iconic album Rumor Has It on Sept. 11 in honor of the record’s 30th Anniversary. Originally released in 1990, Rumor Has It has been certified three-times Platinum by the RIAA and features the classic hits “Fancy,” “You Lie” as well as “Fallin’ Out Of Love.”

LABEL: Universal Music Group Nashville
CURRENT ALBUM: Rumor Has It 30th anniversary edition
CURRENT PRODUCER: Buddy Cannon
CURRENT PUBLISHER: Given Music Publishing
PRO: ASCAP
MANAGEMENT: Maverick
BOOKING: WME
RECENT HITS: “Back To God,” “Consider Me Gone,” “Turn On The Radio”
AWARDS: 16 ACM, 15 American Music, nine People’s Choice, six CMA, three GRAMMY, one GMA Dove Award, 2018 Kennedy Center Honors, Country Music Hall of Fame, Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame
RIAA CERTS TO DATE: 40M+
SPECIAL TV APPEARANCES: six seasons on Reba TV show; Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway (2001); Spies In Disguise 2019 animated movie with Will Smith; movie debut in Tremors
BIRTHDAY: March 28, 1955
HOMETOWN: Chockie, OK
INTERESTING FACTS: Grew up on a working cattle ranch; father was a three-time world champion steer roper; discovered singing National Anthem at NFR; KFC’s first female colonel; boot line Reba by Justin with Justin Boots; 10+ year clothing line at Dillard’s
MUSICAL INFLUENCES: Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Barbara Mandrell
FAVORITE RECORDS: “Jolene,” “If You’re Not Gone Too Long,” “Till I Can Make It On My Own,” “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool”

Single copies of MusicRow’s 2020 MusicRow Awards print issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $20, and are included with yearly MusicRow memberships. Please note that issues of MusicRow Magazine’s MusicRow Awards issue can only be purchased online as the MusicRow building is currently closed to the public due to COVID-19.