Music News (2/23/22)

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EMG Acquires Catalog Of Hits By Jimmie Allen, Ash Bowers, & Trent Tomlinson

Pictured (L-R): Ash Bowers, Jimmie Allen

Endurance Music Group (EMG) has acquired a catalog of country hits written by Jimmie Allen, Ash Bowers and Trent Tomlinson during the trio’s term as Wide Open Music songwriters. The acquisition serves as a follow-on investment to the purchase of Wide Open Music in 2020 and a continuation of EMG’s strategy of sourcing and acquiring music.

Among the hits included in the purchased catalog are Tomlinson’s BMI Country Song of the Year, “In Case You Didn’t Know” (Brett Young), the Bowers No. 1 hit “Prayed for You” (Matt Stell), and all three of Allen’s chart-topping singles: “Best Shot,” “Make Me Want To,” and the recent Billboard Country Airplay No. 1, “Freedom Was a Highway.”

“We are so excited to further strengthen our existing partnership with Jimmie and Ash,” shares EMG Chairman and CEO Jeremy Tucker. “Their songwriting skills are undeniable, as they’ve proven time and again with the hits they’ve created. We’re thrilled to be the new home of this incredible catalog.”

“Working with the Endurance team has been such a pleasure for both Jimmie and I over the past couple of years, so it only makes sense for us to continue to build on that relationship,” adds Bowers.
 

HomeGrown Trio Inks Publishing Deal With Warner Chappell Nashville

Pictured (L-R): Ben Vaughn (WCM), Tom Becci (Red Light), Katelyn O’Donoghue, Kasey O’Donoghue, Liam O’Donoghue, Christina Wiltshire (WCM), Autumn House (Red Light)

Warner Chappell Music (WCM) Nashville has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Australian group, HomeGrown Trio.

The band, comprised of siblings Katelyn, Kasey, and Liam O’Donoghue, moved halfway around the world to Nashville in 2021 and landed an opening slot on the Jonas Brothers’ fall tour.

Growing up in Northern Queensland, Australia, the trio found their love for music on their family’s massive cattle ranch. They participated in competitions and festivals around Australia, building up a local fan base in the process.

The siblings appeared on The Voice Australia in 2018 where they earned a four chair turnaround from the coaches, ultimately choosing Joe Jonas as their coach. Jonas later signed them to his record label, Let’s Get It Records.

Christina Wiltshire, A&R Director, WCM Nashville shares: “I started following HomeGrown Trio a few years back, when they still lived in Australia. I was instantly drawn to their artistic, yet commercial songwriting and effortless sibling harmonies. When I finally got to meet them, their warm personalities and strong work ethic stood out to me. It just felt right!”

“We’re so excited to be working with Warner Chappell. Moving to Nashville has always been a dream of ours and to be here, working with such an amazing team is an honor,” the band adds. “We can’t wait to continue working and elevating our music among the incredible roster of writers and producers. They have made us feel right at home and we’re over the moon to be a part of the Warner Chappell family.”

HomeGrown is currently serving up a series of singles with plans for their forthcoming debut EP, in partnership with Universal’s Republic Records and Universal Nashville, to be released in 2022.

The band is managed by Tom Becci and Autumn House of Red Light Management.
 

AIMP To Host David Israelite for an NMPA Publishing Update Webinar

The AIMP LA Chapter will welcome NMPA President & CEO David Israelite to a special webinar this Thursday, Feb. 24. The webinar will take place at 3 p.m. CT. Registration is free for AIMP members and $5 for non-members. To register click here.

The webinar will provide attendees with updates on the most recent legislative and industry developments affecting publishers, songwriters, and the users of their works. With the music industry continuing to evolve and with the upcoming CRB Phono IV hearings, this conversation will be timely and important.

Israelite has held his position as President and CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) since February 2005. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of NMPA’s operations, from legal strategy and implementation to government affairs and advocacy.

Under his leadership, the NMPA has achieved many successes on behalf of publishers, including the largest CRB rate increase in history, groundbreaking industry collaboration in royalty rate agreements, landmark settlements and model licenses with streaming platforms, and raising the profile of the publishing community. Additionally, Israelite was instrumental in guiding the effort to modernize copyright laws culminating in the Music Modernization Act (MMA) and the subsequent creation of the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC).
 

J.T. Harding: ‘This Is The Book I Wish I Had When I Tried To Get Into The Music Business’ [Interview]

J.T. Harding. Photo: Fred Hayes

Hit country songwriter J.T. Harding has celebrated his fair share of successes, with seven No. 1s under his belt, including “Somewhere In My Car” (Keith Urban), “Somewhere With You” (Kenny Chesney), “Sangria” (Blake Shelton), “Alone With You” (Jake Owen), “Beers and Sunshine” (Darius Rucker), “Smile” (Uncle Kracker), and “Different For Girls” (Dierks Bentley).

With quite the wild story to tell and plenty of experience as a songwriter in the country music industry, the accomplished tunesmith has put it all to paper in his new book, Party Like A Rockstar: The Crazy, Coincidental, Hard-Luck, and Harmonious Life of a Songwriter. The engaging page-turner is available everywhere books are sold today (Feb. 22).

Described as a memoir, a self-help book, and a how-to guide for aspiring songwriters, Party Like A Rockstar chronicles Harding’s life from being adopted at a young age, growing up in southern Detroit in a family of sports fanatics, and discovering his love for music.

“Like most kids, I was jumping around to the radio and putting KISS makeup on while listening to my KISS and Journey records,” Harding shares with MusicRow. “One day, like an alien landing, MTV came blasting into my living room and I felt like Dorothy going from black and white Kansas to technicolor Oz. I could not believe MTV. I wanted to crawl inside the TV and get into that world.”

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