Music News (3/30/22)

Seventh Annual AIMP Nashville Songwriter Series Celebrates Emerging Writers

Pictured (L-R): John Ozier (Reservoir Media, AIMP National Chair & Nashville President), Dan Wilson (Black River Publishing), Jenna LaMaster (Sheltered Music / 50 Egg Music), Rocky Block (Big Loud Publishing), Jonathan Hutcherson (Creative Nation), Jared Scott (Plaid Flag Music / Kobalt), Matt Jenkins (Madfun Entertainment / Warner Chappell), Duff Berschback (Concord Music, AIMP Nashville Board member), Emily Boardman (Hipgnosis Songs, AIMP Nashville Treasurer), Corey Crowder (Tree Vibez Music), Kendall Lettow (peermusic, AIMP Nashville Admin Asst), Courtney Kruckeberg (Endurance Music Group, AIMP Nashville Admin Director). Not Pictured: Ben Chapman

The Nashville Chapter of the AIMP (Association of Independent Music Publishers) held its seventh annual AIMP Nashville Songwriter Series this week at the Listening Room Cafe.

The event, sponsored by Endurance Music Group, featured two rounds of up-and-coming songwriters invited to join the prestigious class, including Rocky Block, Ben Chapman, Jonathan Hutcherson, Jenna LaMaster, Jared Scott, and Dan Wilson. Hosted by hit songwriters Corey Crowder and Matt Jenkins, the round allowed for each of the class members to perform two songs and share the stories behind them with the audience.

Past performers in the AIMP Nashville Songwriter Series have gone on to achieve great success as both songwriters and artists. In order to qualify for the class, each of the songwriters must not have had a song charting higher than a top 20 on the Billboard or Mediabase country charts. They are selected by a special committee made up of music industry professionals, based on submissions from current AIMP Nashville members.

Since its inception in 2015, the AIMP Nashville Songwriter Series has established itself as an indicator of what’s to come from the thriving independent music publishing community.
 

NSAI Announces Winners Of 22nd Annual Song Contest

Tarrah Walson & James Maltese

NSAI has announced the winners of its 22nd Annual Song Contest. Tarrah Walston of Nashville took home the Grand Prize for her submission “Tabs On You,” while James Maltese of Princeton, New Jersey is the Lyric-Only winner for his submission “Ferris Wheels.”

Walston was awarded $5,000 cash; a mentoring session with hit songwriter Rhett Akins; NSAI and CMT prize packs, including tickets to the CMT awards; and a one-year single-song publishing contract with Anthem Entertainment. She will also take part in the 30th anniversary Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival where she’ll perform the winning song at the Hard Rock Cafe Nashville tonight (March 29) to open the round featuring Jamie Floyd, Ty Herndon, Jake Hoot and Rachel Thibodeau.

Maltese won a mentoring session with hit songwriter Ali Tamposi; $2,500 cash; an NSAI prize pack, including a new acoustic guitar; and more.

In addition to the prize packages given, the nine song category runners-up will each receive a meeting with an industry professional and a one-year NSAI membership. The Lyric-Only category runner-up receives an event certificate to attend one of NSAI’s education events as well as a one-year NSAI membership.

The contest was presented by The Bluebird Cafe and CMT, with final judging held at Anthem Entertainment in Nashville. In total, the contest had nearly 2,500 entries and, after several rounds of judging, 22 songs placed in this year’s competition.

The judging panel featured Kelly Archer (professional songwriter), Fletcher Foster (President and CEO of F2 Entertainment Group), Leslie Fram (Senior Vice President, Music Strategy and Talent at CMT), Erika Wollam Nichols (COO and General Manager of The Bluebird Cafe), and Tim Wipperman (President of Publishing at Anthem Entertainment Nashville). Full list of winners here.
 

Conner Smith Inks With Warner Chappell, Home Team & Miller Crow Music For Publishing

Pictured (L-R, top row): Virginia Bunetta (Home Team), Spencer Nohe (WCM), Zach Crowell (MCM), Ben Vaughn (WCM); (L-R, bottom row): Conner Smith, Thomas Rhett (Home Team)

Rising singer-songwriter Conner Smith has signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music, in partnership with Thomas Rhett’s Home Team and Miller Crow Music.

Smith recently released his debut collection Didn’t Go Too Far on The Valory Music Co., which featured his current single “Learn From It” and viral hit “I Hate Alabama.” The 21-year-old Nashville native has been writing songs since he was 6 years old, and aligned with BMI at age 9.

Smith, who has been named to many prestigious artist-to-watch lists since debuting on the country scene, has scored opening slots on Rhett’s “Bring The Bar To You” tour and Ryan Hurd’s “Tour De Pelago.” He has also performed alongside young country favorites including Kane Brown and Sam Hunt, and is managed by Homestead Music.

“I couldn’t feel more thankful to get to center myself and career around people who I respect and trust so much,” Smith shares. “Having people on my team who believe in me the way Home Team, Warner, and Miller Crow do is really a special thing. I’m excited to share this next chapter with people who are dialed into the vision I have for my journey.”
 

Ashley Cooke Inks With Big Loud Records & Back Blocks Music

Pictured (L-R, back row): Drew Magid (Big Loud Management), Jeff Tanner (VP of Business and Legal Affairs, Big Loud Records), Rakiyah Marshall (Founder/CEO, Back Blocks Music), Ashley Cooke, Patch Culbertson (SVP/GM, Big Loud Records), Candice Watkins (SVP of Marketing, Big Loud Records), Eric England (VP of Data & Analytics, Big Loud Records), Michael Giangreco (Sr. Director of A&R, Big Loud Publishing); (L-R, front row): Adam Romaine (Creative Director, Big Loud Publishing), Kennedy Murphy (Back Blocks Music), Kimberly Gleason (VP, Big Loud Publishing), Seth England (CEO/Partner, Big Loud), Katie Flynn (Creative Director, Big Loud Publishing), Tori Johnson (VP of Creative, Big Loud Records). Photo: Chris Hornbuckle

Rising country artist Ashley Cooke has signed a co-venture record deal with Big Loud Records and Back Blocks Music. She will also be represented by Big Loud / Back Blocks Music for publishing.

Cooke made her country music debut with her 2021 project Already Drank That Beer, which has already racked up over 30 million streams in seven months. Since joining TikTok in 2020, Cooke has amassed a following of over 885K followers and nearly 12 million likes. She has repeatedly topped the iTunes country charts with numerous releases such as fan favorite “Good Goodbye” and standout track “Never Til Now.”

“From the second I walked into Big Loud, it felt like home. They met me where I was, recognizing all I had built independently while also showing me how they could pour gasoline on the fire that had already started,” shares Cooke. “Getting to partner with not only Big Loud but also my champion since day one, Rakiyah Marshall / Back Blocks, is an absolute dream team and I couldn’t be more excited and confident to be joining the roster.”

Cooke started 2022 by being named one of Spotify’s Hot Country Artist To Watch. She is currently performing on Cole Swindell’s “Down To The Bar Tour,” and is preparing to release music throughout the year, recently teasing an all-new duet of “Never Til Now” alongside country superstar Brett Young.