Music News (3/9/22)

My Music Row Story: ASCAP’s Mike Sistad

Mike Sistad

The “My Music Row Story” weekly column features notable members of the Nashville music industry selected by the MusicRow editorial team. These individuals serve in key roles that help advance and promote the success of our industry. This column spotlights the invaluable people that keep the wheels rolling and the music playing.

Minnesota native and music industry executive Mike Sistad has worked on both the creative and business sides of the music business. As a musician, he has performed across most of North America, including stops at the Houston Rodeo and Calgary Stampede, as well as radio and TV performances including Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion and the Grand Ole Opry.

A Belmont University graduate, Sistad has worked with legendary Muscle Shoals producer/musician Barry Beckett; as an A&R executive for Tim DuBois and Mike Dungan with Arista Records Nashville; and as a band member for 2-time ASCAP Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year Phil Vassar.

In 2001, the late, legendary Connie Bradley enlisted Sistad to join the ASCAP Membership team. In his current role as VP of Nashville Membership, Sistad continues to work with all aspects of the music industry as it pertains to songwriters, artists and publishing companies. He has contributed to the success of Chris Stapleton, Kelsea Ballerini, Old Dominion, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce and many others. Sistad previously served as both a Board Governor and Chapter Advisor for the Nashville Chapter of the Recording Academy in addition to being an AIMP Nashville board member, CMA, ACM member and Leadership Music alumni.

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Reservoir Signs Shelby Darrall To Publishing Deal [Exclusive]

Pictured (L-R): T.D. Ruth (Serling Rooks Hunter McKoy Worob & Averill LLP), Greg Gallo (Reservoir), Shelby Darrall, John Ozier (Reservoir), Autumn Ledgin (Good Company Entertainment)

Singer-songwriter Shelby Darrall has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Reservoir. She is represented by Meredith Jones and Evan Kantor at CAA, as well as Autumn Ledgin at Good Company Entertainment for management.

A California native, Darrall’s love of music was sparked by her father, Chuck, and his band SilverCreek. Growing up, she performed in tasting rooms of wineries throughout Napa Valley and later moved to Nashville to pursue music and finish school at Belmont University. Since then, she has co-written with esteemed industry veterans Brett James, Troy Verges, and Emily Weisband, and collaborated with artists such as Jake Owen, Larry Fleet, and Josh Kerr.

“From the second we heard Shelby’s new music, we knew we had to sign her. We are happy to support Shelby as an artist on the rise and look forward to many successes together with her and the team,” says John Ozier, EVP of Creative at Reservoir.

Last week, Darrall released “Love Me When I’m Leavin’,” the first song off her forthcoming debut EP, Entertainment For The Brokenhearted, which is expected out later this year. Written by Darrall, along with Verges and Jake Mitchell, the track is the first in a series of autobiographical songs from the Ron Fair-produced debut project.
 

Ty Herndon Inks Multi-Project Deal With Pivotal Moments Media [Exclusive]

Pictired (L-R, front row): Ty Herndon; )L-R, back row): Steve Dady of Sunset Blvd Studios, Herndon’s long-time lead guitarist and producer, Erik Halbig, Fusion Entertainment Company’s Amy Aylward, and Pivotal Moments Media Director of Nashville, Tamara Alan. Photo: Courtesy of AristoPR

Multi-Platinum recording artist Ty Herndon has partnered with Pivotal Moments Media (PMM) for his next three projects, including his upcoming album, Jacob, set to be released this spring.

In addition to the new album, Herndon will host a new, ten-episode podcast called Soundboard on the PMM platform channel Resilience, featuring conversations with high-profile artists discussing their wins and struggles in their mental fitness journeys. The series is designed to mirror the themes of Herndon’s new album and will be released alongside the album in late spring.

Pivotal Moments Media is a newly formed global entertainment and education brand. Aiming to strengthen mental fitness by creating, distributing, and promoting entertainment and education programs, PPM serves to inspire and motivate people to become mentally fit, overcome adversity, and lead fulfilling lives.

Herndon burst onto the country scene and made his chart debut in 1995 with “What Mattered Most,” which became his first No. 1 song and garnered MusicRow Magazine’s Song of the Year award. His first album, of the same name, debuted on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and had the biggest first-week shipment in the history of Epic Records Nashville. Between 1995 and 2002, Herndon charted 17 singles, including his three No. 1s and numerous top 10 hits.

In 2014, Herndon became one of the first major country artists to publicly come out as gay. Shortly after, he made history when he hosted a first-of-its-kind country music event, The Concert for Love and Acceptance, now an annual event that provides a stage for LGBTQ and allied artists. In 2020, he created the Foundation For Love & Acceptance to further his work on behalf of LGBTQ acceptance.