Music News (10/26/22)

Discover Sooner Announces Publisher Writer Experience With Jacee Badeaux

Jacee Badeaux

Discover Sooner will host its Publisher Writer Experience interactive mentoring program with Jacee Badeaux, Creative Director at Big Yellow Dog Music.

Seeking to help the next generation of songwriters and artists expand their network of publishers and music professionals, the program is designed for songwriters and artists. Songwriters will meet one-on-one for three months with Badeaux, who advises commercially successful writers, including Meghan Trainor, Tenille Townes, Jessie James Decker and Logan Mize. He’s also secured cuts in country, dance/EDM and pop, including Gayle’s No. 1 song “abcdefu.”

In 2011, Badeaux appeared on season 10 of American Idol, where he made it to the top 40. He attended Belmont University and interned at Big Yellow Dog Music before serving on the administrative staff at APA. At Big Yellow Dog, he is responsible for writer management and song plugging, and assists in signing and developing artists for the company’s label.

The early bird discount for the program has been extended until Nov, 4 by entering “Press Release” on your application. The application deadline is Nov. 13. For more information, click here.
 

Ben Goldsmith Inks With Kobalt Music

Pictured (L-R): Kobalt Music’s Stephanie Cox, Ben Goldsmith, Kobalt Music’s Kevin Lane and Morgan Brasfield. Photo: Courtesy of Kobalt Music.

Songwriter and producer Ben Goldsmith has joined the Kobalt Music roster, signing a worldwide publishing agreement.

The southwest Virginia native grew up surrounded by country music and dreamed of becoming a songwriter. Following his graduation from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, Goldsmith immediately moved to Nashville.

Since arriving in Music City, he has had multiple songs at country radio, such as “Blue Bandana” by Jerrod Niemann, “Neon Church” by Tim McGraw and the No. 1 hit “Homemade” by Jake Owen. Goldsmith has also had cuts by Russell Dickerson, Tenille Townes, Tenille Arts, Temecula Road and more.

The MLC Announces Nearly $700 Million In Royalties Distributed, Re-Elected Board Members

The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) recently held its second Annual Membership Meeting, at which key metrics from the last year were shared. Additionally, three current members of The MLC Board of Directors were selected to serve a second three-year term on the Board.

In the year and a half since launching full operations, The MLC has met every milestone set by Congress in the Music Modernization Act of 2018 and distributed nearly $700 million in blanket royalties.

During the meeting, a representative from the accounting and audit firm, Withum, shared the results of The MLC’s recent Class B Board Seat election. Tim Cohan and Scott Cutler were each elected to serve as Board Directors for a second 3-year term. Similarly, The MLC’s Class A Members selected Kara DioGuardi to serve a second 3-year term as a Songwriter Director on the Board.

The MLC also announced that its Class C Members will not change in 2023, though Sony Music Publishing has selected Michael Abitbol to fill their Director seat, which was recently vacated by Peter Brodsky. More information on The MLC’s Board of Directors and Advisory Committees can be found here.

Jacob Hackworth Inks With Goat Island Sound & Boom Music Group

Pictured (L-R:) Joe Fisher, Shaina Botwin, Sam Shelton, Jacob Hackworth, Kos Weaver, Ryan Beuschel, Christian Barker, Josh Tomlinson. Photo: Shelly Fingerlin

Jacob Hackworth has signed a publishing deal with Kos Weaver‘s Goat Island Sound and Boom Music Group, with exclusive administration by Warner Chappell.

West Plains Missouri native Hackworth combines strong vocals with a knack for writing songs that has already netted him the Bailey Zimmerman breakout hit “Rock And A Hard Place,” which landed at  No. 1 this week on Sirius XM’s The Highway.

“Sam Shelton [Director of A&R at Goat Island] was the first person that wanted to sign me,” recalls Hackworth. “After I met everyone at Boom, Goat Island, and Warner Chappell, I knew that was the team I wanted to be a part of.”