Music News (9/20/23)

Influence Media & Warner Chappell Partner With Jesse Frasure On New Deal [Exclusive]

Pictured (L-R): Stevie Frasure, Lylette Pizarro, Ben Vaughn, Jesse Frasure, Spencer Nohe, Lynn Hazan and Phil May attend Frasure’s “Return to Calm Springs Listening Experience” in partnership with Rhythm House, Influence Media Partners and Warner Chappell at Soho House Nashville. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Influence Media Partners

Influence Media Partners and Warner Chappell Music Nashville have partnered with CMA Award-winning and Grammy-nominated songwriter, producer and DJ Jesse Frasure.

The companies are investing in Frasure’s full publishing catalog, encompassing more than 160 songs, with chart-topping hits such as “Dirt on My Boots” by Jon Pardi, “One Mississippi” by Kane Brown and “What’s Your Country Song” by Thomas Rhett, along with Frasure’s future works.

The deal was led by Frasure’s longtime collaborator, Warner Chappell Music Nashville President & CEO, Ben Vaughn, alongside Influence Media Founder & Co-Managing Partner, Lylette Pizarro.

“I’ve always been interested in surrounding myself with innovative thinkers in this business that have a fresh approach to the music industry. We knew from the moment we met Lylette, Lynn [Hazan], Rene [McLean] and the Influence team that this would be a perfect fit,” shares Frasure. “Finding partners that were not just interested in my catalog, but a continued creative relationship was huge for us. I believe Influence will be integral in championing songwriters like myself in and out of Nashville for years to come. I’m very grateful to Ben Vaughn and Spencer Nohe at Warner Chappell, Derek Crownover, Stevie Frasure and Vanna Moua for connecting the dots and making this partnership happen.”

Vaughn shares, “Jesse is a mega-talent and trendsetter in the Nashville songwriting community, and we’ve been lucky to work alongside him for several years now. He’s multi-talented as a writer, publisher and producer who’s always ahead of the curve and looking for the next great musical moment. His undeniable talent and relentless work ethic have landed him some of the biggest collaborations in country music, and with the support of Influence Media and our entire Warner Chappell Music Nashville team, the best is yet to come.”

SESAC Honors Nashville Songwriters At Annual Music Awards

Pictured (L-R): Scott Jungmichel (SESAC), Lydia Schultz Cahill (SESAC), Jon Nite, Shannan Hatch (SESAC), Sam Kling (SESAC) attend the 2023 SESAC Los Angeles Music Awards. Photo: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for SESAC

SESAC celebrated songwriters and music publishers behind the most-performed songs of 2022 across a variety of genres at The Highlight Room in Hollywood on Tuesday night (Sept. 19). Top music industry executives, artists, songwriters and publishers attended the event.

“We are honored to celebrate our songwriters and publishers across multiple genres,” shared Sam Kling, Chief Creative Officer, SESAC Performing Rights. “SESAC is proud of its affiliates who continue to write chart-topping hits and we enjoy every opportunity we get to celebrate their achievements.”

Opening the show was Kline and SESAC President & COO, Scott Jungmichel, as well as VP of Creative Services Mario Prins and AVP of Creative Ops & Admin, Diana Akin Scarfo. Artist and SESAC songwriter Tamara Jade,  from season 19 of The Voice, served as the MC for the evening.

Nashville songwriters were honored with several SESAC Performance Awards throughout the event. Jon Nite took home a medal for “Pick Me Up” (recorded by Gabby Barrett), Matt McGinn nabbed one for “Like I Love Country Music” (recorded by Kane Brown), Josh Hoge and Christian Stalnecker received honors for “Thank God” (recorded by Kane & Katelyn Brown), Alysa Vanderheym was recognized for “Heartfirst” (recorded by Kelsea Ballerini) and Megan Moroney won a medal for “Tennessee Orange.” Additionally, Prescription Songs’ Malibu Babie was recognized for “Super Freaky Girl” (recorded by Nicki Minaj) and “Her” (recorded by Megan Thee Stallion).

McGinn, Nite and Stalnecker were in attendance to receive their awards, along with SESAC’s Jungmichel, Shannan Hatch and Lydia Schultz.

BMI Honors Billy F Gibbons With 2023 Troubadour Award

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Mason Hunter, BMI’s Clay Bradley, Troubadour Billy F Gibbons, BMI’s Mike O’ Neill and BMI’s Mike Steinberg. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI

As AmericanaFest week falls on Nashville, a throng of its community members gathered at BMI’s office on Music Row on Monday night (Sept. 15) to celebrate Billy F Gibbons, a founding member of ZZ Top, who received the organization’s Troubadour Award.

The prestigious accolade recognizes a songwriter who has made a profound impact on the creative community as their craft continues to set the pace for generations to follow. Last night, Gibbons joined an esteemed class of past Troubadour Award recipients including John Hiatt, John Prine, Robert Earl Keen and Lucinda Williams.

BMI’s President and CEO Mike O’ Neill alongside Nashville’s VP of Creative Clay Bradley presented the award to Gibbons after a night of music and memories.

“BMI has been fortunate enough to have Billy as part of our family for decades and his contributions to ZZ Top’s enduring success has solidified their status as rock legends,” Bradley said. “His songwriting and artistic style transcends through many decades which was on full display last night.”

Bobby Bare To Receive Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award

Bobby Bare. Photo: Dennis Carney

Country Music Hall of Famer Bobby Bare will be honored with the Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award at the upcoming Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (NaSHOF) Gala on Oct. 11.

During his 60-year career, Bare has recorded more than 300 songs – including 35 top 40 singles – written or co-written by 76 NaSHOF songwriters – roughly 30 percent of the Hall’s entire membership. He is a 2013 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry from 1970-1973 and has been again since 2018. He becomes the first recording artist to receive the award named for Frances Williams Preston, who influenced and nurtured the careers of thousands of songwriters, performers and publishers in all genres during her five-decade career at BMI.

“Throughout his storied career, Bobby Bare has changed the lives of countless songwriters,” says Mark Ford, Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. “He has befriended numerous NaSHOF legends, including Shel Silverstein, Tom T. Hall, Billy Joe Shaver, Bob McDill, Harlan Howard and Kris Kristofferson. He discovered Waylon Jennings and helped him sign with RCA Records in the mid-1960s.  He featured many songwriters on his TNN TV show, Bobby Bare and Friends, from 1983-1988. Bobby has made a tremendous impact upon our music, and we are proud to salute him in this way.”

Previous Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award recipients are music publisher Bob Beckham (2008), music publisher Bill Hall (2009), Preston (2010), music publisher David Conrad (2011), music publisher Donna Hilley (2012), Bluebird Café founder Amy Kurland (2013), music publisher Pat Higdon (2014), music publisher Bill Lowery (2016) and songwriter advocate Ralph Murphy (2019).