Music News 1/13/2011

Shannan Hatch

SESAC has announced the promotion of Shannan Hatch to Sr. Dir., Writer/Publisher Relations. Formerly Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, Hatch is based in Nashville’s office and will continue her duty of recruiting and nurturing the careers of songwriters and publishers.

Prior to joining SESAC in 2002, Hatch worked as a publicist for AristoMedia, FrontPage, Rasky Bearlein and Commotion Public Relations. Since joining SESAC, she has worked closely with hit songwriters such as Monty Powell (“Sweet Thing”), Kim Tribble (“One In Every Crowd”), and Brice Long (“Anything Goes”).
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BMI has launched BMI Live, a program enabling songwriters to register their concerts, regardless of venue size, to be considered for payment.

Mike O’Neill, BMI Senior Vice President, Repertoire and Licensing, says the program is designed to ensure that performing songwriters in any stage of their careers receive payment for concerts of all sizes, from coffee shops to football stadiums.

Available only online, BMI Live is open to all of the organization’s affiliates. To qualify, songwriters need to enter their live musical performances on www.bmi.com. Songwriters can submit performances up to six months after the show date.

BMI will pay royalties to both writers and publishers via direct deposit in its June distribution for performances occurring July 1 through December 31, 2010. Concert performances eligible for the June royalty distribution must be entered by March 31, 2011. The distribution from BMI Live will be made quarterly after this initial June 2011 launch.

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As part of its popular monthly songwriter showcase at the Bluebird Cafe, ASCAP Nashville presented BMG songwriters Brett James, Neil Thrasher, busbee and other guests at a sold-out show on January 11. James was ASCAP’s 2010 Country Songwriter of the Year (he also won this award in 2006, along with the Song of the Year award for “Jesus, Take the Wheel”). Thrasher claimed the ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year title in 2004 and his song “Why Wait” (Rascal Flatts) recently topped the country chart. busbee celebrated his first country No. 1 in 2010 with Lady Antebellum’s “Our Kind of Love.”

(L-R): singer/songwriter Andrew Pates, Cornman Music songwriter/artist Caitlyn Smith, ASCAP's Mike Sistad, busbee, Neil Thrasher, Brett James, ASCAP's LeAnn Phelan, Cornman Music songwriter/Universal Music recording artist Kip Moore. Photo: Julie Meirick

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Big Yellow Dog Music has re-signed hit songwriter Josh Kear, and added songwriter “Big Al” Anderson to its roster. The company’s principals Carla Wallace and Kerry O’Neil have also promoted Brooke Arrington to Creative Director, assisting Wallace with songplugging and creative duties. The end of 2010 marked the publishing house’s 13th year in business, during which time it celebrated its 13th No. 1 single.

Carla Wallace, "Big Al" Anderson and Brooke Arrington

Among Kear’s hits is Lady Antebellum’s multi-award-winning smash “Need You Now.” The title track from the band’s current album was the most played song of 2010 across all formats, and is nominated for a 2010 GRAMMY Award for Song of the Year and Best Country Song. Kear won a GRAMMY in 2007 for Best Country Song for Carrie Underwood’s charttopper, “Before He Cheats.” Both songs have been awarded ASCAP Song Of The Year.

“Big Al” Anderson is a renowned songwriter and former member of the college of musical knowledge known as The New Rhythm and Blues Quartet, or more simply, NRBQ. He is behind hits for artists ranging from George Jones to Etta James to the Allman Brothers.

Additional staff writers at Big Yellow Dog Music include Shawn Camp, Daniel Tashian, Karyn Rochelle, Madeleine Slate, Pat McLaughlin, Logan Mize and Nikki Williams.

Big Yellow Dog Principals Kerry O'Neil and Carla Wallace with Josh Kear (center).

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Brandon Kinney recently inked a new publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Love Monkey Music, while he also re-signed with Tom-Leis Music. The 2010 BMI Award-winning songwriter co-wrote Randy Houser’s smash “Boots On.” (L-R) back: Love Monkey Music’s Penny Everhard, Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Terry Wakefield, and BMI’s Jody Williams. Front: Love Monkey Music owner Bob DiPiero, Kinney, and Tom-Leis Music’s Leslie T. DiPiero.