Music News 1/20/2011

Nashville-based Open Road Music Publishing, a division of Open Road Records, has inked a deal with singer-songwriter Dean Miller to serve as staff writer. Current songs include Open Road Records artist Gwen Sebastian’s latest radio single, “VIP (Barefoot Girl),” which he co-write with Sebastian and Brian Eckert. Eckert and Sebastian are also Open Road Music Publishing staff writers. Miller also co-wrote a track on the current Jamey Johnson album called “That’s How I Don’t Love You” with Johnson. Miller was born in Los Angeles and is the son of Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Roger Miller.

(L-R) Paul Compton, Open Road Music Publishing Creative Director, with staff writers: Gwen Sebastian, Dean Miller, and Brian Eckert

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(L-R) Bob Saporiti, General Manager of Savannah Music Group; Dean Unkefer, SPI President; and Dave Gibson, Chief Creative Officer of Savannah Music Group after the Texaco Country Showdown.

“It’s nice to be back among the living,” smiles Bob Saporiti new General Manager of Savannah Music Group. “We’re already having a blast.”

Saporiti was appointed to the new SMG position shortly before the holidays replacing Ed Salamon who joined the company Oct. 1. Savannah Music Group consists of three principals including SMG President Dave Gibson, Group Chairman Jeff Cohen and Creative Director Daisy Dern.

SMG Creative Director Daisy Dern.

Saporiti, a Nashville industry veteran had a career as a top independent radio promoter and then became key player at Warner Nashville, focusing especially on international marketing. In 2001 he retired from the record business as Warner’s then Sr. VP/GM.

“We’re going to focus on our core business which is music publishing,” says Saporitti. “In fact we are signing deals with writers that have six month reversion clauses. If we can’t get something done with a song in that time, then the writer ought to be able to get it back.”

SMG has three song pluggers and its staff writer roster includes Kevin Grant, the Mulch Brothers and Nolan Neal.

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Show Dog-Universal Music’s Carter’s Chord has signed an exclusive songwriter and publishing agreement with UMPG Nashville. They are currently in the studio working on their new album, co-produced by Toby Keith and Mark Wright, to be released in 2011. Their new single, “A Little Less Comfortable” written by UMPG Nashville’s Emily, Joanna and Philip White will be available February 1.

Pictured (l-r): (Front row seated) Becky Robertson, Emily Robertson. Back row: Carter’s Chord Manager/President TKO Artist Management TK Kimbrell, Universal Music Publishing – Nashville President Pat Higdon, Joanna Robertson and Show Dog – Universal Music President Mark Wright.