Music News 2/3/2011

Jon Loba

CEO Benny Brown has appointed Jon Loba Senior Vice President/Label Group of This Is Hit, Inc., parent company of Broken Bow Records and Stoney Creek Records. Loba will report directly to Brown.

“I am thrilled to have Jon Loba back on our team,” says Brown. “Jon has an insurmountable amount of knowledge, talent and passion for this industry. Having Jon on our team to help with both label imprints will help us continue our company’s commitment to excellence.”

Loba rejoins the BBR/SCR family after exiting the company in 2007 to help launch The Valory Music Co. as VP of Promotion and Artist Development. “I want to wish everyone at Valory Music well and I will forever be proud of what we accomplished together but I’m very excited about my new opportunity,” says Loba.

He continues, “I cannot express how ecstatic I am to once again work with Benny Brown and his team, many whom I have worked with before. They are a passionate and talented group who keep defying the odds. The icing on my cake is being reunited with Jason Aldean and the chance to be involved with the careers of Thompson Square, James Wesley and all the BBR/Stoney Creek artists. I definitely feel like I am coming home and can’t wait to get started!”

Other artists signed to BBR/Stoney Creek are Blake Wise, Kristy Lee Cook, Ash Bowers and Crossin Dixon.
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Peer Nashville's Kevin Lamb (L), with songwriter Vicky McGehee and Peer Nashville's Michael Knox.

Peer Music has purchased Vicky McGehee‘s Middle Child 2 Music catalog, and signed her to an exclusive songwriter and co-publishing deal. The announcement was made by peermusic’s Kevin Lamb and Michael Knox, both of whom are based in peer’s Nashville offices. The deal includes Vicky’s back catalogue as well as her future works.

Among McGehee’s hits is “Wildflower,” recorded by the the JaneDear girls. She also penned recent singles by Alan Jackson (“It’s Just That Way”) and Danny Gokey (“I Will Not Say Goodbye”). She is a frequent co-writer of Gretchen Wilson, John Rich and Toby Keith. McGehee has also written tracks for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire, Montgomery Gentry, John Anderson and more.

In 2005 McGehee won MusicRow’s Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year. In 2006 she won BMI’s Songwriter of the Year, and in 2007 she took home her first BMI Pop Award.

“Michael and I have some very definitive feelings about the first signings we make,” says Lamb. “From day one Vicky has been on our short list. Her talents and personality make her a great first signing since Michael joined peer and we are both thrilled to be working with her.”

“Vicky and I go back 10 years,” Knox stated. “We’ve had a lot of success together and I’m excited to continue that in the future. Vicki is a chameleon, you can put her in any songwriting situation and she will come out with something great.”

“Michael Knox signed me to Warner/Chappell Publishing in 2000 and what an amazing ride it was!” says McGehee. “Michael gave me the creative freedom I needed and just enough rope to either hang myself or fly, and man we flew! I’ve been on my own for over three years, starting my company, Middle Child 2 Music. It’s been a very successful run and an incredible experience. I didn’t think I would ever sign with another publisher again, but when I received a call a few months ago from Michael, I immediately missed being part of a family. There is such an excitement at peermusic about the future and about bringing the fun back to the music business.”
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Kelleigh Bannen is the newest artist on Capitol Nashville. Produced by Paul Worley and Jerry Smith, Bannen recently (1/18) performed a set of her music in front of music publishers and fellow BMI songwriters.

(L-R) Capitol Records’ Mike Dungan, producer Jerry Smith, Capitol Records’ Melissa Spillman, Bannen, and BMI’s Jody Williams and Beth Laird.