Music News 2/10/11

Michael Huppe

>>SoundExchange’s Board of Directors announced recently that longtime Executive Vice President and General Counsel Michael Huppe will be the nonprofit’s new President. Huppe succeeds former head John Simson, who announced his intention in July to return to creative work, ending his ten-year stewardship of the non-profit he had led since its inception.

In recent years, Huppe directed SoundExchange’s approach to rate-setting proceedings and a series of business-positive agreements with industry services, including much-publicized accords with webcasters. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President for Business & Legal Affairs and Deputy General Counsel with the RIAA. SoundExchange had record-high distributions in 2010; evidence of the group’s expanding role and importance in the industry.

>>Sony Music Nashville announced (2/8) a realignment of its staff and their related functions to better position itself to serve its artists and meet the challenges and opportunities of the evolving music business. The new structure includes the following promotions:

1. Skip Bishop is promoted to Senior Vice President, Promotion, Sony Music Nashville, from Vice President, Promotion. Concurrently, Bishop announces the promotion of
2. Lesly Tyson to Vice President, Promotion, Arista Nashville
3. John Sigler takes Tyson’s previous role of National Director, Promotion, Arista Nashville
4. Paul Barnabee is promoted to Senior Vice President of Marketing, moving from his former role as Senior Vice President Sales and Operations. Barnabee will oversee the Digital Marketing, Creative Services, Media, Strategic Marketing, Artist Development and Marketing departments.
5. Mike Craft is promoted to Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations from his former post as Vice President, Finance and Operations.
6. Chris Melancon is promoted to Director, Media Content, Sony Music Nashville, and will continue to report to Allen Brown, Vice President, Media and Corporate Communications.

Barnabee, Bishop, Craft and Senior Vice President, Legal & Business Affairs Kathy Woods, all report directly to Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO Gary Overton.

A number of staffers have also exited in the wake of these changes:

Exec. VP A&R Renee Bell has exited. David Gales was previously a digital executive with Sony, and has now returned to his own company The Gales Network. Manager Marketing/Operations Britta Coleman, Sr. Director of Strategic Marketing Paul Williams and Legal Coordinator Kendra Miles have also exited.

>>On Feb. 4 songplugging and publishing group The Chicks With Hits inducted artist Brenda Lee as an Honorary Member. The organization hosted a special luncheon to mark the occasion.

Pictured from top: Kim Jones, Whitney Daane, Ree Guyer Buchanan, Karen Sturgeon, Melissa Taylor, Celia Froehlig, Tracy Gershon, Jewel Coburn, Janie West, Kay Smith, Judy Harris, Rob Palmer, Stephanie Cox, Brenda Lee, Melanie Howard

>>Rascal Flatts have announced recently that they will part ways with Turner Nichols & Associates after more than a decade of working together.

“We will always consider Trey and Doug to be a part of our family,” says Jay DeMarcus, Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts. “We have nothing but the utmost respect and appreciation for the work that we’ve done together over the past ten years.”

“The Flatts are great guys and will always be part of our family as well,” shared Trey Turner and Doug Nichols. “We wish them nothing but the best.”

Business going forward should be directed to Rascal Flatts Entertainment.

Trey Mattews

>>Trey Matthews has signed a publishing deal with Davis Music, according to the Group’s GM Gator Michaels. “Trey is a welcomed addition to our songwriting team,” says Michaels. “In a town full of talented songwriters, his strong county roots and great lyrical abilities really stand above the pack.” Matthews was most recently a writer for Bigger Picture with songs cut on numerous country albums including Jerrod Niemann’s current album, plus Tracy Byrd, Daryle Singletary, Mark McGuinn, Billy Dean, Cole Degges and The Lonesome, The Harters and several others.