Music News 9/29/11

Publisher David Conrad will be honored with the Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award at the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony on Oct. 16.

“David is everything a songwriter could want in a mentor:  honesty and integrity, character and class,” said John Van Mol, Chairman of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation. “As a music publisher, he loved the songs and he loved the writers, and served as their coach, teacher, psychologist, friend and business partner.”

The award is named after Frances W. Preston, who influenced and nurtured the careers of thousands of songwriters, performers and publishers in all genres of music during her five-decade career at BMI. Previous recipients of the award include music publisher Bob Beckham (2008), music publisher Bill Hall (2009) and Preston (2010).

The induction ceremony will also feature tributes and performances of the inductees’ songs by special guest artists. This year’s inductees include John Bettis, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Thom Schuyler and Allen Shamblin.

Tickets to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony can be purchased by contacting event director Mark Ford at (615) 256-3354 or hoftix@nashvillesongwriters.com.

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Warner/Chappell Music has signed a worldwide co-publishing agreement with songwriter Laura Veltz.

Veltz’s songs have been recorded by Jana Kramer and Edens Edge. “What I Love About Your Love” was cut by Elektra Nashville recording artist, Warner/Chappell songwriter, and the CW’s One Tree Hill star, Jana Kramer. “Slow Motion” was written for her longtime collaborators, Big Machine act Edens Edge.

Born into a family of musicians, Veltz began performing across the country alongside her parents and siblings at the age of 18. The Veltz family band, known as Cecilia, toured across the United States and was signed to Atlantic Records.

Front (L-R): Karen Harrison-Hite, Lu Ann Inman, Martha Earls, Laura Veltz, Mike Molinar; Back: Patricia Ragan-Mainello, Steve Markland, BJ Hill, Matt Michiels, Alicia Pruitt

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BMI and ASCAP teamed up recently (9/26) at CMA’s headquarters to honor the songwriting team behind Valory Music Co. artist Justin Moore’s No. 1 “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.” Written by Dallas Davidson, Rob Hatch, and Brett Jones, the song was originally given to Moore’s producer Jeremy Stover over five years ago. As they finished recording Moore’s second album Outlaws Like Me, Stover recommended that “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” be the first single and the rest is fairly recent history.

Pictured: BMI’s Jody Williams, Universal Music Publishing’s Pat Higdon, producer Jeremy Stover, co-writers Dallas Davidson and Rob Hatch, Valory Recording artist Justin Moore, Big Machine/Valory Music’s Scott Borchetta, co-writer Brett Jones and ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan. Photo: Eric England

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Kim Wiggins

peermusic has tapped Kim Wiggins to serve as Creative Manager. The announcement was made recently (9/28) by Kevin Lamb, Vice President, peermusic Nashville.

Wiggins comes from Sony/ATV, where she held a similar post. Before her tenure at Sony/ATV, Wiggins was a songplugger at Blacktop Music as well as Acuff-Rose Music Publishing.

“Kim is going to be a great addition to our family,” said Lamb. “She’s well respected, and has a great way of working with and nurturing songwriters. Kim understands the creative atmosphere Michael Knox and I are developing and she will be a vital part of helping this to come together.”

Added Michael Knox, peermusic Senior Creative Director, “She is hands down one of the best songpluggers and creative minds in town and I’m very lucky to have gotten her on the peermusic/Nashville team.”

Founded by Ralph S. Peer in 1928, peermusic operates 35 offices in 28 countries and has more than 250,000 titles in its catalogue.

As previously reported, Ben Strain is filling the vacancy at Sony/ATV left by Wiggins’ departure.

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ASCAP gathered Drake White and his team members recently to celebrate his signing to Universal Music Group Nashville. The songwriter/artist is working with producer Jeremy Stover. He is signed to Vector Management and EMI Music Publishing.

Pictured (L-R): Tom Luteran (EMI), Brian Wright (Universal), Ross Schilling (Vector), Jeremy Stover (producer), Laura Wright (EMI), Drake White, LeAnn Phelan (ASCAP), Ben Vaughn (EMI), Randy Grimmett (ASCAP). Photo: Jessica Draper