Music News 6/24/10

>>ASCAP has hired former Performing Songwriter Music Editor Jessica Draper as Manager, Creative Services for its Nashville branch.

She had served at the magazine since 2008 and worked there until it ceased publication in June 2009. Her other career stops include time as a Public Relations Associate at classical music PR and artist management firm Kirshbaum Demler & Associates in New York City. The MTSU graduate’s background also includes internships in Nashville at Larga Vista Music publishing, and publicity firm Schmidt Relations.

“Jessica’s knowledge of the industry on both the creative and business side will prove an immediate asset to our team,” said Tim DuBois, VP and Managing Executive of operations at ASCAP Nashville. “I am very pleased to welcome her into the ASCAP family.”

“I am delighted to join this vibrantly talented creative team and remarkable organization,” added Draper. “I have long known ASCAP as one of the foremost advocates of songwriters–and of the interests of the music community as a whole–and I look forward to serving and supporting our writer and publisher members in this capacity.”

She can be reached at jdraper@ascap.com or 615-742-5073.

>>Golden Music Nashville is closing up shop, the latest music company to fold in today’s difficult climate. The label opened three years ago with flagship act Williams Riley, and eventually added Benton Blount to the roster.

A rep for the company says the publishing division, Wide Open Music, is still in business.

Lisa Strickland served as Executive Vice President of Promotion & Marketing. She can be reached at 615-289-2319 or lpstrick@gmail.com. Brad Howell, former VP of Promotion and Marketing, can be contacted at bradhowell615@gmail.com or 615-500-2246.

It was a sign of things to come when Pres./CEO Brinson Strickland exited his post in April. He can be reached at brinson@262five.com or 615-969-0334.

CEO Noel Golden started the label in 2007 with offices in Nashville, and Greenville, SC. He had more than 25 years of experience in the music industry, including work with artists such as matchbox twenty, Edwin McCain, Tom Cochrane, Sister Hazel, Willie Nelson and Lee Ann Womack.

>>The Nashville Sings for Larry Wayne Clark benefit has met its initial goal of raising $5,000 to help the popular and influential songwriter as he undergoes cancer treatment.

 The June 14 event at the Red Rooster Bar & Music Hall featured live performances by some of Music City’s most talented singers and songwriters, as well as live and silent auctions.

“We’ve been amazed by the generosity and well wishes of more friends than we even knew we had,” Larry Wayne Clark said afterward. “We left there a few thousand dollars richer and with heads and hearts filled with memories that will be indelible. That’s the stuff that matters … you can’t buy it, sell it, steal it, and you can take it with you.”

Clark thanked everyone who helped to make the event a success, including the Red Rooster, the musical performers, event photographer Barry McCloud, donators and buyers of auction items, event organizers and everyone who attended, as well as those who sent donations and best wishes from afar. Performers included Buddy Jewell, Robin English, Andrea Pearson, Lauren Lucas, Lisa Brokop, Emma Jacob, Wendy Newcomer, Chelsee Oaks, Adam Gregory, Jared Blake, Ryan Laird, Erinn Bates, Cassidy Lynn, Shawn Dodd and Kaitlyn Baker. Many of them were backed by the stellar house band assembled for the occasion – guitarist Scott Neubert, bassist Bobby King and drummer Steve Holland, who like many others donated their services.

 Donations can still be made via PayPal at www.paypal.com; the address to send money to is the1mag@comcast.net in the U.S. and canuckmag@comcast.net in Canada. Or you can contribute to the cause and get some great music in the process by purchasing a copy of LWC Favorites: Songs of Larry Wayne Clark, a limited-edition CD, at www.larrywayneclark.com.

Clark’s extensive song catalog includes Chris Young’s first single, “Drinking Me Lonely.” His songs have also been recorded by the Statler Brothers, Lee Greenwood, Anne Murray, Lisa Brokop and many others in the United States, Canada and worldwide.

(L-R): Brett Jones and Pat Finch

>>Hit songwriter Brett Jones has recruited publishing veteran Pat Finch to represent his catalog and publishing company, Big Borassa. Finch was most recently Senior Vice President/General Manager of S1 Songs in Nashville, where the company’s latest achievements included No. 1’s by Easton Corbin (“Little More Country Than That”), Rascal Flatts (“Unstoppable”), and George Strait (“I Gotta Get To You”).

Big Borassa is home to songwriters Jones, Dallas Davidson, Joanna Smith, and Martin McDaniel. Among Jones’ recent charttoppers are Billy Currington’s “That’s How Country Boys Roll” and Jason Aldean’s “Crazy Town.”

Finch and Jones first worked together on the late ’90s hits “A Little Past Little Rock,” “Better Man, Better Off” and “You Won’t Ever Be Lonely.” Finch can be reached at patrickfinchmusicpublishing@gmail.com or 615-400-3197.