Music News (2/26/14)

Dave Hopper

Dave Hopper has been appointed Vice President, Business Development & Creative, for Words & Music, it was announced today by Kim McCollum-Mele, President and Owner of Words & Music.

In this role, Hopper will lead in developing new business and strategic partnerships through client acquisitions, marketing and branding opportunities. While continuing to focus on the Nashville market, Hopper will also provide concentrated efforts on expanding Words & Music’s footprint in other music markets.

Read more at MusicRow.com.

Natalia Starzynski

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Warner/Chappell Music Nashville today announced that it has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Australian singer/songwriter Natalia Starzynski.

Starzynski was a member of ASCAP’s GPS Class of 2013, a program intended to develop Nashville’s most promising unsigned writers alongside members of the publishing community.

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Pictured (L-R): Dennis Matkosky, Michael Hardy

Watsky Music, LLC has signed singer/songwriter Michael Hardy to his first worldwide publishing agreement.

Hardy, a Mississippi native, released his first EP, Redneck Recipe, independently in 2013. As an artist, he’s opened for acts such as Rodney Atkins, Colt Ford and Matt Stillwell. A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Hardy has also had multiple song placements on CMT, CBS, and A&E.

Watsky Music, LLC was created in 2005 by hit songwriter Matkosky and Jonathan Watkins, with administrative services provided by Kobalt Music Publishing. Other songwriters on the roster include Chris Nathan, Ty Lacy, and Becki DeVries.

Alison Rose

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SESAC has promoted Alison Rose to Associate Director, Business Affairs. In the new position, Rose will be responsible for the daily administration task of the Business Affairs department, as well as assist the Senior Director of Business Affairs.

A graduate of Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., Rose joined SESAC four years ago following an internship at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. During her tenure at SESAC, she has worked in the Business Affairs department as a full-time administrator, reviewing and processing various agreements, processing statements and serving as a liaison for songwriter and publisher affiliate correspondence.

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Photo (L-R): Dan Keen (Curb College), Kerry O’Neil (Big Yellow Dog Music), LeAnn Phelan (ASCAP Nashville), Carla Wallace (Big Yellow Dog Music), Josh Kear (ASCAP 2013 Songwriter of the Year), Wesley Bulla (Curb College) and Sarah Cates (Curb College).

The Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, alongside industry partner ASCAP, honored alumna Carla Wallace as the fifth recipient of the Music City Milestone Award (MCMA). The MCMA celebrates Belmont’s connection with the Nashville music industry, while also recognizing a Belmont graduate who has achieved truly superlative success in the entertainment and music industries early in their career.

Co-owner and general manager of Big Yellow Dog Music, an independent music publishing company based in Nashville, Wallace graduated from Belmont with a B.B.A. in Music Business.

Wallace began working at Little Big Town Music, where she met Kerry O’Neil in 1998. That same year, O’Neil and Wallace opened the doors to Big Yellow Dog Music, publishing home to such country hits as Luke Bryan’s “Drunk on You,” Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away” and George Strait’s “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright.” The company has had several nominations and wins from the American Country Music awards, ASCAP Country Music Awards, CMA Awards and many more.

Read more at MusicRow.com.

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ASCAP will celebrate the 36th annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards on Monday, May 5, 2014 at the historic Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tenn.

Michael Martin and LeAnn Phelan, who jointly lead ASCAP’s Nashville membership office, will lead the creative team in presenting awards to the writers and publishers of the most performed songs in Christian music, along with ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams. The invitation-only event will feature special performances by some of today’s most popular artists and songwriters in the genre, and will culminate in the announcements of Christian Music Songwriter of the Year, Songwriter/Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Publisher of the Year.