Music News 7/1/2010

Paul Worley

>>Renowned music producer Paul Worley, along with partners Wally Wilson and Glen Morgan, have formed a new record label, Skyville Records. The label is the latest venture of the threesome who formed Skyline Music Publishing six years ago.

“This label is a natural extension of the artist development that we have always done,” Worley says. “It makes more sense now than ever as the music industry must create new ways of doing business.”

Wally Wilson

Records produced by Worley have sold more than 125 million units worldwide and have generated over one billion dollars in sales. He previously served as Executive VP at Sony Music Nashville and later as the VP and CCO at Warner Brothers Records in Nashville. Worley has discovered, developed and produced some of the most successful acts in country music history, such as the Dixie Chicks, Martina McBride, Big & Rich and most recently, Lady Antebellum.

Wilson is a Grammy-nominated hit record producer, music publisher and an accomplished musician, receiving numerous BMI and ASCAP Awards for his musical accomplishments. He is also a songwriter, penning hits for artists as diverse as Rascal Flatts, The Neville Brothers, Joe Cocker, Amy Grant, Vince Gill and many more.

Glen Morgan

Morgan is the co-founder of a prominent law firm in Beaumont, Texas and has worked directly with Worley and Wilson in a business management role. Joining executives Worley, Wilson and Morgan at Skyville will be Katie Voorhis (Head of Operations and Administration),Tristan Lora (Mgr.Tour Operations), Padget Crossman (Mgr. New Media Marketing), Paige Conners (A&R Administration), Peggy Fernandez (Executive Assistant Financial) and Jeremy Witt (Mgr. Studio Operations). Larry Pareigis and his Nine North team will coordinate all national radio promotion activities for Skyville.

The first signing on the label’s artist roster is Stealing Angels. The trio will debut their first single, “He Better Be Dead” on July 12. They are currently on a national radio promotion tour and playing fairs and festivals around the country this summer. Skyville Records is located at 2603 Westwood Drive in Nashville and can be reached at (615) 320-7052 or wally@skynash.com.

Cyndi Forman

>>Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has announced the promotion of Cyndi Forman to Senior Creative Director, Nashville. Forman was previously Creative Director.

Reporting directly to Pat Higdon, President, UMPG Nashville, Forman will focus on furthering artist and writer development and finding key opportunities for UMPG writers both past and present. Forman has secured many cuts and was responsible for the recent signing of 18 year old artist Hunter Hayes. The writers she works with include recent Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee Matraca Berg, Jimmy Melton, and Andrew Dorff.

>>Nashville songwriters and content owners will soon be able to take advantage of Kobalt Music Group’s latest advancement in transparent copyright administration.

This week Kobalt is officially rolling out its next version of its online tools – Next Generation Portal Digital 3.0 – which offer clients access to detailed information on collections in digital music sales and performance royalties and other digital revenue streams. Additionally, the system offers expanded access to data on products tracked and audio visual performance royalties collected from licensed content in global film and TV productions.

Kobalt’s collected data will include full transparency in tracking per licensee for digital performance rights and downloads, ringtones, and streaming. In addition to digital collections data, clients will also be able to view specifics not only on the status and amount of every synch license, but also the status of receipt of film and TV performance revenues listed by licensee and by territory. Kobalt’s online system, which was first launched in 2002, is being used by more than 900 clients in a wide spectrum of content owners including music publishers, rights licensors, songwriter/producers and management companies.

>>Bobby Karl Works The Room, Chapter 341
Photos: Alan Mayor

Chris Young

Host Clay Bradley has the magic touch: He actually got the capacity crowd of schmoozers to shut up during the presentation of the MusicRow Awards in the notoriously loud BMI lobby on Thursday (6/24).

Anthony Smith, Frank Myers, Trisha Walker-Cunningham, Alan Kates, Chuck Thompson, Preston Sullivan, Phil Sweetland, Richard Fagan, Doak Turner, Melanie Howard and their pals were models of good behavior this year. This, by the way, was the incredible 22^nd year of the event.

“2010 has been an exceptional year for music,” said Clay in greeting the assembled multitude. “We’re proud to represent the greatest creative community in the world. Thank you for coming.”

Clay also announced that BMI is going to match any Music Row flood-relief donations up to $50,000. Go to BMI.com for more info.

Tom Douglas, MR's David Ross & Allen Shamblin

David Ross read a letter from the AFM’s Dave Pomeroy and Craig Krampf thanking the publication for spotlighting session musicians. MusicRow reviewer Larry Wayne Clark is recovering from cancer treatments in Canada. His letter, also read by Ross, was encouraging and concluded with, “We miss the Nashville buzz. But things could be a lot worse.”

Echoing Clay’s sentiment, David added, “I continue to be amazed by the stream of creativity that continues to come from this town.”

Jon Freeman and Sarah Skates presented the Top Ten Album All-Star Awards to the year’s hottest session players. The 2010 winners were Aubrey

Haynie (fiddle), Paul Franklin (steel), Wes Hightower (vocals), Justin Niebank (engineer), Shannon Forrest & Chris McHugh (drums), Brent Mason (guitar), Charles Judge (keyboards) and Glenn Worf (bass).

Artist of the Year Zac Brown Band producer Keith Stegall & Roar Mgmt.'s Matt Maher

Looking every inch the Southern gentleman in an off-white linen sport coat and South Carolina straw chapeau, Robert K. Oermann stated that, “The past five winners of the Breakthrough Artist Award have been Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum and Jamey Johnson. So this year’s winner is in excellent company.” Accepting for the Zac Brown Band were its producer, Keith Stegall and Roar management’s Matt Maher.

“Producer of the Year has been an annual MusicRow award since 1982,” said Oermann. “This year, we have two winners, the first time a production team has won.” Frank Liddell & Mike Wrucke accepted for their outstanding work with Miranda Lambert and David Nail.

Ross retook the stage to present the Breakthrough Songwriter Award to Chris Young. Chris told of how his
do-or-die hit “Getting You Home (The Black Dress Song)” struggled up the charts. With plaque in hand, he added, “This is going on my wall immediately after I leave here.”

To the delight of one and all, he sang his winning tune. Splendidly.

MR's Robert K. Oermann, Frank Liddell & Mike Wrucke

“We all pride ourselves on being able to hear a hit song,” said Ross presenting the Song of the Year honor. “But if it was that easy we’d all be a lot richer. Regardless, we are all a lot richer for having this incredible song in our lives.” This year’s Song of the Year honor went to Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas for “The House That Built Me.”

“No one is more surprised than Allen and me,” said Tom. He recalled that it was pitched to Scott Hendricks, who sent it along to Blake Shelton, who gave it to his fiancée Miranda Lambert, who took it on a four-week trip to No. 1. “God’s fingerprints are on all of this,” said Allen. “I like it!” added publisher Troy Tomlinson.

Allen and Tom performed their special composition and mesmerized the crowd, swapping verses while playing guitar and piano, respectively.

Among the many working the room were such fabulons as Gary Overton, Billy Block, Ben Vaughn, Jon Lytle, Allen Brown, Cathy Gurley, Judy Harris, Sherod Robertson, Mike Milom, Michael Martin, Alan Kates, Tom Roland and Wes Vause.

MusicRow Reader-Voted Awards
Breakthrough Artist: Zac Brown Band
Breakthrough Songwriter: Chris Young
Song of the Year: “The House That Built Me” written by Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas; published by Sony/ATV Tree Publishing Co., Built On Rock Music, and Tomdouglasmusic
Producer of the Year: Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke

Top Ten Album All-Star Musicians
Bass: Glenn Worf
Drums: Chris McHugh and Shannon Forrest
Engineer: Justin Niebank
Fiddle: Aubrey Haynie
Guitar: Brent Mason
Keyboards: Charles Judge
Steel: Paul Franklin
Vocals: Wes Hightower

Musician winners Charles Judge, Aubrey Haynie, Chris McHugh and Wess Hightower; & MR's Sarah Skates and Jon Freeman. Photo: IzzyNashville.com