Music News 7/8/2010

Kelly Lynn and Chris Janson

>>Congratulations to Curb Records A&R Music Consultant Kelly Lynn and BNA Recording artist Chris Janson who were married July 4th in Franklin. The small, private wedding included a performance by the groom.

>>EMI Music Publishing Nashville has promoted three of its A&R team to new roles, it was announced recently by Executive Vice President & General Manager Ben Vaughn.

"Big" Tom Luteran

“Big” Tom Luteran moves from Senior Director to Vice President of A&R, marking the latest step up in his fifteen year career on Music Row. In a parallel move, Josh Van Valkenburg is promoted from Manager to Director of A&R. Both Luteran and Van Valkenburg will focus on discovering and nurturing new country songwriting talent, as well as managing EMI Music Publishing’s hit songwriter roster including Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Jamey Johnson, Kelley Lovelace, Tom Shapiro, Jeremy Stover and Chris Young.

Hannah Williams

Josh Van Valkenburg

Hannah Williams has been promoted to the newly created position of Manager of Creative Resources. In addition to assisting the Nashville A&R team and songwriters, Williams will act as a liaison with EMI Music Publishing’s New York-based Music Resources sales and licensing team with a focus on finding new synchronization revenue and catalog opportunities for Nashville writers. The moves follow the appointment of Vaughn to lead EMI Music Publishing’s Nashville operations in April this year. Luteran began his career on Music Row in 1995, before moving into music publishing in 1996 as Creative Director at Zomba. After a brief spell at Acuff-Rose, Luteran moved to EMI Music Publishing in August 2002. Both Valkenburg and Williams launched their careers in music publishing at EMI.

>>Chrysalis Music Executive Vice President Dale Bobo has announced the signing of Nashville songwriter Jim McCormick to the publishing company. The day after McCormick signed with Chrysalis, the songwriter received the good news that new Columbia Records artist Joanna Smith had cut his song, “Georgia Mud.”

(l-r) Patricia Wittmer, Emily Byrd, Jim McCormick, Dale Bobo, Abbe Nameche, and Jersey Ross.

Pictured L to R: Cliff Audretch III, SDU Sr. Director A&R/Staff Producer; Mark Collie; Mark Wright, SDU President; JT Hodges; and Don Cook

>>Show Dog – Universal Music announced recently (7/6) the signing of JT Hodges. The Ft. Worth, Texas native is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who hails from a musical family—his father opened the town’s first recording studio and his mother was signed to MCA in the ’80s. Hodges is represented by TKO Artist Management and is currently recording his debut album with Show Dog–Universal Music Pres. Mark Wright, Don Cook and Mark Collie.

“JT is a perfect example of an artist who has great musical bones,” said Wright. “His instincts could only be this natural by being raised in a family of serious musicians. He can knock you out with just his guitar and his voice. We are thankful he decided to come to SDU Music.”

“What I love most about this label is they truly believe in their artists and the music they make,” added Hodges. “I really couldn’t have found a better home. I’m very excited about this opportunity.”

“The first time I heard and saw JT perform was when I made up my mind I wanted to work with him,” commented TK Kimbrell, TKO Artist Management. “It’s rare that one person can write, sing, play and perform at JT’s level. He will appeal to a lot of people.”

>>Magic Mustang Music has signed an exclusive worldwide administration deal with Big Loud Bucks Administration & Information. Under this new partnership, Big Loud Bucks will also be responsible for the administration of master recordings on behalf of Broken Bow Records and Stoney Creek Records.

The current roster at Magic Mustang consists of Jason Aldean, Rob Hatch, John Edwards, Westin Davis, Garrett Parris, Angie Broberg, Ash Bowers, Blake Wise, Sherrie Austin and Thompson Square.

(L-R): Craig Wiseman, Owner, Big Loud Bucks/Big Loud Shirt; Heather Buresh, Dir. of Publishing Administration, Big Loud Bucks; Jill Napier, Exec. VP, Big Loud Bucks; Juli Newton Griffith, Creative Director, Magic Mustang Music; and Benny Brown, CEO/President, Broken Bow Records.