We’ll level with you: industry disputes over the US Consent Decrees – the near 80-year-old set of laws that prescribe how ASCAP and BMI must run their organizations – don’t always make for the most thrilling stories.

But today, we are thankful for them. Because MBW has been digging around in the legal mountain of filings connected to the Department of Justice’s latest review of the Consent Decrees, and discovered something worthy of the attention, and debating faculties, of the worldwide songwriting and publishing community.

On September 12, 2019, the Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, released information and comments filed in response to its call for public comment as to whether or not the ASCAP and BMI Consent Decrees continue to protect competition or if they should be terminated. Filed prior to the August 9 deadline for comment, Jason Turner provided the DOJ with various materials relating to the recent dispute between ASCAP and Shane McAnally as it pertains to McAnally’s resignation and withdrawal from ASCAP, and ASCAP’s refusal to pay radio premiums for McAnally’s works licensed by ASCAP post-resignation.

In the filing, Turner advocates for the DOJ’s continued oversight of ASCAP and BMI while encouraging the Department to implement certain modifications to the existing Consent Decrees to further protect songwriters and publishers. Turner referenced the ASCAP/McAnally Arbitration Award, wherein the three arbitrators castigated ASCAP for the unfair, discriminatory and unreasonable manner in which ASCAP treated McAnally and for ASCAP’s utter lack of transparency in disclosing its rules (some of which, were found to actually not exist anywhere in writing).

Turner’s filing can be found here:
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Corey Kent has signed an exclusive publishing agreement with Combustion Music.

The Oklahoma-born artist, previously performing as Corey Kent White, began touring throughout the country at an early age. Shortly after college graduation, Corey wrote his first No. 1, William Clark Green’s “Hit You Where It Hurts.” He previously released the EP Making Noise in 2014, followed by Long Way in 2016.

“From the minute we met Corey we knew we had to work with him,” said Combustion Music Senior Creative Director Kenley Flynn. “His positive energy, work ethic and talent spoke for themselves. Combustion couldn’t be happier about this new partnership and look forward to bringing Corey’s music to the country fans nationwide.”

“I’ve always been really impressed with the things that the folks at Combustion have accomplished,” said Kent. “They’re incredibly efficient & effective. I’m stoked to have such a great team & humbled to be joining a roster of such fantastic writers/artists.”

Kent is set to release the first of three 3-song EPs on Friday, July 26. From The West Part 1 will feature the recently released, “End of the Trail,” along with two brand new songs.

ASCAP songwriter Jason Sever has signed an exclusive publishing agreement with Missi Gallimore’s Amped Entertainment. Sever, who penned Dustin Lynch’s “Seein’ Red,” joins a roster that includes Chris Lindsey, KK Johnson, and Bryan Simpson. “We’re thrilled to have Jason on board to join the Amped roster. We feel his work is very viable in today’s market and we are so excited to help to him reach the next level,” commented Amped Entertainment’s Eric Gallimore.

Matthew West has extended his exclusive publishing agreement with Combustion Music, in conjunction with his Story House Collective.

Most recently, West earned his 11th No. 1 hit with Combustion, with the five-week chart-topper “Only Jesus,” recorded by Casting Crowns. West is also a four-time Grammy nominee and a five-time ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year winner. He’s released seven albums and notched hits including the 17-week No. 1 “Hello, My Name Is,” “Courageous” (recorded by Casting Crowns) and the No. 1 “Broken Things.”

Combustion Music President Chris Farren said, “We have been lucky enough to work with Matthew for the past 10 years, and could not be happier to be continuing that relationship. Matthew has proven over and over his unique ability to write not only massive hit songs for himself, but for many others as well, in multiple genres. He continues to be a constant force in an industry where things change very quickly, and we look forward to four more years of great success together.”

West stated, “Since moving to Nashville years ago I’ve noticed an undeniable connection between the most successful songwriters and the belief and support of the people they’ve surrounded themselves with. Every writer needs a champion, an advocate, and for me that has been the team at Combustion. I’m excited to continue this partnership and thankful for their continued belief in the music I’m passionate about writing. I’m also looking forward to turning around and serving as an advocate and support for the young songwriters we develop together in years to come.”

It’s official: 2019’s ACM Songwriter of the Year is Shane McAnally. The trophy was handed out on Friday night (April 5), during the ACM Party for a Cause Stories, Songs & Stars event in Las Vegas, Nev.

McAnally’s helped pen a number of country mega-hits in recent years. He’s one of country music’s most well-known and -loved current songwriters — but he last won the ACM Songwriter of the Year trophy in 2014.

McAnally’s been nominated for ACM Songwriter of the Year six times: in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. This year, he’s also nominated for Song of the Year as a producer, for his work on Kacey Musgraves’ “Space Cowboy.” McAnally’s other ACM Awards win to date came in the Album of the Year category, for his work as a producer on Musgraves’ debut disc, Same Trailer Different Park.

The 2019 ACM Awards will take place on Sunday, April 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The show will air live on CBS beginning at 8PM ET.

Provident Label Group/Sony Music have signed Matthew West to their roster. In conjunction with their new partnership is the newly-created imprint Story House Music, which mirrors West’s management company, Story House Collective. With support from Provident, West will develop and launch young artists’ careers through the new imprint.

“I am beyond excited for the opportunity to partner with my friends at Provident,” West said. “I’ve admired from afar the work they have done on behalf of so many artists, and I am humbled by their belief in the music I make and the vision I have to help champion the storytellers of the future. Much of my career could be boiled down to one word, ‘story.’ I’m passionate about the power of story and how music can impact the stories of peoples’ lives on a deep level. In many ways, this new season with a new team marks a new chapter in my own story, and I can’t wait to dive in.”

Terry Hemmings, President/CEO of Provident Label Group/Sony Music, said, “For years we have observed Matthew’s amazing career. He’s such a wildly talented artist and performer whose talent is evident in various forums as a musician and entertainer. He connects with audiences because he knows how to clearly and passionately share a story through song. We could not be more pleased to have Matthew join our PLG family and are anxious to forge ahead and see what stories unfold.”

Since releasing his first album 16 years ago, West has earned four Grammy nominations, a Dove Award, Billboard Music Award, and an American Music Award, as well as several ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year honors. He has notched 15 No. 1 songs, including the RAA Gold single “Hello, My Name Is,” and the RIAA Platinum single “The Motions.” As a songwriter, West has had more than 130 published writing cuts for artists including Rascal Flatts, Scotty McCreery, Casting Crowns, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Mandisa and more.

Chris Stapleton, Dan + Shay, and Kacey Musgraves lead the nominees for the upcoming 54th Academy of Country Music Awards, to be held Sunday, April 7 in Las Vegas.

Reigning Male Artist of the Year, Chris Stapleton received six nominations in four categories, including his second nod for Entertainer of the Year. Stapleton is also nominated twice, as both artist and producer, for his album From A Room: Volume 2 in the Album of the Year category, which he won last year for From A Room: Volume 1. Additionally, he is nominated for Song of the Year twice, as both artist and songwriter, for “Broken Halos.” Lastly, Stapleton is nominated for Male Artist of the Year.

Dan + Shay earned six nominations, including their sixth nod for Duo of the Year. They received nominations in the Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year categories for “Tequila.” Dan + Shay are also nominated for Album of the Year for Dan + Shay, and Music Event of the Year for “Keeping Score” (featuring Kelly Clarkson). Additionally, Dan Smyers received 3 individual nominations as a producer in the Album of the Year, Single of the Year and Music Event of the Year categories. He also received an individual nomination as a writer in the Song of the Year category for “Tequila.”

Kacey Musgraves earned five nominations in three categories, including a nod for Female Artist of the Year. Additionally, she is nominated in the Album of the Year Category twice, as both artist and producer, for Golden Hour, as well as in the Song of the Year category twice, as both artist and songwriter, for “Space Cowboy.” Musgraves most recently won in 2016 in the Video of the Year category for “Forever Country” and previously won in the Album of the Year category in 2013 for Same Trailer Different Park.

Earning four nominations each are Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha.

Ian Fitchuk, a first-time nominee this year, picked up six nominations including a nod for Album of the Year with Kacey Musgraves as a producer for Golden Hour. Fitchuk also received five nominations across Studio Recording Award categories, including Bass Player of the Year, Drummer of the Year, Piano/Keyboards Player of the Year, Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year and Producer of the Year.

The concert promoter and venue operator Live Nation will run a forthcoming amphitheater in Williamson County, to be built at the base of an old limestone quarry.

Live Nation Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: LYV) has signed a deal with the husband-and-wife duo who own Graystone Quarry. Several public records recently filed with Williamson County reference a “revenue and expense sharing agreement” between the company and entities controlled by the McEacherns, who own the 133-acre property in the town of Thompson’s Station, south of Franklin.

The addition of Live Nation elevates the profile of Graystone Quarry, which opened in late 2016 as a wedding and events venue with plans for a 5,000-seat amphitheater. Last year, the town of Thompson’s Station approved a 50 percent boost to the amphitheater’s capacity, enlarging it to 7,500 seats, including a VIP area.

The concert venue is another amenity for a county that boasts among the highest median household income in the nation and a reputation for having high-quality public schools and being the region’s suburban corporate headquarters hub. Franklin’s growth has spilled south along Interstate 65, reflected both in the growth of Boyle Investment Co.’s immense Berry Farms mixed-use development and Thompson’s Station itself, whose population has doubled in the past five years to about 5,000 residents, according to town officials.

The deal accelerates Live Nation’s Nashville expansion, both in terms of venues and office personnel at the company’s local base in Edgehill Village, next to Music Row. Starting in 2014, Live Nation won bids to manage Metro’s Ascend Amphitheater on the downtown riverfront and Municipal Auditorium. The company also signed a deal to operate the amphitheater at The Woods at Fontanel, in Whites Creek. Live Nation also is now the controlling owner of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, in Manchester.

Graystone Quarry would rank as the third-largest performance venue in the region if it were open today — behind Bridgestone Arena and Municipal Auditorium, but ahead of Ascend and Fontanel.

NBC is adding another music competition to its roster with Songland, a series that will focus on songwriters and give them a change to have tracks recorded by top artists.

The show counts Voice judge and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder and Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart, along with The Voice’s Audrey Morrissey, among its executive producers. Stewart, Morrissey and fellow EP Ivan Dudynsky devised the concept.

The order for Songland comes as The Voice is in the early stages of its 16th cycle on NBC; the network’s other major talent competition, America’s Got Talent, has been on for 14 years. Both shows are still among the highest-rated unscripted series on TV, but the most recent cycles of each have been down some.

Each episode of Songland will feature five songwriters performing original tracks for a panel of music producers and a different “major” recording artist each week. After discussion and critique of each song, the artist will pick three songwriters and pair them with producers to adapt and develop the tracks further in a recording studio. Each winner will have his or her song recorded and released as the artist’s next single.

The first episode will have Charlie Puth as the artist of the week and Tedder, Grammy winner Shane McAnally (Kacey Musgraves’ “Merry Go Round”) and Grammy nominee Ester Dean, who has written songs for Beyoncé, Lil Wayne, Rihanna and many others, as judges.

“Songwriters shape the anthems and tell the stories of each generation, and now we’re pulling back the curtain on the collaborative process and opening the door for new talent to emerge,” said Meredith Ahr, president, Universal Television Alternative Studio. “While filming our first episode, the excitement was palpable as we witnessed the creative direction of our panelists transform and elevate the music right before our eyes. Without a doubt, Songland will inspire music lovers and give us all a greater appreciation for the songs we love.”

Songland is produced by Live Animals in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio, Dave Stewart Entertainment and Levine’s 222 Productions. There’s no word yet on a premiere date.

Via The Hollywood Reporter