25th Annual Awards Celebration Salutes Top Film & Television Composers of 2009

Los Angeles / New York, May 24, 2010:  Composers Bruce Broughton and Dennis McCarthy will be honored at the 25th annual ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards, taking place June 24, 2010 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California.  Broughton will be presented with the distinguished ASCAP Henry Mancini Award and McCarthy will receive the prestigious ASCAP Golden Note Award.  The composers of the most performed film and television music of 2009 will also be honored at the invitation-only event.

“As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of our Film & Television Music Awards, we are especially proud to spotlight the achievements of Bruce Broughton and Dennis McCarthy,” said ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams.  “Bruce’s sterling compositions are featured in a stunning variety of media, and he brings a tireless spirit to his work as both a teacher and an ASCAP Board member.  It’s especially gratifying to give the prestigious Henry Mancini Award to a creator whose success is matched by such selfless commitment to education and service.  Dennis has composed scores for beloved TV series and films for over three decades, and he is still at the top of his craft.  His music for Star Trek has earned him industry accolades and captured the hearts of multiple generations of Trekkies.  We are proud to give the Golden Note Award to Dennis in recognition of his long and illustrious career.”

The ASCAP Henry Mancini Award is awarded to composers in recognition of their outstanding achievements and contributions to the world of film and television music.  Previous recipients include Carter Burwell, John Debney, Mark Isham, Quincy Jones, Michel Legrand, Randy Newman, James Newton Howard, Johnny Mandel, Marc Shaiman, Howard Shore, Alan Silvestri, and Hans Zimmer.

The ASCAP Golden Note Award is presented to songwriters, composers, and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones.  Past recipients include Mark Snow, Andre Previn, Garth Brooks, José Feliciano, Alan Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and Jay-Z, Tom Petty, and Stevie Wonder.

Among those being honored in the Top Box Office Films category are James Horner for Avatar, Michael Giacchino for Up, Hans Zimmer for It’s Complicated, Angels & Demons and Sherlock Holmes, and Randy Newmanfor The Princess and the Frog.  Some of the honorees in the Top Television Series category include David Vanacore (Survivor: Samoa and Tocantins, Ghost Hunters), Ramin Djawadi(FlashForward), Dan Foliart (Secret Life of the American Teenager), Sean Callery (24), and Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies (Big Bang Theory).  Also being honored at the black-tie gala are the composers of the most performed themes and underscore on television from 2009.  The complete list of winners will be announced on June 24th.

Bruce Broughton works in many styles and eclectic venues, but is best known for his film scores to Silverado, Tombstone, Lost in Space, The Presidio, Miracle on 34th Street, the Homeward Bound adventures; his television themes to JAG, Dinosaurs andTiny Toon Adventures; TV mini-series (Roughing It, The Blue and Gray, True Women); TV movies (Warm Springs, the two Eloisefilms) and countless episodes of TV series such as Dallas, Quincyand Hawaii Five-O. He has been nominated for an Oscar, a Grammy and 22 Emmys, having won the latter award a record 10 times. He has composed music for many of the Disney theme park attractions throughout the world, and wrote the first orchestral score for a CD-ROM game, Heart of Darkness. He conducted and supervised the recording of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue for Fantasia 2000, and has recorded critically acclaimed performances of classic film scores by Miklos Rozsa and Bernard Herrmann.  As a composer of concert music, he has composed many works for orchestra, among them a popular tuba concerto, a piccolo concerto, the children’s fantasy The Magic Horn for narrator and orchestra, and has had his works commissioned and performed by the Cleveland Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the National Symphony and by members of the San Francisco Symphony. In addition he has numerous published works for band and chamber groups.  He is chairman of the music branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a past President of The Society of Composers and Lyricists and a former governor of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He is a lecturer in music composition and orchestration at UCLA and has taught film composition at the University of Southern California. Bruce currently serves on the ASCAP Board of Directors.

One of today’s most in-demand composers for film and television, Dennis McCarthy got his first major breakthrough when country/pop star Glen Campbell asked him to play keyboards on hits “Gentle On My Mind” and “By The Time I Get To Phoenix.”  Campbell eventually brought McCarthy on board as an “on the road” arranger/conductor, then hired him as musical director on the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hourvariety show for four years.  McCarthy served as musical director for The Barbara Mandrell Show for several years, then acted as scoring assistant to legendary composer Alex North before embarking on his own composing career in the early 1980s.  McCarthy’s first Hollywood scoring job was for the Dukes of Hazzard spin-off Enos in 1981.  Warner Bros. hired him to score V: The Final Battle, the new incarnation of The Twilight Zone, Dynasty, MacGyverand a slew of movies-of-the-week.  In 1987, McCarthy got his most prominent job to date when he became a regular composer for Star Trek: The Next Generation; he has since contributed music to every subsequent Star Trek series, and scored the Star Trek: Generations film in 1994.  McCarthy’s musical versatility brought him numerous feature films and made-for-TV movies, including Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story, McHale’s Navy and Letters from a Killer.  He recently jumped into theatre work, composing music for numerous plays for South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, CA.  McCarthy is a seven-time Emmy nominee, and won the award in 1993 for his theme to Deep Space Nine and again in 1996 for his music for the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Unification, Part 1.”  Among his latest projects, McCarthy is scoring the sitcom Related for Warner Bros.

Members of the press may apply for credentials by contacting Bobbi Marcus at bobbi.marcus@bobbimarcuspr.com.

About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world’s largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 380,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members.  ASCAP has representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world where copyright law exists.  ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances.  ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members.  www.ascap.com

Saturday Night Recap

Music City Unsigned, Otterball.com & WLRT sponsored both shows at 3rd & Lindsley on the final evening of the 18th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank. Taking the stage early on were some of Nashville’s greatest rising talent, who each recently released albums that captivated critics and audiences alike: Butterfly Boucher (Scary Fragile), Thad Cockrell (To Be Loved), Katie Herzig (Apple Tree), Daniel Ellsworth (Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes) and Matthew Perryman Jones (Swallow The Sea). Eager fans packed the house to enjoy their songs and stories. Ellsworth didn’t disappoint, kicking off the round with his upbeat song “Electric In Love.” Cockrell slowed things down a bit and displayed some impressive harmonica skills on “Rosalyn,” before Boucher enlisted the audience to sing along during “For The Love Of Love.” Jones, whose songs have been featured on The Hills, Private Practice, One Tree Hill and Eli Stone, entertained with “Rain Or Shine.” Herzig, whose music was featured on Grey’s Anatomy, took the crowd on an emotional ride with the heart-wrenching “Wish You Well.” Music City Unsigned’s John Tuminello introduced the second show, which highlighted Dave Barnes, Don Chaffer, Jennifer Knapp, Charlie Peacock and Amy Stroup. These popular performers have found success in a diverse group of genres. Contemporary Christian music sparked the careers of Knapp and Chaffer, while veteran songwriter/producer Peacock has won awards for his work in pop, jazz, gospel and country. Barnes’ and Stroup’s songs have landed on TV and in film. Philanthropic Barnes, who’s worked with Mocha Club’s efforts in Africa, performed “Grace’s Amazing Hands,” before Peacock knocked out his Amy Grant hit, “Every Heartbeat.” Knapp shared two new songs “Dive In” and “Letting Go,” and Stroup’s set included “Chin Up” and “Hold Onto Hope, Love.” The relatively new-to-Nashville Chaffer sang “Sympathy for Jesus” and various other inspiring tunes.
Over at The Listening Room Café, Keith Burns, Jen Foster, Jess Leary, Alissa Moreno, Karen Staley and guest Jill Colucci entertained to a packed-house. Colucci played “No One Else On Earth” and “Anymore,” recorded by Wynonna and Travis Tritt, respectively. Leary performed Tim McGraw’s #1 smash hit, “Where The Green Grass Grows.” Staley performed Faith Hill’s “Take Me As I Am,” while former Trick Pony guitarist, Burns, played their hit “Pour Me.” Moreno showcased Lifetime’s Army Wives theme song, “Away From Here,” which she wrote with Jeffery Steele. NSAI Board Member Foster played “Taking Bob Dylan,” “Second Hand Love” and “Venice Beach.” During the late show Jim Beavers sat in for Rodney Clawson, who wasn’t able to make it. Beavers kept the audiences laughing all night when he wasn’t singing serious hits like “Don’t,” “Trying To Stop Your Leaving” and “Watching Airplanes.” Phillip White sang “He Gets That From Me” and “I’m Movin’ On” before asking his wife, played “It Just Comes Natural” and “Wasted.” Newly-signed EMI Records’ Troy Olsen debuted his first single, “Summer Thing,” as well as “I’ll Just Hold On” recorded by Blake Shelton. At the request of the entire round, Tommy Barnes hopped on stage for a song.
Mark D. Sanders, who acted as host at The Rutledge Live Music Venue’s early show, played his hits “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” “I Hope You Dance” and “Daddy’s Money” before thanking NSAI for getting him started when he first came to town. Angaleena Presley sang her Heidi Newfield cut, “Knocked Up” and expressed gratitude for Sanders who was, “the first hot songwriter that would agree to write with me and this [“Dry County Blues] is the first one we wrote together.” Next up, Nashville Star’s Travis Howard played a mix of songs written with Miranda Lambert “Famous In A Small Town” and “Heart Like Mine,” as well as a some of his own like “Highway 10.” Megan Mullins, who’s toured with Shakira and was a part of the Nashville Star house band, sang “My Brother’s Keeper” and brought her husband, John Bollinger, on stage for “You Can’t Stop Loving Me.” The crowd was lined up for the Rock Night Show, which kicked off with Meghan Kabir introducing the round and applauding NSAI’s Legislative efforts for songwriters. Ross Copperman’s fiancée and mom were perched in the front row to show their support while he sang “Only Water” and “I’ll Be What’s Missing.” Madi Diaz and duo partner Kyle Ryan complimented each other’s talents on the first song they ever wrote together, “Love You Now,” and throughout the night. Before singing a tune from Mainstream, Matchbox Twenty’s lead guitarist Kyle Cook said, “We kinda started this tradition last year when did Tin Pan South, so you’ll probably see us next year.” In her edgy yet delicate voice, Kabir played mostly new songs like “Pretty Boy” and “Go Back Home” throughout the show. The group wasn’t afraid to shake things up with their powerful vocals and bold lyrics.

Jeffrey Steele & Band kept things rockin’ until the wee hours of the morning at the Hard Rock Café during the night’s only show there. Going through Steele’s catalogue of hits and more, the band performed “I’m Tryin’,” “My Town,” “These Days,” “Speed,” “Hell Yeah,” “Gone,” “What Hurts The Most,” “Every Time I Hear Your Name,” “Me And My Gang,” “My Wish” and “Brand New Girlfriend.” Also appearing were surprise guests LoCash Cowboys, who sang “Friend” and “Summer.” Steele gave his wild following of fans their moneys’ worth and more throughout this high-energy show.

Thursday Night Recap
Gorgeous weather and top-talent brought out the masses last night during the 18th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank. The Hard Rock Café had lines around the building for the R&B Show featuring Marc Broussard, Drew Ramsey, Shannon Sanders and Tommy Sims, who kicked off the night with a funky groove. Ramsey and Sanders have been writing partners, a renowned production team and friends for more than 15 years. Ramsey’s set included “Good Mourning,” recorded by India.Arie, and Sanders introduced his song “Daddy’s Little Girl” by saying, “It’s probably good that I’m here tonight, because my daughter is going to a dance with a 17-year-old boy.” Sims switched up the tone a bit with his hits, “No Diggity” and “Change The World.” The group all jammed out on Broussard’s “Home,” while the mellow audience rose to their feet to sing along and “swim in a sea of soul.” Rather than make a quick exit, the writers stuck around to chat with the crowd and pose for photos. Spotted in the audience were Regions Bank’s Lisa Harless and Lee Blank, as well as Chrysalis Music Publishing’s Emily Byrd, AristoMedia’s Matt Watkins and Christy Walker-Watkins and several NSAI Spring Training attendees finding more inspiration during their evening break. The common denominator at the venue last night – Keith Anderson – chilled on the patio during early and late shows. Jim Peterik & The Ides of March took the stage just after 9PM and rocked out with a full band of drums, horns and  guitars. “This song pretty much sums up how we feel about you all here tonight,” said Peterik before performing “High On You” with the band that’s been playing together since 1964. They gave a shout-out to FOX17’s Tennessee Mornings for having them on the show earlier in the day before bringing out 38 Special’s Jeff Carlisi for “Hold On Loosely” and “Caught Up In You.” Then the ubiquitous Bo Bice jumped up for “Vehicle,” which he performed during his stint on American Idol. Peterik, who wore leather pants for the occasion, made his way through the crowd with a wailing guitar during their encore, “Eye of The Tiger.”

Over at the packed Edgehill Studios Café listeners were ready to enjoy an old-school writers’ round with Don Henry, Phil Lee, Bill Lloyd and Jubal Lee Young. All the writers performed deep, insightful songs that reminded the crowd why these are some of the Nashville greats. The group also managed to keep it light with banter about the young Belmont volunteers and singalongs. Lloyd entertained the crowd with a song called “Indubitably,” which he wrote about a Facebook conversation with a friend. Henry took time to explain the importance of NSAI’s mission – raising money for their Legislative efforts regarding songwriter advocacy. Seasoned Tin Pan South veteran Lee wowed the crowd with his guitar and harmonica skills, as well as with his descriptive lyrics in “Just Some Girl.” Young was captivating with an intimate performance of his song “As I Lay Dying.” The late show – Big Time Extravaganza 2010 – featured Tommy Conners, T.W. Hale, Amanda Martin and the Alvarado Road Show. The stage was alive with talent, and the audience was buzzing with excitement. Martin began the show with an honest ballad “I Don’t Think So.” Hale followed with an upbeat tune, “I’ll be Right Here Loving You,” which was recorded by Randy Travis. The Alvarado Road Show – comprised of A.J. and Wes Cleve Clark and their nephew Brandon Trey – blended both Texas and Tennessee styles, setting them apart from Nashville norm. The chatty crew paused to listen during Conners’ “Tomorrow Is Gone.”
There was star power on and off stage at The Rutledge Live Music Venue. In the audience Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, James Otto, Lance Miller, C.J. Vanston and Def Leppard’s Phil Collen took in the BMI Show, featuring Al Anderson, Shawn Camp and Pat McLaughlin. The night included early hits like McLaughlin’s “Lynda,” recorded by Steve Wariner, and Brooks & Dunn’s “How Long Gone,” written by Camp. The duo also performed the contemporary “Firecracker,” which they wrote with Josh Turner. Anderson entertained the filled-to-capacity venue with “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down,” recorded by The Mavericks. During the second half, the trio showcased a whole series of songs they’d written together and brought out top session players Greg Morrow on drums and Michael Rhodes on bass for a full-band experience. BMI’s Jody Williams, Clay Bradley, Mark Mason, Bradley Collins and David Preston were spotted in the crowd showing support for their writers.

Douglas Corner Café’s late show displayed songwriting extremes with hysterical and solemn tunes to everything in between. Kendall Marvel began the round with “I’d Have Done A Lot Of Things Different,” and segued into “Right Where I Need To Be” and “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” throughout the night. As the only female, Marla Cannon-Goodman proved she could hang with boys by playing “The Fool,” “Don’t Make Me” and “Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo,” which she co-wrote with Casey Beathard. He showcased his hits “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problems”, “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” and “Don’t Blink.” Phil O’Donnell exhibited a more serious side with “She Won’t Be Lonely Long,” “Sounds Like Life To Me” and “Back When I Knew It All.”

Wednesday Night Recap

How much talent is in Nashville during the 18th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank? The Listening Room hosted Andrew Dorff, Mark Irwin, Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins who joked around with each other in between – and sometimes during – songs like “Before He Cheats,” “Here In The Real World,” “Watch The Wind Blow By” and “To Love Somebody.” Complimenting each other with harmonies and instrumental accompaniment, these guys seemed to be having fun together. Rounding out the evening was a song Lady Antebellum took to #1,“Need You Now,” co-written by Kear. This show wasn’t just for music lovers; industry pros like ASCAP’s Anna Maki, Pat Rolfe, Jesse Willoughby and Mike Sistad, as well as Tin Pan South songwriters Bo Bice, Sage Keffer, Bobby Tomberlin and proud papa Steve Dorff, helped pack the house.
The theme at the 3rd & Lindsley shows last night was extraordinary musicianship. During the American Federation of Musicians show, the best in the business (keyboardist Bill Cuomo, guitarist Kenny Greenberg, guitarist Warner Hodges, drummer Craig Krampf and bassist Dave Pomeroy) posed as the all-star house band for Paris Delane and special guests Ashley Cleveland, Elio Giordiano and Dan Baird, to name a few. The core group has played on just about every record out there and has had songs in the movies Flashdance and Better Off Dead. Next up was a round that made you feel like you were relaxing in your living room and that they were playing just for you. The cool vibe mixed with tons of onstage and crowd interaction was full of blues, country and charity (the show was dedicated to The John Jarrard Foundation). Each member seemed genuinely impressed with one another. “I want my fellas in my monitor so I can enjoy some hot-pickin,” said Gary Nicholson as the show began. After Jessi Alexander finished “The Climb,” her husband Jon Randall quipped, “This song was 15 weeks at #1, and all I got was this t-shirt.” A hitmaker in his own right, Randall sang the intense “Whiskey Lullaby” but kept his commentary light and joined his wife on a few tongue-in-cheek songs like “Drown Me” and “Let’s Get Trashed.” Nicholson performed a song he wrote with the late Stephen Bruton for the movie Crazy Heart. While he may be new to Nashville, Seth Walker certainly isn’t new to the music scene as he and Nicholson traded guitar solos throughout the night.
The Hard Rock Café was another hot spot that came alive with hit after hit. During the early show, Dallas Davidson (“Start A Band”), Brett Eldredge (“Ain’t Gotta Be Love”), Scotty Emerick (“Beer For My Horses”) and James T. Slater (“The High Cost of Living”) jammed out to a packed audience. Behind every great artist, there’s a great songwriter, and Dave Berg (“Stupid Boy”), Kelley Lovelace (“He Didn’t Have To Be”) and Rivers Rutherford (“Real Good Man”) are some of the greatest. These guys took the stage for the late show, performing for local fans, as well as travelers from all across the country. Regions Bank’s Lisa Harless also made an appearance to introduce the group.
Douglas Corner Café’s Front Men In The Round show sold out quickly with American Idol favorite Bo Bice, Daryl Burgess, Greg Crowe and A.J. Masters. With their booming vocals and rockin’ rhythms, it’s no wonder the crowds were lined up down the street. These men have made their mark on the music scene with Faith Hill’s “Love Ain’t Like That” (Masters), Aaron Pritchett’s “Big Wheel,” the official song of the Tennessee Titans (Burgess) and “We’re Fired Up” (Crowe). Adding in the energetic and talented Bice (“Take The Country Outta Me”), who made the rounds supporting various writers every night, made for a stellar show!
Over at The Bluebird Café Pat Alger began his list of tunes with Kathy Mattea’s first #1, “Going, Gone,” and “You’re Gone,” which Garth Brooks recorded but Diamond Rio released. Coincidentally Jon Vezner also sang the tune “Where’ve You Been” that Garth performed the night he was discovered at The Bluebird Café and helped catapult Mattea’s career. She sang one of her biggest hits “18 Wheels And A Dozen Roses,” as well as an a cappella cover of “Now Is The Cool Of The Day,” which she recorded for her album Coal. Richard Leigh also upped the ante for the group with “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” and “The Greatest Man I Never Knew.” The audience was also treated to Allen Reynolds who joined the round for a tune. Though she didn’t perform, Lorrie Morgan attended to support and enjoy a great show.
The Rutledge Live Music Venue welcomed Gary Burr, Victoria Shaw, Mark Hudson and a couple of special guests – Lila James and South of Eden. The night was a mix of songs and comedy, led primarily by the rainbow-bearded Hudson, whose list included “Livin’ On The Edge,” as well as a song co-written with Carole King called “The Reason.” When he wasn’t “napping” through Hudson’s lengthy – and hilarious – stories, Burr entertained the crowd with “Nothin’ ‘Bout Love Makes Sense,” “What Mattered Most” and “Love Said,” co-written with Richard Marx. The night’s leading lady, Victoria Shaw, showcased her songwriting talents during “The River,” I Love The Way You Love Me” and debuted a new tune. The group’s cohesiveness was apparent when they all took turns singing a song they co-wrote – Sarah Buxton’s “Outside My Window.”

The18th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank promises funk, flair, fresh grooves and more. From March 30 – April 3, acts like Louisiana soul-man Marc Broussard, the hard-rockin’ band Ides Of March (renowned for their chart-topping hit, “Vehicle”) and Nashville hit-maker Jeffrey Steele will demonstrate their support of songwriting with high-energy shows.

Produced by NSAI, Tin Pan South is the world’s largest all-songwriter festival. More than 300 talented songwriters, which embody a who’s-who in the industry, will perform at 70+ shows. The Bluebird Café, Douglas Corner Café, Edgehill Studios Café, Hard Rock Café, The Listening Room Café, The Rutledge Live Music Venue, The Station Inn and 3rd & Lindsley will host tunesmiths from a wide variety of music genres. Over 9,000 music fans attended the event last year.

Festival Fast Access Passes allow fans to attend any and all shows throughout the five-day event and are available now at tinpansouth.com. Pass holders enter festival venues first, while single show attendees are required to wait to see if there is available space.

Shows begin at 6 PM and 9 PM Tuesday through Thursday; 6:30 PM and 9:30 PM Friday and Saturday. Visit tinpansouth.com to check out the full lineup. Schedule is subject to change. For up-to-the-minute news, follow twitter.com/NSAIofficial.

About NSAI: The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriters trade organization. Established in 1967, the membership of more than 5,000 spans the United States and five foreign countries. For more than 40 years, NSAI has been dedicated to protecting the rights of and serving aspiring and professional songwriters in all genres of music. For more information, visit nashvillesongwriters.com.

About Regions Financial Corporation: Regions Financial Corporation, with $140 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 100 Index and one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, trust, securities brokerage, mortgage and insurance products and services. Regions serves customers in 16 states across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,900 banking offices and 2,300 ATMs. Its investment and securities brokerage trust and asset management division, Morgan Keegan & Company Inc., provides services from over 300 offices. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at regions.com.

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has announced the winning songs for the 10th Annual NSAI Song Contest Presented by CMT. Industry judges selected “I Am Wordless,” written by Tonya Poe of Pittsburg, KS, David Garcia of Tampa, FL and Wayne Smotherman of Nashville, as the Grand Prize Winner. Poe also co-wrote “Too Close To Sunday Mornings,” submitted by Gerry Grothues of Belleville, WI, which earned the CMT Listeners’ Choice Award after receiving the most online votes. This marks the first time a writer has garnered top honors in both categories in the same year.

Earning the top spot from more than 2,000 submissions, Poe and her co-writers will perform their winning song during Tin Pan South on Tuesday, March 30, at 9:00 p.m. They will take the stage at Douglas Corner Café (2106-A 8th Ave. S) prior to Rhett Akins, Scooter Carusoe, Brandon Heath & Lee Thomas Miller. The Grand Prize package also includes a mentoring session with The Valory Music Co. recording artist and Grammy nominee, Jewel; a single-song publishing contract with a major publisher; a three-day trip to Nashville; tickets to the 2011 CMT Music Awards; a Gibson guitar and much more.

For the past ten years, NSAI and CMT have created a nation-wide platform for songwriters to submit their best tunes. Submissions were accepted from August 1 through October 31, 2009. Nashville pro writers, publishers and industry professionals narrowed down the finalists over three rounds of judging and selected the Grand Prize Winner, 10 Runners-Up and 10 Honorable Mentions before the Top 10 (excluding the Grand Prize Winner) were posted on nsai.cmt.com. Online voting ran from January 20 through February 26, 2009 – with more than 450,000 votes. For details on prize packages and a full list of winners, visit nashvillesongwriters.com.
About NSAI: The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriters trade organization. Established in 1967, the membership of more than 5,000 spans the United States and five foreign countries. For 40 years, NSAI has been dedicated to protecting the rights of and serving aspiring and professional songwriters in all genres of music. For more information, visit nashvillesongwriters.com.

About CMT:  CMT, a unit of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 90 million homes in the U.S.  CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand.  The network’s digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.

NSAI Directors Note: Songwriter C.J. Watson had two songs in the Top 10 that became ineligible due to a minor technicality and through no fault of his own. Placing two songs in the Top 10 is worthy of note.

Yesterday music fans and media were invited to a preview of the 18th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank at The Rutledge Live Music Venue in downtown Nashville. Hit songwriter Chris Wallin kicked off the event with “Don’t Blink” before American Idol’s Bo Bice debuted a powerful tune, “Different Shades Of Blue.” Rachel Thibodeau followed with her #1 hit “Good Directions,” co-written with Luke Bryan, and Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain closed the event with a medley that included “Faithfully,” “Open Arms,” “Separate Ways” and “Don’t Stop Believin’,” which brought the audience to their feet. This lineup depicts the flavor of various genres you’ll see at Tin Pan South this year, set for March 30 – April 3, 2010, in Nashville. Produced by NSAI, the event is the world’s largest multi-genre, all-songwriter festival, drawing more than 9,000 music fans in 2009.

For the full schedule, festival updates, to purchase tickets, venue information and more on Tin Pan South, visit tinpansouth.com or nashvillesongwriters.com to learn more about NSAI.

The Nashville Songwriters Association International’s (NSAI) largest and longest-running event, Spring Training, promises to create a life-altering experience for songwriters of all levels. Thursday, April 1and Friday, April 2, join award-winning songwriters like Jessi Alexander (“The Climb” – Miley Cyrus), Dave Berg (“Stupid Boy” – Keith Urban), Journey’s Jonathan Cain (“Open Arms”), Brett James (“Jesus, Take The Wheel” – Carrie Underwood) and Tia Sillers (“I Hope You Dance” – Lee Ann Womack) – just to name a few – at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel (2025 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard) in Nashville. This event sells out fast, so make sure to sign up today at nashvillesongwriters.com or call 615.256.3354.

If you’re a songwriter, you can’t miss this high-energy event that includes exclusive performances by the biggest names in the music industry, vital information on how to launch your career from the hitmakers and an opportunity to pitch to your song to the publisher of your choice as well as meet future co-writers.

Held during Tin Pan South week, Spring Training also offers perks to registrants – discounted Fast Access Passes and a pre-sale code so you’re sure to enjoy the full flavor of the festival. Visit nashvillesongwriters.com or facebook.com/NSAIofficial for more information on NSAI’s Spring Training. Additional details regarding Tin Pan South can be found at tinpansouth.com.
About NSAI: The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriters trade organization. Established in 1967, the membership of more than 5,000 spans the United States and five foreign countries. For more than 40 years, NSAI has been dedicated to protecting the rights of and serving aspiring and professional songwriters in all genres of music. For more information, visit nashvillesongwriters.com.

Journey keyboardist signs on for closing performance and interview

NSAI is excited to announce this year’s special closing performance with Journey’s Jonathan Cain (“Open Arms”, “Who’s Crying Now”). He joins an all-star roster of heavy hitters like Jessi Alexander, Dennis Matkosky, Tia Sillers, Ralph Murphy and MORE!

This 2-day intensive seminar (April 1-2) also gives you a chance to play YOUR song for the publisher of your choice and submit a song to our Spring Training Showdown.

Click HERE to register and take advantage of our Flex-Pay options.