www.musicconnection.com

SONG BIZ
—DAN KIMPEL dan@dankimpel.com
JEWEL SHINES WITH DOWNTOWN MUSIC
Downtown Music
Publishing has
signed singersongwriter
Jewel
to a worldwide,
long-term publishing
agreement. This
deal covers the
artist's complete
song catalog as
well as future
works. For complete
details about this
alliance, visit http://
downtownmusicpub.
com.
CALVIN ROSEKRANS FOR BMI
BMI welcomes
Calvin Rosekrans as
Associate Director,
Writer-Publisher
Relations. As a new
member of the team
in BMI’s New York
office, Rosekrans
will build BMI’s
brand by scouting
songwriters
and acting as a
liaison between
BMI writers and
publishers while
coordinating events
and showcases. He
can be reached at
212-220-3000.
Braddock, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Rodney
Crowell, Hal David, Bob Dylan, Don and Phil
Everly, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, Vince
Gill, Harlan Howard, Alan Jackson, Bob McDill,
Roger Miller, Bill Monroe, Roy Orbison, Dolly
Parton, Carl Perkins, Dottie Rambo, Jimmie
Rodgers, Don Schlitz, Cindy Walker, Jimmy
Webb, Hank Williams Sr. and Hank Williams Jr.
To learn more, visit http://nashvillesongwriters
foundation.com.
Tyng Pays It Forward
Songwriter, composer, producer Christopher
Tyng is offering a great opportunity to aspiring
songwriters and independent bands. Tyng is
launching the Grow Music Project, providing an
opportunity for up-and-coming artists to receive
full production of an original song at no cost, no
catch to them. GMP will serve as a launchpad
for emerging artists and independent bands,
offering selected applicants a 2-3 day intensive
studio session in Tyng's world class studio, Star
Hill Studios. Tyng wants to “pay it forward” to
deserving artists on the rise, just as was done for
him early on in his career. To learn more about
the project and the application process, visit
http://growmusicproject.com.
Christopher Tyng has written and produced
music and worked with artists as diverse as
Michael Stipe (of R.E.M.), Beck, Big Bad
Voodoo Daddy, Coolio, and CeCe Peniston.
As a composer, Tyng has scored more than 45
films and television projects including Futurama,
Suits, The OC and Rescue Me.
USA Songwriting Winners
Los Angeles-based songwriter Mike Schmid
won the top position of the USA Songwriting Competition.
Schmid won Overall Grand Prize as well as
the first prize of the Children’s Music category with his
song “Can You See All The Colors.”
This is the first time that the winner of the Children’s
music category won the Overall Grand
Prize. Mike Schmid is a professional keyboard
musician and has toured with Miley Cyrus and
Jessica Simpson.
Jonathan Ferreri, Chris Upton and Ashley
Upton of Nashville, TN, won the Overall 2nd
Prize with “20 Years.” Charlotte Sometimes of
New York, NY, won the Overall 3rd Prize with
“Paint The Sky.” She also appeared on the hit TV
show The Voice.
American Idol contestants have also placed
on the USA Songwriting Competition: Ashley
Robles and Marissa Pontecorvo (both in the
show’s 2012 Season) won honorable mention
awards.
Helle Hansen from Denmark is an 11-time
consecutive year honorable mention winner,
making her the most consecutive year winner in
USA Songwriting Competition’s history. Sherri
Gough (Nashville, TN) won First Prize in the Lyrics
category, making this her second win. She
won also First Prize in 2010. Other winners came
from Australia, Canada, France, Spain, Belgium,
Singapore and Austria.
Entries are currently being accepted for the
18th Annual USA Songwriting Competition. Winning
songs of the 17th Annual USA Songwriting
Competition will receive airplay on a nationally
syndicated radio program Acoustic Café as well
as Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
Visit http://songwriting.net for a complete list of
winners and to get all details about how to enter
the current Competition.
MICRO-BIO: Dan Kimpel’s newest
book, It All Begins with the Music, is
penned with legendary A&R exec Don
Grierson. Hear Dan’s audio interviews
worldwide on Delta Airlines.
JESSA GELT JOINS BMI
Jessa Gelt is joining
BMI as Associate
Director, Writer-
Publisher Relations,
in the Los Angeles
office. She will
be responsible
for recruiting and
developing indie/
alternative and pop
songwriters and
producers while
nurturing existing
relationships with
BMI writers. To
contact Gelt, call
310-659-9109.
OTTO IN SANTA BARBARA
Country artist James Otto
will be making his first
appearance at this year's
eagerly anticipated Durango
Songwriters Expo at the
Santa Barbara Wine Country,
scheduled for Feb. 28 -
March 2nd. This is a highly
regarded event where singersongwriters
can get heard.
To enquire about the Expo's
classes, panels, workshops
and song pitch opportunities,
and to register, visit http://
durango-songwriters-expo.
com.
February 2013 www.musicconnection.com 29