Ella Bumps Mariah
In week 23 at No.1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” surpasses Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Entering the Hot 100 last November (Langley’s 5th entry), it hit top 10 in January, and No. 1 in February. Hot 100 measures streaming, radio play and sales data across all genres.
Ongoing Academy Advocacy
Recording Academy members across the country united for Music Advocacy Day last month in an effort to share concerns around the protection of independent music creators in the age of artificial intelligence, encouraging fair pay and arts funding. More at grammy.com/advocacy.
Sia to Pophouse
Pophouse Entertainment has purchased 50% stake in Sia’s publishing and master rights, with development support for future works (for a rumored cost of $180 million). With billions of streams and nine GRAMMY nominations, the deal includes “Unstoppable,” “Chandelier,” “Titanium,” “Elastic Heart,” and “Cheap Thrills.”
SMP Joins Leader
Expanding their Spanish-language children and family materials, Sony Music Publishing joins Leader Entertainment (parent company of El Reinao Infantil, a global leader in children’s entertainment) for worldwide administration of El Reino Infantil’s complete catalog. The agreement looks to expand the reach of El Reino across new audiences, formats and markets through collaboration across SMP’s roster and network. Launched in 2011, El Reino Infantil now includes more than 240 million subscribers across 64 YouTube channels and has received over 150 billion views. Produced and adapted in 11 languages across YouTube, streaming, and television platforms, franchises include La Granja de Zenón, Bichikids, Canciones del Zoo, Familia Blu, and Paco el Marinero, receiving nearly 9 billion views the first half of 2026 alone. After 15 years, El Reino now includes live entertainment, consumer products, and gaming, with over 800 live performances and 1.5 million tickets sold in 20 countries to date.
ASCAP Launches’ Connections
Using their mobile app (first launched in 2010), the American Society for Composers, Authors and Publishers has rolled out ASCAP Connections, a new feature to help match ASCAP member collaborators, songwriters, composers, publishers, and mentors with similar goals, skills and interests with a direct request/chat feature. Further information at ascap.com/music-creators/mobile-app.
On The Records
Brian Beck and Piotr Orlove have released this compilation of musician essays (80 of them, including Dolly Parton, Sonny Rollins, Erykah Badu, Chris Stapleton, Billie Eilish, etc.). On The Records brings insight on albums that shaped each artist but never received attention. Book events start 11/6 with guests. Purchase at Amazon.
Road Rally Returns
The TAXI Road Rally returns this month at the Westin LAX November 5-8. With industry panels, workshops, masterclasses, and extensive networking opportunities with top music executives, the event is free to TAXI members. Details and registration at taxi.com/rally.
Songwriter Soup Non-Profit
With 30 cuts across country, pop, Christian, and soundtrack, 2026’s NMPA/Billboard Songwriter of the Year Laura Veltz (“The Bones,” “Speechless,” etc.) launches season 5 of the Songwriter Soup podcast as a non-profit to "help songwriters protect their minds, their money and their legacies.” See Songwriter Soup Podcast.
Primary’s Palmer and Pickett
Primary Wave has negotiated with their Estates and purchased the catalog, name, image, likeness rights of Robert Palmer and Wilson Pickett. Covering 14 solo albums: Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley through to Drive (“Johnny and Mary,” “Every Kinda People,” “Simply Irressistable”) Palmer’s agreement includes part of Weird Al Yankovic’s “Addicted to Spuds” and the Talking Heads’ “Remain in Light,” to which Palmer contributed. The agreement with the Wilson Pickett Estate (including Brother Max Pickett) covers publishing on more than 50 songs that reached US R&B charts (many on the Billboard Hot 100), and the team is working on new marketing, branding, digital and sync, as well as film and television projects. Recordings include co-write “In the Midnight Hour” (co-written with Steve Cropper), his versions of “Mustang Sally” and the “Land of 1000 Dances.”
In a portfolio now including Bob Marley, Prince, Whitney Houston, James Brown, Ray Charles, Smokey Robinson, and more, Primary Wave’s latest acquisitions follow deals this past summer with Donna Summer, Foreigner co-founder Mick Jones, and the acquisition of Kobalt in a transaction worth in the USD $1.5 billion ballpark.
MIIST’s controversial Entry
As the first Native Chinese artist to reach Billboard’s Pop/Adult Contemporary Top 25 list, MIIST says she will be entering the controversial New Asian Pop Music Performance Category with her bilingual (Chines-English) duet, “It’s Too Late To Love You” (out now with three-time GRAMMY winner Narada Michael Walden, video HERE). Speaking with Billboard, MIIST says she understands why people may refuse to participate, but says she has a different perspective. Rather than staying stuck in controversy, MIIST’s perspective is to ask: Can a category created around Asian-language music expand opportunity without placing new boundaries around Asian artists? She wants to help participate and demonstrate what the category can become and shares that “Most of all, I hope the category becomes a doorway rather than a destination.” Her full op-ed with Billboard is at billboard.com/pro/grammys-asian-pop-category-why-entering-backlash-op-ed.
New Normal Camp
Angry Mob Music’s 4th New Normal Writing Camp, first launched to encourage diversity and inclusion, offered eight L.A. studios and fifty-four songwriters/producers (20 cultures, 32 women, 2 non-binary, 31 new attendees) to deliver 40 songs in 5 days. Next camp set for Spring 2027. Contact Ralph Torrefranca @ Angry Mob.
Calgary’s Latest Howells
Rising Calgary heavy alternative band Howells blends gothic emo, post-hardcore, shoegaze, melodic hooks for a blend they call “Halocore.” Their latest release, Fade Into Being Pt. 2, is a two-part project extending into a neo-gothic universe of connected videos, characters, photography, live shows, and a book. More at howellsmusic.com
Prescription Adds Aki
Prescription Songs adds L.A. producer-songwriter-instrumentalist Riley Aki to the roster. Producing ADÉLA’s “Homewrecked,” Aki is go-to collaborator for Slush Puppy, Grace Power, Babe America, We Patrick, with cuts for aespa, DANNA, Rhea Raj, Lilyisthatyou, Alexandra Starr, Marianne Ross, and many others.
2027 Songwriter Workshops
Performing Songwriter Workshops return with intimate 3-day Nashville songwriting camps led by respected songwriters including Mary Gauthier, Gretchen Peters, Jonatha Brooke, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Verlon Thopmson, Suzy Boguss, Emily Saliers, and Matt Rollings. Moving into its 13th year, the organization has been bringing people of all skill levels, ages and occupations from around the world together for three days in Nashville to help find their writer’s voice and learn to tell their story. Past facilitators and guests have included Mike Reid, Allen Shamblin, Don Henry, Keb’ Mo’, Pam Tillis, Christopher Cross, Bryan Adams and others. With small classes (10-15 students), the camps provide a life-changing experience. Week-long retreats in Tuscany, Mexico, and Scotland are also available. Details and registration at performingsongwriter.com/creative-workshops.
SESAC Promotions & Hires
Abbey Watson has been promoted to the Manager of Creative Services with SESAC. As a Belmont University graduate, she has been with SESAC since 2021, fostering collaboration across the organization, serving as internal/external liaison, in addition to her client responsibilities. Senior Director Lydia Cahill describes Watson as “professional, thoughtful, and passionate about helping creators succeed” and says she has made “a lasting impact on SESAC and the creative community.”
SESAC’s Music Services division has added Nick LaPointe (FUGA) as senior director of business development, with Jay Suarma being elevated into a dual role as Marketing VP in the Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) and Music Services divisions.
Texas Songwriters HOF
2027’s Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees include Sony Publishing four time Songwriter of the Year Jim Beavers (“Drink A Bear,” “Red Solo Cup,” “Am I the Only One”), Shane McAnally (“Merry Go ‘Round,” “Follow Your Arrow,” “Body Like a Back Road”), songwriter-performer-playwright-author Kimmie Rhodes (with songs for Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Wynona Judd, Joe Ely), and modern Texas blues phenoms Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan (The Fabulous Thunderbirds and albums Double Trouble and Texas Flood). Grammy-winning producer-songwriter-instrumentalist Lloyd Maines will also be honored with the Darrell K. Royal Texas Music Legend Award for his outstanding contributions to Texas music and its legacy. Details at texassongwriters.com.
BMI’s Health Connect
Launching as a free service exclusive to BMI songwriters and composers—in partnership with Gallagher Alternative Health Solutions—BMI’s Health Connect helps members find the right health insurance for themselves and their families. With instant access to expert insurance advisors, the program minimizes confusion and helps find the best coverage for your situation, needs and budget. More at bmi.com.
Artists’ Triple Threat
Entertainment Marketing Executive Kira Karlstrom (Twitch, Capitol Music Group) and Olympian Meghan O’Leary launch Premier IP Development and Brand Intelligence Agency, Triple Threat Ventures Group, Inc. Combining IP development, AI-powered brand intelligence, and business management into one system, the company looks to help its clients build personalized content they own to create sustainable income. Notable clients include USRowing, Twitch, COACH, The•Team, Live Nation, Grindr, StagePilot, and others. Full details at triplethreat.co.
Kilans’ Keep It Dark
Fresh from Salt Lake City, indie rockers The Kilans release debut album Could You Keep It Dark? (via Mom + Pop Music), with lead track, “Oh, Lucy.”
NSAI Songwriter Awards
The National Songwriters Association International (NSAI) hosted its ninth annual Awards at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, recognizing 42 artists for their creative contributions. Honorees included Blake Pendergrass, who received Songwriter of the Year, Paul Williams’ NSAI’s President’s Keystone Award (presented to him by Gonzo), Riley Green received Songwriter-Artist of the year, and Vince Gill received the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award (presented to him by Lisa Krs. Blake Pendergrass received the Songwriter of the Year Award, Warren Zeiders received the Legendary Song Award. “The Gambler” received the Legendary Song award, with Stacey Schlitz accepting on behalf of late husband Don, and Steve Earle performing a tribute of the song. 11 songs were also recognized throughout the evening with peer-voted ’10 Songs I Wish I’d Written’ Awards. Overall winner, with the highest number of votes was song of the year “Choosin’ Texas” (written by Joybeth Taylor, Luke Dick, Miranda Lamber and Ella Langley). Details at nashvillesongwriters.com/nashvillesongwriterawards.
