Industry Ink: Curb Records, BMI, W.O. Smith Music School

Curb Records Matches Taylor Swift’s Donation To The Tennessee Equality Project

Curb Records has made a donation to the Tennessee Equality Project, which is working to stop state lawmakers from passing legislation that would allow private adoption agencies to raise religious and moral objections over prospective parents, as well as legislation that prevents state and local agencies from taking action against a business based on its internal policies.

Curb Records is matching Taylor Swift’s donation of $113,000 to TEP.

Curb Records founder Mike Curb said in a statement: “As a former elected official, a Republican and a Christian, and as founder and Chairman of Curb Records and the Curb Foundation, I cannot believe that our legislators would put our brand new Governor in a position to have to consider potentially discriminatory legislation that could involve taxpayer funds.

“During my lifetime America has been rebuilt by public-private sector partnerships and I’ve been fortunate to have been involved in many of these projects across the country. I’d like to be able to do future projects in Tennessee, and I believe that there are many other individuals and organizations in the entertainment industry and other businesses who will join us in reconsidering whether we can make new investments and contributions in Tennessee if these discriminatory measures go forward.”

Brandon Will Aligns With BMI

Brandon Will, BMI’s David Preston

Two years after making Nashville his home, singer-songwriter Brandon Will has signed with BMI.

“I got to know Brandon because he writes and plays with Essex County (formerly The Bass Brothers). I’m really excited to sign this impressive talent. Welcome to the BMI family!” says BMI Sr. Director, Creative David Preston.

Nashville’s W.O. Smith Music School Launches The Smitty Corporate Band Challenge

Nashville’s W.O. Smith Music School has begun accepting entries for the inaugural Smitty Corporate Band Challenge, a competition to determine which Nashville businesses have the most musically talented group of executives and employees.

The deadline for submitting band entries is June 30. The first round of bands will compete on Aug. 12; the second round of bands will compete Aug. 13, and the finals (including the top three highest-scoring bands) compete Aug. 20. All performances will take place at W.O. Smith Music School in Nashville. Fifty percent of each band must be made of employees from the company entering the competition.

A panel of four music industry professionals and one celebrity will determine which bands move through the two rounds of preliminary competition, and a second set of judges will be used for the finals.

Tickets will be sold for every round of competition with all proceeds benefitting the school’s mission of providing affordable music lessons to children. A ticket on-sale date will be announced soon. Event sponsors include City National Bank and Enterprise Solutions. For more, visit wosmith.org/smittychallenge.