Music Biz Buzzes Over “Honey Bee”

Music Row came together to toast the team behind Blake Shelton’s four-week No. 1 hit “Honey Bee” at a shindig co-hosted by BMI, ASCAP and Warner Music Nashville at the latter’s offices on Sept. 8. Written by longtime friends Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip, it is the fourth consecutive chart-topper for Shelton, and his ninth overall.

Akins and Hayslip have now both written six songs recorded by Shelton, including another No. 1, “All About Tonight,” which they penned with frequent collaborator Dallas Davidson. Together, the trio of Georgia-bred tunesmiths are known as the Peach Pickers.

Shelton’s remake of the classic song “Footloose” is now available on AOL and AOL’s The Boot. The track is from the Footloose soundtrack, set to be released Sept. 27. Shelton also debuted his music video for “God Gave Me You” recently at www.BlakeShelton.com, which includes a never-before-seen testimonial from Miranda Lambert shot before their May wedding.

Pictured (back, L-R): BMI’s Jody Williams, EMI Music Publishing’s Jon Platt, ASCAP’s Michael Martin, Warner Music Nashville’s Chris Stacey, producer Scott Hendricks, This Music’s Rusty Gaston, EMI Music Publishing’s Ben Vaughn and Starstruck Entertainment’s Brandon Blackstock; (front, L-R) Warner Chappell’s Steve Markland, co-writer Ben Hayslip, Blake Shelton, co-writer Rhett Akins and Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito. Photo: Rick Diamond

Shelton also celebrated with his WB radio promo team. Pictured (back, L-R): Blake Shelton, WMN VP of Promotion Bob Reeves, (front L-R): National Dir. Of Promotion Kristen Williams, Coordinator Tyler Wall, SVP of Promotion Chris Stacey, Southeast Regional Lou Ramirez, and Northeast Regional George Meeker