Singer/Songwriter Bill Luther Extends
Worldwide Co-Publishing Agreement With BMG Songs/Nashville
Luther,
Named Billboard's #2 Country Writer of the Year
(2000), Co-wrote 4 Songs on Tim McGraw's Platinum,
CMA Nominated Album of the Year: Set This
Circus Down
NASHVILLE, Tenn. September 4, 2001 - Karen Conrad, Vice President of
BMG Songs/Nashville has announced the extension of the company’s
long-term co-publishing agreement with Bill Luther, the country songwriter
who has topped the charts with hits from Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and
Kenny Chesney. BMG Songs is the United States division of BMG Music
Publishing Worldwide. Luther’s music publishing company is Evansville
Music.
Named
Billboard’s number two Country Writer of
the Year for 2000, Luther hit number one on the
country charts and had a top 40 pop hit last
year with his co-write of “My Best Friend,” recorded
by country superstar Tim McGraw. Luther also
co-wrote four songs on McGraw’s latest
album, Set This Circus Down (Curb), which has
sold one million copies since its release in
April 2001 and is an Album of the Year nominee
at the CMA Awards in November. Set This Circus
Down debuted on Billboard’s Country Album
chart at number one and on Billboard’s
Top 200 Album chart at number two.
In 2000, Luther also had top five country singles with “What
I Need To Do” recorded by Kenny Chesney and “Let’s
Make Love” another country/pop crossover for Tim McGraw and Faith
Hill. Recent cuts for the songwriter include songs recorded by Ty Herndon,
Kenny Chesney and The Clark Family Experience.
Luther’s
long-time association with Tim McGraw caused
one of the biggest stirs at country radio in
2000. After McGraw performed the Luther-penned “Things
Change” at the 2000 CMA Awards, demand
for the song was so great that several country
radio stations added the live CMA version to
their playlists. Though not an ‘official’ single, “Things
Change” entered the Billboard Hot Country
Singles and Tracks chart where it enjoyed a 20-week
run.
“I'm
not surprised that Bill Luther has achieved this
monumental level of success,” said Conrad. “It's
easy to see that he is a tremendously talented
songwriter, musician and vocalist. I believe
this is only the beginning of a huge career.
I am honored and grateful that Bill has chosen
to share it with BMG Songs.”
“I'm excited to continue to have BMG Songs behind me,” said Luther. “We
have a great team.”
A
native of Portsmith, Virginia, Bill Luther moved
to Nashville after noted music industry executive
Pat Halverson (Sound Seventy Music) heard a homemade
tape of Luther’s material and urged him
to pursue a music career. Luther signed a publishing
contract with AMR/New Haven Music’s Karen
Conrad and had his first cut with Decca recording
artist Frazier River (“That’s Why
I’m Here”).
In 1997, AMR/New Haven was acquired by BMG Music Publishing and Luther
joined Karen Conrad at its Nashville division. Cuts with Tim McGraw,
Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Mila Mason, Shana Patrone, Mark Chesnut,
Jo Dee Messina and Marty Raybon soon followed.
