<\/p>\n
\n\tMCA Records<\/strong> (formerly Universal Music Nashville) has announced that country music icon Vince Gill<\/strong> has signed a \u201clifetime record deal\u201d with the label, \u201ccementing decades of partnership and collaboration,\u201d according to the announcement.<\/p>\n \n\tThe terms of what is the first such deal Variety<\/em>\u2018s music team has heard of \u201creflect the enduring trust and commitment that has defined their relationship while positioning Vince as a timeless figure in country music,\u201d it continues, \u201ccontinuing to influence both the current landscape and future generations of artists and fans alike.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tAs part of the agreement, Gill will release an EP featuring new music every month for the next year. The series, titled \u201c50 Years From Home,\u201d will combine new music and catalog tracks that complement each EP\u2019s theme. The first EP, \u201c50 Years From Home: I Gave You Everything I Had,\u201d is set for release on October 17 and will include the recent single, \u201cGo Rest High on That Mountain.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tAccording to the announcement, Gill has amassed 1.7 billion global streams and 19.4 million in domestic album sales. He is up to 28.5 million in total RIAA certified units and has scored six multiplatinum albums, five platinum and two gold.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cVince has been a major part of the MCA family for decades,\u201d said MCA president\/CEO Mike Harris.\u00a0 \u201cThis lifetime agreement reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting his artistic vision and providing him artistic freedom while ensuring his legacy continues to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI\u2019m feeling the most creative I\u2019ve ever felt in my career these last few years,\u201d shared Gill. \u201cI\u2019ve collected a treasure trove of songs and with my friends and partners at MCA we\u2019ve come up with a way to release all this new music. It\u2019s a partnership that\u2019s lasted 36 years and I\u2019m grateful for it.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tPictured above, L-R: MCA\u2019s Mike Harris and Rob Femia, Gill\u2019s longtime manager Larry Fitzgerald,\u00a0Gill, MCA\u2019s Katie McCartney and Stephanie Wright.<\/p>\n \n\t+ Spotify<\/strong> and BMG<\/strong> have struck a new publishing licensing deal covering the U.S., the companies announced on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n \n\tThe two companies characterize their agreement as originating from a \u201cshared interest in building a direct relationship that ensures songwriters share more directly in the value created by their work\u201d and will establish that \u201cBMG songwriters benefit more directly in the growth of streaming.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tIt\u2019s the latest in several deals that have brought publishers and Spotify beyond the compulsory Copyright Royalty Board model for composition remuneration. The announcement comes in the wake of Spotify reaching direct publishing agreements with all three major labels \u2013 Universal and Warner earlier this year and Sony in September \u2013 as well as a recent deal with Kobalt that covers the U.S. market.<\/p>\n \n\t+ The National Independent Talent Organization (NITO)<\/strong> and Sweet Relief Musicians<\/strong> have unveiled a wide-ranging auction of instruments and memorabilia from such artists as Ringo Starr, Bonnie Raitt, the Eagles, Metallica\u2019s James Hetfield, Jason Isbell, Def Leppard<\/strong> and more. Proceeds from the auction, which runs Oct. 8-22, will benefit NITO and Sweet Relief.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWe want to thank all these amazing artists who have donated their time and instruments to this auction, the funds will be going to two great organizations pushing for a healthier music industry for everyone,\u201d NITO executive director Nathaniel Marro said in a statement.<\/p>\n \n\tNITO is an advocacy organization that focuses on issues such as the reforming of ticket regulations, performance rights organizations, artist visa programs and radio royalties.<\/p>\n \n\tSweet Relief Musicians is a 501(c)(3)-designated charity that provides grants to musicians and industry professionals for basic expenses like insurance premiums, prescriptions and other medical treatments as well as housing and food costs.<\/p>\n \n\t+ Warner Chappell Music<\/strong>, the publishing arm of Warner Music Group, on Wednesday announced a new global deal for publishing with Rico o Muerto<\/strong>, an independent label in Mexico co-founded last year by the artist Oscar Maydon and songwriter\/manager Alexis \u201cChachito\u201d Fierro. The label was helped to launch under the guidance of music-industry polymath Yusim Aladro.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI\u2019ve had the pleasure of getting to know Chachito and Oscar Maydon, and it\u2019s clear that beyond being gifted songwriters \u2013 and in Oscar\u2019s case, a super talented artist \u2013 they have a remarkable instinct for discovering and developing promising talent,\u201d said Gustavo Men\u00e9ndez, Warner Chappell\u2019s president of U.S. Latin and Latin America, in a statement.<\/p>\n \n\tRico o Muerto recently became, in partnership with Downtown Artist and Label Services, the home of rising songwriter V\u00edctor Mend\u00edvil, who has previously worked with Yng Lvcas, Ganggy and El Padrinito Toys.<\/p>\n \n\t+ After being acquired earlier this year by Gebbia Media, Big Machine Label Group<\/strong>\u2019s rock-focused imprint, Big Machine Rock, declared Wednesday that it has entered a \u201cnew era.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe label has announced a revivified leadership team as part of its refresh, the topline of which is now: general manager Heather Luke<\/strong>, SVP of promotion Allison Smith<\/strong>, VP of digital strategy Brooke Nixon<\/strong> and project manager Tara Curran<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \n\tIt also announced a live event series, titled \u201cOff The Record with Big Machine Rock,\u201d to launch Oct. 15 in Chicago and featuring Ryan Perdz. The first release under its new regime will be a new live album from Sammy Hagar, titled \u201cSammy Hagar & the Best of All Worlds Band \u2013 The Residency.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWe are thrilled to be a part of the next chapter of Big Machine Rock,\u201d Greg Murphy, executive vice president at Gebbia Media, said in a statement.<\/p>\n