Randy Wachtler, founder/president, 615 Music, has been named Chairman of The Production Music Association (PMA,) which promotes and protects the rights and interests of publishers and composers of music for use in film, television, radio and new media. Concurrently the PMA has also elected APM Music President Adam Taylor to the post of Vice Chairman.
Former Production Music Association Chairman Mike Dowdle, CEO of Non-Stop Music Holdings, resigned for personal reasons and will relocate abroad. Dowdle is one of the founding members of the non-profit Production Music Association, which was created in 1997. “We’re all sorry to see Mike go, but we’re happy for this next exciting chapter of his life,” said Mr. Wachtler. “I look forward to working with Adam and our new Executive Director, Debra Krizman, and continuing our efforts to promote the interests of the production music community.”
In other 615 Music news, the company has just produced a new song for KHOU-TV in Houston, in conjunction with that city’s rebuilding process after the devastation of Hurricane "Ike.” The new song, entitled “We Stand by You,” was written by Gary Burr and Michaela Griffin, with vocals by Greg Barnhill and Kim Parent, and was produced by Randy Wachtler and Aaron Gant for 615 Music.
The touching lyrics to “We Stand by You” are:
“IN THE DARKEST HOUR IS WHEN THE TRUTH SHINES THROUGH
JUST TEST OUR SPIRIT, YOU’LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
HOUSTON TO GALVESTON, THE WOODLANDS TO
BOLIVAR TO SUGAR LAND AND ALL OF YOU.
DON’T GIVE UP! WHEREVER YOU ARE,
WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER, IT’S TRUE.
CHANNEL ELEVEN – WE STAND BY YOU.
FEEL THE SPIRIT OF TEXAS IN ALL THAT WE DO.
WE’RE RIGHT HERE TO HELP YOU GET THROUGH.
CHANNEL ELEVEN – WE STAND BY YOU.”
Regarding the new song, Dale Locket, Creative Services Director for KHOU-TV, said, “I’ve worked with Randy and 615 Music on a number of different campaigns over the years. He and his team of writers and producers just did a fabulous job of hitting that emotional connection we were trying to achieve with our ‘We Stand by You’ Campaign. Channel 11’s tagline is the ‘Spirit of Texas,’ and with the new ‘We Stand by You’ song, 615 Music was able to give us the exact right spirit we wanted to convey both through the music itself, and paired along with the lyrics. This piece was just a true homerun for us–words can’t express my gratitude to Randy and his team in helping us deliver that optimistic feel. We wanted to reassure our viewers after Hurricane Ike, and this new music campaign goes a long way in that effort.”
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION MUSIC ASSOCIATION:
Based in Los Angeles, the Production Music Association plays an ongoing role in promoting the interests of production music publishers and working with the performing rights societies (ASCAP, BMI AND SESAC) to help rights holders track and get paid for existing and new distribution platforms. The non-profit organization conducts performance rights analysis, composer and publisher education, promotes discussion around digital rights management issues and provides services to its member companies. The Production Music Association is the community’s leading advocacy group. See www.pmamusic.com.
ABOUT 615 MUSIC:
Founded by president/CEO Randy Wachtler in Nashville, Tenn., in 1984,
615 Music is a multi-award winning, full-service music development, recording, post-production and sound design company with clients that include broadcast and cable television networks and programs, local market TV stations, radio stations and syndicates, advertising agencies, and filmmakers, among others.
615’s client roster is comprised of virtually every major broadcast and cable television network, including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, MSNBC, HBO Worldwide, A&E, HGTV, The History Channel, The Family Channel, Discovery, and CMT. Additionally, the company has written and produced musical themes and promotions used within, and to promote, numerous television series and shows. These have included the “TODAY” show, “Live with Regis and Kelly,” The Discovery Channel, “Frasier,” ABC Sports College Football, and PBS’s “Nova.”
In Fall 2007, 615 Music acquired the renowned Metro Music library. As a result, 615 Music now has 10 production libraries and well over 500 CDS worth of music available to its clients. The combined 615 Music & Metro Music libraries are 615 "Gold" and “Platinum” Collections; 615 Song Library; AMP; Kingsize NYC; Metro Music; Music Shop; Music Gallery; Promo Accelerator; Scoring Stage Film & TV; and ZEN.
Internationally, 615 Music also enjoys a worldwide presence. The company’s various libraries are currently being distributed to over 60 countries via its sub-publishers. In addition, 615 Music has written and produced a great deal of original music work for clients based in India, Germany, and the U.K.
Among 615 Music’s numerous awards is a National Emmy for the memorable theme the company created for A&E’s acclaimed “Biography” series. For the past two years in a row, 615 Music was also Emmy Award nominated for “Best Original Song” for two songs the company wrote and produced for NBC’s “TODAY” show—those songs were entitled “Live for Today” and “It’s a New Day, Today.”
615 Music is located at 1030 16th Ave South, Nashville, TN, 37212. The company’s phone number is 615/244-6515 and its new website can be accessed via www.615music.com
