Industry Ink: Warner/Chappell Music, Republic Nashville, Gary Burr

Will Overton Appointed To Warner/Chappell A&R Post

Will Overton

Warner/Chappell Music has appointed Will Overton to A&R Manager, Warner/Chappell Nashville. In this role, Overton will work with new and established songwriting talent. He will report to Ben Vaughn, Executive Vice President, Warner/Chappell Nashville.

Overton previously worked at music publisher Droptine Music and, before that, at William Morris Endeavor. He graduated from the University of North Carolina and went on to earn a Master’s in Management Studies at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

Republic Nashville Hires Stella Prado

Stella Prado

Stella Prado has been hired as the Director of West Coast Promotion for Republic Nashville. Prado will replace Senior Director of West Coast Promotion Lois Lewis, who is joining iHeart Media’s KWNR in Las Vegas as the Assistant Program Director/Music Director and will be on-air during middays beginning March 7.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Stella to the team. Her experience in programming, on-air and sales make for the perfect triple threat to continue building the Republic Nashville brand at country radio,” said Republic Nashville President Jimmy Harnen. “In the midst of this transition, I cannot thank Lois enough for all the passion and hard work she has devoted to the birth of Republic Nashville over the last six and a half years. She has been a great ambassador for our artists and their music.”

“I am so excited to be joining the Republic Nashville family,” said Prado. “I want to thank Jimmy and Scott for this amazing opportunity, and I look forward to working with all the great country radio stations.”

Prado’s first day at Republic Nashville will be Feb. 28 and she will be based in L.A.

Gary Burr Announces Songwriting Series

Gary Burr

Gary Burr, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, will explore a full range of songwriting styles and techniques during a seminar series scheduled at Vanderbilt University in Nashville from April 22-24. The series will also feature lectures and coaching from select songwriters.

Class size is limited to 25 students and registration is due by Feb. 25.

On the first day of the series, Burr will perform his hits and tell the stories behind the songs. The next day will offer a full slate of seminars and lectures, as well as one-on-one coaching and critiques. That night, Burr and three other songwriters will perform for the students at the Bluebird Café. More classes will be held on the final day.

In the 12 months following the class, attendees may seek advice/critique of up to 6 new songs.