Spirit Music Group, Josh Osborne Strike Catalog Deal

Spirit Music Group has acquired Josh Osborne’s co-published interest in songs written while he was a staff writer for Black River Publishing.

The announcement was made Wednesday (May 25) by David Renzer, Chairman and CEO, Spirit Music Group and Daniel Hill, President, Spirit Music Nashville.

Osborne’s catalog features nearly 500 songs, including nine No. 1 hits, which will now be published globally by Spirit Music Group. Spirit’s deal with Osborne also encompasses a number of his unreleased songs. Black River still owns their portion of these songs.

“We’re thrilled and honored that Josh Osborne has chosen Spirit Music Nashville as the home for his incredible catalog of hits. Josh’s catalog not only contains some important #1 country hits, but with the new Sam Hunt single ‘Make You Miss Me’ and with our strong team in Nashville working the catalog we’re sure there will be more hits to come from this incredible collection of great songs,” Renzer said.

“Josh Osborne is a talented and prolific songwriter who has had amazing success in recent years. This catalog represents much hard work and inspiration, and we are proud that he has entrusted this valuable body of work to Spirit Music Nashville,” Hill said.

Among the nine No. 1 country hits included in Spirit’s acquisition of Osborne’s catalog are “Come Over” and “Wild Child” by Kenny Chesney; “Drunk Last Night” by Eli Young Band; “My Eyes” and “Sangria” by Blake Shelton; “Leave the Light On” and “Take Your Time” by Sam Hunt; “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16” by Keith Urban and “We Are Tonight” by Billy Currington.

After five years with Black River Publishing, Osborne joined SMACKSongs as a partner in June 2015.