John Prine Signs With Downtown Music Publishing

John Prine has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Downtown Music Publishing. Downtown will represent over 230 compositions from Prine’s songbook as well as works recorded by Johnny Cash, Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson, Carly Simon, Ben Harper, George Strait, Old Crow Medicine Show, Norah Jones, Bette Midler, Miranda Lambert, Zac Brown Band, and many others.

The agreement will also cover Prine’s anticipated new album, The Tree of Forgiveness, which is his first new material in over 13 years. Produced by Dave Cobb, the album is set for release on April 13th on Prine’s own indie label, Oh Boy Records. In celebration of the new album, Prine will embark on an extensive tour that will span throughout 2018, including a special co-headline concert at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on April 13 with Sturgill Simpson.

“I’m very pleased to have Downtown represent my catalog of songs,” said Prine. “Steve Markland in Nashville has been hugely supportive of our family owned independent label Oh Boy Records. We are looking forward to working with him and whole Downtown team.”

“I’ve known John and his family for quite some time and am so excited for myself and Downtown to officially be apart of the team,” said Steve Markland, Downtown’s VP A&R, Nashville. “Working with John Prine and his vast catalog of timeless, immaculate compositions is truly a career milestone for me. I am simply honored and humbled to be apart of John’s great work.”

Prine’s compositions include “I Just Want To Dance With You,” “In Spite Of Ourselves,” “That’s The Way The World Goes Round,” “Long Monday,” “20th Century Is Almost Over,” and “Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness.”

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

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