BREAKING: Michael Martin Launches Endurance Music Group, Adds Scooter Carusoe, Clint Lagerberg To Roster [Exclusive]
Pictured (L-R): Josh Saxe, Michael Martin, Mark Ahlberg. Photo: Ed Rode
Michael Martin has been tapped to lead the full-service publishing house Endurance Music Group. Martin will serve as President for the new Nashville-based venture, with Mark Ahlberg as Sr. VP and Josh Saxe as Sr. Creative Director.
The company debuts with a roster including Scooter Carusoe (Chris Janson’s “Drunk Girl,” Darius Rucker’s “For The First Time”), Clint Lagerberg (Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” Rascal Flatts’ “Here Comes Goodbye”), and emerging artist-writers Jake Rose and Ryan Plappert.
Endurance Music Group also represents the catalogs of songwriters including Kevin Kadish (Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass,” Morgan Wallen’s “Whiskey Glasses”), BMI Songwriter of the Year Ross Copperman (Kenny Chesney’s “Tip Of My Tongue,” Brett Eldredge’s “Love Someone”), Hillary Lindsey (Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush,” Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color”), Extreme Writers Group (George Strait’s “I Saw God Today,” Heartland’s “I Loved Her First”) and Matt Jenkins (Florida Georgia Line’s “Confession,” Keith Urban’s “Cop Car”).
Martin was previously Vice President at ASCAP, where he led the performance rights organization to major market share growth in country music and managed the company’s relationships with many high-profile songwriters. His career has also included stops at Fame Music, Moraine Music Group and Extreme Writers Group, which he co-founded. Extreme helped launch the career of two-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year Rodney Clawson and held a catalog that included Strait’s “I Saw God Today,” as well as Rascal Flatts’ “Here Comes Goodbye” and Jason Aldean’s “Why.”
Ahlberg has handled administration for Big Loud Shirt, Sea Gayle Music, Big Tractor Music, Extreme Writers Group, Wide Open Music Group, Parallel Music Publishing and Centricity Music Publishing. As part of the launch, Ahlberg brings his company, Amplified Administration, under the Endurance umbrella. Amplified will continue to provide publisher and label administration services to outside clients, while also representing portions of the Endurance catalog.
Saxe joins from Round Hill Music, where he focused on back catalog exploitation and oversaw the signing of Jimmy Robbins, as well as the expansion of his co-venture, JRM Publishing. He also managed the company’s joint venture relationships with Ashley Gorley’s Tape Room Music and Big Loud Publishing. Saxe previously worked at BMG and held the co-chair position on the Leadership Council of Young Entertainment Professionals.
The company is backed by New York-based Raven Capital Management, a private equity fund manager that has contributed an existing music catalog and has committed to fund future acquisitions. Raven co-founder Jeremy Tucker will serve as Endurance’s chairman. The firm has more than $1 billion under management; other media assets in Raven’s investment portfolio include Open Road Films (acquired in 2018), Exclusive Media (acquired in 2015) and Crossroads Live, Inc. (owner of David Ian Productions, Limited, acquired in 2019).
Martin commented, “I am absolutely thrilled to make my return to music publishing by helping to launch Endurance Music Group. Jeremy is an incredible partner who truly understands the needs of a modern publishing house, and we have an amazing team in place to take care of our talented songwriters and the catalogs we represent. Here’s to the journey!”
Tucker added, “Michael’s passion, creativity and experience speak volumes. We are extremely excited to partner with Michael and the rest of the Endurance team, and believe their strategic vision will deliver results not just for Raven, but most importantly, for our songwriters.”
Endurance Music Group can be contacted at [email protected].
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