Holly Zabka Rises To Sr. VP At Essential Music Publishing

Holly Zabka

Holly Zabka has been promoted to Sr. Vice President at Essential Music Publishing. Zabka was previously Vice President of Publishing at the company.

Zabka was the first executive hired to run the publishing company in 2008 as Sr. Director of Publishing, and was promoted to VP in 2013. Since the inception of the company 12 years ago, Zabka and her EMP team have more than 15,000 copyrights and over 60 No. 1 songs, including “You Say” by Lauren Daigle, which also went No. 1 on the Mainstream Adult Contemporary Top 40 Chart, Cory Asbury’s “Reckless Love,” Zach Williams’ “Chain Breaker,” “Only Jesus” by Casting Crowns, and “Known” by Tauren Wells, among many others.

Additionally, through Zabka’s leadership, Provident’s Publishing division has received four GMA Dove Awards for Song of the Year (“You Say,” “Reckless Love,” “By Your Side,” and “Give Me Your Eyes”), was named 2019 BMI Publisher of the Year, and is a four-time SESAC Publisher of the Year. Under Zabka’s direction EMP has been responsible for signing and partnering with songwriters such as Jason Ingram, Matt Maher, Jonathan Smith, Ethan Hulse, Mia Fieldes, Ran Jackson, and Bryan Fowler, to name a few, and have also signed and represented Provident Label Group artist songwriters including Zach Williams, Tauren Wells, Matt Maher, I AM THEY, Elle Limebear, Vertical Worship, Rhett Walker, and more.

The publishing company is also behind many of today’s country hits, and to date has four No.1’s, three of which were written by Casey Brown for Russell Dickerson: “Every Little Thing,” “Blue Tacoma,” and “Yours.” EMP has also published “Flatliner,” written by Matt Brownleewe and recorded by Cole Swindell and Dierks Bentley.

“I am pleased to announce that Holly Zabka has been promoted to Sr. Vice President, Essential Music Publishing,” said Terry Hemmings, President and CEO, Provident Music Group. “In her 10 plus years with us, she has grown our publishing business into a globally impactful entity. Our roster and catalogue represent the very best in our industry. Holly’s role in shepherding the writers and songs necessary to bring us to this position is clear and the contribution to our business is evident in the results. Additionally, since joining our Sr. Leadership Team, she has added valuable insights and ideas, which have contributed to growing the overall business of Provident Entertainment Group. Please join me in congratulating Holly on this significant and well-deserved achievement!”

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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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