Industry Ink: Will Overton & Katie Kerkhover, Brooke Eden, Rhyme Partners
Discover Sooner To Host “Priceless Answers From Publishers” Event With Will Overton, Katie Kerkhover
Katie Kerkhover & Will Overton
Discover Sooner, the online platform seeking to accelerate attention of publishers to songwriters, will hold a virtual Q&A with A&R Director, Warner Chappell, Will Overton and Senior Creative Director, A&R, BMG, Katie Kerkhover on Thursday, July 15 at 5 p.m. CST. The free Zoom event, title “Priceless Answers From Publishers,” will be hosted by Nancy Deckant, Founder and CEO of Discover Sooner.
The interactive event seeks to bring a great understanding of how publishers select the songwriters they sign and to provide a live Q&A session. During the event, three artists will be introduced, and their songs played for the professional panelists.
Overton signs new acts and develops established acts on Warner Chappell’s roster, and has been part of the company since 2015. He recently signed chart-topping songwriter, producer, and classically-trained pianist Alexander Palmer with No. 1 hits at country radio, including Jason Aldean’s “Got What I Got” and Dierks Bentley’s 2x Platinum “Somewhere on a Beach.” Kerkhover is responsible for BMG’s Nashville publishing roster including hitmakers Scooter Carusoe, Ben Goldsmith, James Slater, and Wynn Varble, among others, and signing and developing new songwriters and artists.
Brooke Eden Joins Pride For Youth To Reimagine Songs With Aspiring Songwriters
BBR Music Group recording artist Brooke Eden recently joined Musicians On Call for a virtual songwriting session with two aspiring songwriters at Pride For Youth on Long Island. Together the group created reimagined lyrics for her song “Got No Choice” that address self-love and identity.
Eden talked about the inspiration for her song and her journey towards self-love and finding acceptance of her relationship while pursuing her career in country music. Meanwhile, the youth shared their experiences embracing their identities by pursuing their passions, finding community, and living life with no boundaries.
Eden has volunteered with Musicians On Call in the past, performing at patients’ bedsides in Nashville as part of MOC’s Bedside Performance Program. With over 40 million on-demand streams already, Eden has garnered new critical acclaim with her trilogy of new tracks and music videos that illustrate her own path towards loving honestly.
Rhyme Partners Reveals Speak Life To End Bullying, The Musical
Rhyme Partners staff and writers. Pictured (L-R): Rebecca Burd, Leland Grant, Dan Burd, Melissa Bollea Rowe, Briana Tyson, Tripp Weir and Lisa Doughtery.
Speak Life Performing Arts Company (SLPAC) is releasing a new film version of Speak Life The Musical to End Bullying this fall. SLPAC has been a leader in the nation’s conversation on the issue of bullying for over 13 years, and their musical has now been seen by over 370,000 students across America.
Melissa Rowe, songwriter and owner of Nashville’s Rhyme Partners Music Publishing, wrote, co-wrote, and co-produced all of the new music for the show. Speak Life The Musical follows a day in the life of four high school students giving us a glimpse into their public persona and private struggles. Every day in schools across America, kids are abused by their peers. Social media has allowed the abuse to chase them home, and cyberbullying leaves no place to hide.
Rowe admits that her involvement in this project has been distinctly different than anything she has done previously in her career. “The opportunity to make an impact on kids and audiences all over the nation through our words and music was an honor that I didn’t take lightly,” she says of Rhyme Partners’ all encompassing involvement which not only included writing and composing all the music but also overseeing every aspect of the project. “Music comforts us and takes us places we can’t go by any other means. It can save a life,” she concludes.
Founded in 2013, Rhyme Partners catalog includes hundreds of cuts on both independent and record label artists with millions of combined streams across all digital platforms. Their songs have been recognized, nominated for, and won several independent and major music awards. Rhyme Partners catalog has also seen success with national brands and sync placements for television and film.
