Black River Publishing & Sony Music Publishing Sign Global Admin Deal
Pictured (L-R): Rusty Gaston, Rebekah Gordon, Josh Van Valkenburg, Gordon Kerr. Photo: Drew DeSirey, Black River Entertainment
Black River Publishing and Sony Music Publishing Nashville have partnered for a worldwide publishing administration deal.
With the partnership, SMP will provide its global services to Black River’s publishing catalog, which includes songs written by Kelsea Ballerini, Josh Osborne, Jacob Davis, Doug Johnson, Forest Glen Whitehead, and more.
Of the deal, Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO, Rusty Gaston, says, “Independent music publishers play a vital role in our Music Row community, and Black River has done an amazing job of identifying and developing some of the biggest hit songwriters in Nashville. It is an honor for Sony Music Publishing to support Black River in their efforts.”
Black River Publishing and its roster have celebrated numerous awards and accolades since its inception twelve years ago. The company has celebrated 30 No. 1 songs and multiple Grammy awards, including for Best Country Song with Kacey Musgraves‘ “Merry Go ‘Round” (2013) and for Best Contemporary Christian Performance/Song with For King & Country‘s “God Only Knows” (2019).
“Black River Publishing and our amazingly talented roster of writers are thrilled to be joining forces with our friends at Sony Music Publishing,” shares Black River VP of Publishing, Rebekah Gordon. “The passion for music and songwriters on both the creative and administrative teams is unmatched. I’m looking forward to celebrating many successes together.”
Black River Publishing’s roster includes Black River recording artists Josiah Siska, MaRynn Taylor, and Josh Wilson; artist-writers Hannah Kerr, Pryor Baird, and Bryan Simpson; songwriter/producers Bobby Huff, Blake Ruby, Dan Wilson, and Jason Earley; and Grammy-winning songwriter, producer and artist Josh Kerr. Black River Publishing is part of the Black River Entertainment family under the Pegula Sports & Entertainment company portfolio.
