In This Issue: MusicRow’s 2023 Publisher Issue Features A Legion Of Experts

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MusicRow Magazine’s recently released 2023 Publisher Issue offers a myriad of resources for industry professionals and songwriters.

This annual edition contains a comprehensive Publisher Directory, listing Nashville’s top publishing companies as well as organizations available for songwriters.

In addition to the valuable directory, the 2023 Publisher Issue brings back the State of the Union roundtable, including UMPG Vice President of A&R, Missy Roberts; Warner Chappell Vice President of A&R, BJ Hill; Sony Music Publishing Vice President of Creative A&R, Kenley Flynn; Curb | Word Entertainment Vice President of Country Publishing & Creative, Colt Murski and 50 Egg Music Co-Owner/President, Tali Canterbury.

These top executives discuss the implications of AI on publishing, catalog sales, TikTok, outside songs and more.

When asked about AI, Murski, shared, “It’s a whole new frontier. I feel like I’m just sitting back watching the destruction coming, but it could be a tool. I remember when Napster happened, everybody was afraid of it and they were trying to shut it down. There’s a little bit of that vibe going on, but eventually we had to learn to embrace it. It’s better to just start learning how to embrace it and get on the forefront of the legalities and the creativity of how we’re going to handle it moving forward.”

In a section titled “Doin’ Deals With Derek,” Loeb & Loeb Partner and Co-Manager of the Nashville office, Derek C. Crownover, talks to MusicRow about trending music industry deals and offers some advice.

“We’ve got some artist deals that are changing people’s lives right now,” he said. Creating generational wealth and creating wealth that’s going to stay in Nashville. That’s what I’m excited about.”

Elsewhere, Concord Music Publishing Senior Vice President of A&R, Brad Kennard, speaks about the company’s resurgence in Nashville. Over the last few years, Kennard has worked to grow the Music City roster and staff, resulting in industry-leading deals and successes.

“We’re not looking for redundancy, we’re not looking to just get everything for sale, it’s really intentional,” Kennard shared about building his roster. “Every time an opportunity comes up, we ask ourselves: ‘Are we passionate? Does this person bring something unique to the table? Can we make a deal that makes sense for both parties?'”

Additionally, Anthem Music Publishing’s Gilles Godard spoke to MusicRow about his journey from a staff writer at the company to his promotion to President of the Nashville office last summer. He spoke about his approach to publishing and Anthem’s creative mindset.

Godard shared, “I think the secret to success is nurturing your writers and helping them write up and sign their way to the correct collaborations. Sometimes it’s not by putting them in a room with a No. 1 writer. Sometimes it’s putting them in the room with the writers at their level, which is the next wave of hits.”

In the annual Writers’ Notes section of the 2023 Publisher Issue, MusicRow interviewed Warner Chappell/Home Team Music Publishing’s Parker Welling, Sony Music Publishing’s Madeline Edwards, Big Machine Music’s Matt Dragstrem, Liz Rose Music/Warner Chappell’s Cameron Bedell, UMPG/Back Blocks Music’s Lily Rose and newly-inducted Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Rafe Van Hoy. Each songwriter spoke about their success stories and personal hit-making approaches.

Also included in the 2023 Publisher Issue is a My Music Row Story feature on ASCAP’s AVP of Strategic Services, Nashville Membership Kele Currier, a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Fund, a look at MusicRow‘s weekly Top Songwriter Chart and more.

COJO Music/Warner Music Nashville artist Cody Johnson graces the cover of the 2023 Publisher Issue.

Single copies of MusicRow’s 2023 Publisher Issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $45, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.

LB Cantrell
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