By Design Adds First Five Songwriters To Roster

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Pictured (Front Row, L-R): Josh Pauley, Austin Cain and Josh Bailey. (Back Row, L-R): Jeremy Holley, Josh Thompson and Hayley McGee. Photo: Courtesy of By Design Music

By Design, the Nashville-based modern music company founded by Josh Bailey, Josh Thompson, Rod Riley and Jeremy Holley, has added Austin Cain, Chris August, Jillian Edwards and Jon White in partnership with Sony Music Publishing, and Alison Turner, who signed a co-publishing deal directly to By Design Music Publishing.

“Great songwriting requires exceptional craft and an environment built to sustain it,” says By Design’s Vice President of Publishing and A&R, Josh Pauley. “We signed Alison, Austin, Chris, Jillian and Jon because their talent and creativity is undeniable. Our role isn’t to over-engineer the creative process, but to eliminate friction and give them the strategic partnership to operate at their absolute best.”

Memphis-born songwriter and producer Cain has spent eight years building a reputation in Nashville with writing and production credits with Josiah Queen, Franni Cash, Caleb & John and Thunderstorm Artis. He has toured alongside The Band CAMINO and Stephen Sanchez.

August has spent 25 years in the industry with cuts including Keith Urban’s “God Whispered Your Name” and work for Pentatonix, Ben Rector, Hootie & the Blowfish, Mac Powell and Tenille Arts, plus his own hits like “Starry Night” and “7×70.”

Texas native Edwards writes from the perspective of faith, motherhood and finding beauty in the ordinary. Her catalog spans multiple Billboard-charting releases and placements across Grey’s Anatomy, Nashville, Pretty Little Liars and the Disney+ film Out of My Mind.

White is a songwriter and producer with more than 1 billion career streams, best known as co-founder of the Dove Awards-nominated duo Capital Kings. He has written and produced with Anne-Marie, TobyMac, Noah Cyrus and the late Liam Payne, among others.

Turner is a 23-year-old Nashville-based songwriter by way of California’s Bay Area. Before graduating from Belmont University, Turner co-wrote “Good for Nothing,” later recorded by Cory Asbury.

“By Design exists to give creators the space to unlock their God-given design,” says co-founders Bailey and Thompson. “These five writers shape culture through purpose-driven storytelling, and they are the reason we built this. Sony gives us the global reach to back them at scale, and Josh Pauley gives them the hands-on support and leadership that great songs are built on.”

“Our passion for songwriters and great songs drives everything we do, and By Design shares that same spirit,” adds Rusty Gaston, CEO of Sony Music Publishing Nashville. “This group of writers is a statement of intent, and we’re proud to champion them alongside the entire By Design team.”

Pictured (Front Row, L-R): Josh Pauley, Chris August and Josh Bailey. (Back Row, L-R): Jeremy Holley, Josh Thompson and Hayley McGee.

Pictured (Front Row, L-R): Josh Pauley, Jillian Edwards and Josh Bailey. (Back Row, L-R): Jeremy Holley, Josh Thompson and Hayley McGee.

Pictured (Front Row, L-R): Josh Pauley, Jon White and Josh Bailey. (Back Row, L-R): Josh Thompson, Jeremy Holley and Hayley McGee.

Pictured (Front Row, L-R): Josh Pauley, Alison Turner and Josh Bailey. (Back Row, L-R): Josh Pauley, Alison Turner and Josh Bailey.

Lauryn Sink
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