Joybeth Taylor Extends Deal With Sony Music Publishing & Verse 2 Music, Adds TAYCAN As Creative Partner

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Cam Caldwell (SMP), Matt Cottingham (Hunter Cottingham PLLC), Scott Hendricks (TAYCAN), Rusty Gaston (SMP) and Synnovea Halsel (SMP). (L-R, front row): Blake Duncan (TAYCAN), Joybeth Taylor, Kent Earls (Verse 2) and Kane Brown (Verse 2). Photo: Savannah Spencer

Joybeth Taylor has extended her worldwide publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing Nashville and Verse 2 Music. TAYCAN Entertainment has also been added as a creative partner.

Taylor has penned multiple No. 1 hits, including Ella Langley’s record-breaking “Choosin’ Texas,” which won 2026 ACM Song of the Year. The song spent 21 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the longest-running No. 1 for a non-holiday song and the longest-leading hit by a solo female country artist in the chart’s history. It also topped the UK Singles Chart, spent three weeks at No. 1 on Mediabase’s Country Airplay chart and earned its 39th week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.

A frequent collaborator of Langley’s, Taylor also has cuts with Morgan Wallen, Jordan Davis, Kane Brown, Vincent Mason, Warren Zeiders, Gavin Adcock, Hudson Westbrook, Chase Matthew, Corey Kent, Josh Ross, Koe Wetzel, Kameron Marlowe, Zach John King and more.

Her latest radio hit, “I Can’t Love You Anymore” by Langley and Wallen, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Taylor’s recent releases also include Westbrook’s “Made You Look,” Matthew’s “Autopilot” and Kent’s “Empty Words,” which recently reached the top 40 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

“To extend with Sony/Verse 2 and add TAYCAN on is a dream come true,” says Taylor. “I couldn’t have a better team championing me and my songs! Excited for everything to come!”

“When I met Joybeth in early 2021, three things blew me away… her brilliant songwriting ability, her unbelievably hard-working nature and the fact she wasn’t signed to a publisher,” shares Kent Earls, Partner, Verse 2 Music. “The first two traits told me she was destined to make musical history, the third told me I needed to be the one to work with her. Verse 2 Music is proud to continue as Joybeth’s publisher and champion alongside Sony Music Publishing and TAYCAN Entertainment. She’s already made history, we’re all excited to see what we can accomplish next.”

“Having Joybeth join our TAYCAN roster is like having Michael Jordan join your basketball team…Blake [Duncan] and I couldn’t be more excited about partnering with Sony and Verse 2,” adds Scott Hendricks, Partner, TAYCAN Entertainment.

“The only thing that outpaces Joybeth’s big dreams and talent is her unstoppable work ethic, and it has been inspiring to see her career soar to even greater heights,” says Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston. “I couldn’t be happier for Joybeth and Verse 2 for all their successes, and with TAYCAN joining the partnership, we’re confident the best is yet to come.”

Taylor has earned MusicRow Award nominations for Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year (2025) and Female Songwriter of the Year in both 2025 and 2026. She currently ranks No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Songwriters chart and No. 7 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 Songwriters chart.

Madison Hahnen
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