Sony/ATV Music Publishing Announces Two New Executive Hires

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Caldwell, Pender

Sony/ATV has added two new executives to its Nashville office. Cam Caldwell joins as VP, Business Affairs, while Courtney Pender joins as VP, Human Resources.

As VP of Business Affairs, Caldwell reports directly to Sony/ATV Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston and is responsible for negotiating all publishing and administration agreements, joint-ventures, and catalog acquisitions for the Nashville office, as well as overseeing litigation. Prior to joining Sony/ATV, Caldwell spent 10 years in private practice law and most recently worked as an attorney at Loeb & Loeb, LLP. Caldwell completed his undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern University and received his law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law.

“Cam is sure to be a unique and valuable addition to the company’s legal team, and we are grateful to have him join the Sony/ATV family,” said Gaston.

Pender will provide HR leadership and support to employees based in the US, Canada and Latin America. In this role, she is responsible for creating and implementing strategic initiatives and best practices that will encourage a healthy, diverse, and productive work environment for Sony/ATV’s employees. Pender previously worked as the Senior HR Business Partner at PopHealthcare, LLC, where she managed people operations for various teams within the company and supported growth initiatives which increased workforce capability, created organizational design and structure, and facilitated on-going process improvements. She has also worked at Fresinus Medical Care North America and at Bridgestone, where she focused on organizational design and development, change management, recruitment and selection, performance management, employee and managerial development, and company alignment across teams. Pender earned her degree from Middle Tennessee State University, received her MBA from Western Governors University and has two HR certifications.

“Courtney has extensive experience in driving and achieving successful business results, and we are excited to work with her on creating a brighter future for Sony/ATV and its staff,” said Elicia Felix-Hughey, SVP, Global Human Resources

Adam Epstein Appointed Head Of A&R At Demolition Music Publishing

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Adam Epstein has joined Demolition Music Publishing as head of its A&R department. Epstein will focus on artist development, catalog exploitation and new strategic opportunities for the Demolition Music team. He will be based in Nashville but will be covering multiple territories including Los Angeles, New York and some international markets.

Epstein has 25 years of industry experience including publishing, performing rights, marketing and artist management. Prior to Demolition Music, he served as A&R Director at Concord Music where he was involved in client relations for its roster including Mark Ronson, Daft Punk, John Shanks and The Piano Guys. He also held several positions in publishing with stints at Universal Music Publishing, Peer Music, Deston Songs and BMI, where he worked closely with Desmond Child, Lady Antebellum, Maroon 5, Tricky Stewart, Ester Dean and David Foster.

“We were so lucky to find Adam when we did,” said Demolition Music President, Jon D’Agostino. “He and I are a couple of New Yorkers with a love of great music and building relationships. His knowledge, experience, passion, and street savvy bring some exciting ingredients to the Demolition brand, and fits our mission perfectly.”

“This is an exciting time to join the Demolition Music team,” said Epstein. “They have an incredible creative energy and a passion for success. I am looking forward to an amazing future with them!”
The Demolition Music roster includes Joe Leathers, HAVEN, Evan Coffman, Adam Searan, John Milstead, Michael August, and Jon D’Agostino.

NSAI Names Executive Committee Members, Welcomes Newest Board Members

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The Nashville Songwriters Association International Board of Directors had its initial meeting of the 2020-21 term, which runs May through April, marking the first meeting for newly-elected members J.T. Harding, Josh Kear, Jon Nite and Emily Shackelton.

During the meeting, the Board re-elected the current Executive Committee and officers for a one-year term including President Steve Bogard, Legislative Co-Chairs Roger Brown and Lee Thomas Miller, Industry Liaison Brett James, Sergeant-At-Arms Bobby Tomberlin, Secretary Byron Hill, Treasurer Jenn Schott and At-Large Members Tim Nichols, Anthony L. Smith and Danny Wells.

The full 27-member NSAI Board includes songwriters: Rhett Akins, Jim Beavers, Steve Bogard, Roger Brown, Sarah Buxton, Jeff Cohen, Chris DeStefano, Nicolle Galyon, Brett James, J.T. Harding, Byron Hill, Josh Kear, Lee Thomas Miller, Tim Nichols, Jon Nite, Josh Osborne, Liz Rose, Rivers Rutherford, Jenn Schott, Emily Shackelton, Anthony L. Smith, Caitlyn Smith, Bobby Tomberlin, Laura Veltz, Troy Verges, Danny Wells and Jimmy Yeary.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville Signs Gabby Barrett To Global Publishing Deal (Exclusive)

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Pictured (Front row, L-R): Rusty Gaston, Gabby Barrett, Dane Schmidt. (Back row, L-R): Tom Luteran, Mya Hansen, Josh Van Valkenburg, Anna Weisband, Katie Kerkhover, Brooke Yancey (Red Light Management), Tom Lord (Manager, Red Light Management)

Singer/songwriter Gabby Barrett’s career trajectory has skyrocketed since she released her debut single “I Hope.” The song, which Barrett also co-wrote, recently became her very first No. 1 single on country radio and has been certified Platinum.

Today, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville announces Barrett has signed with the company for an exclusive global publishing administration deal.

Sony/ATV Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston said, “Gabby Barrett is special, and her music reminds us of that with every listen—her willingness to express both strength and vulnerability in her songs is going to take her a long way. On behalf of Sony/ATV Nashville, we are pleased to have her join the team, and we look forward to watching her star rise.”

“When I first met Rusty and the team at Sony/ATV, I just knew in my gut that this would be my songwriting home, and I felt the same thing when I got signed to [Barrett’s label home] Warner Music Nashville,” Barrett tells MusicRow. “It felt like the place I was supposed to be, and it feels the same way here. I could just feel their belief in me and my songs, which meant so much to me as a newer songwriter in the community. They’ve been so supportive and encouraging and I know they will be the best song champions for me.”

“I Hope,” with its R&B-infused vibe and attention-grabbing chorus, driven by Barrett’s powerhouse vocal delivery, became the first solo female debut single to top the country radio charts since 2017. The song has reigned as the No. 1 streamed country single in the United States for three consecutive weeks and also reached No. 16 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 chart.

“It’s been this amazing roller coaster since we released it, and to get it to No. 1 on country radio has been absolutely a dream come true,” Barrett says. “That’s what I would think of when I was a little girl—‘I want to hear my song played on radio.’ When you write a song, you can’t be completely sure how people are going to react to it and I’m just amazed to see the response.”

Barrett has been singing since age 9, and was performing across the United States by age 11. She was later scouted for ABC’s American Idol, where she became a Top 3 finalist. To date, she has accumulated more than 260 million streams, and has opened concerts for Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Toby Keith, Chris Lane, Dustin Lynch, Jake Owen, Bebe Rexha, Cole Swindell, Sugarland, and Carrie Underwood.

On June 19, fans will get to hear the full spectrum of Barrett’s talents as both a songwriter and artist, when she releases her full-length, debut Warner Music Nashville album, titled Goldmine. Barrett has songwriting credits on 12 of the album’s 13 tracks, which was co-produced by Sony/ATV’s Ross Copperman and Zach Kale, with Jimmy Robbins, Sam Martin and Bryan Fowler contributing additional production on certain songs.

“I got to have a lot of creative say on this album, and I’m so grateful for that,” she says of Goldmine. “I wanted this first album to be fully me, and the direction of who I am as an artist. I felt like I achieved that with this album.”

In addition to her chart-topping single “I Hope,” Goldmine also contains the softly romantic “The Good Ones” (inspired by her relationship with husband Cade Foehner), her recent single “Hall of Fame,” and a collaboration with “One Call Away” singer Charlie Puth (on a remixed version of “I Hope”). The collaboration came after Puth had posted a video of Barrett singing “I Hope” on his Instagram Stories, and tagged her in it. When Barrett reached out to thank Puth for sharing the video, he surprised her with the news that he wanted to remix the track.

“I was so excited. I have always been such a fan of his,” Barrett says of Puth. “My sister and I would listen to his music all the time when we were younger. He just has that producer mind where when he has an idea, he gets on it quickly. In two days he sent me a remixed version with his vocals added to it. So our teams got together and now we have the new version of it.”

Barrett, a current ACM New Female Artist of the Year nominee, may be known for that crystal clear, ceiling-scraping soprano, but she’s out to show that she is a singer and songwriter in equal measure. Though she is gearing up to release her full-length album, she has plenty more songs stored away to share when the time is right.

“I have been writing for two years, really digging in and getting to know songwriters and getting in those co-writing rooms. So it was fun deciding which songs to include on this project, and which we will hold off on for another album. I wanted to put way more songs on it—I was like, ‘Can we put 20 songs on an album?’” she says, laughing. “But we held off on a few songs for what we have coming next.”

Big Yellow Dog Music Signs Clare Dunn

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Big Yellow Dog Music has signed Clare Dunn to its publishing and label roster. Her new single “Safe Haven” is now available via Big Yellow Dog Music.

Colorado-born Dunn’s songs reflect her rural upbringing and life raised on a family farm, blended with an array of music influences she gained through years spent at a small hometown dance studio.

“I was exposed to every genre imaginable and grew to have a deep appreciation for the history of it’s roots,” says Dunn. “I’m passionate about making music and playing it. Any day I get to do that is a vacation day.”

“I got a call from one of our BYD artists who told me they had been getting songs from Clare Dunn and asked if I had heard of her,” says Big Yellow Dog Music co-owner and CEO Carla Wallace. “I reached out and couldn’t believe all the hits she was writing. Her voice and sense of style grabbed me immediately. I’m excited to share her music.”

BMG Opens myBMG App To All Artists And Songwriters

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BMG is opening up its myBMG app to artists across the music industry to allow them to pitch for songs from BMG songwriters.

Artists can submit written briefs or even videos to BMG’s writer roster, which includes Jessie Reyez, Erika Ender, Victoria Monet, Jason Evigan, Camille Purcell and more.

The app-based version of BMG’s long-time ‘Watchlist’ service for songwriters means artists will be able to reach out directly to the BMG clients worldwide who use the myBMG app.

Erika Ender, the multi-Platinum, Latin singer-songwriter, performer and producer, who signed to BMG in February 2020, said, “I’m enjoying everything about the Watchlist. There you get to see the artists who are looking for songs, the projects, the producers, where they’re from, what they’re looking for exactly and it’s such a powerful tool for us all to do our job the best way we can.”

BMG VP, Global Writer Services Marian Wolf said, “myBMG has been a pacesetter for the industry ever since we launched it in 2013. Now as well as connecting our clients to their royalty and other key information and insights, myBMG will act as a connector between artists and songwriters helping generate new creative opportunities for both.”

BMG’s initial focus with its new Watchlist is the company’s own recording artists.

“As of today [April 29] BMG’s myBMG Watchlist includes pitch opportunities from around the world including access to priority projects from BMG artists such as Jason Aldean and Spencer Sutherland,” said Wolf. “While it is available in a desktop version, we think the app will prove most attractive to artists and songwriters, enabling writers to pitch songs to artists or vice versa at anytime and anywhere.”

The Watchlist is also open to artists from other companies and current listings include pitches from labels including Arista Records, Atlantic Records, Capitol Records, Columbia Records, RCA Records, Republic Records, Universal Music Australia, Warner Music UK, Sony Music Germany, SM Entertainment and Avex Music Japan.

The app will complement BMG’s in-house creative team supporting songwriters in today’s growing global market.

“This is not a replacement for the time-honored music publishing skill of developing songwriter careers and connecting writers and songs with artists,” said Wolf, “but it is a significant enhancement.”
Recent successful songs from placements and collaborations initiated by BMG’s global writer services team include “When God Whispered Your Name” (Keith Urban), “I Dare You” (Kelly Clarkson), “I Love Me” (Demi Lavato), “Girlfriend” (Mabel), and “Cool” (Dua Lipa).

The addition of Watchlist functionality to myBMG was previously planned for Q4 2020 but was brought forward because of the coronavirus crisis, said BMG CTO Sebastian Hentzschel.

“In the current crisis artists and writers need all the help they can get,” he said, “so as soon as this thing hit, our teams worked very hard to accelerate the integration of Watchlist functionality into myBMG.

“BMG was very early in launching an online client portal for publishing clients. It was an obvious expression of our key insight that the music business was going to have to get a whole lot more transparent and user friendly. Since then we’ve had the launch of the app back in 2017 and the addition of recordings. Others have now followed and that’s all to the good, but our view now is that myBMG should sit at the center of our day-to-day relationship with clients. That means not just royalty and copyright information, but synch updates and now Watchlist too.

“An app will never replace an artist or songwriter’s personal relationship with BMG – ultimately we’re a music company not a technology company – but myBMG is a key element in BMG’s commitment not just to fairness and transparency, but to service too.”

LBK Entertainment Signs Emma Brooke To Publishing Deal (Exclusive)

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Pictured (L-R): Carl Kornmeyer, Emma Brooke, Mariah Topel, Tim DuBois

LBK Entertainment has signed singer/songwriter Emma Brooke to an exclusive worldwide publishing deal.

Creative Director of LBK Entertainment, Mariah Topel says, “Emma has such a gift. Her ability to convey emotions and experiences through her songwriting is really special. We’re so happy to have her as a part of the LBK family.”

LBK Creative Services Team Member Tim DuBois adds, “Emma is a natural story teller with a great sense for melodies. I’m excited to have a front row seat for this.”

Brooke adds, “My wonderful team at LBK Entertainment values authenticity, encourages my vision, and has a deep appreciation of songwriters overall. I’m so thrilled to be signed with them.”

At the age of 3, Brooke fell in love with Dolly Parton from a TV commercial. Over time that led to singing solos at school, to songwriting, and to vocal coach Zuke Smith. Smith not only helped Brooke with her vocal technique but built her confidence as a singer and a person. This began a journey that carried her into the craft of songwriting and understanding how an ear that has perfect pitch could be used to absorb the structure of music by influences ranging from Parton, Lee Ann Womack, Rihanna, Kacey Musgraves, Ariana Grande, and Taylor Swift. That raw talent and authenticity have earned her a collaborative place in rooms with award-winning songwriters including: Brett James, Marcus Hummon and Steve Bogard, just to name a few.

LBK Entertainment was founded by Carl Kornmeyer, a former 28-year leader at Gaylord Entertainment who led the company’s entertainment operations. Also on the team are former Arista Nashville and Universal South label head Tim DuBois and Topel, who previously worked at BE Music and Entertainment.

LBK’s roster also includes Marcus Hummon and Kev Kelly.

Colin Healy Inks With Major Bob Music

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Colin Healy has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Major Bob Music. A New England native, Healy currently tours with Dustin Lynch as his Music Director and bass player.

“I’m thrilled to work with Colin. He is such a talented writer/producer, his energy and work ethic make him an amazing addition to our Major Bob roster,” said Tina Crawford, VP/Major Bob Music.
Healy said, “I am so grateful for Bob and Tina for believing in me and supporting me through this new chapter in my career. Their team felt like home from the very beginning. Stoked to see what the future holds!”

NSAI, SONA Offer COVID-19 Relief To Songwriting Community Through Sony/ATV Donation

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The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and Songwriters of North America (SONA) announced plans to provide additional support to the songwriting community with funds from a generous financial donation from Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

“Thank you. Our joint statement can’t really start or end any other way,” said the organizations’ Executive Directors Bart Herbison (NSAI) and Michelle Lewis (SONA). “Sony/ATV Chairman and CEO Jon Platt reached out to us and has been in dialogue with our groups over the past two weeks understanding the need for assistance to working songwriters, many whose livelihoods have been devastated due to effects of the coronavirus.”

Both organizations have made the decision to use much of the money to directly assist songwriters through grant-like distributions. Details of how each organization will accept applications and respectively distribute funds will be forthcoming soon and available at each organization’s website. NSAI and SONA intend to reach out to other companies within and outside of the music industry, artists and individuals to also make contributions.

“The contribution will also help fund the ongoing operations of NSAI and SONA,” the joint statement continued. “We worked together to ensure self-employed individuals in the music industry were eligible for loans, grants and unemployment—and will continue working to bring all possible resources to the songwriters we serve along with our ongoing advocacy efforts.”

Black Diamond Row Music Publishing Inks Deal With Dean Dillon

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Photo ID (L to R): Sheryl Steinmeyer, Dean’s manager; Angela Gutierrez, Founder of Black Diamond Row; Dean Dillon; Adolfo Gutierrez, Managing Director

Songwriter Dean Dillon has signed an exclusive publishing deal for his future works with Black Diamond Row Music Publishing.

Between 1979 and 1981, Dillon released 12 singles for RCA Records, with three of his songs reaching the Top 30 on the country charts, including his rendition of “Nobody In His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her,” which later became a No. 1 hit for George Strait. Between 1979 and 1983, as an artist Dillon charted eight times and broke the Top 30 with “I’m Into The Bottle (To Get You out of My Mind).”

Dillon has since become one of music’s most iconic songwriters. He has written more than 76 songs recorded by George Strait, including 19 radio singles and 11 No. 1 hits. Those hits include “The Chair,” “If I Know Me,” “Easy Come, Easy Go,” “Oceanfront Property,” “Unwound,” “She Let Herself Go,” and “Marina Del Ray,” among many others.

He also co-wrote “Tennessee Whiskey,” which was first recorded by David Allan Coe and later became a hit for George Jones in 1983 and in recent years became a 6x Platinum, signature recording for Chris Stapleton. He also penned several hits for artists including the late Keith Whitley (“Homecoming ’63” and “Miami, My Amy”), Kenny Chesney (“A Lot of Things Different” and “A Chance”), Pam Tillis (“Spilled Perfume” and “All The Good Ones Are Gone”), Toby Keith (“A Little Too Late,” and “Get My Drink On”) and the late Vern Gosdin (“Is It Raining At Your House” and “Set ‘Em Up, Joe”), among others.

Dillon was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002 and earned the BMI Icon Award in 2013. He also earned three CMA Triple Play Awards (in 1995, 1996 and 1998).
“Dean Dillon is one of the most respected songwriters in the Nashville community,” says Angela Gutierrez, Founder of Black Diamond Row. “He has had a very successful career and will be valuable to the continued growth of BDR and all our songwriters.”

Nashville-based music publishing company Black Diamond Row launched in 2015; the roster also includes Kevin Brandt and Jordan Rainer.