Home Team, Warner Chappell Music Sign Parker Welling

Parker Welling. Photo: Spencer Combs

Warner Chappell Music Nashville and Thomas Rhett’s Home Team Publishing have signed a global publishing deal with songwriter Parker Welling. The Nashville native worked with Russell Dickerson on his 2017 album Yours, co-writing nine songs, including the title track, “Blue Tacoma,” and “Every Little Thing,” with all three reaching No. 1 on Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart and “Yours” earning an ACM nod for Song of the Year in 2019.

Most recently, Welling co-wrote Dickerson’s latest single, “Love You Like I Used To,” which is in its second week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and landed on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Canada Country charts.

“As a songwriter, being in the room with Parker is an incredible experience,” said Home Team Publishing co-founder Thomas Rhett. “She knows how to channel the creative energy and write lyric and melody that really connect with the listener. We love that Parker is part of the Home Team family and know we will have many hits together both as a co-writer and a publisher.”

Ben Vaughn, President & CEO, Warner Chappell Music Nashville said, “Anyone who knows Parker knows she’s a creative light that brightens every room she enters. It’s been special to see her get the recognition she deserves and cement her place as one of Nashville’s leading up-and-coming songwriters. We’re thrilled to have her on team Warner Chappell and are looking forward to the future together.”

In 2019, Welling landed another No. 1 on Billboard’s Canada Country chart with Mackenzie Porter’s “These Days.” The songwriter has also worked with some of the biggest names in today’s country music scene including Thomas Rhett for “What’s Your Country Song,” the first single on Rhett’s newest project.

Welling was nominated for the Canadian Country Music Association’s 2020 Songwriter of the Year and has landed a nod for MusicRow’s Female Songwriter of the Year for the past two years, as well as a nomination for MusicRow‘s Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year in 2018.

Exclusive: Concord Music Publishing Signs Donovan Woods

Donovan Woods

Concord Music Publishing has signed Donovan Woods to its writer roster. The new publishing agreement covers all future works, in addition to several songs from his latest project, Without People, which released Nov. 6, including singles “Seeing Other People” and “We Used To.”

The Ontario native has had his songs recorded by Tim McGraw (“Portland, Maine”) and Charles Kelley (“Leaving Nashville”), and as an artist, his catalog has earned more than 200 million streams to date.

“I’ve known Brad for a long while now, he was an early supporter when I arrived in Nashville, so I’m thrilled to get the chance to work closely with him and his squad,” said Woods. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about the team, so I’m very happy to get started and be a part of the excitement.”

“Donovan is a poet and a true craftsman. He has an uncanny ability to write songs that invariably make the listener feel he wrote it about their own life,” said Brad Kennard, Sr. VP, A&R at Concord Music Publishing in Nashville. “For years now, I’ve loved his artistry and have had so much respect for his songwriting. It’s a thrill to finally get the opportunity to work with him.”

Woods is managed by Michelle Szeto at Paquin Entertainment and represented by Paradigm Talent Agency (US), Paquin Artists Agency (Canada), The Orchard, WMA Agency and Shore Fire Media.

Woods’ new project features co-writes with Tucker Beathard, Ashley Monroe, Barenaked Ladies’ Ed Robertson, Katie Pruitt and fellow Concord writer Thomas Finchum. Woods also recently launched the Donovan Woods With People project, which aims to support marginalized communities via collaborations with independent creators in an array of art mediums, to create visual interpretations for each song on Woods’ new album. His video for “We Used To” was created by Brooklyn-based artist and songwriter Ariana and the Rose as part of the project.

Warner Chappell Extends Pub Deal With Logan Wall

Logan Wall. Photo: Alex Ferrari

Producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Logan Wall has extended his global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music Nashville.

Wall co-wrote Brantley Gilbert’s current single “Hard Days,” as well as Logan Mize’s “Grew Apart,” which has earned more than 9 million global streams following features on Spotify’s Hot Country, New Boots, U.S. Viral 50 and Apple Music’s Today’s Country.

Wall is currently producing the upcoming album from Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Tom Douglas, and has cuts with artists including Larry Fleet, Augustana, and Donovan Woods, working in multiple formats including country, indie-alternative, Americana, and contemporary Christian.

In 2019, Wall launched the Skinny Studio in the heart of Downtown Nashville to serve as a creative haven for players, poets, and artists looking for a place to write their stories. Wall is managed by Michelle Szeto at Paquin Entertainment.

Abbey Adams, Red Light Management, Warner Chappell Launch Red Door Music Group

Pictured: Red Door Music Group’s Gina Venier, Abbey Adams, and Rian Ball.

Music publishing veteran Abbey Adams has teamed with Red Light Management to launch boutique music publishing company Red Door Music Group, in a joint venture partnership with Warner Chappell Music Publishing.

Red Door Music Group operates as a publishing arm for major music management company Red Light Management, and is based in Red Light Management’s Nashville office.

Adams’ career path includes over a decade at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which she joined in 2006, and rose to the role of Sr. Director, Creative in 2015. Along the way, she pitched and placed several hits, and had cuts by artists including Keith Urban (“You Gonna Fly” and “Raise ‘Em Up”), Billy Currington (“Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right”), Lady A (“I Run To You,” “Hello World”) and more songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley, Jake Owen, and more. She also placed songs in Grey’s Anatomy, Nashville, and the film Country Strong. In 2015, she teamed with Creative Nation’s Beth Laird to co-found Nurturing Outstanding Women (NOW), a mentoring organization for women in Nashville’s music industry. She then joined Centric Entertainment in 2017.

Adams says a conversation with longtime industry colleague, Red Light’s Shawn McSpadden, sparked the idea for Red Door.

“We first met when I had signed Joey Hyde at Sony/ATV. Joey got his deal at Universal and Shawn was managing him. Through that process we worked together a lot on songs and shows and his touring. Over time, we built that respect and trust that has to be your foundation for a team.

“Last year, I was looking at some options and told Shawn that I was interested in building a company,” Adams recalls. “He asked if I wanted to start a publishing company with Red Light and Warner Chappell.”

Red Door’s first two signings include new artist Gina Venier and writer-producer Rian Ball. The two signings reflect Adams’ and McSpadden’s shared philosophy of focusing on serving a small roster as a boutique company.

“We’ve never really been a publishing entity. As the company grew, we realized one missing part of this was to have a boutique entity that we could develop talent through,” says McSpadden. “And we can sign some writers to put with our various artists and managers. As managers, we are in the middle of a lot of the creative process on these records. They involve us from an A&R standpoint because we’re so closely tied so we thought if we can put together the right boutique company, it could be powerful. It feeds in to what we are already doing at Red Light and is a sister company.”

Adams met Ball through ASCAP’s GPS program, and brought him to Red Door as the publisher’s first signing. The multi-genre writer-producer has had several independent releases, working in pop, hip-hop and more recently, country.

“I love the opportunity he has with Red Light and Warner Chappell and those connections outside of Nashville,” Adams says.

Illinois-native Venier has released a batch of songs including “50 Bucks,” followed by “Good For You.”

“The way she approaches her songwriting and artistry, she has this swagger that is undeniable,” Adams says. “’Good For You’ is a fun vibe, but it’s also very personal and it shows more depth writing-wise. With each release, we go a little deeper into her story.”

Currently, the Red Door Music Group team is focused on building a small, solid writer roster, though the support from Warner Chappell also means catalog acquisitions could be an option in the future.

“The opportunity to work with an industry veteran like Abbey and to think about a company that sits between the largest management company in country music and the leading publishing company in country music, and the opportunities that could be there for those writers seemed like a complete no-brainer,” says Warner Chappell Music Nashville President/CEO Ben Vaughn.” Abbey’s the key because she has such a long and successful history in music publishing. Red Door is a very attractive destination for songwriters.”

“It’s been great working with Red Light and Warner Chappell through this process. They are champions. Creatively, Ben is a great partner,” Adams adds. “When these songs came up and we were ready to share with DSPs, he helped make connections that I didn’t have, so when you have a team like that, it’s a huge benefit.”

Anthem Music Publishing, Wrensong Entertainment, Old Gringo Music Sign Daniel Herr

Daniel Herr. Photo: Taylor Ann A Bogner

Daniel Herr has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with Anthem Music Publishing, Wrensong Entertainment and Old Gringo Music.

Born in Zurich, Switzerland and raised in Paris, Herr taught himself piano and guitar and sang lead vocals in the contemporary worship band of the American Church in Paris, which inspired him to start writing songs. Wanting to secure a more “reliable” future, Daniel earned his BA in Philosophy and French literature from Oxford University before working for an international law firm, only to realize that neither a life of academia or legal practice would make him happy. Turning his full focus to music, he moved to Nashville in late 2018 to strengthen his songwriting craft.

“Daniel’s American lyric sensibilities blended with his French melodic twist truly makes him stand out,” said Tim Wipperman, President of Anthem Music Publishing Nashville. “He is an artist that is wonderfully unique in the best way, and we’re very excited to have him join the team.”

“Daniel is an amazing singer, but his songwriting is exceptional,” said Ree Guyer, President and Owner of Wrensong Entertainment. “We’re so excited to be working with Daniel and venturing together into the pop world.”

Old Gringo Music’s Chris Hunter, who discovered Daniel and brought him to Anthem/Wrensong, added, “Daniel is one of those rare and special combinations. He is a talented writer and vocalist, a hard worker and a really good person. I’m excited to be able to be a part of this journey with Ree and her team and the great folks at Anthem. We are going to be hearing a lot of great music from Daniel!”

Steve Dorff Heads To Demolition Music Publishing

Pictured (First Row, L-R): Jon D’Agostino, President of Demolition Music/Staff Writer; Michael August, General Manager/Staff Writer; Lauren Spahn, Attorney at Shackelford Law; Jordin Wentworth, Assistant to Bruce Phillips; (Second Row, L-R): Adam Epstein, Head of A&R; Brian Smith, Management, Leadership Artists; Amanda Cooksey, A&R and Head of PR; Steve Dorff, Staff Writer; (Third Row, L-R): Jamie Dryburgh, Creative Director; Bruce Phillips, Law Office of Bruce H. Phillips; Shane Barrett, Song Plugger/Creative Consultant; Steve Bloch, Creative Consultant; (Fourth Row): Jessica Dock, Assistant to Steve Dorff.

Songwriter Steve Dorff has inked an exclusive deal with Demolition Music Publishing.

Previously based in Los Angeles, Dorff was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018 and has earned more than 40 BMI honors during his career.

“I’ve been coming to work in Nashville for the better part of 25 years and feel this is a great new beginning. Having been here for over a year, I realize how important it is to have a team who loves and appreciates songs,” says Dorff.

A three-time Grammy-nominee, Dorff has had more than 400 songs recorded by artists including Barbra Streisand (“Higher Ground,” “It Must Be You”), Whitney Houston (“Take Good Care of My Heart” ft. Jermaine Jackson), George Strait (“I Cross My Heart,” “The Man In Love With You”), Garth Brooks (“Baby, Let’s Lay Down and Dance”), Ronnie Milsap (“Cowboys and Clowns”), Celine Dion (“Miracle”), Kenny Rogers (“Through The Years”), and more. He has had 14 No. 1 hits, and an American Music Award win.

“In addition to my catalog, I’m especially excited about bringing Latigo Shore Music into the deal, which showcases some of Andrew Dorff’s early works. Some of the songs written in this catalog were written with some of Nashville’s greatest songwriters including Josh Osborne, Rodney Clawson, and Eric Church. A lot of these songs, in addition to songs by Jeston Cade, are ‘hits waiting to happen’ and I’m thrilled that they will get a new lease on life,” says Dorff.

“I’ve had a great relationship with Steve for years and adding him to our Demolition team takes me back to when the Yankees added Reggie Jackson to their lineup. He’s a hall of fame songwriter who has proven time and time again that no matter the genre, he plays to win,” says Jon D’Agostino, President of Demolition Music.

“Jon and I have been good friends, and I think the Demolition team is a great place to call home,” says Dorff. “I’m looking forward to working with the creative team at Demolition, and am currently working on a lot of exciting projects including records, films, and other productions,” says Dorff.

Jason Nix Signs With Jody Williams Songs

Pictured (L-R, Front Row): Jarrod Holley (Make Wake Artists), Jody Williams, Jason Nix, Nina Jenkins (Jody Williams Songs). (L-R, Back Row): Walker Newberry (Make Wake Artists), Randi McFadden (Make Wake Artists), Chris Kappy (Make Wake Artists), Matt Cottingham (Ritholz Levy Fields LLP). Photo Credit: Nathan Zucker

Jason Nix has signed an exclusive songwriting agreement with Jody Williams Songs.

Nix’s debut EP Money On You was released earlier this month and landed in the Top 20 on the iTunes Country Charts.

“I’m a big fan of Jason’s songwriting, performing and connectivity to his fans,” said Jody Williams, who launched his publishing company this year in partnership with Warner Chappell Music Nashville. “We could not be prouder to be his publishing home and work closely with Jarrod Holley and Chris Kappy at Make Wake in this important season of his career.”

“Jody was a huge reason that Jason was able to get off the road a few years ago and focus on songwriting,” says Nix’s manager Holley. “As soon as we found out he was launching Jody Williams Songs, we knew that we wanted Jason to be a part of their incredible roster.”

“Jody brings an unparalleled reputation and is one of my favorite people in this town,” adds Kappy. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring him and his team on board to team Nix.”

“Jody has been a champion for me ever since I met him at BMI years ago,” Nix shares. “I am excited to formally work with him, Nina and their talented JWS family.”

Dave Cobb Signs With UMPG

Dave Cobb. Photo: Becky Fluke

Universal Music Publishing Group has inked a global publishing deal with six-time Grammy winner Dave Cobb.

Cobb has lead albums for Brandi Carlile, The Highwomen, Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, John Prine, Anderson East and rock group Rival Sons. He was also a musical consultant and producer on the 2018 film and soundtrack remake of A Star Is Born and produced Lady Gaga’s “Always Remember Us This Way.”

As a producer, Cobb, has earned Grammy wins for Best Country Album twice, for his work on Stapleton’s Traveller and From A Room: Vol. 1, as well as three Best Americana Album honors for Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s The Nashville Sound, Isbell’s Something More Than Free and Carlile’s By The Way, I Forgive You, as well as Best American Roots Song for Carlile’s “The Joke.”

Cobb also serves as head of Elektra imprint Low Country Sound. He is also the producer-in-residence at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A. Cobb is managed by Andrew Brightman for Brightman Music, an L.A. based boutique producer management company.

Cobb said of his UMPG deal, “I’m really excited to be part of such an amazing team they have really made me feel at home and welcomed. I look forward to getting to work and seeing what kinda trouble we can get into.”

Jody Gerson, Chairman and CEO of UMPG, said: “Grammy award-winning writer and producer Dave Cobb’s versatility is impressive, from working on the soundtrack for A Star Is Born, to incredible collaborations with artists such as Brandi Carlile, The Highwomen, Jason Isbell and Chris Stapleton, and most recently working with the iconic Barry Gibb. I am thrilled to welcome Dave to UMPG’s global family, and we are excited to work closely with him in order to further his musical ambitions, which include more film and television projects.”

Troy Tomlinson, Chairman and CEO of UMPG Nashville, said, “Dave Cobb makes music that proves the value of ‘less is more’. His writing is straightforward. His production provides the space for the artist to interpret in their own way. All that and he’s a great hang! We are thrilled to be able to come alongside him on his musical journey.”

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville Signs Duo After Midtown

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville has signed duo After Midtown (which includes singer-songwriters Adam Ernst and Michael Rotundo) to a global publishing agreement.

The duo releases their debut single “Boys Like Us” today, and are readying their first EP. They are managed by a strategic partnership between The Core Ent’s Kevin “Chief” Zaruk, Simon Tikhman, and 10th Street Ent’s Scott Frazier and Chris Nilsson.

“Finding an atmosphere where our creativity is understood and appreciated was important to us,” After Midtown said, “and we know we found that with Rusty and Anna at Sony/ATV. We feel blessed to be surrounded by such an amazing team all the way around.”

Sony/ATV Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston said, “Adam and Michael have a way of weaving their broad influences into a country/alternative rock gumbo that results into infectious, sing-a-long choruses with all the heart of what makes country music so special. On behalf of all of us at Sony/ATV, we are fired up to welcome After Midtown to the team, and we look forward to spreading the gospel music.”

Pictured (L-R): Rusty Gaston; Sony/ATV; Scott Frazier, 10th Street; Nick Ferrara, attorney; Chief Zaruk, the Core; Adam Ernst; Michael Rotundo; Anna Weisband, Sony/ATV; Simon Tikhman, the Core.

Katie Kerkhover Joins BMG As Sr. Director, Creative

Katie Kerkhover

BMG has appointed Katie Kerkhover Senior Director, Creative to its music publishing team in Nashville.

Kerkhover will be responsible for BMG’s chart-topping Nashville publishing roster including hitmakers Scooter Carusoe, Ben Goldsmith, James Slater, and Wynn Varble, among others, and signing and developing new songwriters and artists. She will report directly to Chris Oglesby, SVP Creative.

Kerkhover joins from Sony/ATV, where she served as Creative Manager. Previously, she worked as an A&R consultant at CAM Creative and was a touring musician for artists including Sara Evans and Billy Currington.

Said Oglesby, “Katie is a wonderful addition to BMG. Her passion, determination, and character elevate our publishing business in Nashville, as she is the perfect fit for our exceptional songwriters and team. We are thrilled to welcome Katie in her new role and look forward to developing even more high-level opportunities and success for our writers.”