Big Yellow Dog Music Signs Street Corner Symphony’s Jeremy Lister

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Pictured (L-R) Front row: Evyn Mustoe (ASCAP), Jeremy Lister, Carla Wallace; Back row: Lauren Funk (BYD), Edward O’Day (manager, Project Daybreak), Alex Stefano (BYD), Michael Martin (ASCAP)

Big Yellow Dog Music has signed Jeremy Lister to an exclusive publishing agreement.

A member of the a cappella group Street Corner Symphony, Lister has been based in Nashville since 2003. He joined the Nashville-based Street Corner Symphony for NBC’s second season of The Sing-Off in 2010. The group claimed second place and later toured with Ben Folds. Currently, Street Corner Symphony is headlining shows across the globe. Lister has released three EPs under his own name in addition to three albums with the vocal group.

Alison Krauss + Union Station recorded Lister’s “Sinking Stone” on their album Paper Airplane. He recently released a single, ‘Sign Language,’ which is the title track of an EP slated for 2019.

“After being fans of Jeremy Lister for more than a decade, we finally have the opportunity to welcome him to the BYD family,” says Big Yellow Dog Music co-owner and CEO Carla Wallace. “It’s a perfect fit!”

MusicRow’s Top 100 Songwriters Of 2018

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Josh Osborne. Photo: Moments By Moser

2018 was a milestone year for songwriters. After years of campaigning for updated legislature regarding streaming royalties, the Music Modernization Act was passed in October. This important piece of legislature is crucial to the survival of the modern songwriter, and will create a landscape for songwriters to thrive in years to come.

This past year also proved to be a prosperous year for these 100 songwriters who saw the most chart success on the weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. Using algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital downloaded track sales and streams, these 100 songwriters were on top in 2018.

SMACKSongs and Sony/ATV’s Josh Osborne takes the No. 1 slot aggregating chart data from each weekly MusicRow Top Songwriters Chart in 2018. The songs that solidified his top spot in 2018 included LANCO’s “Born To Love You,” Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Backroad,” Midland’s “Burn Out,” Old Dominion’s “Hotel Key,” Blake Shelton’s “Turnin’ Me On,” and more.

It looks as if 2019 will be a strong year for Osborne, as well. He announced this week his worldwide publishing deal with Sony/ATV.

Ross Copperman

Rezonant Music Publishing’s Ross Copperman takes the No. 2 slot on the 2018 Top Songwriter Chart. The BMI writer was propelled by songs like LANCO’s “Born To Love You,” Dierks Bentley’s “Woman, Amen,” Blake Shelton’s “I Lived It” and Kenny Chesney’s “Get Along.”

 

Shane McAnally

SMACKSongs’ Shane McAnally follows Copperman at No. 3 with Jake Owen’s “Down To The Honky Tonk,” Midland’s “Burn Out,” Old Dominion’s “Written In The Sand,” and many more.

Ashley Gorley. Photo: Ed Rode

Round Hill Music’s Ashley Gorley falls at the No. 4 position in the top 100. Gorley won ASCAP’s Country Songwriter of the Year for the sixth consecutive time in 2018. Tunes like Luke Bryan’s “What Makes You Country,” Carly Pearce’s “Hide The Wine,” Blake Shelton’s “I Lived It,” and Thomas Rhett’s “Life Changes” and “Marry Me” solidified his position.

Tyler Hubbard. Photo: Delaney Royer

Big Loud Publishing’s Tyler Hubbard takes the No. 5 slot, with writing credits on songs like Jason Aldean’s “You Make It Easy,” as well as Florida Georgia Line’s “Simple” and the 50-week Billboard No. 1, “Meant To Be.”

MusicRow’s Top 100 Songwriters of 2018:

1. Josh Osborne
2. Ross Copperman
3. Shane McAnally
4. Ashley Gorley
5. Tyler Hubbard
6. Nicolle Galyon
7. Chase McGill
8. Hillary Lindsey
9. Lindsay Rimes
10. David Garcia
11. Luke Combs
12. Jon Nite
13. Rhett Akins
14. Josh Miller
15. Jesse Frasure
16. Jordan M. Schmidt
17. Jessie Jo Dillon
18. Morgan Evans
19. Brett Young
20. Trevor Rosen
21. Michael Hardy
22. Scooter Carusoe
23. Kevin Welch
24. Shay Mooney
25. Josh Kear
26. Dan Smyers
27. Jordan Reynolds
28. Matthew McGinn
29. Shy Carter
30. Thomas Rhett
31. Laura Veltz
32. D. L. Murphy
33. Matthew Ramsey
34. Robert Williford
35. Brian Kelley
36. Justin Ebach
37. Sean McConnell
38. Ben Hayslip
39. Chris Stevens
40. Bobby Pinson
41. Eric Church
42. Chris DeStefano
43. Russell Dickerson
44. Casey Brown
45. Parker Welling
46. Taylor Swift
47. Kane Brown
48. P.T. Monahan
49. Bebe Rexha
50. Josh Hoge
51. Chris Young
52. Luke Dick
53. Jordan Davis
54. Ray Wylie Hubbard
55. Brett Eldredge
56. Zach Crowell
57. Justin Wilson
58. Seth Ennis
59. Luke Laird
60. Chris Janson
61. Tom Douglas
62. Josh Thompson
63. Corey Crowder
64. Maren Morris
65. Will Weatherly
66. Brad Clawson
67. CJ Solar
68. Matt Rogers
69. Scotty McCreery
70. Chris Stapleton
71. Mike Henderson
72. Brandon Lancaster
73. Pavel Dovgalyuk
74. Abe Stoklasa
75. D. Frasier
76. E.M. Hill
77. Jimmie Allen
78. JP Williams
79. Liz Rose
80. Rob Snyder
81. Channing Wilson
82. Mitchell Tenpenny
83. Sammy Mitchel
84. Steven Andre Battey
85. J. Yeary
86. Dierks Bentley
87. R. Hurd
88. Brandon Kinney
89. Jeff Middleton
90. Ben Stennis
91. Carrie Underwood
92. Kelsea Ballerini
93. Derek George
94. Darius Rucker
95. Josh London
96. Dustin Lynch
97. Andy Albert
98. Mark Holman
99. Devin Dawson
100. Jacob Durrett

Warner/Chappell, Cornman Music Sign Will Bundy

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Pictured (L-R) Back row: T.D. Ruth (Serling Rooks), Ben Vaughn (Warner/Chappell), Jessi Vaughn (Warner/Chappell). Front row: Brett James (Cornman Music), Will Bundy, Nate Lowery (Cornman Music)

Songwriter Will Bundy has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Warner/Chappell Nashville and Cornman Music.

A ninth-generation cattle farmer turned songwriter, Bundy was born and raised in Southwest Virginia. He learned to play guitar at a young age, and in 2016 moved to Nashville to pursue music. In addition to songwriting, Bundy records and produces music.

“We are so stoked to have Will Bundy join the Cornman family,” said Cornman Music’s Brett James. “He’s an incredible talent and a great guy and we can’t wait to see all of the success that his future holds.”

Rezonant Closes 2018 With 21 of Top 100 Mediabase Country Singles of the Year

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Rezonant Music Publishing had 21 of the Top 100 singles of the year according to the Mediabase year-end review. These songs included such hits as Ross Copperman’s “Get Along” (Kenny Chesney); Scooter Carusoe’s “For the First Time” (Darius Rucker); Trevor Rosen’s “Hotel Key” (Old Dominion); Hillary Lindsey’s “Take Back Home Girl” (Chris Lane) and Mitch Rossell’s “All Day Long” (Garth Brooks).

“The Rezonant music family is associated with a remarkable group of writers who have created some of 2018’s most diverse and memorable songs,” said Rezonant’s CEO Tim Wipperman. “It is a testament to their creativity that artists who are at the top of their respective games turn to them when looking for a great song to cut and take to their fans. While some may think it will be a challenge to top such a great year, I’ve heard some of the new songs that these incredibly talented writers are working on, and have no doubt they will see even greater success this time next year.”

Breaking: Josh Osborne Signs With Sony/ATV Nashville

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Pictured (L-R): Josh Van Valkenburg, SVP, Nashville A&R, Sony/ATV; Josh Osborne; Troy Tomlinson, President/CEO, Sony/ATV.

Hit songwriter Josh Osborne has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Sony/ATV Nashville.

“Seldom does a publisher get the opportunity to acquire such a hit-driven catalog and futures deal with a songwriter of Josh’s stature,” said Troy Tomlinson, Sony/ATV Nashville President/CEO. “An added bonus is that Josh will maintain the successful relationship that he has had for years with his partners at SMACKSongs. Shane, Michael, Josh and the entire SMACK team have built an impressive company. We are grateful to work with SMACKSongs on Josh’s behalf.”

Osborne has had more than 40 singles as a songwriter, 14 of which were Billboard No. 1 hits. He has had four songs nominated for Grammy honors, with “Merry Go Round” winning Best Country Song.

“Body Like A Backroad,” recorded by Sam Hunt, made history as the longest reigning No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart by a solo artist, spending 34 weeks atop the chart. Osborne’s other hits include “Come Over,” “Get Along,” and “All The Pretty Girls” (Kenny Chesney); “Wild Child” (Kenny Chesney feat. Grace Potter); “Setting The World On Fire” (Kenny Chesney feat. P!nk); “My Eyes” and “Sangria” (Blake Shelton); “Leave The Night On,” Take Your Time,” and “Make You Miss Me” (Sam Hunt); “We Are Tonight” (Billy Currington); “Hotel Key” (Old Dominion); and “Drunk Last Night” (Eli Young Band).

Jared Mullins Inks Publishing Deal With Tree Vibez Music

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(L-R): Tyler Hubbard, Jared Mullins, Brian Kelley, and Adam Romaine.

Jared Mullins has signed a publishing deal with Tree Vibez Music.

The Baltimore native has scored cuts by Jake Owen, Granger Smith, Justin Moore, Chase Rice, Cassadee Pope, Parmalee, and Cale Dodds already plus Kane Brown’s Gold-certified “Found You,” which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart in 2017.

“We are happy to bring Jared home to Tree Vibez,” exclaims TVM Founder and FGL’s Tyler Hubbard. “We are excited about everything he brings to the table as a songwriter and a person.”

TVM Founder and FGL’s Brian Kelley adds, “Jared is a chameleon, a great lyricist and idea guy – he can win in any room.”

“Jared has something that can’t be taught … the intuitive grasp on how to write a great song,” shares TVM General Manager Leslie T. DiPiero.

Mullins joins a roster of TVM writers that already includes Corey Crowder, Jordan Schmidt, James McNair, RaeLynn, Canaan Smith, Daniel Ross and Ernest K. Smith.

Matthew Ramsey Signs With Warner/Chappell Music Nashville

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Pictured (Front row, L-R): Alison Junker, Travis Carter, Matthew Ramsey, Ben Vaughn. (Back Row, L-R): BJ Hill, Will Overton, Katie Jelen, Jessi Vaughn, Phil May. Photo: Bree Fish

Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Warner/Chappell Music.

Ramsey has penned nine No 1. hits for both Old Dominion and other artists, including Kenny Chesney (“Save It for a Rainy Day”), Sam Hunt (“Make You Miss Me”), Dierks Bentley (“Say You Do”), Luke Bryan (“Goodbye Girl”), and Tim McGraw (“Kiss A Girl”), among others.

“We’re pumped to welcome Matt to the Warner/Chappell family,” said Ben Vaughn, President of Warner/Chappell Nashville. “Watching him grow in the community as a successful songwriter and now as a top artist has been incredible. He has the ability to make music that is uniquely identifiable, like the life observations in ‘No Such Thing as a Broken Heart’ or the commercial depth of ‘Written in the Sand.’”

“Matt is one of a kind,” echoed Travis Carter, Vice President, A&R at Warner/Chappell Nashville. “I’ve known him for years, and I’m constantly impressed with the fresh perspective he brings to songwriting.”

“Some of the people at Warner/Chappell are among the very first people I met when I moved to Nashville,” said Ramsey. “We’ve sort of risen through the ranks together, but the opportunity to work directly with each other never quite lined up until now. I’m excited to work with a group of people that know how important songwriting is to me, and have cheered me on for over a decade.”

Ramsey is currently on the road with Old Dominion for their Happy Endings World Tour. Happy Endings, the band’s sophomore album, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart and produced three No. 1s co-written by Ramsey, “Written in the Sand,” “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart,” and “Hotel Key.” The two-time CMA Triple Play Award winner was also named last year’s ASCAP Artist-Songwriter of the Year, and in 2018, he won the Association of Independent Music Publishers Artists Writers of the Year award. As a part of Old Dominion, he also won the Academy of Country Music Award for New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year, the American Country Countdown Award for Breakthrough Group/Duo of the Year and the 2018 ACM Award for Vocal Group of the Year.

Ramsey was represented by Morris Higham Management and Jess Rosen of Greenberg/Traurig in this deal.

Warner/Chappell Music Promotes Alison Junker To A&R Manager

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Alison Junker

Warner/Chappell Music (WCM), the global publishing arm of Warner Music Group, has promoted Alison Junker to A&R Manager. This appointment will expand on Junker’s previous role as A&R Coordinator, focusing on her efforts to discover and collaborate with a diverse roster of talent.

“Alison began her career here at Warner/Chappell right out of college, and it’s been so rewarding to watch her progress and establish herself on Music Row,” said Ben Vaughn, President of Warner/Chappell Nashville. “She’s proven herself to be fearless in stepping into this industry, and we look forward to her continued development.”

Junker began her career as an A&R intern at Warner Music Group, and later became an A&R Assistant at Warner/Chappell Nashville, a role she held for nearly three years.

She graduated from Belmont University with a degree in Music Business, and is currently working with her alma mater to launch a songwriter internship program through WCM. Outside of work, Junker serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for the Nashville chapter, a non-profit organization that provides volunteers to advocate for the best interests of child victims of abuse in court.

Chris Renzema Joins Centricity Music Roster

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(L-R): Centricity Music VP of Finance Ben Stauffer, VP of Publishing Chad Segura, CEO Caren Seidle, Chris Renzema, General Manager Steve Ford, Sr. VP of A&R John Mays

Chris Renzema has signed a recording and publishing deal with Centricity Music.

Hailing from Grand Rapids, MI before moving to Nashville in 2015, Renzema’s music pairs folk-rock musicianship with storytelling and lyrical heart. His self-produced indie projects have brought worship songs to churches across the country, and the 23-year-old is working on new music to be released in 2019.

“Our entire team connected immediately with his voice and songwriting, and his personality felt like a natural fit for our family of artists and staff,” Centricity A&R Director Matt Ewald said. “We also saw the kind of connection he’s already made with listeners and knew we wanted to be part of helping that develop further.”

BMG Appoints Eric Scott As Sr. VP, Rights Administration And Royalty Services

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Eric Scott

BMG has named Eric Scott as Sr. VP, Rights Administration and Royalty Services. Scott, based in Nashville, will be responsible for overseeing publishing royalties, master royalties, mechanical licensing, and copyright administration for BMG US. He will continue to report to Ben Katovsky, BMG COO, and Joe Gillen, EVP & CFO, North America.

Previously, Scott served as Vice President of Publishing Royalties & Client Services, BMG US, leading the US Publishing Royalty department located in Nashville, as well as its continued operations in both New York and Los Angeles. With more than a decade of diverse experience in the music industry with a background in both client services and systems technology, his prior roles envelope all aspects of publishing royalties and client relations.

Scott joined BMG in 2011 when he served as Sr. Director, Royalty Services based in New York, until 2014. Following, he served as VP, Publishing Operations & Royalties at Immortal Music Publishing/Downtown Records and more recently at SoundCloud, where he split his time between New York and Berlin working both in a product management and development role, as well as managing the company’s reporting relationship with labels, publishers, and societies.

Scott began his career as Publisher Services Manager at The Harry Fox Agency before serving as Director of Royalties at Spirit Music Group.