Warner/Chappell Nashville Signs Austin Taylor Smith

Pictured (Front row, L-R): Devin Dawson (Atlantic/WMN), Alison Junker, Austin Taylor Smith, Mary Lauren Teague (Loeb & Loeb), Ben Vaughn, Alicia Pruitt. (Back row, L-R): Ryan Beuschel, Will Overton, BJ Hill, Matt Michiels, Phil May

Warner/Chappell Nashville has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Nashville-based songwriter and musician Austin Taylor Smith.

After earning his degree in Commercial Vocal Music from Belmont University in 2012, Smith joined rock band John & Jacob. The band released their debut album in 2014, performed at Bonnaroo, Hangout Festival, and Firefly Festival in addition to touring with Kacey Musgraves.

The Texas native has also worked with Devin Dawson (Atlantic/WMN).

Warner/Chappell Production Music Promotes Aaron Gant To Sr. VP, Production

Aaron Gant

Warner/Chappell Production Music has promoted Aaron Gant to Senior Vice President of Production.

“Aaron’s commitment to the company and creativity in finding and delivering new music and artists to our clients are incredible assets to Warner/Chappell Production Music,” says President and CEO Randy Wachtler. “I appreciate the production team’s dedication to unparalleled quality.”

In the role, Gant oversees new music, custom projects, catalog production and studio operations at the Warner/Chappell Production Music studios in Nashville. He previously served as the Vice President of Production. Gant’s career includes time as a recording engineer at Non-Stop Productions. He transitioned to Nashville in 2000 to work for 615 Music. His role expanded to Producer and then Vice President of Production before 615 Music was acquired by Warner/Chappell in 2010.

“I am excited to continue and further my contributions alongside the outstanding team here at Warner/Chappell Production Music,” says Gant.

Gant can be reached at aaron.gant@warnerchappellpm.com.

NMPA’s S.O.N.G.S. Foundation Gives Endowments To Belmont, MTSU

The National Music Publishers’ Association S.O.N.G.S. (Supporting Our Next Generation of Songwriters) Foundation has given two endowments to Nashville area universities. The Foundation has created a $50,000 songwriting-specific endowment at Belmont University, for the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business Songwriting Program. As part of Belmont’s We Believe comprehensive fundraising campaign which launched in 2016, this donation was matched by the University for an endowment totaling $100,000. Additionally, the Foundation has created the first songwriting endowment for Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)’s College of Media and Entertainment, with a gift of $25,000.

The NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation Board includes Steven Tyler, Kara DioGuardi, Jewel, Craig Balsam, Golnar Khosrowshahi, Lee Thomas Miller and NMPA’s David Israelite, Danielle Aguirre and Charlotte Sellmyer.

NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation President David Israelite said regarding the donations, “The S.O.N.G.S. Foundation was created specifically to help aspiring songwriters. We are thrilled to start the foundation’s work by supporting those who want to learn about the craft, and need and deserve financial help to do so. We are grateful for Belmont University’s willingness to match our donation, and we are very excited about being able to launch the inaugural MTSU songwriting-specific scholarship program. These donations will enrich the lives of young creators and exponentially enrich our lives through what they go on to create.”

James I. Elliott, chair of Belmont’s songwriting program, said, “We are thrilled to receive this endowment gift from the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation as it will support the next generation of hit songwriters currently studying at Belmont. In addition, this generous gift is a wonderful way to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Songwriting major offered at the Curb College.”

Beverly Keel, chair of MTSU’s Recording Industry Department in the College of Media and Entertainment, added, “I am thrilled that the NMPA’s S.O.N.G.S Foundation has created a new scholarship for our songwriting students. We are so appreciative of their investment in our students’ futures. Their support means so much to our students, who will be encouraged to work even harder at improving their songwriting craft as they continue to be inspired by the work of the Foundation’s board members. Under the guidance of Professor Odie Blackmon, our songwriting concentration has grown exponentially, so it’s wonderful to have a scholarship to assist our students seeking a career in the songwriting and publishing worlds.”

BMG Inks Exclusive Publishing Deal With Netflix

BMG has entered into an exclusive agreement with Netflix to manage and administer the network’s music publishing rights outside the United States. The agreement includes scores, transition cues, themes, and feature songs for all content owned by Netflix for its Netflix Originals, including TV series, feature films, documentaries, and other original content.

The world’s leading internet TV network, Netflix has over 93 million subscribers in over 190 countries who use the service to watch more than 125 million hours of TV, movies, and other content every day.

“It is an understatement to say we are excited to be working with Netflix,” said Zach Katz, BMG US President Repertoire & Marketing. “This agreement is a significant endorsement of the BMG team and platform from one of the most forward-thinking and innovative entertainment companies in the world. It also highlights the particular strength of Keith Hauprich (Deputy General Counsel, BMG US) and his film and TV publishing team.”

“After a long process of selecting the right partner for Netflix, we are delighted to be able to announce this new partnership with BMG and look forward to getting started with the team there,” said Dominic Houston, Director of Music Licensing at Netflix. “We were particularly impressed by the commercial and technology expertise of BMG, and are excited to see what opportunities we can develop together.”

Major Bob Music Signs New SESAC Writer Harrison Kindy

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Lydia Schultz, Major Bob Music Owner/President Bob Doyle, SESAC’s Shannan Hatch, songwriter Harrison Kindy, and Major Bob Music’s Tina Crawford and Chandler Thurston.

Songwriter Harrison Kindy, who just became a SESAC-affiliated writer, has signed his first publishing deal with Major Bob Music.

“So excited to be working with a great young writer/producer like Harrison Kindy,” said Tina Crawford, VP/Major Bob Music. “We are going to do great things together.”

BMG Signs Travis Meadows

Pictured (L-R): Daniel Lee (BMG), Chris Oglesby (BMG), Kevin Lane (BMG), Travis Meadows, Kos Weaver (BMG), Sara Knabe (BMG)

BMG has signed singer-songwriter Travis Meadows. The Jackson, Mississippi native has penned radio singles including Jake Owen’s “What We Ain’t Got,” and Dierks Bentley’s “Riser.” He also contributed “Knives of New Orleans” to Eric Church’s Mr. Misunderstood project, and “Dark Side” on Church’s The Outsiders.

Meadows also earned industry acclaim for own albums Killin’ Uncle Buzzy, which took an honest look at coping with addiction, and its follow-up Old Ghosts and Unfinished Business.

BREAKING NEWS: Ben Vaughn Promoted To President, Warner/Chappell Nashville

Ben Vaughn

Ben Vaughn has been promoted to President, Warner/Chappell Nashville. Vaughn’s expanded leadership position was announced today (Feb. 1) by Warner/Chappell Music Chairman & CEO Jon Platt.

Vaughn will head the company’s entire Nashville operation, reporting directly to Platt. He will oversee all creative and commercial activities across A&R, administration, business development, finance, and human resources. Vaughn will continue to have a hand in signing and developing songwriters, while actively engaging in songwriter advocacy and rights protection initiatives.

“There are few places where the art of songwriting is more revered than Nashville,” said Platt, “and Ben’s promotion to the level of President is a reflection of how important this amazing music city is in the life of Warner/Chappell. Ben is a tireless champion of great songwriting talent and a music publishing executive of real passion and integrity. He is loved and respected by the Nashville community, not only for the songwriters he represents, but for his deep commitment to protecting the rights of everyone who creates music. Since joining Warner/Chappell in 2012 as EVP, he has taken our songwriters and our team to unprecedented heights, and he is the ideal leader to help us nurture the next generation of superstars and boldly take our Nashville company into the future.”

“I thrive on supporting and advancing the careers of songwriters, and I’m incredibly fortunate to work with some of the best in the world,” said Vaughn. “It’s a privilege and a thrill to be able to collaborate with the world-class team of people that make up Warner/Chappell. Above all, I’m proud of the first-rate service we give our songwriters, while constantly seeking leading-edge, innovative approaches to expanding their opportunities. Thank you to Jon Platt, who has been a fantastic mentor, partner, and friend. I’m eternally grateful for the trust he’s put in me.”

Vaughn was named one of Billboard’s “40 Under 40: Music’s Top Young Power Players,” having claimed the rare distinction of having overseen two major Nashville publishers. Before joining Warner/Chappell, he had already become the youngest executive to head a major publisher in Nashville (as EVP & GM for EMI). Prior to his work at the majors, Vaughn ran an independent music publishing company from the age of 20.

In the course of his career, Vaughn has worked with songwriters who have collectively won ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC Songwriter of the Year awards eleven times and earned Song of the Year honors from the CMAs, ACMs or Grammys 18 times. Under Vaughn’s leadership, Warner/Chappell received the award for ASCAP Country Publisher of the Year four years in a row, was recently crowned Billboard’s No. 1 Hot Country Songs Publisher of 2016, and its songwriters composed 52 of 2016’s Top 100 Country Songs.

At Warner/Chappell, Vaughn’s roster includes Rhett Akins, Lauren Alaina, Nathan Chapman, Dave Cobb, Corey Crowder, Dan + Shay, Jesse Frasure, Nicolle Galyon, Brantley Gilbert, Ashley Gorley, Ben Hayslip, Brett James, Jay Joyce, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Kelley Lovelace, Dustin Lynch, Lee Miller, Randy Montana, Brothers Osborne, Eric Paslay, Liz Rose, and Chris Stapleton, among others. Vaughn has also worked with noted songwriters such as Guy Clark, Ross Copperman, Dallas Davidson, Alan Jackson, Thomas Rhett, The Warren Brothers, Chris Young, and many more.

Vaughn is the President of the ACM Board, is on the board of CMA and Music Comms, serves on Belmont University’s Music Industry Advisory Board, and is a member of NMPA.

ASCAP Celebrates William Michael Morgan’s First No. 1 Single

Pictured (Front row, L-R): SmackSongs’ Robin Palmer, Shane McAnally, William Michael Morgan, Trevor Rosen, Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito, SmackSongs’ Robert Carlton. (Back row, L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Old Gringo Music’s Chris Hunter, ASCAP’s Beth Brinker, producer Scott Hendricks, Rehits/Wrensong’s Ree Guyer, Universal Music’s Kent Earls and producer Jimmy Ritchey. Photo: Ed Rode for ASCAP. [Click photo to enlarge]

ASCAP celebrated the No. 1 status of Warner Bros. recording artist William Michael Morgan’s debut single, “I Met A Girl” at Nashville bar South on Monday, Jan. 30.

Released on Morgan’s November 2016 debut album, Vinyl, the single was written by Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally and Trevor Rosen. Although Hunt was not in attendance, the PRO’s event host Mike Sistad offered a statement about the MCA recording artist and ASCAP songwriter.

Pictured (L-R): Shane McAnally, William Michael Morgan, Trevor Rosen. Photo: Ed Rode for ASCAP.

ASCAP’s Beth Brinker offered lively remarks on behalf of Rosen, who has six No. 1s (seven if you count Canada), and the now GMR-represented McAnally, who has written and produced over 25 No. 1s. Brinker continued in her remarks for the artist, Morgan.

Hunt’s original publisher, Chris Hunter of Old Gringo Music, joined on stage but left remarks to UMPG’s Kent Earls, who extended sentements to Morgan, co-writers, Warner Music Nashville and song producers Scott Hendricks and Jimmy Ritchey.

“We’re honored to co-publish [“I Met A Girl”] with Chris Hunter,” said Earls. “Sam has penned four No. 1s as an artist and three for other artists. We look forward to giving him his trophy when we see him soon.”

Smack Songs Sr. VP, Project Development, Robert Carlton, spoke on behalf of McAnally.

“Those 25 No. 1s that Shane has been a part of have all happened in the last six years,” noted Carlton. “It’s hard for me to believe I’m saying it…I’d hate to see where this genre was without [him].”

“Putting out this song was against all odds in our format, unfortunately,” said McAnally. “[The producers] made a country record, and it resonated. I think we’re in for a big turn, and I think it’s because of William Michael Morgan. I’m really proud of this song because I wrote it with two of my best friends in the days we all had a lot of time to do that. I love this song and love [William Michael’s] record.”

Rosen’s co-publishers, Ree Guyer of Rehits and Robin Palmer of Smack Songs, also thanked the label and producers.

“We wanted to single out Kristen Williams and Katie Bright on the Warner Bros. promotions team,” remarked Palmer. “It’s unbelievable—but we would look at the ads once a week—it would be like one add a week. Everybody at the label kept telling us to hang in there, we’re going to get it.”

“52 weeks to get to No. 1,” recalls Guyer. “Trevor, Shane and Sam, congratulations. Your song endured. We’re so excited about this next year. Hopefully the No. 1s won’t take as long…”

“…Hopefully they will,” quipped Rosen. “Believe it or not, the song was on the charts long enough [that both of my publishers will] make a little bit of money off it.

“I remember emailing Scott and Espo to say, ‘Wow, Top 15. Thanks so much,'” continued Rosen. “He emailed back and said: ‘We’re not done yet!’ So thank you guys for your hard work. Being in a band now, I get to see the curtain pulled back and it really is amazing to see how much work goes into [a No. 1]. When they brought me in to hear the song for the first time I was surprised at how country it was, and how I loved it even more than the demo. It’s so nice to be a songwriter in this community. Thank you!”

Pictured (Front row, L-R): Warner Music Nashville’s Katie Bright (National Director, Radio & Streaming) and Lisa Ray (VP, Head of Brand Management), William Michael Morgan, Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito (Chairman & CEO) and Cris Lacy (VP A&R), Shane McAnally and Trevor Rosen; (Back row, L-R): Warner Music Nashville’s Chris Palmer (VP Radio & Streaming), Peter Strickland (CMO), Scott Hendricks (EVP A&R), Chad Schultz (VP, Original Content & Radio Marketing) and Mallory Opheim (Mgr., Regional Radio & Streaming). Ed Rode for ASCAP. [Click photo to enlarge]

Morgan introduced his newborn daughter, Presley, for her first trip to Nashville during his turn at the mic.

“I’m a grown man and feel like I’m about to tear up here,” confessed Morgan. “Thank you to my management Joe Carter and Mike Taliaferro. They were the first people besides my parents to believe in me, and support me in this crazy dream of mine.

“Thank you to my fiancé, Jennifer Wayne. It’s been a crazy ride so far and she’s been with me for a good bit of it….Thank you lord. If you keep on leading me, I’ll keep following.”

President/CEO of Warner Music Nashville, John Esposito remarked, “This was a particularly interesting ride—58 freaking weeks. Well, it says here 49 weeks at MediaBase. To Kristen and Katie and the entire promo team, you never wavered one second—it was worth the effort. Besides the fact that song had a birthday…total airplay audience is 1.01 billion!”

Also taking mic time to honor the achievement was Lon Helton of Country Aircheck, Bill Mayne of CRS, and Brandi Simms of the CMA.

ASCAP’s “I Create Music” Expo To Celebrate Nashville Songwriters

Seventeen top hit songwriters and producers from all music genres will be among those who take the stage at this year’s ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO. Now in its 12th year, the expo will take place April 13–15 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles.

Desmond Child, Ashley Gorley, Darrell Brown, and Matt Jenkins are among those Nashville connections slated to take part.

Gorley, recipient of four ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year Awards, will lead an EXPO session at the 2017 conference.

Brown returns to the EXPO for his all-day Multi-Genre Song Feedback Sessions. Brown is a Grammy award winner who has written with Keith Urban, Faith Hill, LeAnn Rimes and Neil Young.

Jenkins will serve as a panelist this year. Jenkins has earned four chart-topping hits, including the recent No. 1 singles “”Setting the World on Fire,”” recorded by Kenny Chesney featuring Pink, and “”Song for Another Time,”” recorded by Old Dominion.

Child will be in conversation with R&B star Aloe Blacc in one of the conference’s marquee events. Child has penned over 70 Top 40 singles throughout his career, working with the likes of Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, KISS and Cher. His credits include: “Livin’ On A Prayer,” “Dude Looks Like A Lady,” “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” and more.

“We are elated to have some of today’s top songwriters and producers joining us for this year’s ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO,” said ASCAP President Paul Williams. “Some have been creating music for a long time; others have just enjoyed the success of their first hit song. All will be excited and ready to share their personal experiences and hard-won knowledge with ASCAP EXPO attendees.” Williams, winner of three Grammys and an Oscar, will moderate the EXPO’s annual legislative panel and will provide EXPO attendees with wisdom from his 50-year songwriting career.

Throughout the three-day ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO, participants can attend creative and business-focused panels, workshops, master classes, keynotes, one-on-one sessions, networking events, state-of-the-art technology demonstrations and performances. The ASCAP EXPO provides music creators with an unforgettable and authentic experience, knowledge, tools, connections and a community of support and guidance they can’t find anywhere else.

For more, visit ascap.com/expo.

Big Loud Shirt/Big Loud Mountain Signs Jamie Moore

Pictured (L-R): Big Loud Mountain Partner and Artist Manager Kevin “Chief” Zaruk, Big Loud Shirt’s Jordan Kolodka, Big Loud Mountain Partner and Artist Manager Seth England, Big Loud Mountain Partner and Record Producer Joey Moi, Jamie Moore, Big Loud Mountain Partner and Songwriter Craig Wiseman, Big Loud Shirt’s Hannah Wilson and Matt Turner

Big Loud Mountain/Big Loud Shirt has signed songwriter/producer Jamie Moore to a publishing deal.

Originally from the Florence/Muscle Shoals area of Alabama, Moore’s breakout success came in 2016 as a co-writer on Florida Georgia Line’s hit, “May We All.” He has also had cuts on Carrie Underwood’s Storyteller album, Chris Lane’s Girl Problems CD, the Swon Brothers’ self-titled album, and several projects by TobyMac, among others. Moore is also a four-time Grammy nominee.

“It’s been our mission to build a forward thinking music company,” said Big Loud Mountain Partner Seth England. “A big part of that is surrounding ourselves with the next wave of creators in this town and Jamie Moore was at the top of the list for us to bring into the Big Loud Family. We couldn’t be happier that he is here and we look forward to watching him flourish for years to come.”

“I’m really excited to move into this new phase of my career,” shared Moore. “I’m very fortunate and blessed to be a part of such a great team. Here we go!”