Frank Rogers is forging ahead with Fluid Music Revolution, a new venture with Spirit Music Group that was announced in January. During a visit to MusicRow, he emphasized that he loved every minute of being at Sea Gayle Music – a very successful publishing company he co-founded in 1999 – but decided that it was time for a fresh challenge.

After collecting his first MusicRow No. 1 Challenge Coin for co-writing Granger Smith’s “Backroad Song,” Rogers chatted about building his company, signing new (and established) writers and striking the balance between music and business.

MusicRow: What have the last six months been like for you?

Rogers: It’s been fun getting a company off the ground. There’s a lot of stuff that needs to happen, so there’s been a lot of business and legal and that side of things. But it’s also been fun to go out and see so many new artists, writers and talent that’s out there right now.

What was your frame of mind before you made the leap?

I was at Sea Gayle for many, many years, and Sea Gayle was an absolutely wonderful thing. It was great but it just came time for a new adventure and it felt like the right timing to do it. So I resigned from Sea Gayle and then talked to everybody out there and saw what the opportunities were. I was trying to decide if I was going to do it for myself or partner with someone, or what was the right decision. When I met The Spirit Group, it felt like the right venture partner for me. So, we started.

What made that Spirit partnership special?

They had the infrastructure I was looking for, to do what I wanted to do. But it came down to the people. They seemed genuinely excited. From New York to L.A. to London to Nashville, they’re just good human beings and it felt like the right spot. It’s interesting when you do those things, you either know or you don’t.

Would you say that instinct has served you well in your career?

Absolutely. When it comes to songs or artists or writers, you have to analyze the business side of any decision, but it all comes down to the gut reaction. Does this move me? Does this artist move me? Is this a person someone I want to spend a lot of time with? So I think you really have rely on both the business side of your brain and your gut instinct. Everything I’ve done in this town started with those two things. I’ve been lucky and blessed that it’s led me well so far.

Ryan Creamer is part of your publishing roster. What does he bring to the table?

Ryan is the first person that I signed over there. He comes from a unique place, melodically. He’s energetic and excited about writing songs. I always look for uniqueness, and the first batch of songs I heard from him were uniquely him. That’s what drew me to his writing. He’s really, really melodically unique. He is a good singer but the artist thing is not what he loves. He’s a writer and producer, and I want to help him develop the producing side as well. He’s a talented young man.

Are you the kind of guy who likes to discover writers before they break?

I think there’s some validity to having some experience, but yes, I love finding them. The most fun is being with an artist or a writer who has their first No. 1, or their first hit. I love that building and developing side of publishing and producing and the music business. I’m looking for people that I love as human beings, I love their talent, and that I think we’re good business partners together. If it hits all three, those are the things I’m interested in working in. There will be a fair number of writers [on the Fluid roster] who have not had success yet, and there will be a few that have a track record.

Now that you’ve started Fluid, will you still be producing and writing songs too?

Absolutely. I write for Fluid. I guess I was officially the first writer, and Ryan’s the second! I still write and I still produce when things makes sense, but my focus right now is really building this company. Where it makes sense for me to produce to help Fluid, I will. Obviously I’m still writing as well.

But I would imagine that songwriters can burn out just as easily as anyone else.

Absolutely. To me, the publishing side and the business side help balance me. I think if I was a full-time writer, I don’t know how effective I’d be because I’ve got to have the other side of my brain firing as well. I think I’m at my best when I have a good balance between the two.

Meghan Trainor is enjoying mega pop success with hits like “Me Too,” yet she is also a co-writer on the country chart-topper “I Like The Sound Of That,” recorded by Rascal Flatts.

ASCAP Senior Creative Director Mike Sistad caught up with the Epic Records recording artist and Big Yellow Dog songwriter on her “Untouchable Tour” Nashville stop at Ascend Amphitheater on Aug. 6.

Trainor co-wrote the Rascal Flatts hit with Dan + Shay’s Shay Mooney and songwriter Jesse Frasure. The tune was celebrated at a No. 1 party held on July 13 at the Nashville Sounds’ First Tennessee Park, which Trainor could not attend due to her tour schedule.

“I Like The Sound Of That” marked the third No. 1 for Trainor, whose hits include her own singles “All About That Bass” and “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” from her debut major label release, Title.

Songwriter Zach Crowell visited the MusicRow office to accept six MusicRow No. 1 Challenge Coins on Friday (Aug. 12), for hits ranging from “See You Tonight” to “Church Bells.” Crowell is signed to a joint venture between Combustion Music, Tape Room Music and Warner/Chappell Music.

Since 2014, the coins have been presented to every artist and songwriter that achieves a No. 1 single on MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart.

The six coins represent the following songs: “See You Tonight,” recorded by Scotty McCreery; “Cop Car,” recorded by Keith Urban, “House Party” and “Break Up in a Small Town,” recorded by Sam Hunt; and “Heartbeat” and “Church Bells,” recorded by Carrie Underwood.

The National Music Publishers’ Association has named Zach Katz, President of U.S. Repertoire and Marketing for BMG, as part of the NMPA Board of Directors.

While currently based in Los Angeles, Katz is also responsible for BMG teams in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles, as well as Rise Records in Portland, Oregon. Katz is in charge of a roster which includes star writers such as Bruno Mars, will.i.am, DJ Snake, John Legend, Pitbull, Frank Ocean and Quincy Jones and more.

Prior to BMG, Katz co-founded record label Beluga Heights with his client/partner JR Rotem, where they represented artists including Jason Derulo and Sean Kingston. Previously he served as GM of Groove Attack USA. He began his career in 1996 as a music attorney.

NMPA Board Chairman Irwin Robinson said, “Zach’s eye for talent is matched by his keen understanding of our business. He has always strived for songwriters to be given the respect and royalties they deserve, and the NMPA Board will benefit greatly by his expertise across the industry.”

NMPA President & CEO David Israelite added, “Zach’s career has been defined by finding innovative songwriters and fighting for their rights and their futures. He has extensive knowledge of the obstacles songwriters are up against when it comes to being treated fairly by digital companies, and I am excited that he will join in our efforts directly by joining our Board.”

Katz said, “I’m honored to join the respected music industry professionals as a member of the NMPA’s Board, an organization that champions the rights of creative people with such unwavering commitment. The NMPA and BMG share a similar mission — to create a fair and transparent environment where the interests of publishers and songwriters are protected. I’m looking forward to the work we’ll do together for the advancement and benefit of music industry professionals.”

SNG Music, LLP, has added Zarni de Vette to its publishing roster.

Born and raised in South Africa, de Vette was awarded the prestigious Scott Benson Scholarship for outstanding achievement in songwriting at the Berklee College of Music. After graduating in 2011, she had cuts by The Gibbonses and Mia Verdoorn, as well as having songs placed on SpikeTV, The Food Network, a Red Bull commercial and with many indie campaigns abroad.

“We’ve had our eye on Zarni for some time and can now say how proud we are to have her onboard,” says SNG Music Partner Steve Leslie. “With her excellent musicianship, dedication to the craft of songwriting, production skills and business acumen, we expect great things from her in the very near future.”

In addition to Zarni, SNG’s staff of stellar writers includes Leslie, SNG Music partner Gary Reamey, recent signee Marty Dodson, John Lennon Songwriting Contest winner Marianne Allison, Texas teen Abbey Cone and SNG Songwriter Emeritus Bobby Fischer.