Music News (6/25/14)

Michael Knox

Michael Knox will assume leadership of peermusic’s Nashville operations, when longtime office head Kevin Lamb steps down at the end of August.

Knox, who joined peermusic in 2010, is being promoted from Sr. Creative Director to Vice President, Nashville. Additionally, Kim Wiggins will rise to Sr. Creative Director and Craig Currier is being elevated to Vice President of Advertising Markets.

Knox also helms his production management company Music Knox, and serves on the boards of directors of the CMA and ACM.

Read more at MusicRow.com.

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Pictured (back row, L-R): Mike Daly, Director, A & R, Disney Music Group; Ciara Gardner, A&R Coordinator, Disney Music Publishing; Patrick Clifford, VP Music Publishing and A&R Nashville, Disney Music Publishing; Lynn Morrow, Partner, Adams and Reese LLP; Jody Williams, VP, Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI; (front row): James Slater, songwriter

Disney Music Publishing has signed songwriter James Slater to an exclusive worldwide agreement. Slater has penned songs including “In My Daughter’s Eyes” (Martina McBride), as well as songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Lucy Hale, Enrique Iglesias, Chris Brown, Kenny Chesney, Reba, Phil Vassar and more.

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On Aug. 5-6, BMI will host Sync THIS!, an exclusive two-day event aimed at connecting six top music supervisors from television and film with some of Nashville’s new musical talent.

The private event will also include panel discussions and dinners at Nashville eateries Miel, Barista Parlour, Rumours East and performance venue High Watt. The event was created last year by BMI Associate Director of Writer/Publisher Relations Penny Everhard, and Capitol CMG Director of Film/TV Music Jeremy Ash, to create opportunities for sync revenue for Nashville songwriters and publishers, while exposing music supervisors to the variety of music Nashville has to offer.

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David Myers

Steve Rice, Vice President of Centricity Publishing, has announced the signing of Christian songwriter David Myers. The West Virginia native recently won Puckett’s Rising Star competition in Franklin, Tenn. and has also penned three songs on the upcoming Satellites and Sirens album.

Myers joins a roster including Seth Mosley, Jason Gray, Unspoken and others.

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Pictured (L-R): ASCAP’s Michael Martin, Helene Cronin, Debbie Zavitson, ASCAP’s Kele Currier

Debbie Zavitson, owner of Debbie Z Entertainment, has signed Helene Cronin to the singer/songwriter’s first publishing deal. Cronin has performed her song, “Lucky Me,” about a soldier being deployed, on Fox television’s Huckabee show and during many military functions.

Zavitson represents Curb Music Publishing, Jay Lazaroff, Helene Cronin, Paul O’Connor, Doug Johnson’s catalog and Madison Marie Armor.

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Brett Eldredge

Brett Eldredge recently signed with Sony/ATV Music.

Eldredge co-wrote his chart-topping debut single, “Don’t Ya,” as well as his current hit single, “Beat of the Music,” co-written with Ross Copperman and Heather Morgan.

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BMG Chrysalis has signed Georgia native Thomas Archer to an exclusive songwriting deal. BMG is the first publishing home for Archer.

Pictured (L-R): Thomas Archer, seated; BMI’s Leslie Roberts, John Allen, Noah McPike (attorney), Daniel Lee, Kevin Lane, Chris Oglesby, Sara Knabe and Kos Weaver.