Music News (4/15/15)

Brad Kennard

Razor & Tie Music Publishing has announced the addition of Brad Kennard as Vice President Music Publishing/Creative. Kennard will be based at the company’s new Nashville offices located in SoBro.

Kennard was previuosly VP A&R at Big Yellow Dog with prior stops with Byron Gallimore (Tim McGraw, Sugarland, Faith Hill) at Violator Nashville Artist Management and Red Vinyl Music, as well as four years as General Manager for Song Garden Publishing. He also served as Vice President at Full Circle Music Publishing, three years as the Creative Director at Frank Liddell’s Carnival Music Publishing, and nearly seven years at Curb Music Publishing.

Kennard has helped cultivate chart-topping songs such as Rodney Atkins‘ “If You’re Goin’ Through Hell,” Reba McEntire‘s “Somebody,” George Strait‘s Top 10 “Desperately,” and Rascal Flatts’  Top 10 “Unstoppable.”

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Pictured (L-R): Sara Knabe (BMG Chrysalis), Chris Oglesby (BMG Chrysalis), Mitchell Solarek (Maxx Music Publishing), Kevin Lane (BMG Chrysalis), Kolby Koloff, Kos Weaver (BMG Chrysalis), Justin Nicolet (Maxx Music Publishing), Ben Pogue (Maxx Music Publishing)

BMG Chrysalis’  creative venture with Maxx Music Publishing continues with the signing of Kolby Koloff. Koloff is a writer/artist who is perhaps best-known for her role on the Lifetime show Preachers’ Daughters. She is now working on her debut EP which is being produced by Grammy-winning producer Drew Ramsey (Crowder, Jonny Lang, Mandisa).

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Pictured (L-R) at Paisley’s Ye Olde Potion Room Pub: Jake Gear, Sea Gayle Creative Director; Chris DuBois, Sea Gayle Partner; Brad Paisley, Sea Gayle Partner; Ahnquist, Driskill, Freeman Wizer, Sea Gayle VP Creative; and Brandon Gregg, Sea Gayle Office Manager.

Sea Gayle Music has signed Danville, Ky.-native and songwriter Smith Ahnquist. Ahnquist moved to Nashville in 2006 to attend Belmont University.

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(Pictured, Back Row): Cyndi Forman, UMPG VP, Creative; Travis Gordon, UMPG Creative Director; Missy Wilson, UMPG Sr. Creative Director; and Ron Stuve, UMPG VP A&R. (Front Row): Kent Earls, EVP/GM, UMPG; and Sam Ellis.

UMPG Nashville Executive VP/General Manager Kent Earls announced that the publishing company has extended its exclusive publishing agreement with songwriter Sam Ellis. Ellis co-wrote four tracks on UMPG Nashville Hunter Hayes‘ recent album Storyline, including  “You Think You Know Somebody,” “When Did You Stop Loving Me,” “Secret Love,” and “Love Too Much.”

Ellis, a Hespeler, Ontario native, began performing in church. His first television placement as a songwriter came on YTV’s Surf Shack, when he was 10 years old. His songs have been featured on CBC’s Heartland, Disney Channel’s The Latest Buzz, as well as CMT’s Unstable, ER Vets, and Pick A Puppy.

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Mark Abramowitz

Sony/ATV has relocated Mark Abramowitz, previously A&R coordinator in the company’s New York office, to its Nashville office where he will serve as Manager, A&R/Creative. In his new role, he will sign, develop and work with Sony/ATV Nashville’s non-country songwriters, as well as support Sony/ATV signings from other destinations who come to Nashville for songwriting and recording. Abramowitz will report to Danny Strick, Sony/ATV Co-President, U.S.

Martin Bandier, Sony/ATV Chairman and CEO, said, “Nashville is far more than just country music. Almost every genre is represented there and as a music publisher it’s important we recognize this and have the right personnel in place. We at Sony/ATV are happy to take the lead and we have in Mark a rising A&R star who will get the best out of our non-country signings.”

Troy Tomlinson, Sony/ATV Nashville President and CEO, added, “As Nashville’s music community has expanded, the city has developed as well as attracted a growing number of non-country songwriters and artists. With Mark we now have a dedicated A&R person to search out, develop and work with the best of this talent, while he will also be on hand to work with and set up writing sessions for visiting songwriters.”

Songwriters and artists he has signed include Wild Cub, No Wyld and Kevin Kadish who co-wrote eight of the songs on Meghan Trainor’s chart-topping debut album Title, including the No. 1 hit “All About That Bass” and its follow-up “Lips Are Movin’.” Abramowitz also works with Nashville-based singer-songwriter Marc Scibilia, whose cover of “This Land Is Your Land” served as the soundtrack to Jeep’s 2015 Super Bowl commercial.