Music News (4/17/19)

Universal Music Publishing Group Signs Catie Offerman

Pictured (L-R, front row): Kent Earls, Exec. VP/GM, UMPG Nashville; Catie Offerman; Travis Gordon, Sr. Creative Director, UMPG; (L-R, back row): Austen Adams, Dickinson Wright PLLC; Ron Stuve, VP, A&R/Special Projects, UMPG; Melissa Spillman, F R E E T O W N Music Group; Cyndi Forman, VP, Creative, UMPG; Missy Roberts, Sr. Creative Director, UMPG; Matt Malcomb, William Morris Endeavor. Photo: UMPG

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has signed Catie Offerman to an exclusive publishing deal.

Based in Nashville, Offerman has written with Liz Rose, Natalie Hemby, Nicolle Galyon, Lucie Silvas, Jeremy Spillman, Brett James, Troy Verges, Chase McGill, Ryan Beaver and more. The New Braunfels, Texas native got her start as a fiddle player performing for artists all over the country.

Brian Bunn Signs With Curb/Word Music Publishing

Pictured (L-R): Jonathan Mason (VP Word Worship Music), Nathan Drake (Dickinson-Wright), Colt Murski (Senior Creative), Brian Bunn, Nina Jenkins (Creative Manager), Janine Appleton Ebach (VP Curb|Word Music Publishing), MaryAnn Keen (BMI, Writer Publisher Relations), Austen Adams (Dickinson-Wright), Ryan Dokke (SVP/GM Curb|Word Entertainment)

Brian Bunn has signed a publishing deal with Curb/Word Music Publishing.

Bunn is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist with years of live performance experience to his credit. Before stepping off the road to pursue songwriting full time, Brian was a lead guitarist for artists including Thomas Rhett, Third Day, DecembeRadio, and David Crowder. In 2016, he toured with Thomas Rhett as direct support for Jason Aldean.

Bunn’s songs have been recorded by Lee Brice, Dylan Scott, Kellie Pickler, Parmalee and others and have earned air time on channels like CBS, The Outdoor Channel, and The Discovery Channel.

RareSpark Media Group Signs Dave Turnbull

Pictured (L-R, back row): Carly Strickland (RareSpark), Stephanie Westerman (Marcus & Colvin, LLP), Lauren Spahn (Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP), and Scot Sherrod (RareSpark); (L-R, front row): Dave Turnbull, Suzanne Strickland (RareSpark)

RareSpark Media Group, Inc. has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement with chart-topping songwriter, Dave Turnbull.

Turnbull joins the company’s growing roster with multiple No. 1 songs to his credit, including “The Boys of Fall” (Kenny Chesney), “Lucky Man” (Montgomery Gentry), “Old Alabama” (Brad Paisley), and “Anything Like Me” (Brad Paisley), as well as hits such as “Outskirts of Heaven” (Craig Campbell), “Arlington” (Trace Adkins), and “The More I Drink” (Blake Shelton). He has also had songs recorded by artists including Gary Allan, Mark Chesnutt, Sheryl Crow, Craig Morgan, Jake Owen, Jordan Brooker, and Mitch Rossell.

Turnbull joins a publishing roster that currently includes Jason Afable, Victoria Banks, Walker Hayes, and Brian Layson.

SNG Music Signs Lee Starr

Pictured L-R: SNG’s Creative Director, Aubrey Schwartz; Lee Starr; SNG’s Managing Partner, Gary Reamey

SNG Music has signed songwriter/producer Lee Starr to a worldwide publishing deal.

Originally from Texarkana, Arkansas, Starr began playing in clubs as a working musician in Austin, Texas, before arriving in Nashville in 2014. As a producer/songwriter, Starr has been working with artists including Elvie Shane and Drew Green.

SNG Music began in 2014. The company’s roster also includes Carson Chamberlain, Marty Dodson, Mark Nesler, Wyatt McCubbin, Gary Reamey, Zarni de Vette and songwriter emeritus, Bobby Fisher.