Music News (3/14/13)

Kos Weaver

Music publishing veteran Kos Weaver will join BMG as Executive Vice President to oversee the Nashville operations and continue to build and expand the company’s roster. Weaver will start the new role on March 15 and report directly to Laurent Hubert, President, Creative and Marketing at BMG Chrysalis North America.

Most recently, Weaver held the position of Vice President at Disney Music Publishing in Nashville and during his time there the office achieved eleven charting singles, with three No. 1’s, two Top 5’s and two Top 10’s. Prior to Disney, Weaver was Vice President of A&R at Warner/Chappell Music where he oversaw the creative staff.

Darrell Franklin has exited his role heading Nashville operations as Executive VP, but MusicRow’s Crystal Ball is flashing news of a possible joint venture between BMG and Franklin.

Read more at musicrow.com.

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Pictured (L-R): Woody Bomar (Green Hills Music Group), Danika Portz, Steve and Leslie Mitchell (Grin Like A Dog Songs). Photo by Pam Boylan.

Singer/songwriter Danika Portz from Remsen, Iowa has signed with Grin Like A Dog Songs in partnership with Green Hills Music Group for music publishing and career development.

Green Hills Music Group was founded in 2007 and has recordings by Hunter Hayes, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Jake Owen, Bucky Covington and Luke Bryan.

Grin Like A Dog Songs publishes songs recorded by Joe Nichols, Kassie DePaiva of ABC’s One Life to Live, Canadian artist Sean Hogan and Christian artist Suzzette Michaels.

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Pictured: (front row) Jedd Katrancha (Downtown Music Publishing), Katie Armiger, Craig Hayes (Shackelford, Zumwalt & Hayes); (back row): Karen Krieschen (Cold River Records) and Erica Johnson (Cold River Records)

Cold River recording artist Katie Armiger has signed an exclusive worldwide administration deal with leading New York-based rights management firm, Downtown Music Publishing. Armiger’s music joins the catalog, which includes titles by John Lennon & Yoko Ono, Hans Zimmer, Ellie Goulding, Neon Trees, Jewel, Santigold, Social Distortion, and Seal.

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Pictured: (Front Row) Jim Zumwalt, Julie Stuckey, Beth Laird, Bryan Dawley and Rachel Beauregard, Chris Farren, Luke Laird, and BJ Hill. (Back Row): Chris Van Belkom, Phil May, Kenley Flynn, and Ben Vaughn.

Combustion Music and Creative Nation, together with music publishing partner Warner/Chappell Music, have signed a co-publishing agreement with duo, Native Run. Made up of Virginia natives Rachel Beauregard and Bryan Dawley, Native Run draws on influences ranging from Earl Scruggs and Bruce Springsteen to Patsy Cline and Keith Urban.