Music News (5/4/16)

UMPG Nashville Signs Kane Brown

Pictured (Back Row, L-R): Travis Gordon; Ron Stuve; Kent Earls, Executive VP/GM, UMPG; Cyndi Forman; Missy Roberts; and Stephen Denninger; (Front Row, L-R): Katie Flynn; Amelia Varni; Kane Brown; Tammy Helm.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) Nashville has signed an exclusive, global publishing deal with artist and songwriter Kane Brown. The announcement was made today (May 4) by Kent Earls, Executive Vice President/General Manager, UMPG Nashville.

Shortly after signing to RCA Nashville in January 2016, Brown released his debut single “Used To Love You Sober” to country radio. His EP Chapter 1 (RCA/Zone 4) was released in March and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and No.9 on The Billboard 200. Brown is currently working on his debut full-length album, which is set to be released later this summer.

Warner/Chappell, THiS Music Extend Deal With Marv Green

Marv Green

Warner/Chappell Music and THiS Music have extended their worldwide co-publishing agreement with hit songwriter Marv Green.

One of Nashville’s most sought-after writers, Green has had his songs recorded by countless artists, including George Strait, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton, among many others.

Green scored his first hit in 1998 with Strait’s No. 1 song “True.” The following year Green hit his second No. 1 with Lonestar’s “Amazed,” which spent a record-breaking eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Chart and earned Green a number of accolades including BMI Song of the Year, BMI Songwriter of the Year, and ACM Song of the Year, as well as a Grammy nomination.

Other No. 1 hits of Green’s include “Wasted,” (Carrie Underwood), “It Just Comes Natural” (George Strait), “Consider Me Gone,” (Reba McEntire), “Who I Am With You” (Chris Young) and “Shotgun Rider,” recorded by Tim McGraw.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Signs “Die A Happy Man” Writer Sean Douglas

Amanda Berman-Hill and Sean Douglas

Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s West Coast branch has signed “Die a Happy Man” co-writer Sean Douglas, who has also worked with Jason Derulo, Nick Jonas, Madonna and more.

The Los Angeles-based writer has penned “Heart Attack” by Demi Lovato, “Talk Dirty” and “Wiggle” for Derulo, “Hey Mama” for David Guetta, “Levels” for Jonas, and “Die a Happy Man” for Thomas Rhett.

Waylon Payne Rejoins Carnival Music

Waylon Payne

Singer-songwriter Waylon Payne has returned to Carnival Music publishing company. The son of country singer Sammi Smith and guitarist Jody Payne, he first joined Carnival Music as a writer in 2006.

Since returning to Nashville from Los Angeles, Payne has been writing and is in the studio to record the follow-up to his 2004 project, The Drifter. That album introduced “Running from the Rain,” “Pretender” and the title track. Lee Ann Womack recorded Payne’s solo-written “Solitary Thinkin'” for her 2008 album, Call Me Crazy.

In addition, Payne portrayed Jerry Lee Lewis in the Academy Award-winning Walk The Line, starred in the Hank Garland biopic Crazy, and appeared on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. 

John Ozier Promoted To VP At ole Nashville

John Ozier

John Ozier has been promoted to the position of Vice President, Nashville Creative for ole.

Over the past three years, Ozier has delivered on his mandate to build writer, development artist and catalog success at ole. During that time, Nashville has signed over a dozen writers including Jeremy Stover, Tony Martin, and Phil O’Donnell.

ole Nashville has also added artists including Tyler Farr, Jordan Davis, Josh Dorr, Adam Hambrick, Travis Denning, and Sam Grow in deals ranging from publishing to full development and upstreaming.

The company is equally active in Canada and has unique cross-border reach with a roster that includes Canadian-based country stars like Gord Bamford, George Canyon and Meghan Patrick.

Ozier, who serves as Executive Director of Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Nashville, came to ole in 2013 with deep experience in operating publishing and record label businesses. He is also a platinum songwriter with cuts by Lee Brice, Kid Rock, Kellie Pickler, Charlie Worsham, Josh Thompson, Tyler Farr, American Young, Air Supply and others.

Celebration of Life Set For Songwriter Kim Williams

Kim Williams

A celebration of life of Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame songwriter Kim Williams will be held on Saturday, May 14, from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. on the Veterans Overlook in Thorn Hill, Tennessee (just past the Clinch Mountain Lookout Restaurant at 190 Lookout Mountain Rd., Thorn Hill, TN 37881).

Everyone who was touched by Kim’s songs or the man himself is welcome. There will be singing, telling jokes, telling stories of Kim and celebrating his life.

Williams passed away February 11, 2016 at the age of 68.