Music News (6/27/18)

Pictured (L-R): Kos Weaver, Scooter Carusoe, Tim Wipperman

Scooter Carusoe has signed a joint venture publishing deal with Rezonant Music Publishing and BMG. The companies have also purchased his recent catalog. 

Carusoe co-wrote Darius Rucker’s latest No. 1, “For the First Time,” as well as the Brett Eldredge chart toppers  “Wanna Be That Song” and “Mean To Me” and Kenny Chesney hits “Better As A Memory” and “Anything But Mine.” He has also had songs recorded by Jordan Davis, Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts, Chris Janson, Chris Young, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, Eli Young Band and more.

Prescription Songs, Sea Gayle Music Ink Joint Venture With Maggie Rose

Pictured (L-R): Narvel Blackstock (Starstruck Management), Tiffany Dunn (Loeb & Loeb LLP), Alexa Stallings (Prescription Songs), JD Groover (Sea Gayle Music), Brandon Gregg (Sea Gayle Music), Marc Driskill (Sea Gayle Music), Austin Marshall (Starstruck Management), Maggie Rose, Katie Mitzell Fagan (Prescription Songs), Christina Wiltshire (Sea Gayle Music), Jake Gear (Sea Gayle Music), Rachel Wein (Prescriptions Songs), Jody Williams (BMI)

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Maggie Rose has inked a joint-venture publishing agreement with Sea Gayle Music and Prescription Songs.

The deal marks the first joint venture between country powerhouse publisher Sea Gayle and the Nashville office of pop publishing company Prescription Songs. Sea Gayle was launched in 1999 by Brad Paisley, Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois. The company earned ASCAP Country Publisher of the Year honors in 2010 and 2011 and is known for country hits including Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”

Prescription Songs earned ASCAP’s Indie Publisher of the Year title from 2013-2015, with a catalog that includes Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” “ET,” and “Dark Horse,” as well as Maroon 5’s “Sugar” and “Don’t Wanna Know,” among others.

Rose is managed by Narvel Blackstock and Austin Marshall at Starstruck Entertainment and is signed to CAA Nashville.

Warner Music Nashville Partners With Cody Johnson

Cody Johnson

Warner Music Nashville has inked a partnership with rising country artist Cody Johnson. Johnson is now signed to CoJo Music/Warner Music Nashville.

Johnson’s 2016 album, Gotta Be Me, landed at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart. Earlier this year, he headlined the Houston Rodeo at NRG stadium in front of 60,000 fans. In 2017, Johnson sold more than 350,000 hard tickets; he launched a nationwide tour April 2018 that will continue through the summer.

Johnson has released six independent albums, with nearly 300 million on-demand streams accumulated largely in the last year and a half. The Sebastapol, Texas, native started gaining traction in country music following a string of jobs ranging from amateur bull riding to working at the local prison.

Johnson is also represented by Durango Artist Management, Red 11 Music and HBPR.

Adam Wakefield Inks With Average Joes Entertainment

Pictured (L-R:) Nathan Thompson (Sr. Director, Business Development and Marketing, Average Joes Ent.); Amanda Quinton (Manager); Adam Wakefield; Shannon Houchins (CEO/President, Average Joes Entertainment)

Adam Wakefield has signed with Average Joes Entertainment. Wakefield will release two self-penned singles, “Cheap Whiskey and Bad Cocaine” and “Dry Days,” on July 13 on the new label, with a full album scheduled to drop later this year.

Wakefield was a contestant on Blake Shelton’s team on NBC’s The Voice, and finished second overall in the season 10 finale. He released his debut self-titled EP in July 2017, and is currently working on his new project for Average Joe’s. Wakefield spent last year on an extended tour filling in for The Steeldrivers’ frontman, Gary Nicols, and is returning to the road this summer with his own band. 

Integrity Music Signs Martin Smith

Martin Smith

Integrity Music has signed singer, songwriter and producer Martin Smith and has announced the July release of Smith’s first live album, Love Song For A City.

Whether as frontman of modern worship band Delirious?, lead singer of Army Of Bones or performing solo, Smith has written and released several of CCM/modern worship’s classic songs, including “Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?,” “Waiting Here For You,” and “I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever.”