Music News (5/27/20)

Kyle Clark Signs With Sony/ATV Nashville

Kyle Clark

Kyle Clark has signed an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville.

Clark gained notoriety within the country scene after opening for artists including Kane Brown, Randy Houser, and Darius Rucker. The Georgia native released his self-titled debut EP on April 17, which features songs “Like the World’s Gonna End” and “First Time Feels.” He teamed up with Sony/ATV and Tree Vibez Music songwriter/producer Jordan Schmidt to write and record his debut EP, along with co-writers Josh Miller, Josh Mirenda, Matt McGinn, Andy Albert, and Jared Mullins.

“Kyle Clark is a dynamic songwriter and a hard worker with great potential – I’m pleased to welcome him to Sony/ATV, and our team is proud to support him as he develops his career,” said Sony/ATV Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston.

“Watching Kyle grow as a songwriter over the last six months has been nothing short of impressive. He has truly committed to his craft and has shown he’ll go above and beyond to succeed as a creator and artist,” said Sony/ATV Nashville Creative Director, Dane Schmidt. “We’re excited to partner with a musician of his caliber, and we look forward to taking this journey together.”

“I am so excited to sign with Sony/ATV, and I’m thankful for the support of Rusty, Joey, and the Schmidt brothers. I could not have asked for a better team of people – they have worked hard to make this dream possible. I look forward to the relationships I will make and the songs I will write in this next chapter,” said Clark.
 

Jordan Davis Talks Crafting His Most Personal Songs To Date On New EP

Jordan Davis. Photo: Eric Ryan Anderson

While some artists and their teams have been debating whether to delay album releases or keep them on schedule, Jordan Davis and his team at MCA Nashville decided to not only keep the release of his new self-titled EP on track—they advanced its release by three months.

“I’m in a really good spot right now, songwriting-wise. It’s not doing me any good keeping it in my inbox,” Davis says of the songs on his EP, which released Friday (May 22). “We’ve been consistently writing since we released [his 2018 full-length debut] Home State. We were planning on releasing these later in the year, but when everything shut down we knew people were probably going to want music. My team was onboard with it so we moved the release date up. We’re still on pace to put out a full album later this year,” he says.

Davis co-wrote every song on that 2018 album, a point of professional pride for an artist who originally moved to Nashville to pursue a dream of being a full-time songwriter. Davis earned his first No. 1 country radio hit in 2018, with the inescapably catchy track “Singles You Up.” The track went on to be certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA, and he followed it up with two more chart-toppers, including the Platinum-certified “Take It From Me,” and his latest No. 1 “Slow Dance in a Parking Lot.”

Click here to read the full interview on musicrow.com.
 

Temecula Road Signs Co-Pub Deal With JRM Publishing, Disney Music Publishing

Pictured (L-R): Sarah Robbins (JRM Publishing), Dawson Anderson, Maddie Salute, Emma Salute (Temecula Road), Jimmy Robbins (JRM Publishing), Matt Musacchio (Champ Management). Photo Credit: Catherine Powell

Temecula Road has signed a co-publishing deal with JRM Publishing and Disney Music Publishing.

The Buena Vista Records artists and new Nashville residents have been named a CMT Discovery Artist and the trio is releasing three new acoustic tracks in the coming months, starting with just-released “Fades,” which hit Top 5 on the Radio Disney Country Chart, followed by “Never Knew I Needed You” on May 29, and the soulful track, “Maybe Not,” on June 19.

“The talent and work ethic of Temecula Road is undeniable. We are so excited to get to work with Temecula Road and Disney Music Publishing,” says JRM Publishing’s Jimmy and Sarah Robbins.

“We met Jimmy and Sarah on our first trip to Nashville five years ago and have since then become good friends,” says TR’s Dawson Anderson. “Now that we’ve made the move here full-time, it felt natural to continue our relationship with them as they’ve watched us grow from the very beginning,” says TR’s Emma Salute. “We’re so excited to be working and writing with the team at JRM,” adds TR’s Maddie Salute.
 

Garth Brooks To Receive NMPA’s Songwriter Icon Award

Garth Brooks is being honored by the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) with its Songwriter Icon Award at the organization’s first-ever virtual meeting this June. The award honors music creators and composers who have contributed greatly to the craft of songwriting, and is typically given at NMPA’s annual industry gathering in New York City the evening prior to the Songwriters Hall of Fame gala.

“We have wanted to honor Garth Brooks for some time, and his incredible words about being remembered as a songwriter first at this year’s Gershwin Award for Popular Song compelled us to make this the year,” said NMPA President & CEO David Israelite. “Garth is someone who has created uplifting, joyful and meaningful music for decades. He’s brought millions of fans to country music and he’s brought this country together in times of hardship. His music has tackled tough issues and his lyrics have transformed everyday life into poetry that is as catchy as it is timeless. His career has spanned decades and genres and no one could be more fitting to honor during this challenging time. We are grateful to get to hear from him and thank him for what his songwriting has meant to so many of us.”

Past recipients of the award include Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Ryan Tedder, Jon Bon Jovi, Pharrell, Steven Tyler, Diane Warren and Sting.