Music News (6/29/22)

Carnival Music Adds Jaida Dreyer To Writer Roster

Pictured (L-R): Lauren Kilgore (Partner, Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP), Jaida Dreyer, Nicole Wyatt (Creative Director, Carnival Music), Frank Liddell (Owner, Carnival Music)

Singer-songwriter Jaida Dreyer has signed a publishing agreement with Carnival Music.

Over the years, Dreyer has had songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Reba McEntire, Eric Church, Sara Evans, Granger Smith, Brantley Gilbert, Cody Jinks, Kevin Costner & The Modern West, and more. She’s credited for a multi-week No. 1 with Luke Bryan‘s “Home Alone Tonight,” featuring Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild.

As an artist, the Ontario native has traveled coast-to-coast opening for artists such as Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, and Merle Haggard. She is also a frequent guest on The Grand Ole Opry. Her songs have been featured in Paramount’s Yellowstone, A&E’s The Returned, and Netflix’s Longmire, and she has penned nine tunes for the television series Nashville.

“When I moved to Nashville, the very first meeting I had in town was with Frank Liddell. I’ve always looked at those parts of the Carnival family as having one of the best seats in the house, and it feels very full circle to be sitting in one of them now,” Dreyer explains. “I owe a lot to Courtney Gregg for bringing me into the fold.”
 

Combustion Music Celebrates 100 No. 1 Hits

Pictured (L-R): Director of Operations Kelly Lyons; President/Songwriter/Producer Chris Farren; General Manager Keithan Melton; Vice President Chris “Falcon” Van Belkom; Senior Creative Director, A&R Blake Duncan. Photo: Mick Bodie.

Music Row-based publishing, masters, and writer development firm Combustion Music earned its 100th No. 1 with Jordan Davis’ tune “Buy Dirt” (featuring Luke Bryan) via Combustion writer Matt Jenkins.

Alongside this milestone, Combustion has also revamped with a new logo and website, along with a revived definition of Combustion and its expanding list of accomplishments.

Established in 2001 by owner Chris Farren, Combustion’s “we’re all in this together” mentality is a reflection of Farren’s background as an artist, writer, producer and entrepreneur.

With first signings including seven-time ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley, and Grammy award-winning group Kings of Leon, Combustion is now home to 5x Grammy award nominee Matthew West, multiple No. 1 award-winning writer and producer AJ Pruis, No. 1 writer Brett Tyler, Thirty Tigers artist Bones Owens, writer and Combustion Masters artist Faren Rachels, writers Jessica Farren and Leanna Crawford, and writer/producers Austin Goodloe, Tom Whall, and Sam Bergeson.

Combustion also developed multi-award winning singer-songwriter Jameson Rodgers, leading to his deal with Sony Music Nashville, as well as Bones Owens, leading to his deal with Thirty Tigers, and Leanna Crawford with Provident.

The company has partnered with Broken Bow Records to continue the growth of touring and streaming powerhouse Kolby Cooper, and most recently partnered with Sony Music Nashville for the signing of streaming star Corey Kent.
 

Renee Blair Inks Publishing Deal With Round Hill Music

Pictured (L-R): Round Hill Music Nashville SVP/GM, Mike Whelan; Renee Blair; Round Hill Music Sr. Director of A&R, Bob Squance; Round Hill Music Director of A&R, Lindsay Will. Photo: Courtesy of Round Hill Music

CMT Next Women of Country artist Renee Blair has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Round Hill Music.

In the past year, Blair has amassed a total of 25 million streams across all platforms. She most recently released her tune “Good at Being Single,” and prior to that joined forces with 4x Grammy award-nominee Iggy Azalea and Empire Nashville artist Sophia Scott to release “Knock Yourself Out.” Next month, Blair will release a video for “Good At Being Single,” as well as her upcoming single “SPF Me.”

A Missouri native, Blair also hosts her own morning show on YoCo Nashville, and has opened up for the likes of Willie Nelson, Carly Pearce, and Walker Hayes on tour.

“I love being an artist, but there is no great artist without great songs,” Blair notes. “Being a songwriter is something I take so seriously and I’m always in pursuit of trying to better my craft. I’m so thankful to have found a new home at Round Hill to help nurture that skill and cheer me along!”
 

Warner Chappell & Edgehill Music Publishing Sign Rob Williford

Pictured (L-R, back row): Kent Marcus (Attorney), Christina Wiltshire (WCM), Julia Keefe (Edgehill), Tara Joseph (Edgehill); (L-R, front row): Ben Vaughn (WCM), Rob Williford, Josh Joseph (Edgehill)

Singer-songwriter and musician Rob Williford has signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music and Edgehill Music Publishing.

Williford is a frequent collaborator of country hitmaker Luke Combs, having written his 2019 CMA Song of the Year, “Beautiful Crazy,” which went RIAA-certified double Platinum and ruled Billboard’s Country Music Airplay chart, holding the No. 1 spot for seven straight weeks. Williford also co-wrote Combs’ fast-rising hits “Forever After All” and “Doin’ This.”

Williford, a Gastonia, North Carolina native, is currently playing guitar and singing in Combs’ band on his stadium tour. The multi-faceted talent is also collaborating on a studio project with Kyle Cook of Matchbox 20 and producer David Mescon. The album, written and co-produced by Williford, is expected to be released later this year.