Music News (11/16/22)

Adam Wood Signs With Spirit Music Nashville & Lee Brice’s Pump House Music

Pictured (L-R, front row): Mike Fiorentino, Director of A&R/Production, Spirit Music Nashville; Derek Wells, Vice President, A&R/Production, Spirit Music Nashville; Frank Rogers, Chief Creative Officer, Spirit Music Group/CEO, Spirit Music Nashville; Adam Wood; Lee Brice; Hannah Hall; Michelle Davey, Director of Administration, Spirit Music Nashville; and Kara Jackson, Senior Creative Director, Spirit Music Nashville; (L-R, back row): Brian Bradford, GM/VP of Administration, Spirit Music Nashville.

Singer-songwriter, producer and musician Adam Wood has signed to Spirit Music Nashville and Lee Brice’s Pump House Music.

Wood grew up in Colbert Heights, Alabama and graduated from the University of North Alabama with a degree in Commercial Music. In 2004, he moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting and producing, and has landed cuts from Brice, Scotty McCreery, Elvie Shane, Trace Adkins and Tyler Braden.

Among the songs he has credits on are “More Beer” and “Hey World” for Brice, “Hey Whiskey” for the duo Smithfield, and Braden’s single “Try Losing One,” which reached the top spot on Sirius/XM The Highway’s Top Thirty Countdown.

“There is just something about the warmth and hustle at Spirit Music Nashville that really excited me,” Wood shares. “I couldn’t be happier to join this team and to continue my publishing relationship with a world-class artist and writer like Lee Brice.”
 

Combustion Masters Adds Payton Smith To Label Roster

Pictured (L-R): Combustion General Manager Keithan Melton; Combustion President Chris Farren; Payton Smith; Combustion Senior Creative Director, A&R Blake Duncan; and Combustion VP Chris “Falcon” Van Belkom. Phot:o Courtesy of Combustion Masters

Combustion Masters has signed Payton Smith to its growing label roster.

Smith released his self-titled, debut EP in 2019, featuring standout track “Like I Knew You Would,” which has over 50 million streams worldwide. In 2020, he was named to Taste of Country‘s Hottest Country Artists Under 25 list and was included in MusicRow‘s Next Big Thing class of 2021. His most recent release, “Need You To Not,” is available now.

Smith is currently in the studio working on new music with Farren at the production helm. The 22-year-old is signed with Eclipse Music Group for publishing.

“The Combustion Music team has the experience and the passion for music that attracted me from our first introduction,” shares Smith. “The vision they show towards my career has me feeling inspired and ready for this new chapter. I could not have hoped for more than to have the opportunity to work with this dream team. Onward!”

The Combustion Masters roster includes Jameson Rodgers‘ debut self-titled EP, BBR/Wheelhouse Records artist Kolby Cooper, Sony/RCA rising artist Corey Kent, and up-and-comer Faren Rachels.
 

Concord Music Publishing Signs Runaway June’s Jennifer Wayne

Pictured (L-R, back row): Matt Turner (Concord), Ashley Nite (Concord), Melissa Spillman (Concord), Shawn Thompson (Concord), Jen Hubbard (Concord), Hayley Corbett (F2 Entertainment Group) and Tiffany Dunn (Loeb & Loeb LLP); (L-R, front row): Brad Kennard (Concord), Courtney Allen (Concord), Jennifer Wayne and Fletcher Foster (F2 Entertainment Group).

Concord Music Publishing has inked a deal with Nashville-based singer-songwriter Jennifer Wayne. The worldwide deal will cover her future works.

Wayne is best known as the founding member of the multi-ACM nominated group, Runaway June, alongside Natalie Stovall and Stevie Woodward. Wayne co-wrote several of Runaway June’s hit singles including “Lipstick,” “Wild West,” and Gold-certified “Buy My Own Drinks.” Their latest single “Broken Hearts (Do Broken Things)” was released on Oct. 28 and has already become a fan-favorite, flipping the script on post-breakup blues, and kicking off a bold new era for this chart-topping trio.

In addition to songwriting credits with Runaway June, Wayne, granddaughter of film icon John Wayne, has penned songs for artists including Marie Osmond, Eric Paslay, RaeLynn, Brittney Spencer, and The Shires. Just last week, Wayne was honored at the SESAC Nashville Music Awards for co-writing Keith Urban’s hit single “Wild Hearts,” which reached No. 2 on the U.S. Country radio airplay charts and No. 1 on Australia’s Country Hot 50 and Canada Country.

Courtney Allen, Director of A&R at Concord Music Publishing in Nashville, notes, “It is rare that you meet a person who every single person in this town loves and is a champion of. Jen’s talent, kindness, perseverance, work ethic and positivity are unmatched, and she is an absolute dream to work with. Our whole team is thrilled to be a part of the next chapter of her career that is sure to be filled with more success as both an artist and a songwriter!”