Music News (11/9/22)

Sony Music Publishing Nashville Signs Madeline Merlo

Pictured (L-R, back row): Chelsey Block, Molly Shehan, Josh Van Valkenburg, Tom Luteran, Cam Caldwell, Dale Bobo, Anna Weisband, Synnovea Halsel, Brad Belanger, and Aubrey Rupe; (L-R, front row): Rusty Gaston, Madeline Merlo, Kenley Flynn, and Zach Crowell.

Sony Music Publishing Nashville has signed rising country singer-songwriter Madeline Merlo to a global publishing deal.

Originally from Canada, the Songland season two winner first captivated listeners with her hit “Champagne Night” performed by Lady A, which spent three weeks at No. 1 on U.S. country radio and earned her the 2021 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Songwriter of the Year award.

Merlo recently released her four-track EP Slide, produced by Zach Crowell, which saw Merlo as a co-writer on each song. The collection tells a series of dynamic stories, from budding romances in “Slide” and hit “I Need A Drink,” co-written by Sony Music Publishing songwriter Ashley Gorley, to growing up with “Young-ish,” and lessons learned in “Girl Where He Grew Up.”

She was also featured as the female voice on Cole Swindell’s latest No. 1 “She Had Me At Heads Carolina,” and unveiled a new music video for “Slide” last month.

SoundExchange Launches Mobile Payment Option For Royalty Distributions

SoundExchange has announced a new initiative that will allow registered creators to receive their royalty payments via mobile payment apps. Cash App is the first mobile payment application in place for registered creators to take advantage of, with additional options available soon.

The initiative builds upon SoundExchange’s release of a mobile app (available for Google and Apple) and digital tools, as well as new partnerships to support creators.

Creators are encouraged to contact the SoundExchange Customer Services team to learn more about app-specific eligibility requirements and to sign up to receive royalty payments via Cash App.

Creators will still be able to receive royalty payments from SoundExchange via monthly domestic direct deposit in the U.S. and international direct deposit in select local currencies or quarterly paper checks.
 

Patrick Droney Signs With Warner Chappell Music

Pictured (L-R): Christina Wiltshire (WCM), Spencer Nohe (WCM), Patrick Droney, Genevieve Thompson (Mick Management), Ben Vaughn (WCM), Jessica Swan (Mick Management)

Warner Chappell Music has announced the signing of pop singer-songwriter Patrick Droney to a global publishing deal.

A native of South Jersey, Droney was a musical child who became enamored by New York City. He frequently gigged in Manhattan clubs and eventually attended the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU. Droney moved to LA and signed a publishing deal before relocating to Nashville in 2018 to make his self-titled EP.

He signed to Warner Records in 2019 and released his debut album State of the Heart in 2021. Droney played sold out shows across the country throughout 2022 and appeared on festivals such as Bonnaroo, Jazz Aspen and Hyde Park with the Eagles.

Of the deal with Warner Chappell, Droney shares, “I approach storytelling with reverence, and in regards to songwriting, believe that our unique truth is our power. Representing this truth in song connects the world intrinsically, as we all embody the same, but different, quintessence. There’s a responsibility here to help people articulate their states of heart and I’m proud to be working with the amazing team at Warner Chappell who champion this pursuit everyday.”

Brett Tyler Re-Ups With Combustion Music Group

Pictured (L-R): Combustion President Chris Farren; Senior Creative Director, A&R Blake Duncan; Vice President Chris “Falcon” Van Belkom; Brett Tyler; Director of Operations Kelly Lyons; General Manager Keithan Melton. Photo: Combustion Music

Brett Tyler has extended his contract with longtime publisher Combustion Music Group.

Tyler has penned tracks for Morgan Wallen, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Jimmie Allen, Maren Morris and more. Two of his tunes currently hold the No. 31 and No. 54 spots on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with Corey Kent’s “Wild As Her” and Kolby Cooper’s “Excuses,” and his song “Atta Girl” was released last month by Lainey Wilson. Songs from Tyler’s Apple Music Songbook playlist have amassed 600 million-plus streams.

Tyler earned his first No. 1 when he co-penned “Cold Beer Calling My Name,” by Jameson Rodgers (feat. Luke Combs) in 2020. Recent cuts include the title track from Hardy’s upcoming album, The Mockingbird & The Crow, “Ain’t Missing You” by Dylan Schneider, “Dancin’ in the Moonlight” by Chris Lane, “Why’d We Break Up Again” by Dylan Marlowe, and “Prettiest Girl I Don’t Know” by Troy Cartwright.

“I’m looking forward to continuing my songwriting career with Combustion Music,” Tyler says. “They understand what I do, believe in me, and have encouraged me to pursue my approach and process of writing songs. I’m very excited about the team we have right now, and I love that they are as passionate and hard working as I am. I have a clear idea of what I want for my future, and Combustion sees that vision and is committed to creating more opportunities to get there.”