Music News (2/12/20)

Tim McGraw Exits Sony Music Nashville

Tim McGraw has exited Sony Music Nashville, which has been confirmed by MusicRow Magazine’s sources. The news was first reported by Billboard.

McGraw, along with wife Faith Hill, inked a multi-album agreement with Sony in 2017, joining the Sony imprint Columbia Nashville. He teamed with Hill to release the duets album The Rest of our Life that same year.

Prior to signing with Sony, McGraw had been with Big Machine, where he released the albums Damn Country Music, Sundown Heaven Town, and the Gold-certified Two Lanes of Freedom. His Damn Country Music album included the Lori McKenna-penned track “Humble and Kind,” which earned a CMA Award for Song of the Year in 2016, as well as a Grammy for Best Country Song, and an American Music Award for Favorite Country Song. The song was certified 2x multi-Platinum by the RIAA.

Most recently, the superstar released the tracks “Neon Church” and “Thought About You,” and is set to release the album, Here on Earth.

McGraw’s Here on Earth tour launches July 10 with openers Midland and Ingrid Andress, and includes two stadium shows with Luke Combs.

McGraw has expanded his portfolio of business ventures recently, partnering with Snap Fitness for the TRUMAV line of boutique fitness centers in 2018, and launching the book Grit & Grace: Train the Mind, Train the Body, Own Your Life in November 2019. He also teamed with historian Jon Meacham to co-write Songs of America: Patriotism, Protest and the Music That Made a Nation.
 

Taylor Swift Signs Publishing Deal With UMPG

Singer-songwriter and global entertainer Taylor Swift has joined Universal Music Publishing Group, a change from her previous publishing home at Sony/ATV.

“I’m proud to extend my partnership with Lucian Grainge and the Universal Music family by signing with UMPG, and for the opportunity to work with Jody Gerson, the first woman to run a major music publishing company,” said Taylor Swift. “Jody is an advocate for women’s empowerment and one of the most-respected and accomplished industry leaders.”

Swift added, “Troy Tomlinson has been an amazing part of my team for over half my life and a passionate torchbearer for songwriters. It’s an honor to get to work with such an incredible team, especially when it comes to my favorite thing in the world: songwriting.”

The multi-album and multi-year agreement makes UMG Swift’s exclusive worldwide recorded music partner, as the entertainer is also signed to UMG label Republic Records.

Swift has penned numerous hit singles including “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space,” “Bad Blood,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and “Look What You Made Me Do.”
 

Prescription Songs Signs Tim Gent

Pictured (L-R): Christian Conant (Prescription Songs), Rachel Wein (Prescription Songs), Farrah Usmani (Loeb & Loeb LLP), Tim Gent, Katie Fagan (Prescription Songs), Eric Holt (SYZGY Management), Zack Cobb (SYZGY Management)

Prescription Songs has signed hip-hop artist, writer and rapper Tim Gent to its publishing roster. Gent is managed by SYZYGY Management’s Eric Holt and Zack Cobb.

“Just feels good to be a part of the actual underground culture here in Nashville and have the opportunity to bring that to the forefront by partnering with a company like RX,” Gent says.

Gent has become a mainstay on the local Nashville music scene, thanks in part to songs such as 2016’s “Lady America,” which featured Drisana DeSpain. In 2018, Gent released the full-length project Life Away From Home, which features collaborations with Jamiah Hudson, Bryant Taylorr, Case Arnold, Kyro $wanks and more. Two tracks from the album are slated to be featured in the upcoming film The Violent Heart.
 

Curb Publishing Adds Michael Farren To Roster

Pictured (L-R): Trevor Mathiesen (Publishing and A&R Director), Michael Farren, Jonathan Mason (VP, Christian A&R and Publishing), John Nemoy (VP, Legal Affairs)

Curb Publishing has signed songwriter Michael Farren. The deal represents a reunion for Farren and Curb | Word, as Farren previously signed to Word in 2005 as an artist-songwriter with the band Pocket Full of Rocks.

As a songwriter, Farren’s recent cuts include Lauren Daigle’s Grammy-nominated, Platinum-selling single “Trust In You,” as well as the title track on Reba McEntire’s Grammy-winning album Sing It Now, as well as Michael W. Smith’s worship classic “Let It Rain.” Farren also produced Christine D’Clario’s 2015 Dove Award-winning Eterno (Live).

Farren’s songs have also been recorded by Natalie Grant, Mandisa, Karen Peck & New River, Darlene Zschech, Blind Boys of Alabama, Big Daddy Weave, Brian Free & Assurance, Unspoken, and more.

The Curb publishing roster also includes Tedd T, Jason Walker, Sarah Reeves, Tony Wood, Benji Cowart, Joel Lindsey, Rebekah White, Kenna West, Wayne Haun, Molly Reed, Josh Bronleewe, Ben Backus, Mark Campbell, Joseph Prielozny, and Chris Mackey, among others.
 

Runaway June Inks Publishing Agreement With BMG

BBR Music Group trio Runaway June has inked a new global publishing administration agreement with BMG.

The trio’s Naomi Cooke, Hannah Mulholland and Jennifer Wayne celebrated a Top 5 hit last year with “Buy My Own Drinks,” making them the first all-female trio in more than 16 years to earn a Top 5 hit.

All three members of the group wrote or co-wrote the majority of the songs on their debut album Blue Roses. The trio is also part of the upcoming Country Radio Seminar’s New Faces of Country Music class.

“We are so excited for our next venture with BMG, our new publishing partners,” said Wayne. “Since our partnership, our writing has excelled tremendously… they have given us great enthusiasm and support and we cannot wait for what’s to come!”

Monti Olson, BMG SVP, Head of Frontline Music Publishing, North America, said, “Runaway June are phenomenal songwriters at the forefront of the next generation of country music. Already part of the BMG team, this is a wonderful opportunity to work even closer alongside them and BBR Music Group to help take their creativity and careers to the next level.”