Music News (08/14/24)

Tape Room & Warner Chappell Sign Ben Williams

Pictured (L-R, standing): Blain Rhodes (President, Tape Room Music); Ben Vaughn (President & CEO, Warner Chappell Music) and Ashley Gorley (Founder, Tape Room Music); (L-R, seated): Benji Amaefule, (Manager, A&R, Warner Chappell Music); Ben Williams and Caroline Hodson (Director, A&R, Tape Room Music). Photo: Luke Hutcherson

Tape Room Music and Warner Chappell Music have signed Ben Williams to an exclusive worldwide publishing deal.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be joining forces with Tape Room and Warner Chappell,” shares Williams. “I’m so excited to work alongside my close friends Caroline [Hodson] and Benji [Amaefule] and have some of the best people and best teams in my corner! Thank you to Ashley Gorley and Blain Rhodes for taking me under your wings and gearing up for what’s next as well as Ben Vaughn, Spencer Nohe and everybody at Warner Chappell who’s believed in me along the way! So excited to see what the future brings!”

Williams celebrated his first No. 1 hit at country radio with Megan Moroney’s double-Platinum “Tennessee Orange.” He also co-wrote the Platinum hits “I’m Not Pretty” with Moroney and “Narcissist” with Avery Anna, and earned nominations for MusicRow‘s Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year and AIMP’s Rising Songwriter of the Year in 2023.

“Ben is everything you could look for in a writer: talented, driven, and all around a great person,” shares Hodson, Tape Room Music’s Director, A&R. “He’s proven himself to be a staple in the Nashville community as a writer and a friend to many. We’re stoked to team up with Warner Chappell and couldn’t be happier to welcome Ben to the Tape Room family!”

“Ben has been off to an incredible start in his career due to his innate gift to meet artists and songwriters exactly where they are in their lives,” adds Amaefule, Warner Chappell Music Nashville’s Manager, A&R. “As a result, he’s crafted some of the most relatable and impactful songs hitting the format today. I’m excited to work with him and the Tape Room team to get his songs in the ears of folks across the country and around the world for years to come.”

Katharine McPhee Signs With Melody Place

Pictured (L–R): Melody Place’s Sanborn McGraw, Katharine McPhee, Melody Place’s Tony Gottlieb and Leigh Shockey

Artist and actress Katharine McPhee has signed an exclusive record deal with Nashville-based label Melody Place.

The American Idol season five runner-up previously recorded tracks for her second studio album, Unbroken, in Music City and returns to make more music. She plans to share her new work in early 2025, following her Grand Ole Opry debut on Oct. 12.

“I’m excited and happy to get back into the studio and record some new music, especially in Nashville, where I had such a great experience,” says McPhee. “I’m a little overwhelmed making my Opry debut during their 99-year celebration, but it’s going to be fun!”

“We are totally thrilled to welcome Katharine McPhee to the Melody Place party! Since first dazzling the world on American Idol, her vocal talent has been unmatched,” notes Sanborn McGraw, Melody Place President/General Manager. “Katharine’s passion and devotion to great songs and songwriting aligns perfectly with our mission of championing diverse and powerful artists. Leigh Shockey, the team and I look forward to supporting this next step in her journey, and can’t wait for the world to hear the incredible music she has to share.”

Big Machine Music Signs Lanie Gardner

Pictured (L-R, back row): Big Machine Label Group’s Megan Joyce and Lauren Davis, Left Right Management’s Jonathan Craig, Taylor Guttmann and PLLC’s Rachel Guttmann; (L-R, front row): Big Machine Music’s Mike Molinar, Lanie Gardner and Big Machine Music’s Alex Heddle. Photo: Eden Gerlock for Big Machine Music

Big Machine Music has signed singer-songwriter Lanie Gardner to an exclusive co-publishing deal.

Gardner, a North Carolina native, was born into a musical family who supported her writing from the age of 12. Influenced by a blend of rock and country, she has earned over a million social media followers with her sound.

“Lanie is a force of nature. While still early in her journey, she is already a powerhouse of originality as an artist, songwriter and person,” says BMM’s President Mike Molinar. “We are proud that she has chosen Big Machine Music to join her team as her publishing partners.”

“I am so excited to sign my first publishing deal. Alex Heddle, Mike Molinar and the team at Big Machine Music understand that songwriting is core to my artistry,” shares Gardner. “Here’s to new beginnings!”

Gardner latest release “Chasing The Wind” is featured on Twisters: The Album, alongside a track list of some of today’s biggest country music stars.

Tia Sillers Inks With Toby & Molly Music

Pictured (L–R): Rob Filhart, Tia Sillers and Clint Higham. Photo: Courtesy of Toby & Molly Music

Multi-award-winning songstress Tia Sillers has signed a publishing deal with Toby & Molly Music.

Along with Reba McEntire’s new single “I Can’t,” her credits include Alan Jackson’s “That’d Be Alright,” The Chicks’ “There’s Your Trouble,” Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s “Blue on Black” and Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance,” which took home Song of the Year at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards as well as Song of the Year honors from CMA, ACM, NSAI, ASCAP and BMI. Additionally, Sillers and co-writer Mark D. Sanders turned the hit into a New York Times best-selling book.

The triple Songwriters Hall of Fame nominee has also penned work recorded by David Nail, Trisha Yearwood, John Waite, Engelbert Humperdinck, Yolanda Robun, Little River Band, Patti Page, John Pardi, Jennifer Lopez, Bastian Baker, Chris Stapleton, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Vince Gill, Johnny Reid and Victoria Banks.

“I met Tia when I moved to town in 2005, we became instant friends. She has remained a constant mentor since the day we met, so when she called me last fall to tell me she wanted to work with me officially, I was blown away,” recalls Rob Filhart, Co-Founder of Toby & Molly Music. “Clint [Higham] and I are such fans of her songwriting. Her talent is second to none, she will not be outworked and her songs are timeless. We are honored to work with her in this next chapter of her career.”