Music News (4/9/25)

AIMP Honors Independent Songwriters & Publishers At 2025 Awards

Pictured (L-R, front row): Publishing Assistant Emily Peterson, President Mike Molinar, Sr. Vice President Alex Heddle and Sr. Consultant Hannah Babitt; (L-R, back row row): Vice President Tim Hunze, Vice President Grayson Stephens, Sr. Director Timmy Haehl, BMLG Chairman & CEO Scott Borchetta, Sr. Manager Preston Berger and Sr. Director Michelle Attardi. Photo: Diana King

The Association for Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) hosted its 2025 AIMP Nashville Country Awards on Tuesday evening (April 8) at Marathon Music Works. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the event spotlighted the independent songwriters and publishers who help make Nashville Music City.

After a lively social hour—complete with drinks and a taco truck—songwriters, publishers and other industry members filled the venue’s event hall. Following brief remarks from sponsor Humanable, the music officially began.

As is tradition at the AIMP Awards, the evening featured intimate and distinctive performances from past and present Rising Artist-Writer of the Year and Artist-Writer of the Year nominees and winners. In honor of the event’s milestone year, each performance paid tribute to a song that had previously won Song of the Year.

Read MusicRow‘s full recap here.

WCM & Warrior Poet Music Sign Global Publishing Deal With Chandler Brown

Warner Chappell’s Spencer Nohe, Chandler Brown and Warrior Poet Music’s Devin Dawson. Photo: Gina Di Maio

Warner Chappell Music Nashville and Warrior Poet Music have partnered to sign rising singer-songwriter Chandler Brown to a global publishing deal.

Integrating country and alternative styles, he is known for his unique sound that he calls “yallternative.” Brown released his debut single “Raise My Voice” today (April 4), produced by hit WCM songwriter Devin Dawson and Jacob Durrett.

“It’s rare to come across such a unique and talented artist as Chandler Brown,” shares Spencer Nohe, Vice President, A&R, WCM Nashville. “I’m so grateful to Devin for bringing him to us to partner with and for being an instrumental part of his songwriting and artist development. I’m incredibly inspired by every song he writes and cannot wait to release the music he’s been making.”

Preston Berger Joins Big Machine Music

Preston Berger. Photo: Micah McNair

Preston Berger has joined Big Machine Music as Senior Manager of Publishing. In this new role, Berger will collaborate with the publishing creative team, representing the Big Machine catalog and managing the company’s roster of songwriters. He is already on the job.

“I’m so excited to be joining this exceptional group of executives and songwriters,” shares Berger. “They’ve built something incredible, and I am honored to get to be a part of it.”

Hailing from Lawrenceveille, Georgia, Berger earned his bachelor’s degree in advertising & marketing from the University of Georgia. He began his time in the music business at CAA as an Agent Assistant, before moving to Black River Entertainment. Berger spent the last three years in their publishing department, where he secured cuts for writers with Kane Brown, Jon Pardi, Bailey Zimmerman and more.

Chandler Nicole Sherrill Joins Electric Feel Entertainment

Chandler Nicole Sherrill. Photo: Zack Knudsen

Chandler Nicole Sherrill has joined Electric Feel Entertainment as Senior Director of Creative.

A Nashville native, Sherrill graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. After graduation, she spent time as a full-time performer, including gigs as singer, dancer and entertainer, playing at places like Hershey Park and SeaWorld San Antonio, before boarding the General Jackson Showboat in Nashville as a cast member.

After her performing years, Sherrill joined Little Extra Music as a song plugger in 2015. There, she advanced to Creative Director where she worked on cuts for Walker Hayes, Luke Combs and more. Two years later, Sherrill moved to Mv2 Entertainment as Creative Director. During her time there, she worked with Thomas Archer, David Frasier, Josh Thompson and more, earning over 20 No. 1s with artists including Morgan Wallen, Combs, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan, among others.

In her new role, she will work alongside artists and songwriters to craft and implement creative strategies, while promoting collaboration among artists, producers and songwriters to shape and achieve their creative goals.