A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND LYRICS, OR SOMETHING: A NASHVILLE PUBLISHERS GALLERY
This year brought the heartbreaking news that Warner Chappell Nashville head Ben Vaughn had died. In addition to being a brilliant publisher and ferocious advocate for songwriters, Ben was an absolutely lovely guy and we miss him like crazy. The same can be said for his team, pictured here with him sharing in 2024 BMI Publisher of the Year honors. Seen savoring one of many moments Ben’s efforts helped make possible are (l-r) BMI’s Clay Bradley, WMG’s Carletta Higginson, WCM’s Steve Butler, Phil May, David Goldsen, Christina Wiltshire, Kayce Russell, Katy Wolaver, Rich Christina, Spencer Nohe, Jessi Vaughn Stevenson, Ben, BMI’s Mike Steinberg and Mike O’Neill, WCM Co-Chair/COO Carianne Marshall, and the pubco’s BJ Hill, Bryce Sherlow, Benji Amaefule, Alexa Morris, Bethany Mako, Chris Head and Natalie Madaj. (Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI)
Did you know that in just a single year, Range Publishing has celebrated no fewer than five chart-topping hits? You did? Well, did you know that Sean Cook had a hand in two of them? Oh, you knew that too, huh? Well, for the uninitiated, Cook co-penned Shaboozey’s monster smash “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” and Paul Russell’s “Lil Boo Thing.” He’s seen here with a handful of dedicated Range Media Partners/Range Publishing and Warner Chappell Music folk shortly before everyone decided to use “Tipsy” as a guideline for the remainder of the day. Seen toasting you with their eyes are (l-r) Warner Chappell’s Wolaver and Christina, Cook, Range Publishing director of A&R and publishing Sam Drake and Range pubco chief Casey Robison.
Team Sony Music Publishing hails the inking of songwriter Kelly Archer, whose signing with RED Creative Group was announced simultaneously. Vancouver native Archer has penned #1 hits for the likes of Brett Young, Justin Moore, Corey Kent and Travis Denning, and crafted the Cody Johnson-Carrie Underwood duet “I’m Gonna Love You” that recently flew up the chart. SMP Nashville chief Rusty Gaston declared that Archer’s “track record speaks for itself, and we believe her brightest and most impactful songs are still ahead,” adding, “Now, let’s all adjourn for chicken sandwiches so hot and spicy that they cause us to cry out in anguish.” Seen making sure they have their personal bottles of Pepper Palace handy are (back row, l-r) SMP’s Chelsea Kent and Kenley Flynn, attorney Chip Petree, SMP’s Tom Luteran, Anna Weisband, Dale Bobo and Synnovea Halsel and (front row, l-r): RED Creative’s Taylor Lamb, Archer, RED Creative’s Jeremy Stover and Gaston.
Singer-songwriter Christian Hayes celebrated inking with Troy Tomlinson’s UMPG Nashville team by participating in this exuberant photo op. The artist, we note, also signed with Capitol as a recording artist, with WME for live and related opportunities, with Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy for legal, with Essential Broadcast Media for PR and with Dino’s for cheeseburgers. “Once we heard him perform live, we knew we had something incredibly special on our hands,” UMPG’s Cyndi Forman commented. “Christian’s approach to songwriting is unique yet fits right in at a time when genres are blending.” Seen just before blending some margaritas just as effectively are (back, l-r) Tomlinson, Safford Motley PLC’s Scott Safford and UMPG’s Don Glista and (second row, l-r) UMPG’s Forman and Roxy King, Wildrose Projects’ Helena Capps and (front) Hayes.
Another moment with the late, great Ben Vaughn: the inking of artist-songwriter Josh Phillips. Seen devoutly hoping this photo doesn’t end up in our hands are Warner Chappell’s Bethany Mako, Vaughn and pubco Co-Chairman/CEO Guy Moot, Write or Die Music’s Josh Phillips, Brantley Gilbert and WCM’s Steve Butler. (Lily Nelson)