➽ PUBLISHING
“There are so many amazing opportunities to discover new talent, including friends, colleagues, social media, radio, live events, digital service providers and many more. I strive to use every single way possible.”
—RUSTY GASTON, SONY MUSIC PUBLISHING
Mark Brown
SENIOR VP/GM, ROUND HILL MUSIC NASHVILLE
Established in 2014, Round Hill’s Nashville office represents writers such as Ashley Gorley, Jimmy Robbins, Zach Crowell and Katie Pruitt. In 2020, the publisher released “over 380 cuts — up more than 100 from 2019,” says Brown, 64. Gorley has earned 43 No. 1s on Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs combined. But it was Maren Morris’ latest hit, “The Bones” — co-written by Robbins with Morris and Laura Veltz — that had the biggest impact, earning song of the year wins at the ACM, CMA and BMI Pop awards and spending 19 weeks at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs. “Somehow, the worst year ever became our best year ever,” says Brown.
ADVICE FOR ANY ARTIST POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
“Always remember that anything you post will be there forever, and although you may be able to take it down, it will always be out there. Don’t be stupid.”
Stephanie Cox
SENIOR VP CREATIVE, NASHVILLE, KOBALT
Cox signed and developed clients including Nashville-based independent music publisher Plaid Flag Music, which earned its first two-week No. 1 radio hit in May with Jake Owen’s potential wedding staple “Made for You,” which was co-written by former Plaid Flag writer Benjy Davis. In January, she also helped sign Mae Estes to the Plaid Flag roster, before her single “Roses” racked up 1.2 million U.S. ondemand streams.
ARTIST I MOST WANT TO SEE LIVE WHEN TOURING RETURNS “Eric Church.”
Rusty Gaston
CEO, SONY MUSIC PUBLISHING NASHVILLE
Thanks to multigenre hits like Gabby Barrett’s “I Hope” (featuring Charlie Puth) in 2020, Sony Music Publishing’s Nashville outpost carried momentum into its February rebrand, in which the top global publisher dropped “ATV” from its name. The change, says Gaston, 45, “reflects our renewed focus on inclusivity and our songwriter-first approach.” In February, Sony signed Kane Brown to a worldwide publishing deal, and will also house the country superstar’s new publishing company, Verse 2 Music. Gaston’s plans for 2021? Live music. “The most important thing is that our songwriters are finally able to get back on the road again.”
MY NEW PANDEMIC HABIT THAT I WILL CONTINUE “Morning hikes with artists, songwriters and employees to connect one-on-one.”