Sony Music Publishing Nashville has signed West Texas native Randall King to a global publishing agreement. The emerging country star has collected more than 300m streams with singles such as “You In A Honky Tonk,” “Hey Cowgirl” and “Mirror, Mirror.” He released his major label debut, Shot Glass (Warner), in 2022 and followed up with Into The Neon earlier this year.
Director, Creative A&R, SMPN Director, Creative A&R Aubrey Landon said she’s looking forward to championing King’s “fresh take on traditional country music,” which she believes “resonates with authenticity.”
Into The Neon arrived in January and was co-written by SMP songwriters Trannie Anderson, Jordan Walker and Michael Carter and Ben Hayslip, as well as artists Mitchell Tenpenny, Will Jones and Nate Smith, among others.
King is currently headlining shows across the U.S. and will be heading to Europe before 2024 is up. Pictured about to get their two-step on are (l-r) Durango Management's Scott Gunter, Landon, King, SMP Nashville's Rusty Gaston and Durango's Clayton Toney.
Tega Ethan from Nigeria and Taylor Zickfoose from Washington state are the inaugural recipients of the Bob Dylan Center Songwriter Fellowships.
Ethan, a pop artist, and Zickfoose, a jazz-influenced singer-songwriter studying at the University of Kansas, were selected by Universal Music Publishing Group executives, the Dylan Center and a panel of artists that included Patty Griffin, John Mellencamp and Nas.
“Songwriters trying to make a go of it in the modern music business need the kind of encouragement and support that this fellowship provides,” Mellencamp said. “I congratulate Tega and Taylor on being the first two recipients, and hope they write some great songs during their time in Tulsa.”
Each fellowship encompasses a $40k project stipend, public engagement and presentation opportunities, dedicated time in BDC’s Bob Dylan Archive to study Dylan’s creative process, roundtrip airfare to Tulsa and accommodations in the city, mentorship from UMPG songwriters and executives, and recording time in Tulsa’s historic The Church Studio, the famous studio of Leon Russell.
The center hopes more songwriters will want to walk into a room with a pencil in their hand and will open the application window for the 2025-2026 fellowship in the fall.
Warner Chappell Music and digital licensing company ICE have expanded their existing partnership, which will see WCM utilize ICE as its exclusive administration partner. The deal will provide WCM "more autonomy in the way it licenses digital services across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and beyond," per a statement.
"In today's digital music market, there are vast volumes of data to process, and we need to work with a reliable partner to ensure we're delivering best-in-class service," said WCM Co-Chair/CEO Guy Moot. "ICE has always proved to be an innovative and flexible partner, so we're delighted to expand our relationship with them."
Added ICE Chief Commercial Officer Ben McEwen, "we're delighted that Warner Chappell has selected ICE as its sole [pan-European digital licensing partner], and the recognition that represents the superior service levels and innovation ICE offers. We are focused on ensuring the greatest songwriter returns on the market in everything we do."
