Publishing Briefs: Lainey Wilson Renews Sony Music Publishing Deal

Sony Music Publishing Nashville has renewed its publishing agreement with GRAMMY-winning country singer/songwriter Lainey Wilson. Also a CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year winner, Wilson is one of the most popular voices in Nashville today with hits like “Watermelon Moonshine,” “Heart Like A Truck” and collaborations with other top talents like Cole Swindell, Jelly Roll and HARDY. Wilson is also known for her role on the hit Paramount + series Yellowstone.

Warner Chappell Music Benelux has signed Australian DJ CYRIL. One of Australia’s fast rising stars in electronic music, CYRIL hit the scene as an instant sensation with 2023’s “Sumblin’ In.” He continued the momentum in 2024 with a remix of Disturbed’s “Sound of Silence.”

Kobalt has signed a global publishing deal with acclaimed Mexican folk artist Kevin Kaarl. From Meoqui, Chihuahua, Mexico, the 24-year-old artist and songwriter already has three albums out to date, and he has done it all independently. Now, Kaarl is putting the finishing touches on his fourth album Ultra Sodade, expected to release later this year.

Concord Music Publishing has signed Justin Donahue to a global co-publishing agreement. Professionally known as Jung Youth, the singer/songwriter/producer’s deal will include his full catalog and all future works. Over the last few years, Jung Youth has established himself through credits on tracks like NCT 127m Tomee Prott, CHERUB, Social Club Misfits Devon Again and Snow Wife, and he also has his own solo artist project dating back to 2017.

Splice is launching the country music genre in its Create AI tool, which allows producers, songwriters and instrumentalists to easily search for samples among Splices multi-million track catalog to use in their original songs. This tool also uses AI to create stacks of samples from the Splice library that work well together, allowing creatives to kick start the songwriting process in a new, user-friendly way. While AI is used to aid in searching and pairing up sounds, all the samples available in Splice Country (and in Splice overall) are human made. Splice Country samples include performances from Nashville musicians like Devin Malone (Jelly Roll, Carrie Underwood) and Kate L. Malone (Sam Hunt, Emma White)

Story House Collective has launched a joint venture with Essential Music Publishing. As part of the partnership announcement, the two companies have jointly signed songwriter and producer Matt Armstrong, best known for working with Christian hitmakers like Casting Crowns, Passion, Bethel Music, Chris Tomlin and more.

Warner Chappell Music and Ned Cameron have signed Nashville-based talent HALLIE to a global publishing agreement. HALLIE’s work as a producer and songwriter spans many genres, including pop, country, rock, hip-hop, k-pop and more. “I’m thrilled and honored to begin this journey,” she says of the new deal.

Centricity Music has signed Rachel Purcell to an exclusive record and publishing deal. From Muscle Shoals, Ala., Purcell has seen success as an artist, recording under her maiden name, Rachel Wammack, but she is ready to reintroduce herself — this time as a faith-based artist and songwriter. Now that she is fully stepping into the realm of Christian songwriting, she says it has all felt “very divine… The songs would finish themselves before I could even get it all out.”