Mark Abramowitz

Sony/ATV has relocated Mark Abramowitz, previously A&R coordinator in the company’s New York office, to its Nashville office where he will serve as Manager, A&R/Creative. In his new role, he will sign, develop and work with Sony/ATV Nashville’s non-country songwriters, as well as support Sony/ATV signings from other destinations who come to Nashville for songwriting and recording. Abramowitz will report to Danny Strick, Sony/ATV Co-President, U.S.

Martin Bandier, Sony/ATV Chairman and CEO, said, “Nashville is far more than just country music. Almost every genre is represented there and as a music publisher it’s important we recognize this and have the right personnel in place. We at Sony/ATV are happy to take the lead and we have in Mark a rising A&R star who will get the best out of our non-country signings.”

Strick commented, “It was clear to me from working with Mark in New York the past few years that he is the perfect A&R person to work for the pop division in Nashville. His sensibilities for music and writer friendly approach should enable him to thrive in Nashville where anything in music seems possible.”

Troy Tomlinson, Sony/ATV Nashville President and CEO, added, “As Nashville’s music community has expanded, the city has developed as well as attracted a growing number of non-country songwriters and artists. With Mark we now have a dedicated A&R person to search out, develop and work with the best of this talent, while he will also be on hand to work with and set up writing sessions for visiting songwriters.”

Abramowitz said, “I’m grateful for the opportunity Marty, Danny and Troy have given me with this new role and I’m excited to be working in such a vibrant music city with so many talented songwriters and musicians.”

Abramowitz joined Sony/ATV in New York in 2011 as an intern having graduated from Rutgers University and been part of Sony’s College Marketing Department. He rose from the role of receptionist to becoming A&R Assistant in December 2011 and then A&R Coordinator in January 2014. Songwriters and artists he has signed include Wild Cub, No Wyld and Kevin Kadish who co-wrote eight of the songs on Meghan Trainor’s chart-topping debut album Title, including the No. 1 hit “All About That Bass” and its follow-up “Lips Are Movin’”. Abramowitz also works with Nashville-based singer-songwriter Marc Scibilia, whose cover of “This Land Is Your Land” served as the soundtrack to Jeep’s 2015 Super Bowl commercial.

The move follows Nashville’s increasing musical contributions to hits outside of the country genre, including rock bands Kings of Leon and Paramore, as well as Trainor and her songwriting partner/producer Kadish. Country-turned-pop artist Taylor Swift was signed by Sony/ATV at age 14. Rock artists The Black Keys and Jack White also call Music City home.

Pictured (L-R): Black River Entertainment CEO Gordon Kerr; Vice President of Black River Publishing Celia Froehlig; Catalog Manager Kelly Bolton; Scott Stepakoff; Creative Director Dave Pacula and Ritholz Levy’s Chip Petree, Esq.

Black River Publishing has announced the latest addition to its songwriter roster, with the signing of Scott Stepakoff.

The Atlanta native moved to Nashville after six years in California, working as lead singer for the rock band Turtle Grove. He’s since earned cuts by Tim McGraw, Jake Owen, Kip Moore, Kelsea Ballerini, and others. Stepakoff’s previous publishing deals included stints with EMI, Sony/ATV, and Ten Ten Music Group.

“We are beyond excited to have Scott join our BRE Family,” said Black River Publishing VP Celia Froehlig. “Scott is on the verge of becoming a strong force in the songwriting community and we look forward to having great success together in the very near future.”

“I cannot even express how thrilled and fortunate I feel to be joining the Black River family,” Stepakoff said.

Pictured (L-R): Phil Barton, Liz Rose (front), Wynn Varble (back), Roxie Dean, Tatum Hauck-Allsep (Music Health Alliance Founder), Rivers Rutherford, Sandy Knox, Richard Leigh, and Peter Cooper. Photo: Beth Gwinn

The inaugural First And The Worst event was held last week (April 1) at 3rd and Lindsley, raising over $30,000 to benefit the Music Health Alliance.

The show featured hit songwriters performing the first and the worst songs they ever wrote. Hit songwriters participating included Rivers Rutherford, Richard Leigh, Liz Rose, Phil Barton, Roxie Dean, and Wynn Varble.

Hosted by music critic Peter Cooper, the evening included a silent auction and awarded a songwriter for penning one of the worst hit songs ever written. The inaugural CRAPPY award went to Varble for his song, “Jackass.”

The non-profit organization assists songwriters, artists and music industry professionals in finding affordable health solutions and financial resources at every stage of their career. In two years, they have saved over $5.5 million dollars in insurance premiums, reduction of medical bills, and prescription savings.

Pictured (L-R): Wynn Varble, Rivers Rutherford, Roxie Dean, Richard Leigh, Phil Barton, Liz Rose, and Peter Cooper. Photo: Beth Gwinn

Top song crafters from Nashville and Los Angeles melded their creative talents during a recent inaugural, three-day pop/country winter songwriters retreat. The event at Nashville’s Fontanel was created by BMI and Warner/Chappell, and presented by City National Bank.

Writers taking part included Danielle Bradbery, Ross Copperman, Dan+Shay, Michael Dulaney, Jesse Frasure, Nicolle Galyon, Haley Georgia, Marv Green, Ross Golan, Hunter Hayes, David Hodges, Breyan Isaac, Nolan Lambroza, Ammar Malik, Bonnie McKee, Wendell Mobley, Maren Morris, Cam Ochs, Eric Paslay, The Band Perry, Bear Rinehart, Bo Rinehart, Dave Thomson, Laura Veltz, Tony Martin, Maggie Chapman, and Jordan Reynolds.

“Last June I had breakfast with Ross Golan, who is a BMI writer,” says BMI’s Jody Williams. “He lives in L.A. but spends a lot of time in Nashville. It was his idea, so we all put together this writers retreat.” The initial idea was to pair six pop writers with six country writers on any given day, while also pairing artists in different creative combinations.

Marv Green at the BMI and Warner/Chappell Fontanel Winter Retreat

Los Angeles writers stayed at the Inn at Fontanel, and met with the Nashville writers at the Fontanel mansion to work. “We needed a place that would create a community for the writers,” said Warner/Chappell’s BJ Hill. “It also had to be suitable to have five co-writing sessions going on at one time, without there being any interference.”

“I always love being introduced to new co-writers that I hadn’t had access to before, and I always learn something,” says BMI and Warner/Chappell writer Marv Green. “When it comes to the structure of a song, and composing, we think a little differently so I always learn a new little bag of tricks.”

Danielle Bradbery takes part in the BMI and Warner/Chappell Fontanel Winter Retreat

“Nashville and L.A. are two very different cultures and different communities, so I feel when you bring writers together with a different background, a different skill set, and a different approach to how they write music, it creates a whole new sound,” says Jessa Gelt, of BMI’s Los Angeles office.

Get an inside look at the retreat below.