https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/06/10/nashville-music-industry-veteran-jody-williams-launches-publishing-venture/5333977002/
Nashville music industry veteran Jody Williams launched earlier this week Jody Williams Songs, a joint publishing venture with Warner Chappell Music Nashville.
In unveiling the new company, Williams leaves his post as VP of creative at performing rights organization BMI, where he worked for 14 years. He'll develop writers, source legacy catalogs, secure covers and represent some Warner Chappell Music catalogs as part of the venture, a news release said.
Jody Williams (Photo: Jon-Paul Bruno/Contributed)
Jody Williams Songs represents Ashley McBryde (reigning CMA New Artist of the Year), Jeremy Spillman (credits include songs for Eric Church and Midland) and Nathan Chapman (record producer known for work with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban), as well as singer-songwriters Greg Bates and Pat McLaughlin, the latter known for his work with Johnny Cash, Cowboy Jack Clement and John Prine.
“My time at BMI taught me volumes about the business," Williams said in a statement. "I’ve seen how music, consumption and income streams have changed over the last decade and a half. Those great publishing catalogs that became the cornerstone of Nashville’s music industry, and those songwriters, provide continual inspiration for me. They are the catalyst for the song-forward nature of Jody Williams Songs."
BMI's Mike O'Neill, Troubadour Award recipient John Prine and BMI's Jody Williams gather for a photo at the BMI Nashville office on Sept. 10, 2018. (Photo: Erika Goldring)
A Country Music Association board member and trustee at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Williams teams with Warner Chappell Music after more than four decades of industry experience. Before BMI, he served as president of MCA Music Publishing. Williams also spent time at Tree Publishing, Chappell Music, Screen Gems Music and his previous publishing endeavor, Jody Williams Music.
Nina Jenkins, a Belmont graduate who previously worked at Curb|WordMusic Publishing, serves as Jody Williams Songs' creative director.
