Publishing Briefs: Kacey Musgraves On Another ‘Merry Go ‘Round’ With Warner Chappell

Warner Chappell Music Nashville renewed its global publishing deal with eight-time Grammy winner Kacey Musgraves, reaffirming a long-standing partnership with one of popular music’s most decorated voices. Musgraves, recently honored with the Songwriter Icon award by the National Music Publishers’ Association, continues to break boundaries with her cross-genre sound. Her latest album, Deeper Well, became her fifth consecutive No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and includes the Grammy-winning single “The Architect.” A Texas native, Musgraves began writing songs at age eight and has since built an acclaimed career, including the landmark Golden Hour, which earned a trifecta of album of the year honors across the Grammys, CMAs and ACMs. Musgraves’ 2023 duet with fellow WCMer Zach Bryan, “I Remember Everything,” earned a Grammy for best country duo/group performance. Her stacked songbook also includes tracks like “Follow Your Arrow,” “Blowin’ Smoke,” “Merry Go ’Round,” “High Horse,” “Deeper Well,” and “Rainbow.” WCM executives praised her artistry, with WCM co-chairs Guy Moot and Marianne Marshall calling Musgraves “an exceptionally gifted songwriter who has been a powerful voice in country music from the start.” Musgraves added: “Warner Chappell has been a wonderful longstanding home for my songs and I’m so grateful for the continuation into a future I’m so excited about.”

Dynamite Songs acquired the publishing catalog of Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Keith Harris, encompassing more than 200 works across two decades. The deal includes performance royalties and performance rights income, with hits such as Estelle’s “American Boy,” Usher’s “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” and Black Eyed Peas’ “Meet Me Halfway” and “Imma Be.” Founded earlier this year by former Mojo Music executive Alan Wallis, Dynamite specializes in smaller, high-quality catalogs with established cultural value. Backed by Crestline Investors, which manages $20.9 billion in assets, the company has already built a portfolio of about 1,000 songs by acquiring rights tied to Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar, Chris Leonard, Sly Jordan, Jim Sullivan and Papa Roach members. “Keith Harris’s catalogue reflects everything we look for at Dynamite: compositions with proven performance and continued relevance across formats and markets,” commented Wallis. “These are songs that have consistently connected with broad audiences over time.”

Concord Music Publishing signed indie pop artist Eden Joel in partnership with indie label and publisher Big Family Music, marking their first collaboration. The global publishing deal covers Joel’s full catalog and future works. A Nashville native, Joel blends coastal indie pop with Southern roots and has toured with artists like Stephen Sanchez and Briston Maroney. In 2025, he released his debut single “Deadweight,” which gained traction on Spotify and Instagram. He also co-produced Annie DiRusso’s debut album and recently dropped a new single, “Used To,” ahead of his 2026 debut EP. “Eden Joel is truly one of a kind,” glowed Lily Bunta, a A&R manager for CMP in Nashville. “His vision, spirit, and artistry embody a bold new generation of creatives.”

Genre-blending country and indie artist Peytan Porter signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Jody Williams Songs and Sony Music Publishing Nashville. Porter’s breakout project In My Head earned over 10 million streams, while her Grown EP features fan favorites like “God’s Hotel” and “Lemonade.” Porter’s strong online presence — with 330k followers and 50 million TikTok views — reflects her authentic connection with fans, further amplified by touring with Tim McGraw and performing alongside legends like Willie Nelson.

Sony Music Publishing was named publisher of the year at the 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, held on Aug. 28 in Los Angeles, with its songwriters featured across 23 top-performing tracks. Sounwave earned song and producer of the year honors for his work on Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” and the GNX album. Mike Dean was recognized as songwriter of the year for hits with The Weeknd, Playboi Carti and Future. Rising producer MTech also received his first BMI award. Check out a full recap of the event.

Regalias Digitales announced several new publishing administration deals with various artists and estates. Recent signings include EDM star Said The Sky, Latin hip-hop legends Canserbero and Lefty SM, British R&B breakout AMARIA BB, and viral saxophonist Leo Pellegrino. The company also added rising talents Heembeezy and Ayetian, funk producer Otis McDonald, and Latin pop hitmakers Bruno & Hajar. With billions of streams across its roster, Regalias Digitales ranks among the top 100 global publishers with the NMPA.

Last Briefing: Avex Keeps ‘Car’ Running With Tate McRae Hitmaker