The following is a press release:
Legendary country music executive Benny Brown today announced he has acquired all assets from Wide Open Music Publishing and formed a new publishing venture, North Chapel Music.
North Chapel Music is now home to Wide Open Music’s entire song catalog, including Billboard No. 1 country hits such as Brett Young’s RIAA Diamond-certified “In Case You Didn’t Know,” Matt Stell’s double-Platinum “Prayed For You,” and George Birge’s recent chart-topper, “Cowboy Songs,” as well as Birge’s Mediabase country No. 1 “Mind On You.”
North Chapel Music is now also home to Wide Open Music’s roster of songwriters, including (alphabetically by last name) Jaron Boyer, Neal Coty, Matt Gorman, Joe Hanson, Joe Haydel, Lakelin Lemmings, Tim Owens, Chris Ray, Aaron Scherz, John Stephens and Nathan Woodard.
Brown today also announced that five additional writers have signed publishing deals with North Chapel Music. They are (alphabetically by last name) genre-blending country artist Matt Cooper, modern country traditionalist Spencer Hatcher, Hatcher’s brother and bandmate Connor Hatcher, hit country songwriter Jason Sellers, and Runaway June founding member Jennifer Wayne.
To read bios for all 16 songwriters on the North Chapel Music roster, go to northchapelmusic.com/roster
“I’m excited to launch North Chapel Music, where great songs and great songwriters will always be our greatest assets,” said Brown. “There’s so much value in our catalog, and especially in our people, so I jumped at the chance to get back into the publishing business.”
Brown’s legacy includes founding BBR Music Group (including Magic Mustang Music), which is now part of BMG, and current venture Quartz Hill Music Group (QHMG), which includes Quartz Hill Records, Stone Country Records, and BSB Management. North Chapel Music is not part of QHMG but rather a sister company.
Wide Open Music was founded in 2013 by music industry executives Steve Williams and Ash Bowers. The launch of North Chapel Music does not affect Bowers’ role as Executive Vice President at sister company QHMG.
Brown has tapped former Wide Open Music executive Paul Compton to serve as Executive Vice President for North Chapel Music. In his new role, Compton will be responsible for all day-to-day creative and administrative management duties and will provide leadership to the company’s songwriters and support staff. With more than 30 years of publishing experience and additional expertise across the music sector, Compton was mentored in publishing by Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Roger Murrah at Murrah Music, and later founded his own companies, Music Highway Writer Services and The Songwriter Agency.
“I’m grateful to Benny for entrusting me to lead his vision of the newly formed North Chapel Music,” said Compton. “With our growing roster of established writers and developing artist writers, North Chapel will serve as a direct source of music and artistry for Benny’s QHMG record labels, as well as servicing career-elevating music and talent for the global music market.”
In addition to signing Jason Sellers as a songwriter, Brown has appointed him as North Chapel Music’s Senior Creative Director. Sellers has been in music his entire life and burning up Music Row as a musician, vocalist and producer since he was 18. As a songwriter, he has numerous awards and No. 1 hits to his credit. Sellers will continue in his role as a Partner at sister company QHMG.
“Since the day we launched Brown Sellers Brown, now QHMG, I suspected Benny would wanna get back deeper into publishing,” said Sellers. “He loves our artists, he loves our teams, but he LOVES great songs. And I do too. So, whether it’s writing, or broader strategy, I’m very excited to support him in this new venture.”
Brown has appointed Wendy Buckner as Creative Director for North Chapel Music, reporting to Compton. She brings more than 20 years of experience in publishing, music and TV production, and artist management. Her most recent role has been at BSB Management, as Day-to-Day Manager for multiple artists.
