Sony Music Publishing Nashville and Verse 2 Music have extended their global publishing agreement with country songwriter Joybeth Taylor. The companies also announced the expansion of their partnership with Taylor through the addition of TAYCAN Entertainment.
Taylor is known for co-writing Ella Langley’s record-breaking, 21-week Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Choosin’ Texas,” which has become the longest-running No. 1 for a non-holiday song and stands as the longest-leading hit by a solo female country artist in the chart’s history. “Choosin’ Texas” is also in its 39th week atop the Hot Country Songs chart.
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Taylor also currently ranks at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Songwriters chart and No. 7 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 Songwriters chart. Taylor also just earned her first CMA Awards nomination, for song of the year (for “Choosin’ Texas”).
Alongside being one of Langley’s primary collaborators on songs such as “Dandelion” and “Weren’t For The Wind,” and the Morgan Wallen collab “I Can’t Love You Anymore” (which topped the Country Airplay and reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100), Taylor is also a writer on songs including Hudson Westbrook’s “Made You Look,” Chase Matthew’s “Autopilot,” and Corey Kent’s “Empty Words,” which recently entered the Top 40 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. Taylor has also had cuts by artists including Jordan Davis, Kane Brown, Vincent Mason, Warren Zeiders, Gavin Adcock, Josh Ross, Koe Wetzel, Kameron Marlowe, Zach John King and more.
Taylor said in a statement, “To extend with Sony / Verse 2 and add Taycan on is a dream come true. I couldn’t have a better team championing me and my songs! Excited for everything to come!”
Kent Earls, partner at Verse 2 Music added, “When I met Joybeth in early 2021, three things blew me away… her brilliant songwriting ability, her unbelievably hard-working nature and the fact she wasn’t signed to a publisher. The first two traits told me she was destined to make musical history, the third told me I needed to be the one to work with her. Verse 2 Music is proud to continue as Joybeth’s publisher and champion alongside Sony Music Publishing and TAYCAN Entertainment. She’s already made history, we’re all excited to see what we can accomplish next.”
Scott Hendricks, partner at TAYCAN Entertainment added, “Having Joybeth join our TAYCAN roster is like having Michael Jordan join your basketball team…Blake and I couldn’t be more excited about partnering with Sony and Verse 2.”
Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston said, “The only thing that outpaces Joybeth’s big dreams and talent is her unstoppable work ethic, and it has been inspiring to see her career soar to even greater heights. I couldn’t be happier for Joybeth and Verse 2 for all their successes, and with TAYCAN joining the partnership, we’re confident the best is yet to come.”
Back Row, L-R: Cam Caldwell (SMP), Matt Cottingham (Hunter Cottingham PLLC), Scott Hendricks (TAYCAN), Rusty Gaston (SMP), Synnovea Halsel (SMP); Front Row, L-R: Blake Duncan (TAYCAN), Joybeth Taylor, Kent Earls (Verse 2), Kane Brown (Verse 2). Photo: Savannah Spencer / Courtesy of Sony Music Publishing