By Design, the Nashville-based modern music company founded by Josh Bailey, Josh Thompson, Rod Riley and Jeremy Holley, signs its first five songwriters to its roster, joining an already established lineup of artist-songwriters. Austin Cain, Chris August, Jillian Edwards and Jon White join in partnership with Sony Music Publishing, while Alison Turner signs a co-publishing deal directly to By Design Music Publishing.
The publishing arm is led by By Design's Vice President of Publishing and A&R, Josh Pauley.
"Great songwriting requires exceptional craft and an environment built to sustain it,” said Pauley. “We signed Alison, Austin, Chris, Jillian and Jon because their talent and creativity is undeniable. Our role isn't to over-engineer the creative process, but to eliminate friction and give them the strategic partnership to operate at their absolute best."
“By Design exists to give creators the space to unlock their God-given design,” said co-founders Bailey and Thompson. “These five writers shape culture through purpose-driven storytelling, and they are the reason we built this. Sony gives us the global reach to back them at scale, and Josh Pauley gives them the hands-on support and leadership that great songs are built on.”
“Our passion for songwriters and great songs drives everything we do, and By Design shares that same spirit,” said Rusty Gaston, CEO of Sony Music Publishing Nashville. “This group of writers is a statement of intent, and we're proud to champion them alongside the entire By Design team.”
Alison Turner is a 23-year-old Nashville-based songwriter by way of California's Bay Area who pairs faith-forward storytelling with hook-driven country. Before graduating from Belmont University, Turner co-wrote “Good for Nothing,” later recorded by Cory Asbury.
Memphis-born songwriter and producer Austin Cain has spent eight years building a reputation in Nashville for drawing authenticity out of every artist he works with. His writing and production credits include Josiah Queen, Franni Cash, Caleb & John and Thunderstorm Artis, as well as touring alongside The Band CAMINO and Stephen Sanchez.
Chris August brings more than 25 years in the industry to the roster, transitioning from an award-winning artist to one of Nashville's most sought-after writers and producers. His cuts include Keith Urban's “God Whispered Your Name” and work for Pentatonix, Ben Rector, Hootie & the Blowfish, Mac Powell and Tenille Arts, plus his own hits like “Starry Night” and “7x70.”
Texas native Jillian Edwards writes from the perspective of faith, motherhood and finding beauty in the ordinary. Her catalog spans multiple Billboard-charting releases and placements across “Grey's Anatomy,” “Nashville,” “Pretty Little Liars” and the Disney+ film “Out of My Mind.”
Jon White is a songwriter and producer with more than 1 billion career streams, best known as co-founder of the Dove Awards-nominated duo Capital Kings. He has written and produced with Anne-Marie, TobyMac, Noah Cyrus and the late Liam Payne, among others.
The writers join By Design alongside a genre-spanning artist roster that includes GRAMMY Award-winning rock band Switchfoot, chart-topping country hitmaker Frankie Ballard, singer-songwriter Alex Jude and pop-folk storyteller Zoe Levert. By Design operates within a broader ecosystem that also includes Archetype Music, a music rights holding company, and Blueprint, a nonprofit equipping creators.
Keep up with By Design and its growing roster at bydesignmusic.com and on Instagram.
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