Exclusive: Capitol CMG Publishing Launches

Eddie DeGarmo

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) and the newly formed Capitol Music Group today (Jan. 7) announced the launch of Capitol CMG Publishing. The company combines two of the industry leaders in Christian music, EMI CMG Publishing and Brentwood Benson Music Publishing. Eddie DeGarmo will serve as President of the Brentwood, Tenn. operation.

The announcement was made by Steve Barnett, Chairman & CEO of Capitol Music Group; Bill Hearn, President/CEO of Capitol Christian Music Group; and Evan Lamberg, President of UMPG North America.

DeGarmo, who previously served as Pres. of EMI CMG Publishing, will co-report to Hearn and Lamberg. Dale Mathews, President of Brentwood Benson, will be leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.

Employees from both EMI CMG Publishing and Brentwood Benson will be part of the new organization going forward.

“The launch of Capitol CMG Publishing brings together two very creative and resourceful companies, all to the benefit our songwriters,” stated Hearn. “We are determined to expand the marketplace even further for Christian and Gospel music.”

“Bill Hearn and Eddie DeGarmo are a powerful one-two business-creative punch who I have known and worked with a very long time,” commented Lamberg. “They are the right visionaries and leaders to take this new phase of the combined EMI CMG Publishing and Brentwood Benson Music Publishing into the future. I would also personally like to thank Dale Mathews for his years of esteemed service. He is an incredibly classy executive who I know will flourish in his future endeavors.”

“Merging Brentwood Benson’s historic legacy, current hits and impressive roster of writers with EMI CMG Publishing’s cutting-edge collection of catalogs and writers would be a dream come true for any music publisher,” said DeGarmo. “I’m honored to be asked to lead and serve this phenomenal group of writers and team of professionals. I’m also very excited about the future of our choral division as it carries on the Brentwood Benson heritage.”

Capitol CMG Publishing’s roster includes some of the industry’s greatest songwriters, including TobyMac, Kirk Franklin, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Third Day, Jeremy Camp, David Crowder, Matt Redman, Joy Williams, Ben Glover, Chris Stevens, Aaron Lindsey, Bebo Norman, Tim Hughes, Jars of Clay, Brenton Brown and Leeland.  The company will also encompass many of the world’s most prominent Christian music catalogs, such as sixsteps, Thankyou Music, Hillsong, Maranatha! Music, Emack Music (the publishing catalog of Christian record company Gotee Records), the Lorenz Creative Services catalogs, Reunion Music (whose catalog includes the Eric Clapton hit “Change The World”) and the Sparrow catalogs (containing numerous legendary gospel and Christian evergreens). Songs from these historic catalogs have been recorded by music’s legends including Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Ray Charles, Linda Ronstadt, Amy Grant, Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson.

Capitol CMG Publishing will continue to be a leader in the core areas of the business, including Contemporary Christian Music, Praise and Worship Music, Gospel Music, and Print Music Publications.

DeGarmo was one of the leading pioneers of contemporary Christian music as part of rock duo DeGarmo & Key. Throughout his 17 years with D&K and successful solo venture, DeGarmo sold millions of albums and garnered numerous Grammy and Dove nominations. He went on to co-found ForeFront Records, where he developed gold and multi-platinum selling Grammy winning artists such as dc Talk, Stacie Orrico, Audio Adrenaline and Rebecca St. James. He eventually sold the label to EMI and focused on music publishing, later returning to EMI as President of EMI CMG Publishing. Under Mr. DeGarmo’s leadership, EMI CMG Publishing has been named Christian Music Publisher of the Year every year since 2004 by Billboard magazine and ASCAP. In 2004 and again in 2012, EMI CMG Publishing attained that honor with Billboard, ASCAP and BMI.