Cates Signs with Disney Music Publishing

Pictured (L-R): Ken Bunt, President, DMG; Jess Cates, Songwriter; Mio Vukovic, SVP of A&R/Head of Creative, DMG; Emanuel “Eman” Kiriakou).

Jess Cates, a songwriter responsible for scores of contemporary hits, has entered into an exclusive agreement with Disney Music Publishing. Cates has worked with artists including Backstreet Boys, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Jonas Brothers and others. THe deal with DMP is in association with Emanuel “Eman” Kiriakou, which whom Cates has collaborated often.

Cates, a Nashville native, launched his career in the ’90s, writing songs for Rebecca St. James and Avalon. He later moved to Los Angeles, where he formed a long professional relationship with American Idol finalists and writing songs for Jordin Sparks, David Cook, and Scotty McCreery (“Better Than That”) as well as runners-up David Archuletta (“Crush”), Clay Aiken, Elliot Yamin, Kimberley Locke and Bo Bice. Cates also wrote Martina McBride’s Grammy-nominated songs “I Just Call You Mine.”

Said Cates of his new association with DMG, “It’s been an honor to work with Eman over the years and now with Ken Bunt, Mio Vukovic, Barbara Vander Linde, Patrick Clifford and everyone at Disney, it really feels like a dream team for me. I’m excited for what’s to come.”