UMPG Snags Indie Breakout Artist Justin Adams

Pictured (L-R) back: Travis Gordon, UMPG Creative Director; Ron Stuve, UMPG VP A&R; and Kent Earls, EVP/GM, UMPG. Front: Cyndi Forman, UMPG VP, Creative; Adams; Missy Wilson, UMPG Sr. Creative Director; and Scott Safford, attorney.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) Nashville has signed budding artist/songwriter Justin Adams to an exclusive publishing agreement.

Adams’ 2013 self-titled independent EP featured co-written songs with established writers including Kent Blazy and Karyn Rochelle. Adams has reached No. 4 on the iTunes Country Music Albums chart, No. 36 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and No. 59 on the Billboard Country Albums.

MusicRow‘s Robert K. Oermann gave the Oklahoma native and former college football player’s ”Miss Me Whiskey” the DISCovery award in August 2013, noting: “He hooked me from the well-written opening lines. This is a real piece of songwriting craftsmanship, and fact that he sings it with so much force makes it that much more involving. An artist who has all the ammo he needs for stardom. And I loved the haunting instrumental coda.”

“Justin is one of the hardest working, extremely focused and brightest artists that we’ve had the fortune to sign. We look forward to helping Justin take his artistry and music to the next level,” said Kent Earls, Executive Vice President/General Manager.

“UMPG is one big family and I couldn’t be more excited to be working with Kent, Missy, and the rest of the amazing team there,” said Adams.

In the wake of his writing success Adams has been balancing a busy tour schedule, sharing the stage with Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Craig Morgan, Dustin Lynch, Eli Young Band, David Nail, Love and Theft, Easton Corbin, Eric Paslay and Charlie Worsham.