Given Music Publishing Signs Tommy Karlas

Pictured (L-R): Michael Hollandsworth, VP/GM, Given Music Publishing; Jenny Hall, Creative Director, Given Music Publishing; Tommy Karlas.

Tommy Karlas has signed an exclusive publishing agreement with Given Music Publishing. The singer-songwriter has had songs recorded by Blake Shelton and Randy Travis, as well as the multi-week No. 1 “Roll With Me,” recorded by Montgomery Gentry. The song earned Karlas a 2009 ASCAP Songwriter of the Year nomination.

“Tommy’s quest for perfection as a songwriter is thoroughly evident in the songs he writes,” said Given VP/GM Michael Hollandsworth. “He brings a standard and work ethic to his writing that impress not only us here at Given, but also his many talented cowriters. We are extremely fortunate to have Tommy join the Given team of writers.”

Karlas’ relationship with Nashville and songwriting began when he was 14 years old and making trips to Music City from his hometown of East Alton, Illinois. Hollandsworth, who at that time was heading Zomba Music Publishing, was the first person he met.

“Mike was nice enough to meet with me to critique my songs and offer me advice,” Karlas said. “I made the move to Nashville when I was 19. Shortly after, I met Jeff Carlton who signed me to my first publishing deal. I’ve spent almost 10 years writing for some great publishers, and now I am reuniting with Mike. There are a lot of publishing companies I would’ve been happy to sign a deal with, but I honestly can’t think of one that would’ve been a better fit for me than Given. Mike is an incredible, no-nonsense song guy and [Creative Director] Jenny [Hall] is a hard worker who gets what I do.”