ASCAP Hires Two In Creative Dept.

L-R: Michael Martin, Robert Filhart

ASCAP’s Nashville office today announced the hiring of Michael Martin as Sr. Creative Director and Robert Filhart as Creative Manager. Over the last several months the performing rights organization has reworked its Nashville operations to serve as a regional headquarters.

Martin comes to ASCAP from Extreme Writers Group (EWG) where he was Partner and Co-Founder with Jason Houser and shared responsibilities for the day-to-day operations of the publishing and content development companies. EWG has enjoyed numerous No. 1’s, including the recent success of Rascal Flatts’ “Here Comes Goodbye” and George Strait’s “I Saw God Today,” as well as the current Top 5 single “Crazy Town” by Jason Aldean. Since launching in 2000, EWG also had the 14-week Christian chart-topper “The Motions” by Matthew West, and hits with Big & Rich’s “Lost In This Moment” and Jason Aldean’s “Johnny Cash” and “Why.” As a graduate of University of Texas Arlington, Martin began his career in music publishing as VP of Creative Services at Moraine Music.

Filhart joins ASCAP from his most recent post as an Associate Manager at Dottore-DuBois Artist Management. In this position, he handled day-to-day activities for Matt Jenkins and Connie Smith. He was previously employed with Still Working Music, where he worked primarily as a songplugger while also handling day-to-day logistics for Danielle Peck. He began his career interning for Universal South Records and, later, at Major Bob Music/Bob Doyle & Associates. Filhart graduated with a B.S. in Business/Music Industry Management from Ferris State University in Michigan.

“We’re delighted to bring the diverse talents of Michael and Robert to our organization,” said Tim DuBois, VP and Managing Executive of operations at ASCAP Nashville. “Their experience, passion for the craft, and dedication to writers and artists wonderfully complement the overall vision of ASCAP, as well as the new elevated role in expanding and enhancing our relationships with our writers and publishers across all musical genres.”

“I have loved being a music publisher, and working closely with writers and artists and the songs they create is an amazing process,” added Martin. “To continue to be a part of this process while working with the ASCAP community and its members is an opportunity I am thrilled to be taking.”

“I am very excited to be a part of this amazing creative team that is ASCAP Nashville,” said Filhart. “The foundation for a successful music industry has always been great songs created by great writers, and I am looking forward to creating opportunities to help our members do what they do best.”