Kinsley has signed a worldwide exclusive publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing Nashville, MusicRow reported on August 10. The deal follows the release of her debut tracks "Pieces of Me," which explores heartbreak, identity and the lasting impact of love and loss, and "Whiplash," a song MusicRow says taps into her lifelong love of rock.
"It's impossible not to be moved by the storytelling in her lyrics and the emotion in her voice," said Synnovea Halsel, manager of creative A&R at Sony Music Publishing Nashville. Kinsley called the deal "incredibly special," adding that writing "has always been my way of making sense of the world and will always be my first love."
MusicRow traced Kinsley's path across several states before Nashville: she grew up in California, learned music on her family's land in North Carolina, and moved to Texas in high school before her family eventually settled in Tennessee. She first connected with audiences through Midnight Sessions, a series of intimate performance videos on YouTube, drawing on poetry as her original creative outlet.
In a separate deal reported August 6, singer-songwriter Ava Hall signed with Universal Music Publishing Nashville. Hall, originally from the Detroit area, is a graduate of Belmont University's songwriting program and was the first student selected for Ashley Gorley's inaugural songwriting apprenticeship. Her self-penned debut single, "Georgia Heat," landed on Spotify's Fresh Finds Country and Apple Music's Country Risers playlists.
"Ava's sparkle is felt the moment she walks into a room," said Roxy King, UMPG Nashville's senior director of A&R. Hall released a follow-up single, "High Enough," via Trenches/Republic Records the day after her signing was announced.
Both deals landed within days of each other on MusicRow's publishing beat, part of a steady run of Nashville publishing deals the outlet tracks through the year. The story lands in our country coverage.
The facts
- Kinsley signed a worldwide exclusive deal with Sony Music Publishing Nashville
- Her debut tracks are Pieces of Me and Whiplash
- She grew up in California, then North Carolina, Texas and Tennessee
- Ava Hall signed a separate deal with Universal Music Publishing Nashville
- Hall is a Belmont University songwriting program graduate from the Detroit area
- Hall's debut single Georgia Heat reached Spotify's Fresh Finds Country playlist
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