BMI's Barbara Cane Retires After 50 Years; Four Music-Industry Deals Announced

By Elena Vasquez

Barbara Cane will retire from BMI at the end of this year after a five-decade career at the performing rights organization. Cane, BMI's Vice President of Worldwide Creative, will remain with the company as an advisor working directly with CEO Mike O'Neill.

The announcement led a round of music-industry personnel news that also included signings by Electric Feel Publishing, Warner Chappell Music Nashville and Sony Music Publishing Nashville, plus a promotion at Columbia Records.

Why does Cane's departure matter?

Cane joined BMI part-time in 1970, while still in high school, and has spent her entire professional career at the company — fifty years under one roof. She started in BMI's "Song Research" department and rose through creative roles, including General Manager of the Los Angeles office and Vice President of Creative in New York, Los Angeles and London. In her most recent post she directed creative activities for BMI's Pop, Rock and Indie teams.

"After more than five decades, BMI is not simply where I have built my career — it is part of who I am," Cane said. "What has made this journey so meaningful is that my own values remain deeply aligned with those of BMI – to believe in creators, to nurture their gifts, and to create an environment in which their careers can flourish."

She added: "After fifty years, that purpose still lives in my heart—and it is why this work has never felt simply like a career, but like a calling."

O'Neill, who joined BMI almost 32 years ago, said Cane was one of the first people he met at the company. "While Barbara and I started out as colleagues, we've ended up as family, and I don't know many who can say that about the people they work with," he said. Her advisory role, he noted, will let BMI's writers keep her counsel "while also allowing her to enjoy some time away from us for the first time in fifty years."

The takeaway: BMI keeps Cane's institutional memory in-house while she steps back from day-to-day leadership.

Who signed where this week?

• Naila to Electric Feel Publishing (UK). The London-based, multilingual writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist was born in Barcelona. Her credits include work with Joel Compass, H.lls, P2J, Gabzy, Moon Willis, Rimon, BenjiFlow, Mahalia, AoD, Dinos, JJ and ColeYoursTruly. She has also developed Spanish artists Violeta, Paula Cendejas, Chiara Oliver and Olivia Bay, and French artist Anaïs Cardot. "I cannot wait for the music and experience ahead with the EF family!" Naila said.

• Elizabeth Nichols to Warner Chappell Music Nashville. The global publishing deal covers the Kentucky-reared singer-songwriter behind the breakout single "I Got a New One." She made her Grand Ole Opry debut last November and has played Stagecoach, Lollapalooza, C2C and CMC festivals, opening for Little Big Town, Jason Aldean, Russell Dickerson and Jordan Davis. "I'm very excited to join Warner Chappell, where I can finally monetize my questionable taste in men," Nichols said. Katy Wolaver, SVP of A&R at Warner Chappell Music, called her "witty, clever, and unabashed in taking authentic life experiences and turning them into irresistible lyrics and melodies," noting her songs span relationship takes and political satire.

• Jared Conrad to Sony Music Publishing Nashville. The worldwide deal, struck in partnership with Taycan Entertainment, covers the songwriter and producer with cuts by Cody Johnson, Lee Brice, Brothers Osborne, Ian Munsick, Randall King, Mitchell Tenpenny and Austin Snell. He co-wrote Pentatonix and Meghan Trainor's "Kid On Christmas," from Pentatonix's Grammy-nominated album "Holidays Around the World."

What changes at Columbia Records?

Columbia has expanded Manos Xanthogeorgis's role to Executive Vice President, Creative & Digital. He will lead a newly formed creative team while continuing to oversee digital across the label. His remit now covers creative and art direction, short- and long-form content, audience development, viral marketing and social.

"What I love about music is that something deeply personal to an artist can become just as personal to someone they've never met," Xanthogeorgis said. "Finding new ways to help that happen is what keeps this work so exciting for me."

In short: one consolidation of power at a major label, three roster bets by publishers — and the end of a fifty-year run at BMI, softened by an advisory lifeline.