Timmy Haehl

Courtesy of Big Machine Music
Timmy Haehl joins the Nashville-based company as senior director of publishing.

Music publishing company Big Machine Music has opened a West Coast office in Santa Monica, Calif., with Timmy Haehl joining as senior director of publishing.

Haehl will assist with Big Machine Music’s pop songwriter signings, and will represent the entire roster for multi-genre opportunities. Haehl will report to Big Machine Music’s general manager Mike Molinar and vice president of publishing Alex Heddle.

“Between Big Machine Music’s crossover hits, the growth of our roster to include LA-based songwriters and our inter-company collaborations with SB Projects, it is a natural move for us to formally open a West Coast office, and Timmy is the perfect creative publishing executive with which to start,” Molinar said.   “Timmy exhibits every bit of Big Machine Music’s values and vision for the future,” Heddle said. “His passion for developing and promoting creatives is palpable. We are very excited to have him join our team.”

Haehl launched his career in A&R at Geffen Records and most recently served as director of A&R and management at Hallwood Media, servicing a roster of songwriters and producers including David Stewart, Brendan O’Brien and King Henry. Haehl will continue representing King Henry via an agreement separate from Haehl’s role with Big Machine Music.

Haehl added, “I couldn’t be more excited to join Big Machine Music and help bring Nashville’s top independent publisher into a new era of success within the LA creative community. As Big Machine Music’s personalized, writer-focused strategy and hit song sensibilities align with my own, I am looking forward to success with this team and the current roster of songwriters as well as future signings.”

Most recently, Big Machine Music’s successes have included Gayle’s “abcdefu,” co-written by Big Machine Music writer Sara Davis. Maren Morris’s song “The Bones,” co-written by Big Machine Music writer Laura Veltz, earned BMI 2021 pop song of the year honors, while the Dan+Shay and Justin Bieber collaboration “10,000 Hours” was co-written by Big Machine Music writer Jessie Jo Dillon. Diplo’s “Heartless” was co-written by Big Machine Music writer Ryan Hurd, while the Alicia Keys/Brandi Carlile collaboration “A Beautiful Noise” (a current Grammy Awards song of the year contender) was co-written by Big Machine Music writer Brandy Clark.   Big Machine Music’s current roster includes Veltz, Brett Young, Hurd, Clark, Dillon, Matt Dragstrem, Eric Paslay, Justin Moore, Maddie & Tae, Ayron Jones, Callista Clark, Davis, Tyler Rich, Laci Kaye Booth, Daniel Ross, Lauren Weintraub, Reid Isbell, and Drew Polovick, while the company’s catalog writers include Luke Combs, Jonathan Singleton and Josh Thompson.

Ice Spice has released her new single “Pretty Privilege,” marking a noticeable shift from her signature New York drill-inspired sound. But the change in style isn’t the only thing that’s getting people talking. Fans are once again speculating about the rumored tension between her and Cardi B, a topic that first gained attention when a snippet of the track appeared online.

For those who missed it, Cardi B had previously gone on a rant that included jabs at Ice Spice and her manager. Not long after, Spice previewed “Pretty Privilege,” which featured the lyric, “She might talk s**t on the ’Gram, but she won’t talk it to my face.” That line quickly sparked debate among listeners, with many believing it was aimed at the AM I THE DRAMA? rapper.

This added fuel to speculation that a rivalry might be brewing. During the phone call in question, Cardi B criticized Ice Spice while speaking to her manager, James Rosemond Jr. She later apologized for her remarks about Latto and claimed that Rosemond Jr. was responsible for leaking their private conversation.

Now that the full version of “Pretty Privilege” has been released, Complex reports that other theories have emerged. Some fans believe the song might actually target Brooklyn rapper Stunna Sandy, whom Spice was said to call out in her earlier track “Baddie Baddie.” On that record, she rapped, “I know that she wants to be me / But she is not doing it well,” leading to renewed discussions about hidden disses.

While talk of a feud between Cardi B and Ice Spice isn’t new, both artists have publicly denied having issues in the past. Even so, online chatter continues to shape how fans perceive their relationship. Aside from that controversial phone call, there’s no real evidence to suggest they’re actually on bad terms.

Still, as speculation keeps circulating, the story might take new turns. Whether it’s genuine tension or just fan-driven drama, it’s clear that the Internet has played a big role in keeping the conversation alive. For now, Cardi and Ice Spice don’t seem particularly close, but time will tell if the rumors fade or resurface once again.

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