Timmy Haehl
Courtesy of Big Machine MusicMusic 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.
Taylor Swift believes Nashville has a music scene that stands apart from anywhere else.
The 36 year old singer moved to Nashville, Tennessee, when she was young to chase her dream of becoming a country music star. After being inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on Monday (26.10.26), Taylor took the opportunity to recognise the city and the talented writers who have helped shape its music scene.
In her acceptance speech, Taylor said: "I believe you really get to master a craft by doing it again and again. That's exactly what the incredible songwriters in this wonderful town do every day."
Taylor also spoke about what makes Nashville such a special place for musicians.
The award winning singer, who ranks among the best selling music artists of all time, said: "You won't find another music community quite like this one. Trust me, I've checked them all."
Taylor also shared how being part of Nashville's songwriting scene had taught her valuable lessons about life and working with others.
She joked: "I've learned to be flexible when your co writer turns up with a hangover, or when they need to spend ages talking about their divorce before we can even get started on a song."
Taylor previously spoke about how Faith Hill and Shania Twain inspired her decision to move to Nashville.
Speaking to Time magazine, the singer said: "I couldn't get enough of watching TV biographies about Faith Hill and Shania Twain, and I realised they had both moved to Nashville to get their careers started. After that, I kept asking, pleading and begging my parents to take me there.
"When I was 11, my mum took my brother and me to Nashville during spring break, and we spent the trip driving around Music Row. She stayed in the car while I rushed into record companies one after another, giving my demo CD to the receptionists. I found it fascinating that so many major record labels were gathered along a single street, often inside little buildings and old houses.
"What really stayed with me was how welcoming people were to newcomers and complete strangers like us. We started visiting Nashville more often, and when I was 13, I received an offer for a development deal from a major record label. That was when my parents finally agreed to leave Pennsylvania and move with me."
