Downtown Appoints Cliff Audretch III as Vice President of Creative

Nashville, TN, July 25, 2019 — Downtown Music Publishing has appointed Cliff Audretch III as Vice President Creative, the company announced today. With 25 years of music business experience and a strong reputation within Nashville’s songwriting community, Audretch will be responsible for scouting, developing, and signing new artists, songwriters, and producers, as well as creating opportunities for Downtown clients and copyrights in the global marketplace. He will join Downtown’s Nashville-based Creative team alongside Natalie Osborne and Matt Turner, reporting directly to Senior Vice President Creative, Steve Markland.

“Cliff is an excellent addition to our seasoned and accomplished team, here at Downtown,” said Markland. “We are thrilled to have someone with his extensive experience and creative knowledge on board, working with our global team.”

Prior to joining Downtown, Audretch served as a talent manager representing songwriters and producers at Patriot Management, where he established the company’s Nashville division. He also ran his own publishing company, Greatshakin’ Music, launched in conjunction with Warner Chappell Music in 2013. Audretch has held senior A&R and creative positions at Show Dog-Universal Music, Universal South Records, and Windswept Publishing, getting his start in the mid-‘90s at E-Squared Records — where he worked alongside partners Steve Earle and Jack Emerson. In his various roles, Audretch has worked with and developed talent responsible for multiple country hits such as “Boots On” by Randy Houser, “Smoke” by A Thousand Horses, the Eli Young Band’s “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” “What Hurts the Most” by Rascal Flatts, and Tim McGraw’s “The Cowboy in Me.”

Last month, Downtown signee John Prine was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. On the eve of his induction, the company celebrated Prine’s musical legacy with a showcase benefiting the non-profit youth writing network 826NYC, featuring an all-star lineup of performers including Antibalas, Sara Bareilles, Stephen Colbert, John Dickerson, Norah Jones, Natalie Merchant, Nathaniel Rateliff, and The War and Treaty, Bonnie Raitt, and Keith Sykes. Prine and fellow Downtown clients The War and Treaty, Yola, and Erin Rae have also received multiple nominations at the upcoming 2019 Americana Honors & Awards, including Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Duo/Group of the Year, and Emerging Act of the Year.

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About Downtown Music Publishing

Established in 2007, Downtown Music Publishing is one of the world's leading music rights management firms offering bespoke creative publishing services to some of the most beloved songwriters and storied music catalogs. The company's catalog spans over 100 years of popular music, including legends and iconic songwriters The Beatles, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, George Gershwin, Booker T. Jones, The Kinks, Mötley Crüe, Mos Def, Phish, Tori Amos, Hans Zimmer, and John Prine, as well as today’s hitmaker songwriters such as Ryan Tedder, Benny Blanco, One Direction, Santigold, and Jimmy Napes. With offices in major music markets around the globe, Downtown also represents critically-acclaimed emerging talent, including Phony Ppl, Theophilus London, Mae Muller, Cautious Clay, Stella Donnelly, among others. Downtown Music Publishing is owned and operated by Downtown Music Holdings. More information is available at dmpgroup.com.