Milk & Honey, My World MGMT, Third and Verse Open Nashville Offices: Exclusive

Shelby Yoder is named manager and head of the Music City operation.

Industry colleagues David Hodges, Lucas Keller and David Margolis have opened new offices and studios in Nashville. Located in Nashville’s “Nations” neighborhood, the offices are home to three companies: Milk & Honey, founded by president Keller; My World MGMT, owned by Margolis; and Third and Verse Music Publishing in which Keller, Margolis and songwriter/producer Hodges are partners.

Additionally, Shelby Yoder has been named manager and head of Nashville for Milk & Honey and My World MGMT as well as creative for Third and Verse.

Managed by Keller for the last nine years, Hodges is a former member of the band Evanescence and has written songs for Carrie Underwood (“See You Again”), Kelly Clarkson (“Because of You”), Maren Morris and Vince Gill (“Dear Hate”) and Seth Ennis (“Woke Up in Nashville”), among others. “Nashville’s always been an integral city to the legacy of American music,” said Hodges in a statement announcing the new offices. “I’m so excited to explore the possibilities this city has to offer in country music and beyond with our team here.”

“I have been such a big fan of the songwriting coming out of Nashville,” added Keller. “I’ve long respected the reverence of the community for songwriters. We’re hoping we can bring our great songwriters, producers and our relationships in pop to the growing Nashville pop market as well.”

In addition to Hodges, Keller’s Milk & Honey oversees a roster of songwriters, producers and artists that has crafted recent hits such as Demi Lovato’s “Sorry Not Sorry,” Imagine Dragons’ “Thunder,” Nick Jonas’ “Jealous,” Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” and Justin Bieber, Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito.” The company also has offices in Los Angeles and New York, the latter of which also manages nearly 20 DJ’s.

Margolis’ My World MGMT houses a stable of songwriters, producers, artists and photographers that includes singer/songwriter Greg Holden, who wrote the five-times platinum hit “Home” by American Idol winner Phillip Phillips. “I love this community and all the wildly creative people that make it up,”said Margolis. “I am honored to be a part of its natural expansion into other genres and territories around the world, while helping to maintain the authenticity that makes Nashville so unique.”

The trio’s publishing firm Third and Verse boasts the global hit “Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur.

In her new post, Yoder will be the regional representative of more than 50 songwriters, producers and artists including Hodges, Holden, Oak Felder, Gabe Dixon and David Ryan Harris. She previously served as director of professional membership and events for the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). While there, she worked on the production of the NSAI/CMT Song Content, the Tin Pan South songwriters’ festival and the annual NSAI Awards with the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.