Downtown Music Publishing Promotes Steve Markland to SVP A&R in Nashville

When Downtown Music Publishing signed veteran songwriter John Prine to its roster, it raised an enviable dilemma for the head of the Nashville office: How do you critique material submitted by a songwriting icon?

"I don't," says Downtown Nashville senior vp A&R Steve Markland. "I would never. I've learned from every John Prine song that I hear. It's like going to school. John's not bringing me his songs to critique, either. I'm just honored to be on the receiving end of hearing a new project that he has ready to go."

Prine's latest, The Tree of Forgiveness, debuts at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart dated April 28 after moving 54,000 equivalent units, establishing his best-ever country albums chart position. It's timed perfectly, arriving as Markland has been promoted, Downtown has announced. He adds senior stripes to his previous vp title.

The upgrade comes four years after Markland opened the company's Music City division in February 2014. Prine is the latest addition to a stellar Americana presence: The Downtown roster already includes Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson. But the Nashville wing has explored other areas, too. Four of its first signees -- including veteran writers Kelly Archer ("Sleep Without You") and Marc Beeson ("Hometown Girl") -- recently re-signed with Downtown, and the company has cultivated new talent, too, including Big Loud artist Jillian Jacqueline and Andy Albert ("If the Boot Fits").

Additionally, Downtown has developed deals with Nashville indie publishers Big Yellow Dog and Major Bob since starting the division. Markland has also established a Songwriters Without Borders initiative, creating performance and co-writing opportunities for his writers in other countries and/or with figures from pop and hip-hop genres, including Cheryl Cole, Naughty Boy and Flo Rida.  

Markland's promotion doesn't change his job duties, but it sends a signal about Downtown's development plans in Nashville.

"What comes along with it," he says, "is the challenge to bring the office to the next level."