To mark the signing of producer-writer Brian Phillips to the JV deal between Warner Chappell and Born & Raised Publishing and Tim Pagnotta, interested parties convened for this jolly tableau. Phillips, you’ll be interested to know, produced and co-wrote Bebe Rexha’s new single, “I Am” (to which Pagnotta also contributed), and has worked on projects by Dream x Alec Benjamin, 44phantom x Machine Gun Kelly, Lennon Stella, The Regrettes, Andrew McMahon and Lindsey Stirling, to name but a few. Pictured just before going out to get matching sleeve tats are (l-r) Born & Raised’s Jason Bernard and Sarah Stickle, WCM CEO/Co-Chair Guy Moot and COO/Co-Chair Carianne Marshall, Phillips, Pagnotta, WCM’s Cate Wright, Greg Sowders, Valentina Carrillo and Justin Polokoff.

Bernard and Pagnotta, who are known to speak in unison, noted that Phillips’ “musical talent paired with his technical intuition is a gift,” adding, “We are proud to partner with the G.O.A.T. team at Warner Chappell with Sir Greg Sowders at the helm.” (Editor’s note: Sowders hasn’t actually been knighted. Yet.)

Sowders, who is in fact SVP of A&R and Catalog at WCM, proclaimed, “Brian is paving the way for a new generation of songwriters and producers, and all of us at Warner Chappell are really proud to be along for the ride. It’s always a plus when you get to support an incredible music creator alongside the talented Tim Pagnotta and our friends at Born & Raised Publishing!”

In related news, Jason Bernard's beard will be performing at Stagecoach.