Nashville, TN – Michael Knox has been promoted to President of peermusic Nashville, expanding his role within the world’s premier independent music publishing company as announced today by Kathy Spanberger, President & Chief Operating Officer, peermusic to whom Knox will continue to report. Knox previously served as Senior Vice President of peermusic Nashville. In addition to his work with peermusic, Knox is also an accomplished music producer with an enviable output, having produced 28 #1 songs, with over 55 million singles and 30 million albums sold.
“In the 12 years that he has been with peermusic, Michael Knox has distinctively guided our Nashville office song by song, hit by hit, resulting in major impact for our roster of songwriters,” said Kathy Spanberger. “Knox is one of the most prolific publishers and music producers in Nashville with an extraordinary amount of production credits to his name, but it’s his thoughtful approach, quick humor, and devotion to our music creators that really draws people to want to build their careers with peermusic Nashville. Knox is delivering career-making opportunities for our writers.”
“For over 94 years, the Peers have been widely considered the first family of country music publishing with a history of delivering ‘firsts’ in the industry. I jumped at the invitation to be a part of this this publishing team 12 years ago and to work alongside some of the best and most trusted music publishers in the business. The important legacy that we’re building upon here in Nashville, our commitment to continue delivering ‘firsts’ for songwriters, and the genuine connections we have with our peermusic writers is something that I’m flat-out proud to be a part of. I’m thankful to Kathy, Mary Megan Peer, Ralph Peer II, and our peermusic team for this opportunity.”
Under the creative guidance of Michael Knox, peermusic Nashville has built itself into one of country music’s top independent music publishers. It published the 2016 SESAC Country Song of the Year with Dierks Bentley –“Somewhere on a Beach” (co-written by Michael Tyler and Jaron Boyer) and the 2013 ASCAP Song of the Year with Randy Houser – “How Country Feels” (co-written by Neil Thrasher and Vicky McGehee). Recent highlights for the company include Jason Aldean – “Rearview Town” (produced by Michael Knox and co-written by Neil Thrasher), “Got What I Got” and “Blame It On You”; Jon Pardi – “Ain’t Always A Cowboy”; Cole Swindell – “Love You Too Late” (co-written by Brandon Kinney); Riley Green – “There Was This Girl” (co-written by Erik Dylan); and Dustin Lynch – “Hell of a Night.”
As a music producer, Michael Knox’s production credits include Thomas Rhett (“It Goes Like This”, #1 single and 3X Platinum); Trace Adkins (“Just Fishin’” GRAMMY® nominated in the Best Country Song category at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards); Kelly Clarkson (“Don’t You Wanna Stay” – 2012 ACM Single Record of the Year and 2012 ACM Vocal Event of the Year); Ludacris (“Dirt Road Anthem”); Luke Bryan & Eric Church (“The Only Way I Know” – 2013 ACM Vocal Event of the Year); Montgomery Gentry (“Where I Come From”); Josh Thompson (“Way Out Here” certified Gold single); Randy Owen, Frankie Ballard, Hank Williams Jr., Clay Walker, Tim Montana, and more. Knox co-produced “The Wrong Song” featuring Connie Britton and Hayden Panetteire with T-Bone Burnett from the TV show Nashville along with several other releases contributing to 600,000 albums and 3 million singles sold for the series. Knox has earned seven nominations for ACM’s Producer of the Year category. He is currently in the studio working on projects with Michael Ray and Riley Green.
Knox topped Billboard’s Top Country Producers chart for the first-time last year (his 13th year earning Top 10 Country Producers honors) following the release of Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood’s #1 hit “If I Didn’t Love You” which Knox solely produced. “If I Didn’t Love You” is currently nominated for the 56th CMA Awards “Music Event of the Year”. The hit just won Single of the Year at the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards 2022 (it was also nominated for Musical Event of the Year and Video of the Year). The song won Country Song of the Year at the iHeart Radio Music Awards 2022 (also nominated for “Best Collaboration”) and was nominated for “Best Country Duo or Group Performance” at the 2022 GRAMMYs®. “If I Didn’t Love You” set a record as the highest debut for a duet featuring a solo male and female artist since the chart’s inception in 1958 and hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Knox is noted for his work as the long-time producer of Jason Aldean (ACM Dick Clark Artist of the Decade Award at the 54th Annual ACM Awards) and also produced “Don’t You Wanna Stay” – Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson (which won the ACM Award for Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year); “The Only Way I Know” Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Eric Church (2012 ACM Award for Vocal Event of the Year); “Drowns The Whiskey” – Jason Aldean featuring Miranda Lambert (#1 Country Airplay and RIAA Platinum certified); and “My Kinda Party” Jason Aldean (2012 CMA Album of the Year), amongst many others.
Knox is also a record label executive with a Music Knox Records imprint with BBR Music Group/BMG and signed Tim Montana to his label in 2020. Michael Knox also created and serves as both host and producer of the United Stations nationally syndicated radio show Knox Country 360. Earlier this year, Knox was selected by the Academy of Country Music as a first-time nominee for “National Weekly On-Air Personality of the Year” along with his co-host Shalacy Griffin.
Prior to joining peermusic, Michael Knox opened Nashville’s first song plugging company HIT PLUGGERS in 1991. From 1992 to 2002, Knox left his stamp on more than 150 million records as Warner Chappell’s Vice President responsible for writer and artist development and song placements, signing and overseeing such writers and catalogs as Jason Aldean, John Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Emily West, Jeff Stevens, Steve Bogard, Marv Green, Terry McBride, Wendell Mobley, Dave Loggins and others. Knox has previously served on the ACM Board of Directors and the CMA Board of Directors.
Knox comes by his love for music honestly — he is the son of Buddy Knox who is well known for his hit “Party Doll.” In 1957, Buddy Knox was the first artist in the Rock n’ Roll era to write and sing his own #1 song with “Party Doll” and he made history as the artist that opened the door for the Rock n’ Roll singer songwriter.