Universal Music Publishing Nashville today announced that Matraca Berg, BMI’s 2023 ICON Award recipient, has been signed to an exclusive, global publishing agreement.

With a career spanning nearly four decades, Berg continues to solidify her status as one of American’s preeminent songwriters with her enduring power of storytelling through song.  She is a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and has accumulated 11 BMI Millionaire Awards.  Her chart-topping songs include hits such as “Strawberry Wine,” Wrong Side Of Memphis,” “I’m That Kind Of Girl,” “XXX’s And OOO’s,” and “You And Tequila.”

Troy Tomlinson, Chairman & CEO, UMPG Nashville said: “Cyndi Forman has known and worked with Matraca for more than 20 years.  She and I were discussing songwriters that we both loved and respected, and it became obvious to both of us at the same moment that we needed to work with Matraca.”

Berg added: “I’ve been with the same publisher since my early 20s.  Pat Higdon has always had my back.  Finding another home after all these years was daunting.  It feels good and natural to be at Universal Music Publishing now. Troy and Cyndi have the same love of songs and deep respect for the music. Cyndi already knows some of my old catalog, and we know a lot of the stories and the history of this town, which is fun to share.”

UMPG Nashville is home to Music Row’s best and brightest talent, including Taylor Swift, Luke Combs, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Maren Morris, Scotty McCreery, Ingrid Andress, Ian Munsick, and hit songwriters Chase McGill, Paul DiGiovanni, Troy Verges, Brad Tursi, Benjy Davis, Ray Fulcher, Jacob Davis, John Pierce, Caitlyn Smith, and Brandy Clark, to name a few.

Photo Credit: Glen Rose