Back Row Publishing Launches with Christian Yancey as Flagship Writer

Back Row Publishing, a new entrant in the Nashville music‑publishing landscape, announced its launch on June 30, 2026, and immediately signed Georgia‑born songwriter Christian Yancey as its flagship writer. The move follows Yancey’s rapid rise in the country‑music sector after relocating to Nashville in 2021, where he has earned more than 50 cuts with artists such as Austin Snell, Cody Lohden, McCoy Moore and Josh Ross. The announcement is notable because it pairs a proven songwriter with a newly formed publishing house that is led by two former Round Hill Music executives.

Yancey’s songwriting credits include co‑writing the second single from Canadian country artist Josh Ross, “Hate How You Look,” which reached number one on the Billboard Canada Country chart in early 2026. The track was written alongside Nicolas Sainato, Chris McKenna and Jessica Farren, and produced by Matt Geroux. Yancey’s other notable cuts feature work with Austin Snell’s “Excuse The Mess,” Cody Lohden’s “The Good Life,” and McCoy Moore’s “Blue Skies.” His track record demonstrates a consistent ability to place songs with commercially successful country acts.

In a statement posted to the company’s website, Yancey said, “I am so excited to join the Back Row team. I’ve always enjoyed working with Lindsay and Taylor and am looking forward to continuing my journey with them as well as developing new relationships with the rest of the team and writers. I’ve always loved the idea of being on the ground floor of something new and working with everyone to grow it into something great. I’m thankful for the opportunity and pumped for what the future holds.”

Back Row Publishing will be led by Lindsay Will, who has been named Vice President of A&R. Will, an Arkansas native and Middle Tennessee State University graduate, began her career at Liv Write Play in 2018 before joining Round Hill Music in 2021. At Round Hill she rose from Manager, A&R to Senior Director, A&R. Will is a member of the Recording Academy and was named to MusicRow’s Next Big Thing list. In a company interview, she said, “From my very first meeting with the team at Back Row, it was clear that our visions aligned perfectly. I’m so excited to work with a team that values hard work and putting songwriters first while also building a culture around great people who make working in the music industry fun.”

Taylor Antle, the company’s Director of A&R, joined Back Row after a decade of experience in publishing and engineering. A native of Oklahoma and graduate of Oklahoma State University, Antle began his career as a production manager and sound engineer before moving into publishing. Most recently he served as Director, A&R at Round Hill Music. In a statement, Antle said, “I’m excited to continue my publishing career alongside Lindsay and the team at Back Row. It’s the type of company and people I look forward to building something great with.”

Back Row’s launch reflects a broader trend of new publishing ventures seeking to combine seasoned A&R talent with emerging songwriters. The company’s leadership team, both of whom previously held senior roles at Round Hill Music, brings experience in talent scouting, contract negotiation and royalty administration. By signing Yancey, who has already achieved a number‑one single, Back Row signals its intent to compete in the country‑music publishing market, where established firms such as Sony, Universal and Warner maintain significant market share. The company’s structure also positions it to leverage digital distribution platforms and sync licensing opportunities that are increasingly important for songwriter revenue streams.

As of June 30, 2026, Back Row Publishing has officially entered the market with a clear leadership core and a flagship writer who has already proven commercial success. The company has not yet announced a catalog of additional writers or a detailed business plan, but industry observers note that its partnership with former Round Hill executives and its first signing suggest a focused strategy on country‑music songwriting and publishing. The next public update is expected when Back Row releases its first batch of new contracts or a public statement about its expansion plans.