Schuyler To Oversee Bcm In Nashville

Thom Schuyler has been named senior VP at Toronto-based Balmur Corus Music (BCM). Schuyler, a songwriter/artist and former senior executive at the RCA Label Group, will oversee BCM's Nashville operations, including its music publishing and record-label divisions. Schuyler reports to BCM president Tony Baylis.

Schuyler was a member of country trio Schuyler, Knobloch & Overstreet (later known as Schuyler, Knobloch & Bickhardt), which recorded for MTM Records in the 1980s. Their hits include the No. 1 single "Baby's Got a New Baby" in 1986 and two other top 10 titles.

As a songwriter, Schuyler has written hits for Kenny Rogers, Eddie Rabbitt, Randy Travis, Dan Seals, and Lacy J. Dalton. He has received 18 BMI country achievement awards in his career, as well as three BMI pop awards and seven BMI millionaire awards for airplay achievements. Having recently ended a 41/2-year association with Almo Irving Music, Schuyler shifts his own music publishing to BCM.

Schuyler says his diverse background makes him well-suited to oversee BCM's various interests. "My time at RCA allowed me to learn a good deal about the record side of the business." The independent label arm of BCM's business will be enhanced by a new distribution deal with BMG Canada that, according to Schuyler, will create opportunities for some compilation projects.

But Schuyler is particularly relishing the publishing and artist-development aspects of his new job. "I have been around songwriters for 25 years in this business but never had the opportunity to play the role of publisher/nurturer," he says. "I think I know songs well and have the ability to identify talent when I see it."

Schuyler says, "The independent-mindedness of this division here in Nashville is a real strength right now." He notes that while the industry is in "a transitional, confusing time, [BCM] can be very flexible and strike fast."