Roger Sovine To Retire From BMI

Posted in News on October 12, 2000

BMI's Roger Sovine will retire from his position as Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Nashville, effective January 1, 2001, it was announced today by Frances W. Preston, President & CEO of the company.

"Roger Sovine has added much to the history and personality of BMI," Preston said. "His understanding of music and songwriters and his relationships with the entire music industry are legendary. He has enjoyed a long and successful career at BMI and we all wish him much happiness in his retirement."

As the son of country music entertainer Red Sovine, Roger has been around the music business his entire life. He began his career at Cedarwood Publishing Company in Nashville in 1965 and later joined Show-Biz Publishing and South Publishing Productions. After his first stint at BMI (1972-1979) as Assistant Vice President Writer/Publisher Relations, he joined the Welk Music Group as Vice President, Professional Services. He later became Vice President of Tree International (now Sony/ATV). He re-joined BMI in 1985 as Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations.

Over the years, Sovine has represented BMI as a trustee of the Country Music Foundation; a national trustee of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS); a member of the board of governors and past president of the Nashville Chapter of NARAS; past chairman of the Copyright Society of the South; executive vice president and board member of R.O.P.E.; and past president and chairman of the board of the Country Music Association. He is also a former commissioner of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment & Music Commission and a charter organizer and board member of Leadership Music.

In addition, he is an alumnus of Leadership Nashville and an executive committee member of the T.J. Martell Foundation for Cancer, Leukemia and AIDS Research. He will continue to serve as chairman for the Country in the Rockies fund-raiser to benefit the Frances Williams Preston Research Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

SOURCENews TAGS Country International