Barbara Cloyd
Hit Songwriter and Workshop Instructor
Barbara Cloyd's is far from being "new" to the music business. In 1983 she moved to Nashville, a town she had never been to before and where she didn't know anyone. Within a few days of arriving she knew she was home. Three years later she was hired to organize and run the Open Mic at the Bluebird Cafe, which was well on it's way to becoming the world-renowned songwriter's venue it is today. Her struggle to perfect her craft as a writer paid off in 1993 when she had the hit single "I Guess You Had to Be There" recorded by Lorrie Morgan.
Visit Barbara at www.barbaracloyd.com.

Steve Bloch will be attending the workshop (he could be sneaking around anytime!) and will be meeting in person with the 20 Ultimate Writers chosen to pitch their songs. Steve is the owner/publisher for Southern Cow Music, and has formed a new publishing company, Writer Zone Music, with songwriter partner Rand Bishop. Writer Zone has published cuts for Tracy Byrd, Steve Holy, and Billy Currington. More credits include Trent Sumnar is a staff writer for Writer Zone, and general manager for Tom Schulyer! Impressed? Wait 'til you meet him!

After a decade of success with his LA based talent agency, Entertainment Associates, Bloch segued into publishing and founded Southern Cow Music in 1991, moved his headquarters to Nashville in '93, and hasn't looked back since. His boutique publishing company garnered cuts with Faith Hill, Lee Ann Womack, Rebecca Lynn Howard, and Lee Greenwood. In addition he secured cuts with Kenny Chesney, John Berry, and Lila McCann for select independent clients.

In the late 90's, he was tapped by Doug Johnson at Giant records to do independent A&R for the label where he secured cuts with Clay Walker, Keith Harling and Blake Shelton. In 2003, Bloch, along with two others, founded Writer Zone Music, LLC., a uniquely innovative publishing company. Equity in the company is shared by writers who have come on board with a high level of past measurable success. Partners include Rand Bishop (My List), Jon Robbin (I Breathe In I Breathe Out) and Thom Schuyler (16th Ave.). Writer Zone writer and artist Trent Summar (Love You) has recently completed an album for Palo Duro Records and Colgate Country Roundup national runner-up, Hailey Stout, is writing for WZ and is currently being shopped to the major labels for a record deal.

Bloch is a frequent guest of the West Coast Songwriters Assoc., the Arizona Songwriters Assoc, TAXI, and numerous NSAI and SGA critique sessions. In fact, three associate writers at Writer Zone, none of whom live in Nashville, were "discovered" by Bloch at such events.

As Bloch says, "You never know where the magic will come from".

Matt Ramsey
Meet the next #1 Songwriter in town!
We'll give you ONE hint. This guy writes for a brand new publishing company...and the owner is Phil Vassar! Matt is a fresh new writer from Virginia that we stumbled across on MySpace. Amazed by his talent, we asked him where he writes. We were so excited to find out that he's a writer for a brand new publishing company - owned by one of our all time favorite songwriters. It's only a matter of time before Matt...and this company...score some MAJOR hits in country music. We knew Matt had to be a part of this workshop last year, and we're so excited to bring back the next #1 songwriter on Music Row.

Check out Matt at www.myspace.com/mattramseymusic!

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