The Songwriters of North America (SONA) Foundation has partnered with mental health provider Backline to launch a new therapy assistance project. Called TAP, the program will provide qualifying songwriters up to $1,500 in funding for therapy services. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed weekly. Each week, the program manager will send new applications stripped of identifying info to the TAP Grant review team. Rage Against the Machine‘s Tom Morello counts himself as a supporter of the initiative. “Mental health should be accessible to all. And yet a lot of folks don’t know where to begin and don’t have insurance that covers the help they need,” said Morello in a statement. “I am proud to support The SONA Foundation’s TAP grant program which offers financial assistance and mental health resources to music creators in need.” To learn more about applying for a TAP grant, visit sonafoundation.com/tap-grants.

Sony Music Publishing has been awarded Publisher of the Year at BMI‘s 2024 Pop Awards. Held on Tuesday (June 4) in Beverly Hills, it is the major publisher’s seventh consecutive win. SMP’s executive vp/head of A&R Walter Jones said, “We are incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to support and champion SMP’s songwriters every day, and this award reflects their outstanding achievements.”

peermusic has signed songwriter/executive Jessica Vaughn to a global publishing administration deal. This includes the administration of her back catalog, synch services for selected masters and a synch agreement with Vaughn’s company, Head Bitch Music, where she helps signees build up synch-friendly catalogs.

Universal Music Publishing Germany and Electric Feel Europe have extended their administration deal with producer/writer JUMPA. The new agreement builds upon the previous deal, adding in UMPG as a co-publisher for the German talent. JUMPA is best known for German top 10 hits “Fühlst Du das auch” by Apache 207, Loredana and Mozzik’s “Rosenkrieg” and “Auf die Party” with badmómzjay and Domiziana.

Concord Music Publishing has signed Maddie Kerr, songwriter and lead vocalist of Mercury, to a global publishing deal. A Nashville-based rock talent, Kerr’s deal with Concord is a worldwide co-publishing agreement that includes her full catalog as well as future works.

Universal Music Publishing China has signed Cheerful Music to an exclusive worldwide deal, excluding mainland China. A top local catalog founded in Shenzhen in 2019, Cheerful Music is home to hits like “YI XIAO JIANG HU (KE MU SAN), “XIAO CHENG XIA TIAN,” “TA SHAN HE” and “BAN SHENG XUE.”