Tree Publishing

Tree Publishing is a music publisher specializing in country music, founded in 1951 in Nashville by producer Lou Cowan and program director of WSM radio station Jack Stapp . Tree developed from the smallest beginnings into an international company.

Since Stapp initially had little time to look after the young company, he hired Buddy Killen in 1954 . At the time, Tree didn't even have her own office. The commercial breakthrough began in 1956, when Elvis Presley achieved a million seller with the Tree catalog "Heartbreak Hotel". In 1957 Cowan got out. Stapp bought his shares and gave 30% to Killen and 10% to secretary Joyce Bush. In the same year, Roger Miller , who was completely unknown at the time, was hired as a songwriter, who a little later delivered a series of successful titles.

In 1967 Tree founded his own record label, Dial Records . Two years later, Pamper Music, a renowned music publisher, was acquired, doubling the number of songs. In the following years other smaller companies were bought up.

After Jack Stapp's death, Buddy Killen took over his shares and became president of the company. In 1989 Tree Publishing was bought by Sony .