Ree Guyer was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. She graduated in 1981 from St. Mary’s University with a BS in Child Psychology and Studio Arts. Shortly after graduating from college, she held two jobs – a production potter for Sansei Pottery in St. Paul and a sales position for Wrensong Publishing, a newly formed division of her father’s, Reyn Guyer’s, development company Winsor Concepts (this company owns the patent on Nerf and Twister). The initial concept of Wrensong was to help professional jingle writers, like Billy Barber, in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area get their commercial songs recorded by major recording artists. Ree and her father initially signed single song contracts with these writers and began with just twenty songs.
In 1985, Guyer landed her first cut with the help of her friend, Bob Doyle. “Little Things,” recorded by the Oak Ridge Boys, became a #1 single. Guyer moved to Nashville in November 1985 to open the music row office where the company remains today. Wrensong signed their first staff writer in 1986, Jon Vezner. Within eighteen months, he had his first two singles: “Just Can’t Sit Down Music,” recorded by Mel McDaniel, and “Trainwreck of Emotion,” recorded by Lorrie Morgan, as well as cuts with Ronnie Milsap, Reba, and the award-winning song, “Where’ve You Been,” recorded by his wife, Kathy Mattea.
In the last few years, Guyer has focused on developing singer/songwriters. She was pivotal in launching the artist/writer careers of Ashley Monroe, Jon Randall and Trevor Rosen, member of Old Dominion.
INDUSTRY AFFILIATIONS
ASCAP Board of Directors - Nashville Board Member 2023 ACM - Member & Awards Show Committee AIMP (Nashville) – President Chicks With Hits – Member CMA – Member Leadership Music – Alumnus Class of 1995 NMPA – Member NARAS/Leadership Music Mentoring Program – Founding committee NARAS – Member Young Turks - Founding member
Abbe is a 27-year veteran of the Nashville music business who has developed a well-rounded perspective of the industry from a variety of responsibilities.
In 1989, she began working for Capitol Records in the Sales and Marketing Department just as Garth Brooks was rocketing to superstardom. During the four years she worked for the label, she also had the opportunity to assist legendary producer and music industry icon, Jimmy Bowen. Before her departure in 1993, she was manager of Marketing and Catalog Development.
Nameche left Capitol to work with another industry legend, musician/producer James Stroud, who was president of Giant Records Nashville. In this capacity, she assisted Stroud in song searches for the giant artist roster, as well as for his individual production efforts. Abbe coordinated the production of the 1994 CMA album of the year, Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles, a compilation of Nashville-based artists from various labels performing their versions of Eagles’ hits.
Joining Stroud at his next post as head of Dreamworks Records Nashville, she coordinated the development of Dreamworks principal executive, Jeffrey Katzenberg’s Prince of Egypt Nashville ‘inspired by’ CD. This project represented the efforts of 18 recording artists, 10 producers and 50 songwriters.
Realizing that her true love of the business was derived from the creators of the music, Abbe became Dreamworks Music Publishing Nashville’s creative director in 1997. In this capacity, she was involved in all aspects of the music publishing business, which included pitching songs, scouting new talent, developing songwriters and managing an in-house administrative staff. During several acquisitions of the Dreamworks catalog, she was elevated to VP, Creative at Dimensional Music Publishing and continued to represent copyrights and composers purchased by S1 Songs America, Chrysalis Music Publishing and BMG/Chrysalis. She has worked with writers including Brett James, Hillary Lindsey, Chris Lindsey, James Slater and with the songs recorded by artists including; Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Martina McBride and Lady A.
After two years as general manager of independent music publisher Anchor Down Entertainment, she is currently the creative director at Wrensong working closely with owner/president, Ree Guyer, while representing the current artist/writer roster.
Prior to locating to Nashville, Nameche was a passenger and revenue forecasting analyst and advertising manager for New York Air, a regional jet carrier based out of New York’s LaGuardia offering commercial airline service to major North and Southeastern markets.
Abbe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina and is the proud mother of Harvey Haddix, a terrier mix named after the famed Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher.
INDUSTRY AFFILIATIONS
ACM - Member AIMP - Member & Awards Show Committee CMA - Member Chicks With Hits - Co-Founder NARAS - Member / District Advocate
MAURNA DONOVAN CROSBY
DIRECTOR OF ARTIST MANAGEMENT & LABEL SERVICES
Maurna Donovan Crosby joined Wrensong in 2018 as the Director of Artist Management and Label Services for the ReeHits Label division. Although she calls St. Paul, Minnesota her home, she was originally born in Nashville and often refers to moving back to be, “…a little bit like coming home”. Maurna graduated from Creighton University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications & Advertising and upon graduation, she realized the profound impact that music played on her life; a passion that could not be overlooked. Inspired by the inner workings of the industry and ready to turn a passion into a career, she packed up and moved back to Nashville.
Maurna’s first job in Nashville was at Wrensong Publishing in 2012. She started in an administrative position and, in time, gained experience in writer relations, catalog management, song plugging and even glimpses of artist management and development. This is where she discovered her passion for management and label services.
After a short leave working in hospitality management, she joined the Wrensong team once again in 2018 - this time as Director of Artist Management and Label Services. It is here where she serves as the collaborative partner in the ongoing career development of signed writers and artists.
She works closely with Canadian Pop/Country duo, MTL - Music Travel Love, ensuring and securing the best possible business endeavors for the band, as well as elevating them to an impactful platform that generates the most success for both the band and Wrensong as a whole.
INDUSTRY AFFILIATIONS
AIMP - Member & Awards Show Committee
AIMP Young Professional Committee / Nashville Chapter - Co-Chair
HAILY HARRIS
CREATIVE MANAGER
Growing up in Marietta, GA, Haily Harris’ passion for music started at a young age. She learned guitar at age six and fell in love with singing and playing, particularly Taylor Swift songs. Haily’s first trip to Nashville as an 11-year-old sparked a greater interest in the music industry, getting to see her first show at the Ryman and The Grand Ole Opry. From then, she took frequent trips with her dad to Nashville over the weekends, spending all day on Broadway at Robert’s Western World being immersed in traditional country music. From then on, she knew Nashville was her home.
Haily started college in 2021 at Belmont University studying Music Business. During her time there, she became very involved with Service Corps, the student-led entertainment industry volunteer organization. Through this organization, she learned how to escort talent on the red carpet at live events including the CMT Awards and even The Grammy’s. She joined the leadership team, coordinating events with industry professionals and Belmont students. In addition to Service Corps, Haily also held a position in her sorority and kept her heart for performance alive through acapella and fiddle lessons.
After completing internships in publicity and artist management, Haily landed a publishing internship at Jody Williams Songs. Under the guidance of Jody Williams, Nina Jenkins Fisher, and Tenasie Courtright, Haily discovered her true passion - the creation of the song and the people who make it come to life. Haily worked with the JWS team throughout 2024, filling in gaps as both Nina and Tenasie went on maternity leave. During this time, she was promoted from intern to Publishing Assistant, assisting in pitch meetings, helping manage the catalog, taking on calendar confirmations and coordinating writer dates for their roster, which includes Andy Austin, Driver Williams, Jason Nix, Jeremy Spillman, Harper O’Neill, Natalie Hemby, Vince Gill, Ashley McBryde, Trent Dabbs, and Peytan Porter.
In November of 2024, Nina introduced Haily to Mauran Donavon Crosby, and she found her next publishing home at Wrensong! Haily was hired to start as Creative Manager following her graduation in December of 2024. In this role, she will assist in developing the roster of writers, managing the catalog, and pitching songs!