We catch up on this week’s music publishing news, from key deals and signings to new hires, legislation and more.
Deals and Acquisitions
Hipgnosis becomes a fully-fledged publisher, buying Big Deal Music to form Hipgnosis Songs Group (MBW)
As well as bringing 4,400 copyrights into Hipgnosis – including cuts on hits by the likes of Shawn Mendes, Panic! At The Disco and One Direction – the deal also sees Hipgnosis acquire Big Deal Music Group’s US-based publishing admin business, Words & Music.
Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde Sells Catalog to Hipgnosis Songs (Variety)
Hipgnosis has acquired 100% of Hynde’s music publishing catalog of 164 songs, including publishing and writer’s share (PRS) from the Pretenders and her other projects.
‘Truck Yeah’: Spirit Music Group Acquires Some of Tim McGraw’s Master Recordings (Billboard)
While master recording deals are rare for publishers, Spirit also represents both masters and publishing rights for a portion of the catalog of T. Rex via Marc Bolan as well as the masters and publishing for most of Ingrid Michaelson’s catalog.
Signings
Quincy Jones Returns to Warner Chappell Publishing in Exclusive Worldwide Deal (Variety)
Warner Chappell Music announced today that it has entered into a global publishing agreement with the legendary Quincy Jones. The administration deal covers Jones’s genre-crossing songwriting catalog, as well as all current and future material.
Downtown signs deal to represent Wu-Tang Clan catalog (MBW)
The deal will see Downtown represent the iconic hip-hop group’s interest in songs from its back catalog of classic albums — as well as select works co-written or produced by individual Wu-Tang Clan members for solo releases, affiliates and other artists.
Craig David Signs Worldwide Publishing Deal With Round Hill Music (Billboard)
The new arrangement includes all of David’s catalog, including his U.K. chart-topping debut album Born to Do It, and a futures agreement that will see all his new music administered by the independent music publisher.
My Life Story and Mute Song ink worldwide publishing deal (Music Week)
The agreement includes last year’s World Citizen album, their first for 19 years, as well as the rights to much of the band’s back catalogue from the Britpop era, formerly held by Universal Music Publishing.
Sony/ATV Nashville Signs Jay Brunswick to worldwide deal (Music Week)
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville has announced it has signed country music songwriter/producer Jay Brunswick to a worldwide publishing deal.
Launches
Empire vows to ‘revolutionize’ music publishing via new division led by Al ‘Butter’ McLean and Vinny Kumar (MBW)
The company has launched EMPIRE Publishing, led by Al McLean and Vinny Kumar, and says it plans to “build out [our] proprietary system to revolutionize the publishing industry, similar to what was done with music distribution in 2010”.
Facts & Figures
Music streaming revenues on course to grow by over $1bn in the US in 2020, despite everything (MBW)
There’s a trend emerging in the global record industry in 2020: streaming-fuelled growth in some of the world’s biggest music markets, in spite of the pandemic.
Hirings & Promotions
Ted Cockle and Amy Thomson join Merck Mercuriadis’ Hipgnosis Songs Fund (MBW)
The arrival into the music publishing world of two marketing specialists who’ve each managed blockbuster success in the modern record business (and in Thomson’s case, the modern live business) will certainly get the global industry talking.
BMG promotes Allegra Willis Knerr to SVP, synch licensing (Music Week)
LA-based Willis Knerr is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and direction of BMG’s US and Canada based synch licensing business. Previously, she served as VP, film & TV Licensing.
Jin Jin, Tom Gray and Daniel Kidane join The Ivors Academy Board (Music Week)
Janée Bennett (aka Jin Jin), Gomez’s Tom Gray and Daniel Kidane have today (September 11) been confirmed as the newest members of the board of directors at The Ivors Academy.
Music industry leaders appointed at royalty tech firm Audoo (BusinessCloud)
Audoo, a start-up that uses tech to accurately count songs played in public, announces the appointments of Alexi Cory-Smith, Cliff Fluet and Adam Parness to its expert-led advisory board.
Royalties & CMOs
BMI Announces Record Revenue of $1.31 Billion (Variety)
Despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, BMI closed its fiscal year (which ended June 30) with record revenue and royalty distributions.
Interesting Reads
Will Hipgnosis actually work? (Cherie Hu)
Today’s topic is the Hipgnosis Songs Fund, the investment company launched by longtime artist manager Merck Mercuriadis that has been making headlines over the past few years by acquiring stakes in several thousand songs from the likes of RZA, No I.D., Blondie and Mark Ronson. In around 4,000 words, I try to answer a simple question that few people seem to have asked publicly: Will this actually work?
RZA Discusses New Deal With Downtown Music Publishing and the Power of Artistic Expression (The Root)
“The beautiful thing is Downtown has the power of a major [publishing company], but yet [gives us] the intimacy of an independent [one],” RZA told The Root over the phone.
New Music Drops Every Minute. But Back-Catalogs Are Driving the Industry’s Transformation (Rolling Stone)
Amid a pandemic and an abundance of new music, the value of older music catalogs keeps rising — and the investor interest may spark seismic shifts in the record business.
1% of artists account for 90% of streams says Alpha Data (Music Ally)
“If you were to take the more than 1.6 million artists who released music to streaming services in the past year and a half and ranked them by their total streams, you’d find that the top 16,000 of those artists pulled in 90 percent of the streams.”
PROFILE – Abby North: advocacy, allyship and the legacy of Unchained Melody (CMRRA)
As the founder of Unchained Melody Publishing LLC, Abby North has unique insight into the value of one of the most popular entries in the American songbook.
Open Letter to New Music Investors (Steve Weatherby)
It’s exciting to welcome new investors to the music industry and I’d like to share some quick insight and a few words of caution.
Sony Music explains why it’s investing big in podcasts (Bloomberg)
The world’s second-largest music company plans to release nearly 40 podcasts this year and is developing more than 100 original programs, according to a statement Wednesday.
Q&A with Senator Thom Tillis, Chairman of the Intellectual Property Subcommittee (Copyright Alliance)
I recently had the opportunity to share some questions with Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) about a number of critical topics, ranging from DMCA reform to digital video piracy to his dedication to his role as the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary IP Subcommittee.
Spotify appears to be building a karaoke feature – just as Twitch shuts down Sings (MBW)
Spotify’s reported entrance into the app-based karaoke business makes a lot of sense, with Tencent Music Entertainment (TME’s) WeSing app serving as a prime example of what can be achieved in the space.
Music Publishing Job Spotlight
Music Publishing Copyright Administrator – Mojo Music and Media (Nashville)
Mojo Music and Media is hiring a Music Publishing Copyright Administrator based in Nashville with 3-5 years of experience.
Sync Apprentice – BMG (London)
Your mission with BMG will be to contribute to the smooth running of the UK Sync team to provide administrative support on all day to day duties.
Manager, Income Tracking – Songtrust (New York)
Songtrust is looking for an Income Tracking Manager. This position will report directly to the Senior Director, Income Tracking based in New York.
Check out more available positions here or get in touch to post a free job listing.
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