Publishing Catch-Up: Reservoir Invests in Outdustry, Sony Music Publishing Disregards Unrecouped Balances & More

We catch up on the latest music publishing news, from key deals and signings to new hires, legislation and more.

Deals & Acquisitions

Reservoir Media acquires minority stake in China-based Outdustry and forms JV to acquire local music catalogs (MBW)
New York-based Reservoir has struck a deal with China-headquartered industry services company Outdustry, which sees Reservoir become a minority stakeholder in the company.

Primary Wave acquires music publishing catalog of songwriter and producer Steve Kipner (MBW)
Kipner’s music publishing catalog features numerous chart-topping hits that he wrote across his 40+ year career. Included in the sale are several songs from Olivia Newton-John such as Twist of Fate and Physical.

Concord Music Publishing acquires catalog of Grammy Award-winning songwriter Lori McKenna (MBW)
As part of the multi-faceted deal, Concord will co-publish McKenna in partnership with Creative Nation and PULSE Music Group, going forward.

One Media iP acquires catalogue of country star Don Williams (Music Week)
The deal covers Williams’ 1970s and ‘80s output, during which time he delivered a series of US hits. In 1975, The Who’s Pete Townshend covered Till The Rivers All Run Dry with Ronnie Lane.

Numero Group Acquires Catalogs of Syl Johnson, New Age Imprint Valley of the Sun (Billboard)
The label also purchased all 2,200 masters and compositions from Cuca Records and the complete masters and publishing rights for Boston rock group Karate.

Royalties & CMOs

Sony Music Publishing opens up streaming income for legacy songwriters (Music Week)
Now Sony Music Publishing is introducing the Legacy Unrecouped Balance Programme to qualifying Sony Music Publishing songwriters.

Songwriter groups formally call on US Copyright Royalty Board to reject NMPA’s mechanical royalty rate proposals (CMU)
An assortment of organisations representing songwriters in America and beyond have called on the US Copyright Royalty Board to reject a proposal endorsed by the major music publishers to keep in place the current mechanical royalty rates for discs and downloads within the US.

BMG and SESAC expand partnership for Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand (MBW)
US music rights organization SESAC Digital Licensing and BMG have expanded their partnership with new digital licensing deals for BMG’s Anglo-American repertoire in Southeast Asia and Australia/New Zealand.

BeatStars launches Sony Music Publishing-backed publishing service (MBW)
BeatStars says that “everyone” can now sign up to the product, which, in partnership with Sony Music Publishing, offers an administration service via a portal that allows creators to register their songs and collect publishing royalties.

UK Music and MPA launch diversity initiatives (Music Week)
The Music Publishers Association (MPA) has confirmed the formation of a new council to help to engage, influence and drive forwards a core strategy of improving diversity and inclusivity in the music publishing sector.

Association Of Independent Music Publishers Establishes Atlanta Chapter (All Access)
The effort to establish an Atlanta Chapter of the AIMP is being led by Co-Founder, Pres., and Managing Director of Made in Memphis Entertainment (MIME), Tony D. Alexander.

Finance & Investment

Vivendi’s 70% Universal Music Group sell-off is getting… complicated (MBW)
Despite having a share agreement to buy 10% of UMG, it transpires that Pershing Square Holdings Ltd. now might not do so, and may instead acquire a smaller amount of the major music company (somewhere between 5% and 10%).

A new SPAC has $325m to spend – and it’s got its eye on the music industry (MBW)
It’s aiming to find the ideal investment target across various entertainment sectors – but has specifically expressed its interest in exploring potential partnerships in the music industry to MBW.

Round Hill Music Royalty Fund Raises Another $86.5M to Boost Acquisitions (Billboard)
Round Hill Music Fund Royalty Ltd. has sold another 86.5 million shares at $1 a share bringing total capital raising from its listing on the London Stock Exchange bringing total funding to $416.6 million since it went public back in November 2020.