Q3 2025 has come to a close and we are back with this quarter’s publishing catch up, where we collate the latest music publishing news, including; acquisitions, signing, funding, facts and figures, new hires, and more.
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Deals & Acquisitions
Sony Music Group and Spotify Announce New Deals, With Direct Licensing for Publishing (Variety)
Sony Music Group and Spotify have announced an extension and expansion of their global partnership that includes a new direct licensing arrangement for publishing in the U.S.
Miles Davis’ Publishing Catalog Acquired by Reservoir Media (Variety)
Reservoir Media has acquired a majority interest in the Miles Davis publishing catalog, as well as as well as other rights associated with the late jazz icon’s estate, including a partnership in name and likeness opportunities and certain rights to his recorded music.
French Publishers 22D Music Group and Velvetica Music Announce Merger(Music Week)
Founded in 2006, 22D Music Group specializes in music rights management with a substantial international presence in the audiovisual industry while Velvetica Music functions as a music publisher, administrator, and sub-publisher.
Spotify expands music publishing licensing push with new Amra deal (MBW)
Spotify has renewed a multi-territory, multi-year licensing agreement with amra, the global digital rights collection society. The deal covers both digital mechanical and performing rights across amra’s entire global footprint. This includes key markets outside the United States, such as Southeast Asia, India, Australia, Brazil, and Japan. This renewal comes shortly after Spotify announced a separate direct licensing deal with Kobalt, which was limited exclusively to U.S. operations.
Broken Bow Founder Benny Brown Acquires Wide Open Music Publishing, Launches North Chapel Music (Digital Music News)
The founder of Broken Bow has acquired Wide Open Music Publishing, creating a new publishing venture called North Chapel Music. The acquisition includes commercially prominent works recorded by Brett Young, Matt Stell, and George Birge, among others.
Kelly Clarkson Sells Stake in Catalog to HarbourView(Hollywood Reporter)
Kelly Clarkson has sold a stake in her music catalog to HarbourView Equity Partners. The deal includes a portion of some of Clarkson’s biggest hits, such as “Since U Been Gone,” “Because of You,” and “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You). HarbourView did not publicly disclose the specific type of rights acquired, the exact size of the stake, or the financial terms of the agreement.
Sony Music Group acquires publisher Africa Nostra(MBW)
Sony Music France and Sony Music Publishing France have jointly acquired Lusafrica and Africa Nostra. These companies are long-established music organizations known for their focus on promoting Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) and African artists globally.
Signings
Warner Chappell signs the Eagles’ Bernie Leadon to global deal(Music Week)
Bernie Leadon, a founding member of the legendary band The Eagles, has signed a long-term, worldwide publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music.The acclaimed singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist is preparing to release his first solo album in over twenty years, titled Too Late to Be Cool, on October 10.
Blue Raincoat Music Publishing renews global deal with Self Esteem(Music Week)
Blue Raincoat Music Publishing (via its joint venture with Reservoir) has renewed its worldwide publishing deal with Self Esteem (Rebecca Lucy Taylor). The musician, who started in the band Slow Club, has released three solo albums and received multiple honors, including a Mercury Prize nomination for her 2021 album, Prioritise Pleasure, and an Ivor Novello Visionary Award in 2025.
Country singer-songwriter Lane Smith has signed with BMG Publishing(Music Row)
The Texas native is celebrated for his emotional songwriting, showcased on fan-favorite tracks like “Austin” and “Slow Burn.” Smith has already amassed over a million streams and opened for major artists, including Matt Stell and Colt Ford.
Kobalt signs global publishing deal with Bashment Sound’s Disco Neil(Music Week)
Producer Disco Neil (of Bashment Sound), known for his dancehall, Afrobeats, and electronic fusion sound, has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with Kobalt. The signing follows the major global success of his recent co-production, the “Shake It To The Max (Fly Remix).”
Warner Chappell Music signs Cktrl to global publishing deal(Music Week)
Warner Chappell Music has signed songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Cktrl to a publishing agreement covering both his back catalogue and all future works. Cktrl, the stage name of Bradley Miller (which stands for “Can’t Keep To Reality”), began releasing music in 2015. His sound is known for its distinctive fusion of classical, electronic, and jazz elements.
Spencer Jordan Signs With River House Artists & Sony Music Publishing Nashville(Music Row)
Multi-genre songwriter Spencer Jordan has signed a worldwide publishing deal with River House Artists and Sony Music Publishing Nashville.Based in Nashville, Jordan is known for his dynamic cross-genre talent, having recently co-penned hits like Shaboozey’s “Fire and Gasoline” and LØLØ’s “The Devil Wears Converse.”
Concord Music Publishing signs Amy Wadge to global deal(Music Week)
Concord Music Publishing has signed UK singer and songwriter Amy Wadge to an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement. The deal covers Wadge’s future compositions and recently released cuts, which include new singles for artists such as Jonas Brothers, Noah Cyrus, and Halestorm.
Styles Haury Inks Publishing Deal With WinSongs Music(Music Row)
Haury is a notable talent whose credits include co-writing Luke Bryan’s No. 1 hit, “Country On,” and earning cuts with artists like Jimmie Allen, Craig Morgan, and Craig Campbell. WinSongs Music praised Haury as a “creative force” with the drive of a successful songwriter and the “star quality of a superstar artist.”
Kacey Musgraves Renews Global Publishing Deal With Warner Chappell Music(Music Row)
Musgraves, who first signed with the publisher as a staff writer when she was 21, expressed her gratitude, calling Warner Chappell a “wonderful longstanding home” for her songs and looking forward to their shared future.
Eden Joel Signs With Concord Music Publishing & Big Family (Music Row)
Singer-songwriter Eden Joel has signed a global publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing in partnership with Big Family Music. This agreement covers both his complete catalog and all future works.
Universal Music Publishing Group Signs Musician & Songwriter Joel Little to Exclusive Global Admin Deal(Digital Music News)
Joel Little, a Grammy-winning songwriter, producer, and musician, has signed an exclusive worldwide music publishing administration agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG).
Funding, Facts & Figures
Oasis, Ed Sheeran & Olivia Dean boost UK music in Q3 – but US acts still dominate singles rankings(Music Week)
UK artists are still struggling to dominate their home charts, the year has been marked by a UK singles chart drought and a lack of domestic artists at the top of the Spotify UK charts. Despite this, new talent like Olivia Dean and Lola Young is showing strong global potential. Dean’s single, “Man I Need,” is the highest-charting British track on the Spotify Global Charts this year at No. 5, following Young’s earlier success with “Messy” at No. 7.
BMI adds 10 new partners to Spark programme for songwriters(Music Week)
BMI has added 10 new partners to its Spark program, which provides affiliated songwriters and composers with exclusive discounts, special offers, and resources. Since its launch in March, Spark now has 36 partners dedicated to supporting BMI’s music creators in their creativity and wellbeing. Affiliates can access the program by logging into the company’s online service portal.
HarbourView Equity Partners Leads $30 Million Investment in ‘Iyanu’ Producer Lion Forge Entertainment(Variety)
HarbourView Equity Partners has led a $30 million investment in Lion Forge Entertainment, the indie outfit that specializes in kid and family entertainment.
Sony Music Publishing named Publisher of the Year at BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards (MBW)
Upon receiving the award, Sony Music Publishing President and Head of US A&R, Katie Welle, congratulated the company’s talented songwriters, expressing thanks to both the SMP team for their dedication and BMI for the recognition.
BMI royalty rate from terrestrial US radio is rising by nearly 24%(MBW)
Performance rights organization BMI has finalized a new agreement with US radio broadcasters that includes its “largest rate increase ever” for music played on AM/FM radio. In total, this new agreement represents a significant 23.6% increase in the rate radio stations must pay to license BMI-represented music.
People
Peermusic appoints Dave Ayers as executive vice president, A&R(Music Week)
Peermusic has announced the appointment of Dave Ayers as its new Executive Vice President, A&R. In this role, Ayers will focus on signing and developing bold, contemporary talent while helping to shape and implement the creative strategy for Peermusic’s roster of artists, songwriters, and producers.
Camille Hackney Joins Primary Wave Music as Company Expands Brand Division(Variety)
Powerhouse publishing and management company Primary Wave Music is expanding its brand division with the hiring of former top Atlantic Records exec Camille Hackney as head of brand partnerships, based out of the company’s New York office, and Bart Saunt as senior VP, based in Los Angeles.
Jordi Tello named Managing Director of Iberia for Sony Music Publishing(MBW)
Tello will manage the creative and business operations, his priorities include strengthening relationships with clients and industry partners while expanding global support for SMP’s roster of songwriters.
SMACKSongs Elevates Sam Sarno To Senior Creative Director Of Publishing(Music Row)
In her new role, Sarno will continue to work with SMACK’s existing roster while also dedicating her efforts to signing and developing new talent.
Interesting Reads
Unlocking Sync: Bridging the Gap Between Commercial and Creative(Synchblog)
The world of sync licensing is a vital revenue stream for many artists and labels. From placing music in film, TV, ads, and video games, there are so many opportunities available, but unfortunately too often it’s also a cause of friction. This article will delve into this divide and offer practical strategies for both sides to navigate it, fostering a more productive and profitable relationship.
Sync Unlocked: Demystifying the World of Fragmented Sync(Synchblog)
This article will demystify some of the most frustrating aspects of sync licensing. A few weeks ago, we sent out an email to our customers asking what the biggest pain points are in the sync. The responses included fragmentation of rights to MFN clauses, so we did the research and spoke to experts so you don’t have to.
How Sync Pros Get It Done: Tips,Tactics & Tech from UnitedMasters(Synchblog)
Ever wonder how top sync teams actually get music placed and fast? We have joined forces with UnitedMasters and AIMS to co-host a webinar that you can watch now!
What The Hexx Is DDEX? (Synchblog)
Whether you’re delivering assets, reporting usage, or managing rights, DDEX formats form the backbone of efficient and accurate communication between industry partners. Much of the language used by DDEX is now becoming standard terminology within the industry. Be prepared as this is a heavy informative blog and if you need help or guidance on DDEX feel free to reach out to us at Synchtank and see how we can help with the heavy lifting!
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