We catch up on this week’s music publishing news, from key deals and signings to new hires, legislation and more.
Deals and Signings
Burt Bacharach Catalog To Be Marketed by Primary Wave in Multi-Million-Dollar Deal (Variety)
The catalog of Burt Bacharach, which includes nine No. 1 songs, 48 top 10 hits and more than 500 compositions, will be marketed and administered by Primary Wave Music Publishing in a multi-million-dollar, long-term strategic partnership.
‘Umbrella’ Cowriter Tricky Stewart Signs Publishing Deal With Spirit Music (Variety)
Spirit Music Group has signed a publishing deal with Grammy-winning producer-songwriter and music publisher Christopher “Tricky” Stewart. The deal covers his future works, as Stewart sold his catalog to Hipgnosis Songs in 2018.
Mojo Music & Media Acquires Complete Publishing Catalog Of Larry Gatlin (MBW)
The deal includes publishing and songwriter interests in some 300 songs, written for himself as a solo artist, for the Gatlin Brothers and for other artists.
Songwriter-Producer Ian Fitchuk Signs Global Publishing Deal With Sony/ATV (Billboard)
Sony/ATV has signed a worldwide co-publishing deal with songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Ian Fitchuk, the company announced Tuesday (March 10).
Concord Signs Global Publishing Deal With Producer & Songwriter Cam Blackwood (MBW)
Concord Music Publishing has inked a global publishing agreement with producer / songwriter Cam Blackwood. The new deal, effective immediately, covers his past and future works.
Royalties
Synchtank Unveils IRIS, a Royalty Accounting and Valuation Platform (Platform & Stream)
We are excited to announce the official launch of IRIS, a royalty accounting platform built for the demands of the digital age. IRIS promises to change the game of royalty accounting and unlock real value for rights holders and rights administrators – and for anyone considering investing in publishing.
Hirings and Promotions
Kobalt Elevates Julie Hurwitz and Rob Christensen as Co-Heads of Synch & Brand Partnerships (Billboard)
Hurwitz, previously senior VP, synch & brand partnerships, and Christensen, formerly SVP, synch operations, are named co-heads of synch and brand partnerships at Kobalt.
Michael Frick named Position Music’s VP of brand partnerships & creative synch (Shots)
EO/Founder of Position Music, Tyler Bacon announced that Michael Frick, co-founder of the music production and synchronization company Mophonics, has been named VP, Brand Partnerships & Creative Synch.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing makes double promotion in European A&R team (Music Week)
Sony/ATV Music Publishing has made two promotions in its European A&R team. Michèle Hamelink is now senior A&R, Europe, while Sarah Gabrielli has been made its UK and Europe A&R manager.
PRS For Music recruit HR guru Suzanne Hughes as people and transformation officer (Music Week)
Joining from Santander where she was recently HR chief operating officer, Hughes will take up her position on May 4 with her responsibilities set to include championing internal employee forums and supporting wellness and mental health in staff.
Round Hill Music Nashville Promotes Four (Music Row)
Round Hill Music Nashville has elevated four employees within its Sync Licensing, Creative Licensing, and Royalty Services departments.
Warner Chappell appoints Sam Lowe to senior A&R role (Music Week)
Ministry Of Sound exec Sam Lowe has switched to the publishing sector with a senior A&R position at Warner Chappell UK.
Holly Zabka Rises To Sr. VP At Essential Music Publishing (Music Row)
Holly Zabka has been promoted to Sr. Vice President at Essential Music Publishing. Zabka was previously Vice President of Publishing at the company.
Legal
Led Zeppelin win Stairway to Heaven copyright battle as 2016 verdict is upheld by Court of Appeals (MBW)
The Department of Justice has backed Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin in their long-running Stairway To Heaven copyright battle with the estate of Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe.
NMPA CEO David Israelite to Songwriters: Court Case With Spotify, Amazon Has ‘Seismic Implications’ (Guest Op-Ed) (Billboard)
Songwriters: This week, Spotify and Amazon are quite literally taking you to court. A great deal of the business of how much you get paid happens in a room a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol.
PRO Music Rights sues ‘the entire music industry’ for allegedly ‘running an illegal cartel’ (MBW)
Filed in Connecticut federal court Monday (March 9), PMR’s suit alleges that the named defendants are “running an illegal cartel for the performance rights of musical works”.
TikTok launches ‘Transparency Center’ – but the NMPA blasts service for ‘not using music legally’ (MBW)
David Israelite, said: “The new TikTok ‘Transparency Center’ will be hollow unless it includes transparency about what music is being used on the app and whether that music has been properly licensed with payments to songwriters.
Awards and Accolades
PRS for Music announces 100 Women Changing Music (Music Week)
The PRS 100 Women Changing Music chart will encompass those songwriters and composers who have had the most streams, downloads, broadcasts, and performances of their music in 2019.
UMPG’s Jody Gerson to Receive Songwriters Hall of Fame Abe Olman Publisher Award (Billboard)
“It’s wonderful to be acknowledged by the Songwriters Hall of Fame for a career that I love so much,” Gerson said in a statement to Billboard. “I am deeply honored.”
Interesting Reads
How the Music Industry Can Do Better for Female Songwriters and Producers (Variety)
Together as an industry we must be more active in fighting the lack of representation. The opportunity is there, we just need consistent encouragement behind this opportunity in order to bring positive change for us all.
Pushing Boundaries: New Frontiers in Music Licensing (Synchblog)
Vickie Nauman of CrossBorderWorks and Sara Lord of Concord Music Publishing give us insight into the new music licensing frontiers on their radar.
Nashville hitmaker Liz Rose talks streaming, songwriters’ rights and working with Taylor Swift (Music Week)
She famously worked with Taylor Swift from the start of her career, co-writing such Swift classics as Tim McGraw, You Belong With Me and All Too Well.
eOne Music’s Chris Taylor On New Owner Hasbro, Rapid Expansion and Why They Won’t Sell Death Row (Billboard)
When Chris Taylor talks about Entertainment One Music (also known as eOne) becoming Hasbro’s new plug-and-play music team, he sounds like a kid in a toy store.
ICMP board gathers in Australia for first time: Check out what happened (Industry Observer)
The Coronavirus outbreak is ruining the party, but it didn’t stop the music publishing community from making the long haul to Sydney for the first-ever Australian meeting of the ICMP board.
Music Publishing Jobs
Manager of Financial Reporting, Portfolio Companies – Downtown Music Publishing (New York)
This role will focus on accounting, financial reporting, and FP&A for a group of Downtown Music Publishing’s portfolio businesses.
Copyright & Contract Administrator – Primary Wave Music Publishing (New York)
Primary Wave Music Publishing looking for an enthusiastic colleague with a dedicated work ethic and a sharp mind who will be responsible for copyright royalty administration, contract management, and statement production.
Sync Director – Primary Wave Music Publishing (New York)
Primary Wave Music Publishing are seeking an experienced New York-based Creative Sync Licensing executive to join
their Sync Licensing team.
For more positions check out our music industry jobs board. To post a listing for free get in touch at jobsboard@synchtank.com.
