We catch up on this week’s music publishing headlines, from key deals and signings to new hires, legislation and more.
Deals and Signings
Brazil’s KondZilla Signs Global Deal With Universal Music Publishing Group (Billboard)
Known for bringing Brazilian funk music into mainstream culture, KondZilla’s holdings include KondZilla Films (music video production), KondZilla Records (label and publishing), KondZilla Licensing and KondZilla.com (lifestyle content website).
Warner Chappell Music Signs Australian Artist Tones And I (MBW)
Warner Chappell Music has signed Australian artist Tones and I. The publishing company will administer the artist’s new and existing compositions globally, excluding Australia and New Zealand.
Urban Producer Ezequiel ‘EZ’ Rivera Signs Publishing Deal With Sony/ATV (Billboard)
“We are so happy to have EZ join our Sony/ATV family,” Jorge Mejia, president and CEO at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, tells Billboard. “He is an outstanding writer and producer, and we can’t wait to work side by side with him as he continues to develop his awesome career.”
‘He’s a true polymath’: Julian Cope signs to Warner Chappell Music (Music Week)
The iconic British singer-songwriter, poet, author, occultist, photographer and artist has agreed a worldwide partnership with the publisher. Cope said: “I’m delighted to be back with Warners after decades. It feels like coming home!”
Hipgnosis Songs Fund raises another $63m, taking acquisition warchest above $500m to date (MBW)
Hipgnosis and its Investment Adviser, The Family (Music) Limited, has confirmed that the company has successfully raised approximately £51.1m ($62.8m) at a price of 105.5 pence per share, principally from existing shareholders.
Hirings and Promotions
Reservoir appoints James Cheney As VP Of Creative and A&R (MBW)
Los Angeles-based Cheney will look after songwriters for the company, in addition to signing and developing new talent alongside the Creative teams in LA, New York, Nashville, and London.
Simon Pursehouse upped to global director of music services at Sentric (Music Week)
Pursehouse will focus on creative opportunities for Sentric’s network of writers – ranging from traditional signings to sub-publishing and 28-day users – and executive-level duties including business development and client servicing.
New US PRO AllTrack Hires Former Tunecore CMO Lise Barbanti As VP Of Marketing (MBW)
Recently launched US PRO AllTrack has hired former Tunecore CMO Lise Barbanti as VP of Marketing. Barbanti has spearheaded marketing efforts at various global enterprises and small businesses.
Facts and Figures
BMG Revenue Up Double-Digits in First Half of 2019, Driven By Digital Growth (Billboard)
Bertelsmann said that the fastest component of BMG’s growth was its recorded music operation, but also noted that its publishing business also showed strong revenue increases. Overall, the company said digital formats are driving growth in both businesses and now comprise 56% or revenue, or about €150 million ($190 million).
ICE reaches first €1bn for digital royalties (Music Week)
The pan-European licensing body made its first distribution in March 2016. The growth since then was driven by its own core licence expansion, as well as processing services provided for Sony/ATV, BMG and Warner Chappell Music.
Peloton just generated $915m in annual revenues… but only paid 2% of it to music rightsholders (MBW)
That figure is revealed in a new prospectus SEC filing which signals Peloton’s imminent IPO – and it’s a document which also presents some intriguing information for the music industry.
Interesting Reads
Top Tips For Budding Music Publishers With Clare Everson (M Magazine)
She joined Manners McDade in 2018 as a creative and sync executive before being appointed as the company’s creative manager in March of this year and in July she was awarded the Richard Toeman Scholarship professional award. Here Clare shares her experiences of the publishing world and offers some invaluable tips for budding publishers…
BMG’s Hartwig Masuch rails against ‘feeding frenzy’ of music acquisitions (Music Week)
BMG’s CEO Hartwig Masuch told Music Week almost 18 months ago that its big buys were over. In its first decade the music company made a string of acquisitions – but now that’s off the agenda. And part of the reason for that, it seems, is what Masuch sees as excessive valuations and prices in a hot, streaming-led music market.
NMPA Questions Whether Spotify & Amazon Have Miscalculated, Underpaid Publisher Royalties (Billboard)
The National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) is challenging Spotify and Amazon’s methods of determining mechanical royalties, putting into question whether the services are underpaying publishers.
Songwriters Might Catch A Break As The DOJ Weighs In On “Stairway To Heaven” Case (Bobby Owsinski)
The Led Zeppelin/Randy California “Stairway To Heaven” lawsuit might finally bring some reasonableness back into copyright, and it’s all thanks to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Jobs
Copyright Assistant – Hospital Records (London)
Hospital Records Are Hiring A Full-time Copyright Assistant To Assist In The Day To Day Running Of Both The Publishing, Legal And Finance Departments.
Executive Assistant (COO & SVP, Business Development) – Downtown Music Publishing (New York)
Downtown Music Publishing are hiring an Executive Assistant to support both their COO and SVP, Business Development in all facets of their day to day activities.
Sync Temp – Downtown Music Publishing (New York)
Downtown is seeking a Sync Temp to join their team in New York for a 6 month contract period. This position will report into and work closely with their Sync Playlist Assistant and Catalog Operations Coordinator.
For more music publishing positions check out our music industry jobs board. To post a listing for free get in touch at jobsboard@synchtank.com.
