We catch up on this week’s music publishing news, from key deals and signings to new hires, legislation and more.
Deals and Signings
Santigold signs global publishing deal with Warner Chappell (Billboard)
Eclectic singer-songwriter and producer Santigold has entered an exclusive, worldwide co-publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music, the global publishing arm of Warner Music Group announced today (April 17).
Primary Wave Music Publishing acquires stake in catalog of The Moody Blues’ Justin Hayward (MBW)
The terms of the deal will see the independent publishing house acquire a stake in the music publishing catalog, as well as master royalty stream.
UMPG signs dance act Meduza to global deal (Music Week)
UMPG has signed Italian dance act Meduza to an exclusive global publishing agreement. The producer trio are made up of Luca de Gregorio, Mattia Vitale and Simone Giani. A signing picture issued by UMPG was taken before the Covid-19 lockdown.
Reach Music Publishing signs deal with estate of Romanthony (Music Week)
Reach Music Publishing has entered into an exclusive worldwide administration deal with the estate of Romanthony. It covers the DJ, producer and singer’s full catalogue of over 100 songs, including his share of the global hit One More Time by Daft Punk.
Sony/ATV teams up with music production marketplace BeatStars (Music Ally)
The partnership will see Sony/ATV providing publishing and administration services to BeatStars’ community of musicians and producers: pitching songs and beats for sync and recorded music opportunities, as well as its ‘expedited foreign royalty payments’ feature to get royalties to creators more quickly.
Hipgnosis now has $188m more to spend, via loan facility from banks including JP Morgan (MBW)
UK-based Hipgnosis Songs Fund Ltd just bulked up its acquisition warchest. The company, run by founder Merck Mercuriadis (pictured), has secured a new £150m (approx $188m) revolving credit facility (RCF) via its subsidiary.
Royalties & PROs
The Collective Corrective: UK Industry Leaders Weigh In on the Challenges Facing the MLC (Synchblog)
Current and former MPA executives Lucie Caswell and Jane Dyball discuss the challenges ahead for the successful implementation of the MLC.
Copyright Office posts four proposed rules for MLC (Music Technology Policy)
The Copyright Office has posted notices of proposed rules on four topics: Confidential information, royalty reporting by MLC, the transparency of the MLC, and the notices and reporting.
PROs ASCAP, BMI & SESAC Join In Support Of MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund (Grammy)
PROs including ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC have announced today that they are contributing to create a special fund as part of the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund to support music creators who are affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
SOCAN Chief Eric Baptiste Abruptly Exits Canadian Performance Rights Org (Billboard)
Eric Baptiste, CEO of the Society of Composers, Authors & Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), resigned effective immediately on Tuesday (April 14) after more than a decade of leading the Canadian performing rights organization.
New BMI Radio Royalties Revealed Following RMLC Settlement (BMI)
Details of BMI and the Radio Music Licensing Committee (RMLC)’s rate court settlement first announced in January are now available and show that rates for the 2017-2021 period have increased to 1.78% of revenue, after standard deductions.
Hirings and Promotions
Victor Zaraya named Chief Revenue Officer at Concord (MBW)
As CRO, Zaraya will work across Concord’s three business areas (Music Publishing, Recorded Music and Theatricals) to provide strategic guidance and maximize revenues and efficiencies across the Company.
Playwright Fermín Cabal named acting President of Spanish rights society SGAE after Pilar Jurado is voted out by Board of Directors (MBW)
Cabal’s appointment follows the removal of former President Pilar Jurado from the post yesterday (April 15) by the Board of Directors who passed a “motion of censure” against her by 22 votes to 13.
Africa’s Largest Collecting Society Appoints Mark Rosin as Turnaround Strategist (Billboard)
The South African Music Rights Organization, the largest and oldest collecting society in Africa, has hired Mark Rosin, a lawyer and music industry veteran, to tackle a turnaround of the troubled organization.
Interesting Reads
How are the Music Industry and Sync Community Mobilising to Combat Coronavirus? (Synchblog)
We examine the response to the pandemic and speak to industry figures to find out how a business founded on creativity can find solutions to the improbable impact of COVID-19.
‘Anyone can go out and spend $1 billion. The trick is getting a good return for your investors.’ (MBW)
MBW catches up with Round Hill Music CEO Josh Gruss to discuss the changing dynamics of the music M&A market, why Round Hill has largely avoided the recent rush to buy “modern pop hits”, and ask when we can expect another big funding round at his company…
PROFILE Jodie Ferneyhough, CCS Rights Management: Protecting the songwriters is the real job of music publishers (CMRRA)
It may seem like another lifetime now, but CCS head honcho and long-serving president of Music Publishers Canada Jodie Ferneyhough wasn’t always sure there was a future in music publishing.
The Art of Clearing A Sample: Deciding If It’s Worth It and How To Actually Do It. (Karl Fowlkes)
Hip hop and samples go hand in hand, for better or worse. We have seen samples become the core element in some of the greatest records ever.
When Pandemics Arise, Composers Carry On (NPR)
In the wake of pandemics and large-scale crises, composers have responded in a broad variety of ways over the centuries.
Songs & The Test of Time (American Songwriter)
“They just don’t write songs like they used to.” How many times have you heard that one?
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