Downtown Music Services, the newly formed publishing and distribution arm of Downtown Music Holdings, has announced its first batch of publishing signings and renewals.
In publishing, DMS has secured administration deals with British prog rocker Steven Wilson, blues icon Taj Mahal and songwriter Jimmy Hogarth, among others. The firm has also renewed existing deals with beloved singer-songwriters Jason Isbell and Tori Amos, along with weirdo rockers Ween and two companies co-founded by Hans Zimmer: Remote Control Publishing and 14th Street Publishing.
DMS also announced a series of distribution deals with artists including American Authors, Cheat Codes and Hunter Hayes.
“I am delighted that with Downtown Music Services we have brought together two outstanding businesses that have made huge steps over the last ten years in the artist and songwriter space,” said Mike Smith, Global President, Downtown Music Services. “I have always gone to work with the intention of providing the best possible service for the songwriters and artists I worked with. For me, copyright ownership was irrelevant, it was always about serving the music creators and helping them to realize their dreams.”
New Publishing Administration Deals: Big Indie, Samuel Dixon, Yuki Hayashi, Jimmy Hogarth, Ibeyi, Remi Kabaka, Kills Birds, Taj Mahal, Anthony Newley, Tigerspring, Steven Wilson/Porcupine Tree, and 45th & 3rd Music Publishing. Publishing Renewals: Tori Amos, Marco Beltrami, Jason Isbell, Kassner Music, Ween, and Hans Zimmer and Remote Control Publishing and 14th Street Publishing. –Marc Schneider
Primary Wave Music announced last Wednesday (June 23) that they have acquired Aaron Bruno’s share of AWOLNATION’s music publishing catalog. The worldwide publishing deal means Primary will own a majority stake in the publishing catalog, which includes songs like “The Best,” “Run,” “Not Your Fault” and diamond certified hit “Sail.”
The deal will also give Bruno access to Primary Wave’s marketing team and publishing resources for digital strategy, licensing and synch opportunities.
“It’s exciting to have these songs join a class of iconic artists and catalogs that call Primary Wave home,” Bruno said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to be partnering with them and to begin working with their team.”
One of AWOLNATION’s five members, frontman Bruno formed the alternative rock band in 2010. They went on to achieve 79 total weeks on the Hot 100 chart with “Sail,” which was certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America a couple weeks ago.
AWOLNATION’s most recent new release was their 2020 album “ANGEL MINERS & THE LIGHTNING RIDERS.” “The music has been used in dozens of films, television shows and commercials around the world, and songs have been the genesis of viral sensations garnering hundreds of millions of streams and views across platforms like Instagram, Vine, TikTok, YouTube, etc,” the press release reads.
Primary Wave Music partner David Weitzman said in a statement that the publishing company is pleased Bruno will be joining the “Primary Wave family”
“His triple threat talent and vision as a songwriter, producer, and artist are undeniable,” Weitzman said. “We look forward to partnering with Aaron and his management to take his career to even greater heights.”
Reservoir announced their global acquisition deal with rock producer Tom Werman on Monday (June 28). The deal includes 100% of Werman’s producer rights and royalties for all of his works, including the No. 1 Hot 100 hit “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison, “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister and “Girls, Girls, Girls” by Mötley Crüe.
Werman started out as an A&R executive for Epic Records, signing rock artists like REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, Ted Nugent, Molly Hatchet and Boston. He then changed paths to focus on record producing, contributing to 23 Gold- and Platinum-certified records and working with artists like Mother’s Finest, Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, Molly Hatchet, Blue Oyster Cult, Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister, Lita Ford, Dokken, Kix, L.A. Guns and Poison.
“It’s gratifying to make this agreement with Faith Newman and the Reservoir team who genuinely care about my work, and I’m glad to have found such avid supporters,” Werman said in a statement.
Werman has been retired from music for a number of years, and it has since been reported that he owns and operates a bed and breakfast — Stonover Farm — in Lenox, Massachusetts with his wife.
Founded as a family-owned music publisher in 2007, Reservoir has an extensive list of names on its catalog — songs performed by Lady Gaga, Camila Cabello, Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Billy Strayhorn, Hoagy Carmichael, John Denver and more are all on the independent New York-based music company’s roster.
“From the powerful, iconic hits to the deeper cuts, Tom’s contributions to Rock as we know it are indelible,” said executive vp, A&R and Catalog Development Faith Newman. “We are honored to now include them as part of the Reservoir catalog.”
SESAC unveiled the winners for its 2021 Latina Music Awards, giving Sony Music Publishing (“SMP”) and its songwriters top honors for last year’s body of work.
Sony Music Publishing received the SESAC Latin 2021 Publisher of the Year Award for the sixth consecutive year, maintaining its leading spot with twelve top-performing songs.
“I am enormously proud of our amazing writers and our incredible team for receiving this award for an unprecedented 6th consecutive time,” said Jorge Mejia, Sony Music Publishing president and CEO, Latin America and U.S. Latin. “I am so grateful to SESAC for this recognition and look forward to many more years working together towards our mutual goal of enriching our writers’ lives.”
Manuel Turizo won the 2021 Songwriter of the Year award for Pop/Latin Rhythm.
SMP songwriter honorees included Nicky Jam, Manuel Turizo, Julian Turizo, Lenny Tavarez and Juan Diego Medina, who crafted some of “2020’s top Latin Pop/Rhythm hits,” according to the press release. These include “Muevelo” by Jam and Daddy Yankee, “La Nota” by Manuel Turizo, Rauw Alejandro, and Myke Towers, “Bichota” by Karol G, “TBT” by Sebastián Yatra, Rauw Alejandro, and Manuel Turizo, “La Pared 360” by Tavárez and Justin Quiles and “Relación” by Sech.
Country songwriter Jenna Paulette has signed a global publishing deal with Sea Gayle Music, a Nashville-based music publishing deal. The exclusive songwriting and co-publishing agreement encompasses Paulette’s current catalog as well as her future works.
Once she was introduced to Sea Gayle’s Marc Driskill, Paulette knew the company was the best fit for her and the authentic love of cowboy country music she developed while growing up on her grandfather’s Texas ranch.
“After that initial meeting, Sea Gayle felt like the right place for me,” Paulette said in a statement. “From the writers to each member of their team, including the wonderful Emily Witters, I truly feel I now have so many champions. It’s such a collaborative environment, and I am honored to belong on their roster of writers.”
Among the songs Paulette is bringing to Sea Gayle is her latest single “Country In The Girl,” which was released Friday (June 25) and written with fellow Sea Gayle writers Jeb Gipson and Smith Ahnquist.
“Jenna’s skillset as an artist and a songwriter, paired with her work ethic is undeniable,” said Sea Gayle’s creative director, Emily Witters. “We couldn’t be more excited to have her join the Sea Gayle family and to support her in this next chapter of her already flourishing career.”
Producer and musician Sam Feldt has teamed up with independent music publisher CTM Publishing BV to launch his own publishing company — Heartfeldt Publishing. Moving forward, CTM will provide Heartfeldt with full administrative and creative services on a global basis.
Heartfeldt Publishing is far from Feldt’s first entrepreneurial endeavor within the music industry, as the Dutch record producer and DJ launched his label Heartfeldt Records last year. Starting his own publishing company means Feldt can “offer a whole new range of services to artists in the Heartfeldt family,” he said in a statement.
“We’re going to help artists write and publish even bigger songs, land awesome collaborations and generate more income through synchs,” Feldt said. “I’m thrilled to have found an amazing partner in CTM, the biggest independent publisher, to come along on this journey. We’ve already signed a bunch of amazing artists that Heartfeldt will now be able to support in all aspects of their musical career.”
Víctor Martínez has signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music Spain, the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group. The go-forward deal spans Martínez’s full catalog.
The Spanish guitarist and percussionist is known for his Martínez collaborated with C Tangana on his recent album El Madrileño and has worked with Latin pop artist Jorge Drexler and Flamenco legend El Niño De Elche.
Martínez said in a statement that Warner Chappell felt like the natural home for him and his music. “They take a strategic, global approach to promoting their writers and supporting their careers, and that’s hugely important to me as I look to further build my career,” he said.
“Víctor is a multi-talented writer, producer and performer who is in huge demand from some of the biggest names in Spanish music from across a wide range of genres,” said Santiago Menéndez-Pidal, managing director of Warner Chappell Music Spain. “His career has had a number of major milestones, most recently with the release of El Madrileño, but we know he’ll reach further heights in the years ahead, both here in Spain and around the world.”
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