Publishing

1. Publishing Briefs: Kobalt to Invest $100 Million in Advances, Copyrights

   October 09, 2012 7:47 PM EDT Kobalt to Invest $100 Million in Advances, Copyrights The Kobalt Music Group, via funds raised by Kobalt Capital Ltd, plans to invest $100 million over the next 12 months in paying advances and buying copyrights. Through its subsidiary Kobalt Capi ...

2. Jeff Price, SOCAN CEO Discuss Price's New Role at Organization

   October 05, 2012 6:30 PM EDT SOCAN -- the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada - announced earlier this week that it has hired TuneCore co-founder and former CEO Jeff Price as a consultant, but the performance rights organization has no plans to start ...

3. Jeff Price, Ousted TuneCore Co-Founder, Announces 'Agreement' With SOCAN

   October 03, 2012 10:10 AM EDT Jeff Price - who left TuneCore, the music-distribution upstart he co-founded, in August - announced today that he is now working with SOCAN - the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada. The announcement doesn't specify w ...

4. Sam Sniderman, Founder of Legendary Canadian Record Stores, Dead at 92

   September 24, 2012 10:05 AM EDT Iconic Canadian record retailer Sam Sniderman, whose Sam The Record Man store started in 1937 and grew to 140 stores nationwide at its peak, died Sunday in Toronto. He was 92. Sniderman opened the first record department with his brother, Sid, ins ...

5. Sony/ATV Auction for Virgin, Famous UK Catalogs Begins

   September 21, 2012 6:30 AM EDT The package of assets -- comprised of 30,000 copyrights from the Virgin and Famous Music U.K. publishing catalogs -- that the Sony-led consortium agreed to sell in order to gain regulatory approval to buy EMI Music Publishing is about to hit the a ...

6. BMI Releases Results, Revenue Down 3.5% Due to Radio Rate Settlement

   September 20, 2012 6:02 PM EDT In the year ended June 30, 2012, Broadcast Music, Inc. reported $898.8 million in revenue, a nearly 3.5% decline from the $931 million collected in the prior year. The organization attributed the decline to " settling a rate litigation" ...

7. Publishing Briefs: Reservoir Media/Reverb Music, Steve Perry/Universal, Imagem, BMG/Little Green Cars, Hit House/Danail Getz

   September 19, 2012 4:25 PM EDT Reservoir Media Acquires Reverb Music Reservoir Media Management has acquired Reverb Music, a U.K. music publishing firm, with 30,000 copyrights and agreements and more than 100 songwriters. As part of the deal, Reverb MD Annette Barrett will rema ...

8. Round Hill Music to Acquire Songs by Bruno Mars, Cee-Lo Green, B.O.B

   September 18, 2012 7:35 PM EDT Round Hill Music, which made big news when it announced that it acquired the North American rights to six iconic Beatles songs at the beginning of the year, just went to the other end of the music generational spectrum by agreeing to acquire a cat ...

9. Brian McManus Named Village Voice Music Editor

   September 17, 2012 4:16 PM EDT The Village Voice today announced the hiring of Brian McManus as its new music editor, according to a post on the New York City alt-weekly's blog . He starts a week from today on Sept. 24. McManus replaces Maura Johnston who was let go by Vil ...

10. Drake, Lil Wayne and Mariah Carey Top Honorees at 2012 BMI Urban Awards

    September 08, 2012 1:00 AM EDT (L-R): BMI president/CEO Del Bryant awards YMCMB honcho Bryan "Birdman" Williams the songwriter of the year trophies for both Drake and Lil Wayne, as BMI vice president, writer/publisher relations Catherine Brewton and BMI director, writ ...

11. Jon Platt Heading to Warner Chappell

    September 07, 2012 12:05 PM EDT Billboard has learned that Jon Platt will be heading to Warner Chappell. There's no word at press time as to what his official title will be, although unconfirmed reports say he'll be head of creative. Platt previously served as presiden ...

12. Hal David, Legendary Songwriter and Former ASCAP President, Dead At 91

    September 01, 2012 6:15 PM EDT LOS ANGELES (AP) - Hal David, the stylish, heartfelt lyricist who teamed with Burt Bacharach on dozens of timeless songs for movies, television and a variety of recording artists in the 1960s and beyond, has died. He was 91. David died of complica ...

13. Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Rabe on BMG Rights Mgm't, EMI Acquisitions, Getting Back Into the Record Biz

    August 31, 2012 2:15 PM EDT Thomas Rabe, CEO of Bertelsmann, doesn't discount the idea of his company getting back into the record business. BERLIN - Bertelsmann, Europe's largest media group, which controls European broadcaster RTL Group and production powerhouse ...

14. Bertelsmann H1 Earnings Rise, Interested In EMI Assets

    August 31, 2012 10:08 AM EDT Bertelsmann, which owns BMG Rights Management and Arvato, posted a net profit of 353 million euros ($443.95 million)on revenues of 7.6 billion euros ($9.6 billion) for the six month period ended June 30. That performance represented a 31.2% increa ...

15. Exclusive: Billy Joel Signs Global Publishing Deal With Rondor and Universal

    August 30, 2012 7:00 AM EDT Front row (L-R): Zach Horowitz, Chairman & CEO, UMPG Worldwide; Billy Joel; Lance Freed, President of Rondor Music. Back row (L-R): Michael J. Sammis, EVP Operations and CFO Worldwide, UMPG; Don Ienner, Consultant; Todd Kamelhar, Gelfand, Renn ...

16. Publishing Briefs: 2 Chainz/Reservoir, Flaming Lips/BMG Chrysalis, Imagem USA/Cantora

    August 27, 2012 6:04 PM EDT Reservoir Media Signs 2 Chainz Reservoir Media has signed 2 Chainz to an exclusive worldwide publishing deal, which covers the current No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, "Based On a T.R.U. Story," as well as a catalog of about 200 songs. ...

17. BuzzMedia Purchases Four New Sites, Creates AbsoluteVoices Punk Music Collective

    August 27, 2012 10:23 AM EDT BuzzMedia has continued its acquisition spree, purchasing leading punk websites Under The Gun Review, Alter The Press!, PropertyOfZack, and Punknews.org as part of a new central hub for punk music news, which the company will call AbsoluteVoices. ...

18. Michael Jackson's Mijac Music Catalog Moves to Sony/ATV

    August 20, 2012 10:43 AM EDT Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which is a joint venture between Sony Corp. and the estate of Michael Jackson, will take over worldwide administration of Michael Jackson's Mijac Music Catalog, which has been handled by Warner/Chappell Music Publis ...

19. Pat Higdon, Former President of UMPG Nashville, Re-Launches Patrick Joseph Music

    August 08, 2012 5:10 PM EDT Pat Higdon, whose industry credits include a recent stint as president of Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville, is teaming with SONGS Music Publishing to re-launch the publishing company that he created in 1989, called Patrick Joseph Music. ...

20. X5 Signs Up Alligator, Highway 87, Nacional, Six Degrees Records

    August 07, 2012 5:10 PM EDT X5, which specializes in curating genre compilations for the digital format, continues to sign up labels to broaden its musical scope. In its latest signings, the New York-based operation of the Stockholm, Sweden-based label announced that it had ...

21. Chris Amenita, Former ASCAP SVP, Dies

    August 06, 2012 6:35 PM EDT Chris Amenita, who worked at ASCAP for twenty-seven years, most recently serving as senior vice president, broadcast operations and new media licensing, died August 3 after battling cancer. He was 55. Amenita worked in a variety of roles throughou ...

22. Exclusive: David Renzer, Former UMPG Chairman/CEO, Named Saban Capital Group's Pres. Music Ventures

    August 06, 2012 7:00 AM EDT David Renzer, who previously headed up the Universal Music Publishing Group as chairman/CEO, has resurfaced in music publishing with a deep-pocket backer the Saban Capital Group, a private investment firm established by Haim Saban. The Renzer and ...

23. Layoffs at Spin Magazine

    July 27, 2012 7:05 PM EDT SPIN Magazine today laid off a number of staffers. Sources told Billboard today that key editorial staffers such as SPIN Magazine editor-in-chief Steve Kandell, associate editor Melissa Giannini and Spin.com news editor Devon Maloney were laid off ...

24. Publishing Briefs: Kobalt Music Group Inks Deal With Paul McCartney, MPL Communications

    July 24, 2012 6:00 AM EDT Kobalt Signs Up McCartney Kobalt Music Group Ltd.has signed an exclusive long-term administration deal with Paul McCartney and MPL Communications covering the world outside North America, the U.K. and Ireland. As part of the deal, Kobalt will also ...

25. Mariah Carey to be Named BMI Icon at Annual BMI Urban Awards

    July 19, 2012 7:00 AM EDT Mariah Carey will be honored as a BMI Icon at the BMI Urban Awards, scheduled for Friday, September 7 at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. Carey will join a group that includes the Jacksons, Snoop Dogg, George Clinton, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, ...

26. Publishing Briefs: Bicycle Music, BMG Chrysalis, Pennywise, Harry Fox, LyricFind, Richard Stumpf

    July 18, 2012 6:00 PM EDT Bicycle Music Partners With Rolf Budde The Bicycle Music Company and its affiliates have partnered with Rolf Budde Muskverlag GmbH to acquire a catalog of songs that includes "The Letter," Always On My Mind," and "Pata Pata.&qu ...

27. Pulse Recording, Home to Pop Hitmaker Bonnie McKee, Partners with Nashville's Creative Nation

    July 13, 2012 7:03 PM EDT Pulse Recording, the LA-based publishing and management company that represents songwriter Bonnie McKee (Katy Perry, Britney Spears), producer-writers Dallas Austin (Pink, TLC) and DJ White Shadow (Lady Gaga) and dance artist Sofi, has signed an e ...

28. SoundExchange Names Three New Board of Director Members

    July 13, 2012 8:17 AM EDT SoundExchange, the non-profit performance rights organization, has announced the appointment of three new members, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, Ray Hair and Paul Robinson to its Board of Directors. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland serves as the chief administr ...

29. Updated: Layoffs at EMI Music Publishing

    July 10, 2012 1:10 PM EDT As expected, layoffs have begun at EMI Music Publishing, in the wake of the completion of the company's acquisition by a Sony Corp. of America-led consortium on June 29. Sony-Led Group Closes Purchase of EMI Music Publishing At that close of ...

30. Prince Parts Ways With Universal Music Publishing

    July 09, 2012 1:43 PM EDT Prince has severed ties with longtime publisher Universal, according to Music Week . The reclusive pop icon has been signed with UMPG for years, re-upping his contract as recently as 2005. "We are pleased to announce that Prince and Universal ...

31. UK's Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society Lost $3.9 Million in 2011 As Financial Woes Continue

    July 05, 2012 2:19 PM EDT The plummeting sales of physical CDs in 2011 are hurting the U.K.'s MCPS (Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society) and are expected to continue this year, the society's officials disclosed at the Music Publishers Association (MPA) annual ...

32. Quincy Jones, Pharrell Williams, Noah '40' Shebib, EMI Win Big at ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards

    June 29, 2012 9:00 PM EDT Quincy Jones took home the ASCAP Founders Award, Pharrell Williams was honored with the Golden Note Award, and EMI Music Publishing again took home the publisher of the year honor at Friday (June 29) night's 25th anniversary ASCAP Rhythm and ...

33. Customer Service Center is Temporarily Down for Maintenance

    June 29, 2012 12:20 PM EDT We apologize that our customer service center is temporarily down for maintenance. Please call 800.684.1873 and one of our representatives will be happy to assist you. Callers from outside of the US can call 845.267.3007. Billboard Staff Publishin ...

34. Updated: Sony-Led Group Closes Purchase of EMI Music Publishing

    June 29, 2012 10:54 AM EDT The Sony Corp. of America led investor consortium completed its acquisition of EMI Music Publishing today, just hours after the Federal Trade Commission issued a statement saying it closed its antitrust investigation of the $2.2 billion deal -- wh ...

35. Publishing Briefs: Downtown Goes Country, pigFACTORY Signs Tesla, BMG Looks Global

    June 29, 2012 10:45 AM EDT Downtown Music Publishing moves into country and musical theatre music publishing with the signing of Dave Berg and the songwriting duo of Joe DiPietro and Dave Bryan, who is also the keyboard player for Bon Jovi. Berg, who has received multiple s ...

36. Jon Platt to Leave EMI Music Publishing

    June 26, 2012 4:37 PM EDT After 17 years, "Big" Jon Platt will be leaving EMI Music Publishing, a source close to the situation confirmed to Billboard.biz today. Reportedly he made the announcement to his staff this afternoon. Billboard Power 100: Jon Platt Over ...

37. Donna Hilley, Former Sony ATV Nashville CEO, Dead at 65

    June 21, 2012 11:58 AM EDT Donna Hilley, who spent 31 years at Sony/ATV Nashville -- eventually becoming the company's president and CEO -- and was one of the most prominent female publishing executives in country music, died Wednesday [June 20] of an extended illness. ...

38. NMPA Inks Deal With Universal Music Group Over VEVO, YouTube Videos

    June 19, 2012 11:32 AM EDT Less than a week after the National Music Publishers' Association annual meeting, when president and CEO David Israelite said the organization was chasing the major labels to pay indie music publishers for videos streamed on VEVO and Youtube, ...

39. NMPA's David Israelite To Congress: A More Efficient Mechanical Licensing System

    June 13, 2012 9:31 PM EDT National Music Publishers Assn. (NMPA) president/CEO David Israelite called for the U.S. Congress to fix section 115 of the U.S. Copyright Act so the industry can construct a more efficient mechanical licensing system during the organization' ...

40. Frances Preston Remembered by Dolly Parton, Linda Moran, Lamont Dozier, International Publishing Execs, More

    June 13, 2012 3:03 PM EDT Frances Preston in her role as then-vice president of BMI. (Photo: Billboard Archives) The music community was saddened today by news of the passing of Frances Williams Preston, longtime head of BMI and one of the pioneering female executives in t ...

41. UK's PPL Posts Record Revenues, Lambasts London Olympics, Global Digital Media Owners

    June 13, 2012 2:15 PM EDT Despite announcing its best annual financial results in the organization's 78-year history with total license fee income jumping 7% in 2011, speakers at today's (June 13) annual general meeting for PPL, the licensing body representing U. ...

42. Frances Preston Remembered by Rosanne Cash, Del Bryant, Joe Galante, Many More Execs and Songwriters

    June 13, 2012 11:47 AM EDT The music community was saddened today by news of the passing of Frances Williams Preston, longtime head of BMI and one of the pioneering female executives in the music industry. This morning, many of the artists she helped and executives she work ...

43. Frances Preston, Former BMI CEO and Pioneering Female Exec, Dead at 83

    June 13, 2012 10:13 AM EDT (Photo: Richard Patire) Frances Williams Preston, longtime president/CEO of BMI, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and a pioneering executive in the music industry, died this morning in Nashville from congestive heart failure, according t ...

44. NMPA CEO David Israelite On What He'll Discuss At Annual Meeting

    June 12, 2012 8:46 PM EDT As music publishers convene in New York Wednesday for the National Music Publishers Assn. (NMPA) annual meeting, NMPA president/CEO David Israelite says he will address some of the same issues that he covered in his Congressional testimony last we ...

45. Steven Tyler Signs Worldwide Publishing Administration Deal With ole

    June 12, 2012 4:35 PM EDT ole announced today that it had signed an exclusive worldwide music publishing administration deal with Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, covering all of his co-writes on the forthcoming Aerosmith album Music From Another Dimension -- due out Augus ...

46. BMI, Radio Industry Announce Settlement

    June 11, 2012 4:41 PM EDT In a settlement announced today between U.S. radio stations and BMI, the performance right organization will receive performance royalty compensation of 1.7% of radio revenue less certain standard deductions going forward through 2016. The settlem ...

47. Fintage House and Rights Agency Limited Joining Forces

    June 08, 2012 1:24 PM EDT Fintage House, a music publishing and digital rights management firm based in the Netherlands has made an investment in the U.K.-based Rights Agency Limited, which specializes in neighboring rights management. Terms of the deal weren't disclo ...

48. ASCAP Inks TV Licensing Deal Through 2016

    June 06, 2012 6:34 PM EDT ASCAP signed a deal today with the Television Music License Committee (TMLC) to allow local U.S. television stations access to its 8.5 million tracks for licensing purposes through 2016. The deal is retroactive to January 1, 2010, and sets undiscl ...

49. Quincy Jones Named ASCAP Founders Honoree

    June 06, 2012 9:00 AM EDT Multi-faceted industry legend Quincy Jones will be honored with the ASCAP Founders Award during the organization's 25th annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. The invite-only event will be held June 29 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angel ...

50. Publishing Briefs: Imagem Partners With Cutcraft, YouTube Signs Up More Publishers

    June 05, 2012 7:03 PM EDT Imagem Links With Cutcraft Music Group Imagem Music USA has signed a joint venture with the Cutcraft Music Group, which in turn has signed publishing deals with upcoming artists Chet Faker and V, also known as Veronica Bozeman, and writer/producer ...

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