Miles Davis Estate Signs Global Deal With Downtown Music Publishing to Represent Entire Catalog

Downtown Music Publishing has signed a global deal with the Miles Davis Estate to represent the legendary jazz trumpeter and composer’s entire catalog, the company announced Monday (Oct. 28).

“Miles Davis made an indelible mark on both popular music and culture,” said Downtown Music Holdings and Downtown Music Publishing CEO Justin Kalifowitz in a statement. “Through his exploration and expansion of the language of jazz, Miles pushed the boundaries of genre and influenced generations of artists across the musical spectrum. It’s a legitimate privilege to be entrusted with the care of extraordinary works like ‘So What’ and ‘Blue in Green’ that have shaped the modern musical and cultural landscapes in such a profound way.”

In addition to catalog marketing, licensing and royalty collection, Downtown will work with the Davis estate to curate live events and other special projects around the globe to expose new audiences to Davis and his work, encompassing everything from his music to his art to his personal style. The agreement covers over 250 compositions.  

“We’re excited to embark on this new chapter in paying homage to the legacy of Miles Davis with Downtown Music Publishing,” said Cheryl Davis, Erin Davis and Vince Wilburn, Jr. from the Miles Davis Estate. “We are confident this move will continue to introduce the musical genius of Miles on a global scale, where his artistry can be noted by many generations to come.”

Downtown Music Publishing manages the works of a number of other iconic artists, including John Lennon and Yoko Ono, George Gershwin and John Prine.

Davis, who died in 1991, was recently the subject of the critically-acclaimed documentary Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool directed by Stanley Nelson. Last month, his lost album Rubberband was released and a book about his style influence is expected to go on sale soon.