Oleclear acquires Music People
clear, the new production music division of Canadian music publishing firm ole, has acquired the Music People, a Canadian production music company founded in 1974, according to an announcement from ole.
As part of the deal, clear, which was launched this month, will serves as the sub-publisher in Canada for the 70 different music libraries containing 150,000 music tracks from around the world that Music People had represented in that country. In addition, clear will also represent the production music library of Music People co-founder John Parry.
Previously, clear concluded a major Canadian sub-publishing agreement with the L.A.-based production music house, MusicBox, which brought 18,000 titles under its brand. The clear library also contains thousands of other music tracks, in three other clear-owned brands: Nelvana Production Music, which contains music from the Canadian entertainment company known for its work in animated shows; Attitude, a library produced by L.A. production music veterans, Eric Cunningham and Chris Lang; and the Masters, a library of orchestral music.
In conjunction with the creation of the clear band, ole launched oleclear.com, a website designed to get clients “what they need fast and the way they want it,” ole CEO Robert Ott said in a statement. “The site runs on iPad, iPhone – everything. We weren’t struggling with legacy and had an opportunity to re-imagine how a site like this could operate in the most transparent manner.”
As a result of the acquisition, Steve Smith of the Music People will be joining clear as manager of sales.
Carly Simon Signs With BMG Chrysalis
BMG Chrysalis has signed an exclusive agreement with Carly Simon to serve as administrator for her back catalog and future compositions in the US and Canada. Simon, a multi-platinum singer/songwriter and a Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee, has an extensive body of work that includes the hit singles “Anticipation,” “You’re So Vain” and “Haven’t Got Time for the Pain” …
Primary Wave Hooks Up With SynchTank, Jameson
Primary Wave Music has relaunched its website, PrimaryWaveMusic.com, which features SynchTank-developed, proprietary software that delivers broadcast-ready sound files directly to music supervisors, producers, and directors/editors working in film, television, advertising, video games and other media outlets.
Registered SynchTank users can search for music through descriptive characteristics and then create online video synchs of selected tracks set to uploaded video to simulate actual usage, and license and download songs through a swift and easy automated process, according to an announcement from the company. Users can also save selected music into personal playlists and share, deliver and track songs, searches, playlists and video synchs to groups or individuals as they see fit.
In another move, Primary Wave Music announced a strategic alignment with veteran television producer Andrew Jameson, formerly president of Maloof Productions, where he was executive producer of reality show, “Living Lohan.”
The partnership is based on Jameson’s ability to identify, develop and produce television and digital projects with Primary Wave artists and assets, according to the announcement. “I have always been intrigued by the possibilities in combining the assets of a first-rate music company with the right ideas in the television and digital arenas,” Jameson said in a statement. “My experience in television, coupled with [Primary Wave’s] phenomenal artists and assets, leaves us well-positioned for success.”
Bassett Signs With EMI
EMI Music Publishing has signed a worldwide co-publishing deal with American songwriter and producer Dave Bassett, whose recent collaborations include songs for Saliva, Halestorm, Sevendust, 10 Years and Skillet.
Bassett co-wrote songs on Shinedown’s “The Sounds of Madness” album, including the single “Second Chance”; he’s currently writing songs with the band for its next LP. In addition to being an accomplished rock writer, Bassett’s cross-genre appeal has seen him pen songs with Josh Groban, Lisa Loeb, Orianthi and American Idol star Kris Allen, according to the announcement. Meanwhile, his production credits include Sparta, Versa Emerge and Adelitas Way, as well soundtracks for “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Smallville.” Other TV and film credits include “CSI Miami,” “American Idol,” “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” and “The OC,” and films including “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Runaway Bride” and “Kingpin.”
ASCAP EXPO Adds Fergie, Bareilles, Dupri, More
The upcoming ASCAP “I Create Music EXPO has added Fergie, Sara Bareilles, Jermaine Dupri, Desmond Child, Rodney Crowell, Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald and Kelly Price as speakers for the event, which takes place April 28-30 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles. The EXPO brings together a diverse group of songwriters, composers, producers and music industry leaders to participate in a broad range of panels designed to support music creators at every stage of their careers.
Among the EXPO’s highlights, singer/songwriter Bareilles will interview Lindsey Buckingham, who will be honored with ASCAP’s Golden Note Award, presented to songwriters, composers and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones. Child will conduct a “Master Class in Songwriting,” for 60 randomly selected attendees. In addition, during the EXPO Child will work closely with 20 attendees on the art of songwriting as he explores lyrics, melody, structure and other elements integral to a well-crafted song. Also, Dupri will be interviewed by songwriter Johnta Austin as part of a series of writer and composer-focused Master Sessions.
For a regularly updated list of panelists, visit www.ascap.com/expo.
Big Loud Shirt Signs Joey Moi
Big Loud Shirt Industries has signed a publishing deal with songwriter producer Joey Moi. The Vancouver, B.C. native has worked with rock acts Hinder, Daughtry, My Darkest Days, Theory of a Deadman, Default, Santana and Nickelback, including the latter band’s latest album, “Dark Horse,” which was co-produced with Mutt Lang. Most recently, Moi has produced RCA Nashville’s Jake Owen and 604 Records/Universal Canada’s Dallas Smith.
BMI Offers Discount To Coffee Shops
BMI has created a discounted music license, in cooperation with the Specialty Coffee Assn. of America, which provides a 30% discount to qualifying music shops. The discount lowers the annual fee from about $332 to$230 for coffee shops that serve as incubators for performing songwriters.
The new license will provide copyright clearance for qualifying coffee shops to perform live and recorded music at discounts of at least 30% less than BMI’s previous fee schedule. To qualify, SCAA member businesses must have a legal occupancy of 50 persons or less, cannot serve alcohol, or charge an admission fee.
“SCAA came to us to secure discounts for their members who provide entertainment for customers,” BMI VP of licensing Tom Annastas said in a statement. ” Encouraging these businesses to offer music is an idea we support vigorously.¨ The SCAA has nearly 3,000 member companies, according to the announcement.
CISAC’s Baptiste To Lead GRD
CISAC, the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers, has appointed board member Eric Baptiste, CEO of Canadian authors’ society SOCAN, to lead the organization’s involvement with the Global Repertoire Database (GRD) Working Group, which as its name denotes, is working to create a global song database to ease the process of licensing and paying royalties to the correct songwriters and publishers.
CISAC, which is comprised of 229 author societies in 121 countries, has significant expertise and experience in the management of copyright data and is pleased to contribute to the effort to construct an authoritative global source of musical works, according to the announcement. In 2009 the royalties collected by CISAC’s member societies in their respective territories topped 7.15 billion euros.