Tinie Tempah has re-signed a worldwide publishing agreement with long-term partner Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which covers his back catalog as well as recent songwriting credits, like “Not Letting Go” with Jess Glynne and “Girls Like” with Zara Larsson, current single “Mamacita” with Wizkid.
“We are absolutely thrilled to continue such a long and happy relationship with Tinie Tempah, a truly special person, songwriter and proven hit maker,” Sony/ATV UK managing director and president of European Creative Guy Moot said in a statement. Moot first signed the London-based artist at the beginning of his musical career in 2010.
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Of Sony/ATV, Tempah said “they have been incredibly supportive from the beginning and I believe they have what it takes to support me in this new capacity and in the next stage of my journey.”
Tempah’s third album Youth is set for release on September 16 via Disturbing London Records/Parlophone/Warner Music.
— In other Sony/ATV news, the company has promoted Michael Abitbol to senior VP of business and legal affairs, digital. Abitbol, who was previously VP, will report to Sony/ATV executive VP of business and legal affairs Peter Brodsay.
Abitbol “is a seasoned executive with a great understanding of the complex issues facing our industry in a time of enormous change,” Brodsky said in a statement. “I am delighted that Michael will continue to be an invaluable member of Sony/ATV’s digital team going forward into the future.”
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The promotion reflects the growing importance of digital to Sony/ATV’s business and will see Abitbol working across all aspects of the company’s interests in the sector, including negotiating and drafting license agreements with major digital music services such as Apple, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon and Pandora, the company said in a statement.
Previous to joining Sony/ATV, Abitbol worked at EMI Music Publishing for five years overseeing digital issues; and before that he spent seven years as an attorney at New York-based law firm Davis & Gilbert. Before beginning a legal career, he had been an artist manager at his own management company and for King’s Flavor Management.
— Big Loud Shirt/Round Hill Music has extended its publishing deal with Chris Tompkins who has penned songs with/for Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton and Dierks Bentley among others.
“This fall will be 10 years of Big Loud Shirt with Chris; 15 #1s, two GRAMMYs, and a thousand beats thumping through the wall,” said Wiseman. “It has been a fun, crazy, magical, maddening, meaningful, miraculous mayhem from the first day. And, I thank God for everyday since and everyday yet to come.”
In return, Tompkins said, in a statement, “I’m looking forward to many more dice rolling, beer drinking, story-telling, cliff jumping, offensive, first class moon shining and corn dog converting good times … roll tide.”
— James Fitzherbert-Brockholes, formerly chief finanical officer at the Kobalt Music Group, has been promoting to chief operating officer for the company. He has been replaced by new hire Tom Sansone. Both report to Kobalt founder and CEO Willard Ahdritz.
In his new role, Fitzherbert-Brockholes, who has been with Kobalt since its founding in 2001, will be responsible for ensuring the company delivers on its strategic and operational plans.
“Fitz has been a dedicated leader within Kobalt for many years and has made incredible contributions to the organization’s growth, financial success and overall operational strength; he is the obvious candidate for the Chief Operating Officer role,” Ahdritz said in a statement.
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Meanwhile, Sansone, who has held positions at PriceWaterhouse Coopers and Arthur Anderson, will be involved in supporting the company’s growth plans. Sansone most recently was CFO and CFO with the Gilt Groupe, an online shopping website.
“We were very selective in our search to find a new CFO and I am thrilled that Tom has joined us,” Ahdritz added in a statement. “He has a keen understanding of both tech and media/entertainment industries. His expertise spans across all fundamental areas including forecasting, capital markets, operations and analytics which are relevant to the company’s rapid growth and expansion on a global scale.”
— Downtown Music Publishing has acquired the entire publishing catalog of Nikki Sixx’s time with metal icons Mötley Crüe. His hits with the band include “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “Home Sweet Home,” “Kickstart My Heart” and “Dr. Feelgood.” As part of the agreement, Downtown will also represent Sixx’s Neighbouring Rights and will continue to administer his non-Mötley compositions.
“Moving from an old-school publisher with millions of songs to a creative, technology-driven shop like Downtown was smart business,” Sixx said in a statement. “We’ve had an incredible seven years together and I’m thrilled to continue to have them as my partners.”
— Arwen Curson has joined Universal Music Publishing Australia and New Zealand as VP of creative. She will report to UMPG Australia and Asia Pacific Region president Andrew Jenkins.
“With a huge talent and 360-degree perspective and insight into the music business, Arwen is the perfect person to help us implement our future creative strategy at Universal Music Publishing Australia” Jenkins said in a statement.
Curson previously was director of operations for Australia and New Zealand for Crowd Mix and before that had worked as an artist manager at ATC Management in the U.K.
“Australia and New Zealand have an exceptional pool of talent and I’m excited to be given the opportunity to make sure that talent is nurtured, recognised and celebrated, not only here, but on the international stage,” Curson said in a statement.
— Virgin Records/ Prospect Park Records recording artists Knox Hamilton have signed a worldwide co-publishing agreement with Angry Mob Music, a Los Angeles-based music publisher.
According to the announcement, the deal encompassed past and future releases, including the band’s EP How’s Your Mind. A song from that record, “Work It Out, has scanned almost 46,000 downloads, according to Nielsen Music.
Knox Hamilton will be releasing their debut album this fall with the release of their new single “Washed Up Together”, which is to be released this July.
Angry Mob Music CEO Marc Caruso and A&R executive Ralph Torrefranca led the signing and say they will work closely with the band, its management and its labels on behalf of the band.
Angry Mob Music, founded in 2009, has a roster of 60 songwriters and artists and administers over 4,000 works.