— Universal Music Publishing Group and music video site Vevo have teamed to launch “Inside the Hit Songs,” a series that will highlight the craft of songwriting by providing viewers with a behind-the-scenes at the process of making a hit, from writing to recording. The first episode features the All-American Rejects chronicling the creation of their hit single “Gives You Hell,” which was one of the most played songs of 2009, according to ASCAP.
In later episodes, Glen Ballard will share his memories of working with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones on “Man in the Mirror,” while Keri Hilson reveals the process behind writing her hit single, “Knock You Down,” a collaboration with Kanye West and fellow UMPG songwriter Ne-Yo.
Universal Music Publishing Group chairman and CEO David Renzer says the new Vevo series “will give songwriters, publishers and artists a new outlet, and viewers a unique insight into the hit making creative process.”
Access to “Inside The Hit Songs” will be available across the Vevo platform, which includes Vevo.com, Vevo Mobile (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Android) and Vevo connected devices (Google TV, Boxee). The series will also be available on Vevo’s syndication partners YouTube, AOL, BET, CBS Interactive Music Group , including Last.fm), and Univision, according to the announcement.
Vevo GM Fred Santarpia added, “The songwriting process is fascinating – and it often stays behind the scenes – so we wanted to give our fans a peak behind that curtain. It’s been a lot of fun for us to learn what went into creating some of the biggest hits of our time.”
— Ole has acquired the writer’s share of a catalog of songs written by Swedish hitmaker Rami Yacoub, who has written or co-written hit songs recorded by artists like Britney Spears, ‘Nsync, the Backstreet Boys and Pink. In addition, the deal also provides Ole with the writer’s reversionary publishing rights in 2021. Copyrights include include Spears’ “Oops!…I Did It Again” and Pink’s “You and Your Hand.” In addition, Yacoub has written songs sung by Enrique Iglesias, Celine Dion, Westlife and Michael Bolton, among others. While terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, Ole said in a statement that in the six years of its operation, it has acquired spent more than $105 million in acquiring copyrights, and as the company moves ahead in its seventh year, ole CEO Robert Ott said in a statement, “There is no dollar value of acquisition that is out of reach for us, given that we see value.”