Downtown Acquires Good Soldier Songs, Publishing Home of The 1975
Downtown Music Publishing has acquired independent music publishing company Good Soldier Songs Ltd, the longtime home of U.K. pop/rock band The…
Downtown Music Publishing has acquired independent music publishing company Good Soldier Songs Ltd, the longtime home of U.K. pop/rock band The 1975. The deal adds more than 350 songs to the Downtown arsenal, including the “Chocolate” combo’s full catalog, as well as rights to music by Biffy Clyro, Billy Lockett, Colouring and The Him, among other artists. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Downtown is one of the most thoughtful publishers in the business, with an exceptional, well-curated roster and catalog,” said Good Soldier Songs founder Christian Tattersfield. “I couldn’t think of a more fitting new home for our writers and their music, and am happy they’re in good hands.”
Good Soldier was launched in 2003 by Tattersfield, who later became CEO of Warner Music UK. The company signed The 1975 to a publishing agreement in 2012, and the band has gone on to release three studio albums, with a fourth — Notes on a Conditional Form — due out May 22. Notable tracks in their diverse catalog of ’80s-infused guitar pop hits include “Love It If We Made It,” “Girls,” “Give Yourself a Try,” “Sex,” “People,” “Me & You Together Song” and “Somebody Else,” among others.
“With an ethos not unlike Downtown’s, Christian has built an incredible, diverse roster at Good Soldier Songs and we’re ecstatic to add its music to our catalog,” said Roberto Neri, Executive Vice President and Head of European Business Development for Downtown Music Holdings — parent company of Downtown Music Publishing. “We’re also excited for The 1975’s highly-anticipated new album and are thrilled to work with the band and their manager, Jamie Oborne.”
Today’s deal arrives a year and a day after Downtown announced the acquisition of the catalog of indie label Strictly Confidential, whose roster includes material written and/or recorded by Balkan Beat Box, Carl Barât, Editors, Mark Ronson, Vanessa Paradis, Jason Derulo and Chromeo. Other recent acquisitions include nearly 700 works from the U.K.-based Salli Isaak Songs Limited and Salli Isaak Music Publishing Limited, and last April the company nabbed the administration rights for George Gershwin’s catalog.
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