Publishing Briefs: Warren Haynes Signs With Atlas Music; BMG Forms New Agency
Billboard's Ed Christman rounds-up all the big news happening in the music publishing world.
— Atlas Music has signed Warren Haynes to a global exclusive publishing deal that covers his entire catalog and any future songs. In addition to the songs he has written for Gov’t Mule and his solo albums. Haynes has also played guitar with the Allman Brothers and The Dead, and written a song performed by Garth Brooks, “Two of A Kind, Working on A Full House.”
While many people know Haynes “as the legendary guitar player / vocalist who anchored bands like his own Gov’t Mule, The Allman Brothers and even The Dead after Jerry Garcia passed…he is an incredible songwriter, Atlas Music CEO Rich Stumpf said in a statement. “He is a true creative spirit who can work across many genres…We look forward to bringing Warren many new opportunities where his writing will shine.”
— Reservoir Media Management has signed Migos’ Takeoff and Offset to global publishing deals, representing both their individual and collective catalogs including “Bad and Boujee.”
“Migos is without a doubt the hottest hip-hop group in the game right now,” Reservoir senior VP of A&R and catalog development Faith Newman said in a statement.”I can’t wait to work with Takeoff and Offset to help them capitalize on their huge success.”
Kevin “Couch K” Lee, COO of Migos label Quality Control Music said that the Reservoir deal will help support “Takeoff and Offset’s global brand.”
— Reservoir has also added songwriter Ali Tamposi to its music publishing roster, via a global deal signed a deal with Perfect Storm Music Group. The deal includes his entire catalog as well as future works. In addition to co-writing Kelly Clarkson’s “Stonger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” Tamposi has written or co-written for a bunch of other artists including Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Demi Lovato, Gary Clark Jr., Nickelback and One Direction.
“When we heard that Perfect Storm was looking to make a move, Reservoir jumped at the opportunity to bring in a rising talent like Ali and her hit songs,” said Reservoir COO Rell Lafargue said in a statement. Reservoir senior P of creative and A&R Donna Caseine in Los Angeles, will supervise the company’s effort on behalf of Tamposi. Frank Bonn, CEO of Nouvago Capital, which co-founded Perfect Storm Music Group with Jorgen Elofsson and Robin Godfrey Cass added in a statement that they partnered with Reservoir, which he described as a strong and progressive player in the music industry, on Tamposi to help the songwriter “reach new heights.”
In another move, Reservoir signed producer Just Blaze to a worldwide publishing agreement for his entire catalog and future works. Blaze produced songs for such artists as Jay Z, Beyonce, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Usher, Mariah Carey, Rick Ross, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Ludacris and Rihanna among others. Finally, Reservoir also signed producer Jim Beans to ia global publishing deal for his entire catalog, and will also c-publishing future works. Beanz has written and produced songs for such artists as Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Just Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, Shakira and Jennifer Hudson.Furthermore, Beans wrote and produced songs for the “Empire” TV series, according to the announcement.
“[Beanz] is a truly multi-dimensional songwriter and producer at the top of his game and we can’t wait to get to work with him,” according to a statement from Reservoir senior VP Spek, who will oversee the producer’s work.
— Sony/ATV Music publishing has signed a long-term worldwide deal with recording artist/songwriter Tori Kelly. Kelly has shown on her debut album “she is a…versatile and extraordinary writer and we are excited that she has put her faith in Sony/ATV as she further develops her songwriting,” Sony/ATV U.S. co-president Rick Krim said in a statement.
Kelly’s manager Scooter Braun said that the deal with Sony/ATV “is just another step in continuing her incredible journey.” Kelly is in the studio working on her second album.
— BMG has formed a full-service sound agency by bringing together its pre-cleared and custom production music service under the BMG Production Music banner. The operation — which will have office in Los Angeles, Nashville, Berlin and Hilversum, Netherlands — will oversee a catalog of about 400,000 tracks, which span all genres.
The new entity combines the Selectracks operation, acquired via the Bug Music acquisition in 2011; MusicDIRECTOR, the Benelux production music operation acquired as part of the Talpa Music acquisition in 2014; Los-Angeles-based Music Beyond and the trailer label X-Ray Dog, acquired n 2014; and London based Beds & Beats, Altitude Music and Music Save Jane, all acquired in 2016.
Managing director Geert-Willem Koolhof oversees the entire operation, and reporting to him are three regional heads, Mitch Lijewski in the U.K.; Farah Hasan in the U.K.; and Paul Gulmans for Benelux and Germany.
“Bringing our extensive production music interests together under the BMG Production Music banner symbolizes the importance of production music within BMG, and signals our commitment to this growing sector,” BMG CFO Maximillian Dressendoerfer said in a statement.
In another move, BMG said it signed to manage and administer Netflix’s music publishing rights outside the U.S. The agreement includes, feature songs, themes, scores and transition cues for all music owned by Netflix for its original programming.
“This agreement is a significant endorsement of the BMG team and platform from one of the most forward-thinking and innovative entertainment companies in the world, BMG U.S. president of repertoire and marketing Zach Katz said in a statement. “It also highlights the particular strength of Keith Hauprich (Deputy General Counsel, BMG US) and his film and TV publishing team.”
Netflix director of music licensing said his company was impressed “by the commercial and technology expertise of BMG” and looks forward to what opportunities can be developed.
Finally, BMG signed to manage and administer Waxploitation Records music publishing rights on a world wide basis. In addition to record labels and music publishing capabilities, Waxploitation also provides artist management services. It was founded by Jeff Anebi in 1991.
— Kobalt will serve as administrator for Hard Copy Publishing, which was recently established by Emily Sande and artist manager/producer Lamar Jackson, who will serve as managing director, for the firm which will sign and develop new artists and writers. Sande said the new firm chose Kobalt because it was “smooth, say and personal.” For their part, Kobalt president of global creative Sas Metcalfe said in a statement that Kobalt looks forward to supporting Hard Copy “as they discover and nurture music creators of the future.
— In another move, Kobalt along with its recently acquired Fintage House signed rock group Skindred to a global publishing and neighboring rights deal. Kobalt senior vp of business development and creative Nick Robinson said his company will help the band “brow their audience even further across the rock world.”
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