Publishing Briefs: Margo Price Signs With Reservoir; Norton Launches Sync Library
This week in the publishing world, Kobalt signs afrobeats star Omah Lay, Nordic Music Partners rethinks the publishing paradigm, and more.
Reservoir and One Riot have signed a new deal with Margo Price and her co-writer and life partner Jeremy Ivey, including the global rights to their catalogs plus future works. Fresh off the deluxe release of her Sturgill Simpson and David Ferguson-produced That’s How Rumors Get Started, Price says she is “grateful that One Riot/Reservoir recognized the value in a couple of misfits like us. It is the perfect fit, and we feel at home already.”
On June 1, Norton Records launched its own sync site, Norton Records Music. Beginning with a library of over 1,400 songs from the company’s archives, the new site is the company’s “new step into realizing [its] catalog to the world.” Forty years strong, Norton has built its business by uncovering forgotten classics in everything from blues to rockabilly to garage rock and reissuing them on vinyl. Their catalog has already appeared in a number of ads for major brands (Tropicana, Ralph Lauren, Volkswagon, MLB, etc.) and film and TV (The Simpsons, Patton Oswalt’s No Reason to Complain, and more), and the site is designed to make synchronization even easier, offering a one stop online shop for both publishing and master licensing.
Kobalt has signed Nigerian Afrobeat artist Omah Lay to a global publishing administration deal, including sync and creative services. The deal will see Kobalt administering both the star’s back catalog and future works. In a statement about the agreement, Lay’s manager Valentine Ngaji says, “Omah is special, and special talents like him require special attention. Therefore, we can’t think of a better administrator to take care of his masterpieces than Kobalt. They are big fans of his works, and we are certain they are in good hands.”
Nordic Music Partners has announced its launch as a new independent publishing company, owned and operated by internationally successful songwriters, producers and industry folks. With the creator-driven focus, NMP boasts branches in Helsinki, Oslo, Amsterdam and more, offering an “extensive network” for its signees across Europe and in the U.S. as well. The company will begin with a roster of about 15 songwriters with more in the pipeline, and signees will be offered hands-on development by the multi-platinum selling creatives that run NMP. The company is funded by angel investors in Finland and the U.S., and it hopes to become continental Europe’s leading music publisher by shifting the paradigm of publishing from ownership to partnership.
Peermusic U.K. has inked a global publishing deal with Brian Higgins. Best known for his work on Cher‘s “Believe” as well as cuts with Kylie Minogue, The Sugababes, Girls Aloud and more, Higgins new deal will only encompass his future works. His catalog was purchased in 2020 by Hipgnosis and still remains in its control.
Sony Music Publishing has signed recording artist and BTS co-writer MAX to a global administration deal. Additionally, MAX has launched Colour Vision Publishing, a joint venture with SMP, and has announced his recent collaborator, Cody Dear, as its first signee. In a statement, MAX describes Dear, as ” one of the most talented humans, instrumentalists, and songwriters.” With consultants Ryan Siegel (Party Pupils) and Joel Shackleford on board, Colour Vision is a company MAX says he “look[s] forward to bringing to life with [SMP]” and adds that Sony was always “on board with [his] vision.”
Pro Music Rights (PMR), a U.S.-based performing rights organization, has come to an agreement with TikTok to license PMR’s catalog of over 2.5M works for the video sharing app. Users can now sync PMR-controlled tracks from A$AP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, Pharrell, and more for social content. In a statement, Jake P. Noch, CEO of PMR, said that TikTok “is a wonderful platform and will be an outstanding online venue to expand the audience for our music, since it is routinely used by millions all over the world.”