Kobalt Signs McCartney’s MPL to Admin Deal

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Kobalt Music Group Ltd. has signed an exclusive long-term deal with Paul McCartney and MPL, one of the world’s largest, privately owned music publishing companies, which was founded by the famed Beatle in 1971.

With the exception of the US, Canada, UK and Eire territories, Kobalt will administer the songs of three MPL catalogs: MPL Communications, MPL Music Publishing, and Cherio Corporation throughout the world and provide synch licensing services.

The catalogs contain McCartney copyrights “Ebony and Ivory,” “Say Say Say,” “Jet,” “My Love,” “Band On The Run,” “Vanilla Sky,” and “Freedom,” ranging from post-Beatles solo material, to work with Wings, and songs by late wife Linda McCartney.

Elsewhere the catalogs are home to evergreen copyrights “Unchained Melody,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Till There Was You,” “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” “Sentimental Journey,” and songs from landmark Broadway musicals Guys and Dolls, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and The Music Man. The catalogs contain works by Frank Loesser, Carl Perkins, Joe Young, Harry Warren, Big Joe Turner, Jelly Roll Morton, Maurice Williams, Louis Jordan, Bessie Smith, Loudon Wainwright III, Hugh Masekela, Jule Styne, Roy Orbison, Hoagy Carmichael and over 1,200 other major songwriters.

In the wake of EMI Music Publishing’s acquisition by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the New York Times sees McCartney’s signing with Kobalt as particularly significant. Most of the Beatles catalog is with Sony/ATV and McCartney’s catalog was previously with EMI. More here.

Josh Abbott Signs with Warner/Chappell

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Picture (L-R): BJ Hill, Sr. Director, A&R, Warner/Chappell; Alicia Pruitt, Sr. Director, A&R, Warner/Chappell; Josh Abbott; Steve Markland, VP, A&R, Warner/Chappell; and Phil May, GM/VP, Warner/Chappell.

Warner/Chappell Music signed a worldwide co-publishing agreement with rising country songwriter Josh Abbott of the Josh Abbott Band. Abbott recently released his record Small Town Family Dream and also just signed a recording agreement with Warner Music Nashville. Abbott’s current single, “Touch,” is at No. 43 on the country charts this week, and was co-written by Abbott, Warner/Chappell songwriter Jay Clementi and Radney Foster.

Offices Shuffle Around Nashville

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Music publishing company, Combustion Music has moved its offices from 17th Ave. S. to 1004 18th Ave. S. The new space will be shared with Big Tractor Music.

Combustion was formed in 2001 as a partnership with Warner/Chappell Music. It has represented the catalogs of Ashely Gorley, Kings of Leon, Brett James, Blair Daly, Gordie Sampson, Matthew West, and Drew Ramsey.

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Web-based email marketing service, Emma has moved from its Eighth Ave. S. location to Rolling Mill Hill’s Trolley Barns development at 9 Lea Ave. Nashville, TN 37210.

Eighty-five staffers are stretched out over 25,000 square feet between two of the six renovated buildings.

Other offices already in the historic buildings include the Center for Nonprofit Management, Hands on Nashville, Arts & Business Council and the Entrepreneur Center.

UMPG Signs Shane McAnally

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Universal Music Publishing Group has signed Nashville hitmaker, Shane McAnally and Smack Ink (ASCAP), to an exclusive, worldwide administration agreement.

McAnally has written hits for Kenny Chesney, Lee Ann Womack, Reba McEntire, Chris Young, Miranda Lambert, and Luke Bryan, to name a few. McAnally first gained recognition on the songwriting scene for co-writing Womack’s Top 20 single “Last Call.” Since then, he has used his talents to pen the No. 1 singles “Somewhere With You,” recorded by Chesney, and “Alone with You” recorded by Jake Owen.

Other tracks Shane McAnally has collaborated on include: “Neon” (Young), “Mama’s Broken Heart” (Lambert), “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” (Bryan), and Chesney’s current single “Come Over.”

McAnally also recently completed production on the debut album for Universal Music Nashville recording artist Kacey Musgraves (co-produced with Musgraves and UMPG writer Luke Laird).

(L-R): (front): Smack Ink's Robin Palmer, Shane McAnally, attorney Jason Turner; (back): UMPG Nashville VP Creative Cyndi Forman and UMPG Nashville Exec. VP/GM Kent Earls

HarperCollins Publishers Acquires Thomas Nelson

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Yesterday (7/11), HarperCollins Publishers announced it has acquired Nashville-based Thomas Nelson, leading publisher of inspirational Christian content including books, Bibles, e-books, journals, audio, video, reference curriculum, digital apps and live events.

Thomas Nelson will continue to operate as an independent company with its unique editorial focus on inspirational and Christian content. Details, such as how Thomas Nelson will benefit from HarperCollins’ global print and digital platform, are forthcoming.

Sony/ATV Acquisition of EMI Music Publishing Leads To Reorganization

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Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s recent purchase of EMI Music Publishing has resulted in company-wide restructuring. Troy Tomlinson, who heads Sony/ATV’s Nashville operations as Pres./CEO, will lead the newly combined local team.

Unofficially, MusicRow has learned that Tom Luteran will be among the staffers continuing on with the company. He has been with EMI for a decade and serves as EMI’s Vice President of A&R.

Five EMI staffers exited yesterday (7/10). Among the lay-offs is A&R Manager Laura Wright who joined the company in 2010. Her prior stops include The Writer’s Den. She can be reached at [email protected].

Also exiting is Sarah Pearson, Executive Assistant, who had been with EMI almost 11 years. She can be reached at [email protected].

Catalog Manager Chris Gillis has left the company after five years. He can be reached at [email protected].

Receptionist Sarah Babish exited and can be reached at [email protected].

As previously reported, Ben Vaughn, Exec. VP/GM of the Nashville office, exited last week after a decade with the publishing company, including leading it since 2010. He can be contacted at [email protected].

Billboard.biz reports that a total of 30-40 people have been let go from the company’s various offices.

On the national level, Martin Bandier leads Sony/ATV Music Publishing as Chairman & CEO. Tomlinson reports to co-president Danny Strick, who ovesees Nashville operations, East Coast creative operations, and US Latin operations.

Prior to the merger, EMI Music Publishing’s songwriter roster included Rhett Akins, Stephen Barker-Liles, Eric Gunderson, Angaleena Presley (with Ten Ten), Thomas Rhett, Brad Warren, Brett Warren, Randy Houser, Dallas Davidson, Chris Young, Hillary Scott, Natalie Hemby, Erin Enderlin, Drake White, Kelley Lovelace,  J.J. Lawhorn, Channing Wilson and more. There is no word on what writers will be affected by the changes.

There is also no information available at this time about EMI staffers Josh Van Valkenburg and Missy Wilson.

Company execs were unable to comment.

Publishing Ink (7/10/12)

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Pictured (L-R) Front Row: Michael Tyler (Singer/Songwriter-peermusic). Back Row: Kim Wiggins (Creative Manager -peermusic), Michael Knox (Producer/Sr. Creative Director-peermusic) and Kevin Lamb ( Vice President-peermusic Nashville)

peermusic Signs Songwriter Michael Tyler
Peermusic has signed 18 year old singer/songwriter Michael Tyler to its roster.

A Thayer, MO native, Tyler was discovered online by peermusic Senior Creative Director Michael Knox two years ago. The two have been working together since.

“I’m very excited to have Michael join the family here at peermusic,” said Knox. “I can’t wait to get into the studio with him.”

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Pictured (L-R): Doug Lowe and Donna O'Shea of LoShea Productions, Best, Dan Hodges and Susan Hodges

Artist/Writer Pete Best Renews Contract
Dan Hodges Music and LoShea Productions have announced that artist/writer Pete Best has renewed his contract with the two parties.

The exclusive publishing deal was extended over Memorial Day weekend at a dinner in Best’s hometown of Annapolis, MD, overlooking The Naval Academy.

Creative Nation Announces Partnership With Pulse Recording

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Creative Nation has announced the formation of an exclusive partnership between Los Angeles-based Pulse Recording. Creative Nation’s Barry Dean is the first songwriter to be signed to this new partnership.

The two songwriting companies intend to formulate a new breed of Pop and Country artists with crossover potential.

Pulse Recording not only discovers new songwriting talent, but has become a creative center for young writers and producers. The company boasts a roster that has delivered award-winning hit singles including Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and “The Edge of Glory,” Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” “California Gurls,” “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)” and “Part of Me,” Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite,” and Neon Trees’ “Animal.”

“We are very excited to be working with Creative Nation,” said Scott Cutler, founding partner of Pulse Recording. “I’ve always been a big fan of Luke Laird’s unique approach to songwriting. He is capable of straddling multiple genres of music. We also feel very fortunate to be working with Beth Laird who has a refreshing vision for the future of music publishing.”

Beth Laird, co-owner and general manager of Creative Nation shared, “This new partnership will create diverse opportunities for our writers and we look forward to growing our companies together to form a unique music relationship between Nashville and Los Angeles.”

Tonight (7/10) Creative Nation will host a charity fundraiser at 3rd and Lindsley.

Photos: Erik Dylan Signing, NSAI in D.C.

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Warner/Chappell Music, together with Cornman Music, recently signed up and coming country songwriter Erik Dylan to a worldwide publishing agreement.

Pictured (L-R): Brett James, Owner, Cornman Music; Alicia Pruitt, Sr. Dir., A&R, Warner/Chappell; Erik Dylan; Steve Markland, VP A&R Warner/Chappell; Nate Lowrey, Creative Dir., Cornman Music; Phil May, GM/VP, Warner/Chappell.

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NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison recently traveled to Washington D.C. to continue to raise awareness among lawmakers about intellectual property rights. Singer/songwriter Bonner Black also made the trip where she performed original material for over 60 congressmen, senators and staffers. Bonner, 16, has been an active member of NSAI for three years. For more information on NSAI’s legislative efforts, visit www.nashvillesongwriters.com.

Bonner Black and Bart Herbison

 

 

Ben Vaughn Exits EMI Music Publishing

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It remains unofficial, but MusicRow has learned that EMI Music Publishing Nashville Executive VP/GM Ben Vaughn has exited the company in the wake of the completed merger with Sony/ATV.

Vaughn became the youngest publisher to lead a major Nashville organization such as EMI, where he has spent the last 10 years and helmed the company since 2010. During this time EMI’s market share has grown from 7.3% in Q1 2010 when Vaughn took over, to 14.1% in Q1 2012. He personally signed songwriters such as Dallas Davidson (current ACM/BMI Songwriter of the Year), Rhett Akins (BMI Songwriter of the Year), Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott (SESAC Songwriter of the Year) and others.

Vaughn got an early start in the publishing game being named GM at Big Tractor Music at just 20 years old. He currently serves on the Board of the Academy of Country Music, is a Governor on the Nashville NARAS Board and an active member of the CMA and NMPA.

Reach him at [email protected].