State Champ Radio Warner Chappell
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Universal Music Publishing Group has signed Yahritza to a global publishing deal. As part of Yahritza Y Su Esencia, a sibling trio which has helped ushed Regional Mexican into the mainstream, she is one of Mexico’s most sought after stars.
Blackx, a new Asia-focused music fund, has acquired a catalog 230 songs from Frances Wang, a notable Taiwanese songwriter. Songs included in the deal span 30 years of work, including hits performed by Faye Wong, A-Mei, Jeff Zhang Xin Zhe, Oaeen, Eason Chan, Wan Fang and Tiger Huang Xiao Hu. This is one of Blackx’s first purchases in Asia. The fund launched in September 2022 with an initial $100 million in financing.
UMPG Germany has signed Berlin-based artist and songwriter Chris James to a worldwide publishing deal. As co-writer on “Komet” (Apache 207 and Udo Lindenberg), his work holds the honor of being the longest running #1 German-language song in 16 years, according to a press release. Most recently, he was listed as a co-writer on Jimin’s recent K-pop smash “Like Crazy” which debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100.
Universal Music Publishing UK has signed LF System, a chart-topping producer duo, to a global publishing deal. Comprised of Conor Larkman and Sean Finnigan, the duo is a top name in international dance music. Their song “Afraid to Feel” recently topped the UK Singles Chart for eight consecutive weeks.
Sony Music Publishing has signed 1da Banton, a Nigerian songwriter, artist and guitarist, to a global publishing agreement. He recently gained international acclaim with his song “Miss You” with Tungevaag, and his next EP is set to release next month, featuring 255, Rugged and Pimp.
Warner Chappell Music has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Spanish singer-songwriter Ana Mena. With nearly six million monthly listeners on Spotify, Mena’s “Música Ligera” won song of the year at Los40 Music Awards 2022. Most recently, she released her second studio LP Bellodrama, which follows her 2018 debut album Index.
Warner Chappell Music has signed Nia Archives to a worldwide publishing agreement. A DJ, producer and singer-songwriter, she won Best Electric/Dance Act at the MOBOs, Best Producer at the NME Awards, named Introducing Artist of the Year by BBC, and was shortlisted for the Rising Star Award at the BRITs 2023.
Universal Music Publishing Classics and Screen has signed Pulitzer Prize winner Kevin Puts and rising Puerto Rican composer Angélica Negrón to exclusive worldwide publishing deals. As part of the agreements, Universal’s Classics & Screen division also acquired Puts’ compositional catalog.
Angry Mob Music Group has signed UK-based Richard Walters to a worldwide co-publishing agreement. Currently signed to Nettwek Music Group on the label side, Walters next single is out May 26th. As a songwriter, he has worked alongside Joe Henry, Alison Moyet, Solomun, 3LAU, Sony Fodera, Sultan + Shepard, and more.
Warner Chappell Music has joined with Matchless Publishing and Artist Development to sign a global publishing deal with Nashville-based singer, songwriter and producer Dan Pellarin. Pellarin has co-written with acts like Filmore, Atlus, and Savage Hands.
Warner Chappell Music and Cornman Music have teamed up to jointly sign Graham Barham to a global publishing deal. A Nashville-based newcomer, he first gained attention with his popular track “Preachers Need People.”
Creative Nation, an independent music company, has signed Nashville-based songwriter and producer Oscar Charles to a publishing deal. He has written songs with Chase Rice, Elvie Shane, Boy Named Banjo, Madeline Edwards, Hannah Dasher and more. He has released songs with Carly Pearce, Charlie Worsham and Jacob Powell, among others.
Claire McAuley lands a promotion at Warner Chappell Music (WCM), where she’s named executive vice president, global rights management, a new position.
McAuley’s expanded role reflects the changes in the way rights management is handled at the major music publisher, and should step up payments to writers worldwide.
What was previously seen as “a largely administrative function is now a proactive division seeking to maximize songwriters’ revenue, working with international partners in the global music economy,” reads a statement announcing McAuley’s elevation.
Based in London, McAuley reports to Carianne Marshall, co-chair and COO of WCM. “Claire is an incredibly talented executive who has significantly moved the needle for our songwriters,” Marshall explains. “She’s taken a proactive approach to tapping new revenue streams and is constantly looking for ways to streamline our processes to ensure that our writers are paid what they deserve.” Her “global, long-term approach continues to be exactly what we need as we thoughtfully grow our business.”
Following stints with BMG Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing, the U.K. Music Publishers Association (MPA) and elsewhere, McAuley joined WCM in 2018 as VP, operations. The following year, she promoted to senior VP, global administration.
In that time, McAuley has spearheaded strategic upgrades to WCM’s systems to speed up payments to writers. Also, reads a statement, she’s helped launch platforms designed to recover missing royalties, secure additional revenue for writers in emerging markets, and better track the global use of songwriters’ music across digital music platforms, as well as in film and TV production.
“We’ve made considerable investments in our people and our systems over the past few years, and our songwriters are already noticing the benefits of these changes,” she explains in a statement. “But there’s even more we can do as the music ecosystem continues to evolve.”
Currently, she’s a member of the board of directors of the MPA and the Mechanical Licensing Collective.
WCM came in third (with 15.73% share) among publisher radio airplay rankings, Billboard reports in its Publishers Quarterly for the last quarter of 2022.
For the same period, the WMC came ranked third (with 18.59% share) for publisher Hot 100 rankings.
Peermusic has signed production and songwriting team, The Stereotypes (Jonathan Yip and Jeremy Reeves), to a worldwide publishing administration deal. The Stereotypes have made their mark on the music industry by penning hits like “That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars, “Please Me” by Cardi B and Bruno Mars, “Somebody to Love” by Justin Bieber ft. Usher, “Better” by Lil Yachty, and “After Last Nite” by Silk Sonic (with Thundercat and Bootsy Collins), and Yip says of their new peermusic partnership that he “immediately realized [peermusic] was aligned with our vision.”
The indie publisher has also signed singer, songwriter and producer Alex Anwandter to an exclusive, worldwide co-publishing deal. The deal with peermusic marks the first music publishing deal for the Latin pop artist and encompasses his entire catalog as well as future works, according to the company. The Chilean multi hyphenate is set to release his new album, El Diablo En El Cuerpo, on May 26. It will feature singles such as “Qué Piensas Hacer Sin Mi Amor?” and “Maricoteca.”
Sony Music Publishing Nashville has renewed is publishing agreement with Lindsay Rimes, a songwriter and producer who co-created “Whiskey on You” by Nate Smith and “Heaven” by Kane Brown. Rimes has also worked with Troye Sivan, Kylie Minogue, Kelsea Ballerini, Thomas Rhett, Phillip Phillips, Dylan Scott, LoCash, The Cadillac Three, Tyler Rich, Canaan Smith and The Shires. “I couldn’t be more excited about continuing my journey with the Sony family,” says Rimes of the renewed deal.
Warner Chappell has partnered with Song Sleuth, a startup designed to find “undiscovered” royalties from user-generated content and derivative works, specifically using their tool UGSeeker. Song Sleuth describes this as “the first of a number of major deals that are currently in the pipeline.”
Connection Music Publishing has signed a new agreement with indie pop singer-songwriter Hayes Warner, fresh off the release of his songs “Shut Up” and “Airport.” The rising talent will perform at SXSW and as an opener for Lewis Capaldi. Connection Music Publishing is an indie publishing house, founded in early 2021 by Daniel Glass, founder and president of Glassnote Records, and Chris Scully, general manager and CFO of Glassnote Records.
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Keen observers noticed that last quarter Warner Music Group’s global streaming revenues were down 2.6% year over year, a rare sputter in the music industry’s main engine of growth. The company’s total revenue declined 7.8% as losses in recorded music’s physical and digital revenues couldn’t make up for publishing gains.
On its face, a year-over-year decline in streaming revenue – the driving force behind growth at labels as well as the rise in music catalog valuations – might seem alarming. Declines are routinely seen in download and physical sales. Streaming is typically the dependable bright spot of any earnings report.
The decline was more noticeable when compared to companies that released earnings for the same quarter. Sony Music Entertainment posted strong growth in the same period. SME’s streaming revenue improved 33.2% in its recorded music division and 59.8% in its publishing division. Reservoir Media didn’t show streaming softness last quarter, either. In its recorded music division, digital revenues were up 17% year-over-year. Digital revenues in its publishing division rose 29%.
So, what happened? Some of it is due to a quirk of WMG accounting, some of it is due to WMG, and some of it is due to factors that affect the entire music business.
One factor in WMG’s weak streaming revenue was a shorter quarter: WMG’s last quarter had one fewer week than the prior-year quarter, which gave the company a tough basis for comparison even before other factors could be considered. A 14-week quarter has 7.1% more days to generate income than a 13-week one and that’s a big gap to overcome. Adjusting for that, WMG streaming revenues would have been up 5% year-over-year.
The stronger dollar — WMG’s financial statements are reported in dollars, Sony reports in yen, Universal Music Group in euros — also played a part in the decline. In WMG’s recorded music division, streaming revenues declined 4% as reported but were flat on a constant currency basis (which assumes no change in foreign exchange rates). In its publishing division, streaming revenues grew 13.2% as reported and 16.8% at constant currency.
WMG also blamed the soft streaming numbers on a new release line-up that CFO Eric Levin called “a softer, largely U.S.-based release schedule” that “could roll into our fiscal Q2. But given our release schedule as second half-oriented this year,” he added, “we do feel good about our performance of releases and strength in the second half of the year.”
Another factor was not specific to WMG: a slowing ad market. Levin called it “a dislocated ad market” and warned “the decline is getting more pronounced.” The decline in ad-supported streaming revenue isn’t a surprise. The Ledger wrote about the soft advertising market in August 2022. Spotify CFO Paul Vogel warned advertising growth in the third quarter would be “slower than we might have forecast earlier in the year.” French music company Believe said “ad-funded streaming activities should be affected by rising inflation and economic uncertainties.”
The streaming market has become bifurcated. Subscription services have fared well through the pandemic and high inflation. Advertising is more closely associated with the direction of the broader economy. Consumers are generally reluctant to cancel entertainment subscriptions, but it’s easier for brands to pull back on ad spending, hurting everything from YouTube to broadcast radio companies like iHeartMedia (and music publishers to a lesser extent). At WMG, “subscription streaming grew by high single digits” but was partially offset by a drop “in the mid-teens” in ad-supported revenue, Levin said. WMG also noticed the slowdown in brands’ spending has created “a somewhat softer market for synch.”
In the fourth quarter, Spotify’s advertising revenue rose 14% compared to an 18% improvement for subscription revenue. With the growth of Spotify’s podcasting business, not all the advertising growth could be attributed to music. Advertising growth lagged subscription growth in the third quarter by three percentage points.
Ultra International Music Publishing (UIMP) has acquired the catalog of Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Zaytoven. In addition, the hitmaker — whose catalog includes tracks by Migos, Drake, 21 Savage, and more — has signed a co-publishing agreement with Ultra to further foster his career moving forward.
Yonatan Watts has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Position Music and Tommy “TB Hits” Brown‘s Chapagne Therapy Music Group (CTMG). A Grammy-nominated hitmater, Watts has already penned hits for Chris Brown, Ariana Grande, Ari Lennox, Coi Leray and more, including “main thing” by Grande which he co-wrote alongside Brown for the singer’s album Positions.
SOFI TUKKER has extended their publishing deal with Third Side Music. The independent publisher will continue to act as the administrator of the electronic pop group’s catalog, as they have since 2017. “Signing with [Third Side] has been one of the best decisions we’ve made in our career,” says SOFI TUKKER about extending their deal.
Warner Chappell Production Music has expanded its operations into São Paulo, Brazil. Helmed by Renato Moraes, the WCPM team in Brazil will focus on building out a local repertoire of music and service Brazil’s film, tv, radio and advertising clients with custom music services and a wide-reaching catalog of songs and sound design. Moraes will reported to Sinéad Hartmann, vp of licensing and music creative.
Ocha Media Inc. has launched its new publishing administration and music synchronization service, Ocha Publishing. The new company will focus on aiding underground house music — including afro house, deep house, soulful house, techno and other subgenres — makers and will help the genre reach music supervisors, producers and creative directors. Its first signing is Osunlade’s Yoruba Records.
Sony Music Publishing Nashville and Droptine have jointly signed country hitmakers Russell Sutton and Tommy Karlas to global publishing deals. Sutton got his start as part of Grassroots Revival, and as a songwriter he has made cuts with Elvie Shane, Drew Green, and Nate Smith. Karlas has written songs for Blake Shelton, Warren Zeiders, Old Dominion, Randy Travis, and Montgomery Gentry.
Shirin David, one of Germany’s most popular female hip hop artists, has signed a deal with Warner Chappell Music. Natascha Augustin, vp of a&r, Warner Chappell Music Germany, adds, “Warner Chappell Music is known for its diverse roster, and we’re delighted to welcome Shirin who has been pushing boundaries as a female hip-hop artist.”
Peermusic U.K. has signed The Reytons to an exclusive global publishing deal via their joint venture with Max Music Publishing. The British indie rock outfit comprises of Jonny Yerrell, Lee Holland, Joe O’Brien, and Jamie Todd, and their new deal arrives on the heels of their record What’s Rock and Roll, reaching a new U.K. chart high.
Warner Chappell and Truth or Dare Publishing have signed country singer/songwriter Abbey Cone to a joint publishing deal. A CMT Next Women of Country inductee, Cone released her debut EP, Hate Me, last year. In 2023, she will perform at Stagecoach.
On Jan. 29, the Brooklyn Variety Ramble debuted in New York City. The city’s first ongoing music variety show showcasing country, bluegrass, Americana, American Roots and more, Brooklyn Variety Ramble series, hosted by comedian Ali Clayton, will also hold shows on Feb. 26, March 26, April 30, May 28, and June 25. Tickets are available for purchase online.
After earning his first Latin Grammy nomination for his work on Rauw Alejandro’s Trap Cake, Vol. 2, YENSANJUAN (real name: Roberto Rivera Elias) signed a global publishing deal with Rimas Publishing. In addition to Alejandro, the emerging Puerto Rican songwriter, who says he’s “living one of the most exciting moments of my career,” has worked with artists such as Sebastian Yatra and Feid. He joins Rimas’ star-studded roster, which includes Bad Bunny, Eladio Carrión, Mora, Súbelo NEO and Tempo.
Variety show host, singer, songwriter and entrepreneur Pat Boone has reorganized his 2,300-song catalog, which consists of both his own works and others he acquired over the years from other talents. As a songwriter, Boone penned the lyrics to “The Exodus Song (This Land Is Mine)” and a number of film scores, but his catalog also contains compositions and recordings he purchased from others along the way, including cuts from David Gates, Leon Russell, Ralph Carmichael, Paul Smith, Donn Thomas, Jimmy & Carol Owens, Roger Dollarhide and Mort Lindsey, as well as masters from Boone’s Gold Label by legacy artists such as Jack Jones, Sha Na Na and Toni Tennille. Boone’s catalog, which is held under the self-owned companies Spoone Music and Cooga Music, will team up with Honolulu-based Craft Brewz Music, a creative agency specializing in catalog data collection and film/TV licensing. Spoone also has partnerships with Sweet on Top, a company that’s subpublished by peermusic, to pitch Boone’s catalog for placements.
Lickd, a music licensing platform for content creators, has partnered with Warner Chappell Music. Under the deal, which expands upon the partnership Lickd has already forged with the publisher’s parent company, Warner Music Group, Lickd will provide YouTube creators full, precleared access to use WCM’s music catalog in their video content.
Sony Music Publishing is currently holding its first-ever West Africa songwriting camp in Accra, Ghana, Jan. 5-12, 2023. Organized by Wale Davies, the company’s head of A&R, Africa, the camp will encompass a week’s worth of sessions, wellness activities and community outreach workshops to further the development of the next generation of songwriters in the region.
Sony Music Publishing U.K. has signed rising artist Naomi Kimpenu to a global publishing agreement. Awarded the Rising Star honor at the 2022 Ivor Novello Awards for her songwriting skills, the newcomer is already gaining the attention of Jack Saunders and Sian Eleri of BBC Radio 1.
Concord Music Publishing and Stax Records collaborated to host a songwriter workshop at Stax Music Academy in Memphis. The two companies have collaborated for the last three years on other songwriting workshops, but this is the first time they’ve been able to host the classes in person. Young students got instruction from hit-makers like songwriter Varren Wade, founding Soulsville president/CEO Deanie Parker, Concord senior vp of A&R Jeremy Yohai and Concord senior manager of A&R Matthew Megan.
Warner Chappell Music Korea has renewed its global publishing deal with 153/Joombas Publishing, one of the top independent music publishers in the country. The two companies have been working together since 2018 and the partnership has entailed 153/Joombas’ entire catalog, including songs for aespa, BTS, EXO, (G)I-DLE, GOT7, ITZY, IU, Lim Young-woong, Monsta X, NCT DREAM, Red Velvet, SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, and Taeyeon. Founded by Hyuk Shin — a South Korean producer known for writing “One Less Lonely Girl” for Justin Bieber, “Growl” for EXO, and discovering Blackbear and DEAN — 153/Joombas Publishing has a roster of almost 100 writers whose work both defines K-pop and popular music worldwide. CJ Kim, general manager of Warner Chappell Music Korea, said: “Joining forces with 153/Joombas Publishing again will further strengthen and solidify our position as a leader in K-pop music. We are pleased to elevate our alliance to a new level, and can’t wait to take their incredible songwriters with us on our journey as we continue to maximise the opportunities and value for K-pop music in unprecedented ways.”
Afrojack, the Grammy-winning producer and DJ, has extended his worldwide publishing deal with BMG, including all the works written and produced by the Dutch talent since he signed with BMG in 2008, including hits like “Titanium,” “Take Over Control” and “Hey Mama.”
Spirit Music Nashville has signed a co-publishing agreement with Joy Williams, half of the long-defunct duo The Civil Wars. The deal also includes the acquisition of compositions from her various song catalogs, including but not limited to The Civil Wars, as well as some of her masters. Spirit will handle her publishing on a go-forward basis with the exception of Front Porch, her most recent release, which will also be included for administration.
Reservoir has acquired rights to the entire catalog and future works of Naughty By Nature member KayGee as well as distribution rights moving forward. Beyond his Grammy-earning work with the hip-hop trio, KayGee, aka Keir Lamont Gist, made a name for himself writing and producing for 50 Cent, Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Fat Joe, Luther Vandross, and Queen Latifah. he also founded his own label in the 1990s, Divine Mill, which represented artists like Zhané, Next, and Jaheim — all of whom he produced and wrote for as well.
Baby Queen has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing. A critical darling in U.K. pop music, Baby Queen, aka Bella Lathan, says of the deal she is “excited to be working with Sony and with a team that truly undersands who [she is] as a person and as an artist.”=
Page 1 Management, a writer-producer management firm founded by Ashley Page and led in the U.S. by A&R Danielle Middleton, has signed Travis Mendes. Known for his work as a writer, producer and engineer, Mendes has played a hand in making songs like “All Time Low” and “Guillotine” by Jon Bellion, “Fools Paradise” by Isaac Dunbar, “Love Me for Now” by Cheatcodes and more. He says of the deal “I’m so happy to join this beautiful, amazing family of creatives at Page 1, and I’m excited to continue to learn and craft more amazing music for the world to hear!”
Milk & Honey Music has launched the new Milk & Honey U.S. Scholarship, an initiative to develop and mentor Australia and New Zealand-based women in songwriting and production, and its inaugural recipient is Chelsea Warner, a Sydney native making R&B, pop and hip-hop. As part of the scholarship, Warner will be given a two month residency in Los Angeles, where she will receive mentorship from top songwriters Oak Felder and Jenna Andrews. Organized by Milk & Honey leaders Lucas Keller, Milly Petriella, and Peter Coquillard, Petriella says of the program, “Less than 20% of our industry is female and the number of women in production is considerably less, it’s time to create real experiences, connections, and provide financial support if we are to truly going to change the future landscape of the music industry.”
Warner Chappell Music France has signed Some 1ne and Machynist, the duo behind some of the country’s biggest hits. They are perhaps best known for composing “Djadja” and “Pookie” for Aya Nakamura and No Crari, the sophomore album from French rapper OBOY.
Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop) has won the ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award. The annual award is presented to an ASCAP-affiliated musical theater composer that shows great promise at an early age. Previous recipients include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pasek & Paul, and David Hein & Irene Sankoff.
IMPF partnered with Music Publishers Canada to host Create Nordic Bridges, a songwriting camp that promotes publisher and songwriter collaboration between Nordic and Canadian talents. The camp took place in Toronto from Oct. 27-29 and brought together 12 songwriters, producers and artists from Canada, Estonia, Finland and Sweden.
Moon Projects, a new label and creative agency, has expanded into the songwriter side of the business by launching a co-publishing partnership with Warner Chappell Music. Called Moon Projects Publishing, it is the second joint venture started with a major music corporation for the Mary Rahmani-founded start-up, founded in 2021. Earlier this year, their Republic Records-partnered label operation saw major success with signee Em Beihold, the then-unknown pop act whose song “Numb Little Bug” hit No. 1 on both Billboard’s Adult Pop Airplay and Emerging Artist charts.
Rahmani, who is known as TikTok’s first-ever music hire, hopes to build out her newly founded Moon Projects as an artist services company adept at meeting the challenges of the modern day music industry. This includes offering label or publishing services through their jvs as well as creative agency assistance, providing curation, strategy and digital consulting for short-form video content to artists hoping to tap into the creator economy.
To date, Moon Projects Publishing has not signed any songwriters, and artists who signed to the Moon Projects label will not necessarily sign for publishing as well. Em Beihold, for example, recently announced her signing to Sony Music Publishing, but for the eventual members of its roster, the new publishing arm will combine “white-glove service and personal attention” common with boutique publishers with the “resources of one of the biggest music publishers in the world,” says the company in a statement.
“Mary and Moon Projects have a unique and innovative approach in this space. We’re excited to partner with them as they move into the music publishing side of the business. We look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together for songwriters and artists at all stages of their careers.” – Warner Chappell Music SVP of A&R and Venture Partners Rich Christina
“Warner Chappell Music is a true industry leader in music publishing and rights management. I am honored to be working with them in this joint venture,” added Rahmani. “Publishing was built to serve artists at every stage of their career by providing innovative and equitable catalog management strategies. I’m so excited to usher in this new era of Moon Projects, and to open up even more opportunities to work with the artists we care about and believe in. With the support of Warner Chappell Music, Moon Projects will continue to establish itself as a place where artists can grow and thrive.”
