A&R Worldwide Newsletter Vol. 841

BMG APPOINTS MARC JOHLEN AS MANAGING DIRECTOR GSA

 

 

SEEKER MUSIC PARTNERS WITH MITH MEDIA

 

Seeker Music has announced a team-up with MITH Media. Through this new partnership, Seeker and MITH will sign songwriters and artists together, attain and take charge of catalogs, widen Seeker’s share in Latin music markets, and create genre-focused IP and projects. This partnership stemmed from the companies’ mutual appreciation for the Latin music scene, coupled with their joint aspiration for aiding artists, along with catalog oversight.

Both companies announced their inaugural signings of Grammy-nominated songwriter K. Sotomayor (Selena Gomez, DJ Snake, Sofia Reyes, Maria Becerra, and Kim Petras) along with singer-songwriter Dēlian, (Mariah Angeliq, Kurt, The Change, Malu Trevejo, Chesca, Lourdiz). K. Sotomayor’s recent track, “COBARDE,” has stayed atop the Billboard Latin Pop charts for 20 consecutive weeks, reaching as high as No.3.

Seeker manages a copyright catalog exceeding 14,000 works, featuring compositions by artists like Christopher Cross, Charlotte Caffey, Run the Jewels (across their first three albums), Jon Bellion, John Ryan, Mozella, Plested, among others. In addition, their publishing stable includes hitmakers such as Kito and Dan “Robopop” Omelio. MITH’s portfolio includes executive production and release collaborations with artists such as David Guetta, Sean Paul, Jason Derulo, Maria Becerra, Anitta, De La Ghetto, in partnership with Warner Latin, Neon16, and Sony Latin.

Evan Bogart, Founder & CEO, Seeker Music, tells A&R Worldwide, “As a songwriter, I have been inspired by Latin music’s richness, passion, depth of songwriting, and music culture. It deeply resonates with me as a music creator, and it is one of my biggest goals for Seeker in 2024, to embrace and invest in the Latin music genre, and community. There are no two better people to partner with to make that happen than my friends, Charlie (Guerrero) and Paloma (Hecht), and their company MITH. I feel a tremendous sense of excitement to be able to build something so extraordinary together and am proud to be in business with two of the most beloved executives in Latin music who have earned the trust of so many incredible artists and songwriters over the years.”

MITH has also created sponsorship and branding opportunities for artists and brands including T-Mobile, L’oreal, Cuervo, and Heineken, and has forged a partnership for the West Coast and Las Vegas with BRESH, the largest Latin party event globally.

 

Sarah Ismail has been appointed as Managing Director of ADA Asia, part of Warner Music Group‘s (WMG) independent label and artist services arm. Concurrently, she will continue her responsibilities on an interim term as Managing Director of Warner Music Philippines, where she has played a pivotal role in nurturing the careers of established and breakthrough artists.

Sarah will report to Chris Gobalakrishna and Jonathan Serbin, Co-Presidents of Warner Music Asia as well as Cat Kreidich, President of ADA, while collaborating closely with global leaders from ADA. Remaining in Manila in the short term, she will relocate to Hong Kong. Sarah will play a key role in propelling ADA’s ongoing expansion in Asia.

The company already has dedicated teams across the region, along with key distribution deals with major players including Bandai-Namco in Japan, Baramey Production in Cambodia, DPM in Indonesia, and Yin Yang Media in Vietnam as well as Rap Viet, the country’s most popular music game show which boasts over half a million monthly listeners on Spotify. Bolstering ADA’s presence in Vietnam, Thuan Tran has joined as Label Manager for the country. Thuan built his career working for Zing MP3, Vietnam’s leading music streaming platform. In his new role, he will help ADA support even more local indie artists in Vietnam, allowing their voices to resonate on a global stage.

Sarah joined Warner Music Group in 2019 and was swiftly promoted to the role of Regional Marketing Director for Greater China, and South-East Asia. She quickly rose through the ranks and assumed the position of Managing Director of Warner Music Philippines. Under her guidance, Warner Music Philippines achieved remarkable results and unprecedented milestones, including the breakthrough successes of Lola Amour and Dilaw. Her ability to identify and foster talent has contributed to Warner Music’s success in the region.

 

 

 

 

TAME IMPALA’S KEVIN PARKER SELLS CATALOG TO SONY MUSIC PUBLISHING: Sony Music Publishing (SMP) has announced its acquisition of Kevin Parker‘s (Tame Impala) entire recording catalog. In 2020, SMP signed a publishing deal with Parker to secure global representation of his future songs, however, the new agreement now covers both Parker’s existing collection of songs and all his future recordings. Parker has created every song on Tame Impala’s albums which include Innerspeaker, Lonerism, Currents, and The Slow Rush, which placed at No.1 on ARIA‘s Albums chart, Billboard‘s Rock Albums chart, and more. Parker has also written songs for artists like Rihanna, Travis Scott, Dua Lipa, Mick Jagger, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Gorillaz, Mark Ronson, The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Kid Cudi, Flaming Lips, A$AP Rocky, Lil Yachty, Don Toliver, Daft Punk, Miguel, and The Wiggles. Throughout his career, Parker has obtained countless accolades including Grammy nominations, APRA “Songwriter of the Year,” “Song of the Year” awards, and multiple ARIA awards for “Album” and “Producer of the Year.” Jon Platt, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Publishing, stated, “I have always admired Kevin Parker and I believe he is one of the most versatile songwriters of our time. Kevin has built a catalog of songs with incredible range and enduring power, and he has always stayed true to his vision. It is a privilege to represent his music, and we are committed to broadening his legacy of success.”

 

THE SCRIPT SIGN GLOBAL RECORDINGS DEAL WITH BMG: The Script, one of the most popular Irish rock bands since U2 have inked a worldwide recording contract with BMG, moving on from Sony Music which was their previous label. Their global streaming tally is ten billion streams and growing, with 24.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. Other global highlights include six No.1 albums in the U.K., seven No.1 albums in Ireland, and two Platinum-certified singles in the United States. The Script has sold over four million tickets throughout its sixteen-year career. The Script, led by founding members Danny O’Donoghue and Glen Power, are moving ahead as a duo following the passing of their bandmate Mark Sheehan in 2023. In addition, their upcoming tour features a series of U.K. stadium performances in June as special guests to P!NK. Following this, the band will go on a European tour throughout the summer, with North American dates scheduled from August until late October. Jamie Nelson, Sr. VP at BMG New Recordings, stated, “We are very excited to be working with The Script. Their music has always traveled and connected globally.” Alistair Norbury, President, Repertoire & Marketing, BMG U.K., added, “We are honored to have partnered with The Script and look forward to harnessing the excitement that the new album has created amongst our global teams.”

 

RESERVOIR ACQUIRES CATALOG OF BIG D EVANS: Reservoir Media has acquired the producer royalties and publishing catalog of the late hip-hop producer-songwriter Deon Evans, professionally known as Big D Evans. Evans is known for his collaboration with Tupac Shakur (2Pac) and produced his debut album, 2Pacalypse Now, including the single “Brenda’s Got a Baby,” which reached the Top 3 on Billboard‘s Hot Rap Songs chart. Evans assisted on 2Pac’s second album and was vital in helping his estate posthumously release the album Greatest Hits, which featured tracks like “Changes,” a previously unreleased track that earned a Grammy nomination for “Best Rap Solo Performance” and remains the first posthumous song to be nominated in this category. Evans also produced 2Pac’s “Ghetto Gospel,” which was released posthumously off his album, Loyal to the Game. Before collaborating with 2Pac, Evans started his producing career working with Clever Jeff and the hip-hop group Digital Underground. He has also worked with musicians like Ne-Yo later in his career. Reservoir Donna Caseine, Executive Vice President, Global Creative Director, Reservoir Media tells A&R Worldwide, “Big D Evans was a key creator behind the music of one of the biggest hip-hop artists of all time. The music Big D and 2Pac created together shaped hip-hop into a genre capable of reflective social commentary, collectively inspiring fans, and other artists to this day. Furthermore, with our investment in Big D’s influential catalog, Reservoir continues to solidify our portfolio as a home for outstanding legacy hip-hop music.”

 

WARNER MUSIC BOLSTERS A&R AND MARKETING TEAM FOR MÚSICA MEXICANA: Warner Music Group (WMG) is strengthening its A&R and marketing divisions within Música Mexicana by assembling a team led by Tomas Rodríguez. Rodríguez, President of Warner Music Mexico & Música Mexicana, will lead the initiative from Mexico City. Rubén Abraham, as General Manager of Música Mexicana, will provide oversight to the A&R and Marketing squad from WMG’s Los Angeles office and Brian Plascencia assumes the reins of the A&R team as Director of A&R. Plascencia has served in various capacities at Universal Music, Univision Records, and as West Coast Label Manager at Machete Music. His contributions were pivotal in launching the careers of artists such as El Potro de Sinaloa, Fidel Rueda, Larry Hernandez, and Roberto Tapia. Also, Plascencia co-founded Alianza Records, where he contributed to the emergence of talents like Caimanes de Sinaloa, Edicion Especial, and Grupo H-100. Meanwhile, Armando López, as Associate Director of A&R, brings over a decade of industry experience, along with proficiency in marketing, music production, and concert promotion. Cesar Carrillo also joins the team as Senior Manager of A&R, bringing knowledge in music production and talent management within the Música Mexicana sphere. Carrillo has steered the careers of Los Buitres de Culiacán and Tomas Ballardo. Concurrently, Maria Angela Batiz, in her capacity as Director of Marketing, Música Mexicana, will persist in shaping marketing strategies and campaigns for the genre.

 

SONY MUSIC OPTS OUT OF AI TRAINING: Sony Music Group (SMG) and its affiliates have opted out of AI training. The company stated in a press release last week that it believes in the significance of human creativity. Moreover, it has embraced the potential of responsibly developed AI as a tool for artistic expression, reshaping the landscape of music creation. However, Sony believes that any innovation must uphold the rights of songwriters and recording artists, including their copyrights. Considering this, SMG’s affiliates, namely Sony Music Publishing (SMP) and Sony Music Entertainment (SME), alongside their subsidiaries, assertively declare their stance. They expressly prohibit and opt out of any form of text or data mining, web scraping, or similar extraction or usage (referred to as TDM) of SMG content without explicit authorization. This content includes musical compositions, lyrics, audio recordings, artwork, and more. Such prohibitions extend to utilizing SMG content for AI system training, development, or commercialization, via bots, scrapers, or other automated processes, as permitted by relevant laws. This declaration reaffirms and does not compromise SMP’s and SME’s existing rights reservations and legal protections, which are expressly maintained by the company. These reservations encompass all current and future SMG content, including works identified through public channels or listed in databases like those managed by organizations such as the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and the International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP).

 

FLO SIGN WITH PPL FOR INTERNATIONAL NEIGHBOURING RIGHTS: FLO has announced a deal with PPL for the entire body of their global neighboring rights royalties. FLO became the first all-female group to secure the BBC Sound of 2023 and the BRITs Rising Star Award during the same calendar year, as well as being nominated for three Soul Train Awards in the U.S., as well as performing at Coachella. The trio had attended East London Arts & Music and collaborated on songs with Stormzy and Missy Elliott. Kate Reilly, Chief Membership & People Officer, PPL stated, “PPL’s innovative technology systems, meticulous approach to metadata management, and an expanding network of 110 agreements with CMOs, all contribute towards ensuring that the band receives royalties when their music is played on the radio, TV, or public places globally. FLO is a phenomenal act and has broken so many records to date. As PPL is a supporter of ELAM, we are delighted to be working with its talented alumni. FLO’s success in the U.K. and U.S. already proves there is a huge appetite for their music, and we look forward to collecting neighboring rights royalties on their behalf internationally as they embark on the next exciting phase of their career.” Recent signings to PPL include artists such as Lewis Capaldi, Ice Spice, and Central Cee.

 

IMPEL ADDS 4 NEW MEMBERS IN NORTH AMERICA: IMPEL has announced its addition of four new North American music publishers, bringing in The Administration MP, Drive Music Publishing, Red Brick Songs, and Lofi Jazz. Established in 2013, The IMPEL has a clientele that exceeds 1,300 companies and represents over 60,000 copyrights. Its collection is primarily focused on hip hop, with clients who have penned tracks for Drake, MGK, the Notorious B.I.G., Migos, Nicki Minaj, 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Kanye West, 50 Cent, Tyga, and Chris Brown. Red Brick Songs have aided songwriters in multimedia song placement, royalty administration, and career/creative development. It manages the catalogs of Toni Braxton, Bootsy Collins, Alison Krauss, Paula Cole, Ronnie Spector,and others. It also owns tracks such as Julie Gold‘s Grammy-winning “From A Distance,” Herbie Hancock‘s “Rockit,” and the Second Floor Music jazz portfolio. Drive Music Publishing supplies administration, creative, consulting, royalty collection, and sound recording services globally. The company represents Grammy-winning and nominated writers like Jackson Browne, Benny Carter, and Carlos Varela. Lastly, Lofi Chill and Lofi Jazz control the catalogs of the record label of the exact name and publish works from Dontcry, Phlocalyst, Casiio, SwuM, and Mujo. The IMPEL membership represents songs from Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Dua Lipa, David Bowie, Ray Charles, Rihanna, Beyonce, Calvin Harris, Elvis Presley, Joni Mitchell, and many others.

 

RALPH W. PEER NAMED MANAGING DIRECTOR, U.K. AT PEERMUSIC: Peermusic U.K. has announced Ralph W. Peer as their new Managing Director. Peer initially joined the family business in 2019 as Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. His contributions expanded over time, encompassing roles such as Managing Director for both peermusic Australia and South Africa by 2022. Operating from London, Peer’s new designation will be Managing Director, U.K., and Australasia, coupled with the responsibility of Vice President for African and Middle Eastern operations. Within this framework, the team at peermusic U.K. will report directly to Peer, while Nigel Elderton, serving as President of peermusic Europe, will maintain oversight of creative and administrative functions across the continent. Peer was instrumental in establishing Australia’s premier international songwriting camp to create cross-cultural collaborations. Recent milestones for the label include securing an exclusive global publishing deal for the fifth studio album from British rock band Nothing but Thieves. Also, the recently announced joint venture with Marshall signals a move towards artist and songwriter development through the Marshall Records label, in addition to an exclusive distribution agreement supported by peermusic.

 

SUN LABEL GROUP LAUNCHES UNDER PRIMARY WAVE MUSIC: Primary Wave Music has unveiled its latest venture, the Sun Label Group, consolidating several record labels under one banner. This amalgamation brings together Sun Records, Gaither Music, Green Hill Music, Rural Rhythm, and emeraldwave (by Green Hill). The president of the Sun Label Group will be Paul Sizelove as he continues to lead operations as President of Gaither Music Group. Meanwhile, Blake Davis will maintain his position as General Manager of Green Hill Music. Despite this consolidation, each label will maintain its distinctive identity, structure, and dedicated teams. Rooted in a combined musical heritage spanning 160 years, the Sun Label Group pays homage to its constituent labels’ histories while paving the way for innovative musical endeavors. Primary Wave’s acquisition of Sun Records in a $30 million (USD) deal in 2021 included master recordings from artists like Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. The Sun Label Group has a lineup of projects slated for release and Sun Records will showcase offerings from artists like Ruthie Foster, Amy Helm, Melissa Etheridge, Shawna Thompson, and ZZ Ward. Gaither Music will present albums from Chris Blue, Jordan Smith, The Isaacs, and Joseph Habedank.

 

POSITION MUSIC CELEBRATES 25 YEARS: Position Music recently hosted hundreds of artists, executives, and collaborators to celebrate its 25th anniversary, since the company’s inception back in 1999. The event honored the company’s publishing and label roster, major synchronization placements, and Position’s first No.1 on the Billboard Global 200 with the Benson Boone hit “Beautiful Things,” co-written by Jack LaFrantz. Throughout the history of Position Music, President & CEO Tyler Bacon has garnered formidable relationships around the entertainment industry and has pitched a catalog of music to film, TV, and advertising clients. Position Music’s latest sync placements include Target, NFL, Netflix, Samsung, Google, Audi, Amazon, and Peloton. Furthermore, artists from the label’s roster have collaborated with the likes of Fred again.., Justin Timberlake, David Guetta, iann dior, Flo Milli, Elley Duhé, David Kushner, Stray Kids, and others. Position Music has also signed artists and writers to publishing deals in the past year, including Tinashe, Audien, Cannons, Austin Powerz, Keith Varon, and KANNER, among others. Position Music also has a growing frontline label roster with the latest signings being Elohim, NoMBe, Kyle Dion, Jordan Suaste, and Hunter Metts. Earlier this year, Position also obtained the publishing catalog rights to DJ Gesaffelstein‘s catalog. The anniversary party was held at Position Music’s Burbank, CA offices and studio spaces where they have built four new recording studios to provide production spaces to their songwriters in addition to a hub for writing camps and other creative collaborations.

 

CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING SIGNS COMPOSER & LYRICIST ELI BOLIN: Concord Music Publishing has announced the signing of the Emmy and Drama Desk-nominated composer and lyricist, Eli Bolin. This global deal includes Bolin’s entire catalog as well as all future works. Bolin contributed to the “Documentary Now!” episode Original Cast Album: Co-op alongside Seth Meyers and John Mulaney, earning an Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics” for their song “Holiday Party (I Did a Little Cocaine Tonight).” Bolin also collaborated with Mulaney and Marika Sawyer on the songs for the Netflix musical variety special John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch. His television credits include Nine Perfect Strangers, Sesame Street, Animaniacs, and Difficult People, among others. Bolin is the founding music director of Story Pirates, an ensemble that brings to life the imaginative works of children through songs and sketches. In the theatrical arena, Bolin contributed to Rachel Bloom‘s Death, Let Me Do My Show, earning a Drama Desk nomination. Furthermore, Bolin’s stage credits also include “Found,” “Volleygirls,” “Skippyjon Jones,” and “Roller Disco,” to name a few. Bolin’s future projects include working with writer Rachel Shukert on How to Write Dirty Books for Fun and Profit, and with Matt Cox on True Crime Frankenstein. Also, the London premiere of Found is slated for 2025.

 

PMY GROUP INTEGRATES AUDOO AUDIO METERS AT LARGE-SCALE EVENTS: PMY Group has unveiled a global partnership with Audoo in which live event technology and royalty management will have integration of Audoo Audio Meters into the tech stacks of large-scale events. The aim is to revolutionize public performance reporting, addressing the longstanding issue of unclaimed music royalties that amount to billions of dollars annually due to inadequate reporting mechanisms. With PMY servicing over 1,000 clients spanning different sectors across 14 countries, including a presence in the European summer festival circuit, the incorporation of Audoo’s technology directly into the tech infrastructure of these event venues will enhance its services for existing clientele while attracting new partners by setting a standard in music royalty reporting. The Audoo Audio Meter represents a state-of-the-art solution and is endorsed by Sir Elton John, because he believes it provides higher accuracy and transparency in public performance data, facilitating quasi-real-time tracking of music usage and ensuring appropriate royalty payments to music creators, licensees, and businesses. These GDPR-compliant devices, designed with public privacy in mind, are being deployed across Europe, the Middle East, and Australasia, monitoring and reporting songs played in various public performance locations such as cafes, bars, hair salons, restaurants, gyms, and retail establishments. By integrating the Audoo Audio Meter with its OPTIC platform, PMY propels forward in live music analytics, jointly establishing new standards in reporting and transparency within the music industry at major events worldwide.

 

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