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Artist News Business News Deals Industry People Labels & Publishers One Liners Releases
One Liners: LadBaby, The Kunts, Aaliyah, more
By Andy Malt | Published on Friday 17 December 2021
DEALS
Warner Chappell has renewed its publishing deal with the estate of George Michael, covering his entire catalogue, both solo and with Wham! “George Michael is one of the greatest songwriters of all time”, say Warner Chappell co-Chairs Guy Moot and Carianne Marshall. “We all still miss his engaging personality, but he’s left the most incredible legacy in the form of his songs and performances. We take our responsibility to curate and promote his catalogue incredibly seriously, because even the greatest songs still need energetic champions”.
Hey, you know that big Bruce Springsteen deal we mentioned yesterday? Well, Sony‘s confirmed it now, so we can stop pretending there’s a chance it might not have happened. “I am one artist who can truly say that when I signed with Columbia Records in 1972, I came to the right place”, says Springo. “During the last 50 years, the men and women of Sony Music have treated me with the greatest respect as an artist and as a person. I’m THRILLED that my legacy will continue to be cared for by the company and people I know and trust”.
Reservoir has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Michael League and his band Snarky Puppy. As part of the deal, Reservoir will also represent League’s GroundUP Music label and publishing company. “I couldn’t be more excited to open a new door not just for myself, but for all of my friends and fellow writers at GroundUP Music, as we join together with the incredibly hard-working and motivated team at Reservoir”, says League. “I have no doubt that this will take our music to new places and fresh ears”.
Sentric Music and Nick Halkes have signed songwriter and producer Elaine Mai as part of their ongoing joint venture. “From the first time we were introduced, I got a great feeling about collaborating with Nick and the team at Sentric”, she says. “Nick’s exceptional industry expertise is coupled with a huge passion for music and helping artists develop and grow their careers. I’m really excited to see where this partnership takes us”.
Universal Music Publishing has signed a global publishing and production music agreement with Banijay Brands, which represents TV shows including ‘Peaky Blinders’ and ‘Lego Masters’. “This new partnership with one of the leading, most ambitious and creative new media companies in the world is an extremely important one for UMPG, not only in the UK but globally. We look forward to a mutually successful collaboration”, says UMPG UK MD Mike McCormack.
Boutique music publisher Wardlaw Music – founded by Stanley Banks and Julian Lyons in 2004 – has joined digital licensing group IMPEL. “It became very apparent that Wardlaw Music should join our fellow independents as members of IMPEL”, says Banks. “Logistically speaking, it was a no brainier. Our combined rights and collective voices mean we are all heard and represented when digital rights are discussed and negotiated with parties that would seek to exploit such rights”.
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APPOINTMENTS
Downtown Music has announced a number of new appointments in its global finance and investment teams. Jan Peter Kerstens is to become Downtown’s CFO (having previously held the same role at its FUGA division). Making way, current CFO Alan Goodstadt will become Chief Investment Officer. Meanwhile, Director Of Financial Planning & Analysis Becca Klein is switching to VP Financial Planning & Analysis.
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RELEASES
Right, this is it then. The race to Christmas number one starts today. So, this morning, LadBaby have released their sausage roll themed cover of Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’. Sheeran and John appear on that version too, pretty much guaranteeing them the Christmas number one and number two this year. Which order will the two tracks be in though? Only time will tell.
Also out today is another Christmas cracker hoping to top the festive chart – ‘Boris Johnson Is Still A Fucking Cunt’ by The Kunts. Last year they got to number five with ‘Boris Johnson Is A Fucking Cunt’. Can they do even better this year? FYI, as was the case last year, they have also prepared a sausage roll-themed SFW version. There’s also a Cassetteboy version, among various remixes.
The first new Aaliyah single for fifteen years is out, with added vocals from The Weeknd. Listen to ‘Poison’ here. A new posthumous album from the singer, ‘Unstoppable’, is scheduled for release next year.
Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily – updated every Friday.
