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Various and Stellar team up to launch new music publishing venture

By Chris Cooke | Published on Thursday 16 March 2023

Artist management firm Various Artists has teamed up with music publisher Stellar Songs to launch a new publishing joint venture to be known as Alternative Songs. Downtown Music Services is also backing and administrating the new joint venture.

Various Artists actually already has a publishing division called Various Songs, while Stellar Songs is part of Tim And Danny Music – founded by Tim Blacksmith and Danny D – which also has a management company called Delirious Blacksmith Management. So both partners in the new venture know lots about both management and publishing.

Talking about Alternative Songs, David Bianchi – co-Founder and CEO of Various Artists – says: “Tim and Danny are very old friends and collaborators; we have worked closely together for over a decade and this a further strengthening of our existing ties”.

“To be able to partner on the launch of Alternative Songs is a joy”, he goes on. “By combining our resources, enthusiasm and music industry experience, and by working closely with Mike Smith and his team at Downtown, we aim to create a unique environment in which songwriters can be creatively and commercially successful”.

The there mentioned Mike Smith, Chief Creative Officer at Downtown Music, says he’s “delighted to formalise my long-standing relationship with Various Artists and Stellar Songs”.

“I have known Danny D since his days as an artist when we published him at EMI Publishing and have always found him to be one of the most creative people in the music business and always with the best interests of the songwriter/artist close to his heart”, he continues.

“I’ve also been lucky to work with David Bianchi and his team on many different projects over the years and have always found it to be a rewarding experience; their ability to make things happen in the music industry is second to none”.

And finally Danny D says: “I’m simply over the moon about this partnership as we all have the same goals, vision and work ethic which has brought us together over the years”.

“I first worked with Mike when I signed my first publishing deal with EMI many moons ago and his all-round success as an executive is something to be admired”, he adds.

“I first met David when we signed Charli XCX and it’s been an absolute joy working with him and the whole team since day one. Together we’re all looking to make the experience for our writers a great one topped with success!”