Quantcast

PUB CRAWLING: FRESH INK AND GRAMMY HUGS

Fresh Ink

Sony/ATV has done a deal with buzzing Canadian singer/songwriter Grimes (aka Claire Boucher) in the first pact in its Rough Customer JV with Grammy-snagging producer, songwriter and Bleachers frontman Jack Antonoff. The pubco's SVP Creative Jennifer Knoepfle called Grimes "a rare and special talent" and, as a writer, producer and visual artist, "a triple threat and a phenomenal addition to the Sony/ATV Rough Customer family."

To review two other signings we announced elsewhere:

UMPG has signed rock mainstays Pearl Jam (including their colossal catalog, current recordings and frontman Eddie Vedder’s solo recordings—pass the ukulele and the Maui Wowie).

SONGS has inked Danish siren MO (whom you may recall from Major Lazer’s monster “Lean On”). A lavish Scandinavian feast was served to celebrate. Pass the head cheese!

Grammy Group Hug

There’s nothing like a big ol’ Grammy win to underscore the uniquely collaborative nature of the publishing biz. While competition—frequently brutal—is often the very guzzeline of the recorded-music side, competing pubcos cheer many of the same records. Witness “Girl Crush,” the smash by Capitol Nashville’s Little Big Town that put Best Country Song trophies in the hands of writers Liz Rose (Warner/Chappell), Lori McKenna (UMPG) and Hillary Lindsey (BMG). That said, it’s time to toast the Grammy hauls of a few pubberies. The following is not exhaustive.

Grammy Team Hugs

Sony/ATV writers Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff share Album of the Year/Pop Vocal Album victories for1989, Ed Sheeran for Song of the Year and Pop Solo Perf “Thinking out Loud”; the pubco enjoys a co-pub interest in Record of the Year “Uptown Funk!”; Pharrell Williams and Sounwave for contributing to Rap Album, Song and Performance winner To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar; Illangelo, co-writer of six songs on The Weeknd’s Beauty Behind the Madness; and Kendra Foster, co-writer with Best R&B Album and Song winner D’Angelo; the late Amy Winehouse of Best Music Film Amy.

UMPG claims, among others, the aforementioned D’Angelo and Lori McKenna; Justin Bieber for Dance Recording “Where Are U Now”; Producer of the Year Jeff Bhasker; and Rock Performance/Alternative Album winners Alabama Shakes (ex-N.A.); Gospel Performance/Song via writers Kirk Franklin and Al Green; and interest in Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative and Tropical Latin Album.

Warner/Chappell’s Kendrick Lamar ran the table in Rap, while Bruno Mars was a key writer on Record of the Year “Uptown Funk!”; Muse took Rock Album; and Nashville writers scored big. These included Chris Stapleton (Country Album/Solo Performance), Little Big Town (Country Duo/Group Performance/Song), the aforementioned Liz Rose, producer Dave Cobb (Stapleton, Americana winner Jason Isbell). Winners in other genre categories included rock great Roger Waters and world-music stalwart Angelique Kidjo. And let’s not forget Lin-Manuel Miranda, the visionary behind Hamilton (which W/C nurtured from the crib). Julian Raymond deserves a shout for Compilation ST winner Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me.

SONGS claims R&B Performance/Urban Contemporary Album winner The Weeknd and Dance rulers Diplo and the Jack U project, not to mention Trinidad James, another contributor to “Uptown Funk!”

And the pub peeps did party on Grammy night...


Clockwise from top left: Sony/ATV chief Marty Bandier and writer/Columbia artist Rachel Platten; Warner/Chappell ruler Jon Platt; UMPG big kahuna Jody Gerson with Capitol COO and partner in crime Michelle Jubelirer; Primary Wave's Larry Mestel, Justin Shukat, Ramon Villa, Adam Lowenberg and team; and SONGS' Ron Perry.

NEAR TRUTHS: SPRING BLOOMS
Here come the big guns. (3/28a)
THE COUNT: COLDPLAY IS HOT, COUNTRY'S COOKIN' IN THE U.K.
The latest tidbits from the bustling live sector (3/28a)
CITY OF HOPE TAPS MARCIANO FOR TOP HONOR
This year's philanthropic model (3/28a)
TRUST IN THE TOP 20
Hip-hop is no longer hibernating. (3/28a)
UMG BROADENS SPOTIFY OFFERINGS
Sir Lucian and Daniel are in harmony. (3/28a)
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
 Email

 First Name

 Last Name

 Company

 Country
CAPTCHA code
Captcha: (type the characters above)