Publishing Briefs: Big Machine Extends Laura Veltz; Concord Signs Lindsay Ell

Concord Music Publishing has signed Lindsay Ell to a worldwide publishing administration deal, which includes a selection of Ell’s future works. The Calgary-born country-pop artist is no stranger to the Billboard charts. Her album The Project (2017) reached No. 4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, and her song “What Happens in a Small Town” with Brantley Gilbert peaked at No. 53 on the Hot 100.

Jamie Hartman — the songwriter/producer behind hits by Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris, Rag’n’Bone Man as well as a number of songs for film and tv — has sold “the majority of [his] back catalog royalties” to hundreds of his songs, published by Reservoir Media, to Cutting Edge Media Music (CEMM). A UK-based acquirer of film/tv music rights, CEMM’s deal with Hartman marks a foray into the pop music catalog market.

Big Machine Music, a subsidiary of HYBE America, has extended its deals with Laura Veltz, Jessie Jo Dillon and Maddie & Tae. Each of the acts have had a longstanding relationship with BMM, spanning over a decade or more.

Panela Rec Portugal — a global music and entertainment company with offices in Portugal, Brazil and the US — has partnered with BMG Spain to administer and co-publish its catalog. Through its new arrangement, Panela Rec hopes to create new economic opportunities for Portuguese-speaking musicians and to join it more with the Spanish and Latin American markets as well.

Willis Wonderland Foundation has announced its inaugural Next Level Songwriters Workshop. Created in partnership with Primary Wave Music, the camp begins in early June and will focus on providing an inclusive environment for next generation songwriters, particularly women and those from underrepresented groups, to create side by side. The event caries on the legacy of songwriter Allee Willis, who penned songs like “September” “Boogie Wonderland” the Friends theme song, and other hits over a decades-long career. The program will be coordinated by songwriter Autumn Rowe with additional mentorship from Lindy Robbins, Stephen Bray, Shari Short, Shane Stevens, and Elev3n.

Wise Music Group has forged an agreement for the printed music of UK-based classical publisher Faber Music. The move is part of a larger push for Wise to be a world leader in classical music and it follows news in April that the company had purchased a controlling stake in Edition Peters Group as well.

Peermusic has signed British artist and songwriter Karl Michael to an exclusive co-publishing agreement. He is best known for penning songs like “Can We Dance” by The Vamps, “Beautiful Me” by Dappy, and for his appearance on The Voice UK.

Kristin Robinson

Billboard