Publishing Briefs: CTM Buys Dutch Music Group; Nija Charles Launches Publisher

CTM Outlander has acquired Dutch music label and publishing house Strengholt Music Group. Founded in 1928, Stengholt was originally part of European entertainment powerhouse Strengholt B.V. and was considered an early pioneer in the Dutch music business. The catalog contains over 100 Dutch No. 1 hits, including works composed by Boudewijn de Groot, Lennaert Nijgh, Ramses Shaffy, Pierre Kartner, Hans van Hemert, Ferry Corsten, Radboud Miedema, John Ewbank, Eric van Tijn and Jochem Fluitsma, and including “Engelbewaarder” by Marco Schuitmaker. (The management and rights activities of Purple Eye Publishing and Purple Eye ENtertainment are excluded from this transaction.)

Grammy Songwriter of the Year nominee Nija Charles and Legion founder Christian McCurdy have launched Anomaly, a new publishing company. Already, the pair has signed Jack Rochon, Serg Dior and Tre-Von Waters to the new publishing house. To date, the company is not partnered with another publisher but is in the process of finalizing a deal now.

Sol Was has signed a worldwide publishing administrative agreement with Warner Chappell Music‘s Wallace Joseph and Gabz Landman. With recent credits on Beyoncé’s Renaissance, this marks the up-and-coming songwriter and producer’s first-ever publishing deal. He is managed by David Silberstein, Jeremy Levin, Haley Evans and Laura Higbee of Mega House Music.

Spirit Music Nashville has signed Tyler Reeve to a worldwide co-publishing agreement. A writer for Luke Combs, Eric Church, Chris Young, Scotty McCreery and Brett Young, his accomplishments include winning BMI’s Country Song of the Year and multiple multi-platinum certifications.

peermusic Nashville has signed songwriter and engineer Nick Brophy to an exclusive worldwide publishing deal. A songwriter to stars like Jason Aldean, Hootie & the Blowfish, Rascal Flatts and engineers to Avril Lavigne, The Rolling Stones and Everclear — Brophy has the “ability to write across genres with impact in Nashville and into global markets,” says Michael Knox, president of peermusic Nashville.

Downtown Music Publishing has signed Raja Kumari, a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and rapper, to a global administration agreement. As part of the deal, Downtown will administer Kumari’s debut album The Bridge along with her collaboration with John Legend for Johnny Walker India. The deal also includes administration for all future writing credits during the deal term.

Angry Mob Music Group presented a five-day writing camp from June 26-30 in Downtown LA, drawing over 30 writers, artists and producers from various cultural backgrounds. Called The New Normal Writing Camp, it was founded by Ralph Torrefranca, senior director of a&r at Angry Mob, and was created to bring together underrepresented songwriters and to encourage new ways of thinking. Of the attendees, 50% were women producers and 70% were women artists and writers.

Distiller Music Group has announced a new co-publishing agreement with songwriter/producer Gil Lewis (Leah Kate, Nina Nesbitt, Icona Pop, Cheat Codes). The deal is an agreement with Stellar Songs and part of a wider partnership that Distiller Music Group is developing with Tim Blacksmith and Danny D’s publishing company. It will be administered by Warner Chappell Music.

Criminal Records, a London-based indie label, has launched a new publishing arm and North American partnership with Purley Sounds. With diverse signees, ranging from ska-punk to punk, Criminal Records hopes the new move will “further empower independent artists.”