Publishing Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWarner Music set a record for quarterly revenue in the fiscal first quarter that ended on Dec. 31, 2021, with $1.614 in revenue powered by a 31% increase in publishing revenue, 19% in recorded music and 21% in digital revenue.

Universal Music Publishing has signed Kieran Hebden, aka Four Tet, to a new global publishing deal as his legal dispute with former label Domino on the recordings side continues to go through the motions. Although the albums removed from the streaming services as part of that dispute are back online.“Four Tet has soundtracked my life from GCSE revision to dancefloors at university and now I get the pleasure to work with him”, says A&R Director at Universal’s publishing business, Pete Simmons.

Four Tet‘s albums released under Domino have been returned to streaming platforms as news broke that he has inked a new publishing deal with Universal.The producer and DJ, whose real name is Kieran Hebden, signed with Domino in 2001 for the release of his second album ‘Pause’ before going on to release ‘Rounds’ (2003), ‘Everything Ecstatic’ (2005) and ‘There Is Love In You’ (2010) on the label.But last November Hebden revealed that Domino had removed three of those albums (‘Pause’, ‘Rounds’ and ‘Everything Ecstatic’) in a bid to stop a legal case that he launched last August over historic downloads/streaming royalty rates.In that ongoing lawsuit Hebden claims that the label is in breach of contract over its 18 per cent royalty rate, which Domino applied to record sales, and that a “reasonable” rate of 50 per cent should have been given to downloads/streams.The contract between Hebden and Domino, which was signed in February 2001 long before the proliferation of streaming platforms and the first iPod, stated that record sales are subject to a royalty rate of 18 per cent.Domino has argued that, because digital downloads (including streams) were considered a new technology format in the early ’00s, Hebden is only entitled to 75 per cent of 18 per cent of the dealer price (i.e.

Angelique Jackson The popular YouTube Originals series “Super Sema,” starring and executive produced by Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, has appointed UTA as its North American licensing and publishing agency.UTA will work alongside global toy licensee Just Play to focus on retail initiatives and key partnerships in publishing, apparel, home and accessories for the program, which is the world’s first children’s animated series focused on an African kid superhero.The series follows the world-changing adventures of an extraordinary young African girl, Sema, and her twin brother MB, who are on a mission to protect their town Dunia from the villainous Tobor. Fueled by STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) superpowers, Sema knows that with determination and creativity, anything is possible.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSony Music Publishing has announced Songwriter Assistance, a new program that will provide its global roster of songwriters and composers with access to free, confidential counseling services and wellness resources.According to the announcement, starting February 1, Songwriter Assistance will offer 24/7 counseling support via global hotlines, as well as ongoing counseling services for emotional health matters such as stress, anxiety, depression, and family/relationship challenges.SMP songwriters will also have unlimited access to customized resources for tackling daily responsibilities such as researching childcare and eldercare options, navigating life transitions, co-parenting, budgeting for major life events, and more.In a letter to songwriters and composers announcing the program, Jon Platt, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music Publishing said, “We are committed to providing you with services that matter. The importance of wellness cannot be overstated, and with Songwriter Assistance, we look forward to offering a whole new level of care and support.”Amy Cranford, SMP senior VP of publishing administration, said, “We are passionate about taking care of Sony Music Publishing’s songwriters and composers and providing them with the best level of support.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorPrimary Wave Music has expanded its partnership with long-running British group and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Def Leppard.The deal will see the company acquire an additional stake in the band’s music publishing catalog as well as master royalty income stream.Terms of the deal were not disclosed; many of the band’s biggest hits are included in deal, such as “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “Rock of Ages” and “Photograph.”The band’s repertoire includes 11 studio albums, which have sold more than 110 million copies globally.The relationship between Primary Wave and Def Leppard began in 2009 with a deal to market and administer the band’s catalog of songs. Over the years the songs have been synced on a number of television shows, including “Cobra Kai,” “Hit the Floor,” “The Simpsons Guy,” “American Horror Story 1984” and more.

Following the release of his new album ‘The Boy Named If’ last week, Elvis Costello has announced that he has signed a new worldwide publishing deal with BMG. The company will administer his full catalogue, which is quite a lot of songs.

$300 million sale of his publishing catalog to Universal Music Publishing Group in late 2020.Sony did not disclose the terms of the deal, but Billboard magazine estimates that Dylan’s recordings are worth around $200 million based on the revenue they generated.The deal with Universal netted the singer-songwriter $300 million.Sony’s acquisition of Dylan’s recorded masters comes just a month after it paid a reported $500 million for Bruce Springsteen’s catalog.Other artists who have recently struck deals with BMG for the rights to their catalogs include John Legend, ZZ Top, Motley Crue, and Tina Turner.

John Stamos has published his eulogy to Full House costar Bob Saget, noting how “Bob was there for me like no other.”

PC. Today (January 20), the publisher revealed the first five of them, including Grapple Dog, Post Void, The Gecko Gods, Lone Ruin, and Completely Stretchy.Grapple Dog is a 2D pixel-art platformer from pixel art veteran Joseph Gribbin.

ZZ Top have sold their publishing rights and back catalogue. The 'La Grange' hitmakers - who have sold more than 50 million albums - have offloaded the assets to music company BMG and investment firm KKR to ensure their legacy will continue "for generations to come".

ZZ Top have sold all their publishing rights and back catalogue for an undisclosed fee.The group have sold both to BMG and investment firm KKR.While financial details for the deal were not disclosed, it’s expected to have attracted a multi-million dollar deal with the group having sold over 50million albums.The deal will cover all the “music interests” of ZZ Top.

Wall Street Journal, the catalog is worth around $50 million.“We are proud to continue working with and expand our long-standing relationship with BMG. This new deal ensures ZZ Top’s remarkable legacy will endure for generations to come,” ZZ Top manager Carl Stubner of Shelter Music Group said in a statement.ZZ Top – guitarist and vocalist Billy Gibbons, bassist, keys and vox Dusty Hill, and drummer Frank Beard – formed in the early 1970s, playing blues-influenced rock.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, MusicThe estate of George Michael has extended its global publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music U.K.

Rebecca Davis editorUniversal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) and Banijay signed an exclusive global music publishing and production agreement Thursday that seeks to maximize music-related revenues from the latter’s content catalogue.The deal reinforces UMPG’s foothold as a leading music publisher for film and TV content.Banijay’s portfolio includes over 110,000 hours of content, including shows such as “Peaky Blinders,” “Survivor,” “Temptation Island,” “Lego Masters,” “Black Mirror” and “Extreme

Bruce Springsteen has sold his masters and publishing rights to Sony Music in a combined deal worth around $500million (£377m), it has been reported.According to Billboard, the sale will give the company ownership of the musician’s entire back catalogue which includes 20 studio albums, 300 songs, 7 EPs, 23 live records and more.Springsteen has released his albums through Sony Music Entertainment imprint Columbia Records for his entire career, beginning with his 1973 debut ‘Greetings From Asbury

Seinfeld holiday Festivus, encouraging people to write in with complaints.The Tampa Bay Times has published their sixth annual prompt for readers to submit letters to celebrate Festivus.In ‘The Strike’, an episode of Seinfeld released in 1997, Jerry Stiller’s Frank Constanza makes up an anti-consumerist holiday called Festivus, which the publication has taken inspiration from.“What did strangers, family members, businesses, sports teams, your boss, your pets, your dentist, your local supermarket

Sony Music Publishing has extended its deal with 2021 Eurovision winners Mâneskin. Originally signed in 2017, the deal covers the band’s past and future catalogue.“It has been a huge privilege to work with Måneskin over the past four years, because they reflect how music should be – free-spoken, inclusive, and authentic – and it’s why their songs are so incredible”, says Paola Balestrazzi, A&R Director at Sony Music Publishing Italy.

John Legend's newest project brings him into the book business.Legend, Tony Award-winning producer Mike Jackson and Emmy Award-winner Ty Stiklorius are partnering with the publisher Zando for a new imprint, Get Lifted Books, an extension of the production company Get Lifted Film.Zando, an independent company founded last year by former Crown publisher Molly Stern, also has formed imprints with actor-producer Lena Waithe and “Gone Girl” novelist Gillian Flynn.“Get Lifted Film Co.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorUTA has signed musician and former Poison frontman Bret Michaels in all areas.“Bret Michaels is a true multi-hyphenate. From music and branding, to sports and reality tv he brings 1000% to all his business endeavors and we are honored to welcome him to our roster,” said David Zedeck, partner and co-head of global music.

BDi Music has signed Roo Panes to a worldwide publishing deal covering his future works.“Roo is a terrific songwriter with a great body of work”, says BDi founder Sarah Liversedge. “There’s plenty of exciting material to come, with some really interesting collaborations in the pipeline as well.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterYouTube Shorts, the video platform’s answer to viral short-form content in the vein of TikTok, launched this summer and the top creators in the space are starting to emerge.TheSoul Publishing — a collective of top-rated YouTube channels and owner of the 9th most viewed vertical, 5-minute Crafts Family — has the highest performing short to date with nearly 433 million views.As one of the first brands in the format, TheSoul’s family-friendly content has already

Universal Music is reportedly placing stronger restrictions in its record contracts on when artists can re-record songs that they originally put out through the major.

NEW YORK -- A Guatemalan publisher is being honored by the Association of American Publishers for its work in defending freedom of expression.The association announced Wednesday it was giving its International Freedom to Publish/Jeri Laber Award to F&G Editores and founder Raúl Figueroa Sarti, who has often risked his personal safety to release books alleging racism, corruption and government-sponsored violence."Beyond an acknowledgment of my publishing work in Guatemala, it seems very relevant

Young Thug has signed a new worldwide publishing deal with Kobalt, covering his current and future catalogue.Kobalt’s VP Creative, Jill Tschogl, says: “Young Thug’s track record for impacting the modern sound of hip hop, trap and popular music is undeniable. He is not only one of the most Influential songwriters and artists in rap today, but a cultural icon.

“Lionel Richie signs with Universal Music Publishing Group”, announced the first official email we received about this deal.“Universal Music Publishing Group signs global superstar Lionel Richie to exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement”, declared the second email we received about this deal, somewhat more excitedly.“We’ve only fucking gone and fucking signed Lionel fucking Richie to a motherfucking worldwide publishing deal”, shouted the third email we received about this deal.OK, I made one

most recent Daily Mail article about Lourd used photos the actress posted to her Instagram, including one that did not show the child’s face.Clooney in his letter acknowledged that as a public figure, having his photographs appear in tabloids is “Part of the price to pay for doing my job.” But he said, his “children have made no such commitment.”Clooney city his wife Amal’s work as a human rights lawyer as a particular risk.

William Earl George Clooney has issued a call for the U.K. tabloid the Daily Mail and other outlets to stop publishing pictures of celebrities’ children, calling it a matter of safety.Clooney issued “an open letter to the Daily Mail and other publications” on Thursday after asserting that he saw pictures of the 1-year-old son of actor Billie Lourd on the website of Daily Mail.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorGrammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Lionel Richie has signed an exclusive, global publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group, the company has announced. The deal includes songs written throughout Richie’s solo career, including smashes like “Hello,” “Lady,” “Dancing on the Ceiling,” “All Night Long,” “Say You, Say Me” and many others; he also co-wrote the charity single “We Are the World” with Michael Jackson in 1985.

K.J.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBruce Springsteen is in talks to sell the rights to his recorded music to Sony Music as well as his publishing catalog, three sources confirm to Variety. While the album catalog deal is nearly done, some sources say, the publishing catalog remains in play.

Sony Music Publishing has signed a new deal with the Gregg Allman estate to administer the late musician’s entire catalogue of songs worldwide.“Gregg Allman is without a doubt one of the greatest rock and roll songwriters of all time”, says Sony Music Publishing’s Global Chief Marketing Officer Brian Monaco.

publishing a letter from former president Donald Trump.“Anyone read any good letters to the editor this morning?” Andy Stone quipped on Twitter. Prior to joining Facebook, he did communications for various Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups.

Years ago, comic books were viewed as entertainment publications for kids. They were published solely for entertainment, a purpose they greatly served. As the years progressed, these feel-good comic books have transformed in purpose to become more of a source for humour and satire.

Reservoir has signed Emeli Sandé to a new publishing deal covering her upcoming new album and future works.“I’m very excited to have signed with Reservoir”, says Sandé. “It feels great to join their impressive roster.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBMG has promoted U.S. frontline recorded-music execs Angela Barkan and Cyndi Lynott to senior vice presidents, the company announced on Monday.On the East Coast, Barkan, who is currently overseeing new releases from Duran Duran, Bryan Adams and Kelis, has been promoted to SVP of marketing and will report to EVP Jason Hradil.