Warner Chappell Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorSnap has announced the Snapchat Sounds Creator Fund: Its first fund designed to support emerging and independent artists who distribute their music on the app via DistroKid.Starting in August, Snap will provide monthly grants of up to $100,000 to artists who are distributing music on Snapchat via DistroKid. The program is currently capped at 20 songs; Snap says it will provide grants of $5,000 per song to artists, based on the level of engagement Snapchat users have with the music.Currently, musicians who are signed with Snap’s music label and publisher partners — which include Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Merlin, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell and Kobalt — monetize their content through those agreements.

Belgian artist Stromae has signed a big old deal with Warner Chappell which will now provide music publishing admin services to the company that manages all his projects and rights, Mosaert.As well as overseeing Stromae’s own musical output, Brussels-based Mosaert is also involved in music video production, having worked with the likes of Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa, and even has its own fashion line.Confirming the deal, Warner Chappell CEO Guy Moot says: “Stromae has consistently been one of the most exciting Francophone artists over the last fifteen years. His innovative approach has always put a stylistic vision at the heart of how he presents himself, and that’s helped him influence and shape wider culture.

DEALSWarner Chappell and comedian Kevin Hart’s media company Hartbeat have signed a deal that will see the former administer the latter’s music publishing rights. “Hartbeat is THRILLED to partner with leading global publisher Warner Chappell Music to develop and build out a first-of-its-kind Hartbeat music library”, says the media firm’s President Jeff Clanagan.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWarner Chappell Music and Kevin Hart’s global multi-platform media company, Hartbeat, have announced an exclusive music publishing partnership. Under the deal – a first of its kind for Hartbeat – WCM will administer all of Hartbeat’s music composition copyrights, covering future programming as well as past works from shows like “Die Hart” and “Hart to Heart.”WCM will also help build the company’s music catalog across Hartbeat Studios, Hartbeat Media and Pulse, in addition to providing creative support for a variety of music projects, and access to its songwriting talent and award-winning production music library.WCM senior VP of creative services Ashley Winton said: “This deal was made possible with the support of our Co-Chairs Guy Moot and Carianne Marshall, and we’re all very proud that Hartbeat is entrusting us as their first publishing partner.

Justin Timberlake has sold his song catalogue to Hipgnosis Song Management, in a deal that gives the company all the rights to the artist’s previously released music.Hipgnosis Song Management have bought 100 per cent of Timberlake’s rights, including to tracks like ‘SexyBack’, ‘Rock Your Body’, and ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’. The deal pertains to Timberlake’s publishing rights but not his recording rights, which means songs that he either wrote or co-wrote.As he wasn’t a songwriter on some of NSYNC’s best-known hits such as ‘Bye Bye Bye’ and ‘It’s Gonna Be Me’, these are not included in the sale but the majority of his solo work will be included.

Warner Chappell has signed a worldwide publishing deal with singer-songwriter Natanael Cano, best known for his 2019 collaboration with Bad Bunny, ‘Soy El Diablo (Remix)’.“Nata is a unique talent, who at such a young age, has already secured his legacy in the industry”, says Warner Chappell’s President for the US, Latin and Latin America, Gustavo Menéndez. “He has an incredible delivery with an uncanny penmanship as a songwriter, no matter the genre.

APPOINTMENTSWarner Chappell has hired Peter Rosenthal in the newly created role of EVP Global Head Of Legal And Business Affairs. He joins from Downtown Music Holdings, where he was General Counsel. “I’m very excited to be joining Warner Chappell at such a pivotal time in its evolution and for our industry at large”, he says.———————————————RELEASESTrent Reznor has reworked Danny Elfman’s ‘Native Intelligence’.Coi Leray has engaged the services of Nicki Minaj for new single ‘Blick Blick’.James Blunt and Jason Zhang have teamed up for a new version of Blunt’s song ‘Adrenaline’.Are you a friend of King Princess? Well, I have a song for you.

DEALSConcord Music Publishing has signed songwriter and producer Fred Ball to a worldwide publishing agreement. “I’m delighted to be part of Concord’s roster”, he says.

George Michael has ordered Tory Lanez to cease distribution of his track ‘Enchanted Waterfall’, which they say features an uncleared ‘Careless Whisper’ sample.According to a report from Variety, the late Wham! singer’s estate declined a request from Lanez for permission to use the track in mid-2021.They wrote in a statement: “It was brought to our attention that the song ‘Enchanted Waterfall’: by the artist Tory Lanez incorporated an unauthorised sample of ‘Careless Whisper’ written by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley… requested permission for this use had been declined in June 2021 so we took immediate action on behalf of the writers, in collaboration with our publishers Warner Chappell Music, to prevent further exploitation as we will not tolerate any unauthorized use of any songs within the catalogues of George Michael and/or Andrew Ridgeley.As Stereogum point out, ‘Enchanted Waterfall’ has since been removed from Spotify but remains available on YouTube and Apple Music at the time of writing.Last year, Madonna also accused Tory Lanez of “illegal usage” of her 1985 single ‘Into The Groove’, which was sampled on his new track ‘Pluto’s Last Comet’.The song appears on Lanez’s recent sixth album, ‘Alone At Prom’, which is heavily inspired by the pop greats of the ‘80s.It would appear that Lanez sampled the lead synth melody behind ‘Into The Groove’ – written for the soundtrack of the ’85 comedy-drama Desperately Seeking Susan, which Madonna starred in – but didn’t credit the iconic popstar.In response, Madonna commented on a recent post of Lanez’s on Instagram, writing: “Read your messages tor [sic] illegal usage of my song get into the groove!”in a statement given to Rolling Stone, Madonna added: “I am tired of being

DEALSWarner Chappell and film production company Unigram have jointly signed a worldwide publishing deal with singer-songwriter Scott McFarnon. “Scott is a brilliant songwriter, he’s written for top artists and is enjoying success writing original scores for movies”, says Warner Chappell’s UK Head Of A&R Amber Davis.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAs Spotify awkwardly attempts to defend its stance on Joe Rogan — first over the Covid-19 misinformation on his show, and then over his frequent use of the N-word on that same show — the controversies have revived musicians’ longest-standing problem with the platform: The royalty rates it and other streaming platforms pay, which most musicians and many rights-holders feel are far too low.This is particularly true in publishing: In January of 2018 the Copyright Royalty Board ruled to increase songwriter rates for interactive streaming by nearly 50% over the following five years, to 15.1%. However, in March of 2019, Spotify, Google, Amazon and Pandora then appealed to keep the previous rate of 10.5% — and are gearing up to argue for that rate for the next five-year period (2023-2027) as well.

Sam Pollard, the Peabody winning director of “Mr. Soul!” and “Sammy Davis, Jr.: I Gotta Be Me,” has set another documentary feature called “The Sound of Philadelphia” about music icons Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Thom Bell and the musical genre they helped proliferate, Philly Soul.

Warner Chappell in France has signed an admin agreement with the estate of the late Jacques Brel, whose most famous musical works in the English speaking world include ‘Ne Me Quitte Pas’ (‘If You Go Away’) and ‘Le Moribond’ (‘Seasons In The Sun’).The deal covers the whole world excluding the late singer-songwriter, actor and director’s home country of Belgium. Specifically it’s a partnership with Les Éditions Jacques Brel, the publishing company launched by Brel’s wife in 1962, which is now controlled by their daughter France Brel.

DEALSReservoir has acquired the publishing catalogue of the late DJ, songwriter, and producer Fred Rister, including collaborations with David Guetta, Kelly Rowland, Kid Cudi, The Black Eyed Peas and more. “Sometimes, fate is a good provider and selling to Reservoir is also something that Fred would have liked”, says Rister’s wife Isabel.Concord Music Publishing has launched a new joint venture with songwriter and producer Tofer Brown, called Chromatic Music.

The first big music rights acquisition of the year has already been confirmed. Warner Chappell has acquired the David Bowie songs catalogue in a deal reportedly worth in the region of $250 million.

DEALSWarner Chappell has renewed its publishing deal with the estate of George Michael, covering his entire catalogue, both solo and with Wham! “George Michael is one of the greatest songwriters of all time”, say Warner Chappell co-Chairs Guy Moot and Carianne Marshall. “We all still miss his engaging personality, but he’s left the most incredible legacy in the form of his songs and performances.

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

DEALSWarner Chappell and NLess Entertainment have signed a joint publishing administration deal with producer Turn Me Up YC, covering his full catalogue and future works. “I appreciate Warner Chappell and NLess Entertainment for the opportunity to take my career to the next level”, he says.

DEALSReggae artist and producer Freddie McGregor – with his catalogue spanning more than 40 albums over six decades – has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Warner Chappell. “With a new album in the works and the live scene coming out of hibernation, it seems like the right time to start writing a new chapter in my career”, he says.

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.

APPOINTMENTSArtist management company YM&U has promoted Steve Aoki’s manager Matt Colon to Global Music President. “I am delighted that Matt has agreed to lead YM&U’s music business globally”, says CEO Mary Bekhait.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSnap has struck a licensing deal with Sony Music Entertainment — which means the music of all three major labels/ publishers and many indies is now available on the platform (which prefers to be called a camera company, not a social media network).

Warner Chappell in LA has extended its publishing deal with producer and songwriter Carter Lang via a joint venture with Electric Feel Entertainment. The agreement covers Lang’s existing and future catalogue, including Post Malone and Swae Lee’s ‘Sunflower’, and Doja Cat and SZA’s ‘Kiss Me More’.“Warner Chappell understands my creative flow, and together with EF we’ve adapted naturally”, says Lang.

Cardi B has confirmed that she has signed a new worldwide publishing deal with Warner Chappell.“I’ve always admired how the Warner Chappell team support their songwriters and artists and I look forward to a thriving and successful partnership with them”, says the rapper.Warner Chappell’s President of US A&R, Ryan Press, adds: “Cardi is a defining artist of our culture – a master lyricist and show-stopping performer who’s already racked up a deep collection of hits after just six years in the

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorFour-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Sam Smith has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement with Tim & Danny Music and Warner Chappell Music through a new joint venture, covering all future works.

Warner Chappell has signed Jhené Aiko to a new publishing deal, eighteen months on from the release of her third studio album ‘Chilombo’.“Jhené’s star power only continues to rise, and it’s been exciting to see her become one of the industry’s most influential acts”, says Warner Chappell’s President of A&R US, Ryan Press. “With each new release, she reveals a different side of her musical talent and captivates listeners with her artistry and lyrics.

Toddla T has signed a new publishing deal with Warner Chappell, just over a year after quitting his show on Radio 1 to focus more on production work.“The last few years for Toddla as a writer-producer have been fundamental to his career and now we are ready to step it up another gear with the brilliant team at Warner Chappell”, says his manager Helena Antoniades at Hale Artists.Warner Chappell UK’s Senior International A&R Manager, Sam Lowe, adds: “I’ve known T for many years in different

Warner Chappell has announced that it has renewed its worldwide publishing administration deal with William Patrick Corgan. Who? Well, you might know him as Billy.

Jennifer Yuma editorCity of Hope has announced the honorees for its upcoming Songs of Hope virtual gala.Smokey Robinson will receive Clive Davis’ Legend in Songwriting award while Hildur Guðnadóttir will be honored with the EA Music Composer of the Year award.

DEALSRolo Tomassi have signed a new record deal with eOne Heavy. “We’re THRILLED to be signing with eOne Heavy for this new record”, says the band’s James Spence.