Kobalt Signs Up McCartney
Kobalt Music Group Ltd.has signed an exclusive long-term administration deal with Paul McCartney and MPL Communications covering the world outside North America, the U.K. and Ireland.
As part of the deal, Kobalt will also provide synchronization licensing for the songs of three MPL catalogs, MPL Commuications, MPL Music Publishing and Cherio Corp. In addition to Paul McCartney's post-Beatles solo works and Paul McCarney & Wings, the catalogs include songs from over 1,200 songwriters, including Frank Loesser, Carl Perkins, Joey Young, Harry Warren, Big Joe Turner, Jelly Roll Morton, Maurice Williams, Bessie Smith, Hugh Masekela, Roy Orbinson and Hoagy Carmichael. The catalogs also includes songs from such Broadway musicals as "Guys and Dolls," and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
In a statement, Kobalt founder and CEO Willard Hadritz said the catalogs include some of the most timeless hits ever written, including such songs as "My Love," "Band On The Run," "Silly Love Songs," "Unchained Melody," "Blue Suede Shoes," "Till There Was You," "Baby It's Cold Outside," "Luck Be A Lady," and "Sentimental Journey."
"It's one of the biggest privately-owned catalogs in the world," Ahdritz told Billboard.biz. "We will put the focus on creating some noise around this catalog going forward."
Spirit Music Group Agrees With David Paich
Spirit Music Group has signed a multi-year, North American publishing agreement with David Paich, who penned or co-wrote such songs as "Lowdown," "Lido Shuffle," "Hold The Line, "Got To Be Real," and "Lady Love Me (One More Time)." Through the deal, Spirit will provide a wide range of creative and administrative services for Paich¹s entire back catalog as well as new works.
Paich recent projects including working with Boz Scaggs, George Benson, Quincy Jones, Michael McDonald and Pink.
UMPG Signs Country Hitmaker Shane McAnally
The Universal Music Publishing Group have signed Shane McAnally, who has written songs for such artists as Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, and Miranda Lambert, to an exclusive worldwide administration agreement. McAnally recently worked on the debut album for Universal Music Nashville recording artist, Kacey Musgraves, co-producing with the artist and UMPG writer Luke Laird.
"Shane McAnally is one of Nashville's most celebrated songwriters in country music today," UMPG Nashville executive VP/GM Kent Earls said in a statement. "His career is red hot and we are thrilled at the opportunity to work with him in creating many more future hits."