Music Industry Moves: Dua Lipa Regains Her Publishing Rights From TaP Music

Thania Garcia
·13 min read
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Dua Lipa has purchased her publishing rights back from her longtime publishing company, TaP Music Publishing.

The company announced the move on Thursday afternoon, stating that they “wish Dua all the best for the future.” Dua left the company’s artist management roster in 2022 after first having signed with TaP co-CEOs Ben Mawson and Ed Millet in 2013.

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Details on the deal were scarce though Anna Neville, co-president of TaP Music, stated: “This is an exciting time for our publishing company — we are expanding our services and teams globally and continue to add talented writers and artists to our already stellar roster.”

TaP’s management roster includes such artists as Caroline Polachek, Lana Del Rey and Ellie Goulding, while its publishing roster boasts Yaeji and Dermot Kennedy and others.

+ Concord has fulfilled its acquisition of Round Hill’s UK-listed music fund, Round Hill Music Royalty Fund (RHM).

Concord now owns over 150,000 songs and 51 catalogs, including works by The Beatles, Alice In Chains, The Offspring, and hits recorded by Elvis Presley, Meatloaf, James Brown, and Billie Holiday and also has a stake in the Carlin Catalog, which includes hits made famous by artists including Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis Presley, Peggy Lee, and George Harrison.

Bob Valentine, CEO of Concord, said: “The entire team at Concord is thrilled to be able to represent these iconic catalogs. It is now our obligation to expose these songs and recordings to an even larger audience than their existing extraordinary fan bases. Furthering the cultural impact that these works have is certainly a responsibility we take seriously.”

He added, “Since our inception, Concord has demonstrated a clear track record of preserving the legacy of our artists while leveraging new and innovative opportunities to create new fans. I can’t wait to see what our global creative teams of sync, licensing, marketing, copyright, and royalty experts come up with next.”

Wednesday, Nov. 1

Kobalt is partnering with Morgan Stanley, a bank and financial services company, to invest more than $700 million in acquiring music copyrights across the next few years. The deal, in which Goldman Sachs acted as an advisor, sees Kobalt handling the creative, synch, licensing, administration, and investment services for the copyrights.

“Kobalt is a pioneer in investing in music, increasing the value of copyrights, and creating music as a viable asset class,” said Laurent Hubert, chief executive officer of Kobalt. “Morgan Stanley Tactical Value’s trust in Kobalt is a testament to our platform and leadership in the music industry. We are proud to form this unique partnership.”

“Morgan Stanley Tactical Value has profound respect for songwriters and the immense value of their art,” said Cameron Smalls, managing director of Morgan Stanley Tactical Value. “We are thrilled to partner with the leading creator-first publisher that is a pioneer in maximizing royalty collections for songwriters and rightsholders. Together with Kobalt’s infrastructure and deep commitment to bettering the music industry, we are excited about our partnership and the opportunities ahead.”

+ Sony Music Publishing has appointed Laura Mendoza as the new managing director of its Colombia office, effective immediately. Mendoza will be based in Bogotá and will report directly to Jorge Mejia, Sony Music Publishing’s president and CEO of Latin America and U.S. regions.

Mendoza will now be responsible for overseeing SMP Colombia’s business operations and advancing its growth initiatives, working closely with the company’s Latin America and U.S. Latin teams, as well as industry partners across the region.

“I am delighted to join the number one music publisher in the world and in my region,” said Mendoza. “It is an honor to work alongside so many talented professionals across the company. Both the challenge and the opportunity of developing the careers of such a fantastic roster will allow me to contribute to a better industry and to the growth of SMP songwriters globally.”

Mendoza most recently served as head of label and artist solutions in the Central America, Andean & Southern Cone Region at Believe Distribution Services. Prior to joining Believe, Mendoza spent time at Altafonte Music Network and she began her career at EMI Music Colombia in 1998.

+ Music distributed by DistroKid will now be available on TikTok Music, CapCut, and in TikTok’s Commercial Music Library.

DistroKid and TikTok have been working together since 2019 when DistroKid signed on as one of the first distributors to help independent artists get their music uploaded to TikTok. Since then, music from DistroKid artists has also been available in TikTok’s Commercial Music Library (CML), which offers a catalog of artist-driven music for brands to use in their advertising on TikTok, without having to seek traditional approvals.

“Independent music from around the world fuels creativity on TikTok in such a powerful way,” said Tracy Gardner, global head of label licensing and partnerships at TikTok. “Having DistroKid’s vast catalog of music available on TikTok Music, CapCut and in the Commercial Music Library is a great opportunity for our community, a huge asset to brands, and is an unparalleled means of music discovery for these indie artists around the world.”

“TikTok is one of the most powerful music discovery platforms in the world,” said Philip Kaplan, founder and CEO of DistroKid. “The expansion of this partnership to include CapCut and the Commercial Music Library makes it super easy for millions of musicians to make their music available in even more places, while TikTok’s new music streaming service provides further reach as it becomes available in more countries.

+ Joey Bada$$ has created a new program called ImpactMENtorship to provide free mentorship for men of color 18 years and older in the U.S.

Joey has curated a pool of mentors with experience in art, activism, culinary, fashion, film/TV, media, music, and sports. They have committed to an hour of mentorship per month for 2024.

“I have been a mentor for Unlock Her Potential, a program founded by my friend Sophia Chang, that provides free mentorship for women of color,” said Joey. “When I saw the impact we had on our mentees, I knew I wanted to create something similar for men of color who could benefit from the knowledge and experience of industry experts. When I lectured at Harvard and NYU years ago, I was moved by the curiosity and enthusiasm I saw in the students. ImpactMENtorship is proud to offer one on one guidance to anyone who qualifies, regardless of education level.”

+ Tidal has introduced a new feature called Tidal Collabs to help artists discover and connect with recommended collaborators. The new product will be available on Tidal Artist Home, Tidal’s platform for artists to grow their careers.

To celebrate the launch, the platform is partnering with Jermaine Dupri for the Tidal Collabs Spotlight contest. Artists based in the U.S. who match through Tidal Collabs can review the contest’s official rules for an opportunity to win in-studio time with Dupri, where they will get advice and insights into the collaborative process. In addition to in-studio mentorship, winners will receive marketing support for their collaborative track from the Tidal Collabs Spotlight contest. To apply, artists must submit their entry through a form emailed to them once they opt into Tidal Collabs, and the deadline is Jan. 17, 2024.

Artists who opt-in for Tidal Collabs will get recommendations for creatively compatible artists who are also on the platform. Then, it’s up to the individual artist to decide if they do or don’t want to connect with a recommended collaborator.

“We built Tidal Collabs to take the stress and inefficiency out of the process of finding great collaborators. We leverage our data and editorial expertise to recommend high-quality collaborators in an environment that is tailored and safe,” said Agustina Sacerdote, global head of product at Tidal. “We know from speaking with thousands of artists that they are looking for ways to evolve their artistry and grow their audience. Collaborations are a powerful, organic way to do this.

+ Reservoir Media, Inc. has announced a new publishing deal for the future works of writer-producer Brent Maher. This deal builds on the company’s 2018 acquisition of rights to Maher’s full catalog.

Maher is best known for his hit collaborations with country duo the Judds, whom he discovered in 1983 and would go on to produce all 10 of their albums. He notably co-wrote and produced “Why Not Me” by the duo, and also worked on the Judds’ other hits like “Girls Night Out,” “Rockin’ with the Rhythm of the Rain,” “I Know Where I’m Going,” “Let Me Tell You About Love,” and “Born To Be Blue,” among others.

In celebration of The Judds’ 40th anniversary, some of music’s biggest stars have come together for a compilation album celebrating the duo’s discography entitled, “A Tribute To The Judds.” Maher collaborated on all tracks but one off the album, which features Wynonna Judd, Blake Shelton, Dollie Parton, Gwen Stefani, Jelly Roll, Reba McEntire, and more.

+ The Orchard has promoted Ian Dutt to president of its operations in the UK, and Chris Manning to managing director of UK and Europe. Both will continue reporting to Colleen Theis, president and chief operating officer. Dutt and Manning are based in London and lead global distribution efforts and day-to-day operations for the company.

Collectively, Dutt and Manning oversee a team of 150+ employees in The Orchard’s London office. Manning also steers the Orchard offices in France, Benelux and Scandinavia as well as driving the regional European strategy.

Dutt joined The Orchard in 2016 as part of the company’s merger with Sony RED UK, where he was serving as managing director. Dutt has been instrumental in label signings and overseeing artist development with Jorja Smith, Raye, Blossoms, The Snuts and Skepta. Manning began his tenure at The Orchard in 2008, holding several posts including label management and business development. He has worked with numerous clients including Perfect Havoc, Demon, One Seven, Smash the House, NWE, One Media, FAMM, Ignition, Lithuania HQ, and Napalm.

Monday, Oct. 30

Muesexpo, the annual global music industry conference and showcase event, will be honoring Republic Records Co-President Wendy Goldstein with its inaugural Seymour Stein Global A&R Award.

Seymour Stein, known for his discovery of such iconic artists as Madonna and the Ramones, serves as the inspiration behind the award that recognizes the dedication to nurturing and signing talent. Goldstein, who will be celebrating 30 years in A&R next year, has overseen the careers of renowned artists such as the Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Jonas Brothers, John Legend, Nicki Minaj, Anitta and more.

Goldstein staretd her music industry stint as an assistant in the A&R department of Epic Records, followed by impactful runs at Geffen Records where she signed the Roots, Common, GZA, Mos Def, and The Bloodhound Gang. She then joined Priority Records/Capitol where she orchestrated a label deal with Disturbing The Peace and oversaw projects for Snoop Dogg, Chingy, Latoya Luckett, and others.

Goldstein later joined Republic Records in 2009, initially as an A&R Consultant, later assuming the role of senior VP of A&R in 2011. In 2014, she was appointed executive VP and head of A&R and in 2021 she was named co-president alongside Jim Roppo.

Sat Bisla, president and founder of A&R Worldwide and Musexpo, said: “Wendy Goldstein’s career is a testament to her unwavering commitment to the art of A&R and her exceptional talent for identifying and developing artists who shape the music industry and impact global pop culture. Wendy’s unique abilities, instincts and musical foresight make her truly remarkable and impactful as an A&R afficionado. She is the embodiment of the spirit of Seymour Stein’s legacy.”

The award ceremony will occur at the conference in Burbank from March 17 to 20, 2024.

+ Elizabeth Matthews, ASCAP‘s chief executive officer, was honored on Oct. 29 at the annual Songwriters of North America (SONA) Warrior Awards gala in West Hollywood.

ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams lauded her achievements along with songwriters and producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. In video tributes, music industry giants ranging from Stephen Schwartz, Ne-Yo, Marcus Miller, Desmond Child, Jon Platt and Ashley Gorley echoed similar sentiments.

Matthews commented, “To be recognized by SONA means the world to me. I know that songwriters are the true musical warriors–unbelievably brave and remaining strong in the face of uncertainty every day as new technology challenges their livelihoods. Yet, songwriters are still able to remain vulnerable and go deep creatively, opening their hearts to write the music that we all love. I am constantly inspired by songwriters and it has been an honor of a lifetime to work for and alongside music creators.”

+ Music industry veteran Mike Caren has been tapped by AI and metaverse tech startup Futureverse as a founding partner of JEN, the company’s text-to-music AI generator.

According to the company, Caren will lead music industry alignment and expansion. He joins as a founding partner of JEN alongside longtime collaborator and fellow music industry entrepreneur Shara Senderoff, Futureverse Co-Founder; Aaron McDonald, Futureverse Co-Founder; and Dr. Alex Wang, Futureverse Head of AI Research.

Caren is the founder and CEO of Artist Partner Group, the record label and music publishing company. He also brings decades of music industry experience as an executive at labels including Warner Music Group, Elektra Records and Atlantic Records. He has written and produced records with a variety of global music artists including Beyoncé, Kanye West, Bruno Mars and more. .

“We’ve been working with Mike on JEN for nearly a year now, and are honored to formally announce his addition to our founding team,” said Shara Senderoff and Aaron McDonald, co-founders of Futureverse. “Mike’s ethos and relentless mission to innovate the industry in terms of technology, business model and creator opportunity aligns identically with ours. We strongly believe that including producers and artists into the process of developing AI tools is critical to its success and expansion.”

+ SoundExchange honored multi-platinum singer-songwriter Prince Royce with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award for being among one of the most streamed Latin artists in the organization’s 20-year history.

“Prince Royce is an extraordinary talent and a force to be reckoned with,” said Michael Huppe, president and CEO of SoundExchange. “It is no surprise that he is one of SoundExchange’s most streamed creators – every single one of his albums is multi-platinum and laced with hits bringing bachata to new audiences through collaborations and infusion into R&B, hip-hop, and more. It’s my pleasure to honor Prince Royce’s artistry and success with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award.”

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