London-based unbiased inventive music rights firm Bella Figura Music, is pushing into the US market with the appointment of veteran music government Gary Gersh as chairman and a brand new international administration cope with Sony Music Publishing.
The corporate, based by former BMG UK President Alexi Cory-Smith, says that it has deployed near $160 million on buying publishing and recording rights.
Its catalog contains works equivalent to Joan Jett‘s I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll, The Human League‘s Don’t You Need Me, and Robbie Williams’ Angels, amongst many others. The portfolio additionally options compositions carried out by Adele, Amy Winehouse and Kylie Minogue, together with the RAK Music Publishing repertoire.
Gersh brings years of business expertise to the position. He beforehand served as President of World Touring at AEG, CEO of Capitol Information, founding father of The Artists Group, and a accomplice at Geffen Information, the place he signed Nirvana, Sonic Youth, and Counting Crows. He additionally based The Artists Group, a administration firm.
At Bella Figura Music, he’ll advise on international technique and high-level partnerships whereas the corporate establishes operations in Los Angeles. Gersh joins a management staff that features Cory-Smith as CEO and Co-Founder Neelesh Prabhu as Chief Funding Officer. Prabhu oversees the agency’s funding technique.
Underneath the Sony Music Publishing settlement additionally introduced Monday (November 3), the publishing big will deal with worldwide administration for Bella Figura’s songwriters and catalogs. Sony Music Publishing UK will handle the executive work whereas connecting Bella Figura’s songwriters and catalogs to Sony‘s international community. The deal contains collaboration with Sony’s sync and licensing division to position songs in movie, TV, video video games, promoting and model campaigns.
“With our buddies and companions at Sony Music Publishing now administering our catalog worldwide, our songs and writers have the worldwide infrastructure and sync horsepower to comprehend their full potential.”
Alexi Cory-Smith, Bella Figura Music
Cory-Smith stated: “Gary’s observe report on the very prime of our enterprise—throughout labels, administration, and international touring—speaks for itself and his artist-centric ethos makes him the best accomplice as we develop into the US. And with our buddies and companions at Sony Music Publishing now administering our catalog worldwide, our songs and writers have the worldwide infrastructure and sync horsepower to comprehend their full potential.”
Gersh added: “Bella Figura is constructing the trendy gold commonplace for catalogue stewardship—artist-first, creatively engaged, and relentlessly targeted on high quality. Alexi and Neelesh have assembled a outstanding portfolio and staff. I’m thrilled to assist information the corporate’s subsequent chapter, the place we’ll deepen partnerships, unlock new inventive alternatives, and champion the songs and recordings that proceed to outline tradition.”
“I’m thrilled to assist information the corporate’s subsequent chapter, the place we’ll deepen partnerships, unlock new inventive alternatives, and champion the songs and recordings that proceed to outline tradition.”
Gary Gersh, Bella Figura Music
David Ventura, President & Co-Managing Director, UK, SVP Worldwide A&R, Sony Music Publishing, additionally commented on the partnership, saying: “We’re lucky to be in enterprise with Bella Figura, and all of us really feel very excited to have been chosen by Alexi to characterize globally a really distinctive catalog with solely distinctive songwriters and songs.”
“This can be a key collaboration for us after an vital interval of discussions because it embodies the extent of state-of-the-art providers that we provide right here at SMP.”
David Ventura, Sony Music Publishing
“This can be a key collaboration for us after an vital interval of discussions because it embodies the extent of state-of-the-art providers that we provide right here at SMP. We’re all trying ahead to the alternatives that lie forward as our partnership grows.”
The event comes amid elevated deal-making within the music rights market. In September, BMG acquired the recorded music catalog of Nation music famous person Jason Aldean. The identical month, New York-headquartered Reservoir Media bought Miles Davis’ music publishing catalog, whereas Reducing Edge Group purchased AMC Studios’ “full portfolio of TV music rights,” including compositions from hit TV collection together with The Strolling Lifeless franchise and Anne Rice diversifications to its media music portfolio.
Bella Figura closed “a major fairness funding spherical” in April 2024 to fund its acquisitions. It secured investments from non-public fairness agency Freshstream, Canadian pension fund OPTrust, a strategic household workplace and a Dutch non-public fairness investor.
Music Enterprise Worldwide
