Music Publishing News Roundup 12.19.14: ASCAP, Downtown, Michael Jackson & More
ASCAP CEO, John LoFrumento has announced his retirement this week. LoFrumento started his career at ASCAP in 1981 as a controller, the serving positions as CFO, COO, and EVP before becoming CEO in 1997. Since then, ASCAP’s memberships have grown from 70,000 to 520,000 with annual distributed royalties growing from $417 million to $875 million. While CEO, LoFrumento helped introduce popular ASCAP programs like I Create Music Expo, and MusicPro Insurance. Along with President and Chairman Paul Williams, LoFrumento has lead the fight for fair compensation for songwriters in the digital space.
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The Michael Jackson estate has renewed their deal with BMI. President and CEO Mike O’Neill announced on Wednesday that their deal they have had in place since 1976 will continue for the public performance of all of Michael Jackson’s works. The catalog includes international hits such as “Billie Jean”, “Beat It”, “Black and White” as well as last years posthumous album, “Xscape”. This announcement follows recent BMI contract renewals with writers such as Taylor Siwft and Maroon 5.
Downtown Music Publishing, a top 10 US music publisher, has signed songwriter Tim James to a worldwide publishing agreement. The writer’s catalog includes current hits such as “The Heart Wants What It Wants” by Selena Gomez and “Can’t Be Tamed” by Miley Cyrus.