The deal includes more than 350 works, including the publishing catalog of The 1975, covering the British group’s self-titled 2013 debut LP, as well as their 2016 US and UK No.1 album I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It , plus 2018’s A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships — which also hit No.1 in the UK.
In addition, Good Soldier Songs has the publishing for The 1975’s upcoming album, Notes on a Conditional Form, due for release next Friday (May 22).
Good Soldier Songs was founded in 2003 by the former CEO of Warner Music UK, Christian Tattersfield. It is a separate firm to Tattersfield’s record company, Good Soldier Records – home to artists such as Freya Ridings and Gavin James – which remains independent.
According to filings spotted by MBW on UK Companies House, Downtown’s Good Soldier Songs acquisition was completed in mid-March.
In addition to The 1975, the deal also sees Downtown acquire Good Soldier’s rights to songs by Scottish rock act Biffy Clyro, including music from the band’s forthcoming album, A Celebration of Endings.
Downtown has additionally acquired songs by Good Soldier signings such as Billy Lockett, Colouring, Dr Vades, Fickle Friends, The Him, The Hunna, K.I.D, Nothing But Thieves, Liam Prior, Raheem Bakaré, Tobtok, and many others.
Downtown recently acquired 10,000 song copyrights from European music publisher Strictly Confidential, as well as nearly 700 works (including a run of hits recorded by Sam Smith) from the UK-based Salli Isaak Songs Limited and Salli Isaak Music Publishing Limited.
Good Soldier – which has received multiple awards from Music Business Worldwide’s annual A&R Awards – signed The 1975 band members to a worldwide publishing deal in 2012, prior to the release of their first studio album.
“I couldn’t think of a more fitting new home for our writers and their music, and am happy they’re in good hands.”
Christian Tattersfield
“Downtown is one of the most thoughtful publishers in the business, with an exceptional, well-curated roster and catalog,” said Christian Tattersfield.
“I couldn’t think of a more fitting new home for our writers and their music, and am happy they’re in good hands.”
Roberto Neri, Executive Vice President and Head of European Business Development for Downtown Music Holdings, parent company of Downtown Music Publishing, added: “With an ethos not unlike Downtown’s, Christian has built an incredible, diverse roster at Good Soldier Songs and we’re ecstatic to add its music to our catalog.
“We’re also excited for The 1975’s highly-anticipated new album and are thrilled to work with the band and their manager, Jamie Oborne.”
“With an ethos not unlike Downtown’s, Christian has built an incredible, diverse roster at Good Soldier Songs and we’re ecstatic to add its music to our catalog.”
Roberto Neri, Downtown
The fourth album by The 1975 will be released next week on Dirty Hit via Interscope / Polydor.
Its eponymous opener, The 1975, was released in July last year and features a monologue by climate change activist Greta Thunberg.
The album’s lead single, People, was released a month later — and has been followed by others since, including Frail State of Mind,Me & You Together Song, The Birthday Party, and last month’s If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know).Music Business Worldwide
