Press Releases
GETTY IMAGES AND KOBALT MUSIC GROUP CONCLUDE EXCLUSIVE GLOBAL ADMINISTRATION DEAL AND STRATEGIC LICENSING PACT
30 June 2008
Getty Images, the world's leading creator and distributor of visual content and other digital media, and Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt), the leading independent online music publishing company, today announced that Getty Images has appointed Kobalt to provide exclusive, worldwide administration services for Getty Images global music catalog. More...
A FIRST FOR THE MUSIC INDUSTRY - KOBALT MUSIC GROUP DEBUTS ONLINE PIPELINE ROYALTY ADVANCES
18 June 2008
NEW YORK, NY (June 18, 2008) - Kobalt Music Group, a global independent and leading online music publisher, today debuts Kobalt Online Pipeline Royalty Advances, a ground-breaking internet tool giving copyright holders the opportunity to take low cost advances against future "pipeline" royalties and/or projected earnings. More...
KOBALT SIGNS NEW DEAL WITH TOP SWEDISH METAL ACT
IN FLAMES
1 May 2008
Kobalt Music Group has signed a new worldwide deal to administer the works of highly influential Swedish metal band In Flames, and the band's publishing company, via an exclusive agreement struck with its services company, Whoracle Publishing. More...
Kobalt performs heroics in the indie sector
09 April 2008
Kobalt has only been in existence since 2000, but such has been its rapid rise that last year it took control of more than a quarter of the UK's independent publishing sector. More...
BALDERTON CAPITAL INVESTS IN LEADING INDEPENDENT MUSIC PUBLISHER KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
NEW CAPITAL TO FUEL KOBALT EXPANSION OF SERVICES AND SUCCESSFUL SERVICE MODEL
5 February 2008
Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder of Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt) today announced that Balderton Capital (Ex. Benchmark Capital Europe), one of the largest venture firms in Europe, has made a significant capital investment in the company, receiving a minority stake in Kobalt. Balderton Capital joins SPARK Ventures (SPARK) as a key institutional investor in Kobalt. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP CONCLUDES NEW DEAL WITH ELECTRONIC-POP SUPERSTAR - MOBY
11 December 2007
Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt) has signed multi-million selling electronic-pop artist Moby to an exclusive, worldwide administration deal for all territories excluding France, Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder of Kobalt. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP CONCLUDES NEW DEAL TO ADMINISTER SEMINAL FUNK CATALOG - BRIDGEPORT MUSIC WESTBOUND RECORDS
03 December 2007
DETROIT, MI (December 03, 2007) -- Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt) has concluded an exclusive administration deal for the world ex-U.S. and Canada with Detroit-based Bridgeport Music, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder of Kobalt, Armen Boladian, owner of Bridgeport Music, and Joel Martin, principal of 8 Mile Style Music, who brought the deal to Kobalt. More...
RYAN "ALIAS" TEDDER - WRITER/PRODUCER OF LEONA LEWIS' NO.1 U.K. - "BLEEDING LOVE" SIGNS EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE ADMINISTRATION DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
28 November 2007
Kobalt has signed a worldwide administration deal with emerging superstar Ryan "Alias" Tedder, co-writer/producer for multiple No.1s, including Leona Lewis' No.1 U.K. hit,"Bleeding Love," which is on Lewis' fastest-selling U.K. debut album. More...
EMINEM PUBLISHER, EIGHT MILE STYLE MUSIC, AND KOBALT MUSIC GROUP ANNOUNCE GROUNDBREAKING GLOBAL MUSIC PUBLISHING AND TECHNOLOGY PACT
U.S. COMPANY, MUSIC RESOURCES, TO EXCLUSIVELY DEBUT "POWERED BY KOBALT" SERVICES BRAND
16 November 2007
DETROIT, MI (November 16, 2007) Signaling a strategic move towards global consolidation of assets and transparent online copyright administration, Detroit-based Eight Mile Style Music, More...
KOBALT MUSIC INKS GLOBAL DEAL WITH NUMBER 1 POP WRITER SHELLY PEIKEN
18 June 2007
LOS ANGELES, CA (June 18, 2007) Kobalt Music Group has signed an administration deal for the world excluding Australia and New Zealand with prolific hit making pop songwriter Shelly Peiken. More...
HERBERT GRÖNEMEYER SIGNS EXCLUSIVE DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
19 April 2007
BERLIN, GERMANY (19 April 2007) - Global independent online music publisher Kobalt Music Group has concluded an exclusive deal with multi-million selling German pop superstar, Herbert Grönemeyer, to administer his entire Grönland Musikverlag catalogue, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, Founder and CEO of Kobalt. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP ANNOUNCES GROUNDBREAKING ROYALTY ADVANCE PRODUCT FOR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS
01 March 2007
NEW YORK, NY (March 01 2007) - As featured in Billboard Magazine, Kobalt Music Group, the music industry's leading online and digital music publisher, has announced the launch of another revolutionary product for copyright holders - the pipeline royalty advance product. More...
GWEN STEFANI WINDS UP A NEW DEAL WITH KOBALT - POP ICON RENEWS EX-NORTH AMERICA ADMINISTRATION DEAL
10 January 2007
(LONDON, UK) January 10, 2007 - On the heels of the release of her second solo set, The Sweet Escape (Interscope), global superstar singer-songwriter and fashion icon GWEN STEFANI has renewed her ex-North America administration deal with Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt). More...
KOBALT SIGNS WORLDWIDE DEAL WITH PETER SVENSSON AND NINA PERSSON OF THE CARDIGANS
24 October 2006
LONDON, U.K. (24 October 2006) - Leading independent music publisher Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt) has signed a non-exclusive worldwide administration deal with composer/guitarist Peter Svensson and singer/lyricist Nina Persson of multi-million selling and critically acclaimed Swedish rock band, The Cardigans, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, Kobalt founder and CEO. More...
POP MUSIC ICON AND SONGWRITER BARRY MANILOW SIGNS EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE PUBLISHING DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
19 October 2006
Leading independent music publisher Kobalt Music Group has signed an exclusive, worldwide administration deal with legendary performer, songwriter, arranger and producer Barry Manilow. More...
MATISYAHU'S JOSH WERNER SIGNS EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE PUBLISHING DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
24 July 2006
NEW YORK, NY (July 24, 2006) - Music publisher Kobalt Music Group has signed an exclusive, worldwide administration deal with Matisyahu bass player Josh Werner and his publishing company Beyond Science Inc (ASCAP). More...
KELLY CLARKSON PRODUCER/WRITER RHETT LAWRENCE CONCLUDES EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE PACT WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
26 June 2006
(26 JUNE, 2006) LOS ANGELES - Multimillion-selling producer, songwriter, and engineer Rhett Lawrence has signed an exclusive, worldwide administration deal with Kobalt Music Group. The deal includes all of Lawrence's stellar Rhettrhyme back catalog, as well as current and future material under his Rhettski publishing catalog. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP SIGNS LEGENDARY POP SONGWRITER BILLY STEINBERG
8 June 2006
(8 JUNE, 2006) LONDON - Billy Steinberg- the legendary songwriter of massive pop hits (with co-writer Tom Kelly) such as "Like a Virgin" (Madonna), "True Colors" (Cyndi Lauper) "Eternal Flame" (The Bangles), "I Drove All Night" (Cyndi Lauper, Roy Orbison, Celine Dion), "I'll Stand By You" (The Pretenders), "Alone" (Heart), "I Touch Myself" (Divinyls) and "So Emotional" (Whitney Houston)- has signed an exclusive administration deal for the world ex-North America and Canada for his music publishing company, Jerk Awake. More...
FIFA SIGNS KOBALT MUSIC GROUP AS EXCLUSIVE WORLDWIDE ADMINISTRATOR FOR: THE OFFICIAL MELODY OF THE 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP(TM)
11 May 2006
(11 May 2006) LONDON -- Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt), music publisher and online publishing administrator, has been signed up by FIFA (the Fédération Internationale de Football Association) to be the exclusive worldwide licensor and administrator for the Official Melody of the 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM). More...
KOBALT ADMINISTRATES THE MUSIC OF CHINA AND EXPANDS REPRESENTATION INTO MAINLAND CHINA - SIGNS NEW DEAL WITH CRC JIANIAN
8 May 2006
(08 May 2006) LOS ANGELES -- Kobalt Music Group has concluded an exclusive, long-term agreement with CRC Jianian Cultural Development Co. Ltd. (CRC Jianian) to administrate the company's publishing rights, including the China Record Corporation's 65,000-title catalog, for the world excluding China. Reciprocally, Kobalt and CRC Jianian have signed an exclusive agreement for the representation of Kobalt's catalog in mainland China. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP SIGNS THE VERVE'S EPIC FRONTMAN RICHARD ASHCROFT
22 March 2006
(22 March 2006) LONDON, U.K. - Richard Ashcroft, songwriter, producer and front man of psychedelic rock legends The Verve, has signed an exclusive worldwide administration pact with Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt), it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, Founder and CEO. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP SIGNS EXCLUSIVE ADMINISTRATION DEAL WITH EVERGREEN COPYRIGHT ACQUISITIONS
2 February 2006
(February 2, 2006) LONDON, U.K. - Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt) has concluded an exclusive administration agreement with EverGreen Copyright Acquisitions, LLC (EverGreen Copyrights) for the world ex-U.S., Canada and China, it was announced today by Willard A. Ahdritz, Kobalt Founder and CEO. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP NAMES GRAMMY WINNING HITMAKER DESMOND CHILD AS AMBASSADOR AND SPOKESMAN TO THE PRODUCER SONGWRITER COMMUNITY - DESMOND CHILD SIGNS EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE ADMINISTRATION DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
9 January 2006
LONDON, UK (January 9, 2006) - In a unique move for a major songwriter and for the music publishing industry, veteran hit-making songwriter/producer Desmond Child has joined Kobalt Music Group as its Ambassador to the songwriter and producer community, in addition to signing an exclusive worldwide administration deal with the company. The announcement was made today by Mr. Child and Willard Ahdritz, Founder and CEO of Kobalt Music Group. More...
KOBALT SIGNS MERCURY PRIZE WINNER ANTONY HEGARTY OF ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS
19 October 2005
Kobalt Music Group has signed an exclusive administration deal with Antony Hegarty from Antony & The Johnsons, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder. The deal between Kobalt and Hegarty's Rebis Music includes his back catalog for all territories excluding North America. The critically acclaimed Secretly Canadian/Rough Trade act last month won the 2005 Mercury Prize, ahead of such major acts as Coldplay and Kaiser Chiefs. More...
MULTI-PLATINUM COUNTRY SUPERSTAR TOBY KEITH SIGNS EXCLUSIVE EX-US AND CANADA DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
14 October 2005
NASHVILLE, TN (Oct 14, 2005) - Multi-platinum country music superstar Toby Keith has signed an exclusive administration deal with Kobalt Music Group for the world ex-US and Canada, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder. The deal includes Keith's entire DreamWorks catalog and future works. More...
THE HIVES SIGN EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
12 October 2005
(London, UK) October 12, 2005 - Swedish rock band THE HIVES has signed a worldwide, exclusive administration deal with Kobalt Music, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, Founder and CEO. More...
KELLY CLARKSON HITMAKER LUKASZ "DR. LUKE" GOTTWALD SIGNS EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
24 August 2005
New York, NY (August 24, 2005) - Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald has signed an exclusive, worldwide administration deal with Kobalt Music Group, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder. More...
NINE INCH NAILS SIGNS ADMINISTRATION DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
11 July 2005
(Los Angeles, CA) July 11, 2005 -- Nine Inch Nails (NIN) has signed an ex-north American administration deal with Kobalt Music Group, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Co-Founder of Kobalt Music Group. More...
BILLBOARD - GWEN GOES INDIE ROUTE - STEFANI INKS WITH UK PUBLISHER
8 April 2005
LONDON - What is Gwen Stefani waiting for? The best possible deal, perhaps. More...
KOBALT MUSIC SIGNS EXCLUSIVE, EX-NA ADMINISTRATION DEAL WITH SUPERSTAR ARTIST / SONGWRITER GWEN STEFANI
8 April 2005
April 8, 2005 (LONDON) -- Global superstar singer, fashion icon and No Doubt front woman, Gwen Stefani, has signed an exclusive, ex-North America deal with Kobalt Music to administer her publishing company, HARAJUKU LOVER MUSIC, and represent the copyrights for synchronization for Film, TV and Advertising and other mediums. More...
BILLBOARD - KOBALT INKS ADMIN PACTS, UPDATES ROYALTIES TOOL
25 January 2005
Independent British music publishing firm Kobalt Music Group has inked a flurry of administration deals and rolled out the next phase of its royalty collection infrastructure. More...
FINANCIAL TIMES - KOBALT HINTS AT LISTING AFTER LAUNCHING ROYALTY DATABASE
24 January 2005
Kobalt Music Group, the music publisher and royalty collection company, has raised the prospect of a flotation to fund an expansion of its technology business. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP TO DEBUT REVOLUTIONARY NEW ROYALTY ADMINISTRATION TOOLS AT 39th ANNUAL MIDEM CONFERENCE IN CANNES
12 January 2005
LONDON, UK (January 12, 2005) - Willard Ahdritz, Co-founder and CEO of Kobalt Music Group is scheduled to announce at the 39th annual Midem music market the launch of Kobalt's new, state-of-the-art online client account tools, which include unique royalty analysis and royalty tracking tools unlike any other music publisher. More...
FINANCIAL TIMES - UB40 SIGNS TO SANCTUARY KOBALT ROYALTIES VENTURE
18 October 2004
SMP, Sanctuary's music publishing division, has launched a joint venture with Kobalt Music Group and pop-reggae band UB40 is its first client. More...
UB40 FIRST SIGNING TO SANCTUARY MUSIC PUBLISHING AND KOBALT MUSIC JOINT VENTURE
15 October 2004
Sanctuary Music Publishing ('SMP') and Kobalt Music Group ('Kobalt') are pleased to announce the launch in September 2004 of a non-exclusive joint venture, Sanctuary Kobalt. They are also proud to announce the first signing to this joint venture - multi platinum act UB40. More...
BILLBOARD - KOBALT TAKES 8 MILE ROAD
7 August 2004
LONDON-Independent British based publisher Kobalt Music Group has inked an exclusive administration deal with Detroit's 8 Mile Style Music for its hitmaking songwriters Luis Resto and Steve King. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP AGREES UNIQUE PUBLISHING TEMPLATE WITH US DIVISION OF MUSIC MANAGERS FORUM
3 August 2004
The London based Kobalt Music Group, the fastest growing independent music publishing company in the world, has reached a unique agreement with the US division of the Music Managers Forum (MMF) to offer a music publishing administration service to it's members. More...
KOBALT INK DEAL WITH 8 MILE STYLE MUSIC
27 July 2004
The Kobalt Music Group, which launched three years ago and has become the world's fastest growing independent music publisher, has announced an ex: North America and Japan administration deal with Detroit based 8 Mile Style Music on behalf of their songwriters Luis Resto and Steve King. More...
MUSICWEEK - KOBALT MUSIC GROUP LINK WITH INTRIGUE ON JAMES BROWN PUBLISHING
25 June 2004
UK-based Kobalt Music Group has signed an administration deal with newly-launched American publishing company Intrigue to represent its first signing, James Brown, across all territories outside the US. More...
BILLBOARD - KOBALT MUSIC GROUP LINKS WITH NEW PUBBERY INTRIGUE
25 June 2004
British independent music publisher Kobalt Music Group has signed an administration agreement for the world outside the United States with new Stateside publishing company Intrigue Music. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP SIGN EX: US AGREEMENT WITH INTRIGUE MUSIC AND JAMES BROWN
23 June 2004
The Kobalt Music Group, which since it's inception three years ago has become the world's fastest growing independent music publisher, has signed an ex:US administration agreement with newly launched US publishing company Intrigue Music, whose debut signing is The Godfather of Soul James Brown. More...
BILLBOARD - KOBALT MUSIC GROUP AGREES TO REPRESENT ICG IN EUROPE.
18 June 2004
Nashville-based music publisher Integrated Copyright Group, Inc. (ICG) has inked an exclusive European agreement with U.K.-based independent music publishing company Kobalt Music Group. Under the pact, Kobalt will administer 40,000 copyrights in Europe on behalf of ICG. Terms were not disclosed. More...
MUSICWEEK - KOBALT MUSIC GROUP INKS DEAL WITH US PUBLISHER
16 June 2004
UK-based publisher Kobalt Music Group has signed an exclusive administration agreement with US publishing company Intergrated Copyright Group to represent its 40,000-strong catalogue in Europe. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP SIGN EUROPEAN ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT WITH INTEGRATED COPYRIGHT GROUP INC.
16 June 2004
The Kobalt Music Group, the fastest growing independent music publishing company in the world, has reached an exclusive administration agreement with Nashville based music publisher Integrated Copyright Group, Inc. (ICG), which will see them overseeing 40,000 copyrights for territories in Europe. More...
MUSIC WEEK - CRIB SHEET
22 May 2004
The International Music Management Forum (IMMF) has signed a deal with Kobalt Music Group to offer Kobalt's international music publishing administration service to its members. Transparency, speed and accuracy are Kobalt's aims - it promises to make quarterly royalty payments, complete with comprehensible royalty statements. More...
BILLBOARD - IMMF, KOBALT MUSIC GROUP AGREE ON ADMINISTRATION TEMPLATE
19 May 2004
Kobalt Music Group, the U.K.-based independent music publisher, has struck an exclusive administration framework agreement with the International Music Managers Forum (IMMF). More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP AGREES UNIQUE DEAL WITH IMMF
17 May 2004
The London based Kobalt Music Group, the fastest growing independent music publishing company in the world, has reached a unique agreement with The International Music Managers Forum (IMMF) to offer a music publishing administration service to all of it's members. More...
MUSIC WEEK - VIEW POINT - THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO ORGANISE ROYALTY COLLECTION
6 April 2004
It has been interesting to note the move towards new business models such as the "artist friendly" contracts. By Willard Ahdritz. More...
AIR-EDEL CONCLUDES ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
27 January 2004
Air-Edel, part of Sanctuary Music Publishing, is pleased to have concluded a worldwide administration agreement with Kobalt Music. The deal covers Air-Edel and its catalogue of several thousand music copyrights and is effective immediately. Air-Edel's catalogue includes 'Jeans On' by David Dundas and Roger Greenaway; 'Dream A Dream', recorded by Charlotte Church; and 'Prayer In The Night' recorded by Amici Forever, whose album sold over 100,000 units in the UK pre-Christmas. The company is part of The Sanctuary Group plc and music publishing remains a focus area for growth within Sanctuary, both in terms of developing new talent and also acquiring catalogues. More...
NAVRAS RECORDS INKS DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
7 October 2003
Navras Records is one of the largest and most diverse catalogues of traditional Indian music including recordings by world famous Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and KIshori Amonkar. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP IS PLEASED TO HAVE CONCLUDED A WORLD ex US & CANADA ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT WITH EUGENIA WINWOOD
22 October 2003
Kobalt Music is pleased to have concluded a world ex US & Canada administration agreement with Eugenia Winwood. More...
SANCTUARY MUSIC PUBLISHING CONCLUDES ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
23 July 2003
Sanctuary Music Publishing Ltd ('SMP') is pleased to have concluded a world ex UK & Eire administration agreement with Kobalt Music. The deal covers Sanctuary Music Publishing and its administered catalogues and is effective from July 1st 2003. The company is part of The Sanctuary Group plc and music publishing remains a focus area for growth within Sanctuary, both in terms of developing new talent and also acquiring catalogues. More...