Sony/ATV Music Publishing has extended its worldwide deal with multi-Grammy-winning songwriter, musician and producer Greg Kurstin and launched a JV with him to sign hit songwriters and musicians. The new long-term agreement comes after his most successful year yet, having won four honors at this year's Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Record of the Year for his work with Adele and scoring a global No. 1 hit as the co-writer of Sia's "Cheap Thrills".
Sony/ATV has additionally launched a joint venture with Kurstin as a platform to sign new songwriters and producers. Its first new signing is upcoming songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Wendy Wang, while songwriter Jesse Shatkin, who was brought by Kurstin to Sony/ATV and has had hits with acts such as Sia ("Chandelier", "Alive"),
One Direction ("Perfect") and
Fall Out Boy (new single "Champion"), has moved across to the JV.
Sony/ATV Chairman and CEO Martin Bandier said: "Greg is simply the best at what he does. He is an incredible songwriter, a producer extraordinaire and has an amazing ability to discover and nurture new talent. I'm so proud to be associated with this great guy and can't wait to see what he comes up with next."
Sony/ATV Senior Vice President, Co-Head of West Coast A&R Amanda Berman-Hill said: "It has been such a great honor to have worked with Greg all these years because there is not a more humble, gracious and talented songwriter and producer in the industry. We now have the opportunity to develop songwriters and producers with him with the launch of our new joint venture, which is already off to a great start with Jesse Shatkin and Wendy Wang. We are so excited about what the future holds."
Greg Kurstin said: "I have had a long and great relationship with the Sony/ATV team who have always been incredible supporters of my career. I have no doubt that they will give the same kind of backing to the songwriters and producers signed to the JV as they have given me."
His manager Rachel Kurstin, of No Expectations, said: "Working alongside our team at Sony/ATV has been hugely rewarding and we have achieved so much already. So I cannot think of a better partner for this new joint venture, which I am confident will uncover many great new songwriters and producers."
Greg Kurstin capped a truly remarkable period in his distinguished career when he received four awards in February at the 59th annual Grammy Awards. He won Song of the Year and Record of the Year for "Hello", which he co-wrote with Adele, Album of the Year for the Adele release 25, which includes his songs "Hello", "Water Under The Bridge" and "Million Years Ago", and Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical.
The Grammy successes further cemented his reputation as one of the most successful songwriters and producers of the 21st Century.
With "Hello" and 25, Kurstin played a starring role in one of the most successful music projects this side of the millennium. Released in October 2015, "Hello" became the fastest-selling download of all time in the U.S. with 1.1 million copies sold during its first week of release and ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks. It was also an instant chart-topper around the world, achieving numerous download and streaming records.
The parent album 25 set its own series of records when it was released the following month, including selling 3.4 million copies in the U.S. during its first week, the highest one-week tally in the SoundScan era dating back to 1991, and has since achieved the rare RIAA
Diamond accolade of 10 million U.S. sales. Globally its sales have surpassed 20 million units.
He also topped charts around the world last year as the co-writer and producer of the Sia featuring
Sean Paul hit "Cheap Thrills", which went on to be Grammy nominated. He additionally co-wrote with Sia her follow-up hits "The Greatest" and "Move Your Body", which with "Cheap Thrills" featured on her Grammy-nominated album This Is Acting. They have also written together for a forthcoming album by Sia of original Christmas songs.
Having initially experienced success as a recording artist, firstly with the band Geggy Tah and then alongside singer Inara George as the duo
The Bird and the Bee, Kurstin achieved his first notable breakthrough as a songwriter/producer for other acts with Lily Allen, beginning with her 2006 debut Alright, Still. He co-wrote Allen's 2009 follow-up It's Not Me, It's You, which topped the U.K. chart and included the No. 1 single "The Fear". The project won the pair three Ivor
Novello awards, including Songwriters of the Year.
Kurstin and Allen both collaborated with Pink on the hit "True Love" from Pink's Grammy-nominated 2012 album
The Truth About Love. It was one of several contributions by Kurstin to the album, the most successful being the transatlantic top five hit "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)".
Among the many other artists who have recorded his songs are Beyonce,
Kelly Clarkson (including the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 and Grammy-nominated "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"), Lana Del Rey,
Ellie Goulding (including the U.K. No. 1 single "Burn"), Lykke Li, Kylie Minogue, Katy Perry,
Gwen Stefani and Tegan & Sara. He also works regularly with songwriter and producer Jesse Shatkin, including on projects for artists such as Sia. Shatkin, who was brought to Sony/ATV by Kurstin, will be part of the new JV.
Kurstin contributed to Kendrick Lamar's album DAMN and Halsey's hopeless fountain kingdom, which both debuted at No. 1 in the U.S. this year, has worked with former Oasis frontman
Liam Gallagher on his forthcoming debut solo album As You Were, including co-writing and producing the hit single "Wall Of Glass", and has spent much of 2017 producing the new
Foo Fighters album
Concrete and Gold. He is also the main collaborator on Beck's forthcoming album.
Pictured, left to right, in the photo are Sony/ATV Senior Vice President, Co-Head of West Coast A&R Amanda Berman-Hill, Greg Kurstin and Greg's manager Rachel Kurstin
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