Epic Rights To Develop Worldwide Licensing Program for Lyrics Written By Lennon & McCartney and Will Bring on Top Licensees and Retailers in Apparel, Home Furnishings, Wall Art, Stationery and Gift Products; Globally Recognized Song Lyrics are Foundation for Consumer Products Program Across Multiple Categories
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — One of the best-known and most prolific musical collaborations in history, the songwriting partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, published more than 180 songs between 1962 and 1969. Those comprise the Northern Songs Lennon-McCartney song catalog, owned by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which today named full-service global branding, licensing and rights management company Epic Rights one of the catalog’s global licensing agents.
With its Lyrics Written by Lennon & McCartney program, Epic Rights is developing a global licensing program that will incorporate the iconic lyrics of many of the duo’s most popular songs into licensed products across multiple consumer goods categories. The Company will be presenting the brand at the upcoming Licensing Expo in Las Vegas.
“For many people the world over, a Beatles’ song instantly transports them to a place, a time, a feeling with huge emotional attachment. Those iconic lyrics, which double as cultural and historical references, also communicate attitudes that are as topical and relevant today as they were in the 1960s,” explained Dell Furano, CEO, Epic Rights.
“The songs of John Lennon and Paul McCartney not only became social anthems for a generation, they have lived on to inspire people of all ages around the globe, regardless of language or geographic location,” said Sony/ATV Music Publishing VP, Merchandise & Consumer Products, Rod Kotler. “Dell and the Epic Rights team understand the importance of these lyrics, lyrics that live well beyond the songs that first delivered them, and we trust him to develop an appropriate licensing program that respects John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s treasured lyrics.”
Epic Rights’ Executive Vice President of Global Licensing Lisa Streff added, “We envision a broad licensed products campaign that encompasses everything from apparel, accessories and wall art to home electronics, gifts, stationery, and more. From All You Need is Love to Hey Jude, the opportunities to develop high quality merchandise that incorporates the words and sentiments of Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s lyrics are limitless.”
From the time of their U.S. television debut in 1964 until their split in 1970, The Beatles topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart a record-setting 20 times. Those chart toppers, mostly written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, are among more than 180 songs that comprise the Lennon-McCartney music catalog. Among the most popular, according to Rolling Stone, are Come Together, Hey Jude, Let it Be, In My Life, Strawberry Fields Forever, A Day in the Life and Yesterday.
About Epic Rights
Epic Rights is a full-service merchandise, branding/licensing and social media marketing company focused on building music artist and entertainment brands via its broad global network of retailers, licensees and agents. Working with a roster of top clients and brands, Epic Rights services include licensing/branding, music merchandising, official website and social media management, VIP ticketing and official fan communities. Epic Rights also oversees sponsorships and endorsements, digital archiving of all creative/photo/media assets and manages worldwide e-commerce for its clients in addition to providing in-house legal resources for trademark registration and audit management. For more information visit Epic Rights.
About Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing, established in 1995 as a joint venture between Sony and Michael Jackson, is the world’s leading music publisher. Together with EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV owns or administers more than 3 million copyrights including those from such iconic music catalogs like Leiber & Stoller, Mijac Music, Motown and Famous Music. Sony/ATV also controls many of the best known songs ever written like “New York, New York”, “Hallelujah”, “All You Need Is Love”, “You’ve Got a Friend”, “Moon River”, “Jailhouse Rock”, “The Mission Impossible Theme”, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, “Over the Rainbow”, “Stand By Me,” “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” and “Singin’ in the Rain.” In addition, Sony/ATV represents the copyrights of such legendary artists as The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Carole King, Kraftwerk, Joni Mitchell, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Richie Sambora, Sting, The Supremes, Wyclef Jean, Hank Williams and Stevie Wonder, among others. Its ever-growing list of chart-topping artists, writers and producers includes Akon, Avicii, Calvin Harris, Jessie J, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, P!nk, RedOne, Shakira, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Stargate, Taylor Swift, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams.