NZ songstress Lorde has signed a worldwide deal with Songs Music Publishing worth $2.5 million, capping what was reportedly an immensely competitive, months-long bidding war over the 17-year-old singer-songwriter. The deal includes her debut EP and album, as well as future recordings.
Songs Music Publishing’s securing of Lorde’s contract means they beat out over half-a-dozen other publishers who were vying for singer (whose real name is Ella Yellich O’Connor), and follows not only the huge success of her flagship single, Royals, but also O’Connor’s 17th birthday.
“She could have signed anywhere she wanted to sign, and I don’t know what other people were offering, but as we often say — music publishing is about relationships and it’s about people,” said Songs founder and CEO Matt Pincus.
“I’m incredibly proud to be Ella’s publisher — we think she’s a once-in-a-generation type artist,” he added. Pincus credited company president and head of A&R Ron Perry for securing the deal, saying Perry “really connected with Ella and vice versa, and it’s really a tremendous opportunity for us.”
“My A&R guy Corey Roberts picked up on her in January, and sent me an email saying, ‘Stop what you’re doing,’” recounts Perry. “I did, I flipped out right away, I played ‘Royals’ for Matt and he heard the first 12 seconds and was like, ‘That’s a hit.’”
Perry has already reportedly introduced the young star to fellow Songs clients such as The Weeknd and Diplo for potential future collaborations, saying “She’s gonna be a really big songwriter outside of Lorde. She’s going to have a lot of big songs out there as Ella.”
Songs was founded in 2004 and currently boasts a roster of songwriters and producers that includes Diplo, Nelly, Pharrell, The Weeknd, Conor Oberst, M83’s Morgan Kibby, and DJ Mustard.
O’Connor has already started collaborating with high-profile artists, recently taking the stage with sisterly trio Haim at VH1’s inaugural ‘You Oughta Know’ concert, which took place at NYC’s Roseland Ballroom, together covering the Sheryl Crow hit Strong Enough.
(Via Billboard)
Listen: Lorde & Haim – Strong Enough (Sheryl Crow Cover)
