Downtown Music Publishing has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Codigo Music, the parent company of historic Latin label Fania Records, covering their complete music publishing catalogue.
Founded by composer and bandleader Johnny Pacheco and lawyer Jerry Masucci in 1964, Fania grew into a label leader in the world of Latin music.
Its roster featured such seminal artists as Willie Colon, Celia Cruz, Larry Harlow, Ray Barretto, Ralfi Pagan, Luis “Perico” Ortiz, Bobby Valentín, Rubén Blades, Héctor Lavoe, and Cheo Feliciano among many others.
Last year the label celebrated its 50th anniversary with more than 50 events throughout New York City and released several digital compilations from its classic catalog as well as a series of remixes.
“Fania was a New York City institution,” said Downtown CEO Justin Kalifowitz (pictured).
“Their investment, promotion and celebration of some of New York’s greatest talents played an enormous role in the development of our city’s diverse musical heritage.
I am honored that we can play a small part in promoting this incredible piece of New York City history.”
“I am honoured that we can play a small part in promoting this incredible piece of new york history.”
Justin Kalifowitz, downtown music publishing
As part of the agreement, Downtown will market and promote Fania’s song catalogue for film, television, advertising and other media opportunities and serve as the global custodian of its song copyrights.
Downtown’s royalty collection technology, which monitors usage and collects royalties from over 20,000 sources covering 90 countries, will license and monetise the catalog across multiple platforms.
Titles in the Codigo/Fania publishing catalog include those by prolific tropical songwriter Tite Curet Alonso such as “Anacaona”, “Periodico de Ayer”, “La Tirana” and “Las Caras Lindas” along with Hector Lavoe’s “Aguanile”, Celia Cruz’s “Quimbara”, and more recent hits such as Christina Aguilera’s “Ain’t No Other Man” and Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie”- both of which sampled songs controlled by Codigo/Fania.
To kick off the partnership, Downtown and Fania will be hosting a launch event celebrating the company’s impact on NYC from their launch in 1964 through to the Fania All Stars’ historic sold out show at Yankee Stadium in 1973.
This invite-only event will cover Fania’s most classic era with music by legendary recording artist Joe Bataan and DJ Turmix, artwork, news clippings, a photo exhibit and more.Music Business Worldwide
