Swedish music publishing veteran Pelle Lidell and his Norwegian business partner Robin Jenssen have launched EKKO Music Rights Europe – backed by powerful Korean music group SM Entertainment Co and its recently-launched sister company, CTGA Co Ltd.
The independent music publishing and music rights company will be based in Stockholm, Sweden and says it is ‘seeking to be an active force within the global music publishing market’.
EKKO is the result of a long-standing idea from Korean leading music business executive and billionaire Soo Man Lee who is also the Founder and Chairman of SM Entertainment Co.
It’s already signed writers including British talent Karen Poole.
In Sweden, EKKO will be led by business partners Lidell (President & Co-Founder, pictured) and Jenssen (VP/GM & Co-Founder) with Lidell overseeing the company’s daily operations.
An office and recording studio will also be setup in Los Angeles in cooperation with veteran producer/writer/executive, Dominique Rodriguez.
In Seoul, EKKO Music Rights will be overseen by SM Entertainment’s Creative Chief and Head of A&R, Chris Lee (CEO) with music publishing veteran Johan Chung (GM) managing the Seoul office’s daily activities.
Additional expansion for the company is expected in the near future.
“my writers and I have enjoyed endless hit records and multi-million sales thanks to SM Entertainment’s extraordinary work. So, when they asked me in the fall of 2015 if I was interested in teaming up with them to launch the European arm of a brand new music publishing company, I didn’t hesitate for a second.”
Pelle Lidell, EKKO Music Rights
Despite setting up EKKO behind-the-scenes for most of 2016, Lidell and Jenssen managed to place more than 300 songs for release globally – resulting in 6 No.1 records to date.
One of these tracks was “Vente Pa’Ca” – Latin pop icon Ricky Martin’s hit single for Sony Music which has reached the No.1 spot in no less than 14 countries while garnering more than 150 million Spotify streams as well as close to 700 million views on YouTube.
EKKO’s initial run of signings also includes Ivor Novello-nominated writer Karen Poole, who has worked with artists including David Guetta, Galantis, Lily Allen, Kylie Minogue, William Orbit, Giorgio Moroder, Sugababes and many others.
The company has also signed Dsign Music – the Norwegian songwriting/production team (led by Robin Jenssen) whose work has exceeded the 22 million mark in worldwide sales with more than 200 songs recorded and released.
Pelle Lidell told Music Business Worldwide, “In the late noughties, during my time with Universal Music Publishing UK, I began to do great business with Soo Man Lee, Chris Lee and SM Entertainment’s brilliant A&R team.
“Since then we’ve strengthened our relationship through our ongoing collaborations. Their cutting-edge 2.0 approach have gob-smacked me numerous times and my writers and I have enjoyed endless hit records and multi-million sales thanks to SM Entertainment’s extraordinary work. So, when they asked me in the fall of 2015 if I was interested in teaming up with them to launch the European arm of a brand new music publishing company, I didn’t hesitate for a second.
“Furthermore, I’m delighted that my old friend and colleague Robin Jenssen is joining me on this journey – he’s by far one of the best music business entrepreneurs I’ve ever worked with. We complete each other with our different set of skills. We have also secured the services of an international A&R consultant with a truly impressive network and a history of hits. That person’s name will be revealed shortly.
“I’m delighted that my old friend and colleague Robin Jenssen is joining me on this journey – he’s by far one of the best music business entrepreneurs I’ve ever worked with. We have also secured the services of an international A&R consultant with a truly impressive network and a history of hits. That person’s name will be revealed shortly.”
Pelle Lidell, EKKO Music Rights
“I realize that it’s still early days for us but I’m totally convinced that EKKO will reach the goals we’ve set up: to be a globally proactive, creative and writer/artist-friendly independent music publishing company that writers and artists would want to sign with.
He added: “I have had the pleasure of working in both independent and major environments so we at EKKO will try our hardest to combine the best of these both worlds. With a worldwide deal in place with Kobalt Music, a music publishing company I’m a huge fan of, I truly believe we have all the tools to provide the best service possible to our writers.”
Pelle Lindell is a former Head of A&R and Deputy MD for Air Chrysalis Scandinavia (Chrysalis Music Group), as well as the CEO and co-owner of highly successful independent and international music publisher Murlyn Songs and a European A&R Executive for Universal Music Publishing Ltd UK. Music Business Worldwide