Big Deal Music has acquired the Nashville-based administration company Words & Music.
As a result, Words & Music will assume most of Big Deal Music’s domestic administrative duties from January 1, 2016.
Big Deal’s newly-inked extension with BMG remains in effect for territories outside of North America.
Big Deal Music’s roster includes My Morning Jacket, Ray LaMontagne, St. Vincent, The Afghan Whigs, Dan Wilson, Jim James, Sharon Van Etten, the Black Angels and Ethan Johns.
Words & Music was founded by Kim McCollum-Mele in March 2002 as a collection agency for unpaid karaoke royalties. Today, it is an admin partner for hundreds of music publishers, songwriters and copyright holders, providing royalty collection and creative services.
Big Deal’s Kenny MacPherson stated “The foundation built in Nashville by Kim McCollum-Mele and her staff are a testament to those classic old-fashioned values we treasure: tenacity, independence, honesty and hard work.
“We have a unique opportunity to expand upon the base they’ve built, while continuing the steady, organic growth that Big Deal has enjoyed our first three years.
“While such a move was a natural and inevitable step in our evolution as full service publishers, we’re very fortunate to be able to take such a critical next step with Words & Music.”
Kim McCollum-Mele, President of Words & Music, commented on the acquisition, “I am very excited to be joining forces with Kenny and his amazing team at Big Deal.
“At Words & Music, we have always prided ourselves in our service and honest relationships with our songwriters and publishers.
“This move allows us to expand upon that foundation in new and creative ways, growing what we’ve built over the past 13 years into a vibrant new business.”
[Pictured Left To Right: Pete Robinson (Sr. Vice President/GM Nashville), Kim McCollum-Mele (President, Words & Music) & Kenny MacPherson (President, Big Deal Music)]Music Business Worldwide
