Downtown Neighbouring Rights has entered into an agreement to represent the estate of Ella Fitzgerald for global performance royalty collections outside of the US.
The deal covers the iconic vocalist’s entire repertoire, including some of the most popular recordings in history like Dream a Little Dream of Me, Cheek to Cheek, Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall and “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).”
Downtown Music Holdings launched Downtown Neighbouring Rights as a new standalone business unit in June last year, dedicated specifically to performance royalties.
The new unit is headed by its London-based General Manager, Dean Francis, who joined Downtown in 2018 to lead neighbouring rights collections within Downtown’s music publishing division.
Ella Fitzgerald is one of the most popular female jazz singers of all time.
Starting her music career as part of the Chick Webb orchestra, she eventually partnered with Norman Granz to produce her famous songbook series, recording songs written by some of the world’s great composers and lyricists, including those by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, the Gershwins, Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin, and Rodgers and Hart.
She also partnered with Louis Armstrong to create some of jazz’s finest and memorable duets. With more than 40M albums sold during her lifetime, Ella received numerous accolades from around the world, including 13 Grammy awards, the National Medal of Arts, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and France’s Order of Arts and Letters.
Along with her music legacy, Ella Fitzgerald left a legacy of philanthropic work through The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation which provides literacy, music education, and access to housing, healthcare and related support services to at-risk communities.
“Her legacy as one of the most popular jazz vocalists of all time lives on and we are very excited to have it in such good hands.”
Richard Rosman, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation
“We are so pleased to have Downtown Neighbouring Rights represent the Estate of Ella Fitzgerald,” said Richard Rosman, President of The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, the non-profit philanthropic organization which owns the rights to the catalog.
“Her legacy as one of the most popular jazz vocalists of all time lives on and we are very excited to have it in such good hands.”
“To represent the performance rights of her impressive recording catalog is a true honor.”
Dean Francis, Downtown
Dean Francis, General Manager of Downtown Neighbouring Rights, said: “Without question, Ella Fitzgerald is one of the world’s most beloved vocalists.
“Her distinctive voice and range, inventive phrasing and rhythmic virtuosity are among the reasons she remains ‘The First Lady of Song’.
“To represent the performance rights of her impressive recording catalog is a true honor.”
Music Business Worldwide