Kobalt Music Copyrights SARL (KMC) has acquired the worldwide publishing rights to the major song catalogue of Grammy Award-winning hitmaker Steve Winwood.
KMC is advised by Kobalt Capital Ltd and has acquired ownership of Winwood’s entire back catalog of 177 songs, from his early career with Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith through his solo recordings to the present day.
KMC has acquired both the publisher’s share of the copyrights, as well as the writer’s share (excluding public performance royalties).
As the official services partner for KMC, Kobalt Music Group will provide numerous services to manage and promote the rights: Kobalt’s publishing division will administer the worldwide publishing rights and provide creative synch and licensing services.
Additionally, Kobalt’s label services division has acquired the exclusive right to license various masters controlled by Winwood, which include re-recordings of his hits, for synchronisation uses.
As lead singer of The Spencer Davis Group, Winwood wrote numerous late-‘60s pop classics including “Gimme Some Lovin'” and “I’m a Man.
Hits featured in his solo catalogue of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s include “Higher Love” (#1 Billboard), “Don’t You Know What The Night Can Do” (#1 Billboard), “Roll With It” (#1 Billboard), “Holding On” (#1 Billboard), “Back In The High Life Again” (#1 Billboard), “While You See A Chance” (#2 Billboard), “One and Only Man” (#1 Billboard), “Talking Back To The Night” and “Valerie” among many others.
The catalogue contains the Top 10 albums Roll With It (#1 The Billboard 200), Back In The Highlife (#7 The Billboard 200), Arc Of A Diver (#3 The Billboard 200), as well as chart-topping releases Revolutions – The Very Best Of Steve Winwood, Nine Lives, About Time, Junction Seven, Refugees Of The Heart, Chronicles, Talking Back To The Night, Steve, Go and Winwood.
“Steve Winwood has remained a major figure in rock ‘n’ roll, a respected artist and writer who has helped to create some of pop music’s most celebrated songs. We’re extremely proud that Steve has chosen Kobalt to be the caretakers of his works. His great music is timeless and will remain relevant and popular for years to come,” said Kobalt CEO Willard Ahdritz.
Along with Ahdritz and Johan Ahlström, CEO of Kobalt Capital Ltd. (KCL), other executives involved in the deal include: Merril Wasserman, Kobalt EVP Business Development; Christiaan Winchester, Kobalt Group General Counsel; Jim Arnay, Kobalt SVP Business Affairs & US General Counsel; Charles Sussman, Business Manager for Mr. Winwood; T.D. Ruth, U.S. attorney for Mr. Winwood; and Andrew Thompson of Lee & Thompson, U.K. attorney for Mr. Winwood.Music Business Worldwide
