US-headquartered music publishing company Mojo Music & Media has acquired a majority stake in London-based indie pubco, Chelsea Music.
Chelsea will become Mojo’s flagship in the UK, with founder Eddie Levy continuing as Managing Director, it was announced today by Mojo Music & Media CEO and Co-Founder Mark Fried.
Established 33 years ago by Levy – after successful stints with ATV Music and Heath Levy Music – Chelsea Music’s modern day repertoire features more than 80 charted UK and international hits.
These include standards recorded by Frank Sinatra (“Come Fly With Me”, “Love and Marriage”, “High Hopes”), Dean Martin (“Ain’t That A Kick In The Head”), and Peggy Lee (“It’s A Good Day”, “Manana”); ‘60s pop hits by Wayne Fontana (“Game Of Love), The Hollies (“I’m Alive”), Mason Williams (“Classical Gas”) and Zager & Evans (“In The Year 2525”); the works of Grammy and Ivor Novello winner Bill Withers (“Lovely Day,” “Just The Two Of Us”); ‘70s soul & dance hits by Maxine Nightengale (“Right Back Where We Started From”), Hues Corporation (“Rock The Boat”) and Heatwave (“Mind Blowin’ Decisions”), and rock classics by Jeff Beck (“Scatterbrain”) and Linda Ronstadt (“You’re No Good”); ‘80s and ‘90s hits for Thin Lizzy (“Trouble Boys”), Ottawan (“Hands Up”), New Edition (“Candy Girl”), Joyce Sims (“Come Into My Life”), Mantronix (“Bassline”), Curiosity Killed The Cat (“Name And Number”) and De La Soul (“Ring Ring Ring Ha Ha Hey”).
It also represents recent singles by Empire Of The Sun (“Alive”), Little Mix (“How Ya Doin”) and Busta Rhymes (“I Know What You Want”).
In addition, Chelsea represents the catalogues of rock guitarist Tony Iommi, soulstress Roberta Flack, jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux and violinist Andre Rieu.
Fried said: “I’ve been a fan and friend of Eddie’s since my early days in music publishing. His love of music, impeccable character and devotion to his songwriters – many of whom are among the best of our generation – are all a perfect fit with Mojo’s mission.
“Eddie’s five-decades of experience will be invaluable in terms of our growth aspirations and Chelsea’s first-rate administration and auditing capabilities will be at the very heart of the world-class custom royalties platform we’ve built.”
Levy, said, “I’m extremely delighted to be teaming up with Mark, Alan Wallis [COO & Co-Founder] and Peter Shane [CCO & Co-Founder]. It is already very clear that Mojo’s team and resources complement our own and will see us attract top flight songwriters and stunning catalogues. Just as importantly, we are all part of a long-time music publishing tradition that cares deeply for its clients and can whistle all their songs!”
Levy began his career in the mid-60s doing promotion for Larry Page’s Page One Records. He segued to publishing in 1967, joining Welbeck Music, the publishing arm of Pye Records, where he represented the prolific works of Tony Hatch and Tony McCauley. Upon Welbeck being absorbed into ATV, Levy became a founding Director and spent eight years promoting the music of The Beatles along with songs by The Searchers and Jackie Trent. He founded Heath Levy, in partnership with Geoff Heath, in 1976, signing up Boz Scaggs, Tavares, Sylvester, The Three Degrees, Kissing The Pink and Walter Egan.
Levy launched Chelsea in 1986, growing it into one of the UK’s most respected independent publishers.
Mojo has been actively pursuing strategic expansion and growth of its platform and catalogue, having acquired the Nashville-based HoriPro Entertainment Group, along with its executive team and 15,000 song catalogue this past March.Music Business Worldwide
