Sony/ATV Music Publishing has signed a worldwide deal with multiple Ivor Novello songwriter Cathy Dennis.
The agreement extends Sony/ATV’s representation of her classic songs including the worldwide hits Can’t Get You Out Of My Head (Kylie Minogue), I Kissed A Girl (Katy Perry) and Toxic (Britney Spears) while adding songs not previously published by the company.
Cathy Dennis is among the most prolific songwriters of the past 30 years, having written worldwide hits such as Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, I Kissed A Girl and Toxic, while being honoured with a number of accolades, including six Ivor Novello awards.
She had a brief career as a pop star in the ’90s with a string of self-penned hits including Just Another Dream, Touch Me (All Night Long) and Too Many Walls, which all reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US.
She then re-emerged as a hugely successful songwriter for other artists, beginning with the UK band S Club 7 whose hits Never Had A Dream Come True, Reach and Have You Ever were co-written by her.
She also co-wrote Kylie Minogue’s mega-hit Can’t You Out Of My Head, which topped the UK singles chart for four weeks and became the Australian’s most successful single worldwide with No. 1 positions across Europe and in Australia and returning her to the US Top 10 for the first time in more than a decade.
The song won Dennis three Ivor Novello awards, including PRS Most Performed Work and International Hit of the Year. She went on to co-write Come Into My World, another UK Top 10 hit for Minogue and a Grammy winner as Best Dance Recording.
Dennis then scored another UK No. 1 hit and Ivor Novello win with Anything Is Possible, the debut single from Will Young, the first winner of UK TV talent show Pop Idol.
Her run of No. 1 songs continued with the Britney Spears single Toxic, which earned her another Ivor Novello, and she co-penned Katy Perry’s breakthrough hit I Kissed A Girl, which topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.
She has also written songs for artists including Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, David Guetta, Janet Jackson, Little Mix, Pink, Mark Ronson and the Spice Girls.
In recognition of her outstanding career, she received the Outstanding Song Collection award at the 2018 Ivor Novello Awards. This was her sixth Ivor, making her the most decorated woman in the event’s prestigious history.
“Cathy Dennis was first signed to this company in 1989 when her debut single was released, so we are very excited that we have not only renewed our existing deal with Cathy but we will look after other songs in her catalogue for the first time.”
Fran Malyan, Sony/ATV
Sony/ATV Senior VP A&R/Catalogue Fran Malyan said: “Cathy Dennis was first signed to this company in 1989 when her debut single was released, so we are very excited that we have not only renewed our existing deal with Cathy but we will look after other songs in her catalogue for the first time.
“This includes new songs that mark a real return to form and will enhance her reputation as one of the UK’s best songwriters.”
“Having written some of the most unforgettable and timeless hit songs, it is an honour and privilege to welcome Cathy back to Sony/ATV. Her energy and drive is contagious and we cannot wait for this new chapter to start.”
David Ventura, Sony/ATV
Sony/ATV Head of A&R, UK David Ventura added: “Having written some of the most unforgettable and timeless hit songs, it is an honour and privilege to welcome Cathy back to Sony/ATV. Her energy and drive is contagious and we cannot wait for this new chapter to start.”
“I’m very excited to be back working with the team at Sony/ATV. Most of my biggest successes of my 30-year career came whilst previously signed here.”
Cathy Dennis
Cathy Dennis said: “I’m very excited to be back working with the team at Sony/ATV. Most of my biggest successes of my 30-year career came whilst previously signed here. It feels like the perfect time to be back with them and I’m in a great place creatively.”
Elsewhere at Sony/ATV, the publisher recently signed Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Ella Mai and renewed its worldwide deal with songwriter, musician and producer Joel Little.
Pictured [Left To Right]: Fran Malyan (Sony/ATV Senior VP A&R/Catalogue), Cathy Dennis, Lettice Summerscale (Sony/ATV VP of Marketing, Digital and Catalogue Promotion, UK), David Ventura (Sony/ATV Head of A&R, UK), Alex Sparks (Sony/ATV Senior A&R Manager) and Andrew Spence (Sony/ATV Senior Business & Commercial Affairs Manager).Music Business Worldwide
