Warner Chappell Music Korea has signed a global partnership deal with South Korean production and publishing company, MZMC Inc. Korea Co., covering its entire catalog including songs by Taeyeon, EXO, Red Velvet and NCT DREAM.
MZMC Inc. was founded in 2019 by Paul Thompson, known professionally as MZMC and a former SM Entertainment producer. At the start of his career, MZMC, originally from California, is the only non-Korean ever to be signed as an in-house songwriter by JYP Entertainment.
After his stint at SM Entertainment, Thompson launched his own company called MARZ Music Group, the first production company that is run by a non-Korean. MARZ Music was signed to Lee Soo Man’s publishing house, EKKO Music Rights.
He later founded MZMC Inc. The company has since built a roster of 20 songwriters and producers and a catalog of nearly 250 songs.
MZMC Inc. recently added an Artist Management Division to its business scope and is currently working on the development and debut of a brand new female K-pop idol group.
Under the alliance with Warner Chappell Music Korea, the latter will administer the global distribution of MZMC Inc.’s catalog including songs such as ‘Fine’ by Taeyeon; ‘Ko Ko Bop’, ‘Love Shot’, and ‘Tempo’ by EXO; RBB (Really Bad Boy)’ by Red Velvet, as well as ‘We Go Up’ by NCT DREAM.
“MZMC Inc Korea Co., Ltd. has a strong brand and has signed and developed some of the best songwriters in the region.”
Brian Jenkins, Warner Chappell Music
“MZMC Inc Korea Co., Ltd. has a strong brand and has signed and developed some of the best songwriters in the region. We couldn’t be more delighted to partner with Paul and his team to enhance their efforts, and help introduce their brilliant songwriters to new audiences around the world,” said Brian Jenkins, Vice President of Business Development, Asia Pacific for Warner Chappell Music.
Thompson says the partnership with Warner Chappell “is essential to expand our reach throughout the world.”
“We are excited that Warner Chappell Music is now MZMC Inc Korea Co., Ltd.’s worldwide publishing partner and hope that, together, we can proliferate our unique music, songwriters, and artists to fans in all territories and regions of the world.”
“Publishing is our business, but songwriting is our passion – we are grateful that Warner Chappell Music shares the same vision for the future of MZMC Inc Korea Co., Ltd. as we do.”
Paul Thompson, MZMC Inc. Korea Co.
“Publishing is our business, but songwriting is our passion – we are grateful that Warner Chappell Music shares the same vision for the future of MZMC Inc Korea Co., Ltd. as we do,” added Thompson.
CJ Kim, General Manager of Warner Chappell Music Korea, also commented on the alliance, saying: “This partnership represents another important step in Warner Chappell Music’s ongoing effort to strengthen and expand our position as a leader in K-pop music.
“We are delighted to join forces with MZMC Inc Korea Co., Ltd. and look forward to bringing more K-pop music to an ever-wider audience, maximising opportunities for their incredible work on a global scale.”
“We are delighted to join forces with MZMC Inc Korea Co., Ltd. and look forward to bringing more K-pop music to an ever-wider audience, maximising opportunities for their incredible work on a global scale.”
CJ Kim, Warner Chappell Music Korea
The partnership marks Warner Chappell’s latest publishing deal with a South Korean company.
Over three months ago, the company renewed its global partnership deal with 153/Joombas Publishing, covering songs written for acts like BTS, EXO, GOT7, SEVENTEEN, aespa, (G)I-DLE, ITZY, IU, Lim Young-woong, Monsta X, NCT DREAM, Red Velvet, Stray Kids, and Taeyeon.
The deals come as WCM Korea brought back its in-studio songwriting camps in June 202. The two-week camp brought songwriters from across the world together to collaborate and write future hits for South Korean artists and labels like IST Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, SM Entertainment and Starship Entertainment.
Music Business Worldwide