Downtown Music Publishing (DMP) today announced the signing of Cameron Montgomery, a multi-genre songwriter and producer, to its global publishing roster.
The 2025 Music Week Awards nominations have been revealed, with Downtown-company FUGA nominated for Best Label/Artist Services Company, while Downtown Music Publishing is a finalist for Independent Publisher of the Year award.
Downtown Music Publishing is honored to renew agreements with Tori Amos, George Gershwin, Remi Kabaka, Tim Kellett, Les Claypool, Geoff Wilkinson, and Brett Dennen. These extensions reflect our continued dedication to supporting influential artists and songwriters across genres.
Downtown is honored to support the songwriters and creators behind over 35% of this year’s GRAMMY winners. Congratulations to our publishing clients Béla Fleck, Erroll Garner, Ibeyi, The John Lennon Estate, Scion Three Music, Stones Throw Publishing, and Tank and the Bangas!
Virgin Music Group has agreed to acquire Downtown Music Holdings for $775 million, with the deal expected to close in late 2025 pending regulatory approvals. This acquisition will strengthen services for independent artists and businesses while both companies continue operating independently until the transaction is finalized.
Downtown is proud to support the songwriters and businesses behind nearly 150 nominations at the 2025 GRAMMY Awards, including The John Lennon Estate, Béla Fleck, Tank and the Bangas, Scion Three Music, Marco Benevento, Peso Pluma, Joe Bonamassa, and more!
The Latin GRAMMYs celebrate excellence in Latin music, and Downtown is proud to support the songwriters and businesses behind 30+ nominations and six wins this year. Congratulations to our publishing clients Regalias Digitales and Double P Records for their outstanding contributions!
Downtown Music Publishing announces Jedd Katrancha as Chief Creative Officer. Katrancha will lead A&R, business development, and sync, further enhancing Downtown’s creative strategy and catalog exposure, including iconic works from John Lennon and Bruce Hornsby, and recent signings like Peso Pluma.
In this “My Music Row Story”, Downtown Music Publishing President Emily Stephenson discusses her journey from Auburn University to leading Downtown. She shares insights on leadership, her pivotal role in key signings, and the importance of staying connected to both colleagues and clients.
Downtown Music Publishing announces a global deal with PDU, representing iconic Italian singer Mina's catalog of 80+ LPs and 1,395 songs. DMP will handle publishing administration and sync services, bringing Mina's legendary music, sung in multiple languages, to global audiences for future generations.
Latin music is experiencing rapid growth by blending traditional elements like guitars, trombones, and trumpets with modern influences such as hip-hop and rap, leading to significant commercial success for artists like Peso Pluma (Downtown Music Publishing client), Fuerza Regida, and Junior H. This genre's rise reflects the increasing influence of the young, bilingual Hispanic population in the U.S., with social media platforms playing a crucial role in propelling Latin tracks and artists to stardom.
The Copyright Society of the South hosted a CLE luncheon in Nashville with panelists Kristina Johnson, Mike Molinar, Emily Stephenson, President of Downtown Music Publishing, and Duff Berschback. They discussed copyright and IP concerns, including DDEX, statutory licensing, due diligence, split copyright sales/administration, and the impact of Generative AI.
Downtown Music Publishing announces a global music publishing deal with Double P Records, founded by Peso Pluma and George Prajin. The partnership includes global administration and sync placement for current and future releases, including Peso Pluma's hit album ÉXODO, which debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200.
The 2024 Billboard Indie Power Players event at Soho Grand Hotel celebrated top figures in the independent music business, including Brent Faiyaz, named cover star for his label ISO Supremacy, and Ty Baisden, Executive of the Year. The Downtown team was also part of the event, which featured speeches and a performance by Laurie Anderson.
The annual Libera Awards, which honor independent musicians and the teams that support them, recognized Downtown Music Publishing client Secretly Publishing as Publisher of the Year. The awards celebrate the powerful voice of the independent sector, often unacknowledged in mainstream media. Other notable winners included Mitski and Blondshell.
The Billboard 40 Under 40 list for 2024 highlights young executives shaping the music industry, including Emily Stephenson, President of Downtown Music Publishing. Stephenson has played a key role in expanding Downtown’s global reach and optimizing its services for songwriters and rights holders, reinforcing the company’s influence in music publishing.
Billboard’s 2024 International Power Players, executives nominated by their firms and peers, includes Emily Stephenson, President of Downtown Music Publishing, recognized for leading Downtown’s growth in 2023, and Thando Makhunga, Managing Director of Sheer Publishing Africa. Both are acknowledged for their contributions to the global music industry.
At the 2024 General Assemblies in Dublin, the Independent Music Publisher's Forum (IMPF) elected six new members to its Board: Rosa M. Vizcaíno Gómez, Emily Stephenson (President of Downtown Music Publishing), Claudia Mescoli, Cecilia Léon Rodrigo, Tatjana Bukvić, and Denise Andrikopoulou. The new College will serve from 2024-2026.
Downtown Music Publishing announces global agreements with producer Boombass, co-founder of Cassius, and DJ/producer Étienne de Crécy. DMP will provide worldwide administration and sync services for both artists' catalogs, including Cassius' iconic tracks and de Crécy’s legendary albums, marking significant growth in the French Touch movement.
Skybound Entertainment, the multiplatform company behind The Walking Dead, Invincible, and Impact Winter, launches Skybound Music in partnership with FUGA and Downtown Music Publishing. The collaboration offers digital distribution, global administration, and marketing services for Skybound’s original productions, delivering iconic tracks and scores across multiple genres and platforms.
Spirit Music Group has entered into an administrative services agreement with Downtown Music Publishing. SMG will leverage Downtown’s global administration, registration, and technology platform to meet increasing infrastructure needs while maintaining current sub-publishing arrangements. The collaboration combines SMG’s creative expertise with Downtown’s operational capabilities to enhance artist and songwriter services.
Downtown Music Publishing announces a global publishing agreement with multi-platinum, GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat. Known for hits like "Bubbly" and "Lucky," Caillat’s catalog will benefit from Downtown’s global administration and sync services. The partnership also extends to future releases, including her latest album Along The Way.
Downtown Music Publishing has signed a global publishing agreement with Grammy-nominated songwriter and Marianas Trench lead vocalist Josh Ramsay. Known for co-writing Carly Rae Jepsen’s hit "Call Me Maybe," Ramsay’s extensive catalog, including his work with Jepsen, Nickelback, and Marianas Trench, will receive global administration and creative services.
Next Era Music Publishing has partnered with Downtown Music Publishing for global administration and collection services. Known for representing iconic tracks like “Juicy” and “Getting Jiggy Wit It,” Next Era’s diverse catalog will now benefit from Downtown’s extensive global reach, offering new opportunities for its creators and partners.
Downtown Music Publishing has signed a global publishing deal with Outer Voice Music Publishing, the South Asian-focused arm of The Outer Voice Company. The partnership will focus on promoting and administrating the catalog of South Asian songwriters, including works by JAM & Philly, with a commitment to securing sync placements and expanding opportunities for underrepresented artists.
Acclaimed British pop-rock band The Hoosiers has signed a global publishing deal with Downtown Music Publishing, alongside a distribution agreement with Downtown-owned FUGA. The collaboration will enhance the band’s extensive catalog and upcoming album, Confidence, with worldwide distribution, sync services, and creative support.
Downtown Music Publishing is excited to announce a global publishing agreement with Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter and rapper Raja Kumari. The deal encompasses her debut album The Bridge (2023), as well as all upcoming songwriting credits, with DMP collaborating closely with Kumari’s team to amplify her music’s reach.
Downtown Music announces Emily Stephenson’s promotion to President of Downtown Music Publishing. With 10 years at the company, she’ll lead publishing efforts across Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust, and Sheer. The news follows Mike Smith’s departure after nearly three years to focus on personal projects and charity work.
