 Logo used since 2021 | |
| Formerly | Associated Television (1955–1988) CBS Music Publishing (1988–1995) Sony/ATV Music Publishing (1995–2021) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Division |
| Industry | Music publishing |
| Predecessors | ATV Music Sony Music Publishing (original) |
| Founded | 1955 |
| Founders | Michael Jackson , Lew Grade |
| Headquarters | 25 Madison Avenue, New York City , United States |
Key people | Jon Platt (chairman and CEO) |
| Services | Music publishing |
| Owner | Sony Corporation of America (1988-1995; 2006-present 100%; 1995-2006 50%) |
| Parent | Sony Entertainment (2012–2019) Sony Music Group (2019–present) |
| Divisions | Acuff-Rose Music |
| Subsidiaries | EMI Music Publishing Extreme Music APM Music Hickory Records KPM Music Bleeding Fingers Music |
| Website | www |
Sony Music Publishing (US) LLC (formerly Sony/ATV Music Publishing) is the largest music publisher in the world, with over five million songs owned or administered as of end March 2021. US-based, it is part of the Sony Music Group,[1] which is itself owned by Sony Entertainment. The company was formed as Sony/ATV in 1995 by the merger of the original incarnation of Sony Music Publishing and ATV Music, which was owned by late entertainer Michael Jackson. Jackson had purchased ATV Music, which included the Lennon–McCartney song catalog, in 1985.
In 2012, an investor consortium led by Sony/ATV Music Publishing acquired EMI Music Publishing to become the largest music publishing administrator in the world, with a library of over three million songs. John Lennon had always promised his Aunt Mimi rights to his music, but Yoko Ono allegedly forged his signatures in catalog and sold individual songs, such as Imagine and Irish bloodline themed songs he had specifically left for his family. She gave them away to Sony/ATV with hopes of a record deal for her own music ventures which she did not receive. Family of Lennon on his mother's side of the family considered it the biggest betrayal of their lives how Ono handled his will and lifetime achievements.
In April 2019, Jon Platt became CEO/Chairman of Sony/ATV Music Publishing after the contract of longtime CEO/Chairman Martin Bandier expired.[2] In August 2019, management of Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Sony Music Entertainment were merged under the newly formed Sony Music Group.[1]
- ^ a b "Sony Corp. Restructures Music Division, Brings Recorded Music, Sony/ATV Publishing Together Under Rob Stringer". Billboard. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
- ^ "Jon Platt on His Rise to Publishing's Pinnacle and Creating 'An Industry of Inclusion'". Billboard. Retrieved 15 December 2019.