Blackbird Presents, Keith Wortman and The Raine Group are excited to announce the appointment of legendary music publishing executive Lance Freed as President of Blackbird Music Publishing Group. Freed previously was President of Rondor Music International where he led the building and scaling of that company into the largest independent music publisher in the world, resulting in its sale to Universal Music Publishing Group. With offices in New York City, Los Angeles and Nashville, Blackbird Music Publishing Grouppromises to establish itself as a powerhouse in the music publishing industry.
Blackbird Music Publishing Group is further thrilled to announce it has acquired the administration rights to the famed music catalog of Burt Bacharach. With over 400 songs, including timeless classics such as “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” “What’s New Pussycat,” “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do),” “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” and “That’s What Friends Are For,” the Academy, Golden Globe and GRAMMY Award-winning songwriter, musician and composer had one of the most sought after catalogues in the industry. Indeed, Bacharach was proclaimed music’s “Greatest Living Composer” by The Recording Academy, with his songs recorded by the likes of The Beatles, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Costello and Aretha Franklin, to name just a few.
“Music publishing is a natural next step for us given that our work across film, television, concerts and festivals enables us to offer incredible opportunities to songwriters. There was only one name on the list for us to lead this effort and it was Lance Freed. Lance is the most thoughtful and creative music publishing executive in our industry, and I am thrilled that he has joined the Blackbird Presents family,” says Keith Wortman, CEO of Blackbird Presents.
“I am thrilled to join Keith, Blackbird Presents and The Raine Group as President of Blackbird Music Publishing Group. My entire career has been predicated on providing total, complete, personal focus on songwriters and their songs. Now I get to continue that journey and also provide a range of remarkable strategic and financial opportunities to songwriters given the similar philosophy and assets of my new partners,” says Lance Freed, President of Blackbird Music Publishing Group.
“We are thrilled that Lance has joined the Blackbird Presents Family. We look forward to supporting him as he leads our strategic expansion into music publishing,” says Co-Founder and Partner of The Raine Group Jeff Sine.
About Blackbird Presents
Blackbird Presents is the worldwide leader in the production of large-scale concert events, broadcast specials, TV series, music festivals and tours.
Recent concerts, broadcast specials and releases include “Willie: Life & Songs Of An American Outlaw,” “All In For The Gambler: Kenny Rogers’ Farewell Concert Celebration,” “Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard,” “The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson,” “Imagine: John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert,” “Outlaw: Celebrating The Music of Waylon Jennings,” “I'll Take You There: Celebrating 75 Years of Mavis Staples,” “The Life and Songs of Emmylou Harris,” “Lynyrd Skynyrd: One More For The Fans,” “The Musical Mojo of Dr. John: Celebrating Mac and His Music” and “All My Friends: Celebrating The Songs and Voice of Gregg Allman,” the last of which earned a 2014 GRAMMY® Award nomination for Gregg Allman and Taj Mahal's awe-inspiring performance of "Statesboro Blues."
Blackbird Presents is also the creator and producer of The Outlaw Music Festival Tour, in partnership with Willie Nelson; The American Roots Music & Arts Festival, in partnership with Eric Church; and The Last Waltz 40 Tour.
Learn more at www.blackbirdpresents.com.
About The Raine Group
The Raine Group is a global merchant bank focused exclusively on technology, media and telecommunications. The firm has offices in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Shanghai and Mumbai. With a global reach, Raine focuses on investment and advisory opportunities where its deep industry experience and unique network of strategic relationships can create value for portfolio companies and clients.
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For additional information or inquiries, please contact:
Blackbird Presents
Rob Rauffer
rob@blackbirdpresents.com
Media Contact
Ebie McFarland
Essential Broadcast Media
ebie@ebmediapr.com
(615) 327-3259