Deals Labels & Publishers

Warner/Chappell signs on to administrate Steve Aoki’s publishing business

By | Published on Thursday 10 August 2017

Steve Aoki

Warner Music’s music publishing division Warner/Chappell yesterday announced a new deal with Steve Aoki which will see the top EDM peddler’s own music publishing business ally with the mini-major, which will administrate its rights worldwide.

Aoki is already signed to Warner/Chappell as a songwriter himself, but the new deal will see the Warner publisher also work the roster of Dim Mak Publishing, the song rights side of the DJ/producer’s Dim Mak company, that also has recording, event and fashion wings.

Explaining why now was the time to sign up with a bigger business partner, the President of Aoki’s Dim Mak business, Lee Kurisu, told reporters: “Three years ago we started Dim Mak Publishing and, much like the way Steve has started everything at Dim Mak, we dove in head first and did it completely indie. Now that we’ve built the foundation, the time was right to seek out a bigger partnership”.

Kurisu added: “This new administration deal will allow us to retain our independent spirit, while at the same time benefit from Warner/Chappell’s best-in-class creative, synchronisation and collections abilities. We’re HONOURED to be a part of this legendary publishing house”.

Over at Warner/Chappell towers, Marc Wilson said: “Steve is an extremely talented songwriter, artist and businessman and, for the past seven years, we’ve had the privilege of working closely with him, while both he and the Dim Mak brand have reached incredible levels of worldwide success. The music coming from Dim Mak is fresh and exciting, and we’re HONOURED that Steve and Lee have asked Warner/Chappell to help look after these amazing songwriters”.

So everyone’s HONOURED, that’s good. Though not Aoki himself, of course. No, ever the maverick, he’s EXCITED about the deal. As am I. “As Dim Mak continues to grow having the right partners becomes all the more crucial”, says the man himself. “Warner/Chappell has been important to my development as a songwriter, and now I’m EXCITED to expand that relationship to Dim Mak Publishing’s talented roster of up-and-coming artists”.



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