London-born Transgressive Publishing and Warner Chappell Music UK have renewed their joint venture, having worked together for 17 years.
The renewal of the two companies’ partnership makes the JV the longest-standing JV in Warner Chappell UK’s history to date.
The news arrives as superstar UK rock band Foals sign a new deal with Transgressive for their catalog, side projects and future recordings.
The new deal came nearly five years after Transgressive and Warner Chappell inked a worldwide publishing deal for the catalog and future releases of Foals.
Since the collaboration, the band has seen significant success on the UK charts, with their album Life is Yours landing at No.3 in the UK Abum chart, following on from the Mercury-nominated Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 1, which charted at No. 2 in the UK. Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 2 was the band’s first No.1 album. The band released their debut album Antidotes in 2008.
Foals currently have nearly 3.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with their track, My Number, from third studio album Holy Fire, achieving over 264 million streams to date.
Warner Chappell UK and Transgressive’s JV extension also follows a string of recent signings, which include the UK’s HotWax
Black Country, New Road also joined the Transgressive roster this summer after their Glastonbury performance. The band is currently on a “sold-out” world tour following the release of their two Top 5 albums: the Mercury Prize-nominated For The First Time and Ants From Up There, plus their 2023 EP, Live at Bush Hall.
Transgressive and Warner Chappell Music’s joint venture also includes artists such as Loyle Carner, whose latest album hugo garnered nominations at both the BRITs and Mercury Prize, as well as contemporary artists like Marika Hackman, South Africa’s a cappella group The Joy, NYC’s Odetta Hartman, and catalog hits from Two Door Cinema Club, Noisettes, and Mystery Jets.
“I’m so pleased that Tim, Toby and Lilas want to continue our partnership. They’ve got great music instincts and are always huge fun to work with.”
Shani Gonzales, Warner Chappell Music UK
Transgressive Records, established as a record label in 2004, subsequently launched Transgressive Publishing in collaboration with Warner Chappell Music in December 2005, followed by Transgressive Management in 2006. The label was founded by Tim Dellow and Toby L, with Lilas Bourboulon joining shortly after.
In November 2022, Transgressive received a substantial investment from US-based Firebird Music Holdings.
“I’m so pleased that Tim, Toby and Lilas want to continue our partnership. They’ve got great music instincts and are always huge fun to work with. I look forward to celebrating many more successes with them,” said Shani Gonzales, Managing Director, Warner Chappell Music UK.
Toby L, founder of Transgressive, added: “It’s been over 17 years since we first started collaborating with Warner Chappell and we couldn’t be more delighted to extend the partnership.”
“It can often prove rare to find creative and cultural alignment in the music industry, but for almost two decades we’ve found not just common ground but excellent results alongside the worldwide team of Warner Chappell since the formation of Transgressive Publishing.”
“It’s been over 17 years since we first started collaborating with Warner Chappell and we couldn’t be more delighted to extend the partnership.”
Toby L
He added: “Extra special thanks are due to Guy Moot, Carianne Marshall, Shani Gonzales, Ed Condon, Kate Alderton and Amber Davis, as well as the global sync and registrations teams of Warner Chappell for their consistent care and passion for the artists.
“Love is also due to Chris Gossage and our long-serving team at Russells for wonderfully guiding us through this next era.”
Music Business Worldwide
