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NEW YORK, OCTOBER 28, 2019 — Downtown Music Publishing has signed a global publishing agreement to represent the entire catalog of the legendary jazz trumpeter and composer Miles Davis. The long-term agreement signed with the Miles Davis Estate covers Miles’ entire songbook, more than 250 compositions, including songs from iconic albums such as Jack Johnson, Bitches Brew, In a Silent Way, and Kind of Blue, which remains the best-selling jazz record of all time. The announcement follows the recent London premiere of “Miles Davis: Birth of Cool,” the critically-acclaimed documentary chronicling his life directed by Stanley Nelson.
“Miles Davis made an indelible mark on both popular music and culture. Through his exploration and expansion of the language of jazz, Miles pushed the boundaries of genre and influenced generations of artists across the musical spectrum. It’s a legitimate privilege to be entrusted with the care of extraordinary works like ‘So What’ and ‘Blue in Green’ that have shaped the modern musical and cultural landscapes in such a profound way,” said Justin Kalifowitz, CEO of Downtown Music Holdings and Downtown Music Publishing.
“We’re excited to embark on this new chapter in paying homage to the legacy of Miles Davis with Downtown Music Publishing. We are confident this move will continue to introduce the musical genius of Miles on a global scale, where his artistry can be noted by many generations to come,” said Cheryl Davis, Erin Davis and Vince Wilburn, Jr. from the Miles Davis Estate.
In addition to catalog marketing, licensing, and royalty collection, Downtown will collaborate with the Miles Davis Estate on a range of events and other special projects that highlight not only Miles’ compositions and musicianship, but his contributions more broadly as a cultural and style icon whose influence extended to visual art, fashion, film, and design.
Using everything from tape-loops and splice edits to large format orchestration to electric instruments, Miles altered how jazz musicians approached tone, texture and improvisation, and drew a line straight to other genres, creating bonds with rock, soul, and ultimately hip-hop that still remain. Miles helped to launch the careers of Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams, Ron Carter, Marcus Miller, Jimmy Cobb, Lenny White and many more, and has influenced a broad range of musicians across all genres. Lady Gaga, Nas, John Legend, Dr. Dre, Sonic Youth, the Grateful Dead, Mike Watt, and Lucinda Williams are just a few of the myriad artists that cite Miles Davis as a key influence on their own creative pursuits.
Downtown Music Publishing has established a reputation as a destination for iconic artists. In addition to the complete works of Miles Davis, Downtown Music Publishing manages the works of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, George Gershwin, John Prine, and other celebrated songwriters and composers.
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About Downtown Music Publishing
Downtown Music Publishing operates in service of extraordinary songs, representing nearly 100 years of popular music. Downtown is the preferred music publishing partner for some of the world’s most beloved songwriters, storied music catalogs, and emerging artists at the forefront of pop culture, including: John Lennon, Booker T. Jones, George Gershwin, Mötley Crüe, Mos Def, Tori Amos, Erroll Garner, Hans Zimmer, John Prine, Ryan Tedder, Benny Blanco, Jimmy Napes, Cautious Clay, Stella Donnelly, and The War & Treaty, among others. Downtown Music Publishing is owned and operated by Downtown Music Holdings. More information is available at dmpgroup.com.
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