Moon Projects, a new record label and creative agency founded by former TikTok executive Mary Rahmani, has teamed up with Warner Chappell Music to form a publishing joint venture.
Founded in 2021, Moon Projects is a creative agency offering curation, strategy, and digital consulting services across the short-form video landscape.
It also offers digital consulting services for musicians and brands.
A press release announcing the deal notes that it marks Moon Projects’ second JV with “a major label conglomerate”. Moon Projects also has a record label imprint through Republic Records, representing GRAMMY hopeful Em Beihold.
Beihold’s song, Numb Little Bug, was recently certified RIAA Platinum in the US after peaking at No.1 on both the Hot AC radio chart and the Billboard Emerging Artist chart and breaking the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
With the partnership with Warner Chappell Music, Moon Projects now also offers music publishing services.
Rahmani founded Moon Projects last year after serving nearly two years at ByteDance and TikTok as Director of Music Content and Artist Partnerships.
After her stint at the short-form video platform, from December 2018 to October 2020, Rahmani served about a year at Triller, the US-based challenger to TikTok, as Global Head of Partnerships.
The music industry veteran also held artist management and creative roles at EMI Music, Universal Music Group, and at Capitol Records as director of A&R for Harvest Records, according to her LinkedIn page.
“Warner Chappell is one of the most trusted names in music publishing, and I am a huge admirer of their work. I could not be prouder to be working with them on this exciting joint venture”
MAry Rahmani, Moon Projects
“I’m so thrilled to be launching the publishing division of Moon Projects,” Rahmani says about the alliance.
“Warner Chappell is one of the most trusted names in music publishing, and I am a huge admirer of their work. I could not be prouder to be working with them on this exciting joint venture, which will allow Moon Projects to further its goal of supporting the artists and songwriters we love in an equitable and transparent way that encourages career longevity.”
Moon Projects says that the new publishing division will be backed by resources from Warner Chappell Music, which publishes and administers music from a range of artists including Katy Perry, Lizzo, Madonna, Ava Max, Bruno Mars, George Michael, Kacey Musgraves and Led Zeppelin.
“Mary is bringing a new and fresh approach to the industry with Moon Projects and this joint venture will expand those efforts even more.”
Rich Christina, Warner Chappell Music
Warner Chappell Music SVP of A&R and Venture Partners, Rich Christina, said: “Mary is bringing a new and fresh approach to the industry with Moon Projects and this joint venture will expand those efforts even more. We’re proud to be working together to ensure more songwriters and digital creators have a publishing partner that protects their best interests.”
Music Business Worldwide