Imagem Music has signed a JV deal for a new publishing company with New York tastemaker music company Cantora – best known for launching the careers of MGMT (pictured), Francis and the Lights, and Bear Hands.
Cantora was born a record label and evolved into an entertainment fund that invests in bands and startup technologies.
“We see a unique opportunity to use the team, reach and resources of Imagem Music as an invaluable early-stage tool for jump-starting artist careers,” says Cantora’s Will Griggs. “The combination of their powerhouse worldwide presence and creative, hands-on ethos make them the ideal partner to instill Cantora’s approach to artist development in the publishing world.”
Under the newly established venture, Imagem will provide publishing services to signed songwriters and artists, and in collaboration with Cantora, will develop songwriting talent using the combined resources and team.
“We are delighted to be working with Cantora, who exist in the pantheon of New York indie cool,” said Jon Pikus, Creative Director at Imagem Music USA.
“This deal will allow us to get involved early in the development of the new artists they consistently discover and nurture, and to help them build careers of longevity.”
Molly Seel, Creative Coordinator at Imagem Music USA, added: “Cantora is an ideal partner for us, who always deliver cutting edge talent. We look forward to working together to create wider audiences for great up-and-coming artists.”
“In a time when the majority of music publishers are making acquisitions with the primary motivation of increasing market share, it is refreshing to work with a partner set apart from the rest,” says Cantora co-founder Nick Panama.
“Imagem is focused on building careers alongside artists step-by-step. We see their creative services as a key component in creating both an early spark for an artist as well as the means to create scaling opportunities and exposure worldwide. We wanted to re-define the role of a publisher, and couldn’t be happier to have found that in the like-minded team at Imagem.”Music Business Worldwide
