Reservoir acquires Century Media’s publishing catalogue

New York-based independent Reservoir has acquired the music publishing catalogue associated with Germany-born hard rock label group Century Media.

The deal delivers Reservoir the rights to various Billboard Top 200 albums including ‘Blood, A Star-Crossed Wasteland’ and ‘The Dream’ by American metalcore band In This Moment; ‘Karmacode’ and ‘Comalies’ by Italian metal band Lacuna Coil; and ‘The Black Crown’, ‘No Time To Bleed’ and ‘The Cleansing’ by American deathcore band Suicide Silence (pictured).

The news comes just under two years after Sony Music acquired Century Media’s label and distribution operation for £12.2m ($17m), and is something of a landmark deal for Reservoir: by adding the 9,000+ copyrights under Century’s control to its repertoire, Reservoir now looks after more than 100,000 copyrights in total.

To put that into perspective, Imagem Music Group – which was sold last week to Concord Bicycle Music for between $500m and $600m – managed just over 250,000 copyrights.

As part of the Century deal, Reservoir is also the recipient of 350+ songwriter contracts – including future works – from writers signed to Magic Arts, Lonely Planet, and Element.

“This acquisition of Century Media’s publishing arms reaffirms our commitment to diversifying our music catalog and expanding Reservoir’s international offerings.”

Rell Lafargue, Reservoir

“This acquisition of Century Media’s publishing arms reaffirms our commitment to diversifying our music catalog and expanding Reservoir’s international offerings,” said Reservoir COO Rell Lafargue.

“We look forward to welcoming Century Media’s songwriters into the Reservoir family.”

News of the Century deal comes just one week after fast-growing Reservoir announced that it had acquired a stake in UK-based Big Life Management and its publishing operation, Big Life Music.

Century’s writer roster includes such artists as Arch Enemy, Architects, Devin Townsend, Deicide, Iced Earth, In This Moment, Lacuna Coil, Shadows Fall, Spock’s Beard, and Suicide Silence, among others.

Moving forward, Reservoir SVP of Creative and A&R Spek will oversee creative development for Reservoir’s active roster of songwriters, with additional support from Reservoir’s Creative teams in New York, Los Angeles, and London.

“Century Media has been a pioneer in metal for years,” said Spek. “I’m a fan and am excited to work with these writers and build upon the incredible foundations they’ve already established.”Music Business Worldwide