Sony Music Publishing has secured a global administration agreement with Sea Gayle Music and Domain Capital Group.
Under the deal announced on Tuesday (October 14), Sony Music Publishing‘s Nashville division will provide global administration services to Sea Gayle’s complete songwriter roster and song catalog covering songs like You Should Probably Leave, It’s Five O’ Clock Somewhere, and more.
Sea Gayle Music was founded in 1999 by songwriter Chris DuBois, artist/songwriter Brad Paisley and songwriter/producer Frank Rogers. Domain Capital Group acquired Sea Gayle’s catalog in 2020 and formed a joint venture with the publisher.
Chris DuBois, CEO, Sea Gayle Music, said: “We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Sony Music Publishing. I’ve long admired the way Rusty Gaston champions songwriters, and I know our team and catalog are in the very best hands.”
“we’re confident this new partnership with Sony will give our writers the support of a close-knit creative community and the global reach that their music deserves.”
Chris DuBois, Sea Gayle Music
Added DuBois: “Together, with Pete Chiappetta and our trusted partners at Domain, we’re confident this new partnership with Sony will give our writers the support of a close-knit creative community and the global reach that their music deserves.”
The Sea Gayle catalog includes works by Brad Paisley, Chris Stapleton, Bobby Pinson, Jerrod Niemann, Lee Thomas Miller and more. The publisher has won ASCAP‘s Country Publisher of the Year award twice.
Rusty Gaston, CEO, Sony Music Publishing Nashville, said: “Sea Gayle has long been a cornerstone of Nashville’s songwriting community, and what Chris and his team have built is truly special.
“We’re proud to be partnering with Sea Gayle and Domain to champion these amazing songwriters and catalogs and ensure that they continue to lead country music forward.”
“Sea Gayle has long been a cornerstone of Nashville’s songwriting community, and what Chris and his team have built is truly special.”
Rusty Gaston
The agreement marks the latest between Sony Music Publishing and Domain Capital. In May 2022, the two teamed up to acquire a career-spanning catalog from multi-award winning songwriter, Ashley Gorley. MBW understands that Sony x Domain’s catalog deal with Gorley carried a price tag in the region of $40 million.
After the Gorley catalog deal, Domain and its subsidiary, Domain Capital Advisors, announced in November 2022 that they have closed more than $700 million of equity commitments for a new entertainment fund and co-investment vehicle focused on film, television, and music.
That same month, Grammy-nominated rapper and songwriter Iggy Azalea sold her master recording and publishing catalog to Domain Capital “for an eight-figure sum.”
The deal with Sea Gayle bolsters SMP’s country music presence. In August, SMP Nashville signed Texas-born country artist Aniston Pate to a global publishing deal. In July, it signed global deals with rising country artists Adrien Nune, Kenny Whitmire and Noeline Hofmann.
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