Warner Chappell Music (WCM) has struck a global partnership with Kidding Aside, the independent French electronic music company.
The deal was announced on Wednesday (September 9).
It arrives as Kidding Aside launches a dedicated publishing venture.
Kidding Aside has appointed Nicolas Klersy as Partner of the new company, Kidding Aside Publishing, where he will serve as strategic lead for Publishing A&R.
Warner Chappell, the publishing arm of Warner Music Group, described Kidding Aside as “one of France’s most influential independent electronic music companies.”
The Paris-based company was founded in 2015 by Matthieu Jay to serve electronic music artists, producers, and writers.
Its operations span artist management, music publishing, recorded music, and live events, along with All Night Long, its joint-venture label with Believe.
Kidding Aside‘s management roster includes Acid Arab, NTO, Romain Garcia, Trinix, and Urumi, while Folamour and Nico Moreno appear on the roster of All Night Long.
Warner Chappell said Kidding Aside has expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by roster signings and what it called “an agile, artist-led approach.”
Under the deal, WCM and Kidding Aside said they will work on international opportunities for songwriters and producers, and on carrying French electronic music into more markets.
Neither Warner Chappell nor Kidding Aside disclosed the terms of the agreement, or whether it covers administration or co-publishing.
Klersy was named A&R at Adore Music when Warner Music France launched the dance label in March 2025.
“After more than a decade of helping to develop some of dance’s biggest stars, we now want to make Kidding Aside Publishing one of the leading publishing houses in Europe,” said Matthieu Jay, Founder and Director of Kidding Aside. “With the arrival of Nicolas Klersy, we can now support a new generation of music makers, foster cross-border collaborations and boost the global profile of our repertoire.
“After more than a decade of helping to develop some of dance’s biggest stars, we now want to make Kidding Aside Publishing one of the leading publishing houses in Europe.”
Matthieu Jay, Kidding Aside
“Aligning with Warner Chappell, leveraging its powerful global network and high quality teams, will allow us to scale up while preserving Kidding Aside‘s agility and identity.”
Valentin Zucca, Senior A&R at Warner Chappell Music France, said: “Kidding Aside has long been a highly respected and important part of the French music landscape, playing a critical role in the development of the scene over the years.
“Kidding Aside has long been a highly respected and important part of the French music landscape, playing a critical role in the development of the scene over the years.”
Valentin Zucca, Warner Chappell Music France
“We’re proud to partner with them on the development of their publishing arm, both locally and around the globe.”
The deal follows other dance music moves by Warner Chappell Music France.
French producer and DJ Bob Sinclar signed a global administration and sub-publishing deal with the publisher in May 2025, covering more than 350 works.
That catalog includes World Hold On, Love Generation, and The Beat Goes On, along with repertoire from Africanism.
Outside France, WCM has signed a run of publishing deals with independent companies and artist-led ventures over the past year.
In October 2025, WCM US Latin and WCM Mexico struck a global publishing deal with Rico o Muerto, the Mexican independent label co-founded by Oscar Maydon and Alexis “Chachito” Fierro.
In April 2026, the publisher signed Argentine songwriter Claudia Brant to a global deal, formalizing a relationship that started with Cha Cha Cha Publishing, the venture she set up with WCM in 2024.
All Night Long sits inside a portfolio of partnerships Believe has built with independent operators.
They include Tenace Records, formed by Believe UK with Tileyard Music in January 2026, and AZTEC, the New York label unveiled in May 2026.
Kidding Aside now has Believe on recordings through All Night Long and Warner Chappell on publishing.Music Business Worldwide
