Sony/ATV Announces Global Licensing Agreement With EGREM

The Recordings and Musical Editions Company (known by its Spanish acronym EGREM) and Sony/ATV Music Publishing have signed a global licensing agreement, the largest-scale international agreement with a Cuban music publisher in history.

The partnership, established with the world's No. 1 music publisher, aims to expand the promotion and management of the EGREM catalog, Cuba's leading music management company.

The agreement includes the long-term licensing of more than 10,000 works, covering a diverse number of musical genres and legendary artists, both national and international.

At a ceremony held at the Peter Ludwig Foundation of Cuba where the deal was signed, EGREM Managing Director Mario Ángel Escalona Serrano said: "The oldest record company in Cuba is honored to share the opportunity to develop the joint licensing of our great editorial catalog with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. This relationship will expand the promotion and international dissemination of our musical heritage, as well as raise awareness of relevant Cuban authors and composers."

Sony/ATV President, International Guy Henderson said: "It is a great pleasure and privilege for Sony/ATV to represent such a prestigious catalogue. Music is the lifeblood of the Cuban people and as such has produced so many talented artists and songwriters over several decades. Sony/ATV will now be in a position to take these writers and their music to the world, exposing the sounds of Cuba to new markets and providing fresh opportunities to EGREM and its quality roster of songwriters."

Sony/ATV Spain Managing Director Juan Ignacio Alonso Puig said: "We are very excited and honored that EGREM has decided to entrust Sony/ATV with the most important and extensive catalog of Cuban music in the world. We are convinced that these incredible songs represent an enormous potential to gain new audiences outside of Cuba, attracting new global recognition for the best of the country's music and culture."

The new agreement follows a deal announced in September 2015 between EGREM and Sony Music Entertainment for the international distribution of the Cuban company's master recordings.

The Sony/ATV deal covers an incomparable collection of Cuban copyrighted material, including works by Sindo Garay, Ignacio Piñeiro, Carlos Puebla, José Antonio Méndez, Adolfo Guzmán, Benny Moré, Senén Suarez, Lorenzo Hierrezuelo, Luis Marquetti, Félix Chapotín, José Luis Cortés, César "Pupy" Pedroso, Juan Carlos Alfonso, Arnaldo Rodríguez, Ricardo Leyva and David Calzado.

Mario Ángel Escalona Serrano said: "Encouraged by the transcendence and prestige of the artists and composers we represent, we welcome this new contract as one of the major challenges we will be working on during the coming years."

ABOUT SONY/ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING:

Sony/ATV Music Publishing, established in 1995, is the world's leading music publisher. Sony/ATV Music Publishing owns or administers more than 3 million copyrights, including those of EMI Music Publishing and iconic music catalogs such as Leiber & Stoller, Mijac Music, Motown and Famous Music. Sony/ATV also controls many of the best known songs ever written such as "New York, New York", "Hallelujah", "All You Need Is Love", "You've Got a Friend", "Moon River", "Jailhouse Rock", "The Mission Impossible Theme", "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Over the Rainbow", "Stand By Me", "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" and "Singin' in the Rain". In addition, Sony/ATV represents the copyrights of such legendary artists as The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Carole King, Kraftwerk, Joni Mitchell, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Richie Sambora, Sting, The Supremes, Wyclef Jean, Hank Williams and Stevie Wonder, among others. Its ever-growing list of chart-topping artists, writers and producers includes Avicii, The Chainsmokers, Drake, Calvin Harris, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, P!nk, Shakira, Ed Sheeran, Sia, Sam Smith, Stargate, Taylor Swift, Walk The Moon, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams.