Literature

Pryor Cashman represented ABP Investments (ABP), the world’s third largest pension fund and the largest such fund in the Netherlands, in connection with ABP’s acquisition from Universal Music Group (UMG) of certain music publishing catalogs for the European Economic Area (EEA). The catalogues acquired include Rondor, Zomba UK, BBC Catalogue, 19 Music, and 19 Songs.

As part of the acquisition, ABP entered into a sub-publishing agreement with UMG pursuant to which UMG will sub-publish the catalogs outside of the EEA. In addition, ABP and UMG entered into a sub-publishing agreement with Zomba Enterprises, Inc. (Zomba) whereby ABP will sub-publish the Zomba U.S. catalog in the EEA.

Pryor Cashman partners Arnold J. Schaab and Frank P. Scibilia advised ABP with respect to the transaction, including the sub-publishing agreements.

The acquired catalogs contain the music publishing rights to nearly 90,000 copyrights and include rights to some of the greatest pop songs of all time. Songs in the catalogue include:

• "Oops! . . . I Did It Again" and "Hit Me Baby One More Time" (Britney Spears)
• "I Want It That Way" and "Tearing Up My Heart" (Backstreet Boys)
• "Since U Been Gone" (Kelly Clarkson)
• "You're Still the One" (Shania Twain)
• "Everything I Do, I Do For You" (Bryan Adams)
• "Karma Chameleon" (Culture Club)

The catalogs also include rights to the works of great songwriters such as Buddy Guy, Imogen Heap, Iron Maiden, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Mark Knopfler, Mutt Lange and 30 Seconds to Mars, and current hit makers (including rights to future songs) such as Justin Timberlake, Linkin Park and T-Pain. In addition, the catalogues contain some of the most important television themes, including the themes from "American Idol" and "Teletubbies."