Former Universal Music Publishing boss David Renzer has joined Saban as the company launches an acquisitive music publishing division.
Saban, best known for its TV productions such as Power Rangers, says it will be "investing substantial equity in the acquisition and exploitation of music publishing rights, taking advantage of the consolidation in the industry by offering song writers, artists and important catalogues a forward thinking boutique emphasizing film and television and synchronization opportunities".
A statement from the company revealed that "Saban is already in advanced discussions on a number of potential music rights acquisitions".
Included in the activities of the new music publishing venture will be music publishing rights created as part of Saban Brands television production activities including children’s television programming (including Power Rangers).
As chairman and CEO of Universal Publishing, Renzer was responsible for overseeing the company’s more than 50 offices around the globe and had involvement in over 100 music publishing acquisitions including; Polygram, Rondor, Zomba, and one of the industry’s largest acquisitions, BMG Music Publishing.He left the company after 15 years in August last year.
Signings to Universal under Renzer’s leadership included such names as Paul Simon, 50 Cent, Danny Elfman, the catalogues of Jimi Hendrix, Bee Gees, Mariah Carey, Eminem, Justin Bieber, Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), as well as deals with Warner Bros Pictures/Warner Bros Television, Dreamworks, HBO and many others.
Renzer began his career at Zomba Music Publishing, where he rose to SVP & GM. During his decade-long career there, Renzer helped Zomba achieve ASCAP’s R&B Publisher of the Year and Pop Publisher of the Year awards. While at MCA, the company was ASCAP Country Music Publisher of the Year.
Renzer’s civic and industry commitments have included sitting on the Boards of ASCAP, NMPA, the International Music Publishers Association, and the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. He has also served as the Chairman of the Music and Entertainment Division of the City of Hope, and founded Songs of Hope, raising over $1,750,000 for the City of Hope Hospital.
Haim Saban, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saban Capital Group, said: “The formation of our Music Venture enables us to utilize our extensive experience in music and media rights as well as leverage our increasing activity in the creation of broadcast properties. As the music industry continues its consolidation, we feel it is an opportune time to commit significant investment capital to music rights and we have great confidence that David, with his vast experience, will help us create an exciting new music publishing company together.”
David Renzer added: “I’m thrilled to partner with Haim Saban, Adam Chesnoff and the team at SCG in the launch of what I hope will be an exciting, forward thinking, creatively driven home for songwriters, their copyrights and important catalogues. Haim Saban has been one of the most successful entrepreneurs in media with a long activity in and love for music and I could not ask for a better partner.”
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