Days after celebrating another UK No.1 album with Ezra Collective, now Partisan has revealed a significant expansion of its music publishing operations.
In the first move of its kind by the Brooklyn-based independent music company, Partisan Music has completed a strategic merger with established music company OTM Music, the boutique independent publisher founded by Alex Sheridan.
The deal follows Partisan’s acquisition of investment company Firebird’s interest in OTM. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
As a result of the big indie deal, OTM will now become the primary publishing interest of the Partisan Music group.
A new structure will mean that OTM will incorporate Partisan publishing division Left Music’s team and roster, creating an expanded independent publishing operation with key staff across London, Los Angeles, New York and Paris. Left Music was founded in 2020 by Partisan and Craig Michie.
The combined publishing roster includes Leon Michels, Gianluca Buccellati, Sudan Archives, Tom Brenneck, Andrew Aged, Sub Focus, Elizabeth Fraser and Metronomy, among others.
OTM originally launched with investment as part of a JV with Sony Music. It went on to partner with Firebird Music Holdings with support from investment firm Raine Group.
According to a statement, the new partnership between Partisan and OTM is designed to “bring the vision and ethos behind Partisan’s successful independent recorded music business to an expanded presence in music publishing, while building on OTM’s established identity and approach”.
Our partnership with OTM will allow Partisan to provide high-level creative services for music writers and publishing catalogues at the same calibre as we do for recording artists
Zena White
The move by Partisan to align with OTM arrives amid a period of consolidation, new investment and technology continuing across the publishing sector and wider industry. As well as the BMG-Concord merger, recent acquisitions include the Concord deal earlier this year to acquire Ninja Tune including publishing arm Just Isn't Music.
Founded by Alex Sheridan in 2019, OTM has since established a curated roster and “high-touch approach to publishing”, with a particular focus on creative services and sync.
According to today’s announcement, the expanded company will retain that boutique model while adding greater scale, international reach and resources.
Sheridan will continue as founder and CEO, working alongside Craig Michie, president & head of North America, and Kate Sweetsur, head of A&R, to lead the company’s creative and roster development. Sweetsur was honoured at the Women In Music Awards 2024 as part of the Roll Of Honour.
Partisan’s sync team will join forces with OTM’s to create a global service for all repertoire in the Partisan family.
On the label side, Partisan were winners at the Music Week Awards in the Independent Record Company category earlier this year.
Michie and Sweetsur have previously worked together at companies including Chrysalis Music, BMG and Big Deal and have historically signed Fraser T Smith, Joy Crookes, Labrinth, Tame Impala, Beach House and Cigarettes After Sex.
“Partisan has built an exceptional independent music business and shares our belief in putting creativity and long-term relationships first,” said Alex Sheridan. “Craig, Kate and I have worked together at different points throughout our careers, so bringing that experience together again is particularly exciting.
“We have a clear shared vision for the kind of publishing company we want to build and an incredible roster to build it around. I would like to thank Firebird for their belief in OTM and wish them well for the future. I couldn’t be more thrilled to build the next phase of OTM with such an exciting team, and provide a boutique-at-scale option for our writers, present and future.”
Partisan has built an exceptional independent music business and shares our belief in putting creativity and long-term relationships first
Alex Sheridan
Partisan’s recordings division has built a reputation for developing global independent success stories, including Cigarettes After Sex, Geese, Cameron Winter, Ezra Collective, Idles and Blondshell, as well as the catalogue of Fela Kuti and more.
Its roster also includes established artists such as Interpol, PJ Harvey and Laura Marling, while its history includes breakthrough releases from artists such as Fontaines DC and Sylvan Esso.
The company said its move to make OTM its primary publishing interest represents a further expansion of its commitment to music publishing, building on the operation established through Left Music.
Zena White, COO of Partisan, said: “Our partnership with OTM will allow Partisan to provide high-level creative services for music writers and publishing catalogues at the same calibre as we do for recording artists. The reuniting of Craig Michie and Kate Sweetsur to lead A&R is an exciting proposition, whilst Alex and OTM’s track record in sync is undeniable. We can’t wait to be involved in so much more incredible music via the writers across OTM’s roster.”
PHOTO: (L-R) Alex Sheridan, founder & CEO of OTM Music, and Zena White, COO of Partisan
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