Press Releases
KRISTIN GUNDRED OF DUM DUM GIRLS INKS NEW DEAL WITH KOBALT
07 July 2010
Kobalt Music Group has signed Kristin Gundred lead singer of U.S. act Dum Dum Girls in an exclusive worldwide administration deal which includes their debut album, I Will Be (Sub Pop), and other works. More...
KOBALT SIGNS BECKY JONES OF SAINT SAVIOUR
07 July 2010
Sas Metcalfe, Kobalt's Executive VP Creative (pictured left), and Nick Robinson, Kobalt Senior VP Business Development (pictured right), celebrate the new signing of UK artist and songwriter Becky Jones (center) at Kobalt Music Group worldwide headquarters in London. More...
KOBALT ROLLS OUT NEXT GENERATION PORTAL DIGITAL 3.0
30 June 2010
Songwriters and content owners can now take advantage of Kobalt Music Group's latest advancement in transparent copyright administration. More...
NO DOUBT CHOOSES KOBALT MUSIC GROUP FOR ADMINISTRATION OF ENTIRE BACK CATALOG (EX-US AND CANADA) AND FOR U.S. DIGITAL COLLECTIONS
29 June 2010
No Doubt, one of the biggest acts in the world and currently recording a new studio album, has concluded two new agreements with Kobalt. No Doubt has signed a U.S. digital collections deal with Kobalt for new works, which will include the new album being recording now in Los Angeles. The band has also moved the copyright administration of their entire back catalog to Kobalt for the world (excluding the U.S. and Canada). More...
HITMAKING TOKIO HOTEL WRITER/PRODUCER TEAM DAVID JOST, DAVE ROTH AND PAT BENZNER SIGN NEW DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
24 June 2010
David Jost, David Roth and Pat Benzner, Germany's top songwriter/producer team and managers behind the global superstar act Tokio Hotel, have signed an exclusive publishing and creative services deal with Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt). More...
KOBALT CLIENTS WIN 13 ASCAP AWARDS INCLUDING SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
28 April 2010
Kobalt client Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald won ASCAP Songwriter of the Year at the ASCAP Pop Awards held in Los Angeles. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP WINS INDEPENDENT MUSIC PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR AWARD
19 April 2010
Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt) has been awarded Independent Music Publisher of the Year at the Music Week Awards held in London. More...
KOBALT TO GLOBALLY ADMINISTER RUFUS WAINWRIGHT REPERTOIRE
05 April 2010
Kobalt Music Group has signed a worldwide administration agreement with Grammy-nominated Canadian-American pop singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. More...
JUSTIN HAWKINS SIGNS WORLDWIDE DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC
29 March 2010
Justin Hawkins has signed an exclusive administration and creative services deal with leading independent music publisher Kobalt Music Group. More...
GRAMMY NOMINATED PRODUCER/WRITER GREG WELLS INKS WITH LEADING INDIE PUBLISHER KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
11 March 2010
Grammy nominated record producer, songwriter, mixer and musician Greg Wells is the latest superstar writer/producer to conclude a worldwide deal with leading independent publisher Kobalt Music Group. More...
KOBALT RANKS TOP INDIE PUBLISHER IN US AIRPLAY FOR SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE QUARTER
1 March 2010
Billboard Magazine has reported that Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt) received an 8.3% share of the US publishing market in ranking by radio airplay in the fourth-quarter of 2009. More...
MULTI-GRAMMY NOMINATED ARTIST/PRODUCER KID CUDI SIGNS EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
11 February 2010
Soaring on the heels of three Grammy nods for Best Rap Solo Performance,Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group, and Best Rap Song, a smash debut album, and an upcoming acting debut on the hot new HBO TV series, Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi has signed an exclusive, worldwide deal with leading global independent music publisher Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt). More...
KOBALT CLIENTS PHOENIX AND RYAN TEDDER CELEBRATE GRAMMY AWARD WINS
1 February 2010
At the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles Kobalt client PHOENIX won Best Alternative Music Album for their critically acclaimed album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Glassnote Records). Phoenix's Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix received critical praise across the board, and was named in the Top 5 Albums of 2009 by TIME Magazine, Rolling Stone, Spin, MySpace, Pitchfork, and over 100 other publications. More...
KOBALT INTRODUCES FULL TRANSPARENCY FOR DIGITAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS REVOLUTIONARY
25 January 2010
Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt), the leading independent music publisher and forerunner of online administration, will soon debut the next version of its transparent administration system with new tools never before available to the music industry. More...
GLOBAL SUPERSTAR DJ TIËSTO SIGNS EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
12 January 2010
Tiësto, an award winning, multi-million global selling Dutch electronic artist, producer and the biggest DJ in the world, is the latest superstar artist to strike a pact with leading independent music publisher Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt). More...
KOBALT WRITERS DOMINATE SWEDISH AWARDS
7 December 2009
At the recent Swedish Music Publishers Association's annual awards ceremony held in Stockholm, Sweden, Kobalt Music Group clients received 3 out of the 6 prizes in the categories for popular music. Max Martin was given the Composer of the Year award. More...
KOBALT CONCLUDES ADMINISTRATION DEAL WITH INTERNATIONAL HITMAKING PRODUCER ARNTHOR BIRGISSON AND ARISTOTRACKS PUBLISHING COMPANY
2 December 2009
Kobalt Music Group has concluded a new administration deal with top Swedish producer/songwriter Arnthor Birgissonand Aristotracks, the new publishing company owned by Arnthor Birgisson and Linus Andreen. More...
KOBALT MUSIC FOUNDER AND CEO WILLARD AHDRITZ WINS BVCA VENTURE CAPITAL BACKED CEO OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR SOUTHEAST AND LONDON REGION
24 November 2009
Willard Ahdritz, the CEO and Founder of Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt), has received the Venture Capital backed CEO of the Year Award - Southeast and London region, from the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA) Ltd. of England and Wales. More...
HITMAKING SONGWRITER/PRODUCER & ARTIST DARRELL BROWN SIGNS EXCLUSIVE DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
1 September 2009
Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt) has signed an exclusive new administration deal with award-winning songwriter/producer and artist Darrell Brown. The announcement was made today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder of Kobalt. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP SIGNS EXCLUSIVE WORLDWIDE DEAL WITH BUSTA RHYMES
8 July 2009
On the heels of his new chart-topping smash hit CD, "Back On My B.S." (Universal/ Motown), iconic rapper/MC and multi-platinum artist Busta Rhymes has signed an exclusive, worldwide administration deal with Kobalt Music Group, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder of Kobalt. More...
DAVE STEWART SIGNS WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
24 April 2009
Nearly 40 years and over 100 million albums sold since he signed his first traditional music publishing deal, Dave Stewart, one of the most respected and accomplished artists, producers and songwriters in modern music, has made yet another revolutionary turn and opted to sign a new worldwide deal with Kobalt Music Group, a leading technology and service-based online music publisher. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP WINS INDEPENDENT MUSIC PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR
24 April 2009
Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt), leading global independent online music publisher, was awarded Independent Music Publisher of the Year at the 2009 Music Awards held recently in London. More...
KELLY CLARKSON SIGNS GLOBAL ADMINISTRATION DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
24 March 2009
On the heels of her new No.1 album, All I Ever Wanted (19/RCA), pop superstar Kelly Clarkson has chosen leading global independent music publisher Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt) to be her exclusive worldwide publishing administration company. More...
NAT GEO MUSIC SIGNS EXCLUSIVE GLOBAL PUBLISHING DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
19 January 2009
National Geographic Entertainment has entered into an exclusive relationship between its music division Nat Geo Music (www.natgeomusic.net) and leading independent global music publisher Kobalt Music Group. Kobalt will globally represent Nat Geo Music's catalog and provide full-service music publishing administration, including registration of copyrights with performance societies. National Geographic's music library contains more than 16,000 original music cues, including the organization's iconic theme song. More...
KOBALT SIGNS EXCLUSIVE ADMINISTRATION DEAL WITH KID ROCK
30 September 2008
Global independent music publisher Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt) has concluded a deal with multi-million selling superstar Kid Rock to administrate the worldwide publishing rights of his No. 1 album, Rock N Roll Jesus (Top Dog/Atlantic), it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder of Kobalt. More...
KOBALT POSTS BIGGEST MARKET SHARE GAIN IN USA Q2 PUBLISHER AIRPLAY, RANKS AS NO.1 UK INDEPENDENT MUSIC PUBLISHER FOR 2007
30 September 2008
Leading music industry trade magazines have posted market share figures indicating strong growth and new impressive rankings for Kobalt Music Group, pushing the company into the Top 5 in U.S. airplay and No.1 independent music publisher slot in the U.K. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP TO PRESENT EXCLUSIVE NASHVILLE PREVIEW OF THE MOST ADVANCED ONLINE MUSIC PUBLISHING ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE
18 September 2008
Willard Ahdritz, Founder and CEO of Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt), a global independent and leading online music publisher, will be in Nashville to provide a preview of Kobalt's next generation technology, the most advanced online music publishing administration system available worldwide. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP SIGNS DEAL WITH POWERHOUSE PRODUCER/WRITER NATE "DANJA" HILLS
11 August 2008
Multi-talented creative powerhouse producer/songwriter Nate "Danja" Hills (Danja) has signed an exclusive, worldwide administration deal with Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt), it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder of Kobalt. More...
THE BILLBOARD Q&A: WILLARD AHDRITZ
05 July 2008
Willard Ahdritz's inspiration for Kobalt Music's business model came in part from an unlikely source: his experience working with an airline when he was a project manager at L.E.K. Consulting. More...
GETTY IMAGES AND KOBALT MUSIC GROUP CONCLUDE EXCLUSIVE GLOBAL ADMINISTRATION DEAL AND STRATEGIC LICENSING PACT
30 June 2008
Getty Images, the world's leading creator and distributor of visual content and other digital media, and Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt), the leading independent online music publishing company, today announced that Getty Images has appointed Kobalt to provide exclusive, worldwide administration services for Getty Images global music catalog. More...
A FIRST FOR THE MUSIC INDUSTRY - KOBALT MUSIC GROUP DEBUTS ONLINE PIPELINE ROYALTY ADVANCES
18 June 2008
NEW YORK, NY (June 18, 2008) - Kobalt Music Group, a global independent and leading online music publisher, today debuts Kobalt Online Pipeline Royalty Advances, a ground-breaking internet tool giving copyright holders the opportunity to take low cost advances against future "pipeline" royalties and/or projected earnings. More...
KOBALT SIGNS NEW DEAL WITH TOP SWEDISH METAL ACT
IN FLAMES
1 May 2008
Kobalt Music Group has signed a new worldwide deal to administer the works of highly influential Swedish metal band In Flames, and the band's publishing company, via an exclusive agreement struck with its services company, Whoracle Publishing. More...
Kobalt performs heroics in the indie sector
09 April 2008
Kobalt has only been in existence since 2000, but such has been its rapid rise that last year it took control of more than a quarter of the UK's independent publishing sector. More...
BALDERTON CAPITAL INVESTS IN LEADING INDEPENDENT MUSIC PUBLISHER KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
NEW CAPITAL TO FUEL KOBALT EXPANSION OF SERVICES AND SUCCESSFUL SERVICE MODEL
5 February 2008
Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder of Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt) today announced that Balderton Capital (Ex. Benchmark Capital Europe), one of the largest venture firms in Europe, has made a significant capital investment in the company, receiving a minority stake in Kobalt. Balderton Capital joins SPARK Ventures (SPARK) as a key institutional investor in Kobalt. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP CONCLUDES NEW DEAL WITH ELECTRONIC-POP SUPERSTAR - MOBY
11 December 2007
Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt) has signed multi-million selling electronic-pop artist Moby to an exclusive, worldwide administration deal for all territories excluding France, Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder of Kobalt. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP CONCLUDES NEW DEAL TO ADMINISTER SEMINAL FUNK CATALOG - BRIDGEPORT MUSIC WESTBOUND RECORDS
03 December 2007
DETROIT, MI (December 03, 2007) -- Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt) has concluded an exclusive administration deal for the world ex-U.S. and Canada with Detroit-based Bridgeport Music, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder of Kobalt, Armen Boladian, owner of Bridgeport Music, and Joel Martin, principal of 8 Mile Style Music, who brought the deal to Kobalt. More...
RYAN "ALIAS" TEDDER - WRITER/PRODUCER OF LEONA LEWIS' NO.1 U.K. - "BLEEDING LOVE" SIGNS EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE ADMINISTRATION DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
28 November 2007
Kobalt has signed a worldwide administration deal with emerging superstar Ryan "Alias" Tedder, co-writer/producer for multiple No.1s, including Leona Lewis' No.1 U.K. hit,"Bleeding Love," which is on Lewis' fastest-selling U.K. debut album. More...
EMINEM PUBLISHER, EIGHT MILE STYLE MUSIC, AND KOBALT MUSIC GROUP ANNOUNCE GROUNDBREAKING GLOBAL MUSIC PUBLISHING AND TECHNOLOGY PACT
U.S. COMPANY, MUSIC RESOURCES, TO EXCLUSIVELY DEBUT "POWERED BY KOBALT" SERVICES BRAND
16 November 2007
DETROIT, MI (November 16, 2007) Signaling a strategic move towards global consolidation of assets and transparent online copyright administration, Detroit-based Eight Mile Style Music, More...
KOBALT MUSIC INKS GLOBAL DEAL WITH NUMBER 1 POP WRITER SHELLY PEIKEN
18 June 2007
LOS ANGELES, CA (June 18, 2007) Kobalt Music Group has signed an administration deal for the world excluding Australia and New Zealand with prolific hit making pop songwriter Shelly Peiken. More...
HERBERT GRÖNEMEYER SIGNS EXCLUSIVE DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
19 April 2007
BERLIN, GERMANY (19 April 2007) - Global independent online music publisher Kobalt Music Group has concluded an exclusive deal with multi-million selling German pop superstar, Herbert Grönemeyer, to administer his entire Grönland Musikverlag catalogue, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, Founder and CEO of Kobalt. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP ANNOUNCES GROUNDBREAKING ROYALTY ADVANCE PRODUCT FOR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS
01 March 2007
NEW YORK, NY (March 01 2007) - As featured in Billboard Magazine, Kobalt Music Group, the music industry's leading online and digital music publisher, has announced the launch of another revolutionary product for copyright holders - the pipeline royalty advance product. More...
GWEN STEFANI WINDS UP A NEW DEAL WITH KOBALT - POP ICON RENEWS EX-NORTH AMERICA ADMINISTRATION DEAL
10 January 2007
(LONDON, UK) January 10, 2007 - On the heels of the release of her second solo set, The Sweet Escape (Interscope), global superstar singer-songwriter and fashion icon GWEN STEFANI has renewed her ex-North America administration deal with Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt). More...
KOBALT SIGNS WORLDWIDE DEAL WITH PETER SVENSSON AND NINA PERSSON OF THE CARDIGANS
24 October 2006
LONDON, U.K. (24 October 2006) - Leading independent music publisher Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt) has signed a non-exclusive worldwide administration deal with composer/guitarist Peter Svensson and singer/lyricist Nina Persson of multi-million selling and critically acclaimed Swedish rock band, The Cardigans, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, Kobalt founder and CEO. More...
POP MUSIC ICON AND SONGWRITER BARRY MANILOW SIGNS EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE PUBLISHING DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
19 October 2006
Leading independent music publisher Kobalt Music Group has signed an exclusive, worldwide administration deal with legendary performer, songwriter, arranger and producer Barry Manilow. More...
MATISYAHU'S JOSH WERNER SIGNS EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE PUBLISHING DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
24 July 2006
NEW YORK, NY (July 24, 2006) - Music publisher Kobalt Music Group has signed an exclusive, worldwide administration deal with Matisyahu bass player Josh Werner and his publishing company Beyond Science Inc (ASCAP). More...
KELLY CLARKSON PRODUCER/WRITER RHETT LAWRENCE CONCLUDES EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE PACT WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
26 June 2006
(26 JUNE, 2006) LOS ANGELES - Multimillion-selling producer, songwriter, and engineer Rhett Lawrence has signed an exclusive, worldwide administration deal with Kobalt Music Group. The deal includes all of Lawrence's stellar Rhettrhyme back catalog, as well as current and future material under his Rhettski publishing catalog. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP SIGNS LEGENDARY POP SONGWRITER BILLY STEINBERG
8 June 2006
(8 JUNE, 2006) LONDON - Billy Steinberg- the legendary songwriter of massive pop hits (with co-writer Tom Kelly) such as "Like a Virgin" (Madonna), "True Colors" (Cyndi Lauper) "Eternal Flame" (The Bangles), "I Drove All Night" (Cyndi Lauper, Roy Orbison, Celine Dion), "I'll Stand By You" (The Pretenders), "Alone" (Heart), "I Touch Myself" (Divinyls) and "So Emotional" (Whitney Houston)- has signed an exclusive administration deal for the world ex-North America and Canada for his music publishing company, Jerk Awake. More...
FIFA SIGNS KOBALT MUSIC GROUP AS EXCLUSIVE WORLDWIDE ADMINISTRATOR FOR: THE OFFICIAL MELODY OF THE 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP(TM)
11 May 2006
(11 May 2006) LONDON -- Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt), music publisher and online publishing administrator, has been signed up by FIFA (the Fédération Internationale de Football Association) to be the exclusive worldwide licensor and administrator for the Official Melody of the 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM). More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP SIGNS THE VERVE'S EPIC FRONTMAN RICHARD ASHCROFT
22 March 2006
(22 March 2006) LONDON, U.K. - Richard Ashcroft, songwriter, producer and front man of psychedelic rock legends The Verve, has signed an exclusive worldwide administration pact with Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt), it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, Founder and CEO. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP SIGNS EXCLUSIVE ADMINISTRATION DEAL WITH EVERGREEN COPYRIGHT ACQUISITIONS
2 February 2006
(February 2, 2006) LONDON, U.K. - Kobalt Music Group (Kobalt) has concluded an exclusive administration agreement with EverGreen Copyright Acquisitions, LLC (EverGreen Copyrights) for the world ex-U.S., Canada and China, it was announced today by Willard A. Ahdritz, Kobalt Founder and CEO. More...
KOBALT MUSIC GROUP NAMES GRAMMY WINNING HITMAKER DESMOND CHILD AS AMBASSADOR AND SPOKESMAN TO THE PRODUCER SONGWRITER COMMUNITY - DESMOND CHILD SIGNS EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE ADMINISTRATION DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
9 January 2006
LONDON, UK (January 9, 2006) - In a unique move for a major songwriter and for the music publishing industry, veteran hit-making songwriter/producer Desmond Child has joined Kobalt Music Group as its Ambassador to the songwriter and producer community, in addition to signing an exclusive worldwide administration deal with the company. The announcement was made today by Mr. Child and Willard Ahdritz, Founder and CEO of Kobalt Music Group. More...
KOBALT SIGNS MERCURY PRIZE WINNER ANTONY HEGARTY OF ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS
19 October 2005
Kobalt Music Group has signed an exclusive administration deal with Antony Hegarty from Antony & The Johnsons, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder. The deal between Kobalt and Hegarty's Rebis Music includes his back catalog for all territories excluding North America. The critically acclaimed Secretly Canadian/Rough Trade act last month won the 2005 Mercury Prize, ahead of such major acts as Coldplay and Kaiser Chiefs. More...
MULTI-PLATINUM COUNTRY SUPERSTAR TOBY KEITH SIGNS EXCLUSIVE EX-US AND CANADA DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
14 October 2005
NASHVILLE, TN (Oct 14, 2005) - Multi-platinum country music superstar Toby Keith has signed an exclusive administration deal with Kobalt Music Group for the world ex-US and Canada, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder. The deal includes Keith's entire DreamWorks catalog and future works. More...
THE HIVES SIGN EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
12 October 2005
(London, UK) October 12, 2005 - Swedish rock band THE HIVES has signed a worldwide, exclusive administration deal with Kobalt Music, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, Founder and CEO. More...
KELLY CLARKSON HITMAKER LUKASZ "DR. LUKE" GOTTWALD SIGNS EXCLUSIVE, WORLDWIDE DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
24 August 2005
New York, NY (August 24, 2005) - Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald has signed an exclusive, worldwide administration deal with Kobalt Music Group, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder. More...
NINE INCH NAILS SIGNS ADMINISTRATION DEAL WITH KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
11 July 2005
(Los Angeles, CA) July 11, 2005 -- Nine Inch Nails (NIN) has signed an ex-north American administration deal with Kobalt Music Group, it was announced today by Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Co-Founder of Kobalt Music Group. More...