Olivia Rodrigo
Grant SpanierAfter months of working together, on Wednesday (Aug. 4) Sony Music Publishing officially announced the signing of teenage pop phenom Olivia Rodrigo to a worldwide publishing deal.
The agreement has been in place for months and includes the track list of her chart-topping debut album, SOUR, as well as future works created under the deal. Rodrigo's collaborator, songwriter and producer Daniel “Dan” Leonard Nigro -- with whom she worked closely on her debut album SOUR -- is also repped by Sony.
Rodrigo is by far this year's biggest breakthrough success, beginning with the release of her smash debut "drivers license" and subsequent single "good 4 u," both of which held the top spot on Billboard's Hot 100 in 2021 for a combined total of nine weeks. The SOUR songs helped land Rodrigo and Nigro in a tie atop the Hot 100 Songs songwriter rankings for the period of Jan. 1 to April 1. They also led the Top Radio Airplay’s songwriters tally from April 1 to July 1, and split the top two positions on Hot 100 Songs for that period with Rodrigo at No. 1 and Nigro at No. 2.
Within weeks of SOUR's May 21 release, the album smashed record after record. Not only was the project the biggest debut of the year, it also earned the most U.S. audio streams from a female debut album ever. It was RIAA-certified gold in its first week and saw the placement of all eleven tracks in the top 30 of Billboard's Hot 100, cementing Rodrigo as the first female artist (and fourth artist overall) ever to achieve this accomplishment.
As Sony Music Publishing Chairman and CEO, Jon Platt, puts it, Olivia Rodrigo is a "once-in-a-generation talent with the heart of a true songwriter." For the Disney darling turned hitmaker, there is "nothing [she] loves more than songwriting," and is "excited to be working with the team at Sony Music Publishing."
Sony held the top spot on both Top Radio Airplay and Hot 100 Songs publishers charts for the period from April 1 to July 1.
According to Sony Music Publishing senior vp creative, Jennifer Knoepfle, SMP is "so lucky to support [Olivia] from the beginning of what will surely be a long and fruitful career."
Added Sony Music Publishing director, A&R Thomas Krottinger, who signed Rodrigo: “It has been a great privilege to work with Olivia over the last year – she constantly pushes her creative boundaries, allowing her to craft genuine, emotive songs that transcend genres and bring people together. We are honored to partner with Olivia and her incredible team, and we are beyond excited to champion her as she continues inspiring the world!”
Perry Farrell has released another public apology following an on-stage confrontation involving his bandmate Dave Navarro.
The Jane's Addiction frontman was involved in a physical altercation with guitarist Dave Navarro last year during a live performance, an incident that prompted the band to cancel their reunion tour and eventually led to their split.
“I'd like to address what happened on stage last year,” Perry, 66, said in a statement shared across both his personal Instagram account and Jane's Addiction’s official page. “I've reflected on it and know I didn't handle myself the way I should have. I apologize to our patrons and my bandmates for losing my temper and for disrupting the show.”
He went on to admit that he did not meet fan expectations and described himself as deeply remorseful toward everyone impacted by the incident.
“Jane's Addiction has been at the center of my life for decades. The band, the songs, the patrons, and the impact that we've had on music and culture mean more to me than any words I could ever possibly write down,” he shared.
“My aim has always been to give our audience the best possible show, something real, honest and positive. In Boston, we fell short of that, and I'm truly sorry to everyone who was impacted.”
Jane's Addiction also issued its own statement regarding the altercation, which ultimately led to the group’s remaining members filing a lawsuit against Perry alleging assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract.
“Today we are here to announce that we have come together one last time to resolve our differences, so that the legacy of Jane's Addiction will remain the work the four of us created together,” the band wrote, signaling that the group would not move forward with Perry. “We now look forward to the future as we embark on our separate musical and creative endeavors.”
