Publishing Briefs: Eagles Co-Founder Bernie Leadon Joins Warner Chappell, Plus Avex Signs Kehlani Collaborator

Avex Music Group signed rising songwriter and producer Kamal Wilson, co-writer of Kehlani‘s Rhythmic Airplay No. 1 hit “Folded,” which is climbing the Hot 100 (currently No. 22) and sparking viral social media covers from artists like Brandy and Eric Bellinger. Originally from Orange County, California, Wilson began writing music at 11 and has since built a versatile catalog across R&B, hip-hop and pop. The signing, led by Avex A&R executives Nevin Sanitsky and Brennen Bryant, aligns with the company’s strategy to champion global talent across the U.S. and Japan. CEO Brandon Silverstein praised Wilson’s artistry, saying “his ability to craft timeless records while connecting deeply with artists is exactly the type of energy we want to champion.” Wilson added: “I’m thrilled to have the global team at Avex behind me as I continue to grow as a songwriter and artist.”

Anthem Music Publishing acquired part of the catalog of Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer Mark Holman, recognized for helping to shape the modern country-pop sound. Based in Nashville and originally from Ewing, Illinois, Holman has penned No. 1 hits like Cole Swindell’s “Single Saturday Night” and Florida Georgia Line’s “Simple.” The deal includes three standout tracks from Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album, while Holman’s songwriting credits span major artists like Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, and Post Malone, and also include the chart-topping “I Ain’t Sayin’” co-written for Jordan Davis. Early in his career, he found success in Christian rock with hits like “Faceless” and “Geed the Machine” from RED. “I’ve had the pleasure of working directly with Mark in the past, so this feels like a full circle moment with a good friend,” said Noah Dewey, vp of creative at Anthem Music Publishing Nashville. “His undeniable talent shows through in every song in this catalog. Anthem is honored to be trusted with this outstanding body of work.”

Warner Chappell Music France signed an exclusive global administration deal with French rapper MC Solaar and his company, Sentinel Sud, covering his entire 35-year catalog. Widely considered a pioneer of French hip-hop, Solaar has sold over five million albums and collaborated with global stars like Missy Elliott and Guru. His influential tracks, including “Nouveau Western” and “Hasta la vista,” continue to resonate, with “Nouveau Western” recently featured in an Adidas campaign. The deal allows Solaar to focus on new creative ventures while Warner Chappell manages his legacy catalog. WCMP managing director Matthieu Tessier praised the signing, saying MC Solaar’s “His lyrical genius and poetic storytelling have not only shaped French hip-hop, but have left an indelible mark on music all over the world.”

Extreme Music, a division of Sony Music Publishing, partnered with Avid to launch a first-of-its-kind music panel integrated into its Avid Media Composer video editing software. This tool gives editors and creators direct access to Extreme’s catalog, enabling easier searching, demoing and licensing in one shot. Featuring AI-assisted search and broadcast-quality audio, the panel streamlines music selection and licensing for pros and consumers alike. The collaboration looks to cement a new industry benchmark, removing licensing barriers and accelerating creative output. “We are committed to providing songwriters and composers with the best tools to support their creativity,” said SMP chairman and CEO Jon Platt. “By combining Extreme Music’s rich catalog with Avid’s premier technology we are delivering a powerful new resource, and we look forward to the opportunities that it will bring to creators.”

Prescription Songs summoned a deal with Gino The Ghost (Gino Borri), the Detroit-born producer, songwriter, and artist. Now based in LA, Borri joins the roster following his five Latin Grammy nominations for work with Argentine duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, including contributions to Papota, nominated for album of the year. Gino’s credits span hits with Saweetie, The Chainsmokers, Nathy Peluso, Christina Aguilera and recent K-pop chart-toppers from ENHYPEN and TXT. He also co-founded Web3 music project Blocktones and serves as head of A&R at Hume. “Gino has felt like part of the Prescription family for a long time as a go-to collaborator for so many of our writers and producers, so I couldn’t be more thrilled to make it official,” says Prescription Songs A&R Brooke Webster. “He’s truly one of a kind — as a lyricist, a creative, and a person. We’re already seeing great wins together, and this is just the beginning of what’s ahead.”

Concord Music Publishing ANZ signed Australian indie-rock band The Belair Lip Bombs to a global publishing deal. The announcement coincides with the band’s upcoming sophomore album Again, out Oct. 31 via Third Man Records. Formed in Melbourne, the band has built a devoted following with their “yearn-core” sound. Concord’s Hazel Gordon praised the band’s songwriting and rising momentum, calling their debut album Lush Life “disarming” and “brimming with instant classics.” He added, “It was an immediate no-brainer — we knew we wanted to work with them.”

CTM secured a long-term global partnership with legendary Belgian singer-songwriter Salvatore Adamo, covering most of his publishing rights and a significant portion of his master recordings. With millions of records sold and a catalog spanning multiple languages, Adamo is Belgium’s most successful musical export. CTM aims to introduce his music to younger audiences through sync placements, curated reissues and NIL initiatives, including a feature film about his life. Adamo’s accolades include knighthood in Belgium, honors from France, Italy and Japan, and the prestigious Grande Médaille de la Chanson Française. Earlier this year, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the MIA’s. “His music has touched millions, and we look forward to introducing his work to new generations through creative and meaningful channels,” said CTM CEO André de Raaff.

English artist Rebecca Lucy Taylor, known as Self Esteem, renewed her global publishing deal with Blue Raincoat Music Publishing, in partnership with Reservoir. Formerly of Slow Club, Taylor launched her solo career with Compliments Please (2019), followed by Prioritise Pleasure (2021)—which earned Mercury Prize and Brit nominations—and A Complicated Woman (2025). A multi-talented artist, she also composed for theatre and starred in Cabaret on the West End. Her live performances include a sold-out residency at London’s Eventim Apollo and a standout Glastonbury set. Blue Raincoat CEO Jeremy Lascelles praised her as “one of the most important artists to have broken through in this country in recent times,” adding she’s “important culturally, important lyrically, and the writer of some of the great pop anthems. She articulates in song the lived experience of being a woman like no other. Witty, subversive and always landing a true emotional punch.”

Kasey Tyndall signed a publishing deal with Spirit Music Nashville and 2Mix Music. “Kasey checks every single box for the kind of artists that we want to work with,” Derek Wells, vice President of Spirit/Fluid Music Revolution, said in a statement. “A unique perspective and voice… and one of the hardest workers you’ll meet. So excited to have her in the building!” “Kasey is a true talent, both as a writer and an artist,” Kennedy Murphy, creative director, Spirit Music Nashville, added. “It feels like such a natural fit for her to join the Spirit family and we couldn’t be more excited to get to work championing her songs and career!” 

Polish musician and activist Misia Furtak has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Berlin-based Bosworth Music GmbH, part of Wise Music Group. Known for her unique voice and genre-blending artistry, Furtak has earned critical acclaim, including the Paszport Polityki award. Her 2021 album Wybory featured bold political themes, including the silent track “Agata.” She’s collaborated across indie, jazz, classical, and rap genres — drawing comparisons to Cat Power and PJ Harvey — while performing across Europe and Japan alongside acts like The National and Arlo Parks. “Misia is recognised as one of the most influential and artistically respected artists in Poland,” said Michael Ohst, managing director of Bosworth. “We are pleased to collaborate with her in developing and realizing her musical vision, and we look forward to contributing to projects that reflect her creative depth and originality.”