Exclusive: ORiGiN Music partners with Bucks Music as part of global expansion

Image: Philip Mortlock

TMN can reveal that Sydney-based ORiGiN Music will represent UK company Bucks Music in Australia and NZ under a new partnership deal. In return, Bucks will help ORiGiN, now re-established as an independent company, expand globally.

Set up in the 1960s by publisher David Platz, Bucks Music developed and launched the careers of T-Rex, David Bowie, The Move, Black Sabbath and Procol Harum.

Its large catalogue of classic copyrights includes Brian Eno, Peggy Seeger, Pete Doherty, Danny Brown, Honeyblood, Devlin, Blood Red Shoes, Alex Metric, Adam Freeland, The Districts, Toy, Findlay, Chloe Howl, Anouck B, iLL BLU, Mikill Pane, Matthew Herbert, One Bit and The HeavyTrackerz.

Bucks’ vast range of TV and film themes includes that of Dr. Who as well as the works of David Arnold, Rachel Portman, Michael Price and Richard G Mitchell.

Now run by second generation Simon Platz and his A&R executive partner Sarah Liversedge, Bucks’ roster of contemporary songwriters and producers includes Ed Sheeran, collaborator Jake Gosling and Amy Wadge who co-wrote Sheeran’s Grammy winning Thinking Out Loud.

With ORiGiN in the process of establishing a new network of sub-publishers around the world, the new partnership also sees Bucks representing ORiGiN in the UK as well as handling digital rights across Europe.

“Through the years, prior to our time via Alberts and since, we have had a strong relationship with the creative team at Bucks” says ORiGiN Creative Director and co-founder Philip Mortlock. “We’re certainly looking forward to continuing and building our two way musical link.”

The one time Warner Music Australia Managing Director and Leosong’s Philip Walker set up ORiGiN in 1994 with publishing, record label and successful theatrical divisions.

Its early success stories included the triple j favourite Diana Anaid (the ARIA-winning I Go Off), Adelaide’s Lazaros Dog whose Home Entertainment System was synced in film, TV and ads in America, and Peter Dasent and Craig Smith, who became huge in the global children’s market with the likes of respectively Watermelon and Wonky Donkey, the latter boasting 2.5 million video views.

Other notable ARIA wins include the David Bridie produced Serious Tam album by Papua New Guinea artist Telek, two albums by jazz artist Paul Grabowsky and a comedy album from Bob Downe.

The admin business was sold to Alberts in 2007, with Mortlock working for Alberts for nine years. As its Head of Repertoire, he helped build up its roster and image before being subsequently sold to BMG mid last year.

Two long-time ORiGiN signings paid off internationally. From the ten-year representation of Melbourne band The Basics came the phenomenal worldwide success of their singing drummer Wally de Backer as Gotye. Gotye has now moved his catalogue to ORiGiN Music for Australia/NZ.

Melbourne-based Jake Mason and his fellow Cookin On 3 Burners members Ivan Khachoyan (also now with ORiGiN) and Lance Ferguson had a remarkable year in 2016 with their 2009 song This Girl. A remix by teenage French DJ Kungs and issued through Universal, the track was #1 in twelve territories including France and Germany, #2 in the UK, was the #1 most Shazamed dance song for the year and has been streamed close to half a billion times.