ORiGiN Music partners with Knight Music Publishing

Image: (L to R) Philip Mortlock, Nick Young, Marcus Knight, Philip Walker

Sydney-based ORiGiN Music has partnered with Melbourne’s Knight Music Publishing in a new creative union to develop international opportunities for their respective artists and composers.

“We welcome the astute A&R skills Marcus has to help find and develop contemporary talent for the local and international market,” said ORiGiN Creative Director Philip Mortlock.

He added: “Marcus [Knight] has a keen pop and dance sensibility and we’re excited to be working with him with these genres and artists.”

Established in 2015, Knight Music Publishing has built up a strong roster of acts in a reletively short period, representing the likes of Andy Ward, Levi Dowsett, Melissa Erpen and Christian Gulino.

“The collaborative relationship between ORiGiN and KMP is one built of ideals,”said Marcus Knight, Founder of Knight Music Publishing. “Ideals of lasting commitment to supporting great Australian music. Operating independently enables unique creativity and commercial flexibility in a global market that is very appealing.

“Philip Mortlock and Philip Walker’s vast international experiences is a cornerstone asset to our vision for the future success of our valued roster.”

Mortlock, along with the one time Warner Music Australia Managing Director Philip Walker, set up ORiGiN in 1993 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 Watermelon and Wonky Donkey, the latter boasting 2.5 million video views.

ORiGiN currently represents several local and international catalogues including Du Vinage, District 6, Just Isn’t Music (Ninja Tunes), Shubert Music, What A Publishing (David Guetta) and AIR. Additionally, from the ten-year representation of Melbourne band The Basics came the phenomenal worldwide success of their singing drummer Wally de Backer, aka Gotye.

The new partnership with Knight follows ORiGiN’s deal with UK company Bucks Music made last month. TMN exclusively revealed that under the new agreement, ORiGiN will represent Bucks Music in Australia and New Zealand. In return, Bucks will now aid ORiGiN in its global expansion strategy, bolstering its growing network of sub-publishers around the world.