Sony Music Publishing signs worldwide deal with Alberts to represent AC/DC catalogue

Sony Music Publishing and Australian music operation Alberts have signed a deal about the catalogue of AC/DC and that of songwriting and producing team Vanda, Young and Wright.

The deal brings the band’s publishing and recording rights together under the Sony banner for the first time, and will see Sony Music Publishing administer the complete song catalogue of the iconic rock and roll band, as well as that of the songwriting and producing team.

The agreement covers AC/DC hits such as ‘Highway to Hell’, ‘Back in Black’, ‘TNT’ and ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’, as well as songwriting and producing hits from Harry Vanda, George Young and Stevie Wright, including John Paul Young’s ‘Love Is In The Air’, and The Easybeats’ ‘Friday On My Mind’.

CEO of Alberts, David Albert, said he and the team are looking forward to working with Sony Music Publishing and continuing to create opportunities out of the catalogue.

“We have built over a number of years a very close working relationship with Rob Stringer and the team at Columbia and were impressed with Damian Trotter and Jon Platt’s vision for the catalogues and the alignment with our approach to business,” he said.

Sony Music Publishing chairman and CEO, John Platt, said he was also pleased to join forces.

“David Albert and the Alberts team are leaders in shaping Australia’s modern music culture, and our shared ethos will be powerful in sustaining the global impact of these iconic catalogues,” he added.

Local managing director of Sony Music Publishing, Damian Trotter, also welcomed the deal.

“On behalf of SMP Australia, I am honoured to partner with Alberts to represent the catalogues of AC/DC and Vanda, Young and Wright. Their songs define the history of contemporary Rock and Pop music in this country, and we look forward to building upon their enduring legacies,” he said.

And global chairman of Sony Music Group, Rob Stringer, added: “We are so excited and honoured at Sony Music Group to build on our long standing relationship with both Alberts and AC/DC through the representation of the Alberts song catalogue. We thank them for their trust and faith in us.”

The SMP roster includes local acts such as Tame Impala, Midnight Oil, Angus & Julia Stone, Paul Kelly, Sarah Blasko, AB Original, 5SOS, Thelma Plum and Jimmy Barnes.