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Universal Music Publishing Group Acquires Forerunner Music Catalog
Catalog Includes Major Hits by Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Kathy Mattea,
Trisha Yearwood and More |
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(Los Angeles, California) December 7, 2000 -- Universal Music Publishing Group has acquired the Forerunner Music Catalog, one of contemporary country music’s classic catalogues, it was announced today by David Renzer, Worldwide President, Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) and Pat Higdon, Senior Vice President, Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville.
Purchased from Garth Brooks’ producer, Alan Reynolds, and his partners Jim Rooney, Mark Miller and Terrell Tye, the Forerunner Music Catalogue of nearly 1,500 titles features more than thirty Top 20 country singles, including twelve No. 1 hits by country music’s elite superstars such as Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Brooks & Dunn, Hal Ketchum, Kathy Mattea and Patty Loveless.
Commented Mr. Renzer: “This is an important acquisition for Universal Music Publishing Group as the catalogue includes many modern-day gems written by some of country music’s premier songwriters. It also fits perfectly with one of our strategies for growth – namely through quality catalogue acquisitions.”
Commented Mr. Higdon: “This catalogue is as good as it gets. The deal was a natural fit for us and as much a creative and strategic deal as it is a good piece of business. With our strong histories and current relationships with many of the key songwriters such as Pat Alger, Tony Arata, Shawn Camp, Hal Ketchum and Pete Wasner, the songs will be easy to integrate and effectively exploit.”
Songs in the Forerunner Music Catalogue have been recorded by some of country music’s premier artists. These No. 1 hits include:
“The Thunder Rolls,” (Alger/Brooks) “Unanswered Prayers,” (Alger/Bastian/Brooks) “What She’s Doing Now,” (Alger/Brooks) “That Summer,” (Alger/Brooks) and “Two Pina Coladas” (Camp/Mason/Hill) – Recorded by Garth Brooks
“Don’t Let Our Love Start Slippin’ Away,” (Wasner/Gill) and “Whenever You Come Around” (Wasner/Gill) – Recorded by Vince Gill
“How Long Gone” (Camp/Sherill) – Recorded by Brooks & Dunn
“True Love” (Alger) – Recorded by Don Williams
“Small Town Saturday Night” (Alger/DeVito) – Recorded by Hal Ketchum
“Like We Never Had A Broken Heart” (Alger/ Brooks) – Recorded by Trisha Yearwood
“Goin’ Gone” (Alger/Dale/Koller) and “She Came From Fort Worth” (Alger/Koller) – Recorded by Kathy Mattea
Universal Music Publishing Group’s Nashville operation boasts some of Nashville's most elite songwriting talent including Matraca Berg, Gary Burr, Mark Sanders, Gordon Kennedy, and the legendary Bob McDill. The UMPG country catalogue includes many classic songs recorded by Mel Tillis, Webb Pierce, and Kenny Rogers as well contemporary hits by Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, and Leanne Womack, to name a few. In August, UMPG was named the No. 1 Country Publishing Corporation for Billboard’s mid-year Hot Country Singles Chart.
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