LONDON, UK. & NEW YORK, NY. (Top40 Charts/ EMI
Music Publishing) - EMI
Music Publishing has signed a global co-publishing deal with Norwegian songwriter and producer Mikkel Eriksen. The agreement further extends the company's relationship with the multi-award winning Stargate production team responsible for worldwide hits by artists including Rihanna, Ne-Yo,
Jordin Sparks and Beyonce.
Eriksen joins his Stargate partner Tor Erik Hermansen on the EMI Music Publishing songwriting roster. Hermansen has been represented by EMI since 1999, and this marks the first time that the Stargate songwriting partnership has been brought together under one music publishing house.
Hermansen and Eriksen will also continue with their joint venture partnership Stellar Songs, with EMI Music Publishing and the pair's long-time managers Tim Blacksmith and Danny D.
The agreement will see Eriksen and Hermansen working in conjunction with EMI Music Publishing UK President Guy Moot and President of West Coast Creative Big Jon Platt, as well as benefiting from the support of the company's creative and commercial teams around the world.
Stargate were named Hitmakers of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine earlier this year, after co-writing worldwide hits including "Don't Stop The Music" and "Take A Bow" for Rihanna, "Because of You" and "Closer" for Ne-Yo, "Irreplaceable" for Beyonce, and "With You" for Chris Brown. Their songs picked up five nominations at this year's Grammy Awards, while "Beautiful Liar" (performed by Beyonce and Shakira) earned them the Ivor Novello award for Best British Song alongside fellow EMI Music Publishing writer Amanda Ghost.
EMI Music Publishing Chairman & CEO Roger Faxon said: "Having worked successfully with Tor Erik for so long, we are delighted to be able to extend our relationship with Stargate through this agreement with Mikkel. Stargate is a dominant force in both the UK and the US right now, and we're looking forward to working with both of them to continue to develop their careers creatively and commercially."
Mikkel Eriksen said: "Everybody at EMI Music Publishing has impressed me with their passion and commitment to songwriting and songwriters, and I'm looking forward to working with them as we continue to build on the success of the last few years."
EMI Music Publishing UK President Guy Moot commented: "In all the time that I've known Tor Erik and Mikkel, they have met every single challenge that's been put infront of them. Plenty of songwriters say they're going to break America and then head back home a few years later, but the Stargate guys have taken their success on to whole new levels. We're proud to be working with both of them, and are excited about this next step in our partnership."
Hermansen and Eriksen began their songwriting and producing career in their native Norway in 1997, and quickly achieved success in the United Kingdom with hits for artists including S Club 7, Atomic Kitten, Samantha Mumba and Blue. They relocated to New York in 2005, and have since written songs for artists including Mary J Blige, Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis, Jessica Simpson, Jordin Sparks, Nas, Elliott Yamin, Enrique Iglesias, Mario, Usher and Kelly Rowland.
Forthcoming releases featuring songs by Stargate include albums by Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson and Ne-Yo.
