Tom Petty Estate Inks Worldwide Deal With Warner Chappell Music
The estate of Tom Petty has signed a worldwide administration deal with Warner Chappell Music (WCM) to distribute the late rock singer’s music catalog.
Over his 40-year career, Petty recorded more than 13 studio albums with the Heartbreakers and three solo albums, including the acclaimed “Full Moon Fever” and “Wildflowers.” Petty was also a member of the supergroup, Traveling Wilburys, and in the pre-Heartbreakers band, Mudcrutch.
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The agreement includes a vast majority of songs written by Petty, including enduring hits such as “Wildflowers,” “Free Fallin’,” “Learning to Fly,” “Refugee,” and “Runnin’ Down A Dream,” among others. The deal encompasses Petty’s work with the Heartbreakers and as a solo artist.
“We’re looking forward to this new partnership with the team at Warner Chappell, as we expand the reach of Tom’s iconic song catalog,” the Petty Estate said in a statement. “This partnership will open the door to new licensing opportunities and serve to introduce his music to a new generation across the globe,” “We’re excited for this new chapter of growth, and the preservation of Tom’s legacy both at home and abroad. We look forward to working closely with Carianne, Greg, Guy, and their incredible team.”
Petty, a Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, died in 2017 shortly after completing his 40th anniversary tour.
WCM Co-Chair and COO, Carianne Marshall, and Co-Chair and CEO, Guy Moot, said: “Tom Petty’s music is woven into the fabric of our lives, not just across America, but around the world. He captured the full range and resilience of the human spirit in songs about freedom and dreams, outcasts and rebels, relationships and heartbreak, the personal and the universal. Tom’s unmistakable sound and lyrics remain as timeless and vital today as ever, and all of us at Warner Chappell Music are honored to be joining with his estate to help amplify his extraordinary legacy on a global scale. Their work in recent years has already laid an incredible foundation, and we’re very excited to be partnering with such an innovative and forward-thinking team.”
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