MUSIC PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION TO HOST FIRST EVER SONGWRITER RETREAT IN OCTOBER 2015

22 April 2015 - Press release

• Week-long writers’ camp to be held at Miles Copeland’s Chateau Marouatte (2nd-10th October) and overseen by Debbie Pearce 

• Opportunity for 18 MPA member-affiliated writers to benefit from this unique creative collaboration 

The MPA is delighted to announce our first ever songwriter retreat for members’ writers, to take place at the renowned Chateau Marouatte in the Dordogne between 2nd-10th October 2015.  

Administered by ex-Polygram, Universal and Warner/Chappell executive Debbie Pearce, the retreat will allow 18 writers affiliated to MPA publisher members to work intensively and collaborate on new compositions and co-works. Debbie will liaise with members to ensure an optimum balance of writer/producers, writer/artists, top-liners/lyricists and genres.

Home to music legend Miles Copeland, Chateau Marouatte has hosted similar retreats for a number of years - bringing together songwriters from all over the world, from emerging talents such as James Bay and Ellie Goulding, to bona fide legends like Carole King, Jeff Beck, Jon Bon Jovi, Cher, Keith Urban, Desmond Child and Babydaddy. A significant number hit records have resulted from these unique creative collaborations.  

Announcing the initiative, Sarah Osborn, Chief Executive of the MPA said: “A songwriter retreat is exciting new territory for the MPA, and endorsement of the proactive, A&R-driven business that music publishing is today. Our members already lead the UK industry in terms of music exports, and this is an unrivalled opportunity to create new and exciting compositions that will resonate around the world.”  

Debbie Pearce said: "Miles Copeland's chateau provides a unique and extraordinary environment for writing, with a reputation for bringing together worldwide names with relative unknowns to create globally-recognised songs. Miles’ experienced team ensures a smoothly run event, handling all local transfers from nearby airports and stations, and providing well-equipped writing work stations and an engineer, along with an in-house cordon bleu chef. With six full days of writing, it represents excellent value for money and a fantastic opportunity for UK music publishers and their writers."  

Miles Copeland added: "The United Kingdom has always been such a fertile source of great songwriters and we are excited to have the MPA join us at Chateau Marouatte. We are sure many great new songs, as well as songwriter collaborations, will join the long line of hits we have had in the past." 

For more information about the MPA songwriter retreat, including costs, please contact Debbie Pearce directly - debbiepearce@me.com / 07973 963442