THE LIVING END AND WOLFMOTHER SIGN THEIR CHART-TOPPING CATALOGUES TO BMG AUSTRALIA

26 May 2016 - Press release

BMG Australia, formed just two months ago, is pleased to announce the first signings to the company, Chris Ross and Myles Heskett, founding members of the Australian rock band Wolfmother as well as Chris Cheney, award-winning songwriter of the multi-platinum band The Living End.

BMG will represent the Living End’s seventh studio album Shift which propelled itself onto the Official ARIA Album charts at Number Four, marking the highest debut for a domestically based artist. Alongside their breakout five time platinum self-titled debut album, released in 1998, Shift joins the ranks as the band’s seventh consecutive Top Five album and is led by the stirring lead single ‘Keep on Running’.

The entire global publishing rights to The Living End back catalogue will revert back to BMG in 2019, including the hits ‘Prisoner of Society’, ‘West End Riot’, ‘All Torn Down’, ‘Pictures In The Mirror’, ’Roll On’ and the 2009 APRA ‘Song of the Year’ ‘White Noise’.

The global deal with Chris Cheney includes the master synchronization rights for The Living End’s debut album and their multi-platinum sophomore album Roll On, limited to their homeland Australia and to New Zealand.

To date, The Living End has collected a total of six ARIA awards and accumulated multiple multi-platinum, platinum and gold sales accreditations with each album release. Their tracks are also featured in the Guitar Hero video game franchise.

“I’m really excited to announce that I am signing with BMG. We look forward to a creative and exciting future together with the new Australian company and the entire global team,” says Chris Cheney.

 “For over two decades The Living End have been producing incredible records, their enduring success is a testament to the quality and relevance of Chris Cheney’s songwriting. Now based in LA, we are excited about Chris’ international prospects as a songwriter for outside projects and also his impending solo work,” says Heath Johns, BMG Australia Managing Director.

Worldwide deal with Myles Heskett and Chris Ross ex-Wolfmother
 
The worldwide deal with Wolfmother founding members Chris Ross and Myles Heskett includes the global hits ‘Joker and the Thief', 'Dimension', 'White Unicorn', 'Love Train', and Grammy winning ‘Woman' lifted from the band’s 5xPlatinum ARIA certified debut. Their self-titled debut album released internationally in 2006 received worldwide acclaim, selling over 1.5 million copies, winning the ARIA Awards for Breakthrough Album and Rock Album of the Year.
 
The highly sought after Wolfmother-catalogue has enjoyed a long and enduring run across all media including film, advertising, TV, and video games. Songs from the debut album have been featured throughout the Hangover trilogy, Planet of the Apes, Madagascar, 500 Days of Summer, Fantastic 4, Shrek, and Jackass.
 
"Having signed Wolfmother after witnessing their first ever gig at the Vic on the Park way back in 2004, I could not be more proud to have Chris and Myles sign this new deal with BMG Australia. It is an iconic Australian catalogue with enduring global appeal, to now represent the majority share of this seminal LP on an international basis is an honour," said Heath Johns, Managing Director BMG Australia.
 
"We are incredibly excited to join the BMG family. We look forward to the new experiences and opportunities that being part of BMG will bring!” say Chris Ross and Myles Heskett.