BDi Music signs exclusive worldwide publishing deal with rapper and poet Dan Whitlam

23 September 2025 - Press release

Whitlam has earned praise from Arlo Parks and Fred Again...

 

BDi Music has signed rapper and poet Dan Whitlam to an exclusive worldwide publishing deal.

Whitlam is a rising luminary in the music world, having earned praise from notable artists including Arlo Parks and Fred Again...

Signed to Needwant for records, Whitlam has almost 170,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, with breakout single Juliette having racked up over 2.5 million streams on the platform, following viral success on TikTok with a standout video directed by Tega Alexander.

Other popular singles include Satellite - a powerful collaboration with Julia Church - Young Minds, Lights Down, and Quick Intimacy.

His recent UK tour sold out notable venues, such as the legendary KOKO in Camden.

Whitlam will embark upon a debut European tour and a North American run throughout October and November 2025, after headlining his largest UK show to date at London's legendary Roundhouse in Camden.

Beyond music, Whitlam channels his creative spirit into poetry, having recently been referred to as "Gen Z's poet laureate". He was named resident poet of esteemed fashion brand Hermès, and recently lent his voice to the NFL and YSL Beauty's Abuse Is Not Love campaign.

He has signed a deal with book publisher Bonnier for a poetry collection that will also be released on audiobook.

Dan Whitlam said: "I'm really excited to have signed with BDi. From the beginning, they've understood what I'm trying to do and believed in the direction I want to take my music. It feels like the right team to grow with, and I can't wait to see what we build together."

Sean Brosnan, MD of Material Music, Whitlam management said: "I couldn't imagine a better home or a more like-minded group of people to be working with than at BDi. Dan is a unique talent, and with this team I feel we have the right partners to bring his artistic vision to life and realise the global potential I know he will achieve in the years ahead."

James Paterson, BDi Music A&R, said: "Dan is a truly inspiring artist whose ability to blend his poetry and rap into such honest and resonant music, makes him a voice of a generation. I've been a big fan of his for a while, so to now call him both a friend and a creative partner is something really special. I'm delighted that he and his management team have chosen BDi to be his exclusive music publisher moving into this next chapter of his journey."

Sarah Liversedge, BDi Music founder and MD, said: "I'm delighted that Dan and his team have chosen BDi as their publishing partner. I have witnessed audience members fainting due to the power of Dan's live performance and lyrical story telling. It really does feel like the start of something magical - he is a star in the making." 

Founded by Sarah Liversedge in 2004, BDi Music is an award-winning independent music publishing company that has been honoured with many industry accolades including four Ivor Novello Awards and a Grammy Award for Amy Wadge's writing share on Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud. 

BDi is proud to represent publishing for 35 co-written songs with Ed Sheeran and many more co-written hit songs from a diverse range of international artists including Camilla Cabello, Christina Perri, Keith Urban, Major Lazer, Forest Blakk, Tom Grennan, James Bay, James Blunt, Mario, Birdy, Jack Savoretti, All Time Low, Deno, Rod Wave, Nina Nesbitt and many more. The BDi roster includes a number of exciting established and emerging artists and songwriters including: JERUB, Roo Panes Joshua Burnside, Go Easy, Gus Tiramani, FJ Law, Ben Lythe, Paige Bea, Ellysse Mason, Aimée, Liz Cass, Æ Mak, Lemonade Shoelace and more.