Kobalt Signs Tones and I to Neighbouring Rights Deal

20 February 2020 - Press release

The Record-Breaking Artist Behind “Dance Monkey” Continues Her Global Success With Kobalt Neighbouring Rights Deal

Kobalt today announced that Tones & I has been signed to an international neighbouring rights deal. Tones and I joins Kobalt for a neighbouring rights deal that offers her a full range of global administration and royalty maximization services.

Simon Moor, Managing Director of Kobalt Music Group APAC, commented “The rise of Tones And I and her single "Dance Monkey" has been both ubiquitous and chart topping, but when you consider songs such as "Never Seen The Rain" and "Johnny Run Away", the true depth of talent becomes apparent and it is easy to see that the future will be both bright as well as enduring!”

In 2018, Tones and I decided to take a chance. She quit her job in retail, and lived out of her van for a year playing music along the way. It all came to fruition the following year when Tones and I made chart history, becoming the first artist to spend 24 weeks at #1 on the ARIA singles chart, with her global hit, “Dance Monkey”. Since its release in May 2019, the hit single has reached #1 in 30 countries, spending a record breaking 11 weeks at #1 in the UK. Tones success with “Dance Monkey”, doesn’t stop there. Amassing over 2 billion streams, “Dance Monkey” held the #1 spot for the most streamed song globally for 4 months (and counting), achieved 8x platinum status in Australia, has become the most Shazamed song of all time, and is now officially the longest ever running #1 song on the Spotify global charts. In November 2019, Tones and I made her U.S. television debut, on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon”, the video of her performance has over 50 million views on Youtube. Tones ended the year with 8 ARIA Award nominations, and took home 4, including Breakthrough Artist. Following the success of “Dance Monkey”, Tones and I new single “Never Seen The Rain” is already charting globally.   

Regan Lethbridge, David Morgan and Jackson Walkden-Brown, co-managers of Tones and I added, “We’re absolutely pumped to be working with Kobalt on the neighbouring rights front! Our detailed discussions leading up to doing this deal really reinforced for us that they’re the best in the business when it comes to this relatively complex and evolving income stream. They’re exceptionally passionate about Tones and we’re very confident that this will be a long and fruitful relationship."

Ann Tausis, CEO, Kobalt Neighbouring Rights said of the deal, “I am so very pleased that Tones and her team have partnered with us for the collection of neighbouring rights. More and more global artists are becoming aware of this important revenue stream that has lots of rules and exceptions affecting who gets paid and where. It’s complex. Tones and I is the latest global star to recognize this area and our years of expertise will ensure she receives the income due to her across the globe.”

Kobalt Neighbouring Rights is the largest neighbouring rights agent in the world, representing over 2,000 performers. Other chart-topping hitmakers that have entrusted Kobalt to administer their neighbouring rights income around the world include A$AP Rocky, The Chainsmokers, Dua Lipa, Lewis Capaldi, Lil Wayne, Sia, Young Thug and more.

Most recently, Tones and I, released her debut EP, “The Kids Are Coming” with “Dance Monkey” and “Never Seen The Rain” both featured, and is currently continuing her sold-out world tour. To learn more about her show dates, and new music releases, visit her website.