Sony/ATV extends worldwide agreement with Joel Little

29 November 2018 - Press release

Sony/ATV Music Publishing has renewed its worldwide deal with Grammy-winning and Golden Globe nominated songwriter, musician and producer Joel Little.
 
The new agreement takes in his work with Lorde, including her multi-million-selling debut album Pure Heroine, which he co-wrote and produced, and songs with artists including Khalid, Imagine Dragons and Sam Smith. It also covers future compositions.
 
Sony/ATV Co-President, U.S. Rick Krim said: “It has been an honor and a pleasure for all of us at Sony/ATV to work with Joel, and we couldn’t be happier for his ongoing success.  We are thrilled to be continuing with him and are excited about what the future will bring.”
 
Sony/ATV SVP and Co-Head of West Coast A&R Jennifer Knoepfle said: “It’s been an incredible ride working side by side with this talented and lovely man. I am so proud of the work he’s created throughout his career and so happy we are continuing our long-standing relationship.”
 
Joel Little said: “Sony/ATV have been taking care of me for 10 years now and at this point it just feels like home. The extended family there have put in so much hard work for me over the years and I can’t wait to see where we take things with this next chapter.”

Joel Little’s manager Ashley Page said: “Sony ATV have always valued and recognized Joel’s talent, providing every opportunity for his continued growth. It’s been an incredible partnership, something clearly recognized in the new arrangement, and we’re really looking forward to greater success together.”
 
Joel Little was already a star back in his native New Zealand as singer and guitarist of the band Goodnight Nurse when he was introduced to local singer-songwriter Ella Yelich-O’Connor a.k.a. Lorde. The pair began working at his production studio Golden Age in Morningside, Auckland and co-wrote the then teenage Wunderkind’s The Love Club EP, which included the songs “Royals” and “Tennis Court.”
 
Initially a No. 1 hit in New Zealand, “Royals” went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. for nine weeks in 2013, reached No. 1 in the U.K. and became a hit around the world. It sold more than 10 million downloads globally and won Song of the Year at the 56th annual Grammy Awards in 2014 alongside receiving a Record of the Year nomination.
 
A second U.S. Top 10 hit followed for them with “Team” and it was included with “Royals” on Lorde’s 2013 debut album Pure Heroine, which was co-written and produced by Little. The album peaked at No.3 on the Billboard 200 chart in the U.S. where it was certified by the RIAA for 3 million sales, reached No. 3 in the U.K. and was recognized by IFPI as one of the 10 biggest-selling albums of 2014.
 
Little further worked with Lorde on songs for the soundtrack of the movie Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1, including “Yellow Flicker Beat” which was shortlisted as Best Original Song at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards in 2015. He also co-wrote “Green Light,” which reached the Top 20 on both sides of the Atlantic and served as the lead single for Lorde’s 2017 U.S. chart-topping second album Melodrama.
 
In the same year as “Green Light” he enjoyed considerable success with rising R&B star Khalid whose Grammy-nominated, U.S. double-platinum debut album American Teen featured three songs co-written by him, including the hit single “Young Dumb & Broke.” He also co-produced Khalid’s 2018 hit “Youth” with Shawn Mendes.
 
Little’s ability to work across genres was further evident when he co-wrote rock band Imagine Dragons’ “Whatever It Takes,” which featured on the group’s global hit album Evolve and this year reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Pop Songs, Hot Rock Songs and Rock Airplay charts.
 
A busy 2018 for Little has also included singles and cuts with artists such as 6LACK, Daya, Mikky Ekko, Noah Kahan and Amy Shark.