John Butler Inks Global Publishing Deal With Concord Music Publishing ANZ

One of Australia’s favourite artists, John Butler, has signed a new publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing ANZ.

The worldwide deal – excluding Japan – comprehensively covers Butler’s catalogue, including hits like Zebra, Better Man and Ocean.

With Concord, Butler has signed with a global, independent music publisher that offers creative support from its A&R, Synchronization, and Marketing teams and hardworking in-house Copyright, Licensing, Income Tracking, and Royalty departments, which handle all the necessary administration.

The publisher has offices in Melbourne, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, and Berlin, with company headquarters situated in Nashville. Butler joins a roster alongside The 1975, Chase & Status, John Fogerty, Cyndi Lauper, Daft Punk, Denzel Curry, Mark Ronson, Phil Collins and Genesis, Pink Floyd, Trent Reznor, and many more, with Concord having its own artist roster, representation for songwriters, and more.

After Concord acquired the Australian music publisher Native Tongue, Concord Music Publishing ANZ was formed in 2022, gathering a catalogue of legends including Sir Dave Dobbyn, The Amity Affliction, Courtney Barnett, The Waifs, Holy Holy, Tia Gostelow, Aldous Harding, Luude, Kingswood, Fanny Lumsden, and Marlon Williams.

In a statement, Butler said of the global publishing deal with Concord, “I am very pleased to be joining the Concord Music Publishing family. It is exciting to be working closely with a team based out of Australia and being reconnected with people who I have worked with in previous years and feel as passionate about music as I do. 

“The compulsion to go on the enormous journey it takes to get these songs out of my head and heart is very deep and no small undertaking. First and foremost, it’s a very personal journey. But once I decide to share it, one of the most important parts is the why.

“I hope these stories, rhythms and melodies can help bring solace and be part of the soundtrack on someone else’s journey. So, who I choose to help bring those songs into people’s life is no small decision.”

He continued, “I look forward to joining forces with Concord to help bring some more light into people's lives in these turbulent and testing times. I am going to keep the team busy with three album releases in the next year! So, keep your work boots on. I know I will be.”

Jaime Gough, the Managing Director of Concord Music Publishing ANZ, said it was an “honour” to welcome Butler to the publisher’s family and added, “John’s commitment to the craft of storytelling and songwriting has seen him revered by his peers, the industry and most importantly his loyal fanbase all around the world.

“There is only one John Butler, and the global team are excited to embark on the next chapter of his journey together. As expected, there is a lot of great music to come.”

John Butler recently released his new album, Running River, a meditative LP that gives people “a bit of relief from the fray and the onslaught of real life.”

In a recent cover story with The Music, Butler said of his new album: “Music has always been a very cathartic thing for me – I use art to heal and to understand and interface with the world – and this was just a new way for me to be able to do that.”

You can read the interview here.