Will Jennings, lyricist behind ‘My Heart Will Go On’ and ‘Tears in Heaven’, sells catalog to Lance Freed and Fuji Music

Legendary lyricist Will Jennings, identified for crafting a few of the most beloved hits of the final 5 a long time, has offered his in depth catalog to a publishing firm headed by music writer Lance Freed and Fuji Music Group.

The acquisition, introduced on December 12, was made via an unique three way partnership between Freed’s new publishing firm, All Clear Music, and Fuji Music. All Clear Music and Fuji Music described the acquisition — which covers 100% of Jennings’ catalog — as “probably the most important offers of the 12 months within the music business.”

Monetary phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Jennings, an inductee of the Songwriters Corridor of Fame, boasts a profession that spans over 50 years. His catalog contains timeless classics resembling Celine Dion’s My Coronary heart Will Go On, Eric Clapton’s Tears in Heaven, and Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes’ Up The place We Belong.

Jennings collaborated throughout a spread of genres with numerous artists and songwriters, penning hits recorded by artists like Steve Winwood (Larger Love, Roll With It, Don’t You Know What the Night time Can Do, Whereas You See a Probability, and Again within the Excessive Life Once more), Barry Manilow (Someplace within the Night time, Seems Like We Made It), Tim McGraw (Please Bear in mind Me), Whitney Houston (Didn’t We Virtually Have It All), Dionne Warwick (I’ll By no means Love This Manner Once more), Randy Crawford/The Crusaders (Road Life, One Day I’ll Fly Away), and Rodney Crowell (Many a Lengthy & Lonesome Freeway).

Teaming up with composer James Horner, Jennings co-wrote the Oscar-winning My Coronary heart Will Go On, the theme for Titanic, carried out by Celine Dion. This track not solely turned a cultural touchstone but additionally attained worldwide No.1 standing.

In collaboration with Steve Winwood, Jennings contributed to a number of albums, together with Again in The Excessive Life, which produced No.1 hits and earned Winwood a Grammy for Report Of The Yr. Moreover, Jennings and Winwood acquired a Tune of the Yr nomination for his or her work on Larger Love.

One other notable success was Up The place We Belong, a collaboration with Jack Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte-Marie, recorded by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes for the movie An Officer and a Gentleman. The track not solely topped charts but additionally secured Jennings each an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Greatest Unique Tune.

“Having labored so carefully with Will all through his profession, it’s very private to me, as he’s a cherished pal and I’ve been honored to know and assist assist him all through his profession.”

Lance Freed, All Clear Music

With an estimated 150 million information offered, Jennings has earned six Grammy nominations and three wins, two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and the consideration of being inducted into each the Songwriters Corridor of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Corridor of Fame.

Lance Freed, President of All Clear Music, reminisced about his reference to Jennings, recalling their partnership that started in 1974 when Freed signed Jennings beneath Almo/Irving Music, the unique publishing arm of A&M Information.

“Will was a schoolteacher who moved to Nashville within the early 1970’s intent on changing into a songwriter. We signed him and he struggled for almost three years till he finally discovered success with Clive Davis and Arista artists, like Barry Manilow,” stated Freed.

“Having labored so carefully with Will all through his profession, it’s very private to me, as he’s a cherished pal and I’ve been honored to know and assist assist him all through his profession. When the chance to amass the track catalog introduced itself, I referred to as my long-time pal Ichi Asatsuma, who had expressed he wished to work collectively on one thing we really beloved. We agreed that this could possibly be that labor of affection, and we really feel a deep duty to deal with his lovely songs and legacy.”

“We’re very honored to characterize one of many world’s most interesting songwriters with Lance Freed’s All Clear Music, and can give Will Jennings’ music the easiest promotion and all of the respect it richly deserves.”

Ichi Asatsuma, Fuji Music Group

Freed beforehand led Universal Music Group-owned Rondor Music Worldwide, which has a monitor report of publishing the works of Al Inexperienced, Tom Petty, Otis Redding, Bruce Springsteen, Dire Straits, the Carpenters and Will Jennings. Beneath his management, Rondor signed Billy Joel to an unique worldwide publishing administration deal in 2012, and DreamWorks Animation to an unique, worldwide music publishing administration deal in 2014.

Ichi Asatsuma, Chairman of Fuji Music Group, stated: “We’re very honored to characterize one of many world’s most interesting songwriters with Lance Freed’s All Clear Music, and can give Will Jennings’ music the easiest promotion and all of the respect it richly deserves.”

Music Enterprise Worldwide