Carlin America
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music publishing |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | Freddy Bienstock |
| Headquarters | Manhattan, New York City , United States |
Area served | United States, United Kingdom, Europe |
Key people | Robert Bienstock, Caroline Bienstock |
| Products | Music publishing catalog of over 100,000 compositions |
| Parent | Round Hill Music |
Carlin America is a United States-based music publishing company boasting a catalog of more than 100,000 compositions. Established in 1995 by Freddy Bienstock, its main office is located on East 38th Street in Manhattan. Following Bienstock's passing in 2009, leadership of Carlin Music was assumed by his children Robert and Caroline, with the latter inspiring the company's name.
Since January 2018, Carlin has functioned as a subsidiary under the American publisher Round Hill Music.
History
Freddy Bienstock purchased Belinda Music Publishing in 1966 and subsequently renamed it Carlin Music Corporation in honor of his daughter Caroline. He grew the catalog by collaborating with prominent songwriters such as Leiber & Stoller and forming alliances with influential labels like Atlantic Records and Motown Records. For ten straight years, Music Week honored Carlin as Publisher of the Year.
Together with Leiber & Stoller, Bienstock launched Hudson Bay Music to serve as Carlin’s U.S. division, operating out of New York's Brill Building. Hudson Bay expanded its holdings by acquiring significant catalogs including TM Music and Faithful Virtue Music, which featured artists like Bobby Darin, Tim Hardin, and John Sebastian. The company also incorporated publishing arms from Starday and King Records. Further growth came through acquiring music rights from The New York Times, which included major Broadway scores such as Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, and compositions by Peter Allen, Marvin Hamlisch, and Carole Bayer Sager.
In 1980, after dissolving his partnership with Leiber & Stoller, Bienstock joined forces with the estates of Rodgers and Hammerstein to purchase Edward B. Marks Music Corporation. This acquisition brought under Carlin’s control works by songwriters like George M. Cohan, Billie Holiday, Ernesto Lecuona, Jim Steinman, and composers including William Bolcom, Norman Dello Joio, and Roger Sessions.
By 1984, Bienstock collaborated with PolyGram to acquire Chappell & Co., assuming the role of Worldwide President while Carlin became an administered entity. When PolyGram sold Chappell to Warner Music Group, creating Warner Chappell Music, Bienstock re-established Carlin as an independent global publisher with a London office overseeing UK and European markets.
In September 2017, Round Hill Music agreed to purchase Carlin for $245 million. The transaction was completed by the end of that year and publicly disclosed in January 2018.
Catalog
Carlin’s extensive publishing repertoire includes over 100,000 songs, featuring well-known hits such as:
- "Back in Black" along with other tracks by AC/DC
- "Body and Soul", famously interpreted by artists including Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole
- "Fever (1956 song)", covered by performers like Peggy Lee, Madonna, Ray Charles, and Beyoncé
- "Happy Together", recorded by groups such as the Turtles, as well as artists like Frank Zappa and Mel Tormé
- "Holy Diver" among other songs by Ronnie James Dio
- "I Got You (I Feel Good)" performed by James Brown
- "Owner of a Lonely Heart" plus additional songs by the band Yes
- "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart" penned by Jim Steinman
- "She Blinded Me with Science" by Thomas Dolby
- "Sky Pilot" along with other works by the Animals
- "The Twist", originally by Hank Ballard and famously covered by Chubby Checker
- "Video Killed The Radio Star", written by Bruce Woolley, Trevor Horn, and Geoff Downes
- "What a Wonderful World", composed by George Weiss and Bob Thiele, performed notably by Louis Armstrong
Moreover, Carlin manages musical scores for significant theatrical productions including Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof, Company, and Follies.
Imprints
Carlin America holds ownership rights, either fully or partially, to the following publishing imprints:
External links and sources
- Overview of Carlin America, as presented on their official site
- Carlin America’s Imprint Listings, from the Music Publishers Association web portal
- Edward B. Marks Music Company, a subsidiary under Carlin America
- Biography of Founder Freddy Bienstock, featured on the ASCAP platform