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Famous Music

From Alfawiki
Famous Music Corporation
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryMusic publishing
PredecessorFamous Players–Lasky Corporation
Founded1928
FounderParamount Pictures (implied)
FateSold to Sony Music Publishing in 2007; rebranded as Sony/ATV Harmony and Sony/ATV Melody
Headquarters
Not specified
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsMusic publishing, licensing, and administration
ParentParamount Pictures (until 2007), then Sony Music Publishing (after 2007)

Famous Music Corporation served as the worldwide music publishing branch of Paramount Pictures, a subsidiary of Paramount Global since 1994. Its vast rights portfolio features compositions from Academy Award-winning movies like The Godfather and Forrest Gump.

Founding

Originating in 1928 under Paramount’s forerunner, the Famous Players–Lasky Corporation, Famous Music was responsible for publishing songs from the studio’s early sound films. Significant tracks in its catalog include "Thanks for the Memory" (from The Big Broadcast of 1938), "Mona Lisa" (featured in Captain Carey, U.S.A.), "Silver Bells", "Moon River" (from Breakfast at Tiffany's), "Where Do I Begin?" (theme of Love Story), "Speak Softly, Love" (theme from The Godfather), "Up Where We Belong", "Footloose" (from Footloose), "Take My Breath Away" (featured in Top Gun), and "My Heart Will Go On" (from Titanic (1997 film)).

Until most rights were transferred to CBS in 2006 after Viacom split into CBS Corporation and the new Viacom, Famous Music also held music rights from Paramount-produced television shows. Among its notable themes were the "Mission: Impossible Theme"—which remained with Paramount—the "Star Trek Theme", and "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" from Cheers.

The company extended licensing and administrative services to major catalog holders such as CBS and the Clyde Otis Music Group, along with divisions within Viacom like MTV, Nickelodeon, and BET.

From the late 1980s until its acquisition in 2007, Famous Music grew by purchasing catalogs beyond Paramount’s scope, including works by Duke Ellington, and managing artists including Shakira, Eminem, Akon, She Wants Revenge, Boyz II Men, Paula Cole, Björk, Gavin Rossdale, Daniel Powter, Martika, Linda Perry, Irv Gotti, Placebo, Modest Mouse, Jet, and P.O.D..

In May 2007, Viacom divested Famous Music to Sony Music Publishing (then Sony/ATV), a joint venture between Sony and Michael Jackson, for roughly $370 million. Afterward, the firm was rebranded as Sony/ATV Harmony and Sony/ATV Melody.

By December 2012, Sony/ATV sold the Famous Music UK catalog—including artists like Placebo and The Kooks—to BMG Rights Management. Later in the late 2010s, Paramount Pictures shifted its music administration to Universal Music Publishing Group, followed by Paramount Media Networks in 2020.

Record label group division

Famous Music previously managed a record label group comprising Blue Thumb Records, Dot Records, Paramount Records, and Tumbleweed Records. In 1974, this segment was sold to ABC Records for $5.5 million, with most labels being integrated into ABC.

Distribution deals existed with both Neighborhood Records and Sire Records, the latter distributed by ABC until 1977.

Currently, Universal Music Group holds ownership of most ABC/Famous Music label catalogs, except for certain exceptions such as the 1968-1970 period of the Stax Records catalog, which is owned by Concord Music Group and distributed by UMG.

Universal oversees these catalogs through various labels categorized by genre:

Artists

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