Several high-profile music catalogs have been acquired by Dynamite Songs, a specialist music publisher launched by industry veteran Alan Wallis, former co-founder of Mojo Music & Media which was acquired by Concord in 2023.
The company has positioned itself as a boutique publisher focused on culturally significant mid to small-scale music copyrights that might otherwise be overlooked by larger industry players.
Among Dynamite’s recent acquisitions is the catalog of Grammy-winning songwriter Keith Harris, which includes publishing rights to over 200 songs spanning a 20-year career.
Harris, known for his work with The Black Eyed Peas, has penned hits including “Meet Me Halfway,” which surpassed 1 billion streams, and “Imma Be,” which reached number one on U.S. charts.
His portfolio also features Estelle’s Grammy-winning “American Boy” and Robin Thicke’s “Feel Good.”
The deal includes both performance royalties from the writer’s share and PRO income, ensuring comprehensive rights management.
These acquisitions demonstrate how catalog sales can provide musicians with significant lump sum payments while still allowing them to pursue other creative ventures.
British songwriter Chris Leonard’s catalog has also joined Dynamite’s roster, bringing with it co-writing credits on Ed Sheeran’s breakthrough hits “Lego House” and “Give Me Love” from the album “+.”
Leonard’s work spans multiple genres and includes collaborations with Paolo Nutini, James Bay, Hilary Duff, and McFly, demonstrating the commercial versatility Dynamite seeks in its acquisitions.
Completing the trio of recent purchases is Grammy-winning producer Bruce Elliott-Smith‘s catalog, featuring European electronic dance hits such as ATB’s “Ecstasy” and “Marrakesh,” along with Danni Minogue’s UK Top 10 single “You Won’t Forget About Me.”
These tracks have accumulated over 450 million streams, reinforcing Dynamite’s strategy of acquiring proven commercial successes with longevity.
The songwriters retain their ability to distribute future works across streaming platforms like Spotify, SoundCloud, and Tidal while benefiting from Dynamite’s management of their back catalogs.
The company tailors unique creative and financial strategies for each songwriter while focusing on fractional rights purchases that enhance the value of these catalogues.
Dynamite Songs differentiates itself through its commitment to intimate catalog management, controlling modest numbers of copyrights to guarantee each receives proper attention.
With nearly 50 catalog acquisitions completed by its team over their careers, the company has secured funding and established extensive networks to continue pursuing smaller deals in the fragmented market sector, emphasizing trust and custodianship while preserving artists’ legacies.
