One Media iP Group Plc
("One Media" or the "Company")
Acquisition of Catalogue
One Media iP Group Plc (AIM: OMIP), the digital music rights acquirer, publisher and distributor, is pleased to announce that it has acquired certain composition and recording rights to the catalogue of over 200 tracks of country music star Don Williams ("Acquisition").
Described by Rolling Stone Magazine as 'one of the finest singers of the genre', the Acquisition covers Williams' 1970s and '80s output, during which time he delivered seventeen No.1 hits and became a global superstar, winning fans from all over the world, especially in the UK. In 1975, The Who's Pete Townshend covered Don's No.1 hit 'Till The Rivers All Run Dry' with Faces legend Ronnie Lane. Don's 1978 hit 'Tulsa Time' was a regular on Eric Clapton's live set, often jammed with contemporary stars such as Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck.
The Acquisition was completed under One Media's innovative Harmony iP which will make use of the firm's advanced 'Technical Copyright Analysis Tool' ('TCAT'), which utilises AI software to monitor streams across digital music platforms such as Spotify, Amazon and iTunes with extreme accuracy. TCAT also identifies unauthorised use of copyrights, patrolling over 600 digital music stores across the world, 24 hours a day. Any illegal / unauthorised plays can be identified dating back up to 6 years and lost royalties can be recovered.
The Acquisition completes a successful round of acquisitions by the Company. In January 2021, One Media announced that it acquired the producer royalties of a selection of tracks by Take That. In May 2021, '80s pop star Kid Creole and the Coconuts made national press and TV news as he signed a deal for his 250-song catalogue with One Media in order 'to look after his coconuts way into the future'. In June 2021, record producers Steve Levine (Culture Club) and Barry Blue (Heatwave) partnered with One Media for its ground-breaking TCAT technology, to help monitor and protect their works, including hits such as Culture Club's 'Karma Chameleon' and Heatwave's 'Boogie Nights'.
Albeit a material acquisition for the Company, the Acquisition has been funded through the Company's existing cash resources and is in line with management's expectations and the Company's business plan.
Michael Infante, CEO of One Media iP said: "There has been a steady rise in the popularity of country music in the UK and Europe, with events such as the Country 2 Country festival, which have drawn in huge crowds in recent years. Don Williams - like Johnny Cash - is revered by younger artists, which has in turn fed through to a new generation of fans. In life he was known as the Gentle Giant… and in his musical legacy we believe we have a Sleeping Giant, as fans of all generations are drawn to his timeless music.
"One Media will work in partnership with the Don Williams estate to ensure his legacy is protected and promoted for many years to come, with our state-of-the-art TCAT software."
The person who arranged the release of this information is Michael Infante, Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
-Ends-
One Media iP Group Plc Michael Infante - CEO Alice Dyson - COO Claire Blunt - Chairman | +44 (0)175 378 5500 +44 (0)175 378 5501 |
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nominated Adviser) Liam Murray Jo Turner Ludovico Lazzaretti | +44 (0)20 7213 0880 |
Cenkos Securities plc (Broker) Max Gould Michael Johnson (Sales) | +44 (0)20 7397 8900 |
PPR Publicity | +44 (0)7930 304301 |
About One Media iP Group Plc
One Media is a digital music rights acquirer, publisher and distributor. The Group specialises in purchasing and monetising intellectual property rights with proven, repeat income streams. One Media adds value to its content by maximising its availability in over 600 digital stores globally, including Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon and Spotify.
One Media's music is also widely used for synchronisation in film and TV whilst its video content is primarily viewed on YouTube where One Media operates over 20 YouTube channels as a certified partner. Additionally its www.tcat.media copyright infringement and digital music audit tool software TCAT, is used daily with major record labels and the world leading digital international distributor. Men & Motors its branded car channel is now available via its web site www.menandmotors.com and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNLiybn_9jgQaV0NZlSRwCg
One Media is listed on the London Stock Exchange on the AIM index, under the symbol 'OMIP'.
For further information, please visit www.omip.co.uk and http://www.harmonyip.com/
About Don Williams
A Texan born-and-bred; Don Williams was one of Country Music's greats. His baritone voice was his signature and this, combined with songs that he himself described as 'intensely simple' earned Don Williams the nickname 'The Gentle Giant'.
After leaving high school in 1958 Williams served two years in the US army and spent the 1960s holding down various jobs including delivery driver, debt collector and oil field operative. At the same time, he was honing his skills as a musician and performer, playing local bars and clubs.
The 1970s heralded creative and commercial success, initiated by a move to Nashville and the release of his debut album 'Don Williams Volume One' in 1973. His first No.1 hit followed in '74 with 'I Wouldn't Want to Live if You Didn't Love Me', the first of seventeen No.1 country hits that would come during the next 12 years.
Williams found fans in the UK, where he enjoyed Top 20 chart success with 'I Recall a Gypsy Woman' in 1976. In the '80s, '90s and '00s, it was British manager and promoter Robert Pratt, who oversaw Don's desire to expand with performances around the world.
Don went on to tour Australia three times, Africa once (in 1997) and continued to tour in Europe until 2014. His work has been covered by artists as diverse as Lambchop, Johnny Cash, Pete Townsend and Tortoise with Bonnie Prince Billy.
In his later career, Williams enjoyed a rejuvenation, finding a home with the Hip Hop label Sugar Hill Records which issued his two final albums, 'So It Goes' (2012) and 'Reflections' (2014), with songs featuring singers Vince Gill, Keith Urban and Alison Krauss. A tribute album, 'Gentle Giants: The Songs of Don Williams', featuring versions of his songs by Garth Brooks, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum, was released in 2017.
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