The Van Halen brothers – Alex and Eddie – have signed a worldwide publishing deal with Atlas Music Publishing.
The agreement covers the entire Van Halen catalog - excluding 2012’s “A Different Kind Of Truth” – and includes multiple hit singles and albums that have collectively sold close to 90 million copies worldwide, making the group one of the best-selling musical artists in history.
The landmark deal with Atlas marks the first time Van Halen’s music has been published by an independent music publishing company.
"This deal has been a long time coming," Atlas Music Group CEO Richard Stumpf tells Billboard. "I have been after [manager] Irving Azoff and [lawyer] Peter Paterno for five years to find out if there would ever be an opportunity to work with the Van Halen catalog. They are my favorite all-time band so this is kind of a surreal moment where my professional and personal lives are coming together."
"We will give their music the proper push for synchronizations in films, TV and commercials," says Stumpf. "This is a premium catalog, so we will look for the right films and brand advertisers to place their music with."
Stumpf says they will focus on opportunities to reach the younger music consumers.
"That is how you maintain the value of the catalog by reaching the younger generations that come along," he adds. "A lot of the decision makers themselves are young so we will have to educate them on the importance of Van Halen, and not just their many hits."
On March 31, Van Halen will release “Tokyo Dome Live In Concert”, their first-ever live album with original frontman David Lee Roth.
See also:
VIDEO: Michael Anthony performs Van Halen classic with John 5
Wolfgang Van Halen recording solo album
VIDEO: Eddie Van Halen speaks at Smithsonian event
Van Halen tops the hennemusic Hot 10
Van Halen to release Tokyo Dome Live In Concert
Search Van Halen at hennemusic
