Global Music Rights, the boutique performance rights organization being built by Irving Azoff and Randy Grimmett under the Azoff MSG Entertainment banner, has just signed another big name songwriter/producer/ artist in Pharrell Williams, sources have confirmed.
He joins stable mate Ryan Tedder — they are both managed by Ron Laffitte of Front Line/Artist Nation — at the new PRO.
Singer/songwriter/producer Williams has been a steady chart presence since last year. In addition to being featured on Daft Punk‘s “Get Lucky” (which he also co-wrote) and Robin Thicke‘s “Blurred Lines” (which he co-wrote and produced), Williams spent 10 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 with the self-written and self-produced “Happy.” The Academy Award-nominated song from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack is also the multiple platinum-selling lead single from Williams’ second album Girl. Released in March via Williams’ i Am Other label and Columbia, the set debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Among Williams’ current projects are his upcoming stint as a coach for The Voice and collaborating on T.I.‘s upcoming Columbia album.
Meanwhile, Global Music Rights roster is expected to encompass between 30 and 60 writers, with about half of them expected to be drawn from the Azoff Music Management portfolio. But the new company has also sent out invitations to select songwriters, like Tedder and Williams.
Sources suggest that Williams has sent in his termination notice to ASCAP and will be officially taken over by Global Music Rights come Oct. 1. At press time, ASCAP and Global Music Rights couldn’t be reached for comment.
