Photo by Tom Palumbo (CC BY-SA 2.0).
Downtown Music Publishing has inked an agreement with the Miles Davis Estate to represent the complete catalog of late jazz musician and songwriter on a global scale.
The agreement includes more than 250 Miles Davis compositions, and it adds another big name to the company’s roster, which includes George Gershwin, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and John Prine.
Downtown will do more than just market, license and collect royalties relating to Davis’ catalog.
The company also indicated that it will curate live events in cooperation with the Miles Davis Estate as well as participate in projects that will expose Davis’ work to new audiences around the world. This work includes not just music but also his art.
Justin Kalifowitz, who is CEO of both Downtown Music Publishing and Downtown Music Holdings, issued a statement in conjunction with the announcement. “Miles Davis made an indelible mark on both popular music and culture,” Kalifowitz relayed. “It’s a legitimate privilege to be entrusted with the care of extraordinary works like ‘So What’ and ‘Blue in Green’ that have shaped the modern musical and cultural landscapes in such a profound way.”
The Miles Davis Estate also commented on the deal, noting:
“We’re excited to embark on this new chapter in paying homage to the legacy of Miles Davis with Downtown Music Publishing. We are confident this move will continue to introduce the musical genius of Miles on a global scale, where his artistry can be noted by many generations to come.”
Miles Davis died in 1991, though his impact on jazz and the music world remains strong. Just last month, a lost album of his entitled Rubberband was released and a book about him will be published soon. Also, Stanley Nelson recently made a well-received documentary about the trumpeter called Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool.