US-based publisher 401K Music has signed a clutch of new writers following a successful spell for the company.
401K is run out of New York by Brit Veronica Gretton (pictured) - formerly an exec at record labels and publishing companies such as Fiction, East West, Stiff, ZTT, Silvertone, Zomba and Radioactive.
Following success with emerging NY band Spires, Gretton has signed new writers Alex Arias and Saum Eskandani, who have co-written songs with Alt/AAA radio successes The Mowglis (Photo Finish/Island Def Jam).
401K’s hope to foster collaborations between its clients is also going well: publishing & artist rights client Connor Hanwick of The Drums signed up to produce Spires' debut single.
401K Music launched in 2011 as an independent, full service, bespoke music publishing & rights management company with a focus on individual career oversight and development, as well as a commitment to protect their writer's long-term assets.
The company attempts to make established artists the most money from their catalog whilst retaining their integrity, but also developing new and emerging artists by funding recordings, press, promotion, videos and touring.
Its newest success story is the acquisition and development of NY band Spires.
"I saw Spires play early last year at the very aptly named 'Death By Audio' and through the terrible mix could hear some great songs. I signed them within a few weeks and we had them in the studio within a month recording their debut single. We then introduced them to the music community by a Summer residency at Pianos and a vinyl and digital Single release in the Fall." said 401K founder Gretton.
This residency led to celebrated appearances at Northside Festival, CMJ and SXSW and in turn to shows with Temples, The Horrors, Toy and Allah-Las. Early critical acclaim came from both sides of the Atlantic with the NY Times, NME, Brooklyn Vegan and BBC Radio 1's Huw Stephens all chiming in with praise.
Double A side 7" - "Candy Flip", backed with "Comic Book" was released in the UK as part of the Too Pure Singles Club, it received great reviews, sold out in a day and was Record of the Week on BBC 6 Music.
"I set up 401K Music for somewhat selfish reasons," says music industry veteran Gretton. "I wanted to create an independent pro-active boutique music company that focused on creativity and enabled me to continue to work with alternative and rock artists and writers of my choosing. Artists need a home where they can be given the time and space to develop and to know that while they do so someone is supporting and looking out for them."
401K has signed, developed, and released records for breakthrough bands Bear Hands, Laurel Canyon-esque Drug Cabin, and the rapidly breaking Spires. It also works with established and heritage artists such as Ambulance Ltd., The B-52's, Talking Heads, and The Thompson Twins.
"We handle everything from co-publishing to administration deals, as well as general artist rights,” added Gretton. “There's a lot of uncollected money out there, and a whole host of reasons ranging from the mundane to the deceitful as to why it's not in the writer or artist's pocket. We are happy to tackle all of it and get our clients paid."
401K has recently had songs featured in ads for Barclays, Kleenex, Target and French Connection, as well as syncs in a string of network TV shows and multiple motion pictures and video games.