Sony Music Publishing UK has teamed up with creative executives Caroline Elleray and Mark Gale to launch Second Songs, a joint venture publishing and songwriter management company. Helmed by both Elleray and Gale, who both previously served as executives at Universal Music Publishing Group, Second Songs will focus on making sustainable careers for both developing and established songwriters.
Under its management arm, producer and songwriter Steph Marziano — who has penned songs with Hayley William, Matilda Mann, Denai Moore and more — will act as Second Songs’ first signee. At this time, there have been no announcements regarding publishing clients.
During their tenure at UMPG, Elleray and Gale were responsible for signing some of the hottest artists and writers of the last two decades, including Coldplay, The xx, Mumford & Sons, Rex Orange County, Little Simz, Tom Misch, Bastille, Chvrches, Jin Jin, Sigala, Laura Mvula, and Matt Hales.
“Caroline and Mark’s reputations speak for themselves, but what is most exciting and inspiring about Second Songs is the prospect of them bringing all of their experience, energy, know-how and talent into a venture of their own design,” says Tim Major, co-managing director, Sony Music Publishing UK, of the partnership. “They are passionate and caring executives who live and breathe music and relentlessly support the careers of the people that they work with. Their ethos for the Second Songs publishing venture chimes beautifully with our own – from creating an environment where the songwriter is always put first to helping to nurture young talent into the industry – and we are thrilled to be partnering with them.”
Elleray adds, “we are incredibly excited to be launching this partnership and have been immensely impressed by the people we have met at Sony Music Publishing. Their approach under the leadership of Jon, Tim and David is inspiring. Mark and I have always advocated for and championed the songwriters and artists we have signed with passion and unwavering belief. We hope to continue to foster this culture with Second Songs and are humbled by the support SMP has shown us.”
“Steph is a wonderful person and hugely talented. We share similar music taste and the same ethics and ethos, which is essential to us as we grow our business into a modern, forward thinking music company,” says Gale.
Along with their publishing and management initiatives, Elleray and Gale, through Second Songs, plan to create a program called “In The Loop” to help aspiring music industry professionals find a pipeline into a career.